Fisher Boy Memoirs (Scarlet)

Scarlet
I have to work late today fishing because I was late. Late because I was dealing with that idiot from District 9... or was it 7? I've forgotten already. Someone else is working with me. I don't recognize him. Probably some kid from elsewhere in the district. He looks angry; like me.

As I turn around my hand slips and I drop the heavy rope I was holding onto the kid's foot.

"Sorry," I mutter frustrated.

Scarlet
I pick the rope back up and continue fishing... still catching nothing. The gasp of surprise and moments later the splash makes me turn around and drop the rope again. The boy to my right has fallen, and I would find it funny if it weren't for the fact that the boy can't swim. Or at least it appears he can't.

I strip my jacket off slide slowly into the cold water. I duck below water to gain speed and catch up to the boy. I slide my arm through his and lift him up against my body as I've been trained at the gym. With some effort I begin to paddle back to the dock. Dripping wet, I shove the boy onto solid ground.

I look back at where he fell and swear softly. "Did you have to lose the pole?"

I raise an eyebrow as he peels off his shirt. I've had enough of guys who all they want is a romance, but this doesn't necessarily mean he's hitting on me.

"Keep the fish... and everything else you have to offer. It's no big deal and I'm sick of fish," I say looking at the tiny slippery thing. "I should probably go in and retrieve the fishing pole before the peacekeepers come this way."

I dive in before he can reply, and smoothly swim to where the pole is sinking. Grabbing it firmly with one hand, I push up out of the water and into air and swim back to the docks.

Brisk and ungraceful, I give the pole back to the boy. "What pulled you in?"

Scarlet
Again, I raise an inquisitive eyebrow that tells little of my current emotion.

"Whatever," I say. "If the peacekeepers come around and ask why we're dripping wet, just tell them that you fell in the water and I had to pull you out."

I'm about to start fishing again, when I realize I don't know the boy's name. I've probably just saved his life, and I don't even know his name. So naturally, I ask, "What's your name? I don't see you often around the district."

I shake my head. "I'm not in charge here. I actually go out to deeper waters in a boat to fish big things like whales. You know, with harpoons and stuff. I'm Scarlet," I reply.

Silently, I stretch my dirty, soaked hand to shake his. That's why I've never seen him. "Ever used a harpoon?" The likely answer is no, but you never know... I think of that kid from District 9 and how he had never even fished. The corners of my mouth turn up slightly in malicious humor.

I look at him slyly, calculating. Not many of us are hungry in the district 4, I mean, we're one of the career districts so we get winners more often. My family isn't the richest but I've never gone hungry except for the times when I have quit eating for days at a time to build my stamina and resistance against food.

"You'll probably want to go to the gym and learn how to throw a spear first," I say dismissively. "And just so you know, you don't keep what you catch out there. Only small fish like these," I hold up the tiny thing Shanks had accidentally caught, "you can keep. But sure I'll teach you after you learn to aim."