Veronica Delaney, District 7, Female, Age 12
"Dad! Going out with Emma and Sara!" I yelled as I came hurtling down the stairs. "Have fun, Sweetie!" He shouted back, presumably from his office. Worked for the Capitol, but nowadays worked mostly for the mayor. He was rich, I liked living in comfort. But that didn't mean I enjoyed bragging or intentionally showing off my wealth. It felt quite silly and horribly selfish, after everyone's... Erm... Loses.
I didn't enjoy spending much time in the house. Which may sound very selfish and idiotic indeed. It was a four story mansion, with everything anyone could imagine. My friend's often call me princess, no matter how many times I tell them to stop. It just fit, and stayed. According to them. But I didn't like the house, because inside the dollhouse was an insane jungle full of boys. Boys.
That was the reason? Boys? My mother was dead, leaving me as the only female left in the house. She had died giving birth to me, often I blamed myself for this. But every time my father was there to resassure me that it wasn't. As If words could change what I thought. Puny little Words. I wish I could remeber her, she must have been beautiful. With long silky brown hair, instead of my short cropped Hazel brown. She would have green eyes, I always wanted green eyes. They were the nicest. All in all she would be the opposite of me.
I, personally, didn't attract many admirers. I had, like I mentioned, short brown hair. Couple with brown eyes and albino skin. According to my father my mother was part albino in her ancestry. I was skinny and freckled faced. How I was skinny was a complete mystery though, I aTe more a day than most families. Not something to be proud of mind you. Or well to brag about, having this much food was a miracle in itself. And was sort of proud, like I said it was mind-numbing how fortunate I was.
I had the perfect life.
I was daddy's little girl, yet I wasn't a whiny brat. I was rich, but not spoiled. I liked living in comfort, but didn't openly flaunt my personal wealth. I lived in a mansion, my entire family was alive (mind my mom), I was absolutely living the life of a princess. Like my friends seemed to call it. But no matter how perfect my life may seem I had problems, we all did I and still do don't we?
I longed for my mother, just some female figure of authority to guide me. When started changing into a woman I had no one to talk to. Sure my friends were here, they always are, but I couldn't talk to them about it. They wouldn't understand. I was little miss perfect, what did I have to complain about. In retrospect, nobody is ever satisfied with their life. Always that one petty detail you'd want to be able to change, always one. But you can't change it, because nobody is ever one hundred percent satisfied, ever, of their lies. I am living proof.
I had few friends, Emma and Saph my only two real ones. Because who would ever want to approach little miss Snob? Her daddy's spotlight her, buying new clothes and machines while they're stuck living off of garbage scraps. Instead of being liked, she was hated. Hated for something even she couldn't control, her life. So she was born into a rich family? It was fate, destiny, life. And life was unfair, the rebellion should have taught us all that. But it was frustrating. Before the rebellion the insults and 'Snobs' whispered under people's breaths were minimal. Now they were reaching a new record. 'My family is starving, how's your personal chef doing?', 'My Hrandmother died of an illness unknown to us, when did you last speak to you doctor again?', 'That's a nice fur-coat, what do you think of my rags?'.
And I hate it. That I sound selfish, that I'm being called names. That I'm being tortured the way I am.
I grabbed my purse on the way out the door. Making sure to check to see if the coins were still in the leather pouch. I small shake and I knew for certain that they were there. Smiling, I took a breath bracing for the insults and steeped outside. No one was there, letting out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding I carefully walked to the.. Economy section of our District. Seven, Lumber.
I was walking, the cold wind whipping at my face. It was definitely annoying to say the least. And what I didn't want, I didn't take. I started walking faster, to avoid the cold. I wanted to get inside as soon as possible.
Pit was then, when a certain shop caught my eye. I suppose getting a little treat for the three of us wouldn't hurt. Stepping inside, I sighed in relief. It was warm, although why it was so cold right now was beyond me. It was suppose to be summer? Summer was usually warm, but is seemed as though this year the weather didn't want to cooperate. Shame, I always do look forward to spending days in the heat. Although the cold weather did give me an excuse to wear my favourite jacket.
White fur, with brown and green embroidery. It was more like a sweater though, or perhaps an aviator jacket of sorts. It was gorgeous and extremely comfortable. That still didn't explain the weather, yesterday's was quite lovely really, sunny with a a few clouds passing by.
Shrugging it off I looked around the shop, a bakery. The cakes looked simply Devine, I supposed I could get one for Sara, Emma and I. It would be terrific!
