8. Chapter 8 (1/2)

thank you, people who reviewed!

tiedietruth: i like november, too. i actually tried to make her like me.

smhuynh32103: yeah, i'm pretty sure even keira cass didn't assign flowers to all of the provinces. thanks for the feedback! i'm planning on making this a pretty long story. thanks for favoriting and following, too!

yeah! anyway, chapter 8! enjoy!

when we arrive at the airport in angeles, i try to give november her book back, but she tells me to keep it. i slip it into my backpack, which i slide onto my shoulders.

ember steps off the plane first. she ignores the huge crowd of people and simply walks to the other end of the airport and stands by the doors, scowling. i'm not sure she has any other facial expressions. summer steps off after her and starts talking to people and shaking hands. i decide to adopt her strategy rather than ember's. i walk down the line (there's literally a red carpet laid out for us), smiling, waving, shaking hands, and occasionally striking up conversations. november follows behind me, doing the same thing. i spot a girl who looks about 15 years old holding up a sign with my name on it. "why?" i ask her.

"huh?"

"why me?" i say. "why do you think i should win?"

"actually, it was my little sister's idea,'"she explains. "she saw your picture on tv and wouldn't stop talking about 'the girl with the funny smile.' so, i wanted to make her happy by holding up a sign for you. mom won't let her come to the airport."

"why not?"

"why do you care?" she asks me. but she's not being rude; i think she really wants to know the answer.

"i don't know," i say. "i just care about people, i guess."

she smiles. "well, mom's terrified that she'll get kidnapped or something."

"but she's not worried about you?"

she shrugs. "i guess 14 years old is old enough to take care of yourself in an airport."

"hmm," i say. "well, i have to go now, but it was nice meeting you, uh . . ."

"claire," she finishes.

"bye, claire," i say. "tell your sister i said hi!" she grins and waves at me as i turn to the next person.

when we reach the end of the line, i'm glowing. i loved meeting so many people who support me. well, i'm glowing until ember opens her mouth. "you know they don't really care about who you are, right?"

"what?" i say.

"they don't care about your values or your thoughts or your beliefs or your family. they just saw a pretty face on tv and decided to pull for that one. doesn't it bother you at all that they know nothing about you? it's all just so superficial. this whole thing is stupid, shallow, fake bullcrap!"

i would argue with her, but i actually think she's right. none of those people know who i am. all they know is what i look like.

i can't argue with her, but i feel the need to say something, so i blurt out, "why are you even here?"

ember glares at me. "i can be in the selection if i want to be in the selection!"

"but you don't," i point out. "so why?"

"listen, i don't know what it's like wherever you're from, but where i come from, we don't put up with nosy questions," she growls at me. "it's none of your business why i'm here, anyway!"

november tries to defend me. "hey, she was just trying to-"

"no one asked you, you little booknerd!"

summer jumps in now. "don't talk to her like that!"

"yeah?" ember challenges, "what'cha gonna do about it?"