cherry juice children {pillar/reese} blitz

Reese LaChance was a fan of fashion, it turned out. And he was a fan of what he wore. A crown made of sticks, green lips, green gemstones placed strategically on his bare torso, stressed jeans, and a green flannel tied at his waist: he felt noticed. He felt like someone somewhere could have looked at him on their television screen and thought "I want to be like Reese."

One night in the training center, and Reese had already discovered he had the voice of a lion and the courage of a warrior. He could be heard for the first time, if it was what he truly wanted. And he thought maybe he would try it out.

He was chewing on a cherry stem, post-parade. Music played on the loudspeakers, and most everyone was being dragged around by their stylists from place to place. Reese sat alone, sitting on his feet, and watching everyone pass him by. Some of the older victor children even approached tributes and asked for pictures.

Reese looked up to notice Kieran Emