imperfect fit ; an everlark au based off of 'the selection' series

f i f t y - o n e

When Effie asks what I need for my presentation, I tell her a small desk for some books and an easel for a poster I'm designing. She's particularly excited about my poster.

I spend hours writing my speech onto note cards so I won's miss anything, flagging sections in books to be my resources mid-presentation, and rehearsing it in the mirror to get through the parts that particularly worry me. I try not to think to hard about what I'm doing; otherwise my body starts trembling.

I ask Tig to make me a dress that looks innocent, which makes her eyebrows pucker. "You make it sound like we've been sending you out in lingerie," she says mockingly.

I chuckle. "That's not what I mean at all. You know I love the dresses you guys make me. I just want to seem . . . angelic. Make sure to let Cinna know, too." I know if Cinna's on the job, I won't have to worry.

She smiles to herself. "I think we can come up with something."

They must have been working like crazy, because I don't see Tig, Stacy, or Annie today, the day of the Report, until right now, an hour before it starts. They come bustling in with the long dress, Cinna tailing behind them. It's white, gauzy, and light, adorned with one long stream of green and blue tulle running along the right side. The bottom falls in such a way that it looks like a cloud, and its empire waist adds a level of virtue and grace to the gown. I feel lovely in the dress. It's by far my favorite of everything they've designed for me, and I'm glad its worked out this way. It's probably the last one I'll be wearing.

It's hard to keep my plan a secret, but I do. When the girls ask what I'm doing, I simply say it's a surprise. I get a few skeptical looks for that, but I don't care. I ask my maids to not touch anything on my desk, not even to clean, and they obey, leaving my notes facedown.

No one knows.

The person I want to tell is Gale, but I refrain. Part of me fears he'll talk me out of it, and I will cave. Another part fears he will be too far gung-ho.

As my maids, prep team and Cinna gather around and work to make me look beautiful, I stare into the mirror and know I'm walking into this alone. And this is for the best. I don't want anyone- not my maids, not the other girls, and especially not Gale- to get in trouble for my actions.

All that's left is to put things into order.

I give Cinna a long hug, knowing it will probably be the last I see of him. I pull back and give him the sincerest thank-you I can conjure. He gives me a funny look, but doesn't question. He wishes me luck on my presentation, and walks out of the door with the rest of my prep team in tow.

"Tig, Stacy, will you please go get me some tea?"

They look at each other. "Both of us?" Stacy clarifies.

"Yes, please."

They look suspicious but curtsy and leave all the same. Once they're gone, I turn to Annie.

"Sit with me," I invite, pulling her down to the padded bench on which I'm sitting. She complies and I ask her simply, "Are you happy?"

"Miss?"

"You've seemed kind of sad lately. I was wondering if you're okay."

She drops her head. "It is that obvious?"

"A little," I admit, gently wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. She sighs and places her head on my shoulder. I'm so happy that she forgets the invisible boundaries between us for a moment.

"Have you ever wanted to do something you couldn't have?"

I snort. "Annie, I'm from Twelve, there's so many things, I can't even count."