Another Chapter, yay!
Inimical
in·im·i·cal [ih-nim-i-kuhl]
–adjective
1. adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful: a climate inimical to health
2. unfriendly; hostile: a cold, inimical gaze
Ever...
I excuse myself to the bathroom after Mayor Bond and the victors raise their glasses to me. I leave for two reasons:
1. I really have to pee.
2. I don't know how much longer I can sit there and pretend like they don't all want to strangle me.
The layout of this Justice Building is just like the layout of the one back in 12.
When I am sure I'm alone in the bathroom I allow myself to slide down the side of the stall and just sit there on the floor. I fee like crying, but I don't. It isn't worth crying about. If only I had something glass. I could break it.
Haymitch...
"I'm going to go check on her."
I eye Seeder. "She just went to use the bathroom."
She gives me the Haymitch-you're-an-idiot look. "Did you not notice her body language as she left?"
"Uh..."
"What about you Chaff?"
"Huh?"
"Kieran?"
"Dad! I didn't do it this time!"
Seeder rolls her eyes and Miranda joins her. "Miranda, want to go with me?"
Miranda nods and follows Seeder. When they are out of earshot I turn to Chaff and ask, "What body language? I didn't see anything."
"Neither did I, man...just let Seeder and Miranda be the paranoid girlies they are."
Kieran laughs, "Not a very nice thing to say about 'Daddy's little angel' huh, Dad?"
Chaff gets defensive, "Uh, I don't call your sister that."
"Not out loud, but you think it."
I smile. "Just admit it, man."
Ever...
I am sure I'm alone. One hundred per cent sure of it.
At least until the bathroom door opens. "Evie? You in here?"
I grin, recognizing Miranda Baakari's voice. I unlock the door to the stall whose floor I am sitting on and it swings open. "Yep. Oh! Hi Seeder."
Seeder smiles a small smile before looking concerned. "Are you okay sweetie?"
"Yeah." I lie.
Miranda and Seeder both cross their arms. "No lying." They say in unison.
"Okay that was creepy."
"Tell the truth." Again. In unison.
I sigh and tell them about how from the moment I set foot in District 11 I have gotten dirty looks from everybody. I thought being humble during my speech and acknowledging their tributes would tone down the animosity but didn't. I thought maybe acting much more proper than I thought I could ever possibly achieve would make the victors accept me as their equal, or at least a person, but didn't. "I don't get it...is there something in my teeth or what?"
Seeder nods understandingly. "They're just being bitter. Trust me, when some of them run into you in the Capitol during these upcoming Games they will be nicer."
"But what if they aren't? Why are they even so mean? It's not my fault your tributes didn't win! I didn't kill them!" I instantly shut my mouth. Just because Seeder loves me doesn't mean that I can just say crap about her tributes without consequences.
She doesn't get angry. She just smiles. "I know what that's like, believe me. I still have a grudge against District 9 because of how cruel thier victors were to me when I won."
I giggle. Raewyn is from District 9. "Really?"
"Really. It gets better."
"So what do you say you come back with us?" Miranda asks, offering me her hand. I take it and she helps me up. The three of us walk back into the dining hall together. Most of the victors are still giving me the most inimical glances, but the weight of them has seemed to have lessened. I go through the rest of the feast without worry.
Haymitch...
We stay the night in the Justice Building as per tradition. I have had a little too much to drink, as Ever and Tanith have to lead me to a room. If I wasn't so drunk right now, I would be completely embarrassed. UGh, but give me a break! I have been (mostly) sober since Ever won the Games. It's okay to get drunk every once in a while...right?
I wake up the next morning with a hangover and I don't even say goodbye to anybody but Chaff, Seeder and Winnow.
Ever smirks when the train starts moving. "Repeat after me- I will not drink, I cannot drink, I must not drink!"
"I will drink...I can...I must."