Note: This chapter is angsty so you might not want to read it in public.
Chapter 3:
District Three
Calvin 'Cal' Tailor, 18
Six Years Before The Reaping
Cal just simply couldn't believe the words he was hearing. He refused to believe them. It was as if he was hearing them from a distance as his ears start ringing and the world goes out of focus. But still, Claudia Flickerman's words get through to him, making his chest feel tight as he starts breathing rapidly. Surely she's lying…there has to be a mistake. Someone else's cannon fired instead.
There's simply no way that the face showing on the screen now next to a very large '5th' that just taunts him is his brother…
"No…" Cal whispers, unable to take his eyes away from the screen as Claudia keeps talking. "They're showing the wrong face!"
"In fifth place, we have Bishop Tailor, who died of a combination of dehydration and starvation-"
"NO!" His mother wails, throwing the remote at the screen, causing it to crack, but still showing Bishop's face as the hovercraft appeared to take him away. His mother screams in pain, clutching on to his father desperately as sobs rip through her.
But all Cal can do is stare at the cracked screen, feeling himself growing numb as he stares. This can't be happening…there's no way Bishop is dead… "He was just sleeping," Cal mutters to himself as the screen starts to blur. He slowly raises a hand to brush something off of his cheek, staring down at his wet fingers in confusion for a few seconds. "Why are they taking him away when he's still alive?"
"Cal…" A tiny voice says next to him, pulling on his sleeve until Cal looks down at his younger brother, finding tears on his tiny face. "They're taking Bishop away. Is he coming home?"
At this question from Indy, their mother runs out of the room. Their father stares at the two young boys for a few seconds before turning to run after his wife, calling after her. "Polly!"
Cal stares at them, watching his parents leave them when they need someone to tell them it will be alright… Someone to hug them and let them know they'll somehow be safe from the Reapings, even if they both have years to go before they're safe…
Indy lets out a tiny sob next to him and Cal pulls his brother into a tight hug, not wanting to let go of him as his chest shakes with tears he doesn't want to let fall in front of Indy. His brother is only eight and already had to lose one older brother… Cal holds on to Indy tighter when he realizes something that makes him feel sick. Bishop won't be around anymore to protect Indy, to teach him how to be brave, to play with him despite having friends his age he could hang out with. They both lost their older brother and protector…
"No, Indy," Cal says softly, hating that he can hear his voice cracking from tears he's trying to hold in. "Bishop isn't coming home."
One week later, the train returned home to their District to no celebration, unlike the train returning home to District Seven with their new victor. That should have been happening here…they should have been celebrating Bishop becoming the victor…not waiting for his lifeless body.
The only other people waiting at the train station with them was the family of Bishop's District partner. But unlike his family, they were not ignoring the small girl sobbing who couldn't have been much older than Indy…
Cal's parents barely acknowledged him and Indy, instead staring at the wooden boxes being taken off the train to the hearse to be prepared for the funeral that evening. Cal kept his head held high, refusing to let Indy see him crying right now as he holds on to his crying brother. He has to be the older brother now for Indy, setting an example for him. And it's clear that their parents are not going to be comforting Indy.
Cal kept his eyes dry the entire drive to the funeral home, holding on to Indy just like his father does with their mother. They had barely spoken to each other since the cannon had fired for Bishop and Cal didn't know what to do to change this.
He kept his eyes dry as they entered the funeral home, but when he had to finally face the open casket, he couldn't hold back the tears any longer. No matter what he told himself he needed to do for Indy, he couldn't stop the tears from seeing Bishop's lifeless body in the casket, looking so peaceful. If he tried hard enough, he could almost pretend that Bishop was just sleeping…he would wake up soon and tell them all it was just a joke. A sick, twisted joke, but at least he would still be alive…
At the sight of Bishop's body, his mother starts screaming, the first thing Cal has heard from her since the night Bishop died. "No! I can't look at him!" She yells as his father tries to hold on to her as she tears herself away from his grip. She backs away from them as Indy reaches out to Cal, clutching onto him as they watch their mother shake her head. "I can't do this! I can't bury my oldest son." She turns her gaze over to Cal, regret filling her eyes as she stares at her now oldest son. "I-I-I'm sorry, I can't do this. I'm not strong enough to do this…"
Cal can only stare in shock as he watches his mother leave the funeral home, pushing past his aunt and uncle as they walk in, faces somber as they prepare to see Bishop. Cal tightens his hold on Indy, feeling protectiveness growing in him along with anger towards his mother. How could she just leave them when they need her the most? When they need their mother to tell them things will be alright?
