Голодные игры

           Andwhenwerideuptothetwelfthfloor,thefacesofallthetributeswhowillneverreturnflashacrossmymindandthere’saheavy,tightplaceinmychest.

           Whentheelevatordoorsopen,Venia,Flavius,andOctaviaengulfme,talkingsoquicklyandecstaticallyIcan’tmakeouttheirwords.Thesentimentisclearthough.TheyaretrulythrilledtoseemeandI’mhappytoseethem,too,althoughnotlikeIwastoseeCinna.It’smoreinthewayonemightbegladtoseeanaffectionatetrioofpetsattheendofaparticularlydifficultday.

           TheysweepmeintothediningroomandIgetarealmeal-roastbeefandpeasandsoftrolls-althoughmyportionsarestillbeingstrictlycontrolled.BecausewhenIaskforseconds,I’mrefused.

           "No,no,no.Theydon’twantitallcomingbackuponthestage,"saysOctavia,butshesecretlyslipsmeanextrarollunderthetabletoletmeknowshe’sonmyside.

           WegobacktomyroomandCinnadisappearsforawhileastheprepteamgetsmeready.

           "Oh,theydidafullbodypolishonyou,"saysFlaviusenviously."Notaflawleftonyourskin."

           ButwhenIlookatmynakedbodyinthemirror,allIcanseeishowskinnyIam.Imean,I’msureIwasworsewhenIcameoutofthearena,butIcaneasilycountmyribs.

           Theytakecareoftheshowersettingsforme,andtheygotoworkonmyhair,nails,andmakeupwhenI’mdone.TheychattersocontinuouslythatIbarelyhavetoreply,whichisgood,sinceIdon’tfeelverytalkative.