of peaches and temptations (open)

[santi27]

At the moment, things were hard for Gemma. She still worked in the orchards all day picking peaches in the summer, but something was different. The harvest this summer wasn’t the greatest meaning there was less to pick. When Gemma picked less fruit, she made less money despite having to work extra hard to find the good fruit. As a result, Gemma went hungry unable to buy food. Breakfast and dinner was typically nothing and lunch if she was lucky consisted of a couple of hard stale crackers.

Today Gemma had had enough. With nothing in her stomach for yesterday, she was unsure on how she would be able to work in the Orchards today. The lack of food would cause her stomach to growl and her limbs to grow weak causing her working to slow down.

Immediately as she began, Gemma knew her worries were true. Under the hot summer sun, she felt a bit light headed and a lot tired. Her basket that was usually full by this point was more like half empty. If this was a sign as to what the rest of the day would be like, things did not bode well for poor Gemma.

But then she noticed the peaches. Not the nice perfect one’s that were neatly placed in her basket ready to be sent to the Capitol, but the pile of bad ones, too hard or too mushy for eating. They were the rejects that were declared unfit for the mouths of the precious Capitol people. Dare she eat one?

As if to egg Gemma on, her stomach grumbled, a sign that it at least wanted to break the rules, steal, and eat one. On the other hand, Gemma’s mind was screaming, ‘are you out of your mind!’ If she was caught as apprehended, there could be some serious whipping in her future. Gemma didn’t want that. For the moment, following her rational side, Gemma continued slowly picking peaches.

[clovegoodshot]

~Hazel Olive

I swing from tree to tree, my torch in my hand, so hungry, so hungry. I start feeling so weak. My arms start to flail. I fall to the ground. The next morning I wake up, extremely weak, bruised up, broken arm. Crap.

I get out of bed, stretch my limbs-big mistake-and walk to the orchard fields. I bring out a basket for picking berries, peaches. Peaches. I love the juicy, sweet fruit. I notice soon a girl. She looks as weak as I was yesterday, am today.

She has distinct features, ribs that poke out farther than her nose, small limbs, arms, everything. The poor girl. She eyes the fruit pile like she might attack it very much. The Pile is a huge pyramid of fruits declared to squishy, not ripe enough, not edible, or poisonous. She is focusing on the peaches. The poor girl.

I think for a second. I am fast. Very fast. Could I run, and reach a peach and bring it back before a Peacekeeper could locate and shoot me? Maybe. The girl looks so depressed, drained. I decide it must be worth it. I pretend as if I am turning right to get to the blackberries, but I don't.

I sprint in about fifteen yards, and grab two fair peaches, and run back. But not fast enough. I grab the girl by the arm and lunge her behind a bush, just as the first bullet fires. But I didn't get under the bush. The bullet cuts open my leg, and sends me flying forward. It came from so far away, that as long as I behave, the Peacekeepers won't know it is me that they shot. I duck behind the bush, and pull the bullet out. It isn't that bad. I toss the girl a peach, and then pass out.

[santi27]

Gemma was trying to stop focusing on her hunger, and start focusing on her work. She knew slowly working wouldn’t help anything. In fact, it would make matters worse, as it would result in fewer picked peaches, which equaled less money for good. Therefore, Gemma tried to work as fast as possible, although that wasn’t saying much.

Suddenly out of nowhere, a girl darted out towards her. She snatched a couple of peaches and dived for the cover of some bushes, dragging Gemma with her.

About to yelp in surprise, Gemma only refrained so the peace keepers wouldn’t be alerted of their presence. After all, the girl had stolen the peaches and would be in deep trouble. Even worse, Gemma was now part of the crime.

When the girl threw her the peach, although weak, Gemma surprisingly caught it. She eyed the peach longingly, the food calling out to her stomach, but she made herself wait to eat. Gemma needed to thank the girl first.

The strange girl was over all small. She was pretty short and extremely skinny and Gemma knew it was not just because of her young age. She was starving from lack of food just like Gemma and just like most people out her.

And then Gemma saw it: the blood coming from the girl’s leg. She must have gotten hit, but here she was as brave as could be, just pulling it out, kind of reminding Gemma of herself. But then the girl fainted, concerned, Gemma gently nudged her hoping she was all right and that would become conscious.

“Um hey, if you could wake up now that would be great.” She said unable to keep it to herself any longer. While Gemma was a strong person, things like this freaked her out. She just wasn’t the right person to take care of others. “Please be alright. Please be alright.” She muttered to herself fearing that the girl who risked herself to help her was now in danger.

[clovegoodshot]

I hear a voice whispering for me to please be alright. I wake up. The Peach Girl is hovering above me. She smiles at my awakening from the gunshot. My leg sears. Ugh. I really hope this girl needed a peach. But they are so tempting. Yummy.
I sit upright, but a bit too fast. Whoa. Everything spins, that bullet must have hit me hard. Whoa. I lay back down, and whisper to the girl,"So whats your name? I am Hazel."