"She'll be back," Cal whispers to Indy, running his hand over his younger brother's hair in an attempt to sooth him. "She has to come back…"
But Cal's mother did not return to the funeral. She didn't return to their family at all.
A month after Bishop's funeral, Cal still had not forgiven his mother for abandoning them. Abandoning them when her sons needed their mother the most. Cal doesn't think he can ever forgive her for what she did…not being strong enough to raise her two sons that are still living…
His father has done his best with Cal and Indy since the day she left, but Cal can see the struggles on his face and in the heavy sighs he lets out often around the two young boys. He can see that inside, his father feels hollow and numb, just going through the motions of being a father. Rivet Tailor had clearly never intended to raise two boys on his own, forcing Cal to step in. Cal made sure every day that Indy was up and ready for school. He made sure he had all of his meals. And he made sure that he was there at night when Indy was afraid to go to sleep and face the nightmares of losing Bishop all over again.
But it wasn't enough.
Cal was weary when his father brought them to go see their aunt and uncle, but Indy seemed excited about something for the first time since Bishop was reaped, so he didn't say anything. But he ignores the way his father refuses to make eye contact with Cal as they walk up to their relatives' door. Before they reach it, the door opens, revealing their aunt that Indy runs up to so he can hug them, "Aunt Angora!"
"Hi Indy," she says as she returns the hug, but her face stays hesitant as she watches Cal approach. "Hi Cal…come inside."
"Hello," Cal answers quietly, hesitant to walk in from not knowing why their father is taking them to visit his relatives. They're not the closest but they had helped out a little since Bishop died… At the doorway, Cal turns back around to find his father standing a few feet away, refusing to make eye contact with Cal, making his stomach twist from the look on his father's face. "Aren't you coming inside?"
It takes a while for his father to respond, making Cal's heartrate quicken out of fear. His father has never been this hesitant to tell them something before and it's making him nervous. "No…" his father finally brings his eyes up to meet Cal's, filled with guilt that makes Cal start shaking his head right away. "I've tried but I can't raise two boys on my own…"
"You're leaving us?" Cal asks in disbelief, feeling his eyes start welling with tears that he stubbornly tries to keep from falling. "How can you do that?"
"Angora and Chintz will take care of you and Indy," his father continues, ignoring Cal's questions. His face shows a flash of pain as Indy grabs on to Cal at this, but yet he still keeps going. "I tried to be strong enough to do this on my own but I just can't… I hope you forgive me someday."
"No," Cal answers, shaking his head at his father – no, he's not a true father. A real parent wouldn't abandon them like this… "I can't forgive you!"
Cal grabs on to Indy, pulling him inside and ignoring Rivet calling out for them. He made his choice and now Cal is making his… Both of his parents weren't strong enough to raise them after losing Bishop… He hugs his younger brother tightly, unable to hold back his tears anymore from his parents abandoning them. How could they do that? "Indy… I'm never abandoning you."
"P-pr-promise?" Indy gets out through sobs, making Cal hold him even tighter. How could they do this to an eight year old? Haven't the two boys gone through enough pain already?
"I promise," Cal tells him, knowing this is one promise he refuses to break. "I'm going to be strong enough to protect us."
Amelia Fensa, 18
Five Months Before The Reaping
For the first time in months, Amelia finally felt something. It terrifies her a little to be feeling this anxious and worried, and yet…she had been starting to think that she was just going to be numb forever. Just going through the motions of life, never finding any joy from anything again.
Today, she finally feels something again and it feels good.
But as she sits on the couch, as far from her parents as possible, she can't stop the fear creeping up in her that they'll say a different name on the TV for who was chosen from District Six for the new program. For the last month, all she did was focus on this application, pouring herself into it to avoid thinking of the empty hole in her chest. All because she made a promise to someone that she would try. She promised that she would try to get her grades up and she did. Somehow, her teachers let her complete extra projects to raise up her failing grades.
She finally had something to focus on for the last month. And somehow, she wants to someday thank Clark for making her promise to try… Promise to try for Aero…
Amelia glances at the empty spot next to her on the couch as the Presidential Seal appears on the TV. Aero should have been sitting there with her, holding her hand as they anxiously await the announcement. There to cheer for her if she makes it or reassure her that she'll still do great things if she doesn't make it.
She can feel her eyes stinging with tears that she discretely tries to wipe away before her parents can see and start another argument. The President is blurry on the screen as she blinks quickly, trying to focus on this and not Aero… Why couldn't it have been any other boy from District Six?
