Chapter Thirty-Five; A New Situation

(Stephanie's POV)

Stephanie could have cried with relief when she opened her eyes the next morning and seen Frenkin sitting in the chair next to her bed, fresh-eyed and twiddling his thumbs.

She nearly did as she shot upright in bed, tearing back the covers and practically throwing herself at Frenkin.

She could see the look of pure alarm on Frenkin's face.

"S..St…Stephanie?" Frenkin stammered, his voice raised a few octaves in surprise as he flushed scarlet red.

Stephanie pulled back and gave him a smile. "I'm sorry Frenkin. I just…ha, I don't even know anymore. I'm just real glad to see you," she answered.

Frenkin gulped and pushed the glasses up on his nose. "I'm glad to see you too," he replied.

A silence stretched on between them for a few moments in which neither knew what to do and so Stephanie began fiddling with the hem of her white shirt.

Frenkin broke the silence tentatively. "All the …arguing?" he chanced a glimpse up at Stephanie questioning.

Stephanie's long fingers had stilled and she was staring off into the distance.

"Nothing for you to worry about Frenkin," she replied eventually, a little too brightly.

Frenkin nodded hesitantly.

"I'm going to get ready. I won't be long," Stephanie said in a rush and with that she went to wardrobe, pulled out a change of clothes without looking and disappeared into the bathroom.

Frenkin fell back into his chair with a puzzled expression.

…

(Stephanie & Frenkin's POV)

In the bathroom Stephanie scrubbed the remnants of her teary night from her face, her cheeks sporting a cherry red look by the time she had finished.

She pulled her fingers through her hair, cursing as they got caught in tangles. She deemed her hair fit and securing it atop her head with a few pins she found from the floor – no doubt from the previous nights – Stephanie stepped into the shower and out of it again in a record less than five minutes.

She quickly put on fresh clothes; a beige short sleeved blouse and a pair of soft brown trousers. She opened the door of the bathroom and sprinted out towards the wardrobe.

Poor Frenkin nearly jumped out of his seat.

Stephanie fell to her knees rummaging through the piles of shoes at the bottom. By the time she had found a pair of knee high felt tan boots, half the contents of the wardrobe where on the bedroom floor and Frenkin was staring at her as if she were some kind of maniac, not that she noticed.

Stephanie pulled on a pair of cottony soft socks and then the boots that fitted securely.

And all the while as Stephanie raced through the daily actions her thoughts were racing even faster still.

She needed to apologise to Haymitch. It was an undeniable fact that she had completely decided upon at about three in the morning after waking up shaking and drenched in sweat. She had wanted to do it right there and then but decided to wait until morning.

Her deal with Ficen – well…there was nothing she could do about it now. She could only hope that Ficen lived up to her end of styling her to the best of her abilities. Stephanie suspected she would, not for her sake but for Ficen's own sake. Ficen wouldn't want any of her designs to be anything less than perfect, even if Stephanie was the one wearing them.

Isa, Bright, Lashes and Silver all had been present for the very heated arguments. Stephanie could only once again hope that they hadn't heard that much and what they did hear, they didn't understand enough of to connect the dots. She had a feeling however that Ficen would stop any rumours on that front, for she knew that Ficen would get in just as much trouble as she for letting a tribute be so bold.

Finally there was the matter with the Avox. Would she stay silent on what she had seen between her and Haymitch? Figuratively speaking of course. Stephanie could only hope she would…again. She didn't like how much 'hope' she was meant to be having. And then Haymitch said he would sort it out. Would he still do it? And how on earth was he going to 'sort it out' anyway?

"Damn it!" Stephanie began to curse wildly as Frenkin stared at her in open mouthed shock, never having heard such language in his life.

"I'm only awake and already I have a whole mountain of problems!" Stephanie stamped her boots on the ground in frustration.

Frenkin continued to look at her as if she were a lunatic.

Stephanie gritted her teeth together in annoyance giving herself some mental encouragement.

Frenkin was in a word…terrified.

Stephanie turned to him after rallying her spirits with a beaming smile only to find Frenkin staring at her and pale as a ghost.

"Frenkin, what's the matter?" Stephanie asked as she crossed the room over to him.

Frenkin fidgeted for a moment.

"Are you okay?" Frenkin asked nervously.

"I've been better," Stephanie answered truthfully.

"Are you…thinking okay?" Frenkin pressed further.

Stephanie arched a dark eyebrow at him in confusion.

"Yes, I'm thinking just fine," she replied.

