We're The Odd Ones{Ems}

[Arrows]

*June Rhodes*

    Tick, tick, tick, I hear as I listen so intently to the clock above my head on the wall. I let out a long sigh as I slump back in my chair and roll my pencil across my desk. I have always disliked school, the massive amounts of students just plain frighten me. Then on top of that the teachers here are so boring with their monotone voices expecting us to want to pay attention to them. I'm not bad at learning I mean I get good grades even though I pay little to no attention during my classes. In all honesty the only reason I manage to get good grades is because half the stuff they test me on is plain common sense. There is only one class I actual have to pay attention to and don't mind paying that attention to, science.
The way nature works has always fascinated me since it provides so many answers to so many questions. I also find myself tying my science lessons into many things I wouldn't expect, especially the Hunger Games. Thanks to science I can compare what the gamemakers are manipulating compared to what is actual natural.

    My mind floats off to the most recent games with Colgate as the winner, a fellow person from district nine. I think of all the unnatural horrors he had to overcome and shiver with fear. I could never have survived those games, in all honesty I am surprised anyone can ever win the games with everything the Capitol throws at the tributes. I sit up with a shock as I hear my English teacher call out my name. I hear the kids around me snicker as they know I have obviously been caught completely off-guard. "Ms.Rhodes let me repeat myself for you, I asked if you can tell me what is wrong with the sentence on the board." I let out a small sigh of relief since the question is pretty simply. I read the sentence several times through then say confidently, "It is missing two commas and the book title should be underlined." My teacher snorts when she says I am correct and I roll my eyes at her. It's not like I care the slightest bit about what she thinks about me, and in a world like the one we live in this stuff won't matter in the long run.

    Finally the school bell rings out releasing us all from our sentence of torment for the day. I rise up from my seat and slowly gather all my school supplies before heading out of my classroom. Naturally I make my way to the edge of the wavering crowd of kids fleeing this prison. I see the exit up ahead and take a deep breath since I know that I am going to have to squeeze into the crowd. My heart races as I push through the doors but once I am outside quickly remove myself from the crowd. I then make my way to my favorite spot in all of district nine, a small bench just outside of the school grounds surrounded by several trees. As I walk into the small tree grove a smile lights up my face as an instant peace settles over me. I walk over to the bench and take a seat on it, then remove a book from my bag.

    I open the cover then pick up where I last left off on chapter ten. I don't always read but when I do its because I want to not because a teacher assigned it. I have only just started this book but am already halfway through it and I let out a small laugh. If only my teachers could see me read like this maybe they wouldn't think I was such an instinctual student. I am drawn away from my book when I hear a bird begin to sing above my head. I look up and begin to whistle along with the bird, I don't think it realizes we are intwined in this duet but at least I do. Eventually the bird leaves and I am left alone with my book which I then continue to read.

[Knuckles]

Sammy Gustav

Time seems to stand still during the hours of school. Seconds become minutes, minutes become hours, hours become days, and days become weeks. It's hard sitting in the middle of class when my eyes roam around the room staring at the clock hanging above the board. It only shows one thing - time doesn't move any faster. In fact, staring at the clock makes the time seem like it's going slower and slower even today as I sit in my favorite class, history. History has always fascinated me because it talks about the past, and what makes up the nation I live in today. Learning about the rebellion blows my mind away every time I hear about it. It's beyond my wildest imagination why anyone would attack the Capitol when they love us so much.

Nothing the teacher says every registers with my mind because my eyes are fixed upon the clock watching it count down until the moment we are all released for the day. Yes, this is my best class, but I'm like any student; I want out of here. Walking out of this place is the best moment anyone could ever ask for because it allows me a few moments without anyone pressing a book over my head forcing me to learn. Each day lessons are pounded upon us telling us the Capitol loves us, and it must be true because every single teacher reiterates it every single day. All time around me seems to stand still until the teacher taps his hand against the board drawing me out of my gaze with a silent sigh.

My gaze turns towards the window where the sun shines brightly in the room lighting it up vividly so the lights in the classroom doesn't have to be turned on. I watch the birds as they dance outside free from any harm. Nobody rules over them, and they can make decisions on their own unlike me. Mom thinks it's best if I stay away from everyone locked away in home or school because my foot is crippled, yet she doesn't understand what it's like being locked away. Every time a bird flies in front of the window the urge to be like one of them grows stronger so I can finally roam free without any worry in the world.

