The sun is just rising, shining over the rubble of District 12. There's a slight breeze brushing my hair over my face, grazing over the smile I can't help but form on my lips
My legs are moving fast but not nearly fast enough. I'm heading towards the woods outside the district getting happier with every step. I look up to the sun that is emerging from the sky, making the most beautiful day to come. Nothing is better than having a sunny day on your birthday.
Today is my 17th birthday. Usually I would never be this excited on the day of my birth but today, waiting in the forest is someone anyone would love to spend their birthday with, my boyfriend Nick.
It sounds nice to say that. My boyfriend Nick. He isn't Nick, my mom's friend son, not Nick my district partner, and not Nick the dead tribute. He is Nicholas Hawthorne, my Nicholas Hawthorne.
I'm getting closer to the fence and nothing can hide the excitement in my face. When I get up to the old rusty fence, I put my ear against it and listen for buzzing. I know there is no chance that this old fence would ever be electrified, but it's something mom always made sure I did.
When I hear nothing I go through it placing my foot on the long soft grass beneath me and head for Nick and I's normal meeting place. Though I am still anxious I walk a little bit calmer since I don't want to chase all of the animals away.
When I get to the familiar spot I turn my head around searching for Nick. When I see no one standing in front of me I say, "Nick?" I turn my body around and I can't help but feel disappointed. In my excitement had I come too early? I look over the mess of trees above me and find the bright sun. Nick told me this spot at exactly at sun rise.
Before I have another moment to think something falls to the ground behind me and warm arms wrap around me. My mind dissolves in only blissful thoughts forcing all my troubles gone. Without turning I know who it is.
"Happy Birthday." Nick Whispers softly in my ear forcing a smile on my lips
I turn facing him, looking into his warm gray eyes. He has a smile on his lips but it's not long before he places them on my lips. His lips, like always, are warm and inviting. When he pulls away he gives me a bigger smile this time, showing his dimple. He tugs on my arm lightly and turns towards the emptiness of the woods.
"Where are we going?" I ask, my mind wondering over the different options.
"I did say it was a surprise didn't I?" although I can't see his face I hear the smile on his lips as he is taking me in my grip. He had told me it was a surprise, the whole week leading up to my birthday. As much as I persisted that I don't want a present from Nick, he was equally persisting that he had to get me one. I heard, "Sorry can't tell you what it is, it's a surprise." That I lost count.
I ask Nick a couple times if we are close yet and he just tells me to be quiet and wait followed by a laugh. After a while I start to get my bearings straight and realize that I've been over this area in the woods loads of times, with Nick at least.
We stop walking at a familiar place, Nick and I come here often. There are two trees that are closely sitting next to each other so when we do actually hunt; we aren't that far away from each other. When I pick up my head to what I expect to be the two trees, I see a big square made of a dark mahogany color. The wood walls has a small opening, from down here I could see there was benches inside, a tree house. A smile stretched across my lips and I look back at Nick who stood next to me still holding my hand.
He looks at me and gives me a crooked smile and nods his head towards the tree house.
"Well, go on." He says. I don't hesitate, I climb up the rugged tree quickly and Nick slowly comes up behind me. When I get up I look around the small tree house. It's warm and cozy in here. The first thing I think about is me and Nick sitting on the bench together for hours, maybe that's why Nick build this. I sit down on the bench and look up at Nick.
"This is amazing Nick, you built this?" he nods his head and takes a seat next to me.
"Yep." He smiles but then throws his hand on top of his pocket "I almost forgot!" he says gleefully pulling something out of his pocket.
When I look down to his hand I see a knife. I flinch at the sight of the knife in his hand at first, like I always do when he is holding one. I just have bad visions of him thrusting it into his stomach, like he did in the arena.
The sun shining through the opening in the tree house caused the shiny silver of the knife to glisten; the color reminded me of Nick's eyes directly in the sun. This knife is easily the best knife I have ever seen, the knife was probably from District 2, they always make the best weapons. The shiny coat on it was nothing I could ever accomplish with my knives, no matter how much polish mom got for me at the Hob. This was no doubt a very expensive knife. I'm staring at this knife in Nick's hand, my mouth half opening in amazement.
"Nick. That must have cost so much." As much as I would love to start using that knife now it was ridiculous the amount of money Nick spent on this.
"Oh, come on, we have loads of money." He is shoving the knife towards my hand. He is right, we do have a ton of money, especially because since Nick technically didn't win the games so he didn't get a Victor's Village house, and since I already had one neither did I.
After a lot more convincing, I took the knife from Nick's hand and immediately started running my fingers through the dull part on the blade inspecting it.
"I Knew you would give in." Nick smirks and watches me playing the knife, not trying to hide my smile at all. I turn to him and wrap my arms around him and nestled my head into his neck.
"Thank you so much Nick." I could almost feel his smile in the atmosphere.
/
Later after walking out of the woods hand in hand with Nick and my new knife in my pocket Nick walked me home and kissed me goodbye and went back to his house. I wasn't sure how long Nick and I were in the forest for, but time goes by fast with Nick and I think it might be around 10 in the morning. I walk in the house to expect no one waiting for me so I walk slowly, still with a smile on my face from my morning with Nick.
"And where were you?" I hear mom's voice before I see her; she is standing behind the counter in the kitchen. She doesn't look angry but has a serious face on. My blissful smile abruptly stops and I look at mom.
"Uh, in the woods with Nick." I answer back.
"And you came back with nothing." Mom doesn't say this angrily, she actually has a laugh in her voice, she's used of me coming back from the woods with nothing since we got back from the Capitol.
"Well, it was more of a birthday celebration…" I say, the blissful smile returning from earlier. Mom rolls her eyes and comes towards me wrapping me in her arms.
