Just Looking... [open]

Alleila

I look up and see a boy I've noticed before at school, although I've never actually spoken to him. Flustered, I feel a blush creeping across my cheeks, but I duck my head and try to slip out the door before I can bother him by talking at all. He's really cute, I think briefly. The pause is my downfall. Before I can run home, he starts talking to me.

"What's your name?"

I bite my lip. There can be no escape now, so I look up, trying to maintain eye contact but failing. Instead, I look slightly to the left of his head. "M-my name is Alleila," I murmur in a voice that would be inaudible except for the fact that we're in a quiet pharmacy. Out of courtesy, I reply, "What's yours?" My blush deepens as I look at his face. He really is cute.

Alleila

"I'm Trenton,but everyone calls me Trip."

He smiles at me, and I can't help but manage a shy smile back. His gregarious personality is making me feel more comfortable than I usually am in the presence of other people. Because I don't usually associate with other students, I'm unsure of how to react when he is so friendly, but luckily I manage to speak more gracefully than I've seen other socially awkward students talk. "Hi Trip..." My voice is a little louder this time, and I'm able to keep it from shaking quite as much. I feel the butterflies in my stomach start to fade away. Trip exudes an air of friendliness, and I start to feel myself relax a little bit more. A blush spreads across his face, and I wonder briefly why. It couldn't possibly be because of me, could it?

Before I can further pursue that thought, suddenly I realize where I've seen him before. He's a Career Tribute - someone who's trained all their life for the Hunger Games. Some of the other Career Tributes that I've seen him around are those who tease me for being so buried in my books. I remember why he's made such an impression on me - I can't recall any time that he's made fun of me for being so smart or working so hard to become a doctor. Knowing that, I immediately let down my initial barrier that keeps me from getting hurt. Curiously enough, I don't think Trip will hurt me emotionally, like so many of his friends have done.

Still, I can't help comparing myself to him physically. He looks muscular, and it's obvious that if he was ever chosen in the Reaping he could probably win. Meanwhile, I'm slight and lithe, and I can't lift anything very heavy in the market. That's why my parents usually only send me on errands where the carrying will be light. Forcing myself out of my reverie, I make myself stutter out, "So...uh...w-why are you here at the pharmacy today?" The blush in my face is starting to fade a little bit.

Alleila

"Just on an errand.Nothing much,really."

At Trip's widening smile, I relax a little bit more. I can't help warming up to him; his gregarious personality is completely opposite mine, but at the same time I feel so comfortable in his presence. I manage another shy smile, my face lighting up. For some reason, I feel like I can trust him. Still, when I try to make eye contact with him it doesn't work, and I again look slightly to the left of his head. The blush that I had just gotten rid of spreads across my face again, causing my cheeks to take on a rosey pink color. I wonder briefly if I look pretty, but then I dismiss the fact. I haven't ever thought I was pretty, so why would I start being pretty now?

He seemed happy that I was warming up to him. I wondered why. People who could read others like he seemed to be able to read me had always baffled me. I was in a whole different region in terms of smarts - books and medicines were as far as my knowledge spread. Wondering what to say, I managed, "What kind of medicine were you looking for, do you know?" Stupid, I chided myself. Why was I talking about medicine?

Alleila

"I'm not even sure.See,my parents are doctors,but I haven't learned much from them.I probably should,butI don't."

I again remember another place where I've seen him. Our district is rich, so sometimes all of the most prestigious doctors in the district come together for parties. Most of them bring their children to show them off either as brilliant minds or as Career Tributes. I remember his parents showing him off as one of the best Career Tributes within our district. Our parents were both prestigious doctors, so I wasn't extremely surprised that I had seen him there; I was just a little troubled that I hadn't remembered. Biting my lip again, I noticed him studying me again. It was interesting, seeing how "people reading" worked. He seemed to be able to tell what I was feeling.

I c ocked my head, feeling more confident, which was surprising. It usually took me longer to warm up to someone. "Really? My parents are doctors as well. They've taught me pretty much everything I know." Pausing, I thought back to all of the certificates I had gotten for finding out so much about science when I was still in school. "Well, maybe not everything, but a lot of it." My body relaxes; I can feel myself become infinitely more comfortable in his presence, even if I'm still a little shy. I smile at him, the shyness dissipating.

Alleila

Trip is incredibly nice; I find myself liking him a lot, even though I've just officially met him. His personality is really outgoing, as I find from the fact that he keeps talking to me, even though usually most would have already given up. My shyness and lack of eye contact isn't exactly the best way to attract friends. His smile widens once more, and I can't help smile back this time. Something about his smile makes me want to smile, too. Again, though, for some reason I can't stop myself form comparing myself to his size, both in presence and physically. He's so much bigger and stronger while I'm...well, me. His presence fills the room, while I only take up enough that I'm not completely swallowed into oblivion.

"I wouldn't be very good at being a doctor,to tell you the truth,even though my parents are doctors. If they tried to teach me something,it would probably go in through one ear and out the other."

His rich laugh fills my ears, and I find myself laughing as well. My parents have told me my laugh sounds like bells chiming over and over again in harmony, but I've never believed it. I hear it so differently. On the contrary, his laugh is amazing; it's almost contagious. Shaking my head, I say on a whim, "I'm sure you have other talents, don't you?" I think he knows what I'm talking about.

Alleila

I stop laughing to listen to him. He seems a bit hesitant to answer my question, but other than that I cannot read his emotions. "I do,yes,all of them having to do with well,being a Career.You know,lots of stuff.Working with weapons,especially knives,they're my best thing." I am intrigued. Careers are people who I have always avoided, due to the fact that none of them really like me. However, he seems different; I'm confused by the fact that a Career Tribute could be so nice, especially to someone like me. Shaking myself from my thoughts, I contemplate what he said. It seems as though he's pretty handy with weapons, so privately I make a note that if he's ever chosen for the Hunger Games, I'll be sure to watch him and see how he's doing.

I find myself liking Trip more and more as time goes on, although I slap myself mentally. Idiot! You know no one will ever like you...at least not like that. Maybe if you saved someone's life they would pity you enough to like you a little bit, but not otherwise. Be realistic. Finally, I manage to make brief eye contact before breaking away again, but I feel a small burst of triumph in my chest. Looking up, I make eye contact again. My heart swells with pride. "That's really interesting. I'm not too bad with a knife, myself, although I doubt I could ever be a Career." I laugh again. Pausing, I add, "What are you doing after your get the medicine?" I notice that the pharmacist seems like he's almost done.