Walking up to the display, I bent down to look at the display. Cocking my head to the side in pure delight. I pressed my hands against the glass, before remembering that wasn't very proper. Immediately straightening up I managed to bump into someone. The back of my head hitting their chest.
I quickly turned around, apologies already flying from my mouth. Then I realized who exactly I had bumped into. "Oakley! What a pleasure to see you!" The sandy haired blonde seemed to take a minute to recognize me before a smile was plastered onto his face. "Veronica, long time no see." Nodding vigorously, I didn't even notice how his smile seemed a little too big. No matter, my smile was just big enough.
Oakley had gone to my school, he was the best. He helped my older brothers, Cory and Greg, the twins. Oakley even came over a few times. After that I always greeted him in the halls when he was passing by. Or just a little wave from the sidelines to show I acknowledge him. He even knew my other brother Ryan, who was sixteen, a year younger than the twins. Oakley was the best, like I mentioned, but I mean he really was. He was great at academics, sports, had tons of friends. It was so great to know that he was friends with me, it made me feel special, then again he was friends with everyone. Even Oakley couldn't keep people from hating me because of my status. But I hadn't spoken to him recently.
"I haven't spoken to you much since the... War." By the end, my voice came out in a soft whisper. I felt a little silly mentioning it, to my family and I it had practically all been a bad dream. But we didn't lose anyone or get hurt, we were safe and secure locked up in our house. I looked down, "I'm sorry about your loss." I managed to mutter out, apparently someone close to his family had died during the rebellion. A husband, maybe a boyfriend. Something like that, of his older sister.
"Thanks." He stated simply. Seeming to look away, his eyesight now focused intently on the chocolate cake in front of him. "What are you doing here?" I realized that my question came out slightly ruder than I intended it to be. I gave him a sheepish smile, which he didn't quite seem to catch. But I think it was Ok, he also didn't seem to take notice to my rudeness either.
"Cake for the family." That was Oakley. I nodded, "Mhm, I'm getting some for me and my friends." He turned to face me again, a small smile plastered onto his face. His eyes seeming a Little foggy. I tried not to mention it though, it didn't seem my place. I assume he was just in thought. Smiling I walked up to the counter, Oakley trailing behind. "One chocolate gateau please." The clerk nodded in return, and telling me the price. He went to fetch the cake.
He was a young boy, perhaps no older than Oakley. He had dark brown hair, and slightly tan skin. His eyes a vibrant green. "I'm just gonna box it up. Ok?" I nodded, before he gave me a small smile and dissapeared get behind the door. Chocolate cake and all, his apron swishing around madly as he did.
Turning around I saw Oakley glancing at the costumes just entering. A couple, one with tan skin and mocha hair. Little freckles on her face, her eyes wide. The boy at her side had black hair and pale skin, his green shoes seemed the only dash of colour on him. The rest of his clothes black or grey. She was latched onto his arm and he was muttering something into her ear.
"Oakley." I said, trying to get his attention off of the new arrivals. "Oh, yes, Veronica?" I would have noticed the slight strain in his voice, if I had been paying attention but I wasn't. Instead I only detected question in his response. "What cake do you want?" Oakley turned away before answering, looking almost scary as he looked down, hair covering his eyes. What seemed like a maniac expression on his face. Almost as if he reappeared the phrase all too often, it was strained and it looked as of he was laughing in my face with the response. "I don't know, I never do." And then it was all back to normal, the sweet boy was back. I smiled. I heard bustling from the kitchen and assumed it was from the clerk boxing up my cake.
When he returned I thanked him, before pulling out the required money. "Have a nice day, sir." I told him as I grabbed my recently boxed cake. "You too, name's Ethan." I smiled. "Veronica." I flashed him my pearly whites, his face cracking a grin of its own. "That's a nice name." Smiling I thanked him once more, before turning to Oakley and giving a little wave. Never noticing how it just seemed that little bit too forced. Or how his eyes didn't crinkle as he smiled. Not even how his hair seemed like a mess or his eyes desperately calling for help. Nope, all I saw was the perfect boy waving me goodbye as I couldn't wait to eat my cake.
Yay Veronica! She's like the nice version of Maya. Or maybe Maya's a Veronica gone bad? Nvm. So I just assumed Oakley knew Veronica because on his form it was stated he knew everyone and he was 'friends with most', the golden boy of District 7, just thought it made sense to include him here. Also I love relations between tributes, just not too many.