BURNING BRIGHT
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games series
Chapter 4
After dinner, I sneak out through my window and hurry to town where I know Evan is waiting. He sits on the fountain in the town square with his hands in his pockets. His eyes venture in to a whole different world unknown to me. He perks up when he sees me approaching.
"There you are, Mellark. I didn't think you were coming."
"I said I would, didn't I?"
Evan smiles, "Yeah, you did." He pats the spot next to me and I sit down. The square is almost empty but there are a few people still lingering outside of their shops or taking a stroll. Things are a lot calmer in District 12.
"What's the matter?" he asks.
I sigh, "You wouldn't believe what just happened."
"Tell me, maybe I'll believe it." He nudges me with a small smile.
"My mom asked me to go hunting with her." I say. Evan perks up instantly at this completely taken back, "She what? But she hasn't since, well, you know…"
I sigh, "I know. My dad must have talked to her. He noticed something was wrong that day after school."
I linger in to my thoughts. Mom and Dad pretty much tell each other everything. I don't think there's any secrets between them. So I'm not surprised dad told her I was feeling down and perhaps a hunting trip would lift my spirits. But mom and I haven't gone hunting together in years that I have no idea what to even expect. I lean against Evan, "What am I gonna do?"
Evan wraps an arm around me, "V, don't stress about it. It's just your mom, not President Paylor. You'll be fine."
I look up in to his green eyes to find that familiar comfort once more. Evan can truly make any situation better. "I know, but-"
"You don't want her to see you fail again." He states. And he always knows what I'm thinking. I don't have to speak to let him know he's right.
"You're right. I shouldn't stress about it." He smiles, "That's the V, I know." He reaches in to his school satchel and brings out a bag and hands it to me, "Here." He says.
"Whats this?" I look to him. Evan shrugs, "Open it."
"Alright." I say unsure and open the bag. Instantly my eyes widen and my mouth waters, "Evan, you didn't!" He laughs, "I did." Inside the small cloth bag are a bundle of fresh plump strawberries. One of my favorites. "How do you manage to get strawberries all the time?"
Even though most of the districts were rising from poverty and food was less scarce, Strawberries were always a giant treat for me. Of course, my family could afford them but mostly for the cakes and fruit tarts Dad made. Evan always managed to smuggle a bag just for me. "I told you, my mom knows a guy." he says. "Give her my thanks then." I take a bite out of a strawberry and hand some to Evan. He takes them and we both happily eat away.
Its moments like these that I like the most. Moments with Evan as we eat strawberries under the starry night sky. I honestly don't know what I would do without Evan. We look at each other and can't help but to laugh. He's the kind of person you can share silence with, the kind of person that will laugh along with you no matter how dumb the joke is. He's that kind of person. The one that will never let you down. We're almost finished with the bag when Evan speaks, "I heard some people talking about a train coming today."
"A train?" I ask still too busy with the remanding strawberries. "Yeah, all the way from District 2."
"What for?"
Evan shrugs, "Don't know. Wanna check it out? It should be arriving soon, if I heard correctly."
I look up to the clock above the town square. Nine o'clock. My parents probably still haven't noticed my absence. Luke still owed me for covering him while he went to Uncle Haymitch's house after school. He better have kept his word about covering for me. "Sure." I wipe my hands on my jacket and jump to my feet.
"Help me up."
"Geez, Evan. Don't be lazy." I yank Evan to his feet and we hurry off to the train station where sure enough a group of people are waiting for the incoming train. The last time I was on a train was when I was seven years old. We had gone to District 4 to visit my grandmother and a family friend named Annie Odair and her son Finnick. Finnick was a few years older then me, he was twelve the last time I saw him. We spent our afternoons out in the beach where he taught me how to swim in the shallow shores and make sand castles decorated with pretty shells. Our mothers sat on the beach watching us tentatively as they spoke about things we did not yet understand. I miss those days with Finnick and truly hope I can one day return.
My mind is torn from Finnick when Evan takes a hold of my hand and leads me through the crowd of curious people. His hand is warm against my cold skin and I feel my ears grow hot. "See anything?" his voice snaps me out of my daze and I look ahead where the train has come to a complete stop. People back away after the doors open. It isn't long before passengers begin to exit through the doors with luggage in their hands. I notice a few people from the merchant side of town who must have gone to other districts on some kind of business. But what Evan and I are curious about are the people arriving from District 2- not those who hopped on along the way. After a moment of familiar faces I come across one I have never seen. A man, the same age as my father but he looks a lot like my mother. Dark hair and gray eyes. He's obviously from the Seam but I have never seen him before. He stands tall and strong and very serious. In his hand he holds a suitcase. He steps aside and from behind him walks a young man that looks very much like him but with lighter skin. His son perhaps? My lips part as I realize his handsome features. His eyes scan the crowd where he meets mine. I quickly flinch at his gaze and look away.
