Hi people! Chapter 4 means district 4, so I hope you like it. A note, I'm British so when I say plaits I mean braids. Please take the time to review, because it guarantees you another chapter! If I don't get many reviews, I might not continue. *duh duh duhhhhhh*
District 4:
"Now look confident," Finnick commands, as he looks at me in the mirror. I gaze at my reflection and shrug.
"How do I do that?" I say with an exasperated sigh. I am the shyest, most socially inept boy ever. And I mean it.
"For starters, stand up straight." Finnick orders, tapping my back. I stand a little straighter.
"Good. Now lift up your chin a little," he continues. "Now give me your best smile."
I plaster on a grin and Finnick bursts out laughing. "What? I can't be you."
Finnick runs his hand through his bronze curly hair and frowns. I'm the spitting image of Finnick Odair; same bronze hair, tanned skin, sea-green eyes. I'm an inch taller than him too, as well as more muscular, and I can catch a fish five times quicker. Finnick says the Capitol eats that up, and that it's my only way to get sponsors. I don't doubt him, because I watched the 65th Hunger Games and saw the amazing trident he received as a gift. It's the captivating, charming personality I haven't quite mastered.
"True," he says carefully, "but you can be a charismatic, appealing version of me. Face it; you're already halfway there with your looks. Some people could say you were better looking than me too, but that's a matter of opinion." We both laugh together for the first time. He must be idolised by so many people in the Capitol and in the Districts. It wasn't just his looks that gave him sponsors, it was his charm. He could make a dead fish sound tempting if he tried, and make the most serious person laugh.
"See! Just then, when you laughed… That made you look likeable. You have to pretend your laughing at a joke except keep it on your face without making a noise. Try that," Finnick suggests. I smile like he said to, and I feel like it is working. Finnick does too, obviously, because he is grinning like a Cheshire cat behind me.
"How was that?" I ask nervously, returning to my introverted self again.
"Perfect. Do that for the interview."
I nod quickly. The next day is training. I watch everyone else practising wielding weapons, destroying dummies and annihilating targets at long distances. I decide to avoid anybody else and spend the rest of the hour in the corner of the room squirting berry juice on the floor into the shape of fish. The girl from District 10 sits down beside me, her long red hair in two plaits down her shoulders.
She grabs some berries and manages to paint the ocean around my fish. It's not really accurate, since she doesn't live near the ocean. I shuffle away from her nervously.
"I don't bite," she laughs.
I don't reply, but instead, I look at the floor and twiddle my thumbs. I wish I was a fish, deep inside the ocean where nobody could bother you and pry into your life. I could swim for hours on end, exploring in the deep blue with nothing to worry about. That would be nice. The girl notices my awkwardness and takes some berries from the container. She squirts out some juice and I can't help but look. Hello. I'm Tessa. What's your name?
I look at the words written on the floor and grab some more berries.
Caspian.
That's a nice name. You're from District 4?
Yes.
Do you swim a lot? I've always wanted to see the ocean.
I'm a fisherman. Do you raise livestock?
I'm a farmer's daughter. We rear cows. At home, I have a special cow called Macey. She's a great listener. Nobody else likes listening to me. They all say I talk too much. Do I?
No. You talk just fine. I don't talk at all. I don't like it.
You're shy?
Very. I don't like socialising much. Not many people like me.
I like you.
You do?
Slowly, Tessa shuffles towards me. I don't back away this time. She smiles. I want to open my mouth, I want to speak to her, but I remember what happened the last time I tried to make friends with someone and keep my mouth shut. I was nine. I met this boy called Jett and wanted to be his friend. But so did everybody else. So he walked around surrounded by friends and I'd trail behind, trying to work up the nerve to talk to the boys my age. Then one day we were all sat on the playground and I finally managed to squeeze in to their little circle. They were talking about something and then Jett asked me what I thought. I hadn't really been paying attention and I didn't know what to say.
"Umm…I…I…Um…" was all I could say. I remember the burning feeling in my cheeks and how I twiddled my thumbs and looked at the floor.
"Just ignore him, Jett. He can't say anything," Hurley, one of the boys sneered. My cheeks were burning again and I was about to cry. They didn't speak to me again and acted like I wasn't even there. Jett never talked to me again and in lessons I would sit at the back in the corner by myself. But I won't let that happen again, so I give Tessa a smile. And I like it.
Did you like that one? I might do a fic about all the characters I have done in this so far. What do you think?
