Well hello again! I updated on time :) How exciting! So, hope you enjoy this medium chapter, it's somewhat longer than usual.
Shout out time-Thank you so much for favoriting and alerting this story! Every notice pushes me to keep writing.
Thank you to musicislife138, moonlightsleep, skybrezz everdeen, and Sarmoo123, for your alerts! And a big thanks to moonlightsleep, iheartbooks4ever, TheCatchingJay (what a cool name!), Sarmoo123, Little-doodle-laura5663 for favoriting my story!
ArtemisKey- Thank you so much for your support and your consistent reviews to almost every chapter. You've been wonderful!
ihearbooks4ever- You have helped me so much it's unbelievable! As you all probably know by now, I have serious inspiration issues, and iheartbooks4ever has given me great ideas and has been the driving force behind this chapter. Thank you!
Thanks to all you read this story, it's great to know people appreciate my work.
After all that, um, I'll see you at the bottom…
"Aren't you going to go on? I'm sure your parents must have told you a lot more?"
I stand up, furious at him for assuming my parents would explain it to me, and at my parents for keeping it from me. "No, they told me nothing! Yesterday, I watched them as they were reaped and sent into the arena. I watched my father stab that boy to death, and my mother set the wasp trap. I had no idea what they did until yesterday! How could you expect them to explain it!?"
"Perhaps we should suspend your participation in this class, considering the emotional toll it may take on you. Would that arrangement be agreeable?"
I falter for a minute. "I think so." I manage.
"You don't have to decide right now, but if you find it necessary, you may wait either in the hall or in the art center until our discussion is finished."
I pour the different colors of sand into a basin and push my hands into the swirling colors. I sift the sand through my fingers. The soothing feeling calms me. As my muscles, tense from the anticipation of my presentation, begin to relax, my brain is freed to think.
I take a deep breath and begin to unravel my thoughts. What really happened yesterday? What made me so scared and angry? I breathe and tell myself that I have to think rationally. It wouldn't be good if I blow things out of proportion again.
It was dad. Mom too, but mostly dad. He shocked me the most. What did he do to scare me so much? The answer is obvious, but why is killing someone so scary? I was afraid he'd turn and hurt me. But what sign has he shown that he'd do any such thing? When I realize how much I'd overreacted, I wince. I would apologize except that I still feel uneasy about dad. I don't completely trust him, but I can't figure out why. I'm still puzzling over what he's done to deserve my doubt when Corren bursts into the room.
"Hey! Are you feeling better?"
"Yea, I guess." I respond dejectedly.
He walks to the desk, plops down his book bag, and moves close to look me full in the face.
"You're not doing well, are you. Is there anything I can do to help?" he demands.
In the time it takes for me to half shrug and for Corren to look more deeply into my eyes, pressing for his answer, Echiae and Camelia arrive at the craft center. With a knowing grin, Camelia slides slowly backward in an exaggerated manner, as if in a silent movie.
"It's fine! Come back in." I sigh.
"Were we interrupting anything?" asks Camelia, her face a picture of innocence.
"Come on Camelia! Don't be so childish." She giggles then yanks my arm, pulling me away from the embarrassed Corren.
When I resist she shakes her free hand at me: "Now Lys! We have gym. Wouldn't want to be late to another class..."
"I don't." I retort, fed up with her teasing and patronizing tone. "Mrs. Dunst said I could call my parents and go home early if I wanted to."
"Lucky you!" Camelia pouts comically.
"So you're going? Echiae confirms in a grave tone, obviously very concerned about my well being.
"I think I will, but I'm not calling my parents." I smiled as an idea begins to form. -
After I laid out my plan I got mixed responses. Echiae, scandalized at my sneakiness immediately tried to stop me. But I convinced her to keep quiet. Camelia evilly suggested that Corren accompany me to my mysterious destination. As I begin to raise my objection, I could feel my cheeks burning. Camelia pounced on it and made sure that Corren noticed my predicament. He shifted uncomfortably. "I'll be fine Corren, just go to class. Thank you!"
He promptly left, leaving me with a shocked Echiae and a crowing Camelia. She immediately inquired whether I had feelings for him. Much to my embarrassment, I gave assent. However, I quickly quelled Camelia's squeals and was out the door within five minutes of my confession, promising to explain later. I knew I would never hear the end of this…
After finally ridding myself of my best friends, I began to put my plan into action. I pretended to dial my parent's number and when there was no answer, I explained that we were having a wiring problem, when in reality I had purposely called a dead number. There were quite a few of those still unused as District 12 wasn't exactly a desirable location to move to after the war.
Finally, I managed to escape the school without any further distractions. Racing down the road towards home leaves me panting. So much so that I have to stop several times before I finally reach the hill that once conquered, provides a view of our whole valley. Apparently, my parents received it as a reward for some service they did the government. Perhaps it was because of their wonderful participation in the Games.
