Parental Control

My eyes shot open in surprise. Love. This man loved me. He held me close, our bare bodies intertwined on his massive bed. My hand had curled into a fist, which lay on his firm chest. I twisted around to catch his eyes.

"You love me? We have been acquainted for a few days!" I laughed.

I sat up, finding the clothes he had so carefully thrown off me. As I searched, he too sat up. My fist had unraveled and now lay on the bed. I felt his strong hand cover mine.

"I know that our relationship is progressing rather quickly, but it does not change the way I feel about you. If two people hit it off, what factor does time play?" he questioned.

His words seemed like something a poet wrote. His careful articulation and enunciation sent my mind on alert. For someone so new at this, he was a tremendous smooth-talker.

"So what now, Seneca? You have gotten what you wanted. I expect you will be done with me, cast me away as a recluse. A favor to call in when you need to make a lonely night change direction," I snapped.

Tears pooled in my eyes. He does not care about me. He wanted one thing, the thing I so willingly gave up. The pressure on my hand lifted.

"Where is this coming from, Effie? What makes you think that I want to abandon this relationship? You think I only wanted one thing. Well, you were right. All I wanted was someone special, someone who made me feel the way you make me feel. And I found her."

I stopped, frozen with the horror that my words had inflicted. In his soliloquy, I sensed betrayal. Betrayal from me. What kind of a monster behaves the way I just did? I spun quickly to face him and saw the disappointment on his face. Fearing the loss of him, I reached out and grabbed his hand. He gave a slight pull of defiance.

"No, please. Do not pull away. I am quite sorry, really I am," I sputtered quickly, "Please do not leave."

He sighed deeply, his chest rising to an unnatural height.

"Please," I whispered.

He looked at me, and I soared across the bed into his arms. He held me tight, kissing me with passion.

"You are all I want," he whispered into my hair, "Be mine."

"Of course," I replied with almost inaudible words, "I'm yours."

From that moment, Seneca and I began a fierce relationship. He more or less authenticated his asking, claiming me his girlfriend. I was quite pleased with this development, convincing myself that he knew what was best for me. For the rest of the week, we explored the Capitol as a couple, laughing and loving all the way.

Come the end of the week, he delivered me at my doorstep as per usual. He bid me farewell with a parting kiss, and I told him to expect a call. I stepped into my house to find a familiar scene. Instead of Alfie waiting, my parents lounged in the parlor, quieting upon my entrance.

"So nice of you to join us," began mother.

My parents each held a large, elegant glass filled with champagne. While waiting for my response, mother lowered her glass.

"Hello," I responded carefully.

I had not told them of Seneca, hoping to avoid any complications in our new relationship. I prayed that they would not suspect anything. I was in for disappointment.

"Who's your new friend?" asked father.

His face seemed stern, uncommon for him. This set me on alert, as he never became rigid with me. I tried to empathize with him, but lost in favor of my happiness. There was no lie that I could tell. They knew, had known, about him. I reasoned that I had nothing to be ashamed of.

"Seneca Crane," I answered.

Alfie appeared at that moment. He looked unsure of something, both pained at my awkwardness and confused by father's stern look.

"Am I in trouble?" I asked.

"Of course not dear," answered mother.

I breathed a sigh of relief, pleased with the absence of confrontation. Mother gestured to the couch, and I sat down. For a moment, we suffered in silence. Still, something seemed amiss.

"What is your relation with Seneca?" spoke my father.

"Um," I sputtered, startled at his interjection.

"Friends," cut in Alfie sharply, "And quite a good one might I add."

"I see," said father, turning his attention to Alfie, "However, I believe that Effie can speak for herself."

"Alfie is correct. We are good friends," I answered.

"See darling, I told you that," mother said to father.

"Is he courting you?" father questioned.

No one said anything. Horrible silence followed. I had no idea that adding a boyfriend to my life was such a problem. Fear overtook my anxiety. Would he force me to break up with Seneca? Would he possible hurt him?

"Yes father," I responded, "We are a couple."

Mother placed her hand over her mouth. I could not tell if this was a good sign or bad. Alfie shut his eyes. Only father maintained eye contact. Slowly, he got to his feet.

"Invite him over for dinner," was all he said as he left the room.

Mother, Alfie, and I sat in the parlor quietly. I was not prepared for any of this. Of course, having Seneca over for dinner would not be a problem. Hopefully, my parents could remain decent enough to maintain civil conversation. Seneca did not need help presenting himself as a kind man. Still, this prospect of introducing both parties made me uncomfortable.

I tried to speak to mother, but she held a finger up. Instead of talking, she pointed to the phone on the wall. Then she nodded and left too. I turned to Alfie for guidance. He reassuringly nodded. I crossed to the phone and punched in Seneca's number. Hopefully, he would already be home.

"Hello?" he answered on the third ring.

"Seneca, my parents want you to come over for dinner," I got right to the point.

"Tonight?"

"Tonight."

"Is everything alright, darling?"

"Yes. Everything is fine. I am just….worried. Father does not seem too pleased with me, and I fear it has something to do with my behavior of late."

"Perhaps he fears that he might be losing you."

"Perhaps. That is not the case though. However, I am frightened."

"Fear not. I will attend dinner."

"Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too."

I hung up the phone quickly as if someone could detect the delicate words in their passing. Alfie had closed his eyes again. He escorted me to our parents, where I relayed that Seneca had accepted my dinner proposal. I was then dismissed to my room.

In the time that proceeded dinner, my nerves were set aflame. I did not fear on Seneca's behalf, knowing all too well that he was capable of handing himself. What I did fear was father's reactions to us as a couple. I had never seem him behave this way before.

I adorned a beautiful pearl necklace with matching earrings. A simple gown would suffice. As I fixed my hair, the doorbell rang. Fearing the worst, I hurried to answer it. Alfie, however, had beaten me. He stood in a mannered suit and threw open the door.

"Ah, Seneca. Good to see you," he shook hands with our guest.

Seneca appeared in our edifice, wearing that crushed velvet vest he had worn upon my meeting him. He had styled his hair in a Capitol manner. Overall, he looked divine. I breathed a sigh of relief and descended the stairs.

"You look lovely," he pulled me to him and embraced me.

"Thanks," I mumbled, my nerves taking hold.

His strong grip seemed to calm me. I tried to breathe but the sight of father sent me into a state of mental hysteria. I led Seneca into our dining room.

"Father and mother, this is Seneca Crane, my boyfriend," I announced, "Seneca, these are my parents."

Seneca crossed to father and shook his hand firmly. The men made direct eye contact, intense enough to set Panem ablaze.

"Lovely to meet you," replied Seneca, crossing to mother and kissing her hand.

We sat down and began to eat. Mother had prepared a plate of greens, a delicious stew, and a hearty platter of meat. For a few moments, silence undertook our group. Then, mother broke the silence.

"So, Seneca. What do you do for a living?" she asked.

"I am currently attending Games school with the hopes of becoming a Gamemaker. In my spare time, I work in a business office," he answered, smoothing his napkin over his lap.

"I see that you demonstrate proper etiquette," she continued.

"Manners are very important," Seneca responded with a smile.

Mother shot me an approving look, to which I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew how mandatory manners were in my family. He sure knew what to say. Father spoke finally.

"What are your intentions regarding my daughter?"

I nearly choked. Leave it to father. Alfie patted me on the back, and I excused myself. Seneca suppressed a smile and placed a hand on my leg under the table.

"Sir, I love your daughter with all my heart. I intend to be there for her and support her through her new decision," he answered.

"New decision? I am afraid that I am not following, Mr. Crane," responded father.

"Effie has decided to attend Games school."