drabble • my brain wouldn't let the idea go...
The lights on her face were bright. Colin watched on the screen as Penelope wrung her hands. Her firey, fitted dress cascaded beautifully as she sat down, sparkling in the lights. Her curls were carefully styled and framed her face. She looked stunning, and her easy, deprecating humour with Caesar was quickly making her a crowd favourite. Even so, in her eyes Colin could see that Penelope felt just as uncomfortable and out of place as he did.
"Now, Penelope," Caesar said, leaning forward. "Tell me, is there someone special waiting for you back home? A certain beau, perhaps?"
Penelope blinked at him, flustered. "Oh, n-no..." She laughed awkwardly. Her eyes darted toward the screen and to the side of the stage. "I mean, not... not really..."
"No?" Caesar looked amused and grinned, like a shark circling his prey. "I don't believe it for a second! Look at that face, huh!" The crowd cheered and wooed. "A gorgeous girl like you, Penelope. Come now, you can tell me!"
"Well, um." She bit her lip and her lashes fluttered. A curl fell into Penelope's face and she tucked it behind her ear. She looked so soft and beautiful, and Colin was sure the audience had already fallen in love with her. When Penelope looked up she stared straight into the camera, and Colin could almost pretend as though Penelope were looking at him directly. "I suppose... there is someone."
"This boy who I've..." She ducked her head again, trying to hide her blushing face. "Well. I've had feelings for him for quite some time..." She smiled wryly to herself. "But I don't think he's ever really noticed me. Not until the day of the reaping..."
The crowd awwed and Caesar shook his head. "Oh, now that's a shame." He set his cards aside and reached for her hand. "But I'll tell you what, Penelope. If you go into the arena, and you win this whole thing? Once you get home, he'd be crazy not to go out with you! Right everyone?"
The crowd cheered uproariously.
"Thank you, but... I don't think winning would help me at all."
"Because," she paused and swallowed, then lifted her chin as her eyes cut to the side of the stage. "He came here with me."
The audience fell into a horrified hush. Colin’s eyes widened in shock, his heart thudded painfully in his chest. He felt the stares of the other tributes around him, watching for his reaction. Anthony narrowed his eyes at him and the screen as he pulled out his flask and took a swig.
His mind raced, why would Penelope say that? Why would she lie?
"Well..." Caesae squeezed her hand, his grip looked almost bruising. "That certainly is a shame."
Penelope looked down. "Yes. It is."
"In any case, we here wish you all the best. Penelope Featherington, everybody!"
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