Going crazy

[Jack Lexington]

"Easy. Don't want to wake anyone." Max warns me and makes me aware how loud I've just gotten in a strangers house. That's not appropriate. Blame it on the alcohol.
I hold my eyes trained on him for just a moment longer but then nod to assure him I'll tone it down a notch.
When both Max and Tyren confirm that they haven't seen Mark since the fight I'm starting to wonder about it. "Weird. He's such a show off." I was sure he'd get a huge kick out of his victory and brag about how he schooled me.
I return my attention back onto the TV while I slowly lower myself onto the couch because my legs darn sore after all the walking I've done.
For a moment I try to lean on my elbows but get reminded that there's yet another sore spot that will be bothering me for a while. Yet I slip out of the sling around my neck because the thing's bothering me as if makes me feel so confined. Then I lean my head back against the couch when Tyren asks me about my house.
I roll my head over to look at him.
"Not as big as this place and older. I live over in the west end on top of the hill. Old neighborhood. My dad never wanted to move away to any of the new subdivisions. Why?" It makes me wonder why he's interested in my accomodations.
"It's just him and me though. So fine."
These guys here clearly have a lot of cash and like to show it off in this large masnion as well as the expensive clothes they're wearing. Tyren doesn't seem to be having a problem with sharing.
My eyes threaten to close again. "What does your old man do?" I wonder.

[Anatra]

As the night grows ever stiller, getting to around half one in the morning now, the night begins to draw in on me and I can feel myself growing yet more relaxed. It's because I'm in my own home, I think. I don't think Matt would have the same problem, but I can rarely sleep in other people's houses. If I was ever to stop over at another's house, on that rare occasion, I'd likely be the last to sleep. It's not that I have a problem sharing rooms, I just find it hard to actually go to sleep. Closing my eyes and imagining a dream takes a while for me.

When I asked about his house I didn't mean to sound as though I was bragging. I don't ever like to properly brag, especially to friends, "Not as big as this place and older. I live over in the west end on top of the hill. Old neighborhood. My dad never wanted to move away to any of the new subdivisions. Why?" His house sounds better, in fact. Yeah, mine may be one of the houses with higher quality, but having an older house out in the less populated areas can sometimes be more peaceful. "I was just wondering." My thoughts on asking questions like that are to just make up for lost time. If me and Matt had been mates earlier, I'd have known most of this stuff already.

"It's just him and me though. So fine." I find it difficult to imagine such a family. Small and compact. I'd get stressed out with just the one person to talk to. Having all this family around means I've capable of talking to all kinds of people without having to go far. The concept may be strange to Matt. Everywhere I go there seems to be one of us popping up somewhere. "What does your old man do?"

It's a difficult question because he does quite a lot. "Ex-peacekeeper," I begin, beginning to recite his accolades. "He used to be a career, didn't get picked for the Games," I hate how similar his life sounds to mine, or do I? Maybe I actually like it. He's really successful, his whole family has sprung into prosperity since his generation started to earn a lot of money fast. Maybe I do like being similar to him. I know that I look like him more than Alex, and Alex is more like mum. "Now he works as a manager of his own mining corporation." I pause, realizing how that may sound grander than it actually is. "He basically makes sure everybody is working and has to punish those who don't." Max says. I was trying to avoid the bluntness but apparently it was needed. "Max basically does the same but owns none of the company. Me, Alex and uncle Mike work as construction workers for the company as well, making sure the newer mines and older ones are maintained." It's a dangerous job, and people overlook it. But we have a lot of safety procedures and better equipment in comparison to that of the likes of District Twelve, the other mining district. I know that Matt's dad is an engineer, and I feel tempted to ask about his other family but I assume there's no others. I don't fancy touching that subject without him saying it first.

"I'm off, turn the TV off when you do to." Max says, going to lay on the opposite couch to me and Matt lazily. I find it hard to imagine myself like him now that I see how hard he works. He has two jobs, no girlfriend and his own house to be lonely in. Except, that's exactly what I would be like as a peacekeeper. I don't think I'd be able to live like that to be honest. I look towards Matt as though to ask whether he's going to sleep as well. "You too?"

W O R D. C O U N T : 668

N O T E S :

[Jack Lexington]

Tyren tells me a little bit about his family while I'm half asleep due to the amoung of alcohol in my blood. "Ex-peacekeeper. He used to be a career, didn't get picked for the Games,"
"Ah. I see. Following in his footsteps." I'm sure that's exactly what he's doing.
The mining part is new to me. Since I'm only half listening to him and the other guy, Max, who seems to downgrade his fathers business a little, I only mumble.
"Sounds exciting. Maybe one day I'll do that, too."
With my eyes closed and my head resting against the soft leather of the couch I explain. "My intership is almost done. I need a new challenge."
That's as far as my thoughts go tonight because I feel the darkness of sleep gobbling up completely. I don't even hear his question any more. Instead my head drops to the side as soon as I'm asleep on his couch still wearing my clothes.

For a long time I hear nothing but I have a rather vivid dream where I'm working in one of district twos mines and somewhere very deep down, near the core of the earth are a natural hot springs filled with astonishing men eating beauties.