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Crescent woke up panting, trying to catch her breath. Her face was dripping with sweat, Crescent's body was shaking with fear.
She tried to calm herself, by repeating the phrase her mother taught her this was not real It's just a nightmare nothing but a figment of your imagination.
After getting dressed up she overheard her parents talking "Steven, how are we going to eat? we barely have food and money left" said her mother with anxiousness; her father sighed loudly "I don't know, I'll have to look for another job" the mother fiddled with her fingers as she started thinking of a solution.
Crescent was nervous; how are they going to survive if they barely have food and water? her parents won't allow her to sign up for tesserae, if she did the capitol would supply them grain and oil in return Cress would sign up her name a few more times to become a tribute. Even if she did, she knew that odds weren't in her favor.
"I have an idea, I'll work as a housekeeper." the mother suggested, not in a million years would Crescent expect her mother to suggest that but it's the only way they could survive. "No May, I won't allow it-" the mother interrupted "I won't sit back and do nothing, I have to help my family whatever it takes."
the father gave up arguing with her, his wife was stubborn. "Maybe i'll work for Haymitch Abernathy" her father angrily shook his head "no I won't allow you to work for that drunk I don't trust him"
Crescent walked downstairs with a fake smile plastered on her face "good morning" they both gave her a sincere smile greeting her back.
Crescent grabbed a small piece of bread, drank water from the tap and went for the door. She shouted, "I'll hang out with Blaze after school don't wait for me."
As she was walking to school, she admired the tall trees how it's slowly restoring it's color and unfolding. How the sky, the clouds appear to be luminous. The flowers are starting to gain its color, all traces of snow is starting to fade. the sun makes a small appearance between the cloud which makes the view more beautiful.
She stopped in her tracks, Crescent saw a silhouette of someone standing by the tress with sketchbook in their hands. She was curious to who that was, so Crescent sauntered to him.
She put her hands in her front pocket and stood by him. He was so transfixed with his drawing, he drew every detail leaving nothing behind. His painting was beautiful it captured everything with accuracy.
She couldn't help but speak her mind "this drawing is magnificent" he slowly turned around and saw her, he gave her a shy smile " I'm sorry for sneaking up on you" he shook his head "no it's fine, I was just drawing. It's something isn't it?" she nodded agreeing with him.
She asked him "how often do you draw?" he shrugged, giving her an honest answer "Almost all the time, why do you ask?" she shrugged and gave him a side smile "it suits you" Crescent remembered that Blaze, her best friend was waiting for her.
"I'm late, she's going to kill me. I gotta go! goodbye" she gave him a quick wave and rushed to her friend. "Why do you always do this to me? why do you always make me wait for you?" Blaze ranted with exasperation, Crescent rolled her eyes "what? I had an excuse" Blaze muttered, "I'm sure you do"
____
After school blaze and Crescent were heading to the bakery "Why are we going there exactly?" asked Blaze, Cress explained to her best friend "Because we need food, we barely have the money left to feed ourselves my parents need help but they refuse to ask me and my brother"
Blaze flicked Crescent's shoulder "Cress are you crazy? Do you want to work here of all places? They won't accept your job offer it's a family business and last I checked you're not a Mellark"
Cress was frustrated, she knew that her best friend was right but she had to try "I know that! but I have to try, so why not start from there? plus it's a bakery so I can get plenty of food from there if I wanted to"
Blaze still looked unconvinced "Look if they refused me I'll go somewhere else, maybe I'll ask Mrs. Everdeen to teach me everything there is to know about being a nurse and if that doesn't work then I'll have to find another way to help my family" The other girl sighed in defeat, knowing her best friend won't listen to her.
"Okay so do you have a plan?" asked Blaze, Cress hesitated "I'll ask her at first if she refused I'll beg her and try to convince her"
Blaze lifted her eyebrows "that's the only plan you came up with?" she nodded, Blaze shook her head "if it makes you feel any better, I'll be with there watching you humiliate yourself" Cress smiled "it actually does."