The moment the bell rings my hands move fast throwing all my books into my bag before slinging it over my shoulder. My right foot drags against the floor as I stumble across the room limping while everyone laughs. My eyes face those left in the classroom as my cheeks burn bright red. It's never been easy standing in front of these people. One thing I have learned growing up in life is people are truly mean as they don't care about other people's feelings, yet I learned quickly to ignore them, and to turn and walk away which is what I do now. Limping as fast as I can, my feet carry me out the door of the school away from everyone at last.

I run, and I stumble, but it doesn't stop me from moving as fast as I possibly can. Once I'm off the school grounds, my pace slows down. My heart leaps in my chest as my hands press against my knees in attempt of catching my breath. My eyes light up with joy as they glance around the area. A large number of trees stand before my eyes as the green of the leaves provides a calming sensation to rise against my body. The way the sun beams through the trees lighting the grass causes a spine tingling chill to spread across my body completely. This place is absolutely amazing.

My feet carry my body in a complete circle as my eyes flash through the trees, and something catches my eye. A girl, about my age, sits on one of the benches beneath the trees. Slowly, dragging my foot against the ground, I make my way over to her wondering what she could possibly be doing. I try being as quiet as I possibly can, but it's never enough because of how clumsy I am. She holds a book in front of her face, and my mind screams at me to run away, to leave her alone, but that's the last thing on my mind. Maybe she can be a friend, yet I know deep inside it's possible for her to be a foe, but there's only one way to find out, so I speak.

"Hello."

[Arrows]

*June Rhodes*

    A small yet pleasant breeze begins to flow through the little grove of trees causing fallen leave to scuttle about on the ground. The breeze then travels through my locks of blonde hair sending vines of golden hair spiraling across my face. I use my hand to brush the hair out of my eyes when it begins to impair my ability to read. The natural sunlight that filters through the trees' leaves create almost a perfect reading light. I find myself reading much quicker than usual as the novel's action begins to grow with every page I turn. I find myself lost within this whole other world of fantasy with characters I will never meet, but feel as though I know.

    I gasp when a shocking twist emerges from the book and even find myself on the verge of tears as one of the main characters dies in the arms off her friend. Then my stomach twists as I come to the realization that this is what happens to us children in the districts every year. In almost every games people are left crying as an ally or dear friend dies in the arms of their ally or friend. I fight back the urge to vomit just at the thought of the carnage that we have come commonly to know as the Hunger Games. My body breaks out in goosebumps when I realize that the next Reaping for the very games I speak of is lurking just around the corner only five days away.

    I give my head a vigorous shake trying to rid it of the plague that is the thought of the Hunger Games. I then turn my attention back to my book as it continues on to the next chapter. I don't know how long I have been here reading and I honestly don't care anyway. When I am reading I feel as though the world around me doesn't exist. That I am free from common everyday burdens, that I am locked away in a castle that no danger can ever reach. However, I know that eventually I will be forced to leave the safety of my castle and venture back into the unforgiving world of today.

    In fact, I have to return now as I turn the final page of my book and finish off the wonderful tale that has entertained me for several days now. I remember checking it out at the school library and the librarian giving me a smile when I asked check it out. She had said it was great book and one of her favorites and now I fully agree with her. With a heavy heart and a sigh I close the book then slide it away to rest within my backpack. I then allow myself to lean back against the bench and enjoy the scenery around me.

    As I listen to my surroundings I hear the sound of footsteps, or at least I think they are footsteps. However, there is something odd about them almost as if they are dragging their feet. My heart beat quickens as the fear of who could be trying to approach me grows. Yet when I finally turn my heart mellows as I see the red headed boy from my school with the foot problem. I don't know why I settle down exactly but its probably because he seems like a nice guy.

"Hey" he says to me smiling and I smile back "Hi."