But that is not why I've come, to gaze upon our valley. I've come for our hedge. Dad had
it planted years ago to prevent the animals from disturbing us. We spray it monthly with a special spray that gives out an order distasteful to most predators, but that humans don't smell. It's great, but it means Mom has to trek far to hunt. She doesn't mind though, as long as we're safe.
I walk up to the hedge facing the road and follow it a few feet. There it is! I found the opening that will lead me into the woods. I just have to get past the clearing, then I'm off to that shack, the one Mom grew up playing near. I push my way through the weak spot in the hedge and roll down the hill to the clearing. I am fourteen, but I rolling down hills is an activity I still enjoy. And besides I was exhausted from trudging up the other side of the hill.
Now near the clearing, I gasp at what I see. There's a house. Someone has moved into my circle of solitude during my summer absence. I usually avoid my clearing over the summer because it's near a stream and the flies are nasty. I turn around, surveying the area. Then out of the corner of my eye, I see a familiar path. I gulp. I know that path. I traveled down it yesterday. This must be the Hawthorne's place. When Gram said they'd moved in down the street, she wasn't exaggerating. I must not have been paying attention when we went here before. In my defense, I was suffering a great emotional meltdown.
I walk towards the path, still dazed from this revelation. When I reach it, my eyes dart up at the sound of giggles. I recognize the gigglers to be the Hawthorne girls. Embarrassed at unintentionally trespassing and at having been seen tumbling recklessly down the hill, I advance slowly towards them. "Is your Mom inside?" I inquire, wondering if they would answer. At the moment they seemed at the verge of bursting into full out laughter at any minute.
"I don't see what's so funny." I object petulantly to their unnecessary mirth. I'm still ruffled that my beautiful clearing, the one I can dance in and know that I am perfectly alone has been spoiled.
"You're hair. It's all different colors." Responds the older girl, the one with her braid clipped up. "What happened? You flew too close to a rainbow?"
This pushes them over the edge. Now they are both laughing uproariously and by the time Mrs. Hawthorne arrived to save me from my predicament, the younger girl had wet her pants.
"Well then!" Mrs. Hawthorne smiles, quite amused at the situation. "You better get inside you two, before Maddi has an accident too!"
"Mother! I wouldn't!" objects Maddi, but Mrs. Hawthorne pushes them inside and instructs them to wash their hands. I notice that their hands are all sorts of colors. Apparently I'm not the only one who's been messing with rainbows. Or sand, in my case. It must have stuck to my hair.
Mrs. Hawthorne sighs and smiles down at the table on the porch where the girls had been working. When she looks up, she starts and claps her hand to her heart. "Oh, you startled me Lysimachia! Hello dear! I'm sorry, but Corren's still at school. Shouldn't you be too?" Her tone is now mischievous at the thought of me ditching.
"No, the teachers said I could take a break today." I pause, remembering why they gave their permission in the first place. "Because of history class." I add in a low tone.
"Oh…" She immediately understands my situation and doesn't question me further. I think I'm really going to like her.
"I'm OK." I assure her when I see a flicker of worry cross her face. "I'm a little shaken and confused but other than that…" I trail off as she smiles knowingly. "Any one would be a little shaken after tumbling down a hillside. But in your case, I don't think that has anything to do with it."
Her cheery face begins to beam in surprised delight. My confused expression silently questions her what she is so excited about. Her enthusiasm is a bit dizzying, even for me.
"Why don't you help me with Corren's birthday present? The girls and I were working on it yesterday, but we couldn't very well explain that to you in front of him now could we? "
She pulls me over to the table to show me what the girls were working on.
"I'm sorry we were acting strange. Corren is very good at finding out secrets. I was so worried he'd be suspicious." Her lively tone has relaxed me somewhat, and I begin to feel at home.
"Of course, that sounds nice. What are you making him?"
"Well, Corren is fascinated with exotic animals, especially dangerous ones. We're making him a collection of all his favorites. We gathered the supplies and funky facts from the school; they have a lot of stuff lying around there you know" She pauses in her explanation to hand me a piece of paper. "You can help make the pictures!"
"How do I make the pictures? I'd love too, but I can't stay long. I have to get home when school ends, and I have to thinking to do."
"Please stay? I'll be fun!" She pleads.
"All right!" I'm convinced that this will be fun. I really like Mrs. Hawthorne's childish manner.
"Why don't we clean your hair, then you can trace the pictures we got from the school?"
