Do you think I [WOOD] make happiness? ~Jess and Kittyoemily~

[kittyoemily]

Will you be my wood?

Chai miles

.


I was trying to walk. Walk around town. I really did not want to be walking on my week end. I was itching to be home with my wood. With my sweet wood. Crafting something new, or finishing something old. Maybe I could call this a walk if I go to the lumbar yard to buy more wood. That would still count right? I knew the answer no. My father would just make me go out again until I got it right. Why did he want me out of the house when I could be making wood, to make money. I mean he says it is not healthy to be obsessing about wood at my age, but he does it at his age. He is the one who even taught me about wood and how beautiful it was. I pictured myself feeling the nice grain of an elder wood right now, but feeling the breeze I knew I was not touching the wood right now. Where should I go to walk. I mean what if I go to the lumbar yard to pre order something? That would work. I would have bought something but I don't have to bring it home yet. No but I would still want to bring the wood home.

Some how my aimless thoughts about wood brought me to the towns market where across from where I was not standing still sat a girl. A girl that I recognize from school but I know no name to since even when I am at school I am never truly there. I am always with my wood in my thought. My sweet wood. The recognition does ring a bell a bit more than just from school but one who had a big enough rep that I would remember it was for something, but small enough that I don't know if it was because she stole something, or was the laughing stack of our grade. Something told me the second one since I realize now that tears were rolling down her face. I felt bad, and since this was the first thing that I was able to think about other than wood I came over and sat next to her. I put my arm around her and rubbed her back." Don't cry. What's wrong now?" I some how knew that this has happened multiple times and really this was one of the first times I bothered to care. I wondered why I never talked to her about it before? Am I one of those mean people who make her sad too? Or just someone who does nothing to make her happy since I am always so concerned aboyt my wood hence still being mean indirectly by not doing my morale duty as a human being.

Or should I stay alone with my wood that I already have?

[jess]

It had been a short while since the 67th Hunger Games ended, the male from District 4 having been crowned the victor. I didn't have anything against any of the District 4 tributes this year, so I guess it was a good thing. The tributes from 7 had done...fairly well, but the final showdown was between both tributes from 4, which was something you rarely see in the Hunger Games. Plus, 4 hadn't had a victor in quite a while so it was a win for them. The blood and pain had barely affected me when I watched it, my knees brought up to my chest and my eyes fixated on the screen as the battles unwound before me.

I guess the main reason for that was because of all the pain I've been through. Hair pulling, kicking, scratching, punching, you name it, I've been through it. They even cut me with a knife once, but they were too scared to do anything super severe, like stab me. They were probably worried that they'd be caught by the Peacekeepers and sent to that detention centre or something. Cowards. I'm one to talk, seeing as I let them hurt me and don't fight back.

I'd had the good luck of not running into any of them that day, until that fateful time in the market. Without warning, one of them ran up to me, grabbed me by my hair and brought their knee up in between my legs. I knew it would hurt much more if I was a boy, and the tugging on my hair hurt much worse, but I still cried out, "H-Hey!" The boy who'd attacked me smirked and let me go. I stumbled to the ground and he ran off again. Most people were ignoring me, the minority flashing me worried glances.

It was kind of an unspoken rule. You help the underdog out, you get the same treatment.

Tears rolled down my cheeks without any warning. I hope Mama wasn't looking out the window when that happened. Mama still didn't know the majority of rude things they did to me. All she knew was that they'd pulled on my braids and teased me. She hadn't liked that, but she'd told me to get over it and try and stand up for myself. I'm sorry Mama, I tried, I really did try. I just wasn't good enough. My legs shook as the silent tears made their way down my face. Not one person stopped to help me up. Not one.

Until a boy came up, someone from school probably, who'd witnessed the bullying but ignored it, to save himself. I didn't know he was comforting me until his hand was rubbing against my back and he was saying, "Don't cry. What's wrong now?"

Was...was he actually asking me what was wrong? Part of me thought this was kind and...and unusual, and another part of me saw this boy as blind. Oblivious to everything that had been going on. I blinked away some tears. He...he didn't need to know...did he? "U-Um...nothing..." I didn't want to pour my heart out to him. He did nothing to deserve the extra pressure. "You...you can just continue with...your day..." Like nothing ever happened. That's what most people did. You'd be safer if you did too.

[kittyoemily]

Will you be my wood?

Chai miles

.


I continued to rub her back until she spoke up again. She claimed nothing wrong, and then she also claimed that I can go about my day. Well I know both of those things are not true. She was clearly crying and I clearly felt bad for her. So why would I just get up and walk away. Even if I was able to go back and work on my wood, or buy wood for that matter would I? No not purposely would I ignore someone in need. I mean looking back I know I have ignored people because I would not be getting the dirty looks from familiar faces at school if I did not, but never purposely.