[Knuckles]

Sammy Gustav

Standing outside in the open as the sun shines down upon my body is the most amazing time of the day. It's better than sitting inside the old school waiting for the bell to ring. I love going to school, don't get me wrong, but when it's the last few minutes, I would much rather be outside on my way home. The tension runs higher this time of year because it's almost time for the reaping where two from district nine will be heading into the arena. It's part of our past, and it must keep going forward. At least, we had a victor last year. It's about time a victor from here walked way from the games.

Today is a perfect day to sit down and think about what could happen in the upcoming reaping, but that would drive me insane. Most people I know don't want to think about the reaping, yet it's on my mind constantly. When will my name be called? Will my name be called at all? What will my mom do? Will she cry? Those are questions that always fly across my min every single day. The one thing that evades my mind is the thought of death. Dying doesn't seem like fun, and it scares me because I have no idea what will happen.

My eyes turn towards the girl sitting in front of me and watch contently as her eyes zip across the pages taking in every word. It's mesmerizing watching people read. It seems she's so into the book that nothing would distract her. A large grin spreads across my face as a bird flies high in the sky singing a joyful hum. A gentle breeze causes the hairs on my arms to stand. The leaves rustle in the trees before falling to the ground slightly. Abandon leaves zip through the air. It's amazing. My eyes turns towards the trees as I chuckle softly. It's a beautiful day.

I turn back towards her as the shuts the book. Hopefully it was a story she enjoyed since she read so fast. Reading has never been an interest of mine. I hate when the teachers at school want us to read so many pages of the most boring book in the entire world. If the books were better, perhaps I would enjoy reading better. Usually, a page is never turned in the books they want me to read. The first page is read and if it sounds boring, I'm done. It never ceases to amaze me, though, because it's what they expect of us. "Hi."

My grin grows larger as she speaks to me since I'm usually ignored by everyone. Because of my crippled foot, I'm the laughing stock of the entire class. It hurts when people laugh and make fun of me, but it doesn't change anything because my foot isn't going to heal itself. Nothing will make it right, but there's no need to worry about it. "How are you doing?" My voice shakes as I speak to her. It's strange talking to someone who isn't making fun of me. Maybe she'll be nice after all.

[Arrows]

*June Rhodes*

    I always figured that my life was hard since I was separated from my sisters for so long. However, this boy had to live with a deformity that he was always teased about. The saddest thing about it all is it was something he couldn't control unlike my misfortune. If I had chosen to remember my past or to even put up a fight when I was younger I probably could have prevented my separation from April and May. My heart twisted with so much grief for this boy I am only just meeting because of all the evils in the world he has to face. It is truly awful since I can tell my just looking into his warm caring eyes that he is a kind person just like me.

    Then another thought brews as I think about whether he has any friends since he is teased and taunted so harshly. I come to the assumption that he most likely doesn't even have one, just like me. I begin to put puzzle peices together and then conclude that we are both similar in very different ways. We have both had lives harder than we have needed to and we are both the laughing stocks of our generation. I'm just the panic girl and he is just the messed up foot boy, bot for some reason I feel something growing between us. A thing that could change our lives forever, finally someone who actually cared.

    As I looked at the boy I realized he was a rather handsome kid and it surprised me that he didn't have any lady suitors. Well maybe he does now but I will just have to see since in all actuality I just met him. Suddenly my eyes grow wide as I finally acknowledge that I haven't even introduced myself to him yet. I let out a giggle and hold out my soft pale hand towards him. "I'm great, I am June Rhodes by the way its nice to meet you." I smile warmly towards him hoping he returns the friendly gesture back to me.

[Knuckles]

Sammy Gustav

Day after day, class after class, my name is called asking me to walk to the board to write stuff down. Every kid in the class laugh as my foot drags across the ground. Many times after class was over, I would see the teacher and ask if they wouldn't call on me for that reason. The response is always the same. "You must do your work just like everyone else." Every single day this happens, but nobody else in the class is called on. One day I asked the teacher about it, but the response was the same. It doesn't do any good to whine though because it only makes the situation worse. Maybe one day I'll have the courage to refuse, but the punishment for refusing is unknown.

My life isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Some people have it worse than I do because their problems can't even go to school like the rest of us. No matter how bad I think my life is going, someone else always has it worse. Families mourn over the loss of their children that have died in the games, but they don't get any special treatment. It's hard looking at them and not asking the questions, but the questions are far away. Asking them what it's like to have a brother or sister die in the games isn't a good conversation starter.