"Good evening, Panem," President Xavier starts, smiling at the camera from in his office before glancing down at the piece of paper in front of him. The paper that will either give her something to live for or completely crush her dreams. "I am very pleased to be announcing tonight the twenty-two children from across the Districts that will be attending the very first summer program at District Three University. The chance to travel to a new District is a monumental event for these children and I am proud that they will be doing it to better themselves and make Panem a better nation."
"Why do you look so nervous?" Her father asks her as President Xavier pauses, staring down at his list. "You should have applied for that, if you hadn't still been moping around over the loss of your brother. It's been seven months, Amelia."
"Shhh," Amelia says as the President clears his throat, trying to ignore the comment about Aero so she doesn't start yet another argument with them… Her throat is still raw from screaming at them yesterday. But as she watches the screen, she can feel the anxiety creeping up in her. Maybe she should have told them that she applied for the program…but she didn't want to disappoint anyone else if she wasn't good enough. She already might be disappointing Clark… It's terrifying her that it could have all been for nothing and she might not even be chosen.
"From District One… Adrian Mattiacci and Estella Ames. From District Two… Richelle Kincaid and Kane Savett. From District Three… Roland Clarke and Lani Thornton. From District Four… Tobias Cantor and Aryan DeLorenz. From District Five… Bryn Foley and Charlotte Lyons."
It almost feels like the President pauses when he reaches District Six and Amelia can feel her throat tightening in fear that he isn't about to say her name. Why would he? There were probably hundreds of people that applied in District Six. They won't take her…
"From District Six… Nikolaj Hansen and Amelia Fensa."
"What?"
Amelia can only stare at the screen in shock, ignoring her parents staring over at her. She's in disbelief as she listens to the President announce the students from District Seven, "Caragh Monaghan and Rory Esslemont."
Did he really say Amelia Fensa?
"From District Eight… Calvin Tailor and Oona Konrad."
He really did… Surely there aren't any other Amelia Fensa's in District Six, right?
"From District Nine… Syed Irion and Rosa Zharim."
No, there's no one else with her name here.
"From District Ten… Tami Vasquez and Devin Brzycki."
They really picked her.
"And from District Eleven… Sibel Almiron and Kovarro Alavi." The screen shifts to have the President on one half and the list of all the student on the other half. And there's her name, clearly written under District Six. "Congratulations to everyone that was selected to be part of this monumental program."
She's going to District Three.
As the broadcast ends, shifting back to the Presidential Seal, all Amelia can do is stare at the screen in shock. She honestly hadn't thought they would actually accept her into the program… Why would they want the broken girl to be part of the very first time group of people that get to travel to a different District? She wasn't anything special… But someone must have thought she is something.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Her mother asks, almost sounding hurt that Amelia hid this from them. "We could have helped you apply."
"I didn't want to disappoint anyone else!" Amelia bursts out, unable to control the anger that is always there in her, just waiting to be let out these days towards her parents. They always made her accomplishments about them and never credit her with actually doing the work, and she's tired of it. She just wants to do something for herself for once.
"Amelia…" Her father starts and she can just tell immediately from his tone that she's going to hate whatever he says next. "You've never been a disappointment to us… You've always been the successful child."
"Stop!" Amelia shouts at them, feeling her eyes forming tears from her anger at them. "Don't ruin this one thing I finally did for myself! How can you always say that about Aero? Your own son is dead and you still talk about him being a 'disappointment' or 'never as good as me'. But he was! He was just as smart as me but you refused to see it! He died knowing that you two never loved him-"
Amelia is suddenly cut off by the phone ringing and all three of them stare over at the phone in tense silence. "It's probably for you," her mother sighs at this, shaking her head at Amelia yelling at them. "You're now famous."
Amelia wants to keep arguing with them, but knows it might be someone important calling about the program. So she jumps up from the couch and runs over to the phone, picking it up just before the last ring. "Hello?" She asks, clearing her throat at how rough and raw her voice sounds.
No one says anything for a few seconds and Amelia is about to hang up the phone when a tiny voice speaks up, surprising her completely. "Amelia?"
Amelia stands there in shock for a few seconds, never having expected the person on the other end to be calling her. "Clark?" She asks, seeing the surprised looks on her parents' faces and quickly leaving the room, not wanting them eavesdropping on this conversation. She suddenly doesn't know what to say to him, despite knowing for weeks now that she wants to thank him for motivating her.
"Yeah…" the victor answers softly and Amelia can hear some barking in the background. "Bjark, not right now," Clark says to the puppy, making Amelia barely start smiling. "I… you did it."
