Chapter 2

Juliet

~Tis but thy name that is my enemy:
Belonging to a man. O be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet~

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything. Except

Hazel and Robin. And Pearl and Jay. Please Enjoy!

10:58 am

In the middle of Geometry.

Mr. Long explained simple reasoning equations. The board was filled with different examples that make everyone's head spin, either from lack of understanding or from boredom. I choose the latter.

"So the sum of the angles A and B would be 180… added to the 2nd and 3rd angles resulting to a much larger angle…"

On and on and on… I can't bare it any longer.

11:10 am

Literature.

" With the stories written through centuries by respected and imaginative writers, we have been given a valuable treasure to keep and to expound further the…

Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare….. Did she really mean many? All these famous books are written by only one guy! And he's rumored to be gay!

"I shall now read to you a famous line from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet…" Mrs. Ferrington cleared her throat then started…

I like Shakespeare. Even if he was gay. I love his books… more than fairy tales. At least his writings are realistic enough…

"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"

Deny thy father and refuse thy name

"Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love"

And I'll no longer be a Capulet…

Those lines keep on sticking inside my head since I was a child… I preferred classical and realistic stories rather than princes and princesses. They show me how life really works.

"Now That! Is true love... don't you agree my darling students?"

Almost all the girls swooned and sighed dreamily, nodding their heads as though they themselves have already fallen in love.

"Ms. Everdeen, would you care to tell us your opinion regarding this matter?" She eyed me suspiciously then smiled encouragingly for me to speak.

Shoot! I guess she caught me looking out the window…

I can sense everybody's eyes on me. Two girls from the back row snickered then looked at me with a 'this-ought-to-be-interesting' look. The boys kept talking while looking at me. Janus stared at me, waiting patiently then noticed that I'm not saying anything, he mouthed a 'go on, you can do it'.

This snapped me back to reality so I hastily answered a

"No."

Amanda, Sherylle, and a red-headed girl snickered. Mrs. Ferrington shushed them and ushered me to continue.

"uhmm… No, I do not agree, because I don't think that by changing anyone's surname for a guy whom you barely know would help you be with your one true love, and her father even thought that the guy was a nut job… " I say uncertainly, and with that everybody burst out laughing, when I say everyone, I meant it. Even our teacher did.

I heard Leline say 'told you she's weird' to a girl at her back. Jordan and a boy with bleached hair pointed a finger at me then mumbled 'is she a lesbian? Didn't know a girl could be so unromantic.'

That's it. Screw Shakespeare. Even tragic love stories stink.

"Okay everyone… calm down!" Mrs. Ferrington tried to stifle a laugh.

"Everyone has the right to voice out their opinions. But Ms. Everdeen… surely you find Romeo and Juliet a touching story, everyone can relate to it, well not literally but I'm sure even you fell in love before." She referred to me with open arms as if to emphasize her point.

"No madam, I haven't. I'm still too young." I looked down hiding my face bright red from embarrassment.

Then again, everyone's attention turned back at me. I want this to end now!

"No? too young? Sweetie! No one's too young for love!" she looked utterly shocked as though it was her first time hearing a 15 year old say that she's never even fallen in love before.

"How about making Love?" someone shouted from the class, the rest jeered and whistled.

Mrs. Ferrington coughed to silence the class, then turned her attention back to me.

"Not even a small crush? Ever?" she looked more like concerned than shocked.

I thought teachers don't have the right to ask about their student's personal life? I should get a lawyer! Then maybe they'd let her go to jail for pestering an innocent student who doesn't deserve this humiliation! Is falling in love even part of the school curriculum?

"N-no." I started to stutter from embarrassment and at the same time from annoyance.

"How about a girl friend then?" Roy shouted then someone else followed

"Lesbi-Love!" whistles, and laughter exploded.

I sat down without a word then stared out the window, immersing myself deep in my imagination. Where no one dares to bother me.

What's so good about falling in love anyway…

The door burst open, and everybody's eyes lay on 5 men in white suites. Their hair colors are very different from each other, very weirdly different. All of them started to scan the class.

Mrs. Ferrington started to protest but the tall guy with fiery red hair approached her then whispered something in her ear. I think it's sort of a bad news since her eyes grew wide, her face pale then she clasped her hand to her mouth. She whispered something back then they started to leave.

What's going on?

I have a really bad feeling about this.

"Class, please form two neat straight lines outside and proceed to the gymnasium. Immediately." There was a sense of urgency in her voice, but at the same time it seemed to waver… from fear?

The whole class seemed to sense the urgency in her voice so we all proceeded without question.

