The clock is still ticking

Chapter I : Mr Baldie Hermit's condition

I am a cordial person. I have satisfying grades, commendable friends and I am worthy of respect.

-the 12th of September, 2007.

I wrote this in my diary the summer I was twelve years old. According to my therapist, a good way to start your day is by thinking of your qualities more often. Before the accident, I was an ordinary girl. Well, extraordinarily ordinary. I was everything my parents could've hoped for. I was enrolled to a private school with a scholarship, even though we had the money to pay for it. This way, it had more value. That summer, my parents got a divorce. Then, I declined further into my misery.

Eight. The exact number of eyes boring into the back of my skull. I took a wrong turn, and this time, I won't be coming back.

I rub the bald man's statue intensely when I hear the door close behind me, failing to relieve my stress. First person to come into my view happens to be my school principal, Mr Baldie Hermit, smartly dressed in his pleated pants. A chubby, old man with an upper body three times wider than his lower. Bald, but still decides to neatly comb the last few roots of hair he has left on both sides of his oval head, including his fake sideburns. If he has wrinkles, they go unnoticed behind his chubby, rosy cheeks which make it difficult to understand the words that come out of his mouth. Or maybe it's because of his enormous goatee?

Aaah! I almost forgot his shiny, polished shoes that make you cover your eyes, every time he passes by. He held his late grandfather's pocket watch in his hand, his other scratching his beard. Just the sound of it ticking distracts me.

''Katniss Everdeen,'' he drags out my name with a serious tone. ''Mr Ivan Everdeen, your father, is a very important man to our school,'' he continues, but I cut him off.

''Actually, nowadays I prefer to go by the name Katniss Steele,'' I point out calmly, raising my legs onto his desk,''If you don't mind.'' Everdeen. Cutting the last connection I had with Ivan Everdeen. First thing on my list was not to see or talk to him. He covers that one fantastically by himself. Second, to get rid of the resemblance, I dyed my hair. I fit in perfectly with my family, a household filled with exactly two resembling blondes. Third, to cover up the 'Cursed' surname Everdeen, I now go by my mother's maiden name, Steele.

''Katniss!'' my mother shouts out in utter horror,''Stop fooling around and put your legs down!'' I scoff and lower my legs to the ground, crossing my arms over my chest. Eva, my mother. Her blue eyes and blonde hair she sadly keeps in a bun make her appear a true beauty. After years of hard work, she finally owns her own hospital. I might not say it often, but she deserves the best, and Primrose will definitely follow in her footsteps, unlike me.

''Yes, well...I'm sure you already know why I called you today to my office,'' Mr Hermit opens his mouth again. How could I possibly forget? The reason's right next to me, glaring at me. ,,You were caught vandalizing the school's property and stealing a statue, placed in front of the school. My statue to be exact. It's a good thing Preston was there to witness it. Now Katniss, I know this isn't only your doing. Who was with you that day?''

Preston Bradford, our student body president. Standing next to our vice principal, Cecilia Kendrick like the good boy he is. Having Mr Hermit as his fashion icon, he too is wearing pleated pants along with a dreadful cardigan his mother bought him for his birthday wrapped around his neck. He shoots me a smile, while his hands are busy pulling his big, round glasses up so they don't fall.

''It was just me, sir,'' I smirk, satisfied with myself. The truth is, I wasn't alone that night. I spend my days with a bad group of people I call my friends. That night, we got drunk and broke into the school.

''I admire your loyalty Miss Everdeen,'' he starts off and makes me cringe at the mention of my surname,''But loyalty won't get you anywhere.''

''Great life lesson you're teaching me Mr Hermit,'' I say as a joke, but only accomplish making my mother furious with me.

''I am really sorry for my daughter's behavior,'' my mother says in hope he'll understand and go easy on me.

''Katniss,'' he sighs,''This time there won't be any suspension. I see great potential in you, and as I said, your father donated a lot of money to help this school. In an agreement with you mother, I'm giving you one last chance.''

''What was the agreement?'' I spat.

''There will be a hearing when your summer break is over, seeing curricular activities don't set you straight. If I see change in you, I'll let you continue school after minor school duties you owe me,'' he says, while pulling his pocket watch out again and admiring it.

''What's the catch?'' I ask, curiously,''Why do you think things will be different after this summer?''

He looks up from his watch, and stares directly at my mother, as if waiting for her to answer my question. My eyes widen, and my knees tremble in anger. I already know the answer.

''Katniss you are going to spend your summer in Avala, where you father is,'' my mother says with a serious expression, anger visible in her voice.