Chapter 10
"Desy". There was a gentle shake. "Desy!" This time more forceful.
"What?" I rolled over a little to far and wound up with my face on the floor.
"Jessie is really sick. You should go talk to him". Ben was standing over top of me.
"OK. Help me up!" Ben lifted me off of the floor. I ran upstairs. I looked at Jessie. He was covered in sweat. "Jessie?" I whispered to him. He rolled his head to see me.
"Hey Desy". He looked pale. I sat beside him and stroked his deep chestnut hair. He looked deep into my eyes. He looked just like Gale did in pictures.
"How are you?" I spoke to him in a soft tone that was usually reserved for Ben when he was scared at night.
"I'm fine. How are you?" His voice was shakey like he was trying to keep it steady but was failing misserably.
"I'm great". He reached up and brushed a piece of brown hair out of my eyes. I could see how heavy his eyelids were getting. "Why don't you get some rest?" He looked releaved and instantly passed out. I kissed his forehead and turned to leave. He made a noise that could only be described as the sound a baby mouse would make. I looked over at him. He shivvered thwn went still. He looked so peaceful. He looked like a child who needed protecting.
"See you later Jessie". I left the room. "Grandma? Is he going to be OK?" She looked up from her medicinal concotions.
"Of course. The medicine I gave to him makes you sick. It should go away in a day or two though". I was so relieved. I nodded and wandered to the back yard. I couldn't think of anything to do so I went to medow where I used to go as a child. I remember running around. My long hair blowing in the wind. Ben and I hand in hand.
There sitting in the middle of the field was the most beautiful flower I had ever seen. I had asked my mother what it was called. She took my little hand in her's and she walked me over to it.
"That, Desamay, is the flower for which you get your middle name!" She had said to me. I looked up at her with my huge blue eyes.
"It's a Primrose isn't it?" She nodded and pulled out my grandfather's field guide. We looked at different flowers trying to figure out what they were for hours. Then we all walked home hand in hand. A big happy family. Boy times have changed. I layed down in the purple and yellow flowers and let them incase me. It took me a minute to realize that these were the exact flowers my mother had covered her allie and friend Rue in when she was killed in the arena. I let the smell fill my nose.
It was so warm outside. I was so tired. I fell asleep to the song of the mockingjay. It was almost eeri how perfect this moment was.
I was rudely awakend by the cold icey rain and booming thunder that had abruptly come apon the meadow. I pulled up my hood and ran home. The door was locked tight. I pulled and pushed on it as hard as I could but it wouldn't open.
"Ben! Mom! Dad! Someone open the damn door!" I Pounded on it with my fists as hard as I could. The rain was defeaning. No wonder no one came to my aid. I could barely hear my own pounding! I eventually gave up and slumped down on the cold pourch.
I tried to pull up my jacket but it was soaked. I leaned against the door. What could I do? What was there to do? I looked up into the pouring rain. Then it hit me. How could I have been so stupid? I have a key under the door mat. I searched around until my hand touched something cold and hard. I shoved the key in the lock and burst in through the door. My mother looked up in alarm.
"Desy! Where were you? Why are you so wet?" She took my jacket and threw it in the laundry.
"How's Jessie?" As if on cue, Ben came running down the stairs.
"Jessie," He was panting, "He doesn't look good!" I pushed Ben aside and ran upstairs. Jessie was laying motionless on the bed. I ran over to him.
"Jessie?" I gently shook him. He groaned and he almost fell of the bed when he started thrashing wiledly. I struggled to catch him. His eyes shot open. I could see the terror in his eyes.
"Desy! There was an explosion! My sister! Everyone is in trouble!" I stroked his hair and calmed him down.
"It was just a dream. I'm here". It was so unexpected. He pulled me close and pushed his lips gently into mine. I drew in a sudden, sharp breath. He started to pull away but I leaned into him and kissed back. I suddenly felt like my mother and her relationship with Gale. It's a sore subject so we don't talk about it much. Gale had gotten hurt badly and was on my mother's kitchen table. Just like Jessie was. When Gale woke up he kissed my mother. The same thing happened with Jessie and I.
I snapped back to reality. I was suddenly absorbed in warmth from the tip of my nose all the way to my last toe. His hand reached up and shakely carrassed my face. I kept my lips on his for what seemed like minutes before we finally parted. I burrowed into his neck. I didn't ever want to come out. I didn't want to face the reality of the fact that Jessie Hawthorne is in love with me Desamay Mellark.