"Happy birthday Hailey." After pulling away from me she pulls out a box from behind the counter. I open it right away and see a hunting jacket. The jacket is made out of dark soft leather and I swap the old one on my back for the new one. I thank mom and hug her again. Soon after that dad and Will come downstairs, holding their gifts for me.
Will picked me pretty purple and yellow flowers. Dad gave me a painting kit, not those cheap paints I had to use whenever I wanted to paint. They were expensive paint, like the ones dad uses. I thank them both and then I hear a noise from behind me. I turn my head and I see a sober Haymitch strolling into our house. I am so happy to see Haymitch sober that I almost run into his arms. Though he probably just forgot to get me a present and last minute decided that I would like to see him sober, I still am satisfied.
It isn't until I pull away from him that I see the box in his hand, the box is small and has little holes in it. Haymitch must see me looking at it because he laughs and begins
"I woke up to this stupid thing chirping in my window this morning; I figured you would get a kick out of it." Haymitch laughs and hands me the box. I look at him for a second and chuckle lightly; I open the box cautiously a little afraid to see what was in the box. When the flaps to the box open I see a small bird sitting in the box looking up at me with a cheerful face.
When I see the white feathers popping out of the rest of the black feathers I realize it's a mockingjay. A smile stretches across my face and I thank Haymitch. I run my finger on the head of the mockingjay in my head I start to think of the name for the little bird. The powdery black of the bird's feather makes me think of the name Onyx, like a gemstone.
When Haymitch sits on the couch I try to follow dad and Will up the stairs so I can start using my paint and be with Onyx, but mom calls me back down.
"The Hawthornes are also coming over for your birthday dinner." Mom says avoiding my eyes. I groan softy and whisper back to her so dad can't hear upstairs.
"Mom, you know how this is going to end." Several times since coming back from The Capitol mom had attempted inviting Nick, his dad Gale, and his mom Fawna over for dinner. The dinners are alright but the night usually ends in some sort of altercation between dad and Gale.
"Well it's not up for discussion." She looks at me and pushes me towards the stairs lightly, "They will be here soon." I sigh and drag my legs up the stairs. When I get to my room I throw on a pair of more suitable clothes for a birthday celebration. I open my window a little bit and put Onyx's box on the windowsill so he can get some air. I look down, out of the window and notice the three figures walking toward our house, I groan to myself lightly without enthusiasm, but I happen to catch a glimpse of Nick walking ever so calmly. I smile towards the ground and prepare for the night ahead of me.
/
Dinner is going well until mom decides to tell me and Nick that Effie called, The Victory tour will be starting soon.
"We leave on the train in two days." Mom says and immediately my mood shifts. It feels like I just got back from the Capitol, I rather not be going there again, in the presence of President Crowe.
Nick and I don't say anything to counter mom's announcement, but I know he doesn't want to go either. Nick and I glance at each other like we are communicating through our minds. We eat in silence until Gale perks up,
"The Lamb stew is really good." Gale says with a smile. Nick rolls his eyes at his dad who is trying to not make the dinner so awkward. I almost laugh at Nick's embarrassment, but then Dad starts talking and then my smile drops.
"Yea, I made it, what you never made Lamb stew before?" Dad says this probably meaning no harm but it does come across as insulting.
"Well, no, I usually just catch the food." Gale laughs trying to show he isn't affected by dad's statement.
"Well what use is that, if you can't cook it?" Dad answers back.
"Apparently it's a great use to bake cakes and cookies." Gale says finally showing his anger. Mom and Fawna are acting like nothing is wrong, while Nick and I are rolling our eyes and glancing at each other. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Haymitch take a big gulp of liquor after sighing in annoyance.
After a while the little quarrel dies down and just minimizes to dad and Gale giving dirty looks to each other. When the long painfully dinner ends we sit down for cake quickly and then it's time for everybody to leave.
I thank everyone for coming and tell them I appreciate it. Before Nick and his family leaves he is able to sneak in a last 'happy birthday' kiss when no one is looking. It's a fast kiss but it is still enough to my stomach flutter and my knees go weak. I wave goodbye to Nick as he walks out of the front door.
/
Later when I am getting ready for bed, like every night I wish that Nick was beside me under the covers with his arms wrapped around me, like they were the night before we came back to District 12. If he was here I could feel safer then, like no one can harm me.
Before climbing into bed I give some small seeds to Onyx and pet him softly on the head. He coos and looks up at me with his big dark eyes. Though Nick is not here, it's nice to have another living being in the room with me, oh how Haymitch understands me so well.
Despite the wonderful day and birthday celebration, tonight is one of those nights. One of those nights that I am kept up by my screaming from the awful blurred images of my fellow tributes dying before me in The Hunger Games. I don't choose when I have these nights; they just show up at random. They are never pleasant dreams I have, always terrible.
Then I think about the Victory Tour, and what terrible memories will come visiting me during it. I am not looking forward to it at all, I'm mostly frightened.
Unable to close my eyes, I keep my mind on an image of Nick in my head. Just his smile and every aspect of it. I study it so often that I can sketch It in my sleep. This is what helps me get through one of those nights, just Nicholas Hawthorne and the ghost of his smile in my mind.
Hi everyone! The sequel is here! After a nice and peaceful break! Before I talk about anything else I have to share a few links with you:
My twitter: .com/Laniebobaniee
I want to thank .com/katnipkatniss12 for promoting Endless Fire so much
Also I want to thank .com/Mackenzie_berry for helping me with some troubles I had with the writing
Ok, so i'm not sure when the next chapter will be up because as we all know THE HUNGER GAMES IS COMING OUT IN 3 DAYS AHHHH. Excitement! Ok well anyway I hoped you liked it!