Just Looking... [open]

[Aura]

Alleila

I walk into the pharmacy, sighing happily as I feel the wave of calm that always comes with entering. The pharmacy - or the doctor's office, whichever - has always been my haven. Even though most people would be thrown off at the sight of a person's bone or the pus that comes with infection, I thrive on it. Healing is what I live for, as is finding new medicines to help people every day. My fingers brush against the numerous medicines that are stocked within, and I find myself plucking one from the shelf. Its label indicates it's a medicine for throat viruses. Gently, my hand brushes my own throat as I put it back. Personally, I have never had a throat infection, thanks to the fact both of my parents are prestigious doctors and know what they're doing. Suddenly, the owner of the store appears behind me. I know he gets annoyed because I come here whenever school is out and I don't have a shift at my father or mother's office, but I can't help myself.

"Can I help you?"

I shake my head no. "No...I'm just looking, sorry." Routine words that the pharmacist usually let's me get away with, but today he's in a bad mood.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave today, Alleila."

I duck my head and murmur respectfully before hurrying away. Of course he doesn't want me here again. What was I thinking?! Usually I only come here a few times a week, but this week I had been here almost every day, since my parents weren't as busy. With the Hunger Games officially rolling, everyone seemed to stop getting injured as frequently. Opening the door, I suppress a yelp of surprise as I nearly bump into...

ooc// You can do whatever you want. ^^ Just insert your name at the end.

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Trenton "Trip" Malloy
17
District 2

Trip tipped his head up to the sky as he walked towards the pharmacy.Not only was it a dull gray color,but he couldn't even locate the sun hidden behind all those clouds.Winter is the worst..he thought to himself silently as he crossed his arms to warm up a little.The harsh breeze nipped at his face and arms,and now he regretted not bringing a jacket.It wouldn't matter though,he was heading to the pharmacy.It was nice and warm,in there,so there wouldn't be a problem.

He was on an errand,even though he would have rather stayed inside,away from the cold.His mother needed some medicine from the pharmacy,and who was he to object?He wasn't like that.

He wasn't paying attention as he opened the familiar door to the pharmacy and listened to the normal bells alerting the pharmacist to his entrance.It was then that he looked up and came to an abrupt halt,because he had almost collided into a girl who was exiting the pharmacy.

"Oh,I'm sorry."He said,getting a good look at her.He thought he recognized her,but he couldn't recall what her name was.She had light brown hair,and pretty,hazel eyes,but he still couldn't remember who it was.He silently cursed himself for not knowing as the pharmacist walked up to him with a grim face.

"Anything I can get for you?"

Trip nodded and politely smiled as he handed the pharmacist the list that his mother had written out for him.He uncrossed his arms,as the pharmacy was warmer then the frigid air outside.He peered back at the girl and curiousity go the best of him.

"What's your name?"He asked as the pharmacist grumbled off,obviously not in the best of moods.

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[Aura]

Alleila

I look up and see a boy I've noticed before at school, although I've never actually spoken to him. Flustered, I feel a blush creeping across my cheeks, but I duck my head and try to slip out the door before I can bother him by talking at all. He's really cute, I think briefly. The pause is my downfall. Before I can run home, he starts talking to me.

"What's your name?"

I bite my lip. There can be no escape now, so I look up, trying to maintain eye contact but failing. Instead, I look slightly to the left of his head. "M-my name is Alleila," I murmur in a voice that would be inaudible except for the fact that we're in a quiet pharmacy. Out of courtesy, I reply, "What's yours?" My blush deepens as I look at his face. He really is cute.

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Trenton "Trip" Malloy
17
District 2

Trip smiled wide,watching the girl's reaction when he spoke to her.She obviously was embarrassed,probably shy,by the way she acted.He watched as she blushed,tilted her head to the floor,and tried to walk out of the pharmacy to avoid any more confrontation.But he had spoken to her,so she wasn't getting out so easily.

