Tessa
I'm sitting at the desk of my room, sketching dresses when the door slides open and Ivory slouches in. She throws herself down on my bed and buries her face in my pillow. I try holding back a laugh as she rolls off, stuck in the blankets.
"I take it Basil's dare didn't go well?" I ask, setting down my pencil. Sunny giggles from her perch on the paint-splattered chair. Ivory responds by groaning into her pillow.
"I wanted to be on her team, but not I've, you've ruined it!" She says though the pillow. I can hear Ivory muttering a few more sarcastic comments as I fetch my painting supplies. Even after we've had a week here, I'm still not bored of everything. It reminds me of my district, sitting after class doodling or amusing myself with the extra beads and glass I buy. I wonder if the energetic girls from District 10 have ever gotten to use a full artist's set of paints before this. We're so close to the capitol I forget not everyone eats crème brûlée for snack or gets access to any supplies.
"I'm never going to go home now! I'll die alone in the arena!" Ivory seems to takes notice that I'm filtering her words out. She pouts and starts shaking my shoulders.
"Oh calm down drama queen and I'll sneak you fruit snacks after dinner." My bribe seems to work because she calms down. I take the silence as an opportunity to keep drawing. A few minutes pass before Ivory speaks up.
"Tessa, I have no idea how you stay in here for so long." Ivory complains, walking to the door. "I'm going to go run against Adrianne and kick his butt or go see if the other pretty twelve is good. Coming Sunny?" From the corner of my eye I see Sunny shake her head.
The dress in front of me is sure something nice. I've sewn small replicas of my designs back home, and I wonder if the stylists can put together my drawing into a dress for the chariot ride. The dress is a bright blend with a ripple of fabric falling across, transparent cloth folding along like glass. The bold colors, glass effect and detailed patterns are a perfect representation of my district.
An image flashes through my mind. I see Jadyn in her simple light grey dress, smiling confidently. And I wish I could dress like her, that I didn't have to represent the most luxurious district.
I stand up and set my drawing down. "I'm need some air now that I think about it. Do you want to see Alejandro?" Sunny fidgets with her hair and shakes her head. Leaving her in my room, I walk into the hall. Instead of heading to visit Alejandro, I go to see Jadyn. There's something that makes me feel nervous and embarrassed about seeing him by myself. When I walk by the crafting area I catch a glimpse of Ivory chasing after Sherbert and Basil.
I find Jadyn on the sofa, reading a book. She seems immersed in the story and I don't think she sees my awkward wave.
"Um, hi." I give her a smile.
"Hi," Jadyn slowly closes her book.
"So how do you like it so far?" I figure that might be a bad question to ask a girl from Twelve.
"It's nice."
"Okay." I try to think of something to say. "Will you help me sculpt something tomorrow?"
"Sure." Jadyn's eyes flick back to her book.
"Are you going to dinner? I'm going to go now."
"Maybe in a few pages." She shrugs. I stare at her for a few more seconds before I realize she has opened her book again.
"Well, I'll see you."
Tessa