Hazel

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I pick at the food on my plate. I'm not hungry. I hear a cough from behind me and turn around. Another tribute, Frank I think, is standing behind me awkwardly. He clears his throat again, "Do you umm, mind if I sit here." I try and resist the urge to smile. There's something about Frank that makes him seem harmless and gentle, contrasting his large demeanor.

I nod and he sits down beside me. We sit in silence for a while before he speaks, "So, how is it like in the capitol?" When I arch an eyebrow he explains, "I mean outside." he waves an arm around, "I only saw it for a few minutes when we were on the train here.

I search my brain for a logical answer to that question, the closest answer I can think of is, "weird and a lot different from the districts." He looks a bit disappointed but shrugs. We both turn back down to our plates and pick at the food, suddenly someone thunks down a plate beside me and I look up, It's Luke. He would be what most girls would call attractive. Except for the scar cutting down the side of his face.

His blond hair gleams in the light and his blue eyes sparkle, more with venom than anything else.

He gives me a grin that looks fake and turns to Frank. I frown at him, He had been ignoring me since I rejected joining the group of higher districts that some call Careers. He studies Frank but Frank doesn't seem to realize it. Suddenly though, he looks up and stares at Luke, "What do you want?" Luke looks a bit taken aback but quickly molds his features into an impenetrable mask.

"Would you like to join the Careers?" Frank freezes with his fork hanging awkwardly from his hand.

"Ummmm-" his eyes dart from me to Luke. Luke clears his throat, signifying that he doesn't have all day. Frank hesitates for a moment before answering, his eyes quickly darting to me.

I stiffen, his eyes don't follow me as some did when I worked in the Capitol. They seem confused. And that makes me wary. He answers, "Ummm, thanks for the offer but I'm going to have to decline." I jerk my head up, I wasn't expecting that.

Apparently Luke wasn't either. His normally cool and cunning demeanor is cut short by an angry remark. "Why wouldn't you want to? You'll have a better chance of surviving with us then you will with her." He spits out gesturing over to my general direction, obviously mistaking us as allies.

Frank seems to grow smaller, but quickly sits up tall, "I'd just rather not thanks." Luke huffs and picks up his tray.

"You'll regret that." Frank looks a bit nervous for a second before shrugging. Luke stalks off to a distinct table where all the Careers are sitting.

I ask curiously, "Why didn't you accept?" He shrugs.

"They don't seem very nice, and besides when they find out that my size doesn't mean anything, they'll kill me." He seems to have something else to say but looks down again.

I war with myself inside my head, contemplating a decision before coming to a conclusion, "Do you want to be allies?" Now it's his turn to look up curiously.

"Wait, what?" I shrug.

"You seem like a good ally."

He stares at me and I start to get uncomfortable, this was a bad idea. He gives me a small smile. "Okay, sure."

I can't help but be surprised by his answer. I was expecting a no. I reach out my hand and grab his, Frank looks surprised and glances down, "Shake on it?" He quickly understands and grabs mine. With a final shake it's official, and we're allies.

I collapse on my bed, it's still day but training is over, and I want to relax. I eye a pad of paper and a pack of colored pencils sitting idle on a table. I haven't drawn since the reaping. I get up and sit at the table, my pencil is poised over the paper. I don't know what to draw. I close my eyes and think of home. Before I ever moved to the Capitol, the days spent playing with Sammy and the time when my mother wasn't quite so gone.

My pencil hits the paper and I begin to draw. A small stature of a boy takes place, one with curly black hair and brown eyes that seem to always be moving.

I look down at the picture and start, it's Sammy. But not quite Sammy. It's Leo Valdez, the tribute from 12.

I hadn't noticed the similarities between them, they could be twins for all they looked like.

I groan and push my hand through my hair, tanging it into a mess. When did things get so complicated?

This chapter was written by @marsh_meowllow ! 

-Toodles!

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