the lines we toe: starcrossed lovers {birch v. blackmore}

This was going to be interesting. I knew it was, each year it as. I always looked forward to this occasion,my blood buzzing like it had been shocked with sudden volts of electric. Tonight was the Blackmore and Birch dinner party. It was held each year. each member of each family expected to attended. This year it was to be held at the Blackmore mansion in a room specially catered for this event. The path was to begin in a few minutes and coming along to this party would be drama and excitement and things that always made the beating of my heart increase. One year my mother had gone to one of these event expecting a peaceful outcome only to come face to face with the man of the Birch house locked in his arms as she spat venomous words at him. They had gotten into an argument over something petty, something that probably wasn't even worth fighting over- but still. When two families who are both ruthless, who both want to be on the top of the latter, unite for one night, things aren't going to go all smooth sailing and rainbows in grassy paddocks. No. There was going to be cracks in our bridges, and those cracks where gong to shatter and break apart and my family is going to want to catch those pieces just as much as the Birches. Heads are going to clash and I am going to watch in amusement as all the termites and rats lash ready to rip ones throat from another.

The suit I wore tonight was one that fit the occasion well. Just like my other family members, my suit was neat, at was sleek and perfect. I watched as logan came down into he room. He too was wearing a suit- well he had no other choice really. If he weren't I would have gouged his eyes out before sending him back to get changed. And he would get changed. I knew he would- because if he dare undermine my authority in this house I would not think twice as to kick him from the house and send him to the streets. Where he would live in poverty. He would have no home to come to. He would no longer be part o the Blackmore family- he would be a stranger. And the Blackmore’s didn't like strangers, actually, we killed strangers often.

My cool gaze pins to him and I can read the hatred and dictates that etched all over his body. H didn't want to be here. No one, bar myself, probably wanted to be hear. Party pooper. Thats what they all were. Why couldn't they just let loose a little, cause a little drama, threaten to ip each others throats out before throwing a few ounces. They were all savages anyways. Each and every one of them. They were dogs, untamed wild beasts. I hated wild animals. They made me feel ice. Even looking at my family I felt sick, sick at the way they feasted off the flesh of other human begins. Animals. They were no better than wild animals. In a way, despite everything, I was almost embarrassed to present them to the Birch’s.

But then I remember that the Birch’s themselves are an embarrassment. How many chances had they had? how many chances had they had to bring home the glory. Four? Five? And each time they had failed. They claim to be ruthless beasts who slay people from breakfast lunch and dinner- but yet they have failed even to make it to the finale in every games that they have taken part in. The Blackmore’s on the other hand aren't fillers like that, they have lost to the capitol and I did not plan on doing so either. We would bring home that glory, our name would be known not only in our district but in all 11 other districts. People would cower at our name, and they would be awed by our presence.

My thoughts are interrupted as people begin to file into the room. My eyes catch sight of a red headed boy, a young girl and a few other unfamiliar face which I knew to be part of the Birch family. I watch has faces glanced around the room, the families milling around rather awkwardly as they tried to understand why each of them were here. It was annoying, frustrating even. They were here to have fun, here because it was a tradition of these families to get together for a gathering once each year. Sighing I wander open to an empty chair in a quite corner of the room. this was going to be a long- Well well well, I must have spoken too soon because as soon as I sit down a small head begin to bobble amongst the crowd. It was moving fast and after a moment in clashed with the plump body of my brother, Tuff. Instantly my mood darkens as I watch Tuff. Ugh. I hated him. I hated the way he pranced around like he owned the place, I hated his fat chubby face, his sour smelling breath. But most of all I hated the way whenever he talked he sneered, his words leaving prickles in the skin of people around him. He may be my brother, my twin brother, but I couldn't care less about him.

I watch as the girl pulls out a knife and pins it against my brothers throat. Maybe if it had been any other member of my family I would have gotten up instantly. I may not have loved my family, but I could tolerate them, after all they shared my blood and thats what mother would have wanted. She loved each and every one of us, and it was her with to me to keep us all together. But Tuff, Tuff was another story, a story that didn't require a prince or a saviour.

Slowly I climb to my feet.

A harsh silence has now filled the room, the only thing that could be heard was the two animals growling at each other and the occasional murmur of someone in the crowd. I slink over to a wall, one that was directly opposite to where they both stood. I was far away enough not to cause a scene, but I was close enough to step in if anything was to happen.

“I cannot possibly imagine what I did to deserve such hostility from you. After all, you are our esteemed guest.” As soon as the words dribble from his lips my face is forced into a scowl. Just the sound of his voice makes me feel like I am drilling nails into my skull.

"Don't touch me." Instantly I am ready to move. Excitement bubble up within me. Yes. Yes this is what I had been waiting for. Tension, venom, drama, fighting. The girl screams tars running down her cheeks. At the sight of the girl and her obvious distress my mind begins to wander. What had Tuff done? what had he done to get a reaction like this from a mere child? But before I could even think about anything else the girl rips herself from his grasp snakes up her knife and presses it to his throat once again. But there was something different, something more serious in the way her hand shook slightly as she held the blade. She was going to do it, going to kill my brother. A laugh almost slips from my lips. Like hell she was. I was the one who was going to kill him if time came to it, not this little brat.

I move to interfere, intending to rip that girl from my brothers throat and tear her a new one, maybe steal she shiny pearls, but before I even reach ten someone has the girl by the arms and is hauling her off my brother. My yes become slits as I watch the man carry the girl away. Then I turn them on Tuff. I walk over to him, my eyes colder than ice. I lean down and grab the front of his suit, hauling his body up so that our faces were barely centimetres apart.“You let a girl disarm you. You let a child get on top of you. You let a child almost kill you. You are disgrace to this family.” I spit at him. I was tempted to do much worse but I manage to rein myself in resulting to throwing him to the ground once again. I stand up straight and dust of my coat but when I look up a more bizarre scenario than before had formed. A boy, a Birch boy, had a nocked arrow pointed at the girls throat. But that wasn't the part that pissed me off. What pissed me off was the fact that this boy thought he could just waltz into my home with a bow and arrow. Who the hell did he think I was-

“Hey! You know, I really didn't expect this whole stupid dinner party to be peaceful, but that doesn't mean you have to go out of the way to disrupt the little toleration we all have for each other. Much less threaten to kill your own family member! I mean seriously, who does that? There are so many lines marked out in life, and being responsible for murdering your own family is absolutely out of the question! So please, if you would, put away your weapon so this night isn't a complete disaster. I really don't want to wash blood out of the carpet.” Summer. The sweet innocent Summer. I would expect nothing less of her than to interfere with something like this. Glancing over at her I could tell that she was raging, her voice had seemed calm and collected but inside of her a fir was building.

Silently I walk up behind her and place a hand on her shoulder. Out of all my family members I found Summer to be the one I had to protect the most. “Thats enough,” I whisper into her ear, before pulling away and walking over to the boy with the arrow. “Who the hell do you think you are, boy?” My voice is as cold as ice, my eyes flashing with annoyance. “Did your parents not teach you any manners? You are in my house, as my guest, and you wield a weapon. I suggest you put it down right now unless you want to lose those precious fingers of yours,” I snarl.

Summer was right. This guy had taken it too far, turning his weapon on a member of his own family. It disgusted me. Families were meant to stick together, they were meant to watch each others back. It didn't matter that I found most of my smily to be below the termites that ate at the wood in our basement, I would still protect them. This guys was a disgrace, a disgrace to the human race. “I expected better f the Birch's. After all you are meant to be one of the more sophisticated families... But I guess thats not that case, right, boy...? Put. It. Down. Now.”