"I did," Amelia says quietly as it finally starts sinking in that she made it into the program… In just a couple months, she'll be traveling to a brand new District and studying what she loves, or at least, what she did before she found it hard to find any happiness. "Thank you."
Clark is silent for a few seconds, leaving Amelia to stare at the wall of family pictures in front of her. Tears start quietly falling down her cheeks as she stares at a picture of her and Aero when they were little kids. He should have been here to celebrate this with her. "For what?"
"For giving me something to look forward to," Amelia answers, hearing her voice wavering because of the tears.
"I'm proud of you," Clark says softly, so softly she barely hears him. But his words make her joke out a sob at this because all she's wanted was to thank him and let him know what he did for her. "And… Aero would be proud of you too."
Amelia shuts her eyes at this statement, able to picture exactly how Aero would have reacted to the announcement. He would have hugged her immediately and probably made some stupid joke that would have made her laugh so hard that she snorted. But he's not here…he's gone and all that remains are the memories surrounding her in this house, always reminding her that he's gone, taken away from her by the Games.
"Amelia?"
"I'm still here," she shakily says, barely able to hold in her sobs anymore. She's still here after all these months of pain and times when she almost wished she was dead so she could be with Aero… She's still here and living, which is what Aero would want her to be doing. "And I know he would have been so proud of me."
Calvin 'Cal' Tailor
Three Months Before The Reaping
Cal couldn't stop the nagging feeling that he had abandoned Indy to do this. Even if Indy had supported him – even being the one to tell him in the first place that he should apply for the program in Three – he still feels like he just left Indy behind in Eight. Just like their parents did years ago…
But the nagging feeling could just be because he wants to leave this party already. He came to District Three to give himself the best education possible so he can keep growing. To give him the best chance at getting the best job possible so he can keep protecting Indy and give him the comfortable life their parents took away. He certainly didn't come here to do tons of interviews and take an absurd amount of press pictures.
Cal had done a good job of avoiding talking to the other people in the program, staying off to the side of the party and watching the people mingle. He was just waiting for the right time to excuse himself so he can return to his room and study for the rest of the night. Or maybe he'll head to the gym. The gym they showed off on the tour earlier was way nicer than anything he has ever used before. Either way, it would be a better use of his time than just standing around here.
Cal holds back a yawn from staying up too late last night, unable to sleep at first from feeling like he abandoned Indy, but then because he started reading the new textbooks they were all given. He isn't going to waste any time here making himself stronger. It's what Indy deserves.
"Hey there."
Cal raises an eyebrow at the cheery voice before raising both eyebrows when he sees the girl that spoke. He even glances around him, because surely the girl from One isn't talking to him. But there's no one else around, meaning surely she's talking to him. "Um…hi."
She leans against the wall next to him, letting out a sigh before taking a sip of her drink. They stare out at the other party guests for a minute in silence with Cal avoiding looking over at the girl. Why is she even bothering to come talk to him? He just wants to be left alone so he can leave soon. "I'm so tired of talking to people. I can't even remember the names of all the people in the program." The girl chuckles at this and Cal briefly glances over at her before turning away, even more clueless on why she's talking to him. Like seriously, this girl looks as if she just left the training academy in One. Why is she talking to him? "I'm Estella Ames. District One."
"I know," Cal answers before feeling his cheeks heating up in embarrassment when her smile falters slightly at his assumption. Real smooth, Cal, real smooth. "I mean, I…uh…remember from all the press and announcements. Not because you look like you're from District One – I mean, you do but-"
Cal shuts himself up at this, chugging half of his drink to keep himself busy so he doesn't make more of a fool of himself. He's off to a great first impression with people in the program. But does he even want to become friends with these people? They'll just get in his way of studying and he can't do that… He can't be anything less than perfect.
"Well, nice talking to you, I have to go," Cal says quickly before leaving Estella behind, trying not to see her look of disappointment. Bianca always told him back home that he's terrible at talking to new people and if she was here now, well, Cal is certain his girlfriend would be reminding him of this.
Against his better judgement, Cal briefly glances back to see the disappointed look on Estella's face, making him feel guilty as he turns around to watch where he's going. Why should he feel guilty about leaving? He didn't come here to make friends with people. He came here to be his best self so he can help Indy… Cal can't waste the energy in being worried for her. She'll just have to make a different friend in the program. He's sure she'll be fine at that.
Cal tries to stick to the wall of the conference room, hoping to stay unnoticed as he makes his way towards the door. He almost makes it there before someone calls his name, making him curse under his breath.
"Calvin, are you leaving?"