I continued to rub her back with my hand. I wondered what I should do to make her feel better. Say for that matter. Honestly I knew I was not leaving her here at this point. Maybe she would want to look at wood as much as I do? Yeah right we are in district seven after all. I have some pretty exotic wood too. " Come with me." I smiled at her. My cute little smile with my eyes looking ever more smaller. Then I took my hand and brushed loose pieces of hair out of her pretty face. " I will show you something that will make you feel better okay?" I looked into those sad eyes. "and I am not leaving you until you smile." Really I meant until you are happy, because anyone can fake a smile, no one can fake being happy. It is always so see through a fake smile that is.

I forced her up off her feet and I took her hand. " Come on, come with me. " My dad haves to let me in my work place now. I mean I am trying to make someone happy for crying out loud. I mean yeah I get to look at my wood again, but I will be making someone happy. I will even be getting to know someone even. It is better than a walk. A walk I could literally still be thinking about wood, but not bothering to get to know anyone. " My name is Chai by the way." I said figuring that it was odd that I was bringing her some where with out her getting to know my name.

Who was I kidding this whole situation was odd. We both some how don't know each other enough to recognize names. I found her while on a walk that my dad forced me to go on. And she was sitting there crying, and I still don't know for what reason. Her not knowing my name was the least of the problems for this situation. But what ever. This situation is the least of my problems. I mean my whole life is a bout wood, and so this is my most normal day yet. Congrats Chai after seventeen years you finally have a half of a normal day. " So what is your name?" I said now wanting to know her name since I gave mine, and since this is my most normal day yet I thought I would add to the normalcy by knowing the girls name before I bring her to my house. The house filled with valuable wood. Oh wood. I do love you soo much, it would be a shame if something were to happen and it was my fault. I felt a small head ache form thinking about it. Noticing my surroundings I realize we are still in the same place. Oh boy we should get walking soon. I will give her a few minutes to digest what I said my name was and me asking her for her name and telling her to come with me. At least we off of that bench and standing.

Or should I stay alone with my wood that I already have?

[jess]

The last time anyone had cared about her was so long ago she'd almost forgotten it. Someone came up and asked her if she was okay, and she nodded, tears still in her eyes. That person had then given her some food to take back to her house, and that night she and Mama went to bed with their bellies full. Leoni had never seen that person again after that, although she was sure she remembered what they looked like. Slightly. But now this was different - he wasn't giving her food, he was...taking her somewhere? "Come with me. I will show you something that will make you feel better okay? And I am not leaving until you smile." Leoni hadn't smiled in a while, at least a genuine one. She sometimes faked them so Mama didn't realize what was going on. But it was hard to pretend nothing was happening when someone had seen it.

"O-Okay..." He took her hand and her cheeks turned slightly pink. She never really held hands with anyone except Mama when she took her on walks around the district. Mama rarely left the house so Leoni had resorted to making her. Luckily it was usually really early in the morning or at evening when most people were inside getting ready for bed or eating, so she didn't encounter  anyone from school. "Come on, come with me. My name's Chai, by the way. So what is your name?"

Now he asked what her name was. She looked up at him and replied, "Leonice...or Leoni if you want." Only Mama used her nickname, when they were at home - the bullies only ever used it when they were teasing her. She doubted many of them even knew her name, except the ones in her class at school. Leoni's head still throbbed from the previous incident and she hoped the boy hadn't seen it. That would certainly be embarrassing. 

"Where are we going?" she asked, realizing she didn't know where this stranger was taking her. She almost cursed herself for letting him take her away so easily.

[kittyoemily]

Will you be my wood?

Chai miles

Her face turned red from the whole experience. Almost like the red of a cherry wood. So softly shaded but dark enough to hold its ground.
"Leonice...or Leoni if you want." Is her reply to her name. What a pretty name I thought to myself. It was indeed a different name, but Chai was too. I find my smile a bit somber right now, but I am liking helping this girl.

A simple laugh came out of my mouth when she said "Where are we going?" She was clearly confused, and that she should be. I realized that I probably should have told her. I understand why she would ask that question. Here I am little just a kid that she remembers from school, and I am helping her when I never had at school, and I am taking her somewhere at which I did not tell her. I would have loved to say something like you will have to wait and see, but considering I don't know her well and she does not know me well( not many people do) I probably should just tell her.

I started to guide her to walk with me so we could get a move on to my house then I spoke. " Well we are going to my father and my work shop, which so happens to be located next to/ is our house." I smiled as I realized that I was going back to my precious wood. I will get to share my love of wood with another person too. Not just with my father, but someone who does not have to accept me and my wood, someone who could completely run away from it. I know she still could, but a part of me feels like this wood just would make her feel better in a way. Make her feel better like it made me feel better. How it showed me just because the capitol treats us poorly we are valued. Just like the wood. That should make her feel better right.

A drop of sweat dripped down my forehead as I thought about this turning bad. How she could laugh at me for my weird obsession. How she could taunt me. Some how I cared, but a part of me knows at least I made her happy then right? Well anyways what ever happened I still had my wood. I rubbed my forehand with my free hand and spoke up again." So what type of work does you and your family do?" I looked at her with a questioning face expression wondering what her story was.

Or should I stay alone with my wood that I already have?

Occ: sorry for the later reply, I had a busy weekend.