The Hunger Games TV Series - ON HOLD!

Chapter 3.

I find EJ in my contacts and I press call, hoping that he won’t hear the phone. I have no such luck, because after only two rings, his sweet voice comes from the other side of the phone.

“Hello Jess. How is the most beautiful girl in the world doing?”  He’s in a good mood. I’m screwed! He loves The Hunger Games, so he’s not going to be pleased about what I’m about to tell him.

“I need to tell you something.”

“Uh oh. That sounds bad. Go on. Tell me.”

I take a deep breath and I tell him “I’m going to be on a TV show called The Hunger Games TV series.” The words come out really fast, and I stop to catch my breath. When I don’t get a reply from EJ, I hold my breath, expecting the worst.

“Oh, I see.” This is really bad.

“Look, I…”

“It’s all fine, besides the fact that people kill each other. Congrats.”

I breathe a sight of relief. “Thanks.”

“You won’t die, will you?” I can hear actual pain in his voice, like he’s already lost me.

“EJ, of course not! They’re probably gonna use ketchup for all the blood anyways.” I try my most encouraging smile, but it comes out like a squeak.

“Yes, probably.”

“EJ…”

“Hey, you know what? Party at my place tonight. Everyone should know that you’ve got this role that will finally put you on the radar.”

“Sounds amazing!” Parties were always my thing. They helped me relax and forget about my problems for a few crazy hours.

“I’ll come and pick you up. Talk later babe.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too, Jess.” And then he hangs up.

The conversation with EJ did nothing to my mood. I still feel like I should just hide in my closet until everything is back to normal. So instead of researching Suzanne Collins or reading on like I told myself I should, I grab my cigarette pack and walk through my back yard, towards the beach. I sit on the soft sand, take out a cigarette and watch the smoke rise towards the clear blue sky.

As the sun starts to burn the back of my body, my mind drifts off to faraway places, carried by the waves of the ocean. I only come back to mainland when Jason comes and grabs me from behind.

“The sun is burning you.”

“I’ve noticed brother, thanks.”

“Oh, c’mon, don’t be like that!” He makes a puppy faces as if my words have really hurt him. “And stop smoking that, it will ruin your good looks.” He snatches my lit cigarette from my fingers and throws it in the ocean.

“That’s polluting, you know.”

“Like you care about that stuff.”

“Good point, I don’t.” I take out the pack of cigarettes from my pocket, but  Jason grabs it before I manage to pull another cigarette out. He throws it in the sand and starts stepping on it, squashing the pack.

“There. Now you have none left.”

“You didn’t have to do that!” I get up angrily and march towards our house. When I’m near the door, Jason hugs me from behind and stops me

“I’m sorry little sis. But I care about you.”

“I care about my cigarettes.”

“I know how you’ll calm down. Let me grab my guitar and I’ll meet you at the piano in five.” And with that he runs off into the house.

Jason knows me well. Music has always been the one thing I have been passionate about since I was little. It always manages to calm me down, and can always make me feel relaxed. Along with Jason, I spend the entire evening playing cover songs of our favourite artists. My hands never leave the piano keys, and Jason only stops playing his guitar to bring us both food from time to time. This has always been our best bonding time. Music is something that seems to run in both our blood.