Panem High

𝒦𝑒𝓎𝓈

katniss

➳

Bumpy. And awkward. God, what a horrible ride. Gale and I chatted a few times, but I think we would both much rather be left alone thank you very much. To my great relief, we were quickly approaching the campus of Panem Highschool. Once we were finally in the parking lot, it was chaos with all of the students heading in every direction.

Once I stepped out of the bus onto the hard ground, I swear my backpack felt heavier than it was at the airport. I scanned the parking lot, trying to locate my duffle bag, and eventually, I see what appears to be it.

I walk across the parking lot and spot a redheaded girl reading. It is quite beyond me how she could be reading in a place like this. I walk by an older couple of siblings, a girl, and a boy, who are screaming at each other about god know what.

Once I am almost to the location of my bag, I overhear a boy on the phone with a woman who is screaming at him. The phone is not even on speaker and I can hear it from where I stand in this loud parking lot. The boy on the phone looks near tears while seaming to try and get a word in with the physio on the other end.

I almost feel sorry for the boy, first days are stressful enough as it is and to have a parent yelling at you makes it all the worse.

Suddenly, he looks up from the ground and straight into my eyes. Oh no! I think, he caught me staring at him! Our eyes lock for a split second as I think of a way to get out of here. You know that situation where you know you've been caught doing something stupid or embarrassing, and you know that someone knows you did it?

For example, when I was younger, my mother took me and my sister, Prim, to a water park. I fell and skinned my knee, and quickly ran to my mother for support. I hugged her leg, balling my little eyes out, and then I realized that I had not hugged my mother. I had hugged some random woman and I thought I may just die right then and there.

Well, that's exactly how I feel right now and will probably feel for the rest of the day. I bet my cheeks are cherry red by now. I quickly turn and walk away, towards a building everyone seems to be headed to. I curse at myself inside my head for embarrassing myself before I even made it to the first day.

➳

"Here you are, Miss Everdeen, your student ID, and Dorm Key," Says a woman wearing a very vibrant wig and far too much makeup.

"Thank you," I say politely, and walk out of the building. I check the campus map photo that I have saved to my camera roll, my matt green phone case sliding in my hands. I find where the dorms for Freshmen and Sophomores are and make my way in that direction.

My key has my room floor and number on it, and inconveniently, I am on the 12th and highest floor of the dormitory. The campus is stunning. As I walk, I see all the trees glowing with the light of autumn and I can't help but think how peaceful it is.

I find the dormitory. Many students a here, and some parents are too. if only I was that lucky. I think to myself as I punch in the numbers of the escalator. I haven't been on an escalator in the longest time, and think about going down again, just for the joy of it, but think it would be childish. I find my room numbered 16 and make my way inside.

The rooms are nothing compared to what I've seen. Two queen-sized beds opposite one another, Full-sized closets, and even a small counter with a microwave. The only thing they don't have is a bathroom. Only the lower levels, 1, 2, 3, and 4 get them due to water bills being 'too high' and 'necessary budget cuts' from what I've read, it seems they do a lot of 'necessary' budget cuts. All the upper levels use community showers in the locker rooms.

I hope my dormmate won't mind which bed, so I pick the one farthest from the door and set my bags down on it. The room also has two white desks on the sides of both beds with two identical single lights, but I have a feeling I'll mostly do homework in the bed.

On the wall that should have a door leading to a bathroom and between both closets is a small velvet couch. I think it is mostly there to take up space because what kind of a person just sits in the middle of their room doing nothing.

As I begin to unpack my things, the door flies open and a girl walks back into the room, "Thank you, dad, but I'll be fine, yes I brought it, yes I'll call you! Alright bye!" She's soft-spoken, even while she yells.

As she turns around, her blonde hair flying over her shoulder, she looks at me, "Hello,"

"Hello," I say back, "I hope you don't mind, I took this bed,"

She shakes her head, showing it really didn't matter, and she gingerly sets her things down on the bed opposite I. "My name is Madge Undersee,"

"Katniss Everdeen," I reply, and we both go silent, organizing our things and putting them away. We hardly chat, so the room mostly stays quiet. It's not the awkward silence like with Gale on the bus, we both seem to respect each other in some unspoken way.

"Do you know who most of the people here are like?" She asks abruptly,

"No, I've only seen a few people, do you?"

"Well, people hardly notice me so I pick up on a lot of things. I don't know much, but I know a bunch about the soon-to-be popular group leaders."

"Really?" I ask

"Yes, they are very again, I don't know much, and it will be easier once school starts, but I can tell you what I know." She takes a breath and continues, "I'm not much of a gossip, but I think that it will do you some good if you have a bit of background information."

"Alright, it couldn't hurt" I reply, "The first is Glimmer Bell. She was assigned the 1st floor, and those rooms are huge. She is complete plastic. I know that she's somewhat of a 'pick me girl'. She plays all the sports with another girl in the group, but not to actually play, just to show off her, ya know..."

"Yep got it."

"I found her Instagram, she posts a bunch of just her, and photoshoots, and her friends, that's about it. She's going to be the queen bee of the Freshmen's social status, so I would steer clear of her. She could ruin your life."

I nod to let Madge know I understand, and she continues. "Then there's Clove Kentwell. She is the one who's actually good at sports. She does almost all of them when she has the time, but she's best at softball and volleyball. Serving and Pitching is her strength and she never misses her target. I heard that they sometimes let her pitch for the boy's baseball team when there are no subs. She can be a bitch, but is usually a good sport and teammate."

She takes another deep breath of air and continues "I'd say stay clear of her too. She's best friends with Glimmer, and if you're on Clove's bad side, you're on Glimmer's too.

Madge wasn't kidding when she said she picks up on stuff, because she keeps talking. "Finally, there's Cato Hadley. He's the boy all the girls want and can't have. Similar to Clove, he does tons of sports. Super fit guy. But he's not a very good sport. He has a tendency to do little things to the other team to give Panem the best shot possible. Our coaches tend to turn a blind eye towards it."

Madge pauses, then keeps going, "You don't wanna cross him, either. He can ruin you the same as the girls and would do it with pleasure. If Cato doesn't like you, you mine as well say goodbye to your future."

"Wow," I say, but she still isn't done.

"We call them the Careers because they have the best shot at getting their career or something like that. They've been around the school for decades, but these are ours. Don't be surprised if you see them hanging out with another boy and girl. Those two are part of it too, just not really the leaders, more like clones."

I sit back on my hands a little "They couldn't be that bad...?"

"Yes they can, and they are," She answerers, and I take a moment to process all this information.

"Well, anyway, Katniss, just wanted to make sure you knew, but I'm gonna go finish unpacking."

I nod, "Alright" and it's then that I realize how tired I am. Before I can stop myself, I sink into the fluffy bed and drift away.

➳