Grilled [Imogen and Arroyo]

[Will]

As I walk along the beach, I look out to the ocean. The deep blue waves gather up power in the distance, and slowly die down and out until they are just lapping at the shore line. Vying to climb higher and higher onto the beach. The fishermen and swimmers glide seemingly effortlessly across and through the cool waters of the ocean. The beachgoers prance and lie happily upon the golden sand. I feel the sand envelop and fall from my feet and toes with each and every step I take. Leaving faint impressions in the millions of grains I left behind. The tide will take care of those. The tide will take care of everything. All imperfections. That's what we all rely on here in District Four. The tide. I make my way farther and farther down the beach, almost racing the blood orange sun to the horizon. It's a fun game to play. I'll never win, but I like to pretend I can. It gives me something to do. And that's all I can ask for. After all, what am I supposed to do after training? After school? After work? Chase the sun. Race it until the end of time. Because that way the race is never finished. And if the race never finishes, then there is never a winner. That's a strategy we learned. If you know you can't win, at least not right away, just tire them out. The enemy, of course. Just fight them, but don't try. Make them tire themselves. Then you can win. Because they've already done most of the work themselves. You just have to finish it. That's my favorite style. Lazy. Because when I do that I don't ever have to sweat. I don't ever have to feel sore at the end of the day. Or be bloody. Or beaten. I just get to go home. And that's where I'm headed. Not in a race against the sun, not anymore. I forfeited tonight. Tomorrow I'll try again. And tomorrow I'll forfeit as well. Because you can't defeat the sun. And just as that thought enters my head, the sun surrounds someone. Their silhouette appears atop a small hill. A girl. A girl outlined by fire. A girl carried by the sun. The undefeatable girl. Maybe. I have to meet her before I can make that judgment. But she catches me staring, first.

credit to will

OOC - There will be a better table later >.< I just have to make it, but I wanted to get the thread started cuz I'm super excited for it!

grim.

[grim.]

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My feet sink beneath the loose sand with each step. I feel the grains seep up in between my toes, and I cant help but smile. The beach was a seamlessly orange. I could see the sun rising over the horizon, it was saying its last goodbyes. 

I had been sitting at a fire, I was invited to bask at the oceans glory, and bathe myself in warmth. I of course agreed, but I almost already regret that decision. There was very little action, I needed some kind of amusement. What was a girl to do?

I see a boy, he was walking along the beach. His pace would slowly increase. Was he chasing the sun? In a way I found that interesting, but also very alluring. 

I found myself wanting to learn more about this boy, so I watch for longer. Where was he from, how old was he, was he alone? My mind was racing, throbbing with impatience. 

I see him stop, he had stopped chasing the sun. Had his race ended, did the sun show him utter defeat? There was of course no way to beat the sun in a race, he never stopped his cycle around the earth. The boy must know this. 

I see him stare, had he been staring at me? I didn't know how to feel, his attention gave me discomfort. I didn't know how to approach him, what am I saying? There was no guarantee he was even looking at me. But what else could he be looking at?

I decide to approach him with my best defense. "Hey, you could simply say hi." I shout. He seemed upset at my realization of his gaze. Its not as if he was being subtle. 

I feel the heat of the fire, and I wait for his response. Perhaps I had found a mean of entertainment. Finally, this night was getting somewhere. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just               sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

[Will]

"Hey, you could simply say hi," the girl calls out to me. Her voice is so clear. It cuts through the ocean breeze, the sounds of waves desperately attempting to erode the shore, the dying out of laughs from beachgoers. It's almost as if one threw a spear through a target of hot butter. And then the spear struck my heart. I look closer, trying to see her through the fading light of the sun. It's too hard. She must be able to see me much better than I can see her. I don't want to pursue this if I can't even identify the girl. What if I already know her? What if she one of those girls who I won against in training and is waiting to just tear me apart at the beach? I let out a nervous laugh and then call out, "Sorry! You just..." I was a lost for words. What was it that made me stare? All I can see is her silhouette. "caught my attention." I finish the sentence. Well that couldn't be more awkward. I wouldn't blame her if she just turned back around and sat herself down at the fire again. I decide not to approach. Not just yet. And this is the worst part. The waiting. Waiting for a response after you've said something stupid. And the longer they take, the more time you have to mull over how stupid what you said really was. But I didn't say anything too stupid. Right? I guess I'll just have to wait.

credit to will

[grim.]

