A/N: (I know I haven't updated in like forever. But, keep your pitchforks and torches in your closet, because I am back. I started my first year of High school this year and I barely have time to sleep it feels like let alone write, but I am taking a break from homework that I am suppose to be catching up on today and am writing it just for you lovely readers. So, just a note: Posy's Flashback is in the Italics font. Posy's memories during the flash back are in bold and italics. Present tense is in normal.)
Posy's POV -
I woke up feeling like I had been run over by a train. I sat up and realized I was in the same place Josh had left me in earlier this morning. Or was it yesterday? I looked out side the kitchen window that I could see from my bed on the floor. It was light out, but I couldn't tell when it was. I noticed I was still wearing the same clothes I had been yesterday. What happened to me yesterday or earlier, which ever ti was? I tried to think of the events of yesterday. Josh woke me up. He brought me a cake from the bakery. He did the dishes while I fought with him about it. He got me ticket to District 4. My heart leaped with excitement at the thought of the place that I had always wanted to see since I laid my eyes on my best friend. I had to slap my cheek lightly to get myself back to the task at hand. I went to go tell Ma that Josh was taking me to 4 later this week. Then...Gale. Gale was back in 12. I sighed in anger and sadness. My brother finally decided that now was the time to come home. After all of the thing I had gone through. After my emotional collapse. After my pain and suffering of my father like figure leaving me, because he couldn't deal with it.
I flopped back down on my bed and whimpered in pain slightly, since I landed pretty hard against the scratch on my back. Great. My life was becoming miserable again. Great. Just wonderful. If Ma told me that I had to quit school right now and become a prostitute, my life would hit complete center of the earth rock bottom. I felt warm tears prick my eyes threatening to break. Why am I crying? Haven't I already cried enough. 4 years, three days, 23 hours, and 19 minutes weren't enough to quench my crying famine. Apparently not. I closed my eyes and memories swirled around my brain like they always do when I shut my eyes for more than a few seconds.
"Posy! Honey, Can you come here." Ma called from down stairs. I was sitting in the hallway facing the closed door to "my bedroom". We had just moved into the new house in Rebel's Village and Everybody was still unpacking. I shot up from my position in the hallway and practically bolted down the stairs, relieved that the pain of Gale could be decreased slightly.
When I was on the last step, I tripped over my own feet and fell flat on my face onto the kitchen floor.
"Ow." I mumbled to myself and got up before people could start fussing over me. I brushed myself off and walked up to where Ma was busily unpacking the kitchen items.
"Yes, Ma?" I asked. She looked up at me and gave a small smile.
"Your brothers are...unpacking." she said her words carefully, "Would you mind going into town to get some bread for dinner, Pos?" I nodded and she handed me a few coins. I slipped them into my pocket and gave her a kiss on the cheek before rushing out the door as if I was on fire.
I hated our new house. It reminded me of Gale and the rebellion and the fact that I was supposed to "be happy" right now. We were now pretty rich. We had food on the table and plenty of clothes. We had a shower and we had hot water. Along with a beautiful television and a whole library of books. I walked, no ran as fast as I could towards town; out of Rebel's Village and away from all of the new hurtful memories of my eldest brother. But, to be honest, the whole district reminded me of him. The Hob that I passed on my way into town and to school, reminded me of all of the times he traded there and when I was 6 and he took me there for the first time. School reminded me of how he used to pick me up after school and drop me and my other siblings off at our leaning house before he went off to the woods. The town reminded me of when he was whipped in the square for poaching. Everywhere I went in this town reminded me of my brother. I so desperately wanted to move to a completely opposite district someday. Maybe District 5. It was far enough away from District 12 and District 2 and from what I heard is that it is mostly desert.
