The Spark of a Revolution {Book 2 in the Daughter Trilogy} Watty Awards 2015

Chapter 4

  I walk beside Charley smiling as he tells stories of Arabella and how she has reacted ever since she got here. We have been walking for at least an hour now, and somehow managed to make it to the woods.

  "You mean Katniss is living in the same building as me?" He mimics Arabella's surprised face as I giggle, "So tell me. What don't I know about the magnificent Ros- I mean Primrose Mellark." Primrose sparks a memory of the coma's crazy dreams, and Auntie Prim.

  "Oh shut up Charley!" I say smacking his head at the reference to my old name, "As for the question, I don't know. I am a pretty keep-to-myself kind of person, but at the same time I am the most enthusiastic and open person you will ever meet."

  "I think I figured that out on my own." He sits on a broken log and picks up a greenish-brown leaf, from the damp ground.

  "Can I tell you something?" My mind flashes back to the dreams.

  "Of course." He replies looking up from his leaf.

  "Something I have never told anyone, not even Max."

  "Prim."

  "I need to know if I can trust you to not tell a soul."

  "You can."

  I try to get up the courage to  say what is on my mind, but it doesn't come, instead a horrible pain in my stomach arises and the overwhelming feeling of nausea bubbles up inside me.

  "I'm gonna be sick!" I jump up and run towards a tree.

  I crouch down and let the vomit fall to the moss covered ground below. Charley's footsteps echo as he reaches my side.

  "Focus on breathing." He says rubbing my back, "It's alright Prim." He says other comforting things as the stench of bile and acid erupt from the puddle on the floor.

  I sit up leaning on my arms, once the moment passes.

  "You alright?" He asks offering me a handkerchief.

  I take the piece of white silk and dab my mouth with it.

  "I think." I reply, a distant memory of the arena entering my mind, "I don't think my body reacts well to pain-killers. Do you know what they gave me?"

  "It was used before the First Rebellion, when people had headaches, I believe it is called Tylenol."

  "Tried it when I was younger and was going through a growth spirt, same thing happened." i say remembering the horrible growing pains, and the red pill my mom mushed up in apple sauce.

  "I don't think you are going to be taking it again, any time soon." I nod and stand up.

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  "Are you a natural blond." Charley seems distracted as I rinse my mouth out several times with river water.

  "I was born my mom's coloring. The olive skin and brown hair, as I grew my hair got lighter, creating a dirty blond color. I think it is because I spent so much time in the woods letting all the sunlight pour ray upon ray onto my brown hair." I reply, "I never really gave a crap about my hair until the pre-game ceremonies. I had completely forgotten my natural hair color. I am sure Zues would be happy to get that brunette color back, by locking me in a dark room for the rest of my life." I giggle at the terrible effort of a joke.

  He fingers my hair and something tells me he is gonna kiss me. 

  I was right, and he leans in, I close my eyes waiting for our lips to touch.