Break The Rules But Be Smart About It: The Second Quarter quell

Chapter six

9:30 pm

Effie walks closer to me. Effie grabs a rock from one of the artificial plants in the area and throws it into the forcefield. After she throws it, she claps her hands against one another, and she dusts off the dirt on her palms. I wish she would stay inside and enjoy the celebration, then be out here with me.

She knows that I want to be alone, but I guess since we're trying to be friends, I should try to work things out. I say to Effie, "you look decent" Effie replies, "well, you've looked better... what's the matter" why am I going to explain to this district girl, or shall I say capitol... my feelings. Why is she so interested in me like to stay away. We'll be friends, so she doesn't make me look as bad as Jaysyn does, but that's as far as our "friendship" should go. I say, "why should I explain my problems to you. Is your name Alma Coin... last time I checked, it wasn't" Effie leans on her side, "I beg your pardon," I say, "what! Is it. Is your name alma coin, and I have to explain to you my problems!"

Effie replies a second after I'm finished with my rant, "nobody said you had to pour out your feelings. I was just trying to be nice because normally, when a teenage boy.. like yourself sees a cart full of desserts, he runs up to it and takes anything he could lay his hands on. You happen just to leave. By my understanding, something must be wrong." she's right, I reply, "ok fine. I just wish Fauna or somebody more eligible would have gotten an 11. You know I didn't deserve it." I take a breath and add, "I mean ok yay, I got an 11, the highest score of the night, but I really don't desire it. I really don't deserve every tribute wanting to be my ally. I didn't ask for this," Effie replies, "who said you didn't deserve it?" I reply, "I did. Simple. Ok, I get it. I can probably make a crowd laugh or impress a couple of rich people. But other people deserve this glory thing, like Fauna. Fauna is seven, and she has a whole life ahead of her. I have had a girlfriend, held a job, and attempted to take care of my family... I was basically going to do that for the rest of my life anyway. So dying now wouldn't have changed a thing." Effie replies, "what about your family... I am sorry, Haymitch. I am trying to be on your side, but you mentioned yourself like fifty times in a sentence... your very humble," I reply, "well, sure it might benefit my family, but then my life is going to be messed up as a mentor" Effie doesn't respond.

What if I were a mentor, I would be setting up the tributes for disaster, and onto of that, I would have to live with Jaysn, Karma, Heather, Evian, and Effie for the rest of my life. That's certainly not how I pictured my last days.

A couple of hours pass by, most of it we spent letting the winds speak for itself, but eventually, we started yelling and arguing with one another about nonsense... eventually, it does die down. I had said several times that I was going to bed, but Effie started her rambling, and she stated, "I GOT A IDEA!" She runs down the stairs and comes back 15 minutes later. Effie walks in, and I say sarcastically, "Wow, you look so great" She replies, "your answer is right! I am going to play ball!" I laugh at her because she got dressed to throw a ball at a forcefield, but I say, "you already did that but wow Effie, just wow i applaud you. You truly started a new trend. Congraugaltions," Effie says, "well how do I look, like a district girl," I reply, "well thats not offensive, but i guess." Effie smiles "thats funny" she comes closer, leaning on the fence "you know, in school growing up my parents, mainly my father would make me wear this makeup and hair, I truly enjoy It really but he insisted I did. It was a sad time really, I thought he didn't find me beautiful," I reply, "well, i think you say stuff like that so i can call you pretty but its not working trinket" she laughs and says, "no i wasnt but fine believe what you want" I reply "thats probably the first and only time you will ever tell me that. thanks trinket i guess"... there's an awkward pause for a moment, but I say, "Effie, since we're trying to talk here,what is your favorite color," Effie says, "well I like anything shiny but I adore pink, the bright kind, how about you" I hadn't thought much about my favorite color, seeing in the districts we only wear gray, white, tan and blue occasionally. My mother's name is lavender, and my grandmother's wedding dress was purple... the color purple seems to be well, everywhere I turn symbolically. When Dahlia graduated high school, my mother made her a flower crown with purple flowers from the meadow. When Louren was born, my grandmother wrapped him in purple cloth.