Let's Pretend

Chapter two - Reflect

After that odd encounter with Amon outside the training room I decided I need to get some fresh air.

Sitting outside, leaning against the tree, the sweet breeze flowing through my hair. Staring up at the dull blue sky. I thought this would make things better. Distract me. I looked down at my hands, intertwined together, like I was praying. I pulled them out of the grip and wiped my hands on my folded legs as if it wipe of something dirty. Why did I think that? Looking back up to the sky, closing my eye and taking a deep breath.

Marilyn is in charge of this training building. I can't seem to get away from her. At least I don't have to look at her. She controls those things and she's content just to sit and watch. I don't understand what my parents see in her. Especially my father. She so fair and strong Clara. She can get you far. Dam it, I want to do my own thing why do I have listen to this dumb commands. I never really wanted this. Being pushed and pulled into different teams and not knowing the whole point to it. How come other people can just stay in their own teams?

After the challenges you are chosen either to go into a completely new team or an older one. The older team is more difficult because they know each other already. I know that from many experiences. I was different though, Granddad never really explained it well to me but I have stay for a certain amount of time in a team before I'm shipped off to another one. I am told to take notes and fill out this form while I'm there but I take no heat to that. It always ends badly. I mean, I can always tell when I about to be woken in the middle of night and taken outside to that black car. Everything would be going well, everyone would be happy and so would I but then it hits you, like glass slicing down your back.

Everything just sinks, drowns into that black dark hole, where that car waits for me at the other end. You either did something wrong, somehow angered someone or they angered each other. Once the peace and happiness was gone I know it was time to go. I stayed in contact with very few people but I shouldn't complain. Nicky would be one of them. She moves a lot too, from team to team but it is out of her own free will, unlike mine. I think this time is different. I can feel it. Maybe the moving will be over and I can stay with them. Maybe.

"Why are you just sitting there? You're not asleep are you?" said a voice. Knowing he was going to kick me I quickly shot out an arm grabbed the incoming foot and pulled it with force.

"Ouch!" he laughed. I opened my eyes and there was Jackson sitting on the grass laughing. He was wearing a blue t-shit and a lose pants, held up by a belt.

"Oh I'm sorry did I hurt you," I said putting on a concerned face and pouting my lip. He propped himself up on his elbows, so he could see me.

"Yes but its okay, you can kiss me better." He closed his eyes and puckered his lips. I rolled my eyes.

"Aw Clara come on the boy is begging for it." said a tall muscular girl, Rina. She has a blonde pixie cut with the tips dyed black, which made her quite intimidating looking. She wore a grey string top and ripped pants.

"I know but I have to play hard to get, I don't want to be too easy for him." I said shrugging. I got up and looked over to Jackson, who now was yawning and scratching his head. I smiled to myself.

"It's time for the meeting and Darin doesn't like it when were late," said Rina. I looked over at the building. It was a huge stone building made of grey stone with grunge looking windows that held in the memories and the secrets of the place.

"Yeah he needs to loosen up a little, doesn't he? Most of the time he's just rambling about things that has nothing to do with the stages." I said looking over to Rina again.

"Yes he does tend to side track a bit but you can't blame him. He doesn't do much other then host the meetings and does the paper work and research for it but most of that is done by the HR [Head of Races] anyway." said Rina.