Disclaimer: Matched and related properties belong to Ally Condie and related parties.

Author's Note: Written in 2011 for the Valentine's Day exchange during the first round of Hungergamesland on Livejournal. Written for palm_tree.

"All right, students. Time to finish out projects so we can share them with everyone," their teacher announced as she wove her way between the easels. The children quickly scrambled to add a last finishing touches to their drawings.

Cassia bit her bottom lip, stepping back slightly. It wasn't how she had pictured it in her head to look, and that upset her a bit, but there was no helping it now. She stepped forward to put down the paintbrush and was bumped by one of the rowdier boys in the class as he moved to the open end of the room where the children were gathering.

A streak of brown slashed across the paper. Cassia gasped in horror, hot tears welling in her eyes.

"Cassia, we're waiting for you," her teacher called.

The kindergartner set down her paintbrush and un-clipped the paper. She walked glumly to the students seated in a circle and tucked her legs under her as she sat beside her best friend. He raised his brows in question but she shook her head. He'd find out soon enough as it was.

"All right, let's began with Max," the teacher said brightly. They always began with Max because his last name came first. Knowing that she wouldn't have to share until closer to the end, Cassia tried to focus on what her classmates drew, but she kept thinking about how her own drawing had been ruined.

"I drew a picture of the arboretum," Cassia said quietly, holding her picture up to the class.

Everyone was silent was the studied the painting. "What's the brown streak?" a girl named Lynda asked innocently.

Instantly Cassia's mood dropped. "I... actually..." she didn't want to blame the boy who had bumped her, after all it had been an accident and she didn't really want him to get in trouble. But how could she explain the unfortunate error that had resulted?

"It's a fallen tree, right?" Xander piped up beside her. Cassia met his eyes and opened her mouth to speak, not knowing what to say. "That happens sometimes, with the really old ones, right? They fall over? That's why the arbi-arbicul-"

"Arbiculturalists," Cassia supplied, catching onto Xander's attempt at help.

"Right, them. They study the trees and keep them healthy, but sometimes they have to clean up after sick trees."

Cassia nodded quickly. "My mom works at the arboretum," she explained. "I love going there with her and my grandfather. So I decided to draw that, since it's my favorite place! And the fallen tree, well... that's to remind us that we need to be careful when we go there. If we see anything wrong with a tree, we should tell someone who works there, so that they can take care of it!"

"Nicely done, Cassia. I'm sure your mother would love to hear about your painting when you get home. You'll have to remember every detail for her," Cassia smiled and nodded at her teacher's words. As the woman moved the sharing on to the next student Cassia turned to her friend.

"Thanks, Xander."

He smiled brightly in return and they both fixed their attention on their classmate presenting his picture.