Wiress hummed to herself as she sodered components to a circuit board. Looking to her left, she smiled at Beetee who was at the stove cooking some meat and vegetables. "Beetee, the curtains -" Wiress began.
"Are away from the stove, dear." Beetee replied before turning off the two burners and taking the plates from their shelf. "Hon, it's dinner time."
"Yes, I'll just put away -" Wiress began before a knock on the door interrupted her train of thought. Beetee hastily put lids on the pot and frying pan before hurrying across the shed to open the door.
"Yes, Olivia?" Beetee asked cheerfully to mask worry as to why the District Three escort was showing up to their door.
"Oh, did I catch you two love-birds at dinner?" Olivia squealed before inviting herself into the shed. "My my! You two keep busy!" Wiress hastily placed her circuit board in a box safe from Olivia's violently yellow three inch finger nails.
"Yes, with inventions -" Wiress began.
"You have curtains - and painted walls." Olivia gasped looking around the small shed at the reading nook that had a navy blue area rug and dark green bean-bag chairs. After two months of redecorating the shed, Wiress was happy with the decor. The colors weren't obnoxious like many Capital dwellings, but it felt more like a home and less like a factory where they happened to sleep.
"Of course. It's Wiress and my home." Beetee said smiling at Wiress before taking her hand. "We were just about to eat, would you like anything?" Wiress went to the shelf on the kitchen wall and found a cream colored ceramic plate for Olivia.
"We don't mind -" Wiress began as she placed some meat and mixed vegetables on a plate. "Please sit."
"Won't you two be glad to return to Victors' salaries?" Olivia asked.
"Of course." Beetee said thinking quickly as Wiress busied herself at the kitchen counter with making three mugs of warm cocoa using some freshly bought milk. "Wiress has a list of components she wishes to purchase."
"Well, I bet you just can't wait to be mentors again! The Games are only three months away."
"Yes. One moment, Olivia." Beetee said noticing Wiress' hands shaking as she stirred their drinks.
"Sweetie, sit down." He said wrapping his arm gently around Wiress' waist. "Don't want to burn your hand when you have to feel thin wires." He said softly before kissing her on the temple.
"Thank you." Wiress said softly as she sat at her place.
"And you two will have lovely feasts again! My goodness, how you scrape by with this teensy bit of food!" Olivia laughed quite forgetting that over one-third of District Three families used tessarae grain either as a major supplement to their food or as their only food source. "And of course you'll have your lovely houses - or - house - if you two would like to share!" She giggled as the young inventors exhanged glances while blushing furiously. "Eustacia loves dining with her Victors. She's in District One, you know." Knowing Olivia loved to talk about herself or the Capitol or other escorts, Wiress and Beetee nodded as they listened to the update on their former escort. "And President Snow has invited you back to the Capitol for a bit of a reunion with old sponsors and such before you mentor!"
Beetee's eyes shot open as Wiress gasped and dropped her fork. The little color in her face drained. Jumping to his feet, he hurried to Wiress seconds before she nearly fell off the stool in a faint. "Oh - I would nearly faint too if the President invited me to his mansion! I'm so happy you're so so thrilled, Wiress!" Olivia nearly sang as Wiress focused on deep breathing to keep from passing out.
"I - I -" She stammered struggling to reply to the stunning news. "When -"
"Of course you wish to get ready!" Olivia laughed as she opened her purse and withdrew a small tablet of paper. "I'll fetch you a day from tomorrow, so you can begin cleaning yourself up and then we'll have you on the train with your prep-team! You'll be spending three days in the Capitol in a lovely hotel, and of course, I'll have your itinerary, so you needn't worry about how to entertain yourselves!"
"Beetee - Beetee will come." Wiress said sitting up. It wasn't a question.
"Yes, Beetee is invited too."
"And we will stay - together." Wiress commanded taking her boyfriend's hand.
"In the hotel - well, naturally, as you two have been living together in this little room for so long - no worries, dearie, I knew that already! Well, I shall go! I'll see you the day after tomorrow at 1pm sharp!"
"Why in the afternoon?" Beetee asked curiously.
"Oh, I know you would like to be at the Capitol earlier, but I simply must have time to do a home facial and mani-pedicure, don't you think? Well, ta ta!"
"Thank you." Wiress began as she stood up. "For coming -" She handed Olivia her bright yellow fur coat before Beetee walked their escort to the door.
"You must hurry. It's nearly curfew." Beetee warned.
"Oh, I'll be fine! Goodness, The Peacekeepers know I'm a citizen of the Capitol, but thank you, young man." Olivia laughed before Beetee shut the door behind her. A second later, a trembling sobbing Wiress was pressed against his front, her arms squeezing his middle as if her life depended on it.
"Wiress -" Beetee gasped.
"Bee -" Wiress sobbed before Beetee took her face in his hands and lifted her head to gaze into fear-filled blazing large eyes. "Beetee - I won't let them take me - I won't - I won't -"
"Shhh -" Beetee soothed as he held her close. "I'll protect you."
"Strong, Beetee - I - I am going to be - strong." Wiress said furiously before she pulled away and glared at something past the door.
"Wiress," Beetee began wanting to praise his girlfriend's bravery, but also wanting to let her know he would protect her. "You're not alone." Nodding Wiress took Beetee's hands in hers before leaning in and sharing a kiss.
"I never was." Wiress whispered before smiling. Beetee gazed at her dumbfounded. "Here." Taking his hand, she placed it over her heart.
"I was in your heart." Beetee said as Wiress nodded, the tears starting fresh. "Oh, Wiress, baby, you were in my heart every day, I loved you every day when you were gone."
"I know." Wiress whispered. "Only by that -" Wiress paused gazing into Beetee's eyes that were leaking tears. "I survived."
"And you know you can do it again." Beetee replied before taking her hand to lead her to bed as dinner had been quite exhausting given their company.
"No, Beetee." Wiress giggled pulling him toward the table. "Dishes first! Then -" She gazed happily at her notebooks.
"Really?" Beetee asked amazed.
"Yes!" Wiress half scolded. "We will be away from the shop for three days -" She began as she sat down and examined her circuit board.
"And my sweet inventor wants to get as much done here so she can take her notebooks on the trip." He smiled looking into large eyes showing eagerness that always came with inventing.
"You do too." Wiress whispered slyly watching Beetee sit down and open his notebook.
"Yes, I do." He said warmly as he reached across the table to put his hands over hers. Smiling, Wiress looked into his loving gaze. "I want to spend as much time working beside the one I love as I can."