Annie Maveles

Gender: Female

District/Area: District One

Age: Seventeen

Codeword: Odair

Appearance:

“I just feel like…she’s hiding something. Something even all the makeup and dyes in the world can’t hide”.

    Annie has blonde hair that she usually keeps flowing in curls to her shoulders, although sometimes I’ve seen her keep it in a tight ponytail if she’s feeling athletic, or just plain adventurous. And the dyes, always with the dyes, she has a new color on her every day it seems. Usually it’s something like the bottom of her hair is dyed blue or a couple strands are fluorescent orange, you know never something too crazy, but still it’s not her, or at least it used to not be. I know, her family knows, and even she knows deep down that this is all just compensating for something else, something bigger going on.

    Annie has bright and pretty darn pale skin, I mean for someone who leaves the house a whole lot it’s a wonder why. I know she’d probably like it to be a more even tan but there are plenty of larger problems that I would love to be solved for her before that one. She used to be more athletic or…adventurous, you could say. I mean I know all guys say that they want a skinny chick, but the way Annie is now, it’s just unhealthy. I try to get her to eat more or come over to my house to have some of the feast we have there each night but, the more I try the more I get silence. She used to go with me to our favorite spot, at the training station with the other careers, in case we ever were selected as tribute for the games. I know it doesn’t exactly sound like a romantic date, but those were the golden days. I would stand there and feed her arrows as she would fire one after the other and crack jokes in between shots. I miss those jokes, God I love her but I just wish there was some…some way to break that shell of a person guarding her, that her real self is encased in. Enough of that, anyway obviously physical fitness isn't her top priority these days, but I can’t help but wonder…what is?

Personality:

    I don’t know what my family’s problem is, or even Peter’s for that matter. If they truly love me, then they’d stop worrying about me and get rid of whatever ideas they’ve made up in their head of what’s wrong with me. Sure, I like to spend an hour or two in front of the mirror, what girl in District One doesn’t? I mean with all the makeup supplies, beautiful dyes and even tattoos we have access to, what’s not to like? Peter keeps telling me that he wishes I would act like my old self, but that’s ridiculous. I still am my old self. I’m still beautiful, vibrant, and pleasant to be around. I honestly don’t see what the big deal is.

    When I’m at home, I try to keep everything I do there at a minimal level, as much as possible anyway. There’s just…too many bad memories, too many nightmares and times I find myself waking up screaming. That’s why I like to go out a lot, my friends plan places for us to go and see in the district, and when I’m with them I just feel…free. Of course I feel something when I’m with Peter, but when I’m with him I feel safe and secure, not like how I feel when I can be away from it all, all that stress and chaos. What can I say? Amber and Kasey just know how to make a girl feel at home all the time, and they sure know how to make a party get more interesting. When I’m out with them I tend to come home late, OKAY a lot late. Still it’s no reason for my parents to run down the stairs crying and yelling “where have you been!?” or “Annie I can’t take this anymore!”. My being social has nothing to do with what’s happened these past few years, it’s always been this way.

    I stopped taking my schoolwork so seriously last year or so. And I have every reason to, I mean all I’m going to do anyway is carry on the family business of making all that jewelry, and I love shiny things, so to me it’s a perfect fit. My family is worried by this, but what am I really sacrificing If I’m prepared for all futures that will come to me. And from where me and Peter went each weekend, I’m even ready for the Hunger Games if I was to get selected, or at least that’s how I feel. The way I see it, I’m not just surviving out with my life out here, I’m thriving. Although I guess every child In District One could say that.

History:

    I had a dream last night, one of the bad ones I keep having…there’s just no way to make them stop. I dreamed of my little brother Tommy, Peter, and I all out in a field, having a picnic like we used to. Mom’s face would always light up when she heard we were taking him with us, sister and brother bonding, I dunno, but I adored it just as much as she did. I always thought it was cute when Tommy would play fight with Peter and I would always have to come running after them as they went rolling down those grassy hills. Sometimes I would sneak up on them and scare Tommy to death with a large roar or shriek. He was always such a bundle of joy that kid…even if he was a demon more than a brother sometimes at home. Every time I go down the hill I hear myself saying “come on Tommy, let’s go do something else!” with a smile on my face, waiting for his head to turn and that smile same as mine. That’s where it always stops…right when his face turns, and I hate it when that happens, I don’t ever want to say goodbye to that dream some nights.

    When it resumes, it’s always the same still picture going on in my sleeping mind. I’m sitting with my knees bent, holding Tommy’s hand at the side of his bed. I see nothing but still faces, yet I hear screaming and crying to “Get up!” and “I need you!” but of course…the picture in my mind never moves. This part of the dream angers me…frustrates me and confuses me beyond belief, that’s why I don’t like to talk about this part with almost anyone. Tommy died of cancer about two years ago, and of course his death left its mark on this family. My mother and father grieved and cried for months, and I was there right beside them, doing nothing but the same. I wondered if things could ever be the same, or if we would stay in this spiral of hell and depression for all eternity. We did recover…it took time, mending of course, but where we are now, I’m confident everything has passed.

    Even with my confidence, I don’t know why my parents still look to me each night, and put a hand on my shoulder when we’re about to eat at the table. I’m fine, I don’t need their pity. I’ve moved on same as everyone else, and anyone that tells me otherwise is just starting drama. So what if I’ve changed, people change over time, and frankly, I like this “new” me. The new Annie, that’s more explosive and fun to be around, and who everyone would want to hang out with. Maybe it’s something only I can appreciate for now, but they better warm up to me soon, because otherwise it’s just going to make things much more difficult for me and anyone around us.

This is my first character on this site, so any feedback would be well appreciated! ^-^