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I watch the boy closely, he was hard to make out in this lighting. What was left of the sun was shining on my back, and probably making my features invisible. I liked this advantage.

But still, I could tell he was much taller then I was, he had dark hair, rather fit. I wonder if he also found himself in training? Or more then likely he just swam like the rest of us sea dwellers.

"Sorry! You just..." he hesitated. I struggle to keep myself from chuckling. He was nervous, this boy could barely make out my appearance, and yet he already was nervous. I never understood the childlike affection wrapped up in attraction.

Still, he was cute, and amusing. Maybe I should keep him around, there was no one else to keep me entertained. I stare at him, he had to finish his sentence first.

"caught my attention." he finishes. I let out a muffled laugh. He was unbelievably ridiculous. Was I really making him that uncomfortable?

"I'm Imogen, feel free to join me if you would like." I say through muffled laughter. I was having fun taunting this boy. Hopefully it wouldn't bite my ass in the long run.

I pull my hair over my right shoulder, and turn myself back toward the fire. Hopefully he would take the bate, and I would have my own personal jester for the night.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just  sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

[Will]

She laughs. A laugh. A laugh? Why would she laugh. I didn't say anything funny. I don't think it was funny at least. Was it because I laughed? She had to have known it was just a nervous laugh. It didn't even sound genuine. Or maybe that's just her sense of humor. Or maybe she let out a nervous laugh as well. Maybe she thought it was cute. I may already be ahead in the game. I like that last idea. It's more comforting. But you can't ever assume the best will happen. You always have to assume the worst. Because if you assume the worst, then you'll never be disappointed. But I don't want to assume the worst. Not right now, at least. She invites me up to the fire. Should I go? I have to make a decision fast. If I stand here longer than a second or two she'll lose any and all interest in me. I decide to approach. To feed the spark. And hopefully, that spark will become a flame. Which transform into a roaring fire. Like the one here. How long will the fire last? I can't tell you. I can't even tell you if that spark is going to become anything more than just that. But I have to try, right? I climb the small hill and sit down next to her. Had she just played with her hair? Or taken it out of the way? Why were there so many questions? Why couldn't this just be straightforward. I'm sure it would be much more enjoyable if it was straightforward. Or at least easier. I look over to her to speak and I almost do, but then I realize I don't know her name. Did she tell me? I feel like she already did. If she did and I ask what her name is that'll be the worst introduction ever. I look back at the fire to try and remember. It started with an R. No, it started with an A. No it didn't! It started with an I. And then I heard mode? No, no, that's not right. Mog. That's it. But where did that go in her name? Oh it doesn't matter. I'll just give her a nickname. Or just avoid saying her name. How long do you think that'll last? I don't think I actually have said my friend's names to them in a really long time. I turn to look back at her, "I'm Arroyo. But you can call me, Roy." I tell her. If she hasn't told me her name she'll answer now. Or just repeat it. I won't say anything else. I want to keep her on the subject of names for as long as possible. She has to let it slip again. Or at least it'll give me time to remember it.

credit to will

[grim.]

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I watched as he stumbled up the hillside. I watched each extension of his muscular physic rise to the top. I didn't like the way his appearance made me feel. Was this the same thing as attraction?

I stare into the flickering fire, I felt my temperature rise up a few notches. And him being this much closer made my breathing sharp. He was so uncomfortable, his body language could have been legible from a mile away.

He takes a seat next to me, it was closer then I would have liked, but I could manage. I watched as his feet settled next to mine. Flaking with wet sand.

This moment seemed dreadfully long. He wasn't speaking, and neither was I. I could tell he had something caught in his throat. Why cant he just make this easy, and spit it out?

"I'm Arroyo. But you can call me, Roy." he finally says. I look him up and down. Roy, it slid of the tough nicely, I didn't mind the name. I sat and pondered what a normal person would say after that.

My mind felt blurred, I normally didn't get stressed in social situations. He was just so god damn awkward it was rubbing off on me.

