A/N Hi everyone! Sorry that it's been so long, college is tough but here's a long chapter to make up for lost time. Enjoy!
Veeta scoured the dining hall for something decent to eat. Everywhere she looked all she saw was fruit. How did the Amity even have this much fruit, it was the first day of harvest. Shouldn't they be short on fruit? There was no meat and none of the breakfast pastries Veeta was used. She grabbed a boiled egg, the only source of protein she could find, and a cup of granola. She hated granola, but it was the only fiber she could find. She was just about to head back to her table when she finally found bread. There were two small tables, which had previously been blocked by a group of adults, piled high with loafs and slices of bread and toast. One table was labeled "Bread" with slices of the bread they had in all the factions. It was white, starchy, soft, and pre-sliced. The bread on the other table was dark and fresh and smelled amazing. That table was labeled "Amity Bread".
So this was the famous "happy bread"; Veeta remembered when Belle had come to school after eating it. She knew she should stay away, but it smelled so good. She was reaching out for a slice when a hand fell on her shoulder.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." She turned her head to see Steven, the Abnegation transfer, holding her shoulder.
"And I would touch me if I were you." Veeta refrained from threatening. Instead she asked, "Why not?"
"That stuff makes you loopy," Steven withdrew his hand, "and I heard we were going to the fields today. I just figured, heavy machinery and tree climbing, those don't mix well with being loopy. I mean, unless you've tried it before. I don't want to tell you want to do." Steven looked at his feet shyly.
"Oh god, didn't I tell you once to speak up for yourself. That means speaking up for other people too. Especially when you're right." Veeta threw and arm over Steven's shoulder and led him towards her table, "Come on, you're sitting with me and Belle."
"Belle?" Steven looked terrified at the thought.
"Yeah, you like her right?" Veeta asked.
"I-I-I…" Steven stammered.
"Calm down, just talk to her okay. I know she can be a little moody but she won't bite. Unless you're into that I guess."
Steven blushed as red as the strawberries on his plate. Veeta couldn't really explain why she was doing this too him, she didn't want Belle to like him back. But, it was hilarious to watch him stammer and flush all the time, and it wasn't as if he were a real threat. He wasn't Belle's type. Of course, Veeta wasn't Belle's type either, but she was still more like Belle's type than Steven.
Veeta led Steven to the table and plopped him into the chair to Belle's left before sitting in the one to her right. Being around Belle was still slightly awkward after last night. Veeta had tried to apologize when they got up in the morning but Belle had just told her to forget the whole thing. Veeta wanted to, but she got the feeling Belle wouldn't forget. Hopefully, Steven could provide a distraction.
"Belle, you remember Steven," Veeta said, "he just saved me from making a very big mistake. You should give him a kiss in gratitude."
"He saved your life, why don't you kiss him?" Belle laughed. Veeta was relieved to see her laughing.
"You know I'm allergic to men, how dare you suggest I put my health at risk!" Veeta gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her heart in faux shock. "And after Steven here put so much effort into saving me."
"There's no need for kissing, it's not a big deal." Steven muttered, his eyes fixed on his yogurt.
"Oh, well if you wish. Just please accept my dearest thanks for saving my friend." Belle teased and made Steven blush again.
Veeta was overjoyed to see Belle happy again, even if it was a little bit at Steven's expense. Belle popped a piece of bread in her mouth and Veeta's heart dropped.
"Is that Amity Bread?" Veeta asked.
"Yeah." Belle giggled before her face fell. "Oh yeah, I said I wouldn't eat it anymore. This is the first time since then, I swear. I was just hungry and it smelled so good. Please don't be mad." Belle's eyes grew wide as saucers and began to tear up.
"I'm not mad." Veeta assured her. "But Steven said we are going to the fields today."
"I know, that's why I ate it. I don't want to go back to the fields, because everyone there knew my mom. But I did all my fieldwork on bread last time so I'll be okay. And no more after this, promise." Belle didn't sound like herself; Veeta was reminded of Bloom when she listened to Belle's laugh and saw her smile. Worst of all, Veeta knew it was all fake. Belle was just pretending to be happy, with the help of the bread, and it made Veeta want to shake her. She wanted her moody Belle back, even if that Belle was still mad at her. This wasn't her Belle and it made her want to cry.
"Steven, we were supposed to stick together." Ariel said, sitting next to the timid boy. She looked Belle and Veeta over, hiding her disgust behind a fake smile. "Why are you sitting here?"
"I'm sorry Ariel, I lost track of you. Veeta invited me to sit with her and I was worried about holding the food line up so I went with her. I was going to come find you."
"Oh, it's okay silly!" Ariel squealed and hugged him. She leaned past him and Belle to make eye contact with Veeta. "Hi Veeta, how are you liking Amity?" Her voice was sickening, dripping with poison honey.
Veeta never got the chance to respond, at that moment Shannon clapped for their attention. "Okay boys and girls, or should I say young ladies and gentlemen, grab your buddy and let's head out. We have such a fun trip planned today."
"Yeah, eight hours of hard labor, such a treat." Belle muttered. Veeta looked at Belle's plate and realized she had only eaten a bite or two of her bread; the effects must have been wearing off. Veeta was glad to have real-Belle back. She reached out and grabbed Belle's hand. "Why are you holding my hand?" Belle whispered.
"Everyone else is holding their buddy's hand," She whispered back, "I'm just blending in." Belle didn't argue.
