Chapter 4: Settling In
Disclaimer: I do not own the hunger games.
A/N: Lol stands for laugh out loud. We say it in the uk but not sure if people would know what it meant. Also, btw stands for by the way.
Layla seemed to be right about the village thing, and it seemed to be like the layout in 12. The train station is by a road, and if you follow the road down you get to a gate with Welcome to District 14 on it. Inside the gate and fence, the road follows on but with houses surrounding it. Really it's like a little neighbourhood; a square in the center, surrounded by shops and a school. Leading of the square is a meadow, a forest, roads and houses.
I learn that this is the 16+ school, and the other side of the railway is the 15- one. We are lead to the square, where there is a long line of people waiting outside a building with Office on. We join the que and wait for what feels like days, but finally get there. I try to mask my surprise when I see Effie sitting behind a mahogany desk, but I think she is surprised too so it was ok.
"Lily, darling!"
"Effie, it's been so long!" We embrace each other and I sit in front of her.
"So, I'm going to assign you a house now, I think I put you with that Layla girl you mentioned on your interview? And I'm pretty sure I put Daisy, Petal, Lavinia, and Finn as your neighbours, ok? And I'll just warn you, the streets are named after Rebels and victors.
So you are number 11 Mellark street, here's your map and keys, your timetable, luggage and other information will be in your house." She smiles and says I can always visit her if I need help.
I unlock the door to my house- no, it's cottage really. From the outside it looks sweet and homely, I hope it's nice on the inside as well.
When I get inside, I'm in a hallway with a door to my left, stairs to my right and another door in front further down. I go into the door on my left and find a living room, complete with sofas, a fireplace, a large tv and a clock on the wall. Realistic flames are painted on the wall with the fireplace, and the rest are a creamy colour. The sofas are cream with different shades of red cushions, a few even embroidered with flames, scattered across it. The carpet is a deep red, and a large window was opposite the fireplace, with matching curtains.
The room down the hallway is a kitchen, and it reminds me of the one at home. It has a wooden table in the middle and cabinets and appliances like an oven and a washing machine. A window sat over the sink, and through it I can see a small garden. Primroses, Fuchsias and other pretty flowers line the she's in front of short fences, but no roses. My mother hates roses.
Upstairs, there are 2 bedrooms with double beds and a bathroom. I choose the bedroom that us painted like a forest with a sunset seeping through the leaves. A double bed with green bedding sits in the middle, and a large wardrobe stands next a window. A chest of drawers sits next to the bed with some tissues, my phone, my timetable and some other paper in it.
The bathroom has fish, coral and waves painted on all the walls. A bath with a shower head attached and lots of buttons on the wall beside it is on my left, while a toilet, sink and blue towels are in the space in front of me. I decide to take a shower, press lots of differ buttons and the water ends up a bright orange, fragranced with mint. I wash and condition my hair, before drying myself of. I dress in a plain white cotton nightdress, shrug on a fluffy green dressing gown and matching slippers, before going back downstairs.
"Oh!"
"Hey, wait- Lily?"
Laylas sprawled across a sofa, watching the TV.
"God, you scared me! Where we're you? I was beginning to get worried," I ask.
"Oh, well, I met this guy on the train, and I thought I'd be with some complete stranger so I decided to hang out with him for a while," She says. I knew it. She would be flirting, wouldn't she?
"Do you even know his name?" I ask.
"Yeah, Peter, named after your dad but spelled different 'cause his family's not weird like ours. He's really nice, you'd like him. He's from district 5 and likes computers and tech like that. "
"Is he cute?"
"I guess, but not damn sexy like Finn. But Finns not my kinda guy so it doesn't matter. "
"Cool"
"Do you like it here then? Isn't it wierd not having the parents around?"
"Yeah, it really is. I miss my dad making bread and my mum skinning rabbits," it might sound cheesy, but it's true. I bet in about a month I'll do anything to witness my mum throwing a strop.
"I know right! It'll be great for a while but then I'll really miss them," she says.
"Do you know what we're doing tomorrow?"
"Yeah, Peter mentioned it. We've got an assembly at the school at 11am till 12am, but the rest of the day is for "settling in" apparently. We can check out the shops and get to know people before Tuesday which is the first day at school." She explains. I guess the "settling in" thing makes sense; we can sleep of the long journey and then they can introduce and explain how this is going to work.
We stay up for a while longer before climbing into bed. I dream of an empty district 12 without all the teenagers and boring lessons...
"LAYLA! You need to get up!" I shout at Layla's sleeping face.
I've already showered, dressed, made cheese buns and had breakfast, and she's still fast asleep. I try slapping her face but she just rolls over and mumbles something into the pillow. She has to wake up though, it's already past 10 and we have assembly at 11.
Splash. The entire bucketful runs over her face as I tip it up.
"WHAT THE HELL LILY?"
"You had to get up," I say simply and leave her bedroom.