I whistled a tune that Rory taught me when I was seven as I walked past the old Hob, trying to ignore the memories of Gale trying so desperately to enter my mind. Gale smiled and showed me a little tin horse that laid on one of the traders table... I stopped whistling and started to kick rocks. Gale picked up the money laying on Grease Sae's table and placed it in his pocket as he lifted me into his arms and balanced me on his hip as he walked through the crowded isles of tables... I started to run. I couldn't take it anymore. Gale smiled at me as he placed a piece of firewood in my arms and told me to hold onto it for him while we walked home... Tears started to flow down my cheeks as I ran past the Hob and into town.
I past the Everdeen's new Apothecary shop, the dress shop, and the grocer before I started to have more memories attack me. I pressed my nose up to the dress shop window and looked through the glass at the beautiful green Easter dress that the tailor was making for a little girl in District . I was so jealous of the girl, because I would never have anything so beautiful. "Pos?", my brother called. I turned to look at him right next to me, "Someday, I'll buy you a dress like that." I smiled at him with my missing front teeth and nodded before turning back to the shop window once more to gaze upon the beautiful green dress... I kept running. That was another promise broken. Gale laid in the street, bloody and bruised up from his whipping... I mentally vomited at the sight of the blood in my memories and was finally in the sight of the Bakery. I climbed up the steps and walked onto the front porch. I didn't have any memories of Gale here, except for when Katniss is here visiting Peeta.
I walked into the bakery not the slightest bit happy that I would have to go back through the town and past the Hob to get home. Peeta was in the front helping a boy about my age. The boy had sandy blonde brownish hair that was a little too long so it kept falling in his eyes, a slightly pointed nose, and he wore a pair of jeans and a green t-shirt under a sweatshirt; and had sneakers on his feet. I had never seen him before. Maybe he just moved into the district or is visiting. As I closed the door behind me Peeta called over to me.
"Good evening, Posy. How are you?"
"Okay." I mumbled and came to stand next to the boy,"Okay, what can I get you two?" Peeta asked us.
"Ma would like her usual." I told him as I sat the coins on the counter for him. He nodded and then looked to the boy next to me.
"4 crescents please." he told Peeta and then sat a stack of coins on the counter next to mine. Peeta nodded and went into the backroom, leaving me and the boy alone together.
"I have never met you before." I turned to look at the boy. He turned to look at me and I actually got a clear picture of his face. He had the sea green eyes, high cheekbones, thick eyebrows, and really pink lips to wear it almost looked like he was wearing lip stick.
"Oh, sorry. Joshua Spitz. But, you can just call me Josh." he told me as he stuck out his hand for me to shake. I looked at his hand and then shook it gently.
"Posy Hawthorne." I told him as I let his hand go.
"Hawthorne? I have heard that name from somewhere. But, I haven't met you before." he told me, "I guess it will come to me later. I just moved here with my dad from District 4." I nodded as I looked to the floor. Trying not to meet his eyes when he talked about my last name, because I know where he heard the name. Gale was a pretty big guy in the rebellion and almost everybody had heard the name Hawthorne somehow.
"Oh. District 4. Huh? Is it beautiful there?" I asked him trying to keep him from gaining memory of my last name.
"I guess. Its right next to the ocean." he told me. I nodded once again still looking at my shoes and frowning at them.
"Is there something wrong?" Josh asked me. I looked up just enough to meet his face.
"No. I just am...uh...looking at my shoes." I lied. I didn't want to get into any conversations about my emotional state right now.
"Oh." he told me, "Are they interesting?" I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
"Yeah. I guess." I told him.
"So, um...Posy, How long have you lived in District 12?" Josh asked me.
"My whole life, until the rebellion and then I lived of-course in 13, but my...family...moved back here again." I told him as I tried to keep more memories flowing into my mind. Thankfully, Peeta decided to make his appearance jut then and saved me. He handed me over the bread and Josh the his crescents.
"Thanks, Peeta. Bye, Josh. Nice to meet you" I told him and then turned to Josh and started to walk away.
"Hey, Posy, wait up!" Josh called to me as I was about to turn the handle on the door. I turned to look at him he was walking towards me.