Going to the gym, the girls in the class keep talking about things like

'They're going to announce that a prince is here! I just saw him near the office earlier, he looks exactly like a prince and he acts like a prince so I'm sure of it! Maybe they're here to choose a bride for him!'

and

'I told you they're here to break to us the nearing end of the world! Those men in white are here to protect us from the invading aliens infesting human kind!'

All kinds of rumors flew from here to there.

They're just here to make some simple announcement about school or something… stop making too much of a big deal about it…

But even I can't hide the anxiety I feel. That bad feeling came back at a wrong time.

"So, what do you think?" I heard a voice from behind me move towards my side. A pair of green eyes hidden by a pair of glasses met mine.

I was flustered. Someone's talking to me, and it's Janus.

"think about what?" I asked

"About all these! The men in white, the announcement, everything!" he seemed enthusiastic about this too.

"Why are you even asking me?" I sounded a bit snobbish but I still feel annoyed at the fact that he laughed at me earlier, along with the whole class.

I heard him chuckle then say

"Because you're interesting." He looked me straight in the eye implying that he's dead serious.

Interesting? Right, of course everyone thinks I'm a joke…

I frowned a little and he seemed to notice it.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way." He added then walked away.

I stared at his tall back; his tanned skin seemed to glow from afar.

I guess a person who's tall, dark, and handsome does exist…

We started to enter the gym and I met a pair of the same blue eyes looking, no staring back at me, then followed by a wave and a relieved smile.

Pixie!

I waved a small wave back and she stopped mid air with the same emotionless expression that emits a cold air, but I noticed she wasn't looking at me with that cold glare nearly impossible for a cute little girl such as herself to make; instead she was glaring at Janus who glared back with the equal amount of coldness as well.

For a split second they glared at each other then looked away as if nothing happened. Pixie turned her attention back to me then smiled weakly. I continued to walk forward where the sits for juniors are located.

The gymnasium was filled with continuous chatter, the students became restless and at last our principal went up the stage, he's a short stout man with almost bald white head. A very friendly person, unlike the vice principal.

He adjusted the microphone and spoke.

"Good morning my dear students!" He greeted cheerfully.

"I'm guessing that you are very curious as to why we are assembled here today."

Murmurs were flying everywhere, at my back the students were getting impatient.

'Just get on with it!' someone shouted from the crowd.

The Principal looked embarrassed so he decided to introduce the men in white.

Poor naïve little man.

"I am honored to announce that our special guests here today are the high ranking officials from the capitol, please give them a round of applause.." he's cheery voice seemed to be fake. He obviously is NOT honored to have them here.

"Thank you Principal" He nodded his head towards his direction then turned his attention towards us.

"I am Sergeant Kress, from the capitol, and I am here to make an important announcement from our head officials." His voice was dark and menacing that it added to the tension inside the gymnasium.

Capitol… our history teacher lectured us about the capitol, he told us that it's the head and the center of all 12 districts. Nothing more than that…

'what's the capitol?' I heard a boy ask his friend at my side.

It really pays to listen…

"We are here to resume the games after thirteen long years….

Games? What kind of games?

Everyone cheered and hoorayed! Saying things like, I hope there's a basketball tournament… the swimming team would be a good bet… I hope volleyball would also be open.

Sergeant Kress seemed to smile with amusement. And then continued…

"I am very pleased to see that the students here are very enthusiastic!" He opened his arms as though he gained our trust.

I don't like him…

"But these games are only open to certain chosen students." Everyone's enthusiasm suddenly turned to complaints and shouts of 'unfair'.

"And now… we would like to call forth these chosen students!" The man tried hard to be enthusiastic but instead it gave off a bad feeling.

I Hope it's not me… I hate competitions.

"Starting with the lower year levels. From the freshmen." Clearing his throat he began.

"Jay Everdeen!" almost all cheered for him encouragingly as he jogged his way towards the stage and waved at the girls who squealed.

Jay? Why him?

Instead of feeling happy for my brother, I felt panicked!

"and Pearl Mellark!" the man continued.

Pixie?

She stood up, head down and walked towards the stage, there were confused murmurs asking who she is, but she continued to walk then stood beside Jay, looking at the crowd with those emotionless pair of eyes.

"Creg Lanson!" he proceeded with the second year students.

A tall boy with messy brown hair stood up and his classmates slapped him playfully at his back, but he seemed to walk in fear.

"David Bronxie!"

A red-headed fox-faced boy stood up smirking amidst all the cheers, steadily walking up towards the stage besides the brown haired guy.

"Now with the juniors… Janus Grey!"

Janus?

I looked at him while he stood up straight with utmost confidence. Before he walked towards the stage, he looked at me then muttered a 'good luck'.

