Chapter 18
(Madge POV)
As promised, Drew is right there waiting for me I step off the train. White rose in hand. Ugh, I'm going to have to find a subtle way to tell him that I hate them.
"Welcome to District 4. You look lovely." He says as he hands me the rose and leans forward to kiss my forehead. It seems like a stiff greeting but that's probably because so many people are around us. The station is far busier here than it ever is in 12.
"Thank you, I'm happy to be here." I reply.
He motions to someone and I see an Avox come over to take my bags. So I guess they have an Avox that works at their house. "Thank you." I tell her as she takes my luggage. She doesn't look up but I know she heard me.
Drew grips my arm as I thank the Avox, as if he is not comfortable with me doing so. "What are you doing?" He whispers.
"Proper manners are always allowed." I tell him without whispering. Even my father doesn't care when he hears me thank an Avox for something so I'm a little surprised that Drew cares.
He clears his throat and then smiles. "I thought I'd show you around before we go to the house. It's been awhile since you've been here."
"Lead the way." I smile back at him.
District 4 is quite beautiful. Ocean views that will take your breath away. He's right though, I haven't been here in a long time so it's nice to see it again. Drew holds my hand as he leads me around town, pointing out various buildings and such. It's far nicer than 12 is, that's for sure. It's also much busier and has much more of a Capitol feel to it.
"Tonight we'll have dinner with my family. August has his match here visiting as well so my parents thought it would be good to have us all together."
"That sounds great. Who is August's match? I wasn't paying attention at the matching ceremony." I tell him. It actually doesn't sound at all like anything I want to do but I knew it was likely to happen.
"Pemberly Winston. Her father is head peacekeeper in District 1 and rumor has it he's about to move to the Capitol and be on President Snow's advisory board."
"I don't think I know her. Actually, I didn't know very many of the heirs at all. I'd heard of many of them or of their families but there weren't many people I actually knew."
"I felt like I knew almost everyone. But I think that's partly because of the programs August and I have participated in."
"I'm beginning to wonder if I'm the only heir that goes to regular school didn't take some sort of special class." I laugh.
"Honestly, knowing your father, I'm surprised you didn't."
He's right. This is normally the sort of thing my father would've demanded of me. I wonder why he didn't?
"What else do we have planned while I'm in town?" I ask, eager to hear about the time alone he promised.
He smiles. "What do you want to do?"
"I'm pretty sure you promised me some time alone." I remind him.
He laughs. "Don't worry, I didn't forget, we'll have time alone. " He says as he pulls me in closer to him and lets his arm fall around my waist.
"I thought I'd take you to some of the shops in the harbor. You're going to need a swimsuit and I forgot to tell you to bring one."
"Swimming?" I ask as fear runs through me. I can't actually swim. It hadn't even occurred to me that he might want to do that while I was here.
"There's a pool at the house but I thought you may want to take a dip in the ocean tomorrow. I know it's something you can't exactly do in 12." He explains.
"So I should probably tell you that I don't really know how to swim. I've been in a pool before, a long time ago when I was traveling with my father but that's the only time." I confess.
"We'll stay in the shallow part, you won't need to actually have any swimming skills. I want you to experience what it feels like when the waves roll in against the shore."
We arrive at the shop where he says I should look for a swimsuit. He takes a seat on the bench outside the shop while I go inside. I've never purchased a swimsuit before and I have no idea what to look for. Thankfully, the girl working is very helpful and finds several for me to try on. I try on all of them and decide on a blue and white seersucker bikini. It's the least revealing of all of them and I actually really like the fabric. When I come out of the fitting room ready to buy it, the girl holds up a white dress and tells me it's a cover up and that I'll want that if I'm spending time at the beach. She asks if I have sandals or a hat, which of course I have neither. I like that I have an excuse to buy new sandals but I cringe at the thought of a hat. I am not a hat person. When I walk out, I've got a new swimsuit, a cover up, sandals and sunglasses.
"All set?" Drew asks, standing up as I exit the shop.
"Yes, the girl who was working was very helpful and says I have everything I need for the beach now." I tell him as I hold up my shopping bags for him to see.
"Good. Now, tell me, what do you like to eat? I'm ready for some lunch." He asks as he takes my bags to carry them for me.
