*DISTRICT 9*
*ANNABELLE LESSIM*
*FIFTEEN*
How could she have been so stupid? Why would she volunteer? She's going to die, and she knows it. Sure, she saved her sister, but, in the outer Districts, family loyalty only goes so far. Nobody ever volunteers for their siblings. It hasn't happened in decades (except for the beautiful moment last year when Katniss Everdeen volunteered for her younger sister, Primrose). Why would she do it? Especially during a freaking Quarter Quell.
"Hi," a voice greets Annabelle softly. It's Lily.
To be honest, Annabelle isn't sure she has the strength to cope with this. Her stomach is roiling.
"How are you?" Lily murmurs, her icy blue eyes concerned as she sits down next to her sister.
"I'm okay," Annabelle mutters in reply, sitting up straight. She isn't sure what's wrong with her. Although she knows that she was the one who spoke up at the Reaping, that t was her choice, and no one made her do it, she is somehow furious at Lily. But she is determined not to show weakness. This is the prelude to the Hunger Games. This is what matters.
"Are you sure?" Lily pats Annabelle's shoulder. "I can't thank you enough, Annie."
Annabelle sighs. "You don't have to, Lils. You know I'd do anything for you."
Lily seems to be struggling with something. But she's never been one to hold her tongue. "I wouldn't have, Annabelle."
"You wouldn't have what?"
"I wouldn't have volunteered if you got Reaped," Lily admits, practically mouthing the words because she can't say them.
This is also something that Annabelle is completely aware of, but for some reason, hearing it come out of her sister's mouth makes something snap inside her. Her voice raises to a heartless shout. "Do you think I don't know that?" she hollers. "Do you think I don't know that I care for you so much more than you care for me? Do you think I don't know that?"
Lily rests her beautiful head on Annabelle's shoulder, as though that might lessen the pain, as though she's the one who needs to be fucking comforted.
"I'm going into the Hunger Games, Lily!" Annabelle screams, her voice cracking, tears streaming down her face. "The Hunger Games! For you! I could have left you to die and been happy without you. I didn't fucking do that, okay, Lily? The least you could do is pretend that you love me as much as I love you!"
"I - "
"You're popular, Lily!" Annabelle insists. "You don't see it because you have so many friends. But you're my best friend, and I care about you more than you do about me. That feels terrible! But you don't know that because you're so popular!"
"You're my sister," Lily sobs out. "Annabelle. You're my sister. Of course I care about you. Of course I love you. You're my best friend."
"You're just saying that!" Annabelle accuses. "You're saying that to make me feel better and I'm not going to listen to you. I don't know why I did this. You hate me!"
"Have I ever said one thing that's not supportive to you? Ever." Lily tosses her dark hair, rolls her eyes, snaps her gum, and leaves. "Whatever, Annabelle."
::
"We heard yelling," declares Mrs. Lessim. "Are you okay, Annabelle?"
"Yeah," she whispers, not moving from her spot on the couch. "I'm fine."
"Lily looked so angry."
"She's got no right to be," Annabelle replies, shrugging.
"Annabelle, we love you so much. We're devastated that you're leaving, but we'll always be proud of you, no matter what, okay?" Mr. Lessim interrupts.
"Okay."
And then there's just nothing more to say.
*MAX BENJAMIN GRIFFIN*
*SEVENTEEN*
Max glares at the beige-painted wall as though he can see through it to where Annabelle is contained. He's been slowly falling for her for at least a year, watching as she walked quietly through the school hallways with her head down, hugging her books to her chest. She's a gorgeous girl, Max thinks, just shy. Obviously, he'll protect her in the Games.
He'd introduced himself to her at the Reaping, but she was flustered and probably doesn't remember him at all. What will he say to her?
Max is so engrossed in plotting out the perfect script in his head that he doesn't hear his grandmother hobble in. Her hair is gray and falling out in clumps, her eyeglasses have a broken lens, a big hole is torn in the knee of her pants, and she uses an old cane, but she's the closest thing Max has to a parent, and he's always been protective of her. He stands up to hold her arm and guides her to an armchair.
"Ah, Max," she says in her old creaky voice, sadness almost leaking out of her pores. Her only child, Max's mother, passed away right after Max was born, and now she's going to lose her only grandson too.
Max smiles and leans down to hug Molly Griffin. "It's okay, Grandmother."
"Ah, not for me, not for me," she replies. "What will I do without you, Max? Will I just sit around and knit all day?"
"Only until I get back," he responds with bravado.
"Oh, but will you?"
Max loves his grandmother with all his heart. But sometimes she's just too tactless even for him. "I'm not sure, Grandma," he answers, an edge of annoyance in his voice. "What do you think?"
"I think you will try your best, Max. And we'll see from there."
"That sounds good." Max sighs and kisses the old woman on the cheek before she goes.
*DISTRICT 9 TRAIN*
"So, Max, right?" Annabelle's words are so casual as she climbs onto the train and settles into a seat that Max is astounded. He hasn't realized that there was any way she'd remember his words to her at the Reaping.
"Yeah, Max Griffin." He smiles a little. "And Annabelle?"
"Yeah." She grins. "So. What's your plan for the Games?"
"Grab some weapons from the Cornucopia, if that works," Max responds. "You?"
"Probably just run." Annabelle cringes. "Maybe a grab a dagger or two if I they're close enough. I don't want to go running into the bloodbath, though."
Max takes a deep breath. Although he's petrified about the Games, this is a different kind of fear, but just as scary. "I'll get you some."
"What?" Her blue eyes widen, then grow suspicious. She tries to scoot away without being obvious.
Max doesn't move closer for fear of scaring her away completely. "I'll get you some. I'll be your ally."
Her shoulders straighten. "I don't really want any allies, Max. I'm sorry."
"Could we try?" he asks. "If we get into the Games and you still don't want it, I'll understood. But I want to try to protect you, Annabelle. It's the least I can do."
Apparently, she catches something sincere in his words because she answers with a smile, "Okay."
"Okay," he agrees, smiling a little. "I'm glad that's settled."
hey guys!
alright, so i'd really love some reviews and fresh opinions. if you read a chapter with a character that you submitted, please review! it means so so much to me, and you don't need to use that many words. just a simple 'good job, i love the way you're writing my character' would be great, and some constructive criticism is cool too. thank you!
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thank you guys so so much. ilya.
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