"Yes?" I asked. He smiled and I noticed that he had this look on his face that read, "I am about to make your life very interesting."
"Um. Are you going to school tomorrow?" he asked.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Well, I haven't been to school here before. Could you show me...um...how to get there?" he asked sort of embarrassed. I smiled, relieved that that's the only thing he wanted.
"Sure. I'll meet you in the square tomorrow. Morning. 7 o'clock." I told him with a small smile and then walked out the door leaving Josh Spitz inside the Bakery with Peeta and his crescents and going out into the town square where the memories of my brother haunted and mocked me every time I thought about it.
I opened my eyes from the bitter sweet memory. The dream haunted me of Gale, but yet at the same time I had gained the person that could make me feel better. The boy who could understand my every move, who could know what I could handle, who picked up my fragile body and made me smile again. It took time and frustration, but he made me part of me again. I knew I would never have the same relationship with Gale again after this, but if anybody was not to leave me...it would be Josh. Josh always stood by my side. He always made sure I didn't just wither and die away. Josh had been my savior from this depression. But, what happens now. Gale was back. Back for good. I couldn't hide from him forever. But, what if he just up and left again without telling me until he was already on the train? Could I handle that again?
I stayed in bed for what seemed like forever, until there was a quiet creak as the front door opened and shut. I knew it could only be two people. My mother or Josh. I didn't necessarily want my mother to have access to where my sanctuary from the district was, but since it was technically "Her" house and I was "Her" daughter she had to have a key. Josh was my choice. I loved having him here. I wouldn't mind if he came in early in the morning to wake me up for school or work if I wasn't already up. I wouldn't mind if he just popped in to eat dinner or breakfast with me. I actually kind of wish he did everyday, but I can't be that harsh to Mr. Spitz.
Mr. Spitz is a kind man. He just seems to adore me. He invites me over for Christmas evening every year so I am not alone. And he always makes jokes about how I see Josh more than he sees butcher's knives. The key in that joke is that Mr. Spitz is the town butcher. Ha Ha. Funny right. But, I guess it is true. I see Josh everyday, for 12 to 18 hours of the day. Mr. Spitz doesn't seem to mind though and neither does Josh.
I pulled myself up and out of bed and into the kitchen. It was still light out and I could hear the birds whistling in the air. I looked around for the clock that we had in the kitchen. 5:45 A.M. I felt my eyes widen. School! I raced out of the kitchen and into my bedroom, pulling out clothes and racing to the bathroom. I was turning on the shower when I heard the front door open and close. Josh! I opened the bathroom door just a crack just so I could see my best friend looking at my bed with a confused face on.
"I'll be ready in a few minutes. Just help yourself to some breakfast." I called as I closed the door quietly and stepped under the freezing water that made my bones shiver.
I quickly showered and got dressed in a pair of light jeans, a light blue tank top, and a white cotton shirt over it. I walked out of the bathroom with my hair up in a towel and my toothbrush in my mouth, and went into the kitchen where Josh was eating a piece of roast as usual.
"Good morning." he told me as I walked to the door and grabbed my white sneakers.
"Morning." I told him around my toothbrush as I quickly sat down in one of the rickety kitchen chairs and pulled my shoes on.
Josh's POV -
Here we go again. Posy is rushing around like she has been caught on fire. The first thing she does when she starts to slip. Here we go. This morning when I came to get her, I waited as she took a three second shower and got dressed really quickly. When she came into the kitchen her Jeans were on inside out, she had both shirts on backwards and she had the wrong side of the toothbrush in her mouth as if she had forgotten which side had the bristles.
"Good morning." I told her as she walked to the door.
"Morning." she told me around the toothbrush as she picked up my gym shoes and came to sit at the table. She started to put them on her feet as if they were her own and I knew she had lost it. She was starting on her depression again.
"Um, Posy?" I asked. She looked at me as she finished putting my shoes on.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Uh. You do realize that your jeans are inside out, right? And that your shirts are on backwards. And that your wearing my gym shoes." she looked at me puzzled for a minute and then looked down at herself. She let out a small yelp and ran to her bedroom and shut the door.
