Hope my story entertains.
I do not own Hunger Games but I have read them a ridiculous number of times.
I refused to speak a word the whole car ride. Mom and Prim sat up front, Prim seemed to be trying to make up for my sulkiness by being over talkative. While she was chatting animatedly my mind kept blocking out their conversation while thinking, "This sucks, this sucks, this sucks…" And so on.
The fact that Prim seemed OK with this plan Mother dearest presented us with was like adding salt to a wound. She should've backed me up in my refusal to leave, how could she have agreed that this was the best choice for us? A few weeks ago Mom had announced that she was taking a new job as a traveling nurse. She said that it would be good for her but it wouldn't be possible for us to be with her. Her brother Haymitch had supposedly "volunteered" to have Prim and I stay with him, though I have serious doubts that he could want to look after an eleven and fifteen year old. I don't know much about Uncle Haymitch, aside from the fact that he'd been married a few times and lived in southern California, but the times I had met him he never struck me as the type to make such an offer. Growing up Prim and I would occasionally get a random birthday or Christmas card from him, usually it arrived a few weeks late, but he'd stuff some cash inside the card; he'd usually send a large amount, but sometimes it seemed as if it was however much he had in his pocket at the time, like $78 or something along those lines. A month after I turned 12 I remember receiving his card and my astonishment of pulling out twelve crisp 100 dollar bills, I fanned them out and just stared wide eyed at the sight of them, much to my annoyance Mom and Dad hadn't let me keep it, they put the majority of it in my college fund.
Mom promised that she'd call often and that she'd get a break every three months and would come to visit us then.
I heard Mom mention how much fun it will be living right on the beach, I clinch my jaw and pick up my iPod, switch it to what Prim calls my "angry music" and successfully ignore them for the rest of the nine hour drive down the state of California.
I'm slouched down in my seat, head resting on the door staring blankly up at the white clouds against the bright blue sky, I feel Prim's hand shaking my knee. I look up and remove an ear bud.
"We're here, Kat!" She said excitedly, "This is his road!"
Trying not to show too much interest I peer at the houses as we slowly drive past, the houses were definently designed to impressive, professionally landscaped grounds some with ornate fountains in front. This place just oozed luxury and wealth.
I scoff and reach into my bag and grab my sunglasses then shoved them on my face.
The car pulled into a drive way, I couldn't help but sneak a glance at the house; it was a sprawling Italian styled mansion the drive circled around and led to the multi car garage.
"OK girls," Mom said, "Be on your best behavior."
I rolled my eyes and Prim hopped out of the car.
I dragged my feet as I followed Mom and Prim to the front door, before either could knock or ring the bell the door swung open, revealing a women with over bleached hair and bright red lips.
I smirked to myself as I watch Mom falter for a second, "Um, hello… I'm looking for Haymitch."
"Yes, dear, come in, come in. You must be Alice," Her lips stretched across her white teeth, "I'm Miss. Trinket, his housekeeper. He's out right now but I'm sure he'll be back shortly."
As soon as I crossed the threshold she closed the door behind me.
"Well and you must be Katniss and Primrose," She said and I felt her eyes slowly trail down me, taking in my appearance, "So lovely to meet you."
She shook Prim's hand and then reached for mine and gave it a little shake.
Her heels clicked on the marble floor as she led us into the living room.
"Sit and make yourselves comfortable, I'll go get you all some ice waters."
Prim was practically bubbling over with excitement, when she looked out the large window that overlooked the ocean she squealed, "Oh my gosh, Kat look at this!"
I moved closer to her and took in the sight of my new backyard, a long crystal clear pool sat close to the house, surrounded by lush plants and palm trees and a low wall with a large gate that led out on to the beach.
"Can you believe that we live here?" She asked practically jumping up and down.
"No, Prim, we're getting dumped here," I said and sent a glare towards Mom as I went to take a seat on the sofa.
Miss. Trinket came back with ice waters for us and started jabbering on about something or other, I slouched down in my seat and stared up at the ornately decorated ceiling.
The sound of a door slamming made me jump.
"Oh, good, he's back," Miss. Trinket said and hurried off to greet him. Her heels gave sharp clickity-clacks across the floor and we heard her tell him that we were here.
A shaggy blonde haired man came into the room.
"Mitch, it's so good to see you," Mom said as she went and gave him a hug.
He returned the hug in an awkward way that showed he wasn't used to the action of "hugging", then his eyes landed on Prim and I.
"Well, I hardly recognize either of you," He said with a gruff voice.
"They have grown up haven't they?" Mom said, "I think it was probably eight years ago, wasn't it?"
Uncle gives a vague shrug, "Has Trinket shown you to your rooms yet?" He asked Prim and I.
Prim shook her head, "No Uncle Haymitch."
"All your stuff still in the car?"
"They each have a suitcase," Mom said then quickly volunteered to go get them.
