Голодные игры

           We’regoingtohaveafabuloustime,"hesays,givingmycheekareassuringpat.

           "I’mnotgoodattalkingaboutmyself,"Isay.

           "Nothingyousaywillbewrong,"hesays.

           AndIthink,Oh,Caesar,ifonlythatweretrue.Butactually,PresidentSnowmaybearrangingsomesortof"accident"formeaswespeak.

           ThenPeeta’stherelookinghandsomeinredandwhite,pullingmeofftotheside."Ihardlygettoseeyou.Haymitchseemsbentonkeepingusapart."

           Haymitchisactuallybentonkeepingusalive,buttherearetoomanyearslistening,soIjustsay,"Yes,he’sgottenveryresponsiblelately."

           "Well,there’sjustthisandwegohome.Thenhecan’twatchusallthetime,"saysPeeta.

           Ifeelasortofshiverrunthroughmeandthere’snotimetoanalyzewhy,becausethey’rereadyforus.Wesitsomewhatformallyontheloveseat,butCaesarsays,"Oh,goaheadandcurlupnexttohimifyouwant.Itlookedverysweet."SoItuckmyfeetupandPeetapullsmeinclosetohim.

           Someonecountsbackwardandjustlikethat,we’rebeingbroadcastlivetotheentirecountry.CaesarFlickermaniswonderful,teasing,joking,gettingchokedupwhentheoccasionpresentsitself.HeandPeetaalreadyhavetherapporttheyestablishedthatnightofthefirstinterview,thateasybanter,soIjustsmilealotandtrytospeakaslittleaspossible.Imean,Ihavetotalksome,butassoonasIcanIredirecttheconversationbacktoPeeta.

           Eventuallythough,Caesarbeginstoposequestionsthatinsistonfulleranswers.