under the summer sun [open]

[santi27]

It was a good thing Gemma lived in district eleven because she was practically made for apple picking. Standing at 5’8” with some killer long limbs, she could easily reach even some of the higher branches without breaking a sweat. Without a need for help, ladders and standing on tippy toes, Gemma could harvest most of the apples like the job was a breeze because of her height. Therefore without fail every year she would work in the orchards.

Gemma didn’t per say loath this task. Yes in the spring and summer the heat was incredibly annoying, but in the fall when most of the picking occurred everything was easy breezy. The only issue was how monotonous and absolutely boring this job was. But hey! Who was Gemma to complain? At least she was good at it. And she always remembered that it could be worst like digging in the ground to pulling out potatoes.

Today for instance was a typical day. With a couple of baskets on the ground next to her, early in the morning when the temperature was still cool Gemma began working. Quickly the first basket was full, followed quickly by the second. Looking around Gemma saw that most people were not as far along on their work as she was. Feeling slightly bad, she slowed down the pace a bit before slowing to a stop.

It was about midday by then and the hot summer sun was blazing down on her, the trees doing nothing to protect her. Deciding that since the trees were doing nothing to shade her, she might as well have a nice seat. Using her arms to pull herself up onto a sturdy looking limb, Gemma took her break, sat, and rested, somewhat beyond the hawk like eyes of the peacekeepers.

[grikey95]

Cole-

Another day of work. He did the same thing every day. I mean after years and years you'd think he would have gotten used to it. But sadly no. So today he was ordered to help people out by going around and bringing full baskets of apples to the sorters. Cole had been given a wagon with a huge basket on it.

Cole started down the row of trees and apple pickers. He did this for hours, going down each row at a agonizingly slow pace. Same thing. Say hello, pick up full baskets, dump in big basket, say good bye and on to the next tree. Cole was sweeting in the heat of the day. His gray shirt was wet from sweat and his hair was a mess. Well at the next tree he didnt see any movement at all.

Cole scanned the area, wasnt some one supposed to be here? On the ground sat many full baskets, more then most of the other people. Cole looked up in the tree. There he saw a girl, just sitting, looking off into the distance. Cole waved "Hey, shouldnt you be picking apples?" Cole asked. He didnt want to seem to bossy but he was curios and wanted to know why she wasnt working. The last time some one had been caught not picking they had been publicly whipped. Cole looked up at the girl for a answer.

[santi27]

When Gemma took a break from work it often appeared she was doing nothing. In reality, she was not just spacing out. She was thinking and wondering about whatever may come to her mind. Today for instance the topic on Gemma's mind was why oh why would district eleven make their workers work in the heat of the day particularly in August? It wasn't a very productive time to work because everyone was exhausted from the heat. And besides, didn't they know that the best of apples didn't come out until the fall? Wouldn't it be better to just wait? But no! They had to be impatient and demand apples now.

At the same time however, Gemma was also paying attention to her surroundings. While it may seem that there is nothing wrong with taking a short break, in district eleven, that break may be the last thing you do or at the very least cause you to get whipped, something that Gemma certainly didn’t fancy. Therefore, when the boy spoke to her she was not surprised at all. In fact, if anything, Gemma was expecting his comment. She knew that he knew as well as she did that break taking was forbidden so why shouldn’t he be curious? Gemma knew that she would be if she was in his shoes.

“Why yes, I suppose I should be.” Gemma said stopping her pondering and focusing on him. He seemed about her age, but that of course didn’t mean she had to know him. District eleven’s population was large. What Gemma was more concerned about was if he was an informer or in other words a tattle tale. She couldn’t have him running off and telling the peacekeepers on her now. “And your point is?” Gemma asked testing him to see how he would respond to that.

[grikey95]

Cole-

Cole stood looking up at the girl. She seemed to be his age, he didnt know her though. Cole hopped he hadnt surprised the girl to much. But the way she answered made it seem like she knew he was there. “Why yes, I suppose I should be.” She said. Cole laughed. There had been many times where people snuck in breaks, including Cole. Cole normally worked in the fields, back breaking work, where breaks where hard to get. Being in an open field with peacekeepers patrolling the area it was hard to escape the view of others. At leased this girl was able to hide from people. “And your point is?” She said.

