Brief encounter. {open}

[LumpySpacePrince]

'A day not training, is a day wasted...'

The words of my training instructor echo in my head. I guess I should be used to it by now, being a district 2 kid and all. We were expected to be the best of the best, the top of the food chain. And it seems lately after both our tributes were terminated in the games, we are being drilled even harder than usual. A desperate effort to produce a winner for next year I suppose. Did we really need to win that bad?

Rope climbing is the worse. I've never been good at it, and I think my instructor knows that. Whenever I get here, he makes me climb... Or try to at least. Upper body strength was not my forte. No matter how many push-ups I do, or pull-ups I struggle through, I will never have the upper body strength to climb this damn rope.

"Ok, Marley," My coach starts. "It's time to climb the rope. Just hope on and get going! Like your life depends on it! 'Cause you never know, someday it might!" He has such a way with words. If I had to do a push-up for every time I've heard him say that, I wouldn't have to worry about not being able to climb this rope. 'Do it like your life depends on it, 'cause you never know! Someday it might!' Words truly spoken by a genius...[/color]

Clenching the rope tight in my hands, I look up. It was a rather long rope. Looking back at my instructor, I can't help but make a face of distress, only to have it be dismissed with a thumbs up. Thanks, jerk. Looking back up, I hop on and begin to hoist my body up. Hand over hand, it feels like i'm making good progress. Maybe those tedious push-ups are starting to pay off. I can hear my coach shouting "encouraging"[/color] words, prompting me to move faster.

It's not until I look down before things get messy. Looking down I see how high I really am. My vision starts to fade in and out, before my arms start to shake. I try to cling on for deer life, but the clamminess of my hands makes me slip and lose grip of the rope. A shriek escapes my throat before everything goes dark.

Am I dead?[/color] A voice calls out to me. Shaking my head, I let out a groan. My body aches, but luckily i'm not in excruciating pain, so I don't think I broke anything. The voice calls out to me again. Opening my eyes I realize i'm surrounded by people. Great...[/color] One leans over me, but I don't recognize them. "Wh- who are you?" I let out in a daze.[/blockquote][/justify][/size][/color]

Open to anything ^^ just trying to develop character!

[callias]

I sat alone. Running my finger along the blade. Lost in my thoughts.

"Move it, Callias."

I looked up to see a brutish-boy, standing over me, a unpleasant sneer spread across his thin lips.

I didn't respond, I simply blinked. I didn't see why I should move, so therefor I wouldn't. Besides, I never really talked to anyone, so I didn't see why I should waste my words on someone so obnoxious.

"Are you stupid? Move."

I blinked again.

The boy, apparently annoyed, shoved me out of the way. I nearly fell, but managed to regain my balance just in time.

I sighed, walking off. I knew my training instructor would have told me to give them 'a piece of my mind' as he put it. But I saw no point in that. I was not particularly strong, and would probably just end up getting myself hurt. I was only 5"5, small for a male of my age.

I ran a hand through my bright red hair, sighing. I didn't like training, but I put up with it. It was, after all, something to distract me from my problems. I hated life here, in District 2. People treated me like I didn't exist, or as if I was something stuck to the underside of their shoe...

As I walked away, I heard a loud thump. I saw everyone run over to the rope-climbing area. I raised an eyebrow, and slowly walked over, stuffing my hands in my pockets. I pushed through the crowd. I saw a girl lying on the ground. I didn't recognize her.

I leaned over her, trying to make-out who she was. "W-Who are you?" she said.

"I'm...Callias."

(Sorry if this is bad ^^)

[LumpySpacePrince]

Callias. Such and interesting name. My vision is slightly blury, but that doesn't stop me from realizing his bright red hair, that slightly resembles mine. My thoughts are scrambled, and my head is reeling. Maybe I have a concussion? "Let's go Marley!" I hear the shrill shriek of my instructor. "Let's get you over to the medic station!" His voice booms in my head. Isn't it a rule to not scream at people who just fell on their backs from 6 or 7 feet into the air?

[/color]

Waving him off, I clench my head. "I'm fine! Just a headache," I holler over to him. "Ok, Take a break, and we'll head over to the knives after. Because a day not training, is a day wasted!" he says. Rolling my eyes, I sink my head in between my legs. Just shut up already! Thankfully, the crowd begins to disperse, except for the red head who stands before me. Both embarrassed and agitated, I glance up at him, and give him my signature grin. The grin that has won the hearts of so many people before. "Hello there," I say to him in a mock peppy mood. "I hope you enjoyed the show!"

With a grunt, I stagger to my feet, moving my hand from my forehead, to my neck. The coolness of my hand is a relief to the ache in my body. I extend my free hand to the boy in front of me. "My name is Marley, but people call me 'Mar'."[/size][/blockquote][/justify][/color]

[callias]

The girl extends her arm to me, clearly gesturing for me to shake it. I stare at her, examining her every feature. From her bright red hair to her pale skin. She has a large grin on her face. Some might describe it as charming.

I feel awkward. No one ever talks to me. Well, my sister does, but that's different. Besides, what should I say to this girl? I have nothing to say. Ever. I hardly ever talk anyway, so why should I talk to her about? Oh no. I'm over-thinking.

I feel my cheeks burn. I'm blushing. I slowly reach out my hand, and take hold of hers. I shake her hand. I turn my gaze away from hers and focus on the floor. Maybe then I can stop this damn blushing. "H-Hello..."

[LumpySpacePrince]

Callias grabs my hand, and I can clearly feel the trembling that seems to be shaking his body. The boy looks down, avoiding eye contact. A classic shy guy. I hate to say it, but a guy like this had no business being a career. He wouldn't last 10 minutes in the arena.. My vision starts to become clear again, and I get a closer look at the kid. His hair is similar to mine in color, but his is obviously natural. He is very pale, and his over all body build is tiny and seemingly frail, like a doll that could be broken with the slightest touch. Looking closer at the brightly blushed face, I realize I recognize him.

Callias was the boy that everyone picked on, because he was shorter and more meek than the other kids. He never really tried hard, and when he did it was honestly a pathetic attempt. To be honest, I felt bad for the boy. Maybe he just needs an idol a god to worship a friend.

[/color] He speaks in hushed tones, a clear sign he's nervous about something. Tilting my head to the side, in an attempt to crack my neck, I give him a questionable look. The boy looked like he was going to cry. "Are you ok?" I ask him with a raised eyebrow. The last thing I needed was someone to cry over my fall..[/color][/blockquote][/justify][/size][/color]

[callias]

I look up at her. I can see it in her eyes. Pity. Unacceptable. No one pities me. No one.

And her question. 'Are you okay?' Ridiculous. It has been a while since I have heard something that actually made me want to laugh.

As if she cares. Liar. Fool. She doesn't even realize she's not asking the correct questions.

I look at my feet. "You're not asking the right questions." I mutter, not looking up.

She doesn't understand me. How dare she even try. She can't understand. She has no right.

I drop her hand.

I look at her once more, my eyes hardening. If it was one thing I appreciated it was my eyes. They scare off almost anyone. Dark and large, dark rings and liner rounding them. I glare at her.

You see, it's not that I cannot talk, nor that I don't want to...but I can say whatever I need with my eyes.

[LumpySpacePrince]

"You're not asking the right questions," I catch him saying under his breath. Oh, I'm not now? Then what questions should I be asking? Why are you so weird? Or how come you're so depressing all the time? Or why do you let people walk all over you? The list goes on and on, but what questions were right to him? I sure didn't know.

He drops my hand, and gives me a hard look with his large dark eyes, underlined with gray bags. I've seen him give this look to other careers in the tarining room before. A look that reads 'Go away before I smite you down'

[/color]. He obviously doesn't want me here, and frankly, I was done with this boy... Or was I?[/color]

His cold glare was still fixed on me. Removing my hand from my neck, I can feel the grin spread across my face. "Well, I see you want to be left alone," I say in a slightly peppy voice, one that if interpreted a certain way could sound sarcastic. "I guess I'll get going. I have a couple throwing knives with my name on them anyway!" My grin becomes even brighter. If this kid wanted to be alone, so be it.[/blockquote][/justify][/size][/color]

[callias]

She was clearly confused at my words. But of course she was, no one ever understands what I say. I didn't understand why though, my words are clear. They just over-think them.

"Well, I see you want to be left alone," She says in a false-peppy tone. Sarcasm. "I guess I'll get going. I have a couple throwing knives with my name on them anyway!" she says, grinning.

"Wait." I say. I almost wince at the sound of my voice. So hoarse and...dark. I force myself to stand straight, making myself as tall as possible.

Damn. What do I say now?

I think, scanning my brain for the slightest idea. "You must stay."

[LumpySpacePrince]

His voice is hoarse, almost as if it cracked as he spoke his words. He seems so fragile, and scared of the world, yet his vicious eyes say otherwise. "You must stay," he says. I can't help but look at him quizzically before smiling once again.

"Oh? And why is that?" I ask, eyebrow raised. Looking him in the eyes, I can all but see him rack his brain to find his next words. What was wrong with this kid? Was he really just shy, or is there something more to his story?

[/justify][/size][/color]

ooc: omg, i'm so sorry this is so short and crappy ;(

[callias]

I stare at the girl, blinking in response. I notice I seem to be doing that an awful lot lately.

What can I say now? Why did I say that? That was an incredibly ridiculous thing to say to anyone.

But at the very least she is smiling. Maybe I didn't completely mess up here. Maybe I could redeem myself. Maybe.

"Oh? And why is that?" she asks, raising her eyebrow.

I need to think of something. Something smart.

But because I lack any sort of social skills, I stammer out. "U-Um...you don't need to but..."

I let myself trail off, turning my gaze back to my feet.