"I'm great, I am June Rhodes by the way its nice to meet you." She holds her hand out as she talks. My heart prances under my chest as the grin grows larger spreading across my face. Nobody is ever nice to me; she's the first person. Butterflies dance in my stomach as my eyes turn towards her again. Heat radiates from my cheeks as they glow bright red. My hand reaches towards her hand wrapping around her's gently before shaking it. It's a move of friendship, and for the first time it seems close.

"I'm Sammy Gustav." For the first time the words fall gently from my lips. "It's nice to meet you too!." It's hard to hide the excitement growing inside. Maybe I've made a friend for the first time in my entire life. It's a feeling never experienced before.

[Arrows]

JUNE RHODES

From what I knew about it, friendship was a very complicated thing. It was almost like a machine that two people have to keep operational together. If one person doesn't do their part in helping the machine run then it all goes up in flames. However much this intimidated me the fact of having the pressure to not have it all go up in flames, I still would rather take the risk. Also Sammy seems like the type of person to not let people down so in my opinion he is the prefect partner for this machine. I just pray that all my misfortunes don't follow me into this friendship as they have done with every other aspect of my life. .

The wind begins to breeze through the small clearing causing my hair to bellow around me covering my eyes momentarily. I laugh as I try to blow my hair out of my sigh since I still await to see if Sammy will shake my hand. Much to my excitement he does shake my hand and I feel his warmth against mine. I have never shaken someone's hand before and especially on terms like these so I hold on a little longer than I should. My cheeks flare up red as I blush from my embarrassment. However, I don't believe he can see my burning cheeks underneath my monster of blonde hair.

Once his hand retracts I am finally able to use my own hands to clear my face of its golden assaulter. I smile from ear to ear as I see how happy he is when he introduces himself as Sammy and is happy to meet me too. I am overwhelmed with happiness at the thought of having a friend that is eagerly as happy to be my friend. As my heart beat flurries with excitement in my chest I ponder what to say next. I have never done this before so I am completely caught off guard as to what to say to Sammy. I gulp has I feel sweat begin to form on the brow of my forehead and my fingers begin to tap against the benches' wood.


Luckily I finally find a good follow up question and don't hesitate to ask him it. "So What brings you out here today? I haven't seen you around here before except for school." Another smile makes its way to my face as my lips begin to curve dimples into my cheeks. I take a long look at Sammy and I decide that even though people are so cruel to him he doesn't appear to have a single bad bone in his body. I wonder if I should tell him but I decide not to so I don't have to bring up any bad memories of him being ruthlessly bullied at school like me. Instead I just continue to sit there in the sunny shade of the trees smiling at my new friend Sammy Gustav.

Template by amillionarrows

[Knuckles]

Sammy Gustav

Never in my entire life has a chance of a friendship shown before me. Usually the only time anyone talks to me is when they are making fun of me, and it hurts knowing people are the way they are. Ma always says what doesn't kill me will make me stronger, yet it's impossible know who strong this will make me. All throughout my life people will laugh at me because nothing will fix my foot; it would be best if I just chopped the thing off, but the laughter would still be there. I wouldn't be called gimp anymore because of my limp - I would be called a one legged freak. Kids are cruel just as the Capitol is cruel. They don't love us because they wouldn't let my life go on like this.

Watching her smile causes the smile on my face to grow larger. Butterflies twist my stomach into a knot. She's the first person to talk to me who has never said anything mean or hurtful, but that could change quickly. It's possible she could turn into one of those cold blooded fools who enjoy making people cry, but I don't cry anymore. Tears won't form in my eyes because of all the tears that's fell from my face. I chew on the inside of my cheek as my eyes move away from her trying to speak, to break the silence that's surrounding us, but silence can be a good thing. In every storm, a silence is waiting allowing for things to calm down before they pick back up again. Sometimes, a longer silence is needed.

"So what brings you out here today? I haven't seen you around here before except for school." Her smile is replaced by a larger smile which only makes my smile grow larger. It's true what she said; I'm never out here because it's always the safest to run home before anything else can happen. Usually tears are flowing down my face as they laugh at me as my foot drags across the ground, but today something was different. This girl, June, (I think that's her name) was sitting here alone with her nose thrown into a book. I don't know what stopped me, but something did.

