Crying in the Trees [open]

[Aura]

Lunaria

I awake to sunshine streaming in through the cloudy window in my bedroom. The window is so dirty that it's amazing that any sunshine gets through at all, but still, there it is! Morning has always been the best time of day for me. Suddenly, I start when I hear my brother begin playing with toys. Groaning slightly, I pull the pillow over my face, but not before I shout, "Mafi, will you please be quiet? I'm still trying to sleep!" His personifications dim a little bit, but not by much. I try to get along with it and go back to sleep, but before I can I hear my mother storm into the house. "LUNE! WHAT did you just say to your brother?" Exasperated, I sit up and climb out of bed, hurriedly getting dressed so she doesn't catch me lying there.

In a matter of seconds, I fix my hair and straighten my clothes. I finish right when she kicks open the door. My mother's eyes are wild, and the expression on her face instills pure terror within my heart. She walks up, looking like she'll murder me any second. "I...I asked him to be a little quieter..." Suddenly, she's screaming at me, letting loose a stream of curses that I would rather not repeat. Sitting there, I quietly take it. Finally, she shouts, "Go! Get out of my face! I hate you and all of your contentions!" Calmly, I edge around her, barely avoiding her attempt to slap my face. Very quickly, I walk out of the house, my face impassive until I know my mom won't be able to see me. As soon as I figure that I'm out of eyeshot, I begin to run as fast as I can, determined not to let anyone see me cry.

In a moment, I'm in the orchards. It's still early enough that few people are out, but I still go farther than the outskirts, scaling a tree once I can no longer see the entrance to the orchard. I don't go far up - just the second branch or so. Leaning on the strong trunk, I pull my knees toward me and bury my face into them, letting loose a set of silent sobs. Why does she do this to me? I attempt to tell myself it's not my fault, but it doesn't really work. Luckily, I've done this enough that it's not very likely that anyone will hear me, even if they're nearby. My eyes are so full of tears it's kind of hard to see anything, so I just keep my eyes closed and continue to cry into my knees, when suddenly...

ooc// Just do whatever you want here. ^^

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Judson Sleight
Age 17
District 11

OOC:I still think the name of this thread is sad,lol.My post is hurried,haha,remember that.

Judson strode deeper into the orchards,like he always did.He was always one of the first people out here,and one of the last ones to leave.His family was desparate.His parents were slowly dying of hunger,and there was nothing he could do about it.He hated this work,he was too young for this.What ever happened to having a life?It had been snatched away from him.

He silently walked,until he passed under a tree.The sky was clear and slightly dark,as it was the morning.But he felt water drip down onto his face.Surprised,he looked up to see a girl,sitting not far into a tree.She was crying about something,god knows what.

He debated what to do now.He met eyes with her and his expression didn't change from the usual frown that he always wore."What are you doing up there?"He asked gruffly.

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[Aura]

Lunaria

"What are you doing up there?" I meet eyes with a boy that stands below me. His expression is fierce, and I felt that perhaps life had treated him badly. For him, it was probably worse than for me. Reminding myself that, I immediately wipe away the tears on my face and say as steadily as I can, "No reason. I just like it up here." The ground rushes up to meet my feet as I nimbly jump out of the tree, growing more composed within the moment. This boy doesn't want to see my crying, and I shouldn't have to make him go through that, anyways. Like always when I'm with other people, I find the hurt from home washing away into the back of my mind, where it will stay locked up until I go home tonight.

I smile at him, hoping to alleviate the taut corners of his mouth that are so insistently pulled into a frown. "What are you doing out here so early, anyways?" I joke as if it was no big deal that he just found me sobbing my heart out in a tree. Hopefully we can get the conversation away from me and into a different topic.

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Judson Sleight
Age 17
District 11

OOC:Lol.The name of the thread is still making me sad

"No reason,I just like it up here."She said as she jumped down,obviously lying,because her face was still streaked with tears,until she wiped them away with her hand.

She tried to act normal as she smiled,although she seemed to be having some trouble with it."What are you doing out here so early,anyways?"

He frowned."I could probably ask you the same thing.But I'm just working early."

She was odd,that was for sure,and he was uncomfortable talking to her.