The girl looked up at him,or rather,a little bit to the left side of his head.She was obviously having trouble making eye contact,which only added to his theory that she was shy.

"M-my name is Alleila,"the girl managed to stutter out,in a whisper of a voice.And then she continued,although he guessed that she was having a bit of trouble,trying to not look embarrassed,for whatever reason."What's yours?"He watched as her face grew an even more vibrant shade of red.It puzzled him,but he didn't press the matter at all.

"I'm Trenton,but everyone calls me Trip."He smiled wide.He was so unlike her,it was actually kind of comical.He could talk to literally anyone,without being scared,and yet she couldn't even keep eye contact with him.He didn't say anything about this,though,obviously.Wait a minute,now,why was he blushing?

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[Aura]

Alleila

"I'm Trenton,but everyone calls me Trip."

He smiles at me, and I can't help but manage a shy smile back. His gregarious personality is making me feel more comfortable than I usually am in the presence of other people. Because I don't usually associate with other students, I'm unsure of how to react when he is so friendly, but luckily I manage to speak more gracefully than I've seen other socially awkward students talk. "Hi Trip..." My voice is a little louder this time, and I'm able to keep it from shaking quite as much. I feel the butterflies in my stomach start to fade away. Trip exudes an air of friendliness, and I start to feel myself relax a little bit more. A blush spreads across his face, and I wonder briefly why. It couldn't possibly be because of me, could it?

Before I can further pursue that thought, suddenly I realize where I've seen him before. He's a Career Tribute - someone who's trained all their life for the Hunger Games. Some of the other Career Tributes that I've seen him around are those who tease me for being so buried in my books. I remember why he's made such an impression on me - I can't recall any time that he's made fun of me for being so smart or working so hard to become a doctor. Knowing that, I immediately let down my initial barrier that keeps me from getting hurt. Curiously enough, I don't think Trip will hurt me emotionally, like so many of his friends have done.

Still, I can't help comparing myself to him physically. He looks muscular, and it's obvious that if he was ever chosen in the Reaping he could probably win. Meanwhile, I'm slight and lithe, and I can't lift anything very heavy in the market. That's why my parents usually only send me on errands where the carrying will be light. Forcing myself out of my reverie, I make myself stutter out, "So...uh...w-why are you here at the pharmacy today?" The blush in my face is starting to fade a little bit.

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Trenton "Trip" Malloy
17
District 2

Trip watched curiously as the girl,Alleila she said her name was,became much less quiet and more friendly.She was obviously uncomfortable with him at first,as he expected,but her nervousness was clearly fading away.

"Hi Trip..."She said in a louder,more confident voice.Trip's smile widened,but he realized something.

He was huge,compared to her.She didn't exactly look weak,just not very strong,not near as strong as him.It was odd,he was like a giant,compared to her,and not in height either.He forced this thought out of his mind and listened as she continued.

"So...uh..w-why are you here at the pharmacy today?"Her voice is back to a stutter,but could he blame her?Everyone got nervous.

He just smiled wider and replied,looking over to the pharmacist whow as gathering his things."Just on an errand.Nothing much,really."He was happy that she seemed less nervous,because it was easier to talk to people that way,not that he had much trouble.

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[Aura]

Alleila

"Just on an errand.Nothing much,really."

At Trip's widening smile, I relax a little bit more. I can't help warming up to him; his gregarious personality is completely opposite mine, but at the same time I feel so comfortable in his presence. I manage another shy smile, my face lighting up. For some reason, I feel like I can trust him. Still, when I try to make eye contact with him it doesn't work, and I again look slightly to the left of his head. The blush that I had just gotten rid of spreads across my face again, causing my cheeks to take on a rosey pink color. I wonder briefly if I look pretty, but then I dismiss the fact. I haven't ever thought I was pretty, so why would I start being pretty now?

He seemed happy that I was warming up to him. I wondered why. People who could read others like he seemed to be able to read me had always baffled me. I was in a whole different region in terms of smarts - books and medicines were as far as my knowledge spread. Wondering what to say, I managed, "What kind of medicine were you looking for, do you know?" Stupid, I chided myself. Why was I talking about medicine?