My heart leaps inside my chest as my eyes turn towards the ground for a moment. One of my hands run through my hair with my fingers spread wide. My eyes turn back towards her as my hand drops to my side. "I saw you sitting here all alone. I know what it is like to be alone. I thought you could use someone to talk to." My words are quiet as I'm unsure of myself. Talking has never been something I'm good at. I take a deep breath before lowering my gaze towards the ground. Nothing makes sense in life; maybe it's time for something to finally make sense.

[Arrows]

*June Rhodes*

    I allow one of my fingers to begin twirling my blonde hair as I watched Sammy smiling. Eventually my eyes fixate on a small weed growing out of the dirt. It is barely emerging but it looks as though it has already been beaten lopsided. In a way I believe I am like this weed, not physically but when it comes to being social. I have never had a friend or anyone who has ultimately wanted to talk to me other than my sisters. Yet I know what happened to that, the Capitol got mad and took May away. I feel a lump forming in my throat and I shake my head slightly clearing my head of May and my sisters in general. As my heart beat settles back down I notice a small flower bud on the weed. A small light somewhere in my mind seems to be turned on at this sight. What it is making me feel is that there is a chance for beauty for form from all things. Even from a girl who has never had a friend and then one day finally getting a friend or possibly boy friend.

    That word rolls around in my head after I think of it, boyfriend... boyfriend. I know what a boyfriend is, it is simply the stage two people who want to be romantic take before getting married. I begin to recall when Rose had a boyfriend, she always claimed to love him and that he loved him but then one day he broke up with her and hurt her heart. She cried for an entire day proclaiming he had ripped her heart in half and she would never love again. One of my hands finds its place right on top of my heart at the thought of it getting ripped into two separate pieces. My eyes glide gently back up to Sammy who is still here which surprises me since most people always run off by this point. I feel my mind wanting in some odd way for him to be my boyfriend but I can't understand it. I mean I know he would never rip my heart in two since he simply isn't the kind of person from what I can tell. Yet what I can't understand is why I want him to be such a thing as a boyfriend when I literally just met him. With a deep breath I decide to just try to go the friend route and if he tries anything then I will just see where it takes us.

    The gentle breeze begins to pick up yet again causing me to experience a slight shiver. My arms wrap around me in a useless way to keep me warm until the breeze dies down. I notice one of the many green leaves get blown off of a tree by the wind and fall to the ground. As I stare at this particularly small leave my heart twists slightly since just like the weed I am also like this leaf. The rest of the leaves are everyone else in the district and I am that lone leave that is blown away and forgotten about. Suddenly I see something that makes me gasp quietly to myself, another small leaf gets blown of one of the trees and lands right next to the first leaf, Sammy. My stomach twitches with butterflies since I know this is a sign sent directly from Ripred saying that me and Sammy were meant to meet. That we are the odd ones out but that doesn't mean we are alone since we have each other.

    I smile cracks my face traveling all the way from one of my cheeks to another as I return my gaze to Sammy. I watch and listen as he runs a hand through his hair and says he saw me out here so he figured I could use someone to talk to. My cheeks light up slightly at the fact he came over here just to talk to me and I drop my gaze for a few seconds. When my eyes return back to his face I am smiling even larger, "Well you are right I do need someone to talk to. I am tired of being alone and I am sure you are too. So come join me, we can be the odd ones out together." I scoot over on the bench and pat the space next to me as a gesture for him to come sit next to me.

[Knuckles]

Sammy Gustav

Part of me wonders why she's talking to me; nobody ever talks to me unless it's making fun of me, laughing at me, but she's not. She's talking to me like I'm another human being, like nothing is wrong with me, but at times it's hard not to think she's staring at me. People are rude and inconsiderate at times, but June doesn't seem to be one of those people. She was sitting alone with nobody to talk to her. She was reading a book which appears to be interesting. I could tell by the way her eyes darted around the page. I've never been into reading. It's boring. Yet I'm fascinated by how interested she was in that book.

