A/N Wow, ok, so sry guys. I was waiting for the 4th review that never came *sigh* Didn't mean to make y'all wait so long, honestly. Next wait will NOT be this long unless something crazy happens…hopefully nothing crazy will :D
Still not Suzanne Collins, although that would be totally kewl
We walk back towards the Mount where Aunt Bet lives. Jay's hand is holding mine tightly as if he's afraid to let me go. He isn't as depressed as he was earlier; and I think he believes he's saved me from being reaped.
"When do you want the wedding?" He asks, looking at me and smiling, "Next month maybe?"
"No," I shake my head, "Not until I'm eighteen and my last Reaping is over."
"Gwyn," he stops and turns me to face him.
"No," I say again, "I'm not going to do it a second earlier. I want to be sure Jay; I don't want to get you only to lose you."
"I thought you said you weren't going to get picked," he says, "What happened to that?"
"That was before we got engaged!" I tell him, trying to make him understand, "What if we did get married and I got pregnant? And then at my next Reaping I got reaped? I would leave you with a baby, or worse, I'll be thrown in the arena while pregnant!"
Jay's eyes slide close and he shudders.
"I see your point," he whispers, "I couldn't take that."
I sigh and squeeze his hand reassuringly. I don't want him to focus only on the bad, but I need to make him see the danger in getting married before I am completely safe.
"We'll get married next year. The day after my last Reaping," I say, trying to cheer him back up.
Jay looks at me and smiles, his hand not holding mine reaching out to stroke my check. I lean into it, enjoying the sweet caress and the promise of what's to come.
"I love you," he says quietly.
I smile cheekily up at him, "I know, what's not to love?"
Jay laughs and tugs on my braid gently.
"Come on, if we don't deliver these herbs soon, Aunt Bet's going to have our hide."
I snort but follow him. He's right; Aunt Bet isn't going to be happy we took so long. She doesn't like to wait; she wants what she wants when she wants it. She's a bit tough to deal with, but we're used to it, she doesn't bother us anymore.
We come to the end of the forest and step onto the dirt path heading into the Mount. People have started to wake up and prepare for the Reaping. Young children sit in front of the shacks, staring at us as we pass, their eyes devoid of any childhood joy.
On any other day they would be running around playing, but not today. Even at their young age, they understand the gravity of today and how it could affect their lives. My heart hurts for them, for these are the future players of the Hunger Games.
People walking in between the shacks and on the road are dressed in their very best. The Capitol acts like this is a celebration and forces us to dress up. But looking into the fearful eyes and stony expressions, I know not a single person here is celebrating.
Aunt Bet's house is smack dab in the center of the Mount, easy for everyone to access her when they need her. She lives in the largest house, two stories with several rooms in each. The outside of the house looks like it's falling apart but I've seen the care and attention that goes towards the inside.
Aunt Bet used to live here with her husband and two sons but they're all dead now. Her husband was killed during the rebellion and both her sons were killed in the Hunger Games. She hates anything to do with the Games or the Capitol with a passion and tends to be very cynical.
Jay and I step up to the door and I open it, stepping inside with Jay right behind me.
"Aunt Bet?" I call.
The door opens up into a hallway with stairs at the end and two doors on either side. The door on the left goes to the kitchen were Aunt Bet makes her medicines and the door on the right goes to the living room which has been converted into a waiting room for family members of patients.
The inside is very clean and looks like it was build yesterday. Herbs hang from the ceiling adding a pleasant scent and decoration to the hallway. I step over to the kitchen and glance in, not seeing the woman inside.
"Aunt Bet?" I call again, hoping she's not sick.
She's not really my aunt, or even related to me in any way that I'm aware of. Aunt Bet is just what everyone calls her. I don't even know her real name; she's been Aunt Bet since before I was born.
"I'm right here, quit yapping." A voice comes from the stairs.
I turn towards the stairs and see a tall woman make her way down them. Her iron gray hair is pulled into a tight bun at the nape of her neck and her light brown eyes study me from a face that shows every one of its fifty-eight years.
She's wearing a light brown dress that she wears every year for the Reaping. Even though she doesn't smile or show any hint of affection, I'm happy to see her.
"We brought you the herbs," I tell her.
"It's about time!" She snaps, making her way into the kitchen, "I don't know why you two take so long."
