THE END IS NEAR ? TREECH

Windows Down, Heater On

"We need to have a talk."

Evangeline looked up to see Coriolanus staring down at her. He didn't seem very happy at the moment.

"Alright. Is something wrong, Coryo?"

He looked around to see the peacekeepers still getting everyone in line, then tugged Evie out of line and to the back where they could talk privately. She looked back to see Treech watching her with worried eyes.

When they turned the corner, Evie pulled her arm from his grasp, "Stop pulling me along, what happened?"

He turned the face her with a stern look.

"What have you done?" He whispered.

"What? I haven't done anything." She couldn't remember putting even a toe out of line after the zoo incident, what had she done now?

"I just got back from Dr. Gaul's office. She told me something." He seemed to be playing a game with her, like he was trying to catch her in a lie.

"Oh yes, how did your proposal go?" Evie rolled her eyes.

"It wasn't about the proposal. It was about you and your little boyfriend." Evie felt her eyes widen at this words.

"Boyfriend?" He rolled her eyes at her lack of understanding.

"Treech."

"Treech?"

He nodded.

"What about him?"

"Oh, it's not just him. Apparently the capitol citizens think there's a love story forming."

"A love story? Between me and Treech?" This was the first Evie had heard of this. Maybe it was because she hadn't been paying much attention to the televisions lately. She'd been a bit preoccupied with the games and her tribute.

"You introduced him as handsome to the captiol citizens on day one in the zoo. The cameramen have caught you going there more than anyone else. Now you hold hands at the interview this morning? Laughing and telling jokes with him? It's all anyone is talking about. How cute you two look together, and now they're looking forward to what he does in the games. Do you know what this means?"

"Sponsors? That's good for Treech, and good for ratings. I don't see the problem."

Maybe she didn't need the false lover from back home story. Maybe she could make her own, here in the capitol. It could work in his favor,

"What about my tribute, huh? You said you care about them all. What about Lucy Gray?" Evie had never seen him so distressed over anything, besides maybe the Plinth Prize.

She almost felt bad for him.

"I'm sorry, Coryo, but I have to look out for my tribute too." She tried to reason with him, "Of course I care about these tributes, but I can't help them all. Lucy Gray seems like a nice girl, and I hope she does well tomorrow, but Treech is who I'm most concerned about. I'm not going to let him die in there." She pointed to the building they stood in front of.

She let out a sigh.

"Look, I really am sorry." She tried to put a comforting hand on his arm.

"I think you'll change your mind, Evie. Just give it some time." He backed away before she could lay her hand on him.

Evie had a bad feeling he was formulating a plan right about now.

He kept eye contact with her for a moment, then turned around, and began making his way back to the tribute line.