Rosemary's proposition sounds wonderful. I can't wait to get started. -
Being with Mrs. Hawthorne is different than being at home. She seems uncertain how to handle my distress, so she just ignores it. She does comfort me though. Every time she sees my shoulders drooping, she'll make a joke and place her hand gently on my back. I feel her concern encouraging me. I decide I like this: this not talking. Ignoring is wonderfully peaceful. A breeze makes my hair fly in my face, and when I've cleared it I see Rosemary trying to fix her hair. The autumn breezes are usually light, but this one was stronger and she turned her back just as it blew. Her hair fell straight over her face. She looks like a monster of some sort, and I begin to giggle. She immediately straightens and attempts to muster some dignity.
"What are you laughing at dear? I'm perfectly presentable!" Her snooty voice breaks at the end and soon she is cracking up too.
I pretend she is my mother, that I have no bad memories to remember. When the girls come out, I pretend they are my sisters. I always wanted a sister, but my real mother didn't want any more children. I'm so caught up in my world, I don't even notice Corren coming up the lane.
Immediately, Rosemary pushes the tell-tale pictures into a bag and pulls out a sheet of homework. "Now Maddi, I know you can get confused, but you must do your work. I don't care if it's tricky, it has to be somewhat difficult for you to learn."
By the time Corren reaches the table, my bubble has burst. Annoyed at this reminder that I will have to go home soon and face all the strangeness, I stare stonily at Corren.
"Not feeling well, huh?" He asks, searching my glare for the answer.
"I'm going home, Thank you Mrs. Hawthorne!"
"Bye!" I call at the girls when I have started up the hill, purposely ignoring Corren and his question. It's not his fault, but he does seem intent on reminding me that I have unresolved problems. The whole point of having unresolved problems is to ignore them! If you wanted to resolve them, they wouldn't have a chance to be unresolved, you'd fix them right away.
Brewing in my frustration leaves little of my concentration for anything else, much less my direction. Despite going here many times, it's been a while and I soon find myself surrounded by unfamiliar trees. The snapping of a twig causes me to freeze in my tracks. What if it's a wild animal? I shiver at the thought. No, it can't be, I remind myself. It has to be a person. Who else would walk this close to a house? Animals would shy away from another house so close to ours.
Reassuring myself with this, I chase the sound of crunching leaves, hoping to find someone who knows how to reach a familiar path. I take deep breaths, trying to stop my heart from pounding so fast. 'A person, not an animal!': I yell in my head over and over, until I start to feel more calm.
When I reach the sound, my hopes are immediately dashed and replaced by boiling anger.
"Couldn't leave me alone could you?" I snap at Corren.
"I wanted to make sure you were ok. You didn't look like it."
"My well-being is my own concern. Why do you care so much anyway?"
"Lys, I heard you scream at my dad twice, I think I'm allowed to be involved."
"Why did you call me Lys? We're not in nickname territory. We're not in any territory!"
"Why are you pushing me away? I'm just concerned because you've had a rough ride the past few days."
"It was MY rough ride! I can handle it!" Desperate for some semblance of control, I begin to yell at Corren.
"Fine, I see you don't need me. Go ahead with your wonderfulhandling, I hope it works out."
Immediately I regret my words and I want to call him back: 'Wait, I need you and your concern!' But I can be stubborn and now I feel particularly ornery. I watch him walk through the trees until I realize that I have no idea where I'm going. I follow the path he took, then his back when it comes into view. I soon find myself back in the clearing. My clearing. I sulk down the path to the road.
I'm mounting the steps up the porch when Granpa stops me. "Hey." He calls, inviting me to sit with him. Why of all people does he have to be on the porch?
Fine! I'll sit, but I won't say a word. Unfortunately, I've forgotten that Grandpa has had much more practice with being stubborn and soon my anger spills over into tears.
"He just left! Why does he have to make things so difficult? He just pokes his nose in trying to make sure I'm better. I'm not sure I want to be better! Maybe I like being frustrated."
"It is awfully fun." Grandpa laughs.
"I'm being silly aren't I? I try to be sensible, I do. But sometimes I just want to explode, you know? I just get so angry, or scared, that no one else matters. Well, he does matter to me, a lot. He's so great, but I just met him a few days ago. Silly right?"
"He?"
"Corren." I admit.
"You've got boy problems, huh?" He smirks.
"Grandpa!" I protest as his eyes sparkle with amusement.
"Just sit tight, he'll come around."
"That won't help anything!" I fume. But Grandpa has already gone into the house. I mull over his parting advice, but all I end up with is frustration. Grandpa! Why can't he give me useful advice! Eventually I stop trying to make sense of his ridiculousness and I begin to hum. Before I know it my foot is tapping. Then I'm whirling around the deck, spinning and twirling, flying through the dark clouds of my problems, leaving my worries behind.
So… What did you think? Please review and tell me! It doesn't take that long :) I'll hopefully update soon.
Note- I'm currently looking for a beta. If you are or you know of someone who may be interested I'd be so grateful. I hate wincing at all my spelling mistakes on my old chapters, and I'd love to make sure it doesn't happen in the future.