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Trenton "Trip" Malloy
17
District 2

Trip feels the tension lessening,but he can tell that she still isn't exactly comfortable.It puzzled him,as he wondered why she wasn't keeping eye contact with him,but rather looking to the left side of his head.She blushed,and her cheeks took on a bright pink color.For a second,his mind wandered and he was thinking that she was pretty,but then she spoke,so he payed attention.

"What kind of medicine were you looking for,do you know?"Actually,he didn't.His mother and father knew all about medicine,as they were rich doctors,but he didn't know squat.He smiled though,that wasn't really a problem.

"I'm not even sure.See,my parents are doctors,but I haven't learned much from them.I probably should,butI don't."Oddly enough,because he was in the District of doctors,but whatever.

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[Aura]

Alleila

"I'm not even sure.See,my parents are doctors,but I haven't learned much from them.I probably should,butI don't."

I again remember another place where I've seen him. Our district is rich, so sometimes all of the most prestigious doctors in the district come together for parties. Most of them bring their children to show them off either as brilliant minds or as Career Tributes. I remember his parents showing him off as one of the best Career Tributes within our district. Our parents were both prestigious doctors, so I wasn't extremely surprised that I had seen him there; I was just a little troubled that I hadn't remembered. Biting my lip again, I noticed him studying me again. It was interesting, seeing how "people reading" worked. He seemed to be able to tell what I was feeling.

I c ocked my head, feeling more confident, which was surprising. It usually took me longer to warm up to someone. "Really? My parents are doctors as well. They've taught me pretty much everything I know." Pausing, I thought back to all of the certificates I had gotten for finding out so much about science when I was still in school. "Well, maybe not everything, but a lot of it." My body relaxes; I can feel myself become infinitely more comfortable in his presence, even if I'm still a little shy. I smile at him, the shyness dissipating.

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Trenton "Trip" Malloy
17
District 2

Trip listened curiously,expecting her own story to be much different from his,just because everything else had too.She was becoming much less nervous and warming up to him quickly,which wasn't exactly a surprise,because most people acted like that with him.He was an exuberant,outgoing person.People liked him.

He listened as she spoke in a stronger,less nervous voice."Really?My parents are doctors as well.They've taught me pretty much everything I know."That was not a surprise either,as this was the district of medicine,after all.But wait,not all of that was true.He had seen her around studying all the time,so she must have learned some of it herself.But as the matter wasn't very important,he didn't say anything,although she did.

"Well,maybe not everything,but a lot of it."

He smiled as she smiled,happy that she was relaxing more.Even though he knew it wasn't true,he feared that he made people nervous sometimes.

"I wouldn't be very good at being a doctor,to tell you the truth,even though my parents are doctors."He paused and laughed."If they tried to teach me something,it would probably go in through one ear and out the other."A total fact,he wasn't always the best at learning things.But he had his talents,obviously.

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[Aura]

Alleila

Trip is incredibly nice; I find myself liking him a lot, even though I've just officially met him. His personality is really outgoing, as I find from the fact that he keeps talking to me, even though usually most would have already given up. My shyness and lack of eye contact isn't exactly the best way to attract friends. His smile widens once more, and I can't help smile back this time. Something about his smile makes me want to smile, too. Again, though, for some reason I can't stop myself form comparing myself to his size, both in presence and physically. He's so much bigger and stronger while I'm...well, me. His presence fills the room, while I only take up enough that I'm not completely swallowed into oblivion.

"I wouldn't be very good at being a doctor,to tell you the truth,even though my parents are doctors. If they tried to teach me something,it would probably go in through one ear and out the other."

His rich laugh fills my ears, and I find myself laughing as well. My parents have told me my laugh sounds like bells chiming over and over again in harmony, but I've never believed it. I hear it so differently. On the contrary, his laugh is amazing; it's almost contagious. Shaking my head, I say on a whim, "I'm sure you have other talents, don't you?" I think he knows what I'm talking about.

