s kindness。 A friend would do that； right？
¨They were from here？〃 he asks； and he secures a button at my neck。
I nod。 Theyˇd had that Capitol look about them。 The boy and the girl。
¨Where do you suppose they were going？〃 he asks。
¨I donˇt know that；〃 I say。 District 12 is pretty much the end of the line。 Beyond us； thereˇs only wilderness。 If you donˇt count the ruins of District 13 that still smolder from the toxic bombs。 They show it on television occasionally； just to remind us。 ¨Or why they would leave here。〃 Haymitch had called the Avoxes traitors。 Against what？ It could only be the Capitol。 But they had everything here。 No cause to rebel。
¨Iˇd leave here；〃 Peeta blurts out。 Then he looks around nervously。 It was loud enough to hear above the chimes。 He laughs。 ¨Iˇd go home now if they let me。 But you have to admit； the foodˇs prime。〃
Heˇs covered again。 If thatˇs all youˇd heard it would just sound like the words of a scared tribute； not someone contemplating the unquestionable goodness of the Capitol。
¨Itˇs getting chilly。 We better go in；〃 he says。 Inside the dome； itˇs warm and bright。 His tone is conversational。 ¨Your friend Gale。 Heˇs the one who took your sister away at the reaping？〃
¨Yes。 Do you know him？〃 I ask。
¨Not really。 I hear the girls talk about him a lot。 I thought he was your cousin or something。 You favor each other；〃 he says。
¨No； weˇre not related；〃 I say。
Peeta nods； unreadable。 ¨Did he e to say good…bye to you？〃
¨Yes；〃 I say； observing him carefully。 ¨So did your father。 He brought me cookies。〃
Peeta raises his eyebrows as if this is news。 But after watching him lie so smoothly； I donˇt give this much weight。 ¨Really？ Well； he likes you and your sister。