"O…Okay then, sh...shall we go down to breakfast?" Frenkin offered.

Stephanie looked at him for a moment more confused before leading the way to the door.

Frenkin had a brief moment to wonder if she knew about the arrangements made overnight,before Stephanie pulled open the door determinedly and stepped outside.

A split second later Stephanie was back in the room, her back up against the door, white as a sheet as her whole body quaked.

"Frenkin…!" she whispered fiercely.

"Y...ye...yes?" Frenkin stammered, making his way hesitantly over to her.

When he was within arms distance of her, Stephanie reached out and grabbed him by the wrist pulling him over beside her.

"Are you aware…?""she began.

"Yes I know," Frenkin said cutting across her.

"Why?" she asked, still deathly pale.

Frenkin shrugged. "Protection?" he offered.

"Frenkin, they do not post Capitol guards inside the tribute's personal compartments. There are two guards outside my door and at least six more in this hall alone!" Stephanie whispered all the while her grip on his arm tightening, her nails digging painfully through the fabric of the purple shirt.

Frenkin was gradually able to pry Stephanie's fingers off his arm, wincing at the slight pain.

"I don't know. I just woke up this morning and they were there," Frenkin answered innocently.

Stephanie's eyes widened and suddenly her thoughts jerked forward. Who was it that had ratted them out? And ratted who out to be precise? And what exactly did they rat out?

The entire thoughts were far too much for someone who had just woken up and Stephanie leaned gratefully back against the door, looking even paler if that were possible.

"Please don't faint on me Stephanie, I'm not sure I could catch you like Haymitch," Frenkin begged.

At the mention of Haymitch Stephanie lunged forward gripping the front of Frenkin's shirt fiercely, half-lifting him of the ground.

Frenkin gave a small yelp of terror until Stephanie clapped her hand over his mouth, shaking her head fiercely and gesturing to the door.

Frenkin was beginning to fear that he might faint himself. Where was the Stephanie that held his hand when he was frightened or held him tightly making him feel that he wasn't so alone?

Stephanie forced Frenkin to focus on her eyes. "Frenkin…where's Haymitch? Have they taken him?" Stephanie asked desperately.

Frenkin shook his head. "N…no, no. He's drunk," Frenkin answered. Stephanie practically dropped Frenkin to the ground where he managed to steady himself just in time.

"Drunk?" Stephanie repeated, tilting her head to the side.

Frenkin nodded vigorously, smoothing his shirt down with shaking hands.

Suddenly there was a sharp knock at the door and both Stephanie and Frenkin jumped simultaneously, giving sharp cries.

A gruff voice called from the other side of the door. "Breakfast. Now."

Both Stephanie and Frenkin's eyes widened in utter fear. They stood frozen, clutching each other's hands before suddenly the door shuddered as it was met with another series of loud bangs.

"Breakfast. Now." The voice repeated slightly louder.

Frenkin slid his hand into Stephanie's, gaining a small feeling of comfort.

Stephanie opened the door hesitantly to be met with the stern face of a Capitol guard towering above them. Both Stephanie and Frenkin cowered back.

The guard stepped back and gestured gruffly down the hall.

Stephanie stepped out into the hall, pulling Frenkin along behind her.

Stephanie was currently hyperventilating with every new guard that she and Frenkin passed on their way to breakfast. Well, hyperventilating was actually an understatement.

She reached the dining table and felt the world spin around her on its axis, before she was able to grip the table and stop herself from hitting the floor.

At the table sat Isa in her usual position. Haymitch was absent. And in Stephanie's usual seat was Ficen, sipping quietly from a steaming mug.

Why the hell was Ficen here having breakfast with them as if it was the most casual thing in the world?!

Around the table was stationed two guards, imposing and intimidating.

Stephanie felt Frenkin's hand slip from hers and she was almost about to cry out for him again when she felt his thin arm hold her around the waist, holding her up as best he could.

Frenkin helped Stephanie into the nearest chair, one away from Isa and he sat himself down beside her.

Stephanie pressed her head into her hands, unable to comprehend what had happened in the space of one night.

How was she meant to get answers with the Capitol guards here? And further more why were they here at all?

Stephanie refused any form of sustenance until Frenkin was finally able to convince her to drink half a cup of weak tea. Her hands were shaking so badly that she had to set the cup down to stop it from spilling.

Frenkin's wide, blue eyes were filled with worry as he glanced about the silent table guests feeling utterly helpless.

The new situation was going to change a lot.