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

Chapter six

I reply, "i like purple not like any purple. Like the color of Jasyns suit tonight," Effie responds, "how about I make a note to Karma and Jasyns team to make you a purple suit?" I reply, "that would be nice," she smiles and says, "how about we get you matching socks! Socks that are purple like the suit," I reply "whatever you want Effie.. i guess," she says, "and we can style your hair very nice and shiny! O my goodness, the interviews are tomorrow! I have to tell them," I reply, "the games start in 1 day?"

And once again, the world freezes, one for one day I get to talk to Effie and my fellow tributes as regular people, but once that clock strikes1, the fantasy is over, and the real games begin.

Effie says, "well yes it is customary. Did you forget" I reply, lying "oh no It just slipped my mind," Effie says "haymitch it is going to be fine, don't worry you got this" I reply, "Effie, this will probably be one of the last times I can have an actual normal coversation. Never thought about it," Effie says, "no it wont, I'll be with you tomorrow night," I reply, "i hope someone is here." Effie smiles and says, "Haymitch I promise tomorrow night is dedicated to you, and Ajax, Maysilee, and Dear fauna... do not worry Haymitch" she leaves running in excitement to tell the team about the purple suit and socks, but I get thinking. I have one day of guaranteed life. How do you spend that day? Happy? Sad? Do you eat your favorite foods? Hug your loved ones even though I am not a hugger or don't have any loved ones. The last guaranteed day of your life, what do you do?.

6:30 am the following day. The air is cold, and Ajax and I wake up at the same time. Our heads turn facing each other, and I say, "let hell begin," Ajax says, "wrong day thats tomorrow," I reply, "oh right.. let pre hell games begin". I get up and put on the training clothes Jasyn laid out for Me. We wear sleeveless shirts, and shorts imprinted 50th in gold. I don't feel like doing much today. But it is the last day of Living, so we might as well do nothing.

I sit right on my bed, waiting for Alma to call us, and Fauna walks in. She sits on my bed and says, "Haymitch," I reply, "yes Fauna," she says quietly, "i really don't want to do this." For the first TimeTime in a while, Fauna looks threatened, scared. She's looking down at her dangling feet, and I look towards Ajax like what do I say or do... I reply, "Fauna, to make you feel better neither do i," she cries and says at the same TimeTime, "Haymitch," Ajax comes to my bed, sitting next to her even though this is not his typical thing. Fauna says, "Haymitch I don't want to die" waterfalls gush out of her eyes, and she puts her head into my chest, and all I do is pat her back and let my fingers go through her short red locks. I reply, "the simplest truth is, we'll never have today agin. So enjoy today... okayokay?" She cries, not even paying attention to what I said.

Ajax is looking straight at the ground. He says, "one day.. it will only be stories. thats what we are stoires, fables... to teach a lesson. Our lives are just charecters in the capitol book and we will never be told again," he says that phrase with so little emotion, but I can see it in his eyes.

Fauna cries and cries, leaving my shirt soaked. So Maysilee comes in, and she sits on the bed beside Ajax, Fauna, and I. Soon we're all leaning on one another in silence. Fauna, between sobs, says in a whisper, "i'm not asking to be happy, I'm just asking for less pain." Fauna's tears and words are like a blade to my heart. She says these words as if she were wise older women who have gone through the ups and downs of life, but in reality.. the poor thing can maybe write her name and address. I'm not the crying type, for now. But I think Maysilee, Ajax, and I are crying with our thoughts.

Evian walks in and says, "Good morning! Oh?" She looks at the sight of fauna bawling and Ajax Maysilee, and I am attempting to be of use to her. All we do is give Evian a look saying LEAVE with our faces, but Evian calls Effie; Effie has been a big sister to Fauna throughout this Time, brushing her hair and doing all sorts of things. Maysilee has attempted, but Effie succeeded. Effie walks in, clucking her heels on the ground, and she asks Ajax to move from his spot so she can sit closer to Fauna. Effie says, "Fauna, do you want a gift? Something to lighten your mood?" Fauna looks at Effie with a smile, and she says, "yes Effie," she blows out her nose. Effie pulls out four bracelets, all gold, with a flame-like carving. She pulls out one pin that has a sort of bird down the middle. Effie says, "Jason and Karma designed these braclets, the pin is for Maysilee, it is from your father" I can see Maysilee tear up as she looks at the pin; Effie gives the golden pin to Maysilee and hands the bracelets to us. We all slip the golden bracelets to our wrist while Maysilee is just looking at the pin.