Cal stops in his tracks, surprised at the person calling to him and also a little annoyed at the use of his full name. But not that he would tell the President of Panem this. He slowly turns around, finding President Xavier smiling over at him with the girl from Seven nervously standing next to him, picking at her fingers and glancing around anxiously. "Yes, sir, I was about to head up to my room so I can get ready for class tomorrow."
"Ah, I'm glad to see you're just as studious as you mentioned in your personal statement," President Xavier chuckles at this as Cal raises his eyebrows in surprise at the President knowing information from his personal statement. Well, he's also completely surprised that the President of Panem is even talking to him, let alone knows his name. He's still giving Cal a genuine smile and he recognizes the opportunity to better himself. Maybe he could even get the chance to work in the Capitol if the President knows him. He's sure Indy would love to move to the Capitol someday… While he would love to head back to his room, it would be dumb to leave right now. "Do you think you can spare a few minutes from studying so I can talk to you?"
"Of course, sir," Cal answers and makes his way over to the President of Panem, straightening out his jacket to look more impressive.
President Xavier turns to the girl next to him, someone who's name Cal has already forgotten. "Thank you, Caragh, for taking the time to talk to me. And best of luck with your studies."
Caragh quickly nods her head at this before darting away from the President, but not before Cal can see the anxious look in her eyes. But Cal doesn't focus on her for long. Not when he has the attention of the President of Panem. He holds out his hand, standing up straight and trying to smile charmingly like Bishop used to do. "Cal Tailor, sir. And I'd like to say thank you for the opportunity to study in District Three and better myself."
"I'm very pleased to have studious people here like yourself," President Xavier answers as he shakes Cal's hand firmly, completely focusing on Cal and surprising him. He didn't expect the President to care so much about some random person from District Eight. "I remember your essay and how you are focused on improving yourself for your brother Indy, correct? And I do wish to express my apologies for the loss of your brother Bishop, even if it was years ago. It's tragic to lose a brother to the Games and I already expressed my condolences to Amelia."
"Yes…" Cal says softly, eyebrows raised in surprise that President Xavier knows this information. No one ever remembers Bishop… Why would they remember the boy who died in fifth from natural causes? No, they were too busy focusing on Caladium, the victor of those Games. But Cal never forgot about Bishop. "Forgive me for asking, sir, but how do you know this?"
"I personally picked all of the students here," President Xavier gestures around at the room, a look of pride on his face at the people gathered from across Panem. When his gaze returns to Cal, the look is still there, catching Cal by surprise. It's been so many years since anyone has been proud of something he's accomplished… "Implementing this program and the other universities is something I've been working on for years so I have been part of every step of the process. I truly want this program to succeed and improve the country. And I believe every one of you here will do something great. That's why I chose all of you."
"I'm trying, sir," Cal answers, looking around the room at the other students here. All of them have reasons to be here, reasons probably very similar to Cal's. Yet none of them have gone through the pain he's experienced and picked themselves back up. Well…his eyes land on one girl, sitting awkwardly in the corner as one of the older victors, Isidore, tries to talk to her. Amelia's eyes are red from tears, a look Cal is all too familiar with seeing in Indy's eyes. There's one person who knows what he went through.
Yet she hasn't picked herself up like Cal. She hasn't found the strength to move on and improve herself. But he can't spend the time here helping her through the pain of losing her brother. Not when Indy is counting on him back home in Eight.
"Sir, I promise you that you won't be disappointed in what I will accomplish someday."
Amelia Fensa
Two Months Before The Reaping
Amelia had thought this was supposed to be a new opportunity. A chance to finally figure herself out, to pick up the broken pieces left behind after Aero's death, and put them back together into something at least somewhat resembling the girl she was a year ago. But one month into the program and she still feels the crushing depression every day from losing Aero to the Games.
She's still broken, just in a new District. But hey, at least her parents aren't here to argue with her all the time. That's one nice thing about the program.
The door to her dorm suite opens and Amelia glances up from staring at her untouched mug of tea that went cold a while ago. Tami jumps a little in surprise at seeing Amelia sitting at the table in the common area. "Hi Amelia," she says softly as she kicks off her shoes before walking over to Amelia. She sets down her heavy bag on the table before throwing herself into the chair. "I didn't expect to see you out here."
Amelia sighs at this, picking up her tea and considering taking a sip, before setting it down and pushing it away. She didn't want to be sitting out here. She would much rather be in her room, hiding from the others. But she had the misfortune of sharing a room with one of the most extroverted girls in the program. "Richelle kicked me out of the room, claiming she had some surprise planned."