She came back out a few minutes later wearing her jeans and shirts correctly and was wearing her red sneakers instead of my gym shoes. She also didn't return with her toothbrush in her mouth either, but had her messenger bag slung over her shoulder that had all of her books and papers shoved in at weird angles, making it look like it had thorns sticking about everywhere. She sat down at the table clumsily and handed me my shoes as I ate the last bite of my regular morning toast. She sat there tapping her fingers on the table as if she was anxious about some important event. But, I knew better. This was one of her distractions. Tapping her fingers, kicking rocks, whistling, humming, hurriedly talking about non-important things, rocking back and forth on her heels as she stood in one place, or grinding her teeth. Those were all of her distraction signs, and I have seen them all. I notice she also does them when we are sitting in fourth period history, but that was perfectly understandable since our teacher drowns on and on and ON!
She started to grind her teeth together while she tapped. I closed my eyes for just a second and then opened them and put my hand onto of Posy's tapping fingers. She looked at me startled when I did this and I looked at her worriedly.
"Posy? I know that you are feeling a little down right now, but just relax, okay." I told her. She nodded and continued to grind her teeth.
"Your bag is all screwed up." I told her as I reached down and grabbed onto it pulling it into my arms and putting it on the table. She scrunched her eyebrows together like she couldn't believe the state her books were placed. I unhooked the latch on her bag and carefully placed her books on the table mentally checking that she had everything she needed at the same time.
Trigonometry textbook? Check.
Chemistry Textbook? Check.
History Book and Workbook (Can you believe they still make us use workbooks? How old do they think we are? 6?)? Check.
The Taming of the Shrew? Check.
Notebook for Home Ec? Check.
Gym clothes? Check.
Good, she has everything. I carefully re-situated her books in her bag, while she watched me.
"Thanks Josh." She told me as I finished putting her Trig book in her bag and shutting the latch on her bag, "For everything."
I nodded, "That's what friends are for right?" She gave a small sad smile and I knew she was thinking about yesterdays events.
"That's what best friends are for." she told me in a voice just above a whisper.
"No, best friends are for telling you we have to get going otherwise Mr. Hawkins is going to give us detention." I told her with a small laugh that she replied back with a snort of laughter, while we both stood up.
"All right. Too the school we shall go!" Posy said in this really brave voice while she stood there like she was a super hero.
"Not so fast Wonder Woman." I told her, and handed her bag to her, "You can't forget your books." She widened her smile slightly.
"Or you." She told me as she took her books from me and slung her bag over her shoulder at the same time I slung my backpack on my shoulder and then she gave me a hug. This was a normal thing. No, it wasn't a "Hey, I LOVE you." hug, but a totally sisterly hug.
I hugged her back for a second and then we broke apart. Posy stood in her super hero pose again and then repeated her previous sentence, "All right. To the school we shall go!" and then walked to the door and walked out into the brisk morning air of District 12. I trailed behind her all the way until we almost reached town, then I use my longer legs to walk in stride with her. She was whistling a tune that I had never heard before as she kicked rocks around with her feet. I noticed she was tapping her fingers against her bag.
"What do you think we are doing in Gym today?" I asked her trying to get her to focus on me instead of her thoughts of Gale. I know it was a stupid question ,but hey I couldn't think of anything else. She turned to face me and stopped whistling.
"I think we are doing soccer today." she told me. I knew for a fact that we would probably not be doing soccer today since we didn't start soccer until after break.
I knew that today was the day we would be climbing the rope. Ugh. I hate heights, and there was absolutely no way, Coach would let me out of it. Plus, I was terrible at it. I always came home with rope burns and the chills from fear of being off the ground while everybody stared up at me. Posy was the complete opposite when it came to this exercise. She could climb up the rope only using her upper body in less than a minute, ring the bell, and then jump down swiftly and land on her feet. When every we did this , which sadly was once a month, she reminded me of a cat. Quick and agile. I always presumed that this was what she was like when she went hunting.
