Training For The Games (tori)

[Tori]

"Sorry," she said, blushing. "It's just, well, you're an amazing writer and it's very fascinating to read everything you wrote. I love reading sometimes, because the worlds inside a book are so unique, but I've these are something different. In a good way, of course."

I choked on the water I was drinking, and mumbled,"amazing?" That's funny. "See, I knew you had a secret talent! You're such a liar!" she was laughing. I... was a bit uncomortable. I hated when people pointed out how much of a liar I was. I scratched my head and whispered,"yeah.."

"Oh jeez, I was reading that thing for a while, wasn't I? Sorry I ignored you." I chuckled. And replied jokingly,"It's okay, it's the only quiet I've gotten since I met you." I smiled, and handed her her straw.

"And here you are." The waiter was back with our ood. And good time too, I was starving. Stella look hungry as well, and she placed my notebook to the side. Popcorn shrimp and french fries. Sounded fine to me.

I took the bottle of ketchup and started squeezing it onto my plate. Once I put it down, I dug in. After about three huge bites I noticed Stella watched me. "What?" I askedwith my mouth partly full. I swallowed before continuing,"Im hungry!" And with that, I dove back into my food.

When I resurfaced, Stella was still working on hers. She seems to find my eaing habits funny. Oh well, a guys got to eat. "You're right, that was pretty good." I shrugged and sat back in my chair. "So what is the plan after this?" I asked, smiling.

[Gigi]

"It's okay, it's the only quiet I've gotten since I met you," Derek teased, smiling. Stella grinned back. She was surprised that she was able to enjoy herself so much. Sure, Stell loved being with people in general, but she felt as if she created a special connection to Derek.

Stella took her straw from Derek, sticking it into her drink and sipping slowly. Quite soon the waiter arrived with their popcorn shrimp and fries. For a moment, Stella just slowly breathed in the scent of fried grease and salt.

It seemed that her companion had taken advantage of that moment to slather his meal with ketchup. Stella stared at him as he stuffed his face. After a few enormous bites, he looked up at her open shock. "What? I'm hungry!" He continued eating.

Giggling into her palm, Stella began on her own food. Mmm... She must have been here a million times, but she still loved everything about it. The atmosphere, the people, the music, the amazing food.... It was all so great.

She glanced towards Derek a few times as they ate in relative silence. He ate like an animal! Stell found this extremely amusing. Jeez, she knew guys ate a lot, but she didn't know how they ate. It was fun to watch. Derek acted as if he had never seen food before in his life!

"You're right, that was pretty good. So what is the plan after this?" Stella smiled, pleased he liked the meal, then frowned as she realized she didn't have anymore plans.

"Well...I sort of feel as if I've basically been telling you what to do. So this time, you can pick to do whatever you want. I don't care."

ooc: *is a fail at responding*

[Tori]

"Well...I sort of feel as if I've basically been telling you what to do. So this time, you can pick to do whatever you want. I don't care."

This took me a little by surprise. I didn't know what to do. Stella had been the one shouting out plans a few hours ago. Now that she wasn't, I was not sure how to handle it. "Uhh.. well I don't want to go back to the training area, that's for sure." I smiled at my statement. By now, Stella knew I was no good at anything there.

"Well, there's always shopping?" I made it sound like more of a question than a statement. Did girls who were good with weapons like shopping? I pulled out my wallet as the waiter came back and gave him the money needed. I made sure to tell Stella it was no problem. As we stood up to leave, I grabbed my backpack and threw it on my shoulders. "I know some good stores."

We let the restuarant and headed to the middle of the square. Of course it was the busiest. "Of course, if there's somewhere you'd like to go that's fine. I've only had a chance to go in some of the stores anyways."

OOC: I too suck at replying today.

[Gigi]

"Well, there's always shopping?" It came out as a question. Stella didn't care. She stared at him blankly, her mouth probably miles wide. Did he really just say...?

"I know some good stores." He did. Stella squealed happily, probably freaking out all of the other people. She sheepishly looked around to see that, indeed, other customers were staring. And employees glaring. She didn't care. They left the restaurant and Derek continued. "Of course, if there's somewhere you'd like to go that's fine. I've only had a chance to go in some of the stores anyways."

"Derek, you're the best! I know I said I didn't really care, but this changes things. We could go to the mall...yeah, let's go to the mall. That way, we can go in some guy stores. Be warned, I will take my time while shopping. There's hardly a thing I love more. Don't make fun!" Stell grinned. Jeez. Derek had to be the coolest guy ever. Lucky she ran into him.