"Sounds like it will be bad for us," Tami answers and Amelia lets out a tiny chuckle at this, surprising herself at the sound. Even Tami looks a little surprised to hear laughter coming from Amelia. She isn't sure if she's laughed at all since the Games happened…
Amelia stares down at the table, trying to avoid the look of concern from Tami. She hates seeing it from everyone here. Everyone knows what happened to her, yet no one will ever bring it up to her… She just wants someone to care enough to ask if she's okay, even if her answer will be that she's not and hasn't been in months.
The bedroom door slams open, making both girls at the table jump in shock before turning towards the door. Amelia raises an eyebrow at Richelle strutting out, hands on her hips before she points at the two of them. The girl from Two is quite the girl and could easily take on both of them in a fight at the same time and not even sweat. But right now, a fight is the last thing she looks ready to do. If anything, she looks like she's ready to go partying… "Alright, I'm staging an intervention!"
Amelia and Tami share a scared look at this, neither of the girls wanting to be involved in whatever Richelle might have planned. "Please don't make me dress like that," Tami squeaks out, making Richelle laugh loudly at her fear of being dressed in a similar revealing outfit.
"You're not the one that needs an intervention, but I'm still making you join us," Richelle shakes her head as she walks over to the table, swinging a chair around before sitting down, resting her elbows on the back of the chair. "Hey Caragh, I know you're in that room! Get out here!"
Amelia tries to ignore the way Richelle is staring at her as they wait for Caragh, knowing that Richelle is talking about having an intervention with her. She doesn't need one…she just needs someone to care about her enough to ask if she's okay or to give her something to keep living for.
"What?" Caragh asks, letting her annoyance trickle into her tone as she closes the door behind her louder than necessary. "I'm trying to talk to my family back home."
"We're going out," Richelle answers, wiggling her eyebrows when Amelia groans at the thought of leaving the dorm room. "Come on, Amelia, you can't stay cooped up in here all summer! We're in a new District! When are we ever going to get the chance to explore a new District like this again?"
"Hopefully in the next four years if we're accepted to study here for our degree," Tami speaks up, stating the obvious answer, but from the look Richelle gives her, it wasn't the answer she wanted.
"I don't want to go out," Amelia shakes her head at the girl from Two, trying to ignore the way she's staring at her with a look of pity. "I just want to be left alone…"
No one says anything for a few seconds after this, which Amelia expected. No one ever wants to talk about her pain. No one ever wants to try and help her.
"Look," Richelle speaks up and Amelia looks over at her, blinking a few times to clear her eyes that have started to blur with tears. "I'm sorry you had to lose Aero. It fucking sucks to lose a sibling. I lost my older sister a few years ago and didn't even get to say goodbye because she was off being a Peacekeeper in Seven."
All of them are stunned into silence at this new information. Amelia didn't know that her roommate had gone through something so similar to her… Richelle seems so normal though and not…broken. "How did you…"
"How did I pick myself up?" Richelle finishes and Amelia nods her head. Richelle shrugs at this and sadness pass over her face for a few seconds before she is back to grinning at Amelia. "I didn't let myself stay inside all day, moping around. I forced myself to get out there and see people. And slowly, you start to realize there are people that won't let you stay broken."
Richelle suddenly stands up as Amelia is left to slowly realize what the girl means. Is she trying to do the same for her? "Now come on, we're going out with some of the other 18 year olds to the bar. We're going to get you drunk. Or laid." Richelle considers this for a moment as Amelia stares up at her with wide eyes. "Maybe both."
"Preferably not in that order," Caragh speaks up, getting a scoff of laughter from Tami. Amelia would have chuckled too, if she wasn't petrified at the thought of going out with a group of people and having to pretend that she's fine. "You guys have fun, I promised my parents I would talk to them tonight."
"Fine, you party pooper!" Richelle calls after Caragh as she heads back to her room, but her loud laughter shows she isn't mad at Caragh. But when she looks back at Amelia, her laughter quickly fades. "Come on, Amelia, I promise this will be good for you." Richelle pauses to wiggle her eyebrows at her, smirk on her face. "Adrian and Estella are going. I've seen the way you look at them."
Amelia feels her cheeks heating up at this, surprising herself at feeling embarrassed by Richelle noticing that. "Well yeah, they're from One. They're both gorgeous."
"Isn't that the truth," Richelle laughs loudly again, making the faintest of smiles form on Amelia's face. When Richelle notices, she gives Amelia a genuine smile, making her feel like her roommates do care about her… "Come on, I'll get you ready."