We walked into town and Posy started look around cautiously like the dirt and leaves on the ground would come to life and attack her or something. I knew what she was doing though. She was making sure Gale wouldn't see her. Why? No clue. Its not like she was doing something wrong. Just going to school like a normal kid. I put my hand on her arm and he jerked her head towards me as if she had forgotten I was there for a moment.
"Josh. Its just you." she mumbled to herself reassuringly.
"What are you freaking out for? Gale isn't here." I told her. She nodded and then looked towards the apothecary shop and her eyes widened.
Rory and Gale were standing on the porch of the Apothecary with Prim and another woman with pretty blonde hair who was wearing a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt talking. I presumed this was Gale's wife Madge. Posy and Katniss had told me about her a few times and the woman fit the bill of description. Luckily, Gale and Madge had their backs to us and Rory and Prim hadn't spotted us yet. Posy froze, with eyes wide and lips firmly sealed. She looked so rigid, that if I let out a breath she would fall over. I slowly walked so I was in front of where Posy was looking; shielding her with my body from her family and her family from her gaze. She took a shuddering breath and then grabbing my hand in the process of spinning on her heel and briskly walking past the Apothecary on the other side of the street with her head low and trying to be stealthily quiet. I tried to walk as quietly as I could, but I was heavier than Posy who was very petite.
We passed the Bakery that was kiddy corner from the Apothecary and hid behind an old fruit stand that had been up ever since I was 12 and started working for Peeta. Posy peeked over the top of the stand and I followed suit. Prim was looking our way slightly ,but she shook her head and turned back to face Gale and Madge. I heard Posy gulp and then she made the signal for me to wait. I nodded slightly and then she quickly ran out from behind the fruit stand and ran down the square a little; crossing the road and hid behind a column on the Mayor's house. I watched her from wear I was. She was breathing heavy as if she had just ran a marathon and made the signal for me to follow her. I walked out from behind the fruit stand and walked briskly and hiding behind people slightly as I made my way towards Posy. I felt stupid since they weren't looking for me, but I just wanted to do what Posy wished for me to do. I wanted to make her happy and satisfied. I wanted her to at least have something going her way during the day.
I reached the column next to Posy's and looked for her next command. She smiled and then grabbed my hand and pulled me swiftly to her column. She looked to see if the coast was clear and then she quickly pulled me out into the square and bolted for the end of the square where the High school was.
We were almost home free when Posy looked back to make sure I was keeping up and ran straight into someone, knocking herself over and pulling me and the person over with her as she let out a surprised yelp. Our backpacks toppled off our shoulders and landed off to the side and spilling open as we landed.
"Ugh, watch where your going." a voice told us.
"Sorry, we were sort of in a hurry." Posy said as she got up from where she landed next to me and brushed herself off. I shook my head trying to clear it and then stood up and pulled down my sweatshirt I was wearing. Posy was helping a guy who looked about our age up. He wore dark black jeans, a gray t-shirt and a black hoodie and had a backpack on the ground next to wear he was standing. His long dark brown almost black hair fell into his intimating golden brown eyes that made his skin look icy white like he was dead or something. I felt this weird vibe off of him that I just couldn't really explain. It was sweet, but deadly at the same time.
"Are you okay?" Posy asked him kindly. He shrugged.
"As okay as I'll ever be." he told her and then pulled his backpack off the ground and slung it onto his back.
"I'm so sorry I ran into you." Posy told him again as she crouched down and started picking up her papers and books.
I did a brilliant thing just then...it was something that only I could have done...something so amazing and cool. I stood there and stared at the guy. I had never seen him around before. I watched him; trying to get what his status was in my mind. Friend? Foe? Enemey? Or ally? He watched me like I was watching him for just a second, before turning his attention to Posy, who was on her knees picking up spilled papers. I bent down to help her, but the guy beat me too it.
