I throw a vase at his chest. It shatters into a million pieces. He's bleeding, but I don't care. I run into my own room and cry my eyes out.
Why is he acting like this? He must be really stressed out. He's only been like this twice before. I remember that first time, when our seventh-grade teacher gave us a super-long assignment over the weekend.
"Attention class, I have an assignment for you. You must read the last ten chapters of our book and write a three-page book report on how you liked the book," announced Mrs. Hezzer.
She walked over to us two and said, "You two don't have to do this. Just finish the book as soon as you can, and tell me how you liked it after class when you do finish it."
The bell rang, signaling that school was over. We walked home together, like we always do. "Ed, can you come over and play at my house? You can bring your turtles," I told him. He quickly shook his head no.
"Sorry Bo, but I have to start reading. I'm tired of getting special treatment. I want to be treated normally, like all of the other kids in our class. You go ahead and play with the turtles. I'll be in my room," he said kindly. Jeez, usually he wouldn't do this whatsoever. I wonder what's up.
He called his turtles, and I called Joe. They played in our backyards, and I read. I probably won't get this done, but hey. I don't want to seem lazy compared to Ed. Thank goodness we have three day weekends; Ed and I get Friday off. Our parents requested it, and the principal complied. I would get this done in no time.
Before I know it, it's dinner time. I've gotten through two chapters. I wonder how Ed's doing.
I eat my dinner quickly. Afterwards, I walk over to his house. His mom lets me in. I hurry up to his room, finding him sitting there with his book.
"Hey Ed! How far are you in the book?"
He looks up at me with red eyes and says, "4 chapters left." He says it so coldly I shiver.
"What's wrong?" I ask him, only to find him pointing at the door, as if to tell me to get out. He's really being a Jerk!
I didn't see him over the rest of the weekend. I was so bored, I even asked my brother to play with me. He just glared at me until I left.
Once school started on Monday, I ran up to him. He seemed much happier. I was so glad to see him happy again, I almost kissed him. I was about an inch away when the bell rang, signaling that we should come inside for class. The teacher was so proud, he gave him an A plus, even though he thought the review sucked.
Jeez, I wish he was happy now. He must be so scared. I feel for him, I'm scared too. I wish I could see him. I don't go because I'm worried that he'll try to kill me or something. I also suddenly start remembering the first reaping. He was like this then, too.
I was in my room, waiting for the reaping to start. It was my first one, and I was scared. My mom never told me what they are, and I decided that today was the day she would tell me. I ran up to her, and asked her what they are.
"They're when a boy and a girl are chosen to… to… get… an award," She told me.
Oh, that makes sense. My mom never let me watch the games, so I was wondering what those were, too. Now I won't have to ask her!
I run into the plaza, where I find Ed again. He looks at me but doesn't say a word. Oh well, he must be stressed about the reapings. I tell them they're an award. He brightens up, but not all the way.
We listen to the mayor do his thing, and hold hands while the reapings go on, since we're right by each other. We're both right by the rope. When he realizes they're over and he didn't get picked, he completely happy. I smile; nothing's better than a happy Ed.
I'm still crying when I decide to visit him. I'm halfway out the door when I hear a gunshot coming from Ed's room. Soldiers run out as I run in. Ed's on the floor, blood seeping out of his chest. "Bo," He says when I sit by him. "Bo, I love you."
I'm in total shock. His chest stops moving, and I know the truth.
Ed is dead.