"I'm not a picky eater. Whatever you want is fine with me."
"No, I actually want to know what you like. What's your favorite type of cuisine?"
"I really like italian food, like pasta. My housekeeper makes the absolute best lasagna I've ever had!"
"Okay, come with me, I have an idea." He leads us down a couple streets to a place overlooking the water.
I notice it's a Seafood place which I think is odd since he asked what I liked and I said italian but I follow him inside anyway. We sit at a little table for two and as the waitress hands us menus, Drew takes them and hands them right back.
"We won't need these. We'll split the seafood lasagna please. And waters with lemon please." He tells her.
I smile. "Seafood Lasagna? Never knew there was such a thing."
"It's good. If you like italian, it's a twist of that and the seafood of District 4."
It's hard sitting here in a restaurant with him because I want to talk about so many things that I'm not sure we can openly discuss. And small talk can be hard when you don't really know anything about a person. "So while we wait for this amazing lasagna, how about you tell me something about yourself that I don't already know." I tell him and wait to see what he comes up with.
He thinks for a second. "I'm allergic to bees."
"Allergies? That's the best you can give me?" I laugh.
"It's a valid tidbit of information. Your turn. Tell me something I don't know about you."
"I have no known allergies." I announce as if it's big information.
"No way, that doesn't count. You can't just copy me."
"Okay, let's see...I can't cook at all."
"Have you ever tried?"
"Well, no, but I've never even made a sandwich so I doubt the kitchen is where I'll find my hidden talents." I admit. Growing up with a full time housekeeper means I've never had to do any sort of cooking or meal prepping at all. "Can you? Cook, I mean?"
He nods his head. "Actually I can. I don't really ever do it, but I took a course on it."
"All these courses you've taken are starting to make me feel like I'm not quite prepared for adult life yet." I say, meaning it as a joke but also feeling like it could be true.
Our meal comes and he picks up a fork and holds out a bite for me to take. I open my mouth and take the bite. It's good. It's got a lot of seafood flavor but with an alfredo cheese sauce and pasta layered with it. I still think Bethany's italian lasagna is better but this was fun to try and I'm glad he suggested it. We eat our lunch and then head hand in hand to his house.
He shows me to my room where I find my baggage waiting for me. "I've got to go take care of some things but I'll come get you for dinner." He tells me. He looks like he might kiss me but then he doesn't and I'm kind of grateful considering I just ate seafood.
I get unpacked and take a peek at the view from my window. Ocean view, just as I expected. Drew's house is much larger than mine and seems to be fully staffed. All we have usually is Bethany unless there's a specific need for more staff that we then bring on temporarily. I wonder what stuff he had to go take care of but I'm also glad for a little break so I can take my shoes off for awhile. I hope heels are a thing your feet get used to after awhile.
I sit at the end of the bed and look around. I still have a little while before I need to get ready for dinner which leaves me with some downtime alone and I'm not sure what to do with myself. I decide to go check out the rest of the house. I haven't seen it in forever and it's been redecorated. The style is newer, different than our house and it's very well done. The carpets are white and plush, the chandeliers that line the hallways are sparkling with crystals, crystal doorknobs on all the doors, paintings line the walls but they're all abstract paintings with lots of bright vivid colors. We don't have any art like that at our house. Our house is very nice, but this is definetly nicer. I turn down another hallway making my way towards a double grand staircase with a huge banister but stop when I hear voices down below.
"Why is she even here? You're wasting your time pretending to entertain her. You know you'll choose the other one, she's Capitol and no one ever picks 12 over the Capitol."
It's August and Drew. And they're talking about me.
"You know I'm suppose to spend my time equally with both of them. She has to come visit. Besides, she's really nice."
A laugh of sarcasm floats up from below and I hear August say "Nice? Cause that matters at all. Seriously, don't waste your time on her."
He thinks I'm a waste of time? He thinks I'm not worth being with because I'm from District 12? And the fact that I'm really nice is the only argument Drew could give as to why he is spending time with me? Maybe I am just some Capitol task he is checking off his to do list. Maybe he really is already prepared to choose Ellison. I should really let him know I don't need any favors from him. If Ellison is who he wants he can go have her. And I don't have to come visit him. Angry tears form in the corner of my eyes and I hurry back to my room before anyone sees me.