I turn my eyes towards the sky staring up at the sun watching birds fly through the sky. It's a beautiful sight especially with the rays beaming through the branches of the tree providing just enough light for people to see. Sometimes a cloud flies across the sun making a nice shade along with a gentle breeze. Usually I would be home by now chatting with my mom about what horrible day of school I had, but I can't wait to run home and tell her about my day. How I've made a friend. How I've turned my life around. Will you be happy mom? Will you love me the same? Will your protective grip let go? With my mom it's hard to figure anything out because she's always changing her mind.

""Well you are right I do need someone to talk to. I am tired of being alone and I am sure you are too. So come join me, we can be the odd ones out together."

Heat radiates from my cheeks as my eyes fix on the girl before quickly turning towards the ground. She's the first person who hasn't sent me running away like an animal because of something so simple, well it's not simple, but it doesn't change who I am. I can almost feel the blood pooling on my cheeks making them turn bright red, but it's impossible to know because there's no way of seeing my face. My stomach twists into knots. Someone wants me to join them. What is going on?

I run my fingers through my hair trying to figure out what's possibly going on. My gaze turns back towards the girl wondering if she's still there or if this is a dream. It has to be a dream because nobody else wants to talk to me. My feet drag my across the ground over to the bench where I take a seat. Well, this is awkward. My eyes dart around the area wondering if this is a set up, and people are going to come running out of the woods laughing, but nobody does. This has to be a dream, but I lower my gaze towards the ground waiting for her to laugh.

"So, do you come here often?"

[Arrows]

*June Rhodes*

    Everything about this boy is odd and for some reason that's what I like about him. He isn't the ordinary boy from district nine but instead is his own unique flame. Rose always told me that I too was different from everyone else but she said that was a good thing. Yet it isn't until now watching Sammy that I truly realize that she was right. Just because we are different doesn't make us freaks. Instead it makes us unique, dangerous to the frail society we have become accustom to living in. For it is people like myself, and like Sammy, that have the power to change the system for the better. And in a world ruled by the Capitol that makes us their biggest threat.

    I am shocked by these thoughts that are now so frequently present within my conscience. Less than a month ago these things would never have been present in my thoughts but now they are all that's there. Actually that was lie, there is also fear, lots and lots of fear. When I am not thinking about wanting to destroy the Capitol for all it's done to me, all I think about is May and whether or not she will die. All I know is that whenever I begin doubting people things take horrible turns so I will not allow myself to doubt May. Yet that doesn't mean I am not afraid about what she might have to face in that wretched arena. You know that's not all you think about though, whispers a soft voice inside the depths of my mind and I realize it is right. There is only one other thing that seems to be crossing my mind very frequently, Sammy. Like I have told myself countless times before I don't know why I think about him I just do. Oh June don't lie to yourself you know why you think about him, whispers the voice again an my cheeks turn a light pink. Alright so maybe I do know why I think about him but that doesn't matter. What matters right now is to go back to that very person who now sits next to me on the bench.

    I grin slightly as I watch him awkwardly look at the ground thinking about what to say or do next now that we share the same bench. Most girls would probably dislike that about him, but not me, instead I find it rather cute. I giggle quietly and allow on of my hands to fall gently on top of one of his own in hopes of reassuring him not to be scared. Finally he seems to find his words as he asks one of the most cliche questions imaginable, "Do you come here often."  I can't help but laughing softly at the question then once I am finished I reply to him. "Actually yes I do, ever since my sister April showed me this spot." I then think of something to say but not sure if I should but against my better judgement I do, "Though I would probably come here even more if I had someone to be with here." I then cast my eyes towards the ground as my cheeks burn a light crimson.

    After I feel the coolness of my cheeks return I also return my gaze to his and I look into his eyes. I can't help but sigh softly since all I see is a boy who cares. A boy who wants nothing more than to have someone else with him, someone else to help keep him warm and safe. What I see deep within the irises of this boy is the very reflection of myself and of my wants and desires. Before I know what I am doing I find myself hugging him rather tightly in fact and have to quickly stop hugging him. "I... I am so sorry, I have no Idea why I did that." Thoughts collide as I stammer with words to say for my actions until finally I just cave in and quietly whisper, "I'm sorry."