Geove Peyton is probably the strangest Head Gamermaker I've ever seen.
He stares at me from across his desk with nothing but curiosity in his golden eyes. He has a tattoo on his left cheek of a sharp blade, slightly tilted, with a fresh green vine winding it's way up to the tip of the knife. His cream coloured hair is quite short but one strand he has allowed to grow down to just below his ear.
I noticed straight away he has an odd habit of scratching his elbow every few minutes and then looking behind him for a few seconds. He does this only once while I'm waiting for him to speak but on the way to his office he did it at least eight times.
Am I going to die? Maybe it's about something else. Perhaps they know it was an accident and I'm here for a completely different reason.
I scratch my wrist nervously. Do I speak or wait for him to? Should I give him false flattery? That's what Grandma did when she tried to start a conversation with someone in an awkward moment. Compliment his shoes or hair, perhaps. But the way he looks at me... Maybe I should just make a run for it. At least that way it would all just be over in a matter of seconds.
I glance over at the door. Four peacekeepers waiting outside. I clear my throat and his eyes shoot up to mine. Big Mistake.
Well now I've got his attention, I might have well say something... anything.
"I...um, it wasn't my fault about-"
"Avia Pines, we understand what you're trying to say." His voice both startles and stumps me. Mostly because teachers always said that to me before they went on to punish me, and since I've hardly said anything for him to understand. "And you understand that assaulting another tribute before the Games has a punishment of death, correct?"
I nod my head wildly as tears come to my eyes. I knew this was coming. Of course they wouldn't just ignore it and pull me out for something else entirely different. Geove watches me carefully, taking a sip from his glass.
"We've checked over our security footage several times. We've went over all of your files and past incidents with any peacekeepers from before the reaping. We've made notes of your behaviour since arriving in The Capitol. We are led to believe it wasn't a planned attack."
"No, no, of course it wasn't!" I say, finding my words. "Just a mistake! An accident!"
He observes me now carefully. There's something on his face but I can't tell what. A mixture of pity and curiosity?
"Miss Pines, please calm down." He pleads gently. I look up at him in surprise. He strokes my hand and makes the hair on my neck stand on end. He pauses before continuing. "It wasn't a planned attack. It wasn't an attack at all. Just a mistake. An accident." He murmurs the last few words softly and I stare at him.
He stares back at me and I shrink back in my chair. This man is very creepy and very strange indeed. The look in his eye never changes but it always does. He makes no sense to me and for some reason, I want to make no sense to him. I want to surprise him and see what's behind this little act.
I stand abruptly. I give him a big (and very fake) grin and shake his hand firmly. He blinks up at me and for a moment I do see some surprise on his face that is immediately masked with blankness.
"Thank you very much then! I'm glad this mess got put right nice and quickly. I'll head back to wherever it is I'm supposed to go now. I knew you'd understand. Good day then!" My voice sounds so different - confident and happy almost. I've most definitely shocked Geove into silence for now.
I make for the door, not even sparing a look behind. I know what I've done can be taken either in a good way or bad way. It might even help me survive longer if he was impressed or something by whatever it was I just did. It might make me die a painful death within the Games. But right now I don't give a damn.
As the door shuts behind me I hear his unforgettable voice whispering to himself. It's so quiet I hardly hear it but I manage to catch what he says before the door slammed shut. His horrid words ring clear through my ears and my skin crawls before I disappear from the view of the office.
"I have my plans for you, don't you fret little lamb. Don't you fret."
Sorry it's shorter than normally. I think I've come down with a case of writer's block D: Well I tried my best and would like to thank the people who spent the time to review! Virtual cookies to all of you!
And a quick reply to PrincessFabala- I try to proof read as much as possible but I honestly just hate re-reading my own work. I went back and changed/fixed up a few of the older chapters as well though so hopefully they're better now! I don't mind to much about lack of reviews, just glad to have some to look over for advice and etc. Reading your review made me feel so amazing! Thank you VERY much for your support! :D :D