For Everything a Reason

Chapter 3:Let's Not Play Pretend

It's amazing how fast time can fly by. One minute you're standing in your living room next to your best friend while your dad makes an announcement that will change your life, and the next minute you're on a train waiting for that announcement to become reality.

We boarded the train this morning at the good ole time of 6:30. Paisley was annoyingly awake and chipper at that un-godly hour. The only thing that kept me from ripping out her esophagus was the obscene gestures Holden was making behind her back. Have I ever mentioned how much I love that boy?

I got to my room as fast as possible, not caring how antisocial I was being. Retreating to solitude was what was best for everyone's safety, especially Paisley's if she was going to keep up the whole isn't this exciting? giddiness. I quickly fell into a blissful sleep full of crazy dreams that didn't make sense. All day I alternated between sleeping and watching TV. It was the perfect cycle of laziness.

I was just coming out of a rather peaceful slumber when I heard a knock at my door. Before I could answer, Holden barged through the door and into my room. I must've forgotten to lock the door before I drifted off into serene nothingness. "I could've been naked," I said as I jokingly wrapped the covers across my chest. "That was a risk I was willing to take," Holden winked. I rolled my eyes and threw a pillow at him. He dodged the pillow with little effort and advanced toward me. "Come on, it's time for dinner," Holden grabbed my arm and pulled it lightly. My body jerked a little but I stayed sitting on the edge of the bed. "Ugh, can't we just order room service? I don't feel like being social tonight," I whined. I usually wasn't one to whine or complain openly, but this was Holden and there was no use trying to pretend with him. "Me either sweetheart," he yanked harder this time bringing me to my feet, "but we have to. For our parents." I didn't bother arguing; I knew he was right. I sighed in defeat and together we made our way to the dining room.

Sometimes there are days where you straight up hate everyone. Someone could breathe too loud and it would make you want to gauge out their eyes. Today was one of those days. We all sat around a long glass dining table that hosted an assortment of delicious food. Holden sat on my left and Declan sat on my right. My dad, my mom, Annie, Johanna, and Paisley were evenly apart from us. The first five minutes were painfully silent. We picked at our food awkwardly waiting for someone to say something. The silence was fine with me; if no one spoke there wasn't any danger of me snapping at them. But I'm not that lucky. "They're letting us stay in the Victor's Village," my dad said after taking a sip of his wine. "How generous of them," I mumbled ungratefully into my Chicken Alfredo. I felt Holden's knee nudge mine as a nonverbal way of saying shut up. Either Paisley didn't hear my snarky comment or she pretended not to hear it because then she asks, "Who is they?"

To be honest I was wondering the same thing. "The government," My mom stated. I guess that was the simple answer. "So what are we gonna do while you guys are doing whatever it is you'll be doing?" Declan piped up. "Whatever you want to do. Explore the town, get to know the locals," my dad answered. "Dance on the mass graves of the locals' family members," I couldn't stop myself. "Aspen!" my mom snapped. Here we go. "Oh come on! So we're all going to pretend like this isn't uncomfortable for all of us?" I fired back. "Of course it's a little strange, but it's not that big of a deal," my dad said way too formally. "Stop it. Stop being so formal and reasonable about everything. Think like me, dad, think like the 19 year old boy who never faced the consequences of his actions! And then look me in the eye and tell me it's no big deal," I yelled in one quick sentence. The realization of what I just said knocked the breath out of me. That's what was bothering me. My dad was acting like everything was fine and it wasn't. He was bullshitting us and I knew it.

Everyone is staring at me with their mouths' hanging wide open. There are no words for what just happened. Even Holden is speechless, and that is a rare occurrence. Annie begins to fidget with her silverware when the silence becomes unbearable. "Can someone pass me the butter please?" Paisley asks in complete oblivion. Lord have mercy upon her soul. I knew I should've stayed in my room. Johanna awkwardly slides the butter over to her daughter.

"You're right," my dad says. "What?" I blink in disbelief. "I said you're right. I'm terrified to face what I left behind in District 12. I walked away and never looked back, but now I'm being forced to go back to the graveyard of my past and deal with things I've ignored for twenty-five years. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be okay," now he sounds like my dad. I feel like an asshole. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, but that's all I wanted. The truth," I say softly and apologetically. "I can't even be mad at you, you're too much like me," he smiles at me and for the first time since hearing the news I feel like everything is going to be alright.

We finish the rest of our dinner with light-hearted small talk. The atmosphere seems to of changed since my outburst; there isn't an elephant in the room anymore. The adults leave to go make some phone calls and the rest of us go to the lounge area. "I'm buying you a muzzle for Christmas," Holden laughs as he throws a muscular arm around me. "Oh shut up," I elbow him in the ribs. "Seriously though, way to make the conversation awkward," Paisley says in all seriousness. "Are you fricking kidding me?" I snort. I didn't even realize I had jumped to my feet until Holden pulls me back down.

"What?" Paisley asks eyes wide. I don't trust myself to speak so I bite down on my tongue. Instantly the metallic taste of blood attacks my taste buds. "Can someone pass me the butter please?" Declan mocks in a high pitched voice "You're in no position to criticize anyone's ability to keep a conversation flowing." As much as I appreciate Declan coming to my defense I don't want this to turn into a serious fight. "Let's just talk about something else," I intervene. "That sounds like a superb idea," Holden backs me up. Paisley and Declan immediately relax. I guess you could say Holden and I are the ring leaders of our little group.

"I hope there will be hot guys there," Paisley fidgets in excitement. I mentally thank God for giving her such a short attention span. "Yeah me, too," I smile. "Don't get your hopes up. Compared to me every guy you're going to meet will be a letdown," Holden reeks of arrogance. In response we all laugh and take a few playful jabs at him. I don't know what is going to happen in District 12, but I do know that with friends like these I have nothing to worry about.

A/N: I'm having layout issues so please be patient with that. This chapter was kind of a connecting chapter so it wasn't too exciting, but the next chapter is when the good stuff starts happening! They arrive in District 12 and Aspen meets a very beautiful boy. If I get some reviews I may just post the next chapter tomorrow! :)