Everyone deserved a fresh start. Another chance to start anew. When I transferred to the Capitol, one of the sister schools of good old District 12, I thought that that had been it for me. No acquaintances, just fresh faces, a clean slate and all that.
Oh how wrong could I have been?
"You're late Mr. Mellark." Seneca Crane had a stern look on his face and I had to catch myself from rolling my eyes. Why not give the new guy a break? The Capitol is like four times the size of District 12 and I've barely been here for half a day!
I could hear the guidance counselor who had helped getting me in my new uniform (the usual slacks, blazer, and tie ensemble) tut quietly to herself. "Manners, my dear boy, manners."
"I'm sorry." Was the best I could come up with without sounding like some kiss up and it seemed to pacify my Mathematics teacher so I couldn't complain as I was sent to my seat.
Or more like the torture chair.
It didn't look like anything out of the ordinary. Just a simple chair like the rest of the other seemingly simple chairs that surrounded the equally simple table that had popularized in more well off and private schools in the country (the Capitol being number one) but looks could be very well deceiving.
That's most definitely what I would say to prepare you for my seatmate. The girl was, to be on the safe side, rather pretty with long dark tresses that fell well past her shoulders down to the small of her back and bright brown eyes that gleamed amber. She seemed to be on the short side, despite her sitting with her back ramrod straight.
I wonder if the Capitol enforces its students to have actual poles stuffed in their shirts to practice proper posture. I wouldn't put it past them to do so since everyone just sat down with their backs straight and their feet together. No slouching, no slumping over the table or the usual teenage postures.
Anyways, she wore the standard uniform which consisted of a blue and plaid skirt, a sailor-type blouse plus the matching blazer, a necktie (hers had what looked like a small knife pinned on it), the usual black shoes (hers had heels though) and I guess the choice of socks or stockings.
"Quit staring at me new kid, you're freaking me out." Her voice brought me back to earth and I suppressed the shiver crawling down my spine. Yes, her voice is tat... Well, it sent shivers down my spine so take it as however you please.
"Sorry." the apology came out automatically. Something District 12 specialized in was communication and the use of your words. I hoped it would give me an advantage seeing as everyone here came from rich families, and what any good rich family had was secrets.
I wasn't one to pry or anything of the sort, I wasn't your ordinary gossip, but in a world where money could get you out of anything (believe me, my Dad has grease and it's cruel that they try to buy my love) it was the information you got from day to day twenty-four hour living with the brats that could do the most damage.
Starting over, I cleared my throat and tried to salvage whatever interest the girl still had in me. "My name's Peeta."
"Don't believe I asked for it." Wow, blunt. So we're talking short and feisty. I bet Gale would love talking to her.
"Does that mean I can't just introduce myself to you?"
"You'd be wasting your breath because I don't really care if you're new and seeing as I'm not a charity office or anything remotely close to that that's entitled to listen to you and your what I'm sure is a truly heartfelt sob story as to how you landed yourself in the Capitol probably thanks to Daddy's bank account and your half-existent brains you shouldn't bother. But if you insists, I won't stop you. Please go right ahead."
The smile froze on my face. She said that all in one breath, no pauses- is she a rapper? And wow, such an incredible way with words. Most definitely have to tell Gale about her now.
"Pleased to meet you." Was the best my stunned self could come up with and it earned me an eye roll to which I smiled back to in response.
And that was the last I heard from her because classes had to start at some point, and Seneca decided to do so just when I was getting to talk to... I didn't get her name. Dammit. The other students surrounding the table seemed to take an actual interest towards learning Geometry whereas I just liked drawing the polygons and figures. The dreaded search for 'x' would never end would it?
Several faces struck me while Math went on and half way through I learned that my seatmate were Clove (short and feisty) and another girl named Katniss.
Katniss wore the same uniform as Clove did, only her hair was braided, which assured me that the school didn't really have a formal call on haircuts and the use of accessories and probably products (this messy fly-away look doesn't come to life without a little bit of wax) and her tie had what looked like an arrow.
Strange pins- knives, arrows, and is that a water drop I spy?- I wonder what they could probably symbolize.
"Students who are qualifying for the Olympics list will have to enter your names today and no later than today. If nobody has any more questions, I'll be ending class here." I wanted to yet again roll my eyes at my teacher. New kid here- of course someone had questions!
"No? Good." Well fuck you too. Begrudgingly, I packed up, making note of this particular teacher who I now deem hatable. He was... I just hate him. Oh great, I bet this is one of the reasons Gale and I didn't work out. I sound girly even in my own head... not that too much testosterone was ever really a good thing.
The room cleaned out faster than I was used to but no worries. I understood that barely a hundred and fifty students studied in the Capitol because of how expensive the tuition fee was. Scarcity in the students seemed to be no big deal. Shuffling out, I glanced up form my schedule (free time- yes!) to see Clove making her way to what would probably be her friends.
I had to marvel at the fact that they all seemed to personify the aura of confidence. If I could take lessons in that particular area, I'd gladly ask them but I had so little belief in myself I could barely hide my gawking.
There were five of them.
Two girls; Clove was one of them obviously, and the other was a tall blonde (what sane high school girl wears her hair in pigtails? I know a few girls in District 12 that would rather chop their hair off than put them up that way) with emerald colored eyes. I noticed an arrow on her necktie. I wonder if she and Katniss were friends.
