第18部分(第2/7 頁)

d　if　the　audience　really　thinks　weˇre　in　love　。　。　。　I　remember　how　strongly　they　responded　to　his　confession。　Star…crossed　lovers。　Haymitch　is　right；　they　eat　that　stuff　up　in　the　Capitol。　Suddenly　Iˇm　worried　that　I　didnˇt　react　properly。

¨After　he　said　he　loved　me；　did　you　think　I　could　be　in　love　with　him；　too？〃　I　ask。

¨I　did；〃　says　Portia。　¨The　way　you　avoided　looking　at　the　cameras；　the　blush。〃

They　others　chime　in；　agreeing。

¨Youˇre　golden；　sweetheart。　Youˇre　going　to　have　sponsors　lined　up　around　the　block；〃　says　Haymitch。

Iˇm　embarrassed　about　my　reaction。　I　force　myself　to　acknowledge　Peeta。　¨Iˇm　sorry　I　shoved　you。〃

¨Doesnˇt　matter；〃　he　shrugs。　¨Although　itˇs　technically　illegal。〃

¨Are　your　hands　okay？〃　I　ask。　¨Theyˇll　be　all　right；〃　he　says。

In　the　silence　that　follows；　delicious　smells　of　our　dinner　waft　in　from　the　dining　room。　¨e　on；　letˇs　eat；〃　says　Haymitch。　We　all　follow　him　to　the　table　and　take　our　places。　But　then　Peeta　is　bleeding　too　heavily；　and　Portia　leads　him　off　for　medical　treatment。　We　start　the　cream　and　rose…petal　soup　without　them。　By　the　time　weˇve　finished；　theyˇre　back。　Peetaˇs　hands　are　wrapped　in　bandages。　I　canˇt　help　feeling　guilty。　Tomorrow　we　will　be　in　the　arena。　He　has　done　me　a　favor　and　I　have　answered　with　an　injury。　Will　I　never　stop　owing　him？

After　dinner；　we　watch　the　replay　in　the　sitting　room。　I　seem　frilly　and　shallow；　twirling　and　giggling　in　my　dress；　although　the　others　assure　me　I　am　charming。　Peeta　actually　is　charming　and　then　utterly　winning　as　the　boy　in　love。　And　there　I　am；　blushing　and　confused；　made　beautiful　by　Cinnaˇs　hands；　desirable　by　Peetaˇs　confession；　tragic　by　circumstance；　and　by　all　accounts；　unforgettable。

When　the　anthem　fin