Evan once again takes a hold of my hand and leads me out of the crowd. "I didn't realize Mr. Mavrick liked to travel." Evan says joking about Mr. Mavrick, the serious old grouch who owns the tailor shop in town.
"Everyone needs a break from District 12 at some point." I say.
Evan chuckles lightly, "Right. Well, that wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be."
Evan walks ahead of me as I stop to look back at the train station. The crowd of people have yet to disperse and none of the passengers have left the area either- expect for Mr. Mavrick whose hightailing it out of there. "Evan," I say grabbing his attention.
"Hmm?" He stops to look at me, "What's wrong, V?"
"Did you see that man?"
"Which one?"
I turn to him, "The tall one. The one that looks like he's from the Seam." Evan traces his memories but shakes his head, "No, I don't think I did. Why?"
I shake my head, "No reason. I was just curious." Evan studies my expression for a moment and puts on a smile, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, "Come on, I'll walk you home."
Evan and I say our goodbyes when we reach the Victor's Village. I don't want to risk getting caught so he gives me a smile, chucks my chin softly and says goodbye. I watch him go for a moment until he disappears in the darkness. After, I hurry home. I climb the vines on the side of the house up to my room and haul myself through the window. Ivy Mellark; climbing through windows since the age of nine. My foot gets caught on the window pane and I fall to the floor with a heavy thud. "Ow…" So much for being an expert at sneaking in.
"Ivy?" I hear my dad's voice from downstairs, "Is that you?"
"Oh, crap." I push myself off the floor and hurry to my closet to change, "Yeah, dad, its me!" I call out as I yank off my shirt over my head.
"You alright?" his voice is closer. He's probably at the bottom of the stairs, "What was that noise?" Quick! Think of something! "I- uh, nothing, fell out of bed!"
Nice one, V. As if my parents didn't think I was clumsy enough.
I quickly change in to my pajamas as dad comes up the stairs and knocks on my door. "Ivy, you okay sweetheart?" I open the door to see dad's concerned expression.
"Hey dad." I put on a smile and lean against the door way to seem casual but fail horribly. Dad raises a brow and peers in my room, "You sure you're okay?"
I nod, "Yeah, I'm fine." maybe I seem too eager because dad knows something's up. Still, he's not as quick to catch on as mom is. She would have heard me struggling to get in from downstairs. Come to think of it, she would have been the first one up here. Dad nods accepting my tiny lie, "Alright then. There's some cookies downstairs just in case you want some milk before bed."
"Kay, thanks dad." I say. "Wait, dad?"
He turns around, "Yeah?"
"Where's mom?" I ask. "She's at your Uncle Haymitch's. Apparently he gave Luke another slingshot." Dad shakes his head with a sheepish smile. "Those two never learn."
"Oh." I bite my bottom lip. I wouldn't want to be Uncle Haymitch right now- or Luke for that matter. I follow Dad downstairs where he's in the family room watching a television show about wedding cakes in the Capitol. I raise a brow but accept this as normal behavior coming from my father and continue in to the kitchen where sure enough there is a plate of freshly baked cookies on the counter. I grab a few and pour myself a glass of milk and join dad on the couch.
"What's this one about?" I ask and take a bite out of a oatmeal and cranberry cookie.
Dad perks up at my question, "They have to make a cake for hundred and twenty people in less then two days." he says. There's some kind of excitement in his voice. I can't help to smile. Once a baker always a baker. "What kind of cake?"
"Chocolate." He answers, "I would have gone for red velvet. Not everyone likes chocolate cake."
I frown as I look to the tv screen, "Who doesn't like chocolate cake?"
"My point exactly." He says. We continue to watch the show together pointing out small things like the decorations or shape of the cake. "Tsk, tsk, tsk." Dad says shifting in his spot. I can tell he's judging the chef's choice in the color of the icing. Oh, father of mine. It is so obvious why mom fell for you. I laugh.
"What?" he turns to me but before I can answer the front door opens and we both turn to see mom. Her face is returning to her normal color and her clenched hands begin to loosen. Uncle Haymitch must have really gotten under her skin.
Dad sits up, "Katniss, how'd it go?" Mom closes the door behind her and puts her fingers to her temple, "Same ol' Haymitch." She answers and then looks up the stairs, "And Luke?"
"Sent him to bed early." Dad answers and pats the seat between us, "Come have a seat with us."
Mom looks to the tv, "What are you watching?" She asks softly. I can tell she's exhausted. "Wedding cakes." I answer, "Come watch."
Mom smiles softly and takes a seat between dad and I. From the corner of my eye, I see as dad places his hand over mom's and their fingers intertwine perfectly around each other. They truly are meant for each other. Suddenly, Evan comes to mind; the feeling of our hands pressed together. I quickly tear my eyes from my parent's hands and my ears go boiling hot. What in the world am I thinking?
