Child Of The Mockingjay

Chapter Nine and 3/4

<just a small expert from the previous chapter (Chapter Nine) of conversations between Denny and Sienna>   CHAPTER NINE AND 3/4

            “So,” I started. “Why first aid?”          

            He smiled glumly. “It’s calming, I feel I can actually help people instead of just mooching off the Districts. I wanted to become a medic and be sent out to one of the Districts, but due to, uh, complications I have to stay here as a medic.”

            I nodded, this seemed reasonable-ish. “Complications?”

            “Family matters.” He appeared unwilling to expand on the matter.

            “So why do you want to go to the Districts. If I was from the Capitol, I probably wouldn’t want to.”

            “It seems sad. The Capitol gets everything from you, yet you get scarcely anything in return. It’s unfair.”

            I recalled another quote from something I had heard as a child, something Pa had told me he had read in a very old text. “Fair means everyone gets what they need.”

            “Yes, though we have more than we need.”

            I wasn’t trying to stand up for the Capitol, but I very much disliked the way they treated us. Some with disrespect, others who felt we were like animals. And those who pitied us. I wasn’t sure which one annoyed me the most.

            “Whatever. I’m going to try something else.” Okay, it wasn’t a very long conversation, but although it had intrigued me, I didn’t want to encourage the way he saw us, however petty that was.

            I got up steadily and calculated, turned and walked in a random direction.

            After a few steps, his voice sounded behind me. “No, wait!”

            “What?”

            “Stay? Please?”

            I smiled then turned back towards his and plastered on a poker face. “If you insist.”

            I went and sat down again at his station, practically forcing my legs to keep them from skipping. “So?”

            “Tell me, Mellark. About your family? And friends? What’s it like living in the Districts? Or as a Victors daughter?”

            I thought for a moment, absently gazing into his eyes. “My Ma and Pa are great. I don’t have many friends, only Janine, Melissa and Ashlee. Living in the Districts is depressing. And living as the Mockingjay’s daughter is awful.”

            A deadpanned stare was thrown my way. I stared back, unblinking. Stare off. For a few minutes, we struggled, keeping our eyes open. He broke first, blue eyes slightly red and watery when he finally blinked and looked away, rubbing them. I laughed, I had won something! The sound echoed through the already noisy centre, catching the attention of some of the trainers standing around at empty stations.

            I felt my cheeks turn a deep red and turned back to Denny, whose eyes were no longer watering.

            “Care to elaborate?”

            I frowned, confused. “Elaborate on what? How I just beat you in the contest or how I can’t do stiches?”

            He smiled. “No, I meant your family, friends and home life.”