-.._-Scratching-_..The.._-Surface.._-Damen/Cameron

Maia Grayson

Stopping in the doorway, Maia stood there, her foot slightly extended forward. Her arms remained stationary at her side, blue eyes darting about the room. The dining hall was already filled and spacious, noise rising in a tidal wave, mixed in with mouth-watering scents. However, rooted to the spot, she looked on desperately for an empty table. There were many tables spread-wide across the room, all decked out in food, and tributes. For once, her stomach growled. She’d tried her best to keep her head down during training, but had come across a few people. Perhaps they were just being friendly. Or maybe they wanted to know about her, learn her secrets. Or maybe they wanted an alliance.

Alliances could mean anything in different situations. At home, in District 2, it could range anywhere from acquaintances to training partners. Merely helping each other out. Sitting with them at lunch, handing them a weapon, exchanging small talk. The little stuff. Maia never had that. No one wanted to help her out. They’d much rather watch her try to help herself, and laugh, cruelly, should she fail. Then she just had to grit her teeth, ignore them, and go on. She used to have an acquaintance once…Drew Steinbeck, a pudgy boy, who followed her around, and offered to do everything for her. She’d grudgingly accepted his presence at first, but soon, he proved helpful…and it was nice to have someone to talk to instead of scoffing at her. At first, it seemed to grow into something more, a friendship perhaps, but then she’d realized his motive: he was sharing every one of her slip-ups to everyone in school, who’d taunt and tease her about things she knew only Drew would know…she’d confronted him, but by then the damage had been done. Ever since, Maia had learned to ignore all around her, and go about her own business, refusing any sort of help. There was always that fear that it would just end badly.

Here, alliances took on a whole different meaning. Alliances meant a group of bloodthirsty teenagers, meant to weed out the others. Always useful, and always deadly. Kids in the alliances were usually the ones who survived the longest, having the advantage of combining their various skills, and teaming up on the others.
Extremely useful, always guaranteed some sort of benefit…as well as a drawback.

Because, in both instances, especially this one, alliance never meant friend.

In the end, they always turned against each other. Entertaining for the viewers, watching such a tight-knit group turn around, and hack each other to death. Not so much for those actually there. Pushing those thoughts far from her mind, Maia tried to focus on the positives. Alliances. Her father had always advised them strongly.

“Anyone in an alliance is smart,” he’d say. During the Games, he’d usually have a running commentary going to the family, perched all together on the couch, watching the Games. “See!” He’d roar, leaning back on the cushions, pointing. All of his words, tips more likely, were usually directed at Maia. Looking on, Valora would smirk, or give Maia a smug look. “That girl,” he’d cry, already worked up. “No alliances, nothing.” At this point, he’d glance at Maia, with a sort of meaningful look, asking her to listen and listen well. Grumbling, he’d cross his arms. “She’ll be dead by tomorrow.”

And sure enough, the girl was dead by the next day, killed by a group. An alliance.

Knowing far too well that’s what her father wanted of her, Maia took a step forward. He’d want her to be in an alliance. But, being amiable wasn’t her forte. She wanted nothing to do with these people, most of them at least. All she wanted to do was go home…and rub her victory into Valora’s face…and have her parents be proud of her…to be something more amongst the people of the District. In which case…she needed to do all she could to win. Make an alliance.

Taking another step, and then another, Maia finally settled herself at a full table. Her stomach rumbled, painfully. Instinctively, to delay talking to the others, she reached for a roll and nibbled on it. Irritation filled her stomach as easily as the bread. All she wanted to do was survive this stupid thing! It wasn’t that she didn’t want an alliance. She just wanted the unimaginable: for it to last forever. You’re stupid, a voice in her head told her, stupid for wishing something like that. Fantasies in her head always went array. Nothing lasted forever. Not the summer nights, spent as a young child out in the yard, playing tag with her sister. Not the little candies that Valora would pass to Maia during particularly boring school assemblies. Not even the laughter…all of it drifted away over time, until they were mere memories. Memories that one can smile at, before the sorrow hits. They were gone forever. Everyone suffered from that fear: the fear of things not lasting. Of them disappearing, dissolving, with mere remnants left behind. Not even farewells are final. It’s always,

“See you soon!”

“Talk to you later!”

No one wants to see anything come apart at the seams. But, here the thread was already weak. Best hold it together while she could. She knew half of these kids weren’t bad. They could fight well, or were clever. In which case, she wanted them. But, first she had to get to know people. Swallowing hard, Maia turned to the first person next to her.

“Hi,” she said, as friendly as possible, but her voice sounds false…fake. She cleared her throat, and erased the smile from her face, realizing how easily anyone can see through it. Just be yourself…she always found that line cheesy, but now it was her only chance…even if herself was awkward…and ugly…and sullen. “I’m Maia Grayson…District 2...” She faltered, unsure of what else to say. Glancing at the food assembled before her, she was struck by inspiration. “This food is great,” she said, truthfully. “I can eat so much of it…after training so much, right?”

((occ: no, this doesn’t mean an alliance at all, it’s kinda just what flowed when I began writing, so don’t be like, alliance wha?? It doesn’t mean anything if you don’t want it to. Just letting you know!!))