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[Aura]

Lunaria

He frowns at my effort to soften him. "I could probably ask you the same thing.But I'm just working early." I try to remember if I've seen him before, but all I can remember about him is that he usually keeps to himself. Was there ever a time that I tried to fellowship him? Probably, but it's buried in the back of my mind. Once again, I smile at him, feeling the hurt of this morning getting pushed even farther back. No one will ever know.

For a moment, he looks uncomfortable. Is it me? I hope not. Deciding to make another effort to become friends with him, I offer, "If you'd like, we could work together." Fervently, I hope he says yes. Making new friends is exactly what I need to get my mind off this morning.

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Judson Sleight
Age 17
District 11

Sadly,the girl didn't give up on the conversation,as he had hoped.With a lack of time to actually talk with people,he usually felt uncomfortable around them,and this girl was one of those people,even if she seemed like a friendly person.

But,of course,he wouldn't become better at talking with people if he didn't stop frowning and ignoring them.So maybe talking with this girl wouldn't be too bad."Umm..okay.Who are you again?"This reply had sounded better in his head,but maybe that was just because he was unable to be polite.He had gone through too much,and was so used to it,that it was almost crafted into his voice,as if it belonged there.

He sighed and still wondered why she had been crying,but shook it off.He needed to get to work."Let's go this way.."He motioned farther into the field,where he usually worked,out of habit.

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[Aura]

Lunaria

I brighten visibly when he decides to give me a chance and work with me. Although I was partially expecting it, at the same time I wasn't sure he would take up on my offer. "Umm..okay.Who are you again?" Smiling at him in encouragement, I reply cheerfully, "My name is Lunaria, but everyone calls me Lune. Or Vivacity." Almost nonchalantly, I shrug my shoulders. For some reason, some people call me Vivacity because they say it fits my personality better, but I don't mention that. He can call me whatever he wants to. "You're...Judson, right?" I ask tentatively, making sure I didn't call him by the wrong name. Sunlight begins to filter more readily through the trees, and I look up, letting it kiss my face. It makes me more cheerful and seems to wash away the remaining hurt. I'll be okay once I return home.

"Let's go this way.." He gestures farther back into the field. I remember that he seems to like working there, so I nod agreeably. "All right, sounds great!" Beginning to walk, I hope privately that he lets me become his friend. People who are alone tend to live unhappy lives, and I would hate for that to happen to him.

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Judson Sleight
Age 17
District 11

This girl never stopped,did she?Even with his slightly rude tone,she was cheerful."My name is Lunaria,but everyone calls me Lune.Or Vivacity."She said with a bright smile.He almost laughed at that.Lune.It reminded him of 'Loon' which wasn't exactly too bad of a description.

"Uhh,yeah.I am Judson."His name was plain,he didn't really like it,but seriously,his name was at the bottom of the list of his worries.

"Alright,sounds great!"She said excitedly.She never stopped being this..cheerful,did she?Other then when he had caught her crying.

"So,uhh,why were you crying?"He asked,feeling rather stupid.

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[Aura]

Lunaria

I turn around to see if he's following me to the place where he said he wanted to work, but instead he says, "So,uhh,why were you crying?" Immediately, I freeze in my tracks, smile still on my face. Did he seriously just ask me that question? When was the last time anyone asked me about my problems? This was different, dangerous territory that I couldn't tread in. Not only would it hurt me and prevent the wound from closing, but it could cause harm to those who needed comforting of their own. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath before I open them and answer, "No reason. I was just...crying."

I don't realize how lame and unrealistic that sounds until it's out of my mouth. What the heck is wrong with me? Returning a cheerful smile to my face, I say, "So, are we going to walk or what?" Personally, I don't think my random change of topic will work, but that's just me. It's not too far-fetched to say it will.

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Judson Sleight
Age 17
District 11

Had he said something wrong?It felt like it,as he watched her freeze directly in her tracks,with what he guessed was a forced smile on her face.Clearly she was lying,when she spoke.Well,not exactly lying,just leaving out a lot of information.

No reason,I was just..crying."She kept the cheerful,fake smile on her face when she spoke again,trying to change the subject,obviously."So,are we going to walk or what?"

He rolled his eyes.This was actually kind of fun,bugging her like this."Not until you actually tell me why you were crying."