Then three boys; one seemed to look a lot like the blonde girl- same emerald green eyes but his blonde hair had a darker root of black which leads me to think he might have dyed it (look at me, yapping about hair color as if I knew squat!).
The other one had pure black hair messily falling over his face and eyes a sterling silver I simply had to look away. He was pale and rather short, like Clove but I don't think they were related (Clove looked next to nothing like an Albino).
The last one had the platinum locks the first boy lacked and his eyes were a different shade of blue than mine. I think Gale said my eyes only look like that when I'm happy - Glasz he'd whispered, only I'm pretty sure he'd made that word up.
"Amazing how a pretty face catches the attention of almost every person at this place." Snapping at out my trance, I caught an eye-full of bright red- or rather... ginger. I looked a few spaces down and saw bright blue eyes. "Glad to have your attention. My name's Rissa but everybody calls me Foxface."
Well at least someone was kind enough to introduce them self to me. Rissa and I exchanged handshakes while I told her who I was.
"Peeta Mellark. Former student of District 12."
Rissa's face scrunched up a bit. "Why the sudden transfer?"
I blanched but, thank you Drama Skills, I managed to hide it. "Personal problems. Didn't get along with one of the guys in my class."
"Just one?" Rissa pressed.
"Yeah, just one." I bit my lip and willed my thoughts towards another direction. "Why do you ask?"
"I'm in charge of strategies for this year's Olympics and I'm not so sure if you play but if you do then using you against your former classmates might help us in winning the games." I stared at hr for a bit. Sneaky and cunning, definitely why they pegged her as Foxface.
"I'm impressed." I finally admitted, glad she wasn't put off by my staring.
"Most people are." Foxface, I think I won't be able to shake that name off, smiled smugly before cocking her head to the side. "Sign up sheets are there, feel free to make my job easier and eliminate one district as a serious threat."
She began to walk away and I resisted the strong urge to drag her back. For a less caveman like method, I said. "I would if I knew what the Olympics where."
That did it and Foxface spun around liked I'd called her out to see if she wanted to be an Avox- not that Rissa would know what an Avox was.
"How could you not know?" She murmured, shaking her head before an aura o pure business developed from her. "The Olympics is a friendly way to engage competition from every one of the Capitol and its sister schools. Some schools don't bother to humor the board but amazingly all schools wish to join."
No wonder I've never heard of it before. District 12 was more of a keep it together and to yourself kind of school. Wonder what changed Undersee's mind.
"First off are the standard distance competitions. There's Archery and Javelin throwing. Our usual competitors come from the 'Careers'."
"Why do they call them the 'Careers'?" I drawled out without really thinking about it. My head moves to glance at Clove's group because I swear they were staring at me talking to Foxface.
"Because they plan to make a career out of whatever field they're competing in." Foxface hurriedly answered- I bet she could feel their eyes as well. "Our usual competitors for that are Glimmer and Marvel Florence respectively. Then there's Diving and Boxing, usually also a Career if not both at the same time; Cato Maice and Caelum Hordes. There's beach volleyball where several people fight to the death to become Clove Wintress' partner and sometimes a bull-fight though it's rare."
The matter of a fact tone Foxface was using made me spin around to face her.
"Bullfight?"
"Bullfight." She sighed. "It's when all the competitors from each district, we can tally a total of six, move into an arena and go through obstacle courses. It's child's play for everybody but keeps the blood from spilling."
Holy shit, they talk about the Olympics as if it's some war! Priorities people- College, studies, getting a job?
"And it's televised." Oh brother! They can't spare a single cent for a bigger quad in District 12 but the Capitol has enough grease to put these games in the air for public viewing? "Which is why I wonder why you've never heard of it."
"You and me the same Rissa." I gritted out before turning to the sheets. A lot of people were singing up so I bet they had some sort of elimination process. I saw Katniss' name under Archery but didn't Foxface say that the Careers usually took the spots? I couldn't see any of their names on it.
"Excuse me." Warmth crept somewhere near my side and I spun to see the dirty blonde kid from before reaching out an arm and scribbling something on the paper. I glanced up- Javelin throwing; Marvel Florence.
I glanced around and saw that the rest of Clove's group with the absences of Glimmer and the blonde haired boy was writing their names right where Foxface said they would and that said girl was staring at me with surprise.
"Are you not gonna join anything? You seemed awfully interested not ten minutes ago." Clove crossed her arms over her chest and who I assume is Caelum, looked up from where he was writing his name on the Diving sheet. I took my time processing her words and smiled a bit.
"So you were watching me?" That wiped the smile off of Clove's face and made Foxface laugh. The small dark haired girl gave me a glare that sent more than one shiver up my spine before she rolled her eyes.
"Just want to see some new competition." She let out. "We're tired of having to beat the same group of people."
The same group of people? My curiosity was piqued and it took all of my sanity to hold my tongue and patiently wait for Clove to finish signing her name then walking away before I spun to face Foxface. She gave out a sigh before slinging her arm over my shoulders.
"You have a free period right? Let's go over the Capitol and its social hierarchy."
Thoughts? I'd appreciate it if you could tell me if this has potential seeing as it is indeed my first Hunger Games story. I hope I did the character's justice- though Peeta is insanely OOC.