Grilled [Imogen and Arroyo]

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
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My feet sink beneath the loose sand with each step. I feel the grains seep up in between my toes, and I cant help but smile. The beach was a seamlessly orange. I could see the sun rising over the horizon, it was saying its last goodbyes. 

I had been sitting at a fire, I was invited to bask at the oceans glory, and bathe myself in warmth. I of course agreed, but I almost already regret that decision. There was very little action, I needed some kind of amusement. What was a girl to do?

I see a boy, he was walking along the beach. His pace would slowly increase. Was he chasing the sun? In a way I found that interesting, but also very alluring. 

I found myself wanting to learn more about this boy, so I watch for longer. Where was he from, how old was he, was he alone? My mind was racing, throbbing with impatience. 

I see him stop, he had stopped chasing the sun. Had his race ended, did the sun show him utter defeat? There was of course no way to beat the sun in a race, he never stopped his cycle around the earth. The boy must know this. 

I see him stare, had he been staring at me? I didn't know how to feel, his attention gave me discomfort. I didn't know how to approach him, what am I saying? There was no guarantee he was even looking at me. But what else could he be looking at?

I decide to approach him with my best defense. "Hey, you could simply say hi." I shout. He seemed upset at my realization of his gaze. Its not as if he was being subtle. 

I feel the heat of the fire, and I wait for his response. Perhaps I had found a mean of entertainment. Finally, this night was getting somewhere. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just               sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
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I watch the boy closely, he was hard to make out in this lighting. What was left of the sun was shining on my back, and probably making my features invisible. I liked this advantage.

But still, I could tell he was much taller then I was, he had dark hair, rather fit. I wonder if he also found himself in training? Or more then likely he just swam like the rest of us sea dwellers.

"Sorry! You just..." he hesitated. I struggle to keep myself from chuckling. He was nervous, this boy could barely make out my appearance, and yet he already was nervous. I never understood the childlike affection wrapped up in attraction.

Still, he was cute, and amusing. Maybe I should keep him around, there was no one else to keep me entertained. I stare at him, he had to finish his sentence first.

"caught my attention." he finishes. I let out a muffled laugh. He was unbelievably ridiculous. Was I really making him that uncomfortable?

"I'm Imogen, feel free to join me if you would like." I say through muffled laughter. I was having fun taunting this boy. Hopefully it wouldn't bite my ass in the long run.

I pull my hair over my right shoulder, and turn myself back toward the fire. Hopefully he would take the bate, and I would have my own personal jester for the night.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just  sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
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I watched as he stumbled up the hillside. I watched each extension of his muscular physic rise to the top. I didn't like the way his appearance made me feel. Was this the same thing as attraction?

I stare into the flickering fire, I felt my temperature rise up a few notches. And him being this much closer made my breathing sharp. He was so uncomfortable, his body language could have been legible from a mile away.

He takes a seat next to me, it was closer then I would have liked, but I could manage. I watched as his feet settled next to mine. Flaking with wet sand.

This moment seemed dreadfully long. He wasn't speaking, and neither was I. I could tell he had something caught in his throat. Why cant he just make this easy, and spit it out?

"I'm Arroyo. But you can call me, Roy." he finally says. I look him up and down. Roy, it slid of the tough nicely, I didn't mind the name. I sat and pondered what a normal person would say after that.

My mind felt blurred, I normally didn't get stressed in social situations. He was just so god damn awkward it was rubbing off on me.

"Hi Roy, nice to meet you. So do you chase the sun often?" I ask with a giggle. I assumed he would respond with a "Nice to meet you also Imogen", but then again this boy was unpredictable. He was flailing about like a fish caught on a hook, helpless.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why had I asked if he was chasing the sun? Well, though he was simply strolling along the beach, I noticed his intensiveness. He was gazing at the sun like a child at his father. I could tell he wanted something from it. That and he steadily picked up pace, the farther the sun crept over the horizon.

Call it woman's intuition, or simply the fact that I have caught myself chasing the sun many times before. Hoping it would lead me to a far of land, away from all of this. I wanted to believe that I deserved better, but I didn't.

I was like any other district resident, a single cow in a heard of many. All of us waiting to be slaughtered for the enjoyment of others. It was pathetic to think about, but I guess I still hadn't gotten over the fact that my parents wanted me dead so desperately, or at least it appeared that way.

I felt regret in toying with this boy. He didn't deserve that kind of abuse. I knew nothing of his past, and I shouldn't act as if I do. I find myself staring at the sand beneath me. I guess you could say my head had hung in shame.

"As a matter of fact, I do. But most people just call it walking on the beach." he spits. It came out so violent. Slithering through his pursed lips. Had I mad him that angry?