Amelia sighs loudly at this, but despite wanting to stay inside the dorm, a tiny part of her wants to go out with the group. She wants to feel like she belongs to something. "Do I have a choice?"
"No."
"Fine," Amelia answers, acting annoyed but feeling the faintest hint of excitement in her. And it's something she wants to keep feeling after months of not having anything to look forward to. "But just one drink and I'm not sleeping with anyone."
Amelia should have stayed in. She clutches her one drink, barely having had any of it, sitting to the side and watching as Richelle dominates the conversation. For a brief bit of time, she had thought this would be a good opportunity for her to feel again, but now she's only feeling disappointment and loneliness at being excluded.
"Hey, you doing alright?"
Amelia glances up in surprise at Adrian returning from the bar, holding another beer for himself and smiling nervously at her. She is glad the bar is dim so he can't see her face surely turning red in embarrassment by the way he's looking at her. She shrugs as he sits down next to her, still looking at her in concern. "Do you want the lie or the honest answer?"
"Honest answer," Adrian answers, surprising her once again. She turns her gaze away from him, taking a sip of her drink to avoid answering right away. She hadn't expected that response from him. Hell, she hadn't expected him to talk to her at all.
"Not really," Amelia finally responds to him, letting out a heavy sigh as she fights again to hold in her tears. She doesn't want this boy to see her so weak and just broken at someone asking if she's alright. "I haven't been alright since the Games."
"But you're here," Adrian says softly, so softly Amelia can barely hear him over the music and Richelle's laughter. She glances back up at him, finding him leaning closer so he can be heard. "You were accepted into this program and that's something to be proud of."
Amelia nods her head at this, looking away again as she's reminded of what Clark told her. Of how Clark made her promise to apply for Aero. "I did it for him."
She looks back over at him, finding him not looking confused by who she's talking about. "Well you should keep doing it now for yourself. He wouldn't want to see you sad when you're surrounded by friends."
"We're friends?" Amelia asks softly, smiling just a little when she sees Adrian nervously look away from her.
"Well, I'd like to think we're friends," Adrian responds, awkwardly fidgeting with his beer glass. "And if not, we should change that."
Amelia stares at him for a few seconds before slowly starting to smile, getting a smile in return that shows off a dimple in his left cheek. "Yeah, I think we should change that."
Maybe Richelle was right and going out tonight was a good idea. Maybe she doesn't have to be the girl she was a year ago. Maybe she can be someone else. Maybe she can be someone that is friends with a crazy loud girl from Two, a sweet girl from Ten, and a cute boy from One.
After all, isn't she here for a new opportunity?
Rosalina Silver, Escort for District Three
Rosalina is so ready for this year. She came so close last year to having her very first victor with Lauris and she is ready to help one of her two tributes win. Well…as long as there's no volunteers like Jarvis this year. She doesn't know if she can handle losing someone like that again.
But the past is the past and she has to be focused on the present. And that present includes not knocking over one of the glass spheres again this year. "Hello District Three!" Rosalina clasps her hands together in front of her, hoping to keep them from breaking anything. Despite being disappointed by the poverty among some of the children in front of her, she still has a smile on her face at being back in District Three. This District is quickly becoming her second home and she isn't sure she wants to be moved. That was the reason she turned down the offer to be promoted to One, feeling like she needs to get Three a victor first before she leaves them. "I'm Rosalina Silver and I'm going to do my best this year not to break anything!"
This gets a small bit of laughter from the crowd, only make Rosalina even happier about being back in District Three. "Well, should we get started?"
Rosalina carefully turns, trying to avoid knocking over the microphone with her gold wings. Once she has successfully turned, she slowly walks to the first glass sphere, all too aware of the mistake she made last year. She takes her time picking a name before glancing over at the victors on the stage, giving them a bashful smile. "I'm trying not to knock it over this year."
Matla doesn't seem convinced by this but Electro cracks a small smile at her, "I'll still be ready to catch it, just in case."
Rosalina chuckles a little as she takes a few steps back before turning, feeling confident when she doesn't knock over the glass sphere. She stops at the microphone, taking a moment to hope for the best tribute possible. Someone that will become a victor. "Okay District Three, the first tribute is-"
She cuts off as she stares down at the piece of paper in her hand, even holding it up closer to her eyes to see that the name there is in fact the one she sees. She nervously glances up at the crowd growing restless at her hesitation before looking back at the paper. "This can't be right…" She mutters to herself but the microphone picks her up, telling the entire District her doubts. She quickly clears her throat, knowing it has to be correct. The Capitol wouldn't do something wrong.