"Hi Roy, nice to meet you. So do you chase the sun often?" I ask with a giggle. I assumed he would respond with a "Nice to meet you also Imogen", but then again this boy was unpredictable. He was flailing about like a fish caught on a hook, helpless.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

[Will]

An insult? Was she insulting me? Was she saying that by walking along the beach I was acting strange? Most people in the district have done that at least once in their life. How could you not walk down the beach at sunset? It's so beautiful and captivating. And how could she know I was chasing the sun? I was never serious about it. I just liked to walk along with it. It's reassuring. She seems incredibly intuitive. I look at her. It's a hard look, somewhat scrutinizing. After I've done it I feel a spark of remorse, but I don't feed this spark. That spark isn't one that's fun to watch become a roaring fire. "As a matter of fact," I tell her. "I do. But most people just call it walking on the beach." This time that spark of remorse became a twang. It hurt. I didn't want to be mean to her. But an insult must be met with an insult. At least, I think it was an insult. And what I said could easily be taken as flirtatious. If just didn't hear the tone I said it in. I look at the way the fire dances across her face. It illuminates it in a way I never would've thought fire could do. It almost makes her face appear as if it were glowing. And it of course must look like that anyway. The way her features come together into that clear face of an angel must be luminous in any lighting. I wonder if this is what love at first sight feels like. But I'm sure it doesn't come with this stinging banter. Maybe love at first sight isn't what I would call it. Maybe it's just purely a physical attraction. Not necessarily emotional.

credit to will

[grim.]

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why had I asked if he was chasing the sun? Well, though he was simply strolling along the beach, I noticed his intensiveness. He was gazing at the sun like a child at his father. I could tell he wanted something from it. That and he steadily picked up pace, the farther the sun crept over the horizon.

Call it woman's intuition, or simply the fact that I have caught myself chasing the sun many times before. Hoping it would lead me to a far of land, away from all of this. I wanted to believe that I deserved better, but I didn't.

I was like any other district resident, a single cow in a heard of many. All of us waiting to be slaughtered for the enjoyment of others. It was pathetic to think about, but I guess I still hadn't gotten over the fact that my parents wanted me dead so desperately, or at least it appeared that way.

I felt regret in toying with this boy. He didn't deserve that kind of abuse. I knew nothing of his past, and I shouldn't act as if I do. I find myself staring at the sand beneath me. I guess you could say my head had hung in shame.

"As a matter of fact, I do. But most people just call it walking on the beach." he spits. It came out so violent. Slithering through his pursed lips. Had I mad him that angry?

I feel my gaze shoot from the the ground, and to his face. I couldn't help but feel my features harden. Now he had pissed me off, no one talked to me like that.

I stood from my seat and glared in his eye. Even when I was standing I only tower over him by about two feet. "You know, if I had known that you were some gawking asshole, I wouldn't have invited you to come sit with me. I was simply being nice." I say.

Maybe now he would watch his tone, I wouldn't wanna have to ruin his night. I could lay him out flat, he wasn't worth my time. I don't care if he was more then a foot taller then me, I had heart, and I was willing to show him what I was capable of. I hope he tries something like that again.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

[Will]

She bolts up. I barely would've even had time to think. I stare at her, bewildered as she shouts at me. Had what I said really offended her that much? I didn't think I'd said it that viciously. Obviously she took all the wrong way. And at least there's no mistaking it this time. She is most certainly insulting me. And I most certainly do not like it. That face of an angel I saw may have been quite the opposite. Was it the seductive Satan I saw? No matter. I stand up to look her in the eyes and realize how short she is. I start to wonder why the devil would've chosen this, of all forms, to wreak havoc in. I yell back, except, it's more of a hiss than a yell, "Excuse you! I was being nice to you before you cackled at my attempt to flirt with you!" My face is heating up. I'm so angry and indignant my face has to be the color of a rose by now.

credit to will

[grim.]

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

His chin shoots up past my face, his eyes looking down upon me. He was tall, but I wasn't intimidated. There was no room for weakness, no room for fear.

Not in the world we live in today. Violence, starvation, and the blood soaked ground of children, was how we lived. I guess I didn't have much room to complain. I lived in District Four for Christs sake. The only hardship we faced was the reaping, and many people volunteered anyhow.

I feel the heat radiate from his skin, his face was beating red. I couldn't let him see me shift, I held my ground and waited for his next move. He had better make it worth wild, cause in about three seconds, I'm gonna flatten him out.

