"Eva!"
Eva turned around, squinting her eyes as she tried to place the owner of the voice that had called out to her. Shading her eyes with her hand, Eva spotted not one, but two girls running towards her.
Both girls were golden haired and pretty – almost completely identical in appearance; the only difference between the two was the small brown birthmark just above the elder's right eye. Rosemary and Maysilee Donner had been Eva's good friends and companions ever since they'd started school and Eva smiled brightly at the sight of them.
Eva stopped, waiting as the girls ran forward, Maysilee just ahead of her sister.
"Where on earth have you been Eva," Maysilee said as the two girls came to a halt beside their friend.
"I feel like it's been ages since we've seen you outside of school."
Eva nodded her head sadly, feeling guilty once again as she realized she'd been neglecting the few good friends she had while caught up in her anxieties over Phoenix and her father's hate of the Seam.
It had been several days, and both her parents still went about their time in silence; her father plagued by mournful memories and her mother in respect for her father. Their house had been a quiet place as of late, almost as quiet as it had been in the early days after the burial of her brother. Walking through the silent halls were a constant torment to Eva and she welcomed any chance to be free of the melancholy dwelling.
"I know, Maysilee, I know – I hope you'll forgive me though – I've just been so busy lately."
Another lie, it seemed as if Eva couldn't escape them these days.
Rosemary reached out then, placing her hand on Eva's arm.
"We know Eva, we don't hold it against you, we just miss you."
"Yeah," said Maysilee, chiming in again. "Can you imagine what it's like to be cooped up with the same person all the time, I needed a bit of fresh air."
Rosemary rolled her eyes, nudging her sister playfully with her shoulder.
"You love me and you know it." Said Rosemary.
Eva laughed; she was glad to be with her friends again as they started walking back in the direction of their homes.
They hadn't gotten very far, all three girls chattering aimlessly about homework and boys as they walked, before they passed a section in District 12 where the Seam and the Town intersected briefly. The twins took no notice and continued to chatter away, but Eva's eyes scanned the opposite street, holding her breath as she did.
She quickly found what she was looking for.
Today of all days, the mines had let out early and a thin line of men was already plodding slowly towards their homes. Eva searched the faces, finding it difficult to tell man from boy in all the coal dust.
She'd just about given up when a faint tune caught her ears. Eva eyes sought out its singer, and she quickly spotted Phoenix among them. He was whistling, not singing, but the sound was still one of the most beautiful sounds that Eva had ever heard.
She was so caught up in the tune that she almost didn't realize he was looking straight back at her, a smile behind his eyes.
Eva froze then, inside she was flying above the clouds but outside she was terrified and elated at the same time – he remembered her.
He winked then and Eva began to melt, finally responding enough to return his smile with one of her own. He tipped his helmet to her, and then he was gone, having melded into the sea of coal miners.
Her hesitation had not gone unnoticed however; both Rosemary and Maysilee had stopped as well, staring at Eva. It was Maysilee who spoke first. Always the braver of the twins, Maysilee was hardly ever timid about speaking her mind.
"Eva," she began.
"Eva, who was that?"
Eva's mind scrambled, searching for an explanation. While she loves both girls equally, Maysilee and Eva had always been closer somehow, and Eva knew she needed to choose her words wisely or her friend would see right through her.
Eva decided to tell the truth, just leave some of the truth out.
"Oh, he's just a boy I ran into a while back."
Rosemary remained silent, but Maysilee continued to question Eva's story.
"He's a Seam boy Eva, how do you "just run into" a Seam boy?"
Eva felt a stab of defensiveness shoot through her.
"What's wrong with a Seam boy Maysilee, don't talk about him like he has the plague!"
Maysilee held her hands up in defense.
"It's not like that Eva and you know it – I don't have anything against the Seam, but I can't help but wonder, how did you happen to run into him while in Town – I've never seen him before."
Maysilee had a point, and Eva knew now that there was no going back; she'd all but uncovered her secret.
"I-I…" Eva stuttered, unsure if she wanted go any further.
"I was in the Seam alright – I ran into him in the Meadow behind the Seam – there! Happy now, I sneak off to the Seam when I think no one will miss me!"
Eva folded her arms across her chest, she was already beginning to feel regret for the way she'd yelled at Maysilee. It seemed like Eva was making a mess of everything.
Rosemary's arm was on Eva's again.
"You know Maysilee didn't mean anything Eva, I'm sorry you're upset…"
Rosemary's voice trailed off as her eyes fell to the brown earth beneath their feet. For a moment, no one said anything.
"I'm sorry Eva, I just don't want you to get hurt." Maysilee's voice was sincere and Eva could tell she meant every word.
Eva threw her arm around both of her friends, pulling Maysilee's head to her own, giving her temple a quick kiss.
"You both know I could never stay mad at either of you for long," Eva began.
"Don't worry, really, I can take care of myself – and the Seam isn't like that – it's not all that dangerous. I think people just say that to keep us Town kids out of there."
Rosemary sighed in relief, glad that the conflict was over, but there was still a faint light of suspicion in Maysilee's eyes – like she felt that there was something more to what Eva was telling them.
The girls walked on, and Eva hoped that by tomorrow they could forget about the whole thing. It wasn't long before they parted ways, Eva going in one direction and the twins going in the other.
Deep inside, Eva knew that Maysilee knew more than she said, and if she didn't bring it up soon, she'd just bring it up later. It was only a matter of time. There were just some things that another girl would understand, better than even Wade could – this, Eva thought, was one of those things.
Late that night as Eva lay in bed, she muddled over the happenings of what had gone on, both physically and mentally, since she'd first met Phoenix. Eva was so confused, she couldn't make sense of anything and she knew the only way she could ever find out was she went to the Seam again.
She needed to see him again, to talk to him – she wanted to learn, to get to know him better, and to see if what she felt already for him was the same that he felt for her.
It was a huge risk, and Eva blanched at what the consequences of her actions might be.
Phoenix might laugh her off – maybe he didn't care for her. She couldn't blame him, after all, they didn't even know each other. She couldn't explain why it was that already, she felt such a deep connection to him. Maybe it was girlish hormones, but maybe it was fate – maybe they were destined to be together.
For just a second, Eva puzzled over what that could mean. If she was to pursue a future with Phoenix, it would be to leave her whole life behind. She knew already that her father would in no way approve of his daughter – his only child – marrying a boy from the very place he despised. What would people say about her?
Eva chose to push the thoughts of gloom into the back of her mind. She was overthinking everything – these feelings she had were driving her insane.
Yanking the covers over her head, Eva turned restlessly in her bed.
The air outside was warmer every day, signaling the end of a hard winter, but not necessarily bringing life. With every day, danger drew closer for the children of Panam. Summer would bring warmth, but also death – the Games. Just one more thing to add to Eva's growing list of worries.
She wasn't going to think about that now. Wade, Rosemary and Maysilee were as good as safe – they'd never taken tessera in their lives. And Phoenix, at nineteen, he'd never have to fear the Games again. The Games had never harmed her or anyone she cared about in the past – this year wouldn't be any different.
I want to thank those of you who are reviewing and send a shout out to Antha32 and KumoFuzei! You guys have been great!
Here's another chapter, I've got some big plans for this story - I hope you all are interested! Let me know if you ever have any suggestions.