Good luck? He's the one joining the games.

I watched his back while he made his way at the left side of the stage.

"Robin Mellark!"

Mellark? Pixie's brother?

I looked from side to side and found a prince-like boy standing in the middle of the gymnasium, his straight light blond hair swayed as he walked and his dark blue eyes never wavered from the sight in front of him.

Prince-like… he's taller than I expected him to be.

Taking his place beside Janus, I felt that his eyes were… dead.

Someone nudged me from my side then whispered 'hurry up!'

A boy said 'go…' I felt confused. Until The speaker repeated.

"Hazel Everdeen."

I was paralyzed on the spot, but then slowly stood up. Feeling everyone's gaze, I was desperate for them to go away.

I walked slowly, and careful not to fall face flat on the ground. I took in the faces of the other chosen students, and made my way beside Pixie's brother. I caught him giving me a distasteful glance then looked away.

What did I ever do to him?

I positioned myself in front of the crowd and imitated the same emotionless gaze the others had on their eyes. Hiding my fear…

I watched as the other three senior students went up the stage. Two boys and one girl. I recognize the boy with dark black hair and the other boy with red hair, but I'm not familiar with the girl with straight long hair and dark red eyes. She seems so confident and… bored?

Looking at her made me feel irritated so I just focused my attention towards the speaker.

"I know everyone of you is curious as to why they were chosen, and I'd be glad to explain"

I'd be glad to listen…

"These students here are sons and daughters of previous victors from the different districts."

Victors? Does he mean dad was a victor? A victor of what?

None of it was making sense.

"Pearl Mellark, daughter of the 74th Hunger games victor, Peeta Mellark."

Hunger games? I remembered my dad mentioning about the hunger games once when we were out camping in the woods. He said that it was unbearably cruel, a game of survival.

This was getting much more complicated, but Pearl seemed to know everything from the start.

"Jay Everdeen, son of the 74th Hunger games victor, Katniss Everdeen."

Mom? But, I thought that she…

"Creg Lanson, son of the 70th Hunger games victor, Rachel Lanson."

He has his mother's last name too?

"David Bronxie, son of the 71st Hunger games victor, Flex Bronxie."

"Janus Grey, son of the 72nd Hunger games victor, Ren Grey."

"Robin Mellark, son of the 74th Hunger games victor, Peeta Mellark."

74th wait. I also remembered my dad telling us that the hunger games is a fight for survival, where only one emerges as the victor.

"Hazel Everdeen, daughter of the 74th Hunger games victor, Katniss Everdeen."

Everyone seemed to be thinking about the same thing, why are there 2 victors in the 74th Hunger games…

Sergeant Kress noticed the confusion so he cleared the misunderstanding.

"Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen were declared the victors. The reason was because at that time, the capitol allowed the players to pair up with each other, and they ended up as the winning pair. However, it was the first and the last time." He looked at me, Jay, Pearl, and Robin with a look that seemed to challenge us and continued introducing the other competitors.

I heard Robin hiss in frustration at the man. He glared at me for a second then looked at the crowd.

Seriously! What did I ever do to him? Prince? More like EVIL Prince of the Snobs.

The speaker finished the introduction, then he said something I wasn't expecting.

"Starting tomorrow, these students will enter and live in a training camp together with the other children from different schools and places."

I felt my heart sink deep in my stomach. I was again paralyzed in fear. They're taking me away, me and Jay, away from our parents, from everyone. I felt angry rather than afraid.

I clenched my hands until my knuckles turned white. I can't cry in front of these people. I bit my bottom lip to prevent my tears from falling. Robin looked at me from the corner of his eyes and I expected him to give me another icy glare.

I was too angry to be concerned about his glares so I turned to him, my hair disheveled, the rubber band from my hair loosened from my sudden action, my black curly-tipped hair dropped at the side of my face with small waves from putting it in a bun. I felt the anger in my eyes stare straight at his emotionless face.

But my action caught him surprised. For the first time, I can see him as a human being, vulnerable as me. Emotions welling up in his eyes… those pair of eyes, they were electrifying. And after a few seconds he turned away covering his eyes with his bangs.

And now I realized what Juliet meant, 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy'. If I wasn't an Everdeen, I wouldn't be in this mess. Oh how I wish that I could just drink poison and die that easily… like her.

But I doubt that this Romeo here beside me would stick a sword inside his gut. I'm perfectly convinced that he wouldn't die without a fight.

And I won't too.

And again… rewrote this chapter since I noticed some typos. I'm starting to write the next one so please continue reading.. sorry again for the VERY VERY VERY late 'future' update.

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