It was like I expected.
Five hours of nothing. Well to be fair, if I actually was six, I doubt I would have felt like that. But learning how to read and write again? Repeat over and over again vowels and consonants made me feel like I was losing some IQ points.
I know plan A was to pretend to be a genius and honestly seeing the class I thought it was a perfectly ok plan. But considering the Hunger Games and the lack of mobility between districts and even between social class inside our own, showing more intelligence than necessary would probably give me a really big red target in may back. And it would be weird when my sudden academic abilities came to an abrupt stop after I achieve the same level than my last life.
The kids were alright. I even like then, not like friends though, more like an aunt-like like, you think they are cute and all, but you don't get a meaningful conversation out of them. Sometimes I play with them, more to calm my siblings than anything else. In the beginning I only spent my break in the small school library, but soon Charlie and Chris notice and start to ask if something was wrong, so now I play whatever the kids want during three days at the week and spend the others trying to find somewhere quiet.
That was how I met him.
The school year was almost ending, and soon it would be the Reaping. In the last weeks my favorite hideout was the school rooftop, especially since it had become closed to the students a few months ago, which means I could get my alone time there.
Only today was not empty. A boy with curly hair stood with his back facing me sitting on the top of the parapet. Kicking his legs into the air as if making a decision. I didn't think, my body moved faster than my mind, dropping the bag with bread I brought for lunch (Bread may not be really expensive here, but is not cheap. We produce meat, not wheat.), running in the direction of the stupid kid and grabbing the back of his flannel shirt. I pull us both to the ground. Only then I realize he was bigger than me, probably two or three years older, and way heavier. And he fell on top. Crushing my tiny body.
We both grunts. He from surprise and I from pain.
"What the hell were you thinking Shorty?! No one ever told you to not do this?!" He shouts angrily at me the moment we can stand on our feet's.
"What I was thinking?! What were you thinking?! Is bloody dangerous to stay ranging there! Just save your damn life!" My blood boils. I just save this kid and he screams at me? And who is Shorty? I was pretty tall in my last life, in what I used to call useless height, too tall to an average citizen and too short for doing use of this. In this life I supposed I was finally going to be a middle size, and this boy calls me shorty?
"I did not need your help! Just fuck off!" The brat yell with his face turning red.
"Fuck off?! This is my place! If someone is going to leave is you! Since you cannot be trusted in the higher grounds."
We both stare at each other. Eyes on flames. Until we snort and find the most opposite sides in the rooftop so that the distance between was as big as possible. We avoid looking to each other, but I can see him sneer by the corner of my eye.
Reincarnation means that you are way more mature than the kids of your age. But being on the body of a child means that I can't help, but act childish in certain occasions and have a lot less control over my emotions. Or at least this is what a imagine. It certainly did not come with an instructions book, and I feel more like I agree with the terms and conditions without reading it.
The next day was suppose to be one of the kids play day, but it felt that if I didn't make my way to the rooftop, I would be admitting defeat. So, I climbed my way up. The boy wasn't there, a mix of satisfaction and disappointment run through me as I walked until my favorite spot. It wasn't really visible from the entrance, which gave an advantage in case a teacher came in, and was a little bit more worn down then the rest of the building, but had the best view, here you could see the green fields and the Snake River that serpentine through out the district. The Snake River is where the kids gather, to play and swim, if you are old enough you can come after dawn and play music in the camp fire.
Music. I miss this. At before I spent days listen all types of music until my ears hurts because of the headphones. Sadly, I never had a good voice to sing and was tone deaf to play instruments, despite the diverse opportunities my family gave me. Does music abilities varies depending the body you are? Voice I guess does, I can't remember how I used to sound, but was different, or that's because my voice is high because of infancy?
I guess is cliché, but here in District 10 the songs you hear are similar to country, just more. I can't explain is just one of those things that are the same, but different. It wasn't my favorite genre, and I miss singing untune pop or melodramatic songs, however it has grown on me. Seeing my mother dancing and singing in the kitchen is one good way to wake up.
Almost seven years have passed since I died and end up here. I'm forgetting which color was my parents living room and the name of a childhood friend. Probably I will forget all the small details before I can legally drink. The though depressed me.
And I was so lost in my mind that I jump when I voice came from my right.
"Shorty. I already told you that this is my place." The boy from yesterday was there, his side propped up in the parapet, in a way that I guess he supposed looked cool. And maybe, if he was ten years older, he might have achieved the atmosphere he wanted, but now he looks clumsy and trying too hard.
"I am not Shorty. My height is perfectly normal for a person my age, is not my problem that you are a giant, Sunshine. And I have a name." I said putting my chin up so I could glare at him. I wasn't doing this because of my lack of height, but because the boy was a couple years older and tall for his age.
"Sunshine?" He asked confused. Before focused on the phare I had said. "Keep saying this, Shorty, maybe you would grow a couple of centimeters."
"Yes, because every time you talk my day brighten up." I said with my voice dripping sarcasm.
Sunshine stare at me with his mouth half open. Until he suddenly starts laughing. Hard.
The kid had a contagious laugh and soon I started smiling back at him.
I imagine that this is going to be one of the memories we will tell our kids, how we met and how "the rest is history". But at that moment, in the rooftop, at the beginning of spring, we just sat, talk and laugh.
And we didn't exchange names. Actually, we would never stop calling each other Shorty and Sunshine even after decades.