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Trenton "Trip" Malloy
17
District 2

Trip finally was able to stop laughing as Alleila spoke again."I'm sure you have other talents,don't you?"

Trip nodded,he had many talents,too many to count,but they weren't exactly good things to talk about.His talents were things that were not the best to bring up in conversation,but well,she asked.He would tone it down.

"I do,yes,all of them having to do with well,being a Career.You know,lots of stuff.Working with weapons,especially knives,they're my best thing."

If,next year,he got into the Hunger Games,he would be one of the biggest threats.Not only was he amazingly skilled with weapons,his exuberant personality would draw the crowd in as if he was a magnet.He would have sponsers,skills,and luck on his side.

His mind wandered again as he listened to her laugh,he liked the sound of it,like bells.He was getting caught up,for no apparant reason.

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[Aura]

Alleila

I stop laughing to listen to him. He seems a bit hesitant to answer my question, but other than that I cannot read his emotions. "I do,yes,all of them having to do with well,being a Career.You know,lots of stuff.Working with weapons,especially knives,they're my best thing." I am intrigued. Careers are people who I have always avoided, due to the fact that none of them really like me. However, he seems different; I'm confused by the fact that a Career Tribute could be so nice, especially to someone like me. Shaking myself from my thoughts, I contemplate what he said. It seems as though he's pretty handy with weapons, so privately I make a note that if he's ever chosen for the Hunger Games, I'll be sure to watch him and see how he's doing.

I find myself liking Trip more and more as time goes on, although I slap myself mentally. Idiot! You know no one will ever like you...at least not like that. Maybe if you saved someone's life they would pity you enough to like you a little bit, but not otherwise. Be realistic. Finally, I manage to make brief eye contact before breaking away again, but I feel a small burst of triumph in my chest. Looking up, I make eye contact again. My heart swells with pride. "That's really interesting. I'm not too bad with a knife, myself, although I doubt I could ever be a Career." I laugh again. Pausing, I add, "What are you doing after your get the medicine?" I notice that the pharmacist seems like he's almost done.

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Trenton "Trip" Malloy
17
District 2

Trip was half-surprised when she actually made eye contact with him,but then she looked away.It seemed she was still shy,but she was getting there.She then shifted her eyes back to meet his,and he knew that she was getting more comfortable.

"That's really interesting.I'm not too bad with a knife,myself,although I doubt I could ever be a Career."She said with a laugh,and then there was a pause."What are you doing after you get your medicine?"

Trip smiled wider,and gazed for a moment over at the pharmacist.He finished gathering up the medicine,and was walking his way now.Trip turned his attention back to Alleila and spoke.

"Nothing really.Do you have something in mind?"He really did like her,she was like a breath of fresh air,because everyone else who talked to him weren't always nice,because most of the other Careers hung around him.

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[Aura]

Alleila

I smile at him, not ready yet to surrender the small bubble of pride that had swollen within my chest. Its presence reminded me of how far I had come within the space of a few minutes. Never had I known that I could be so relaxed in the presence of someone who wasn't either my parents or a patient of my parents. Maybe there was hope for me yet. He smiles at me again, and again the thought that his smile is nice comes unbidden into my head. I try to push it away, but it doesn't really work. Attempting to shrug it off, I watch as the pharmacist comes closer. For a moment, I dread the fact that I'm going to have to part from the only person who has ever made me comfortable, but then he tells me, "Nothing really.Do you have something in mind?"

I struggle to keep myself from looking too astonished. He actually wants to continue to associate with me? Did I really make that much of an impression? I wonder why he even wants to continue to talk with me. It really did confuse me, but finally I reply, "No, I don't have anything in mind." Before I can change my mind, I blurt out, "We could always go to lunch...or something." Inside, I brace myself for the inevitable disappointment that was to follow. Why was I so stupid?