"The female tribute is…" Rosalina trails off, letting out a small sigh as she looks back down at the piece of paper, wishing she didn't recognize the name. Wishing she didn't know already the pain that she will feel from watching her fight in the arena. "Amelia Fensa…"
The crowd immediately starts muttering at this name that they all recognize from the publicity surrounding the university program. All Rosalina can do is stare out, waiting to see the girl step out from the crowd in a District that she doesn't belong to. Amelia's face is blank as she steps out from the front, slowly making her way up to the stage. She hesitates at the bottom of the stairs before letting out a heavy sigh and making her way up to Rosalina.
When Amelia reaches the top of the stage and meets Rosalina's gaze with glossy eyes, Rosalina is hit with the memories of watching Jewel cry when Aero died last year. And now Rosalina might do the same with his sister… She pulls the girl into a brief hug, wishing she didn't pick Amelia's name.
Amelia doesn't return the hug and Rosalina quickly steps back, still finding Amelia's face blank, her eyes numb to what's happening. Damn it, why did Amelia have to be picked? She isn't even from District Three and Rosalina doesn't want to get in trouble for picking one of the kids in the university program.
Aware of the crowd growing restless at Amelia being picked, Rosalina decides to drop all dramatic flair and just get this over with so she can figure out how she's getting Amelia out of the arena alive. She quickly walks to the other sphere, picking the first name she touches, and turns around so fast that her wings smack the sphere harshly, sending it tumbling to the ground. It smashes against the stage, sending glass flying everywhere and making Rosalina stuck where she is, afraid of stepping on a glass shard. "Great, just great!" She says in frustration growing from picking Amelia. Fine, she'll just shout the name from here.
She rips open the piece of paper and finds herself growing frustrated at herself. "The male tribute is… Calvin Tailor?" This absolutely can't be right… Two students?! How?!
She's so getting fired for this.
The crowd is filled with anger at this as Calvin is quickly escorted onto the stage by Peacekeepers, the shock on his face being replaced by a steely resolve as he walks up the stairs, carefully avoiding the broken glass.
Calvin surprises Rosalina by walking up to the microphone, hesitating for a moment. "I… please, have faith in me. I may not be from here, but I will do my best to become your next victor."
Calvin's statement sets off the crowd, leaving Rosalina to stand in shock as Peacekeepers start running towards them on the stage. All she can do is stare out in shock at the accusations being yelled at her for something she couldn't control.
"They're not even from here!"
"It was rigged!"
"You can't even protect children from other Districts!"
A Peacekeeper picks up Rosalina, dragging her inside the Justice Building as she's left in shock by the crowd screaming at her. Screaming at her for picking two students from the university program. The two tributes and the victors are all quickly brought inside by Peacekeepers and as Rosalina stares at these two people not much younger than her, her breathing increases as she starts to panic about what just happened. "How? I don't know how this happened! I didn't mean to pick you."
Amelia and Calvin share a strained look before turning back to Rosalina as she feels herself growing lightheaded in fear about the consequences of this Reaping. The President had worked so hard for this program and she might have just ruined it all…
"That's the problem…" Amelia speaks up first and Rosalina stares at her, blinking a few times to gain her focus. "You shouldn't have been able to pick us…"
"What?" Rosalina lets out, the only thing she's capable of speaking right now. She starts feeling lightheaded and quickly sits down on the ground before she ends up fainting from this. "What's going on?"
"We weren't eligible…" Calvin says, staring down at Rosalina on the ground and Amelia nods her head in agreement at this, wrapping her arms around herself as she fights back tears. "The President told us all we were secretly removed from the Reaping pool to prevent this very thing from happening…"
The world spins around Rosalina at this information. If they weren't eligible…how did she pick them? Their names were the ones on the slips of paper, she has no doubt about it. "Oh shit… We have a big problem," Rosalina whispers just before she faints.
Alright we have finally reached the angsty District Three! Big thanks to 4everlark, later. glader, and Golden Moon Huntress for Cal, Amelia, and Rosalina respectively! I know those of you that read Overlooked have all been waiting to see Amelia but I bet you didn't realize Cal would also be angsty for similar reasons! These two made me very angsty writing them so thanks you two for that lol. But I do love writing angst so I also had fun with them!
So what do you think? Are you surprised by them both being part of the D3 University summer program? And how did they end up getting reaped when they weren't supposed to? We'll find out that answer eventually.
Alrighty, next up is D4! I would say it's not angsty, but, we'll, things are going to stay angsty lol. Not every intro can be as fun as D2. I'll see you soon!