A/N: It's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that, school was just crazy this year! Luckily, I AM NOW ON SUMMER BREAK! *ahem* Now that we've gotten that out of the way, onto the story… thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! ... And yes, the chapter title is a Princess Bride quote :P.

As it happened, Lillian missed her chance to speak more with Eric. He awoke with fever and delirium, and slept for another two days. By then the weekend was out, and Lillian was forced to return to school.

Cool air blowing on her face, she tried to downplay the whole affair. For one reason or another, she wanted to keep it private. "He'll be alright," she insisted, shrugging Emmeline and Maysilee away. "Don't look at me like that."

Emmeline smiled her knowing smile, left arm in her sister's right. "He was handsome, Lilli. The handsomest boy in his grade, I'd say. For a Seam boy anyway," she added, thoughtfully.

Grant cleared his throat pointedly. He'd neglected to participate in most of the morning's discussion and seemed altogether pleased that Lillian didn't wish to talk about it. "Why don't we leave Lillian alone," he said, not unkindly. "She said he's going to be fine."

"You know who's better looking than Eric?" Maysilee asked suddenly, a wicked expression on her pretty face. "And he's from the merchant class." Of all of them, Maysilee cared most about keeping within social boundaries. There was nothing specifically wrong with a merchant marrying someone from the Seam class, but it wasn't often done.

"Who?" Emmeline asked, curious.

"Walter Undersee." A small, sly smile found her lips, and she strode ahead with confidence. "I'm going to ask him to the festival," she added, turning her head over her shoulder.

Once she was out of earshot, Emmeline gave a little gasp. "No…"

"What?" Grant asked. He came between the girls, straightening their group into a line.

"He – he asked me to the festival. Last week."

"He did?" Lillian didn't mean to sound so surprised – after all, Emmeline was one of the most beautiful girls she knew – she just hadn't known the two her friends.

"Uh-huh," she replied miserably. "I never said anything, because I wasn't sure I was going to accept, but I just decided… and oh, now I can't, can I?" She turned to Grant, whom they consulted on all ethical matters.

He sighed and offered her a pat on the back for consolation. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Emmeline. If he asked you and you like him… well, romance isn't so common for us, is it? You should say yes, if you want to. But talk to your sister first."

Emmeline paused a moment, then nodded and raced ahead. Grant turned to Lillian, shrugging. "One day I'm going to answer their questions wrong…"

Romance isn't so common for us… romance isn't so common for us… Had he meant to allude to her, or was he just making Emmeline feel better? Lillian felt her cheeks go red. "Don't worry about it," she said, her throat thick. "You won't."

They strode to school in silence, both braced for a dramatic morning between the sisters. They didn't fight often, but Maysilee might take this personally; and when Maysilee took things personally, there was no telling how long the unpleasantness could last.

However, Emmeline met their arrival with a single shake of her, signifying that they shouldn't bring it up. She hadn't talked to Maysilee about it yet. "I couldn't," she whispered, straight in Lillian's ear.

Lillian nodded imperceptibly, for it seemed Mr. Bode was in a bad mood. Another boy from eleventh year stood at the front of the classroom, his head bowed. She recognized him by face: pale eyes, a mop of dark hair, but she didn't know his name. Embarrassed, she realized that looking at him simply reminded her how attractive Eric was; the two boys' shared features did nothing to commensurate their appearances.

"Mr. Abernathy," Mr. Bode said, raising his voice so the whole class heard. Humiliation. It was a useful tactic; the officials in Panem exerted it whenever possible, particularly in deference to children. "This paper on the history of Panem… you did not put any thought into it, did you? You did not put any effort."

Lillian's stomach squirmed uncomfortably. They'd all written bad papers before; Mr. Bode must have hated this boy especially if he received such punishment for his.

"Can you tell me," Mr. Bode said, his voice so even that it became ominous, "why that is?"

The boy's lips tightened together, screwing up his angular face, and a memory clicked for Lillian. She remembered overhearing a whispered conversation between the Seam boys - one that stopped the moment she walked in. This one – Haymitch, she now remembered – had been sneering at the Capitol, saying dangerous things. People like that made Lillian nervous.

"No reason, sir," he finally said, after a breath. She could see in his face that the words were killing him, and he didn't mean them a bit, but he knew he'd be on the line if he said much more. Rebels like that could get in serious trouble after the first or second offense.

"No reason," Mr. Bode said slowly. "Fine, Haymitch. If that's what you have to say for yourself." He slid a hand into his pocket, causing Lillian's eyes to widen. She felt Emmeline shudder in the desk beside hers. Neither of them had even seen the whip.

"Please put your attention into your studies from now on," Mr. Bode said, lifting the leather between his hands. "Especially the ones about your home." On 'home,' the whip cracked down, leaving a stubborn red welt on his forearms. Haymitch did not even flinch, though the rest of the class did.

Lillian felt positively sick, almost faint as she watched him return to his seat. He only glared out at them, but she was certain that she would collapse if such a thing ever happened to her. She would just cry in front of the class and not care about it, that's how much the whip scared her. Another part of her, another tiny part, wanted to ask just what he'd put in that paper of his. Had it really just lacked effort, or had he said something derogatory.

Feeling her friends relax beside her, Grant's hand gently squeeze her own, she wondered if that boy had the courage they all lacked. The courage someone needed to have if they ever wanted their lives to get better.

A/N: Many thanks for reading, and I would love a review if you feel so inclined! ;) Happy summer vacation, guys!