LIAR ON FIRE
CHAPTER ONE - Learning to Lie
I remember the first time I lied. Well, I'm not sure if it was the very first time but it was the first time that really meant anything, the first time where I realized my life had a purpose. I discovered that if I turn a phrase just so or put a certain look on my face, I can make things seem slightly different than reality. People would believe this new reality that I created. And I could get what I wanted.
I was 5 years old and the day before I'd heard an angel sing. Our teacher, Mrs. Bantam, was doing what passed for a lesson in music history. It was the class' introduction to propaganda songs. As the school year progressed, we would be taught the songs of Panem. We would memorize and recite the "Pride of Panem," a song about the savior of our nation, the first president after the rebellion. Our tremulous voices would sing "Courage, My Love" and "Justice, Mighty Justice," songs that reminded district folk what an honor it was to serve in the Hunger Games. All of the songs made sure we understood that our own district did not provide for our needs, but rather the Capitol was our generous benefactor. The Capitol was to be the object of our faith, loyalty and obligation.
But it was already too late for me to become a good citizen of Panem. Already at the tender age of five, I had found the object where all my faith, loyalty and obligation would reside. She sat on the other side of the classroom and she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
Mrs. Bantam was going to teach us some folk songs she said. "They aren't strictly Capitol songs, but they are a part of our history." She pulled a chair out in front of her desk at the front of the classroom. "Now, who here knows "The Valley Song?" she asked. No one raised their hand. "Come now, someone must know it!" I saw a hand shoot up on the other side of the room. "Come on up, dear. Stand on the chair so everyone can hear you."
The girl hopped up on the chair and looked around the room, almost defiantly. She was from the Seam, a place I'd heard of, but never seen. My mom used it to scare my brothers and me when she was angry with us. "If you don't get up those stairs right now, I swear I'm going to break you over my knee and then drag you down to the Seam and leave you there where you belong!"
She was so brave. No one else stood up, but here she was, standing on a chair, dark hair pulled back in two braids hanging down her back. And when she started to sing... the whole world stood still.
The lie came so easily.
"Mrs. Bantam?"
"Yes, Peeta?"
"Can I... erm, I mean, may I.. M-May I move to a different seat? One further away from the window?"
I saw the question arise in her eyes, but I was ready and my words all came out in a rush. "The light is pretty bright and I can't see the board very well and I was thinking that maybe if I got a little further away from the window and closer to the front that I could see better."
Mrs. Bantam pursed her lips.
Desperate, I pulled out all the stops. "A..and," I stammered, "and, um, well the kids from the Seam... Maybe there's one of them that wants to sit closer to the window so they can see their daddy when he comes home from the mines." I tilted my face toward the floor and gazed up at her through my eyelashes, "I already know where my daddy is. My daddy's at the bakery."
Mrs Bantam's mouth relaxed. This was gonna work!
"Peeta, that's very thoughtful of you. I believe I can switch you with Eric Hornerr. I'm sure he would like to be closer to the window."
I grinned, returning her smile. Not the perfect seat change, but it did get me four aisles and three rows closer to Katniss Everdeen.
A/N: My first fanfic. If you liked it, put a ring on it! Or review it - your choice. Working on Chapter 2 now, which is the lie to his mother about burning the bread. We'll work our way up to the really angsty lies in future chapters.
If there is a particular lie you want to read about, put it in your review!
And here's a PERFECT comic to go with this story: (as usual, remove the spaces)
h teetee pee: / / tinyurl kp9ofym