"Here, let me help you, since your friend here wont." he told Posy as he passed me and crouched down and started to pick up papers.
"Thanks. I'm Posy, by the way." she told him as she tuck out her hand. He grasped it in his own and for a moment I felt something strong and negative about this boy that I couldn't quiet place. He shook her hand and replied.
"Luke. Luke Warm." he told her. Luke Warm? Seriously. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Who has a name like that?
"Nice to meet you Luke." Posy replied as she let go of his hand and put her papers back in her bag. He handed her more papers while I just stood there watching them.
When Posy had all of her things back in her bag, Luke stood up and held his out for Posy who gratefully took it. He pulled her up and then they both turned to me. I was just standing there watching them, my bag hadn't been dumped out and was sitting right at my feet. Posy looked at me like I had become delusional.
"Josh?" she asked. I didn't respond. I just kept taring at her.
"Hello? Earth to Josh! Earth to Josh!" she told me as she snapped her fingers in front of my face a few times.
Posy's POV -
Luke offered me his hand, which I gladly took. His hands were soft but firm and his eyes memorized me when I looked into them when we shook hands. They seemed like the color of freshly dug up gold, but they were soft and kind. He pulled me to my feet and I slung my bag over my shoulder and stood next to Luke who I noticed was taller than Josh. Not by much, but by at least an inch. Josh was staring at us with a blank expression on his face. His backpack was in the same place it had been when we feel. Luckily for him, it didn't open when we fell.
"Josh?" I asked as I waited for him to move or do something. He just stared at me. I left Luke's side and walked up in front of him.
"Hello? Earth to Josh! Earth to Josh!" I told him as I snapped my fingers in front of his nose a few times. He blinked and then grabbed his backpack, not taking his eye off of Luke. What was up with him?
"Luke Warm." Luke told Josh as he came to stand next to me again and stuck out his hand. Josh shook his hand firmly.
"Josh Spitz." Josh replied back in a blank tone.
I felt nervous for some reason as if I had just introduced a grenade to a match. I cleared my throat and got both of their attention.
"Sorry, we ran into you again, Luke. Josh and I were on our way to class." I told him.
"Oh, that's fine. I am actually looking for the High School." Luke told me. I nodded.
"We can show you. What grade?" I asked.
"11th." he told us as he pulled out a yellow sheet of paper out of his pocket and handed it to me. I unfolded it and and read it over.
District 12 High School
New Student Schedule
Semester: 2
Quarter: 3
Student Name: Lucas A. Warm
Grade: 11
D.O.B: September 13
Homeroom: Mr. Hawkins (Room 112)
1st Period: Mrs. Kofford, Chemesitry, Room 118
2nd Period: Mr. Briggs, Trigonometry, Room 111
3rd Period: Ms. Cablanske, Panem History, Room 114
4th Period: Lunch
5th Period: Mr. Holt, Health, Room 113
6th Period: Home Economics, Mrs. Heart
7th Period: Physical Education, Coach Nutter, GYM
He had the exact same schedule as me and Josh.
"We have the exact same schedule." I told him and handed him the paper back.
"Cool." he told me and then looked towards Josh, who was biting on his lip with a slight tinge of pink on his cheeks. I put my hand on my hip and put most of my weight on my right foot.
"Do you want to walk with us?" I asked Luke, with my eyes still on Josh.
"Sure." Luke told me and then slipped his arm through mine and started to pull me in the opposite direction of the school. I sighed and turned us around and walked towards where we were previously. Josh was still standing there. When I halted in front of him with Luke at my side, I put my arm through his like a human chain. I started to haul Josh Spitz and Luke Warm towards the doors, when I felt someone tap my shoulder.
A/N: (So, Luke comes into the picture. What will happen? The only way you will find out is through reviews and patience. I will try to post a chapter this coming week. BUT IT IS NOT A PROMISE! I have to worry about school first. So anyways, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW! Love u all, S.A.M. :))