Today's the day, and quite frankly, I'm scared to death. What if Gentian doesn't remember me? What if he's been tortured? What if he's insane? They must have done something to him. During breakfast with the McNamaras this morning, all I do is stare into space, slowly lifting forkfuls of eggs to my mouth, occasionally murmuring a thank you. Acton suspects something's wrong, and Sashah's happily oblivious, but Liham knows exactly what's the matter, and he thankfully doesn't bring it up.
The only thing that could make me happy right now is if he arrived here unscathed, but the only thing that could make me mad is if he arrives at 11:59 tonight. I'm neither happy nor sad, more anxious and nervous.
"The eggs were delicious, Mrs. McNamara. Excuse me," I say, sliding back in my chair, creating an uncomfortably noisy rumble, and Liham's mom is about to insist that I stay, have some fun, when Liham shoots her a look, and she just smiles at my back as I hurriedly scuffle to the barn.
I run as fast as I can to the second level and sit on the edge of the floor, my legs dangling over the edge, just staring into the sky. Sometimes weird thoughts about life occur to me, and this is one of those moments. Why am I doing this? Because the Capitol tried to kill me, and will attempt to kill many more children in the future if something isn't done. How can we do that? The population's grown, District 13 is working on more nuclear weapons, and we may be able to overthrow the Capitol now. How did I manage to get myself into this? I don't know.
I'm so preoccupied thinking that I don't notice when a little dot starts winding its way up the McNamara's road, slowly but surely, with a slight limp. But even my eyes eventually catch the splotch of fiery red on the person's head. "GENTIAN!" I squeal, and am tempted to jump the two tall stories for a quicker trip, but that wouldn't end well, so I fly down the ladder and sprint across the grass lawn, slowing when I notice that he's limping and it wouldn't do to barrel into him. I keep running until I'm five feet away from him, and stop, out of breath. I take him in; torn clothing, ruffled hair, a twinkle in his eye, his usual childish grin, and I leap foreword, planting my lips on his before I even think about what I'm doing. He pulls me closer, and that's when I realize I'm kissing Gentian, and pull away. What did I just do?
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Nobody knows Gentian, really, so there are a couple of hugs and many, many introductions. Acton shakes his hand, genuinely pleased to meet him, and Sashah blushes deep red when he shakes her hand. Liham, however, just spends a long time studying him. I'd told him a lot about Gentian, and it was like seeing George Washington, with all of the pictures drawn of him and all of the famous stories, but no photos. Gentian doesn't really belong at the McNamaras though, so he has to go home and check on his family first.
He's at his own house for a few hours before he comes back, and by that time it's getting dark, and everyone's had dinner. In fact, Acton's already asleep. Liham's hanging out with his brothers and Sasha's applying makeup with Liham's slightly younger sister. I'm alone, trying to fall asleep in the barn, when Gentian comes in. I hear him, but don't look at him, assuming it's Liham or Sashah. I only open my eyes when he lies down a foot from my head, facing me. He wasn't looking at me, but when I opened my eyes, I caught his attention. We just look at each other for a moment, and it feels normal. I've looked into his eyes often before. I see his few scratches and a bruise next to his eye, and open my mouth to speak, but he does too, and naturally, he just pretends as if I wasn't talking in the first place. I had grown used to him doing this.
"Look, Burnet, about this morning-" he started, and I sighed. I'd forgotten about this morning.
"I was just caught up in the moment," I say, shockingly harshly, and soften my expression. He isn't fazed.
"Don't kid yourself Burnet. You know you felt something," he said, and hopped up, collecting his coat. "Glad to see you too."
He walks away, and I look after him as he rumbles down the noisy steps, and then he's out of sight. I think over what he said. Did I feel anything? Was I actually caught up in the moment? Does this mean that Gentian likes me?
The truth is, I'm not sure what I felt, and I don't know what to think.
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Gentian hasn't mentioned last night, in fact, he goes on as if none of it had ever happened, but it doesn't matter. He just wants me to keep it in mind, but go back to normal. But normal will never exist with us. I just competed in the Hunger Games, and the public is rebelling.
I'm the only one in the living room, and I'm watching the little television. Well, every twenty minutes or so it comes on for a little bit, then shuts back off again. I'm watching, bored, when President Hayle comes on, and I devote more of my attention to the little television set.
"Today," he says, in a very satisfied voice, "we're here interviewing Miss Chanua Neale about how she escaped the arena. Here's Eddy with Miss Neale!" he says, and I squeal, sitting up abruptly, all of my focus on the screen. Chanua!
"Thanks, President!" a man who I assume must be Eddy says, and the camera turns to focus on Chanua, who walks onto the set. I gasp. She's in the most gorgeous mini dress I've ever seen, and her hair is amazing, but she's not beautiful today. Her eyes are filled with desperation, and there are dark circles under her eyes. Far too much makeup has been applied all over her body to cover up several scratches, and not only are her eyes desperate, they'e full of pain and reluctance.
"Oh no," I mumble to myself. What have they done to her? Of all of us, I thought Chanua would be the one they would least likely break down, but here she is, broken into pieces. She gingerly sits into a horrid, white plastic chair, and my eyes are glued to the screen, feeling her internal pain, flinching when she does.
"So, Chanua, who really came up with the plan?" Eddy asks, and this doesn't seem to affect Chanua, but I can tell she's doing far more thinking than this question could require.
"It was me, Eddy," Chanua says, and my eyes grow wide, shocked. Sure, Chanua did some, but Acton was the main planner! Did she just sacrifice herself? For what?
"Oho! Did you ever stray from the original plan?" Eddy asks with a twinkle in his eye. Chanua looks like she was straining something, and it was unbearable.
"Well, um, we knew sharks probably wouldn't find the most edible food, so we lucked out with the dolphins, and- just happened to escape from the arena," she says, and this seems to take the most effort. I know why- it was a flat out lie. The Capitol seems to want to change the public's view, let them know it was all an accident and that we hadn't actually escaped from the arena. Why has it taken them so long to get this interview? Then I realize it, and feel like an idiot because I've only just realized it.
Chanua isn't doing and of this willingly. They're forcing her. They must have something on her, like a family member, or a bomb threat on her district, because if I know Chanua, she'd put up more of a fight than just a week and a half if it were just her and the Capitol.