The room was filled with an awkward silence after Mom left the room.
It wasn't until Miss. Trinkets heels clacked into the room that the silence was broken, "I put your briefcase in your office along with refreshments. There's a few phone messages for you on your desk. Shall I order supper now?"
"Give the girls the tour," Uncle said to her, he turned back to us, "Just tell her what your hungry for. She's a pro at order take-out."
He walked out of the room.
Miss. Trinket guided Prim and I around the first floor, the kitchen, dinning room, music room, library and she just pointed to two closed doors side by side saying that one was his study and the other was his bedroom.
Mom came in with the suitcases and Prim and I each lugged our own suitcase upstairs, she showed us the media room and then opened Prim's bedroom door and then mine.
I could hear Prim chattering on about how pretty her room was as I took mine in, the only thing I could process was 'white'; white walls, white furniture, white bedding, white white white. After adjusting my eyes to the total void of color I was able to observe the desk and chair, bookcase, sofa, queen sized four poster bed and walked further in, two doors were standing open, one leading to a large walk in closet with built-in shelves and the other into a large bathroom. When I came out of the bathroom Miss Trinket was standing in my room saying how Uncle had said that she could call a decorator if I wanted to do something different for my room.
Before I could response to Miss. Trinket, Prim came rushing in, "Katniss! There's a balcony!"
She grabbed my arm and pulled me back out into the media room and she threw open the glass French doors.
If I hadn't been so determined to dislike everything about this place, I would have been amazed at the clear view of the ocean, the large balcony stretched the length of the house and held dark wooden furniture with large cream colored cushions.
"Oh, Katniss how can you be frowning in a place like this?" Prim asked spreading her arms out in front of her.
"I'd rather be back home," I grumbled, "How can you be alright with Mom leaving us?"
"She's not leaving us, Kat," Prim said quietly, the sadness in her voice makes me feel guilty for being so harsh.
"Mom just needs…" Her voice trailed off not sure how to continue.
"She's being selfish," I snapped, "Dragging us away from our friends and home."
"We'll make new friends… It'll be a chance to start over."
I look over at her, "I didn't want to start over… I wanted to stay home… It's what Dad would've wanted, he would've wanted for us to stay together."
Prim didn't say anything but her lower lip quivered slightly, I was about to apologize for upsetting her when I heard Mom say from the doorway, "Well, this will be a fine view to wake up to won't it?"
I immediately turn and walk inside, ignoring Mom as I passed her.
I went to my room and closed the door, noticing with relief that there was a lock on the door and quickly took use of it.
I laid down on my new bed and much to my annoyance found it comfortable, much more so than my bed back at home.
I missed home already, I missed the mountain views and all the trees that I had grown up running around. My friends Gale and Thom promised that they'd keep in touch, Gale, who was 16 and had his own car, told me that he'd break me out of here if I was ever really unhappy. The two of them were the only friends I had ever had, the three of us lived close to one another and our childhoods were spent exploring the woods and learning to navigate a canoe on the near-by lake, as we got older our parents let us camp out over night and we'd stay up all night eating candy and drinking soda and wouldn't fall asleep until we'd get home the next morning. After my Dad died, they were my source of comfort, always willing to disappear with me into the woods to escape the reality of my situation. But I was alone here. I got up from my bed and walked to the large window draped in white gauzy fabric, my view was of the front lawn and the house across the road. I looked down the road and watched for a moment, a few luxury cars drove past, it seemed to alternate between a convertible and an oversized SUV.
The time slowly slipped past, I had gotten one of my books out of my bag and was letting myself get lost in Middlearth as I read through my much worn copy of Lord of the Rings. Prim knocked on my door, letting me know that it was time to eat.
My stomach growling was the only reason I opened my door and joined her. Miss. Trinket had the table all set up with proper place settings, the Thai take-out food had even been dumped into fancy serving dishes.
Uncle Haymitch was already scooping food on to his plate as Prim and I took our seats.
During the meal there were a few attempts at making conversation but Uncle Haymitch was as much against idle chit-chat as I was, so Prim and Mom eventually settled into silence. As soon as I had eaten my fill, I pushed my chair back.
"I think I'll just go to bed now," I said as I stood up.
"Oh, I was hoping you would come with me to the beach," Prim said looking up at me with her large blue eyes.
I quickly looked away, not wanting my resolve to stay isolated to waver, I mumbled something like, "Another time," as I walked out of the room.
"Charming girl you have there, Alice," I heard Uncle Haymitch say as I went up the stairs.
"Your one to talk," I said under my breath.
I stayed alone for the rest of the night, passing the time with either reading or listening to music. I still hadn't unpacked anything except a few books and my toothbrush, I reached in and grabbed the first long T-shirt I felt and slipped it on before crawling underneath the white covers.
Next chapter should be up shortly and I dare say that the charming Mr. Mellark will be making an appearance.