"Excuse you! I was being nice to you before you cackled at my attempt to flirt with you!" he shouts. I feel warm air burst from my nostrils. I feel my eyes falter, my chest rising and falling with each heated breath.

"You little prick! How dare you use me as your mean to quench your teenage male urges!" I shout. I cant believe he degraded me like that. Wasn't flirting only used to taunt someone? Lure them into a cage of regret?

Maybe I was over reacting, he couldn't of meant any harm. Or maybe he had, I was confused all together. But now that I was ready to strike there was no backing down.

I cock my fist back and pull it into my peripheral vision. I was going to teach him a lesson, whether he deserved it or not. I feel the warm ocean air, rush between my fingers as I press my fist toward his chin. I was caught by surprise when I felt his fingers wrapped around my fist before it could reach its target.

His grip was tight, he was stronger then he looked. I push all of my weight forward. I feel my heel get caught up on a stray log, and before I knew it our bodies were flailing through the sand. Tumbling down the hill we had been occupying. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

[Will]

My teenage male urges? What on Earth?! Does she think I'm some sort of Adonis? Some sex demon from the underworld? My teenage male urges are just as innocent and normal as her teenage female urges. Why would she even invite me up here if she wasn't attracted to me. Even in the least bit. Obviously I had made a mistake coming up here. This little shrimp of a girl was trying to prove something to me. Whether it's that she's not someone to mess with or she's going through a cycle, it's not okay with me. And I'm going to let her know that. I've fought girls before, and I'll fight them again. The only difference is, this isn't training. She rears back to punch me and before her fist even makes it halfway to my face, my hand wraps around it. Electricity. That's what I feel. How ridiculously odd. My body decides to feel a connection now of all times. As my large hand envelops her small one, she topples ontop of me. I'm shocked. Too shocked to even push her back away from me. And even if I was to try now, it'd be too late. We both freefall for what feels like a whole minute. Her hair a tangled jungle drifting through the ocean air and my back a sky crashing down to the Earth below. And then we land. The impact is much worse for me. At least I'm assuming so. Because the second my back hits the sand I lose my breath, and then the girl lands on top of me and I almost throw up. But long before my body can even decide whether or not it wants to regurgitate, I find myself soaring through the air again. This time in a corkscrew fashion. It's a mess, a blur, a total mixture of her skin, my skin, her hair, my hair, her legs, my legs, our bodies. Both of us caught in the midst of two struggles: against one another and against gravity. As our bodies glide through the air and slam into the ground and then repeat the process all over again, we can never tell who will hit the ground and who land atop the other. First it's me, then me again, then her, then me again, then her, then her, then we land on our sides and I'm forced to let go. A splitting pain slices through my shoulder and I let out an animal-like sound. I clutch my shoulder as our fall down the hill continues, but separately. Finally it's over. The last collision with the ground wasn't so bad. At least, I thought it was the ground. As I open my eyes it proves differently. I'm lying on top the girl. Our faces just an inch from the other's, our torsos pressed against the other's, and our legs and arms intertwined. It's a moment purely a mixture of awkwardness and flame. The flame that was a spark only moments ago. The question is, will it stay a flame? Or will it go back to a spark? Or will it just die out. I find I've forgotten when just happened. I can't remember it for the life of me. All I can remember is this, what feels like an eternity of our bodies so close.

credit to will

[grim.]

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our bodies fall for what feels like an eternity. I can hear the slam of our structures, the burn of the force. The sand was cool, making for a chilled landing.

I of course landed on the bottom. His body was completely covering mine, you would think I wouldn't have the capability of breathe, but I did. I didn't feel as if anything was broken, and I didn't have time in my schedule for a broken bone.

I didn't waste time thinking about this though. His face was just inches from mine, and the closeness of his presents, made my chest bubble. I had this ideal, I didn't want him to move. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, I wanted him to stay.

His tanned skin gave me comfort, his sandy hair gave me joy. I wanted this moment to last for as long as it could. I felt every ounce of anger drain from my body, for the first time in a long time...I felt joy.

My chest begins to pulse, my breathe starts to stutter. I feel myself chuckle. This chuckle turns into a laugh, and then a louder laugh. I could feel the burning tears stream down my face. I couldn't stop myself , my stomach was churning, my cheeks were cramping. I was experiencing the laughter I had missed for so long.