I feel my gaze shoot from the the ground, and to his face. I couldn't help but feel my features harden. Now he had pissed me off, no one talked to me like that.

I stood from my seat and glared in his eye. Even when I was standing I only tower over him by about two feet. "You know, if I had known that you were some gawking asshole, I wouldn't have invited you to come sit with me. I was simply being nice." I say.

Maybe now he would watch his tone, I wouldn't wanna have to ruin his night. I could lay him out flat, he wasn't worth my time. I don't care if he was more then a foot taller then me, I had heart, and I was willing to show him what I was capable of. I hope he tries something like that again.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

His chin shoots up past my face, his eyes looking down upon me. He was tall, but I wasn't intimidated. There was no room for weakness, no room for fear.

Not in the world we live in today. Violence, starvation, and the blood soaked ground of children, was how we lived. I guess I didn't have much room to complain. I lived in District Four for Christs sake. The only hardship we faced was the reaping, and many people volunteered anyhow.

I feel the heat radiate from his skin, his face was beating red. I couldn't let him see me shift, I held my ground and waited for his next move. He had better make it worth wild, cause in about three seconds, I'm gonna flatten him out.

"Excuse you! I was being nice to you before you cackled at my attempt to flirt with you!" he shouts. I feel warm air burst from my nostrils. I feel my eyes falter, my chest rising and falling with each heated breath.

"You little prick! How dare you use me as your mean to quench your teenage male urges!" I shout. I cant believe he degraded me like that. Wasn't flirting only used to taunt someone? Lure them into a cage of regret?

Maybe I was over reacting, he couldn't of meant any harm. Or maybe he had, I was confused all together. But now that I was ready to strike there was no backing down.

I cock my fist back and pull it into my peripheral vision. I was going to teach him a lesson, whether he deserved it or not. I feel the warm ocean air, rush between my fingers as I press my fist toward his chin. I was caught by surprise when I felt his fingers wrapped around my fist before it could reach its target.

His grip was tight, he was stronger then he looked. I push all of my weight forward. I feel my heel get caught up on a stray log, and before I knew it our bodies were flailing through the sand. Tumbling down the hill we had been occupying. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our bodies fall for what feels like an eternity. I can hear the slam of our structures, the burn of the force. The sand was cool, making for a chilled landing.

I of course landed on the bottom. His body was completely covering mine, you would think I wouldn't have the capability of breathe, but I did. I didn't feel as if anything was broken, and I didn't have time in my schedule for a broken bone.

I didn't waste time thinking about this though. His face was just inches from mine, and the closeness of his presents, made my chest bubble. I had this ideal, I didn't want him to move. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, I wanted him to stay.

His tanned skin gave me comfort, his sandy hair gave me joy. I wanted this moment to last for as long as it could. I felt every ounce of anger drain from my body, for the first time in a long time...I felt joy.

My chest begins to pulse, my breathe starts to stutter. I feel myself chuckle. This chuckle turns into a laugh, and then a louder laugh. I could feel the burning tears stream down my face. I couldn't stop myself , my stomach was churning, my cheeks were cramping. I was experiencing the laughter I had missed for so long.

I feel my hand caress his bare back, and I pull away. It was an accident, I hope he wouldn't retaliate. I was being stupid, for all I know he was still angry. But this couldn't contain my laughter, it seemed as if it would never stop.

An endless repeat of my singing joy, all over a tumble down a slippery hillside. Or maybe it wasn't the tumble that had caught my amusement. Perhaps it had something to do with him?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."

|Imogen Ynette|
|District Four|
|Sixteen|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I feel his chest over hanging my body. It started to vibrate, to contract. His lips open wide, and his laughter begins. Our two voices chuckling in harmony, belting at something so stupid, but so utterly hilarious.

We lay there, our bodies overlapping. His smile just inches from mine, his plump lips floating above mine. I cant stop the aching of my stomach, this laughter was never ending.

We sit, and we laugh, and we sit, and we laugh. It goes on for what feels like forever, and I loved every moment of it. Little did I know that I was going to do something so outlandish, so abnormal from my regular line of things, and I don't regret it one bit.

I feel his hand brush against my hip, slowly becoming more magnetic. His touch made my spine shiver, my lip quiver. I stop my laughter, and I stare into his eyes.

I didn't want his hand to move, it felt as if it had found its place of leisure. I look into his eyes, following the outline of his iris in my mind. 

I feel the curve of my back lift from the ground, my hand reaches for the base of his neck. His baby hairs entangled within my fingers. And I press my lips into his. I feel the moister of his peachy mouth, encased with mine. In this moment I understand his meaning. He was my salvation, my future. He was all I wanted from now, and forever more.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine, reminding me of the day, that I could no longer call you mine."