the hunger games is by suzanne collins.
this story is by me. i do not own the hunger games, no matter how much i dream to.
Chapter 3
Delly's POV
Later that day
I go to pick up Niall, my little brother, when I see Gale doing the same for his siblings. I'm not annoyed with him anymore, because I'm not one to hold grudges against people.
Unless they do something to piss me off.
Then I kill those idiots.
He's obviously ignoring me, whereas I gave him a friendly nod when I saw him.
Niall comes walking out of school alongside the wave of other children. This is a different school than the one I go to – this one is for the younger kids. I smile at him, and he introduces me to his friend standing beside him.
"This is Vick", he says. The boy looks aroud eight – the same age as Niall. He has tanned skin – like me, but his hair is dark, eyes grey.
Obviously Seam.
I give him a friendly wave, which he returns. He goes to talk to someone – Gale, of course. His elder brother. What a coincedence. I turn my attention back to Niall as we talk and walk on the way home.
"They said something about Peeta in school today", he says.
Rather than feigning interest in this conversation like I had done before, I pay attention to Niall's words.
"What was that?" I ask inquisitivley.
"Urm… something like 'good luck to all the tributes'". He frowns. "Peeta isn't coming back, is he?" a small tear travels down the curve of his cheek in sadness and he looks so innocent.
I stop and kneel down in the gravel infront of him so he has to look at me. "He is coming back. I promise". I whisper, pulling him into my arms and stroking his blonde, silky curls.
He looks more like Dad, but has the kindness of Mum. Not saying that Dad's mean. He's just rash.
"How do you know?" he sniffs, tears still sliding down his cheeks.
Then I realise that we're on the middle of the road.
"We'll see him tonight, on the big screens. Then you'll know". He nods, unsure, and I lead him back home. As soon as we get in the door, Mum realises the tears and goes to talk to Niall. I just say 'hi' and walk to the shop, where my elder brother – Knute – is working. I smile at him and dump my school bags behind the counter.
"How was school?" he says, not looking up from the shoe he's polishing.
The shop seems oddly quiet.
"I didn't go", I say simply. That's the one good thing about Knute – you could tell him anything, and he wouldn't dob you in.
He has Mum's looks – dark hair, grey eyes, relitivley Seam.
He doesn't look too surprised, sighing. "You really need to go tomorrow, Delly. You can't skive school forever".
I smirk at him. "It was only one day. And where's Dad?"
He shrugs. "Not a clue". Then, he smiles at me. "I'm glad you're not too upset". I cringe at the statement, and he looks into my eyes, as if examining me.
"Stop it", I snap, "you're freaking me out". He laughs genuinley before going back to the shoe. I roll my eyes before I start to sort the shop out a bit – putting shoes in their rightful places, and so on.
Not the most interesting thing in life, I will assure you.
The bell chimes, indicating a customer. I turn to see Vick running into the shop. He stops when he recognises me.
"Hey", I say to him, "are you allowed here?" I ask. He shakes his head hurredley. "Should I take you back home?"
"No", he says. "I wanted to see Niall. He seemed upset at school".
"Do your parents know that you're here?"
"No", he repeats.
"I'll take you back home, ok?" I decide, grabbing a thin fleece.
"I need to see Niall", he says. I can see he's not going to budge, so I oblige.
"Then I'll take you home, ok?" He nods. I show him the way to Niall's room and head back downstairs. "Call me if you need anything!" I shout over my shoulder as I go to address the customer behind the counter.
Mayor's daughter alert.
She smiles at me, and I'm surprised when it looks like she means it. I hear the familiar voice of Knute behind me. "Miss Undersee's shoes are done", he says. I look over to him and he nods towords the box to my right, avoiding eye contact. His ears are tinged pink. I whisper him a small thanks, smirking, as Madge gives me the right amount of money and walks off. I sigh in relief when she's gone and bury my face in my hands.
"You should be nicer to her", Knute commented, picking up another shoe to polish, still not looking at me, ears pink. I nod, numbly, gulping. Knute, nineteen, likes Madge Undersee.
That stupid blonde, with her merchant looks, being able to get anyone and everyone to like her with her friendly ways, just like Peeta. I swallow, feeling something heavy in my chest burdening me. I want to cry all over again – but I have to be strong. For Niall, who didn't know Peeta as well as I did, but is still upset over how things turned out.
Why does it always have to be the person who least deserves it? Always the selfless one, rather than people like me.
I should have volunteered for Katniss Everdeen. I would have been easier for Peeta to kill, or I would have died by the hands of a ruthless Career due to my lack of fighting skills.
But Peeta? What will happen to him? Will he live? Or… die? The latter is the most likley.
Stop, I tell myself. How could I have even considered Peeta dieing? He wouldn't. He knows how many people at home need him. He would try his hardest to get home.
Wouldn't he?
But he claimed that he loved Katniss. And I could tell from the gleam in his eyes that it was more than a school boy crush.
But would he be prepared to die for her?
I hear the laughter of children coming from my left, from up the stairs, and look outside. I should be getting Vick home. His family will be worried.
I huff, shouting for Vick and Niall to come downstairs.
yup, you got it. delly and gale will meet in the next chapter!
please review for anything you want to happen in the future!
-Ausilin