I feel my hand caress his bare back, and I pull away. It was an accident, I hope he wouldn't retaliate. I was being stupid, for all I know he was still angry. But this couldn't contain my laughter, it seemed as if it would never stop.

An endless repeat of my singing joy, all over a tumble down a slippery hillside. Or maybe it wasn't the tumble that had caught my amusement. Perhaps it had something to do with him?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

[Will]

Laugher? Laughter. She laughing. Why is she laughing? I suddenly feel self conscious. Her body seizes and beneath mine and I remember what had just happened. We were about to fight one another. We were angry at one another. We were livid. Why was she laughing. I thought she wanted to fight. I thought I had wanted to fight. Of course I hadn't wanted to fight. Nobody ever wants to fight. At least not in real life. I find myself smiling and the joy forces itself out of the cage that is her ribs. She's laughing and maybe she's forgiven me. Maybe that flame isn't dying. Maybe it's growing. I'm sure it's growing. How could it not? We're lying on top of one another and her hand has found its way underneath my shirt. It feels amazing there. So electrical. So perfect. So real. So raw. I feel a flutter of butterflies in my stomach as her laughter continues. Should I follow suit?Why not? I'm practically holding it back at this point. Might as well let it free. Forget the past, even just for this second. Even if when this moment's over she hates me, I'll remember it. I'll have this. I find it weird. I'm being so sentimental and we've only just met. What is happening to me? And then the first convulsion of laughter overtakes my body, and then I find it boiling up. Up through my throat and cascading out of my chapped lips. I'm not entirely sure what to make of this. I'm not sure even as my hands reach her hips. As my fingers slowly trace over the contour of the bones and clothes and skin.

credit to will

[grim.]

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I feel his chest over hanging my body. It started to vibrate, to contract. His lips open wide, and his laughter begins. Our two voices chuckling in harmony, belting at something so stupid, but so utterly hilarious.

We lay there, our bodies overlapping. His smile just inches from mine, his plump lips floating above mine. I cant stop the aching of my stomach, this laughter was never ending.

We sit, and we laugh, and we sit, and we laugh. It goes on for what feels like forever, and I loved every moment of it. Little did I know that I was going to do something so outlandish, so abnormal from my regular line of things, and I don't regret it one bit.

I feel his hand brush against my hip, slowly becoming more magnetic. His touch made my spine shiver, my lip quiver. I stop my laughter, and I stare into his eyes.

I didn't want his hand to move, it felt as if it had found its place of leisure. I look into his eyes, following the outline of his iris in my mind.&nbsp;

I feel the curve of my back lift from the ground, my hand reaches for the base of his neck. His baby hairs entangled within my fingers. And I press my lips into his. I feel the moister of his peachy mouth, encased with mine. In this moment I understand his meaning. He was my salvation, my future. He was all I wanted from now, and forever more.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

[Will]

The kiss. Our laughter is suddenly interrupted by it. The kiss that rocks my very being from it's throne and causes inner turmoil so powerful I'm literally immobile. For what feels like a good hour, my eyes are wide open. I don't quite understand what's happening. I just feel the thunderstorm raging across my lips. I swear if I was a bystander of this kiss I would see little arcs of electricity spiking from one pair of lips to the other. But soon my eyes close. Slowly, but surely they're closed and I just let myself feel her. This is so beautiful. So perfect. Everything I could've ever dreamed a kiss would feel like. And it was so sudden. So unexpected. We'd just fought, then rolled down a hill, laughed, and now we're kissing. That doesn't describe the rules of any relationship I've ever heard of. Yet, this feels like it's supposed to happen. Like it was meant to. And now I know that these are not the lips of the Devil, but the lips of an angel. Because I find myself completely and utterly immersed in them. But not consumed. And now I kiss her too. Feeling her hands on the back of my neck, pulling me closer. Passion. That's all I can use to describe it. A sudden, bizarre, raw passion. One of my hands moves from her hip to her back, to keep her elevated off the ground. Or at least take the effort out of staying up. And almost as if the endeavor was pointless, I find myself lowering her back to the ground. Never ceasing to contact of our lips. The fire burns. The real one, and the interior one. It is most certainly a fire now. No mistaking it. The orange and yellow flickers over our intertwined bodies as if to physically show the emotion we're feeling right now. Or at least the emotion I'm feeling now. I don't want this to end. Not now. Not ever.

credit to will