Eva winced as the screen door clattered shut behind her, there was no use being discrete now, she was very, very late.
As if on cue her father walked swiftly through the door that separated the Newhaven's house from the apothecary shop. Eva wasn't sure, but she suspected he'd been waiting for her to return – she knew that could be anything but pleasant.
Birch Newhaven was a tall man, one of the tallest around, his head nearly brushing the door post above him from where he stood under it as he leaned against its frame. His arms were crossed, and while he was certainly tall, his frame was far too lean to appear threatening. His hair, once an ashy blonde, was now flecked with white and graying at the temples above cold blue eyes.
Eva stiffened at his icy gaze, bracing her feet on the floor as if expecting an attack. She waited.
"Where have you been?" Her father said quickly, not an ounce of feeling in his voice – not even anger.
His emotionlessness set her on edge as she sought out a reply that wouldn't further aggravate him.
"I'm sorry, I was with Wade – we just lost track of time…"
Eva's voice trailed off slowly and she hoped her plan had worked. Normally her father would excuse her as long as she told him she'd been with Wade. She knew her father liked Wade, maybe even more than he did her.
She also knew, that like half of the people in Town, both her parents were expecting her and Wade to get married. The idea itself was ridiculous, and had formed in the gossip squares throughout District 12.
While she loved Wade dearly, she didn't love him like that – he was like the brother she lost – nothing more.
Her plan worked and while her father reminded her not to be late again, Eva sighed in relief.
Silently, without another word, Eva followed her father into his apothecary shop.
Just like she'd earlier suspected, Mrs. Hastack was sitting in the patient chair, and once she saw Eva and her father, began chattering away aimlessly as Mr. Newhaven nodded here and there to let her know he was listening.
Eva took her place in the back of the room, close to the stove as she readied a large pot to boil and sterilize her father's equipment. This was a task she performed every day, whether her father used a tool or not. She'd been told time and time again that this was not the business for error, and the equipment was to be clean at all times.
Trying to block out Mrs. Hastack's incessant chattering, Eva set the water to boil before taking a seat at the table where it sat wedged against the far wall. Taking note of the herbs that lay scattered across the table, she judged that her mother had been to the Meadow that day as well.
Several different kinds of healing herbs were arranged in clumps over the large wooden table and Eva quickly recognized each one as she saw it. Her mother had been the daughter of a florist and knew the name and uses for every plant that grew in District 12.
Years ago, when Milla Underhill had married Birch Newhaven, she'd brought her knowledge of plants and healing herbs to his apothecary business and he'd been using them ever since.
Her father bent easily under her mother's gentle guidance, and while she by no means was the head of the household, she could easily persuade her husband with just a gentle word. In fact, it often seemed that Mrs. Newhaven was the only person in the world who could really get through to Eva's father. She could make emotion and feeling return to his eyes when no one else could. Sometimes Eva watched her father when her parents were together; she watched as the ice in his face melted when he was near her mother and once, when no one was looking, Eva had watched as his eyes were once again filled with love – so much so that the faintest hint of a smile had graced his face.
Eva longed to see him look at her with anything but that blank mask he wore so often. And she longed one day – more than anything – to have a man look at her like her father looked at her mother.
Suddenly, her mother was there beside her, her soft hands resting gently on Eva's shoulders. She looked up, smiling as she met her mother's gaze.
A loud, gurgling sound filled her ears as she suddenly remembered the pot of water on the stove. She was on her feet in an instant, her mother at her side, as she quickly brought the pot to the counter, fanning away the steam with a towel.
Her father looked over his should, looking somewhat annoyed as he helped Mrs. Hastack up and led her to the door, tucking a prescription in her hands. As soon as the lady was out the door he turned in Eva's direction.
"Eva!" He said sourly, speaking with more emotion than he had all day.
Eva opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out, instead, her mother came to her aid.
"It's my fault dear," She began calmly, and we both knew this was a lie.
"I distracted her when I walked in."
My father's gaze softened and he sighed deeply, running a hand over his face.
"She knows how hard these instruments are to come by Milla, she knows better."
Somehow his reference to her as if she wasn't even there irked Eva even more, but she bit her tongue.
"Don't worry Birch, she'll make sure it doesn't happen again," Her mother stated, giving Eva a look that said 'you'd better be careful' before continuing.
"Won't you Eva?"
I nodded quickly, finding my voice.
"No ma'am – I promise, it won't happen again."
My mother smiled, but my father's eyes remained unfeeling, nodding curtly before striding through the door as he headed to tally the day's earnings.
The rest of the evening was very quiet, almost painfully quiet.
Most nights were like this, but for some unknown reason Eva was affected more than ever by the uncomfortable silence. She sat with both of her parents at their small dinner table – her father at one end, her mother at the other, and Eva in the middle.
Just like every other day, the empty seat on the other side of the table screamed through the silence and Eva noted how her father never looked directly at that empty chair, and neither did her mother. But Eva, who could hardly remember the days when that chair had been filled, found her eyes glued to it – wondering how much different life would be if it had never been vacant in the first place.
On more than one occasion Eva had been a guest at the Mellark household, and had observed the loud, happy meals that the family enjoyed together. They too had suffered a grave loss, and yet still, every one of them looked at the world with bright and happy eyes – only seeing the good in it.
It was what Eva loved most about them – what she loved most about Wade.
The solemn evening meal was over shortly, and after the table had been cleared and the dishes cleaned Eva kissed both of her parents goodnight and promptly retreated to her room.
The wooden steps creaked and groaned beneath her feet as Eva climbed the steep stairs to her bedroom. It was a small, modest room – just a bed in the far corner, a bedside table and a dresser on the opposite wall.
The room's only window overlooked the Seam of all places, as the Newhaven's home located on the near the street that separated the Town from the Seam.
Some nights Eva would sit on the seat she'd placed under the window, looking out over the Seam and the hilly forests that lay beyond. No one was allowed in those woods, and a long electric fence kept those of District 12 from venturing beyond the Meadow and into the woods.
Eva had always harbored a certain fear for those deep dark woods and had not once even dared go near the fence, but that night she was suddenly filled with a deep curiosity of what lay beyond the fence.
Quickly, before she could change her mind, Eva pushed the window open before sliding down the side trellis. As soon as her feet hit the ground she was off, running once again, through the Seam and into the Meadow.
As she ran, Eva wondered what it was that had given her this sudden burst of courage. Maybe it was just a whim, but maybe, just maybe it was something more than that. And maybe somewhere beyond those woods was the place that she'd dreamed of.
She came to a sudden stop, her eyes large in the moonlight, taking in the long fence that stretched out before her. One step at a time she inched closer and closer, reaching out her hand and listening for the hum of electricity.
There was none.
Eva took hold of the wire with one hand, lowering her head to duck under it when suddenly a voice behind her made her jump, cutting her hand the wire barbs.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Eva turned sharply, and found herself looking up into the face of the gray eyed boy with the silver tongue.
Hope you all are happy with this chapter - as always, please review!