第18部分(第1/7 页)

ch。

¨But　weˇre　not　star…crossed　lovers！〃　I　say。

Haymitch　grabs　my　shoulders　and　pins　me　against　the　wall。　¨Who　cares？　Itˇs　all　a　big　show。　Itˇs　all　how　youˇre　perceived。　The　most　I　could　say　about　you　after　your　interview　was　that　you　were　nice　enough；　although　that　in　itself　was　a　small　miracle。　Now　I　can　say　youˇre　a　heartbreaker。　Oh；　oh；　oh；　how　the　boys　back　home　fall　longingly　at　your　feet。　Which　do　you　think　will　get　you　more　sponsors？〃

The　smell　of　wine　on　his　breath　makes　me　sick。　I　shove　his　hands　off　my　shoulders　and　step　away；　trying　to　clear　my　head。

Cinna　es　over　and　puts　his　arm　around　me。　¨Heˇs　right；　Katniss。〃

I　donˇt　know　what　to　think。　¨I　should　have　been　told；　so　I　didnˇt　look　so　stupid。〃

¨No；　your　reaction　was　perfect。　If　youˇd　known；　it　wouldnˇt　have　read　as　real；〃　says　Portia。

¨Sheˇs　just　worried　about　her　boyfriend；〃　says　Peeta　gruffly；　tossing　away　a　bloody　piece　of　the　urn。

My　cheeks　burn　again　at　the　thought　of　Gale。　¨I　donˇt　have　a　boyfriend。〃

¨Whatever；〃　says　Peeta。　¨But　I　bet　heˇs　smart　enough　to　know　a　bluff　when　he　sees　it。　Besides　you　didnˇt　say　you　loved　me。　So　what　does　it　matter？〃

The　words　are　sinking　in。　My　anger　fading。　Iˇm　torn　now　between　thinking　Iˇve　been　used　and　thinking　Iˇve　been　given　an　edge。　Haymitch　is　right。　I　survived　my　interview；　but　what　was　I　really？　A　silly　girl　spinning　in　a　sparkling；　dress。　Giggling。　The　only　moment　of　any　substance　I　hail　was　when　I　talked　about　Prim。　pare　that　with　Thresh；　his　silent；　deadly　power；　and　Iˇm　forgettable。　Silly　and　sparkly　and　forgettable。　No；　not　entirely　forgettable；　I　have　my　eleven　in　training。

But　now　Peeta　has　made　me　an　object　of　love。　Not　just　his。　To　hear　him　tell　it　I　have　many　admirers。　An