Shannon led them outside and they all piled into a huge yellow bus. There was no air conditioning and it smelled, Veeta hoped it wasn't a long ride to the field. On the way there, Shannon began to explain the harvest traditions.
"Since agriculture is Amity's number one contribution to the city, everyone helps with the fall harvest. It's our biggest harvest of the year and there is work for everyone to pitch in. After harvest is over, in two weeks, there is going to be a big party. We'll have a great dinner with all the yummy fruits and veggies we harvest and fresh ciders and a big bonfire just like last night." Veeta wondered if the Amity were ever worried about running out of wood since they burned so much of it. She didn't ask and Shannon just kept talking. "Today you are all going to be paired with your buddies in the apple orchards. One of you, preferably the Amity-born as they are more experienced, will climb into the trees to pick the apples. The other will remain on the ground and when apples get sent down to them they'll look them over and sort them into three baskets. The best apples will be put out to eat raw or used in the fresh foods. Bruised or overripe apples will go in another basket, to be used for cider, juice, and applesauce. Last, any rotten apples will be fed to livestock or donated to Factionless Relief." The bus pulled to a stop and Shannon's already wide smile grew into a beam. "We're here!" she cheered.
Everyone unloaded from the bus and a large man in a straw hat greeted them. "Hello everyone, my name is Joshua. I'm so glad to have you're help today. Follow me and I'll show you around the orchard." His voice was rich and smooth, with a husk in it of a man who had worked hard his whole life. Had he been less jovial, the voice would have sounded cruel like the Dauntless, but Joshua's smile removed any hidden aggression his voice could have held.
Joshua led them up to a line of apple trees that seemed to go on forever. Looking past the first line, Veeta could see several more acres of trees. She couldn't imagine even a faction as large as Amity getting all these trees harvested in two weeks.
"So, as you can see, this is the apple orchard. I'm going to give you all sections and those will be your trees for the day. We'll work until five, if you finish your section early you can take a break or help a group that is behind as it pleases you. So, first I'm going to show you, with the help of Shannon, how this all works." Shannon stepped forward; she had a harness around her hips and leather gloves on her hands. "As you can see, Shannon here is all geared up for climbing. You all get to use ladders of course, but you'll also be wearing these harnesses as a precaution." He strapped Shannon's harness to a hook hanging from the tree, and then she began to climb the ladder. "Climb the ladder slowly, one move at a time. And if you fall, or think you will fall, don't panic. Shannon, show them what to do if you fall." Shannon slowly leant back as if she were falling and wrapped her hands around the rope hanging her from the tree. "Thank you, Shannon. So, if you fall, lay back a little and curl your legs in. Don't try to grab the tree or the ladder, it will make you swing around and could knock the ladder onto your partner on the ground. Instead, wrap your hands over the rope, it will keep you balanced and prevent you from slamming your head into the ground or tree."
Joshua then held up a silver pail with a handle, "You collect your apples in this, then pass it down to your partner. The proper way to pick an apple, you grab it lightly by the widest part and twist it until the stem breaks. Be gentle, if you squeeze too hard the apple will bruise or the stem won't break properly." Shannon demonstrated the technique for them, but she was too high in the leaves for Veeta to see. "Now, ground partners, when your partner passes the pail to you you'll separate the apples into these three buckets," He pointed to a row of different colored buckets on the ground, "the good apples, ripe with no bruises, will go in the red bucket. Slightly bruised or damaged apples go in the green bucket. Over ripe or bug-eaten apples go in the black one. Pickers, if you se any under-ripe apples leave them on the branch, we'll go back on the last day to harvest those when they're a little more mature. When your buckets are full, your third partner will bring the buckets to their designated zones." He pointed to the barn, which was divided by red, green, and black, flags.
"What do you mean third partners?" An erudite transfer asked.
"Glad you mentioned that, son. Shannon wanted this to be a surprise. Come on out!" Joshua called out towards the barn and a stream of small children came running and laughing from inside. "As it so happens," Joshua said when all the kids were present, "today is the pre-school's volunteer day too. You will each be given a little helper from Ms. Brummel's class. In fact, kids, why don't you go pick out the pair you want to work with?" The kids cheered ad rushed forward, a few of them searching for family, neighbors, and babysitters. From the back of the group, Veeta couldn't see any of the kids until a familiar set of pigtails slipped between the crowd.
"Lala! Kitty!" Bloom squealed and threw her arms out. She tried to hug them both, and her little arms just slid between their knees and hugged one leg each. Veeta stumbled a little and she and Belle wound up pressed hip to hip. They smiled at each other when they collided, but only for a second, until Bloom demanded their attention with her tiny voice again. "So Kitty is Amity now. No more Daunt-el-ease. So she's good now?"
"Silly bunny, Veeta was always good." Belle smiled as she knelt to give her sister a proper hug. "But yes, she is Amity now."
"Is she going to live with us now? I know, you two could get married like Ms. Ruth and Ms. Janie! Then you could both take care of me and be my big sisters, and we would all be a family!" Bloom's eyes sparkled. Belle and Veeta looked at each other uncomfortably, wondering how to break the news. Joshua's voice called on them and Bloom turned back to the front. Veeta hoped Bloom would just forget this new match she had made. If Bloom kept on it, Belle would eventually have to tell her sister the truth; that Belle was never going to love her, and she was never going to love Belle. At least, that's what Belle would say was the truth.