"Just wanted to know." Cole smirked. He didnt mean to be rude but in his mind this comment made it seem like she thought he would go tell some one that she wasnt working. Cole picked up a heavy, apple filled basket, and dumped it in his wagon. The apples tumbled into the basket. They probably would get bruised, but Cole didnt care. Cole was kind of happy that he came to some one who wasnt doing what every one else was doing. It gave him some change. "Dont worry, i wasnt going to tell any one you wearnt working." Cole smirked again and picked up another basket.

[santi27]

By asking that question, Gemma hoped to find out if this guy was trust worthy. If he responded with indifference he most likely could be trusted. After all, why would someone go out of their way to inform on someone if he didn’t even care? It was just really unlikely, unless that was all a pretense getting her to trust him. Gemma however really doubted that. He didn’t seem like the evil genius type. The final response would have gone something along the lines of “you know break taking is forbidden.” To this Gemma would have responded with an extremely convincing argument on why not to inform on her.

However none of the above occurred. He was clearly more perceptive then she had thought, realizing that she was testing him. On the one hand, Gemma wanted to wipe that smirk off his face. He must have thought he was so clever for knowing her real intent and that along with that fact that he was able to read her like an open book just bugged her. On the other hand, Gemma wanted to applaud him for being smart enough for realizing the truth and kind enough for not telling. After all, why shouldn’t he desire to get ahead? Wasn’t that what everyone wanted?

Holding back a smile, Gemma dropped down from her branch, landing like a cat on two feet next to him. She then picked up the third basket and said, “Good because you know what I hate most in this world? One who betrays his own.” It was one thing for a peacekeeper to get her in trouble. After all, that was his job. But for regular district eleven citizens who knows your sorrows to do so was unforgivable and Gemma spat on the ground they walked on. Now giving him a smile, Gemma neatly placed her basket into the wagon.

[grikey95]

(sorry about making you wait!!! school is busy, so i wont be able to get on much on the weekdays. sorry!)

Cole-

The girl jumped down from the tree. This would have surprised Cole but he just laughed. “Good because you know what I hate most in this world? One who betrays his own.” She said as if to end the conversation. Cole looked at her. Pondering the answer. He turned and dumped the basket of apples he was holding into his cart. The cart was almost full. He turned back to the girl. "yes, I agree with you. So you hate district 2?" After a second's pause he realized that she wasnt talking about a big group of people. She was talking about him.

Cole shook his head. "I wont tell on you about not working..." He said in almost a childish way. He looked at the ground. Cole leaned down to pick up the last basket of apples. There was an awkward pause in the there conversation. "uh... by the way my name is Cole..." He mumbled.

[santi27]

Gemma held back a smile as he made his comment about her hating district two. Perhaps he didn’t get what she was talking about? But that wasn’t even the comical part. The comical part was he was completely right. She did loath district one, two, and the capitol to boot, just because they had everything there so easy. In particular, Gemma hated how they allowed lesser districts to starve and killed off those who rebelled, reminded her of her now dead parents. Gemma however would never mention this, fearing for her own life.

And then it clicked with him. He now clearly realized what the real intent behind her words had been, and Gemma was glad. For a moment there she thought he was just another slow one. “Did I express concerns over that? No. It was just a stray thought.” Gemma lied not wanting him to know he had figured her out. She smiled now letting him know that it was all okay. She trusted him and wanted him to know she bore him no ill will.

“Nice to meet you Cole. The name’s Gemma.” She introduced herself.

[grikey95]

Cole-

Cole nodded. "Nice to meet you too." Sweat was slowly dripping down Cole's back from the days work. You could see the veins in his arms from all the lifting. Cole ran his hand thought hair. He bent down and picked up the handle to the cart with all the apples in it. What should I talk about know? gah, I'm no good at starting conversations.

As not to be rude, Cole stood, awkwardly waiting for Gemma to say something.

(OCC- sorry for lame post, couldnt really think of anything)