I follow her into the kitchen where a pot of water is boiling on a black cast iron stove. Jay is right behind me and sets the bag of herbs down on the wooden table.
"We were just enjoying nature," I say pleasantly, "It's a beautiful day."
"Yeah, of course it is," she says, adding some tea leaves to the pot, "It always is when children's lives are in danger."
I roll my eyes, "I even caught a rabbit in one of my traps."
I proudly hold up the small white animal. Aunt Bet looks at it than shrugs.
"Rabbit stew for supper then, if you aren't chosen today that is."
Jay stiffens behind me and I glance at him, begging him not to listen to cynical Aunt Bet.
"We have some good news," I say desperately, trying to change the course of this conversation.
Aunt Bet raises an eyebrow, "We?"
Jay steps forward and puts an arm around my shoulder.
"Yeah, Gwyn and I," he says, looking down at me.
I grin up at him then turn and look at Aunt Bet.
"We're engaged!" I exclaim happily.
Aunt Bet stares at us and we smile back at her. I don't know what I'm expecting, something along the lines of "congrats!" or "I'm so happy for you two!" something that a parent or grandparent might say.
Instead she says, "You idiots!"
To be honest, I'm not expecting that at all.
I blink then glance at Jay and find him looking just as confused as I feel.
"I can't believe you two were stupid enough to do that," Aunt Bet continues, shaking her head, "Especially today."
"I thought you'd be happy for us," I say, "You said you approved of us as a couple."
"Oh yeah, I approve of you two, but I think it's idiotic to be getting engaged on Reaping day," she stares at Jay, "Do you realize what you did, boy?"
Jay blinks, "What do you mean?"
Aunt Bet mutters something under her breath. It sounds suspiciously like "the idiot" and I'm about to respond when she speaks.
"You're setting yourself up to be hurt!" She explodes, "You're getting to attached to someone who might get reaped less than an hour from now! Gwyn could be reaped, sent out to the arena, and killed in less than a month!"
"Aunt Bet!" I say, shocked.
I can't believe she's saying this! I don't bother to take what she says personally; I know she lives in fear of the Games, more so than even Jay. But she knows how much Jay worries about me being reaped and her saying this was just making it worse.
"Shut up!" She glares at me then turns back to Jay, "I don't want Gwyn to go any more than you do, but I hear talk. She's one of the most voted for girls in the district. She probably has the highest chance of going. You're making this harder for both of you, getting engaged like you just did."
Jay's face is pale and his Adam's apple bobbles as he swallows hard.
"You don't think…that they'll really send her?" He asks, his voice weak.
"Afraid so," Aunt Bet says, her eyes becoming almost soft, "I'm sorry, but that's the truth. I've been around long enough to know. Wait and see."
Aunt Bet turns and rummages through the cabinet next to her for a mug. I turn away and take Jay's hand, dragging him out of the house and out of ear shot of the crazy woman inside. I can't believe she would say that stuff. Not to Jay. I realize her worry comes across as anger, but doesn't she realize how badly this will affect him?
"What if she's right?" Jay asks now that we're outside.
I tug hard on his hand till he turns and looks at me.
"She's not," I snap, "She's the idiot for even suggesting something like that. I don't think I will be chosen, there are so many stronger girls. We love each other and we deserve to be able to get engaged, no matter what she thinks."
Jay touches my hair gently, smiling softly, "Temper to match your hair."
My anger evaporates and I produce a small smile.
"Guess what they stay about redheads are true."
Jay drops his hand and sighs, looking troubled.
"Gwyn, I'm sorry. I know it seems like I'm being paranoid, but I…I just don't want to have to watch you go through what I did. I love you too much for that."
"I know, Jay," I say firmly, "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I understand. I wouldn't want you to have to lose a parents for the same reason, I love you too much to watch you go through something I know hurts."
Jay just looks at me, his eyes so soft I could melt. He really does have beautiful eyes, such a deep, expressive brown.
"Let's get you to your house," he says finally, looking away from me, "You only have an hour to get ready for the Reaping."
I take his hand and he squeezes it softly. We walk towards my house hand-in-hand, our worries gone for now. They'll be back, I know they will, but for now I'm just glad to have a few moments of peace.
A/N What did y'all think? Good? Bad? Make-you-want-to-puke? Review and let me know! Staying at four new reviews for next chapter, don't want to press y'all guys too hard.
~Sunshine