I lay out her breakfast for her. Honestly, it's the first full day here and I'm already acting the "parent".
"You didn't have to do that you know," she says.
"I did, I had no idea you were such a heavy sleeper!"
"No, I mean, wake me up. It's my fault if I dont get up on time, not yours."
"It's what friends do Layla. Now eat."
"We bring you here together in the hope of teaching you to be independent, intelligent and kind. In 2 years time, you will be classed as an adult, and we wish to provide you with the stepping stones if a successful career.
To do this, we must find out what your talents are. For 6 months, you will follow a timetable of different lessons, and we teachers will be making notes of what you are good at. At the end if this 6 month period we hope to be able to have a list of what lessons you are and aren't Able, gifted or talented in, and advise you on which subjects you should take to study and take exams in. This is called your options.
You will continue to study your options until the end of the year, at which time we hope to have another list, but this time if suitable jobs for you. You will try out each job in our village, then narrow the list down to your favourite 3 that you can achieve with your will gain experience in each of these you have chosen, whether outside or inside 14.
We will talk to you more about the subjects as time goes on. For now, concentrate on trying your best in lessons.
Also, we do not have any uniform but we expect you to dress smartly. Our part-time stylist and teacher does a fantastic range in his shop, so if your not sure just pop in there.
Thank you." The headmistress- I think her name is Mrs Grener- finally stops talking. Everyone is sitting on a hard, cold floor. My back is killing me, and being squashed between Layla and Lavinia doesn't help. For the past hour, we have been trying in vain to listen and concentrate in what random teachers are talking about. The only thing that caught my attention was the list of subjects; Art, Catering, Hunting, Swimming, English, Maths, Style, Design and Technology, Drama, Music, Physical Education, Dance, Science and History, I think. Lots more subjects than in used to, back in 12 we just did English, Maths and History. No matter how boring the teachers are, I think I'm going to enjoy this year.
"Thank God that's over!" Lav shouts. "I know right! You know, I think we should all go to that Cafe in the square to relax," I reply. It did look nice, the cakes reminded me of my dad.
"Yeah, those cakes looked so nice. Do'u have any money?"
"I think so, tell the others we are going won't ya?"
"Sure"
We walk the short way to the Bakery and Cafe, which has some lively looking shortbread in the window. They are decorated realistically like flowers, and is by the centrepiece, a grand and rich looking cake for a special occasion.
Inside, it's already filled with hungry students, eating, laughing and talking. Layla spots someone and brings him over. e
"Hey, Lily!"
"Huh?"
"This is Peter, Peter, this is Lily, Lavinia, Daisy, Petal, my brother Thom, Finn, Marvel and Dave."
"Hiya, Layla talks loads about you" I wink at him, but he's busy staring at my mockingjay pin. Ugh, not this again, but I guess I better start getting used to it.
"I-is that real?" He asks.
"Yeah"
"So you're?"
"Yeah, Lily Mellark, daughter of Katniss and Peeta Mellark, and your girlfriend there is Layla Mellark, daughter of Peetas brother and a lovely lady named Delly." I don't want to sound snobby or anything, but it's the only way he'll believe it.
"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" Layla screams, but Peter isn't paying attention; he's gawping at us.
"Layla? Lily?" I turn around when Layla runs to something behind me. And I see my uncle Rye, hugging Layla and smiling at me.
"Rye!"
"Hiya Lily," he looks at Peter. "Who's this?"
"Oh" I smirk "Layla's boyfriend"
"Layla!"
"He's not dad,"
"No sir, I only met Layla yesterday"
"But you find her pretty hot don't you?" Rye winks. Lol.
"Lily, who's your room mate?" Lav asks me. Daisy and Petal are together of course, and are our neighbours. Finn and Thom live opposite us, but I'm not sure where Lav lives yet.
"Layla, you?"
"Some bitch named Velvet. All she would talk about is Finnick Odair and Finn, and how fit they are. She said he was acting hard to get, but she could feel his eyes on her. I went mental."
"Oh really, she sounds like such a prick."
"Yeah, I told her that she wasn't even pretty, that she was way out of Finns league, if he was looking at her it was in disgust, and that Finn fancied my friend"
"Who is this friend?" It can't be Lavinia because she would've said he fancied her, it can't be Petal or Daisy because their his siblings, it's probably Layla. Yeah, she's really pretty and flirty like Finn.
"Umm, it's- it's just one of you guys. I'm not sure who though" she looks uncomfortable, probably because she thinks I'd tell Layla.
"If it's Layla, I won't tell her you know."
"Oh it's not Layla" she looks relieved that I think it's her. But if it's not Layla, who is it? I wish it were me- but it won't be.
"Right. You can always sleep on our sofa or something, we could get a sofa bed. I'm sure I can persuaded Effie."
"Oh would you? Thank you do much!" Wow. Lav actually looks grateful.
"Anyways, I've gotta go, see ya!"
"Yeah, can I come round yours in the morning?"
"Sure bye"