The square was extremely busy, and Stella was glad she had someone with her to navigate her way through the crowd. Had she really been idly sitting around earlier? It seemed like ages since then. She had been to the training center, met Derek, spent about an hour with him there, gone to the restaurant, and now they were in the square. It had really only been about two and a half hours, but Stella felt as if she had already known Derek for a while. She felt so comfortable around him. It's a little strange, she thought. Did he feel their rapport like she did? Was she delusional?

Remembering, something, Stella said. "Oh, um...I don't know if you thought about money or anything like that, but I can pay for anything I buy, just so you know. Actually, if you want me to get you anything, I can. Since, you know, you paid for the food." She smiled.

[Tori]

"Derek, you're the best! I know I said I didn't really care, but this changes things. We could go to the mall...yeah, let's go to the mall. That way, we can go in some guy stores. Be warned, I will take my time while shopping. There's hardly a thing I love more. Don't make fun!" I smiled widely at her excitement. I had made a good choice for once.

"The mall sounds great." I laughed. Iwonered how long I had been with Stella. Time seemed to fly by while I was with her. Not that I minded. It was nice to be with her, she wasn't anyone I had me before.

Suddenly Stella turned to look at me. "Oh, um...I don't know if you thought about money or anything like that, but I can pay for anything I buy, just so you know. Actually, if you want me to get you anything, I can. Since, you know, you paid for the food."

I smiled at her, and pulled my wallet out. I shook it a moment and said, "I'll be just fine. You don't need to pay for anything for me." I noticed a girls and guys clothing store and pointed to it."Come on, let's go in there first." We headed for the store, and the moment we entered, Stella went right ahead to the back as i she'd been here a thousand times. I wondered if she had. "I'm going to look around a little down here!" I yelled up to her wondering if she even heard me.

I looked around, looking for the guys shoe section. I found it after a moment and headed there. This was where I liked to be. I needed a new pair of sneakers so I looked around for an acceptable pair. I foud apair of all white shoes size 10 and pulled them of the shelf, making them mine. On the way to the register, I passed by a display of jewelry. The was one piece that caught my eye. It was a sliver heart shaped locket with a bird on it I had learned about in school. It was called a Hummingbird. I'm pretty sure they were extinct now. I picked it up from the display, it was the last one. I saw a pair of earings with bows on them and picked them up for my mother as well.

I cheked my items out at the register and had them placed in a bag. Then I went looking for Stella who seemed to have disappeared. I found her looking at clothes and remembered myself that I needed a new shirt. Next store. I walked up behind her quietly. "How's it going?" I asked as she picked up a shirt.

[Gigi]

Derek pulled his wallet out. "I'll be just fine. You don't need to pay for anything for me." Stella grinned as he pointed out a store and they walked in. It was nice being with him. Plus, she had been here before and it was a great store. She loved the style. And the quality was good.

Knowing that the best deals were in the back, Stell immediately headed in that direction. She left Derek by himself. He probably wanted to shop alone. She knew guys sometimes felt awkward shopping with girls. She didn't understand why, but she had observed that from past boyfriends. Usually they just liked to show her off...

"I'm going to look around a little down here!" Derek yelled. Stuck in her memories, Stell hardly even registered that he spoke. She just kept walking, looking at the different shelves and racks of clothes. Some of them were really cute. Stell knew she would end up buying at least a few different tops, and probably some new jeans.

She checked her wallet to see how much money she had. She had about a hundred dollars in her purse. (Stella didn't trust banks. She kept most of her money with her at all times.) That was enough money to get a little gift for Derek too. She owed him. She wasn't used to owing people favors, just because her father taught her it was never a good idea. At a young age he had drilled that into her brain. If you ended up in the arena with them, and they called you out, you would end up with more guilt than you could handle. A lot of victors couldn't handle the deaths anyways. But Stella knew they must be weak. That's what the trainers always told her.

Stella grabbed a top she just had to have. It was yellow and pink and made of mostly light, flowy material. I need a new summer top, she thought to herself. Next to it were some jean shorts that were her size. She also grabbed a cute T-shirt. Finally she remembered that there were some other stores.

Just one more thing, she thought. She needed to get Derek's gift. She was looking for a while, but she still hadn't found anything when he found her. "How's it going?"

Stell whirled around, dropping the top she had been looking at. "Oh, um, I'm good. Let me just check out these things and then we can...go to the next store." Stella smiled up at him and moved in the direction of the register. She soon had her clothes and they walked out of the store, leaving the music behind.