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[Aura]

Lunaria

He rolls his eyes at me before insisting, "Not until you actually tell me why you were crying." My eyes widen in disbelief. Why does he even care? Usually, people don't care about what happens to me...well, they do, but it's in a different region than this. Because I've never been faced with this before, I'm not entirely sure how to react. Biting my lip, I look at one of the trees, trying to figure out what to say. "Ummm...I can't tell you."

Well, that's better than nothing. Most of the time, people understand when you say you "can't tell them something." Everyone has secrets, and here, in the lower districts, people don't pry a lot. A lot of people have bad lives; no one needs to pry to figure that out. Looking behind me, I suggest absently, "Maybe we should talk while we're walking? It'd be good to get an early start on the day."

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Judson Sleight
Age 17
District 11

He watched her,not exactly amused by her expression of disbelief,just..he couldn't find the right word.He was just curious.He was tired of everyone having secrets.If he was going to talk to someone,they were going to tell him some.

"Why can't you tell me?"He asked,knowing that she probably could tell him,she just didn't trust him enough to tell him,and she didn't want to tell him.It was a lame excuse,really,and he was going to get to the bottom of the issue.

He needed to get to work,so when she spoke about talking while they walked,he nodded reluctantly.He was losing daylight,he needed to work.

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[Aura]

Lunaria

Judson still persists, even though I thought I'd changed the subject enough times that he would just give up. (Usually, it works.) He agrees to walk, though, so I begin to walk toward wherever he wants to go. "Why can't you tell me?" I bite my lip once more. If I keep this up, it'll bleed and I'll have to explain to my mom why I bit it so hard and so frequently. Forcing myself to let my poor lip go, I look at him and then look away again. This is why I normally don't dwell on things like my mom's anger issues. Unfortunately, it keeps the wounds open, and I don't like that. It stops me from being happy - and, despite everything, I like being happy.

After a long pause, I answer, "Because I like to let things go. Plus, the more you open up to someone, the more you trust them, and the more it hurts when they..." Immediately, I stop. Why was I suddenly pouring out the thoughts that came to my head? I know those thoughts were simply me recognizing why I wouldn't open up, but at the same time I wasn't sure why I was telling him. My mind hadn't even registered the idea before I blurted it out. Mentally, I slap myself, though to cover up I simply cough a little bit. "Umm...moving on. Well, it's just hard for me to open up...to anyone, really. It's not you, it's me," I finish lamely. What's wrong with me that I can't talk today?

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Judson Sleight
Age 17
District 11

Judson watched as she bit her lip nervously,and he knew that he should probably shut up then.There was a long pause,and then she answered."Because I like to let things go. Plus, the more you open up to someone, the more you trust them, and the more it hurts when they..." She stopped midsentence,obviously thinking that what she was saying was stupid.It really wasn't,because she had quite a point.Now,it was kind of obvious that her life wasn't all wonder and rainbows,as her personality might let on.

She coughed,and then continued."Umm...moving on.Well,it's just hard for me to open up..to anyone really,it's not you,it's me."

He laughed at how stupid that sounded,and then spoke."Uh huh.Well then,I shouldn't have asked."He looked ahead of him and stopped.This was where he usually worked.

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[Aura]

Lunaria

He laughs and says, "Uh huh.Well then,I shouldn't have asked." An unusual pang of hurt inside my chest makes me catch my breath a little bit, although within the moment it turns back to normal. Even though he seemed so concerned, he simply brushed aside what little bit of myself that I actually did show him. I know it's silly of me to feel hurt - after all, I did tell him that I wouldn't let on to why I had been crying; I have no reason to feel bad about him not really caring. At the same time, though... Judson stops, and I stop with him. We're pretty far back in the trees; farther than I usually am. Most of the people I know work near the front or in the middle; few work back here. It is nice, though, to get a break from the noise that saturates the fields.

I hear a mockingjay nearby, singing a song that I don't know the words to. In my clear, soprano voice, I sing a high, lilting tune that can go in rounds; once one bird sings it, another will, until the whole area is in harmony. Almost immediately after I cease, the bird begins to sing it back to me. Another picks it up, and another. I feel myself cheer up almost instantaneously as the birds sing around me. The music soothes any hurt that is still raw. Brightly, I smile at Judson before moving to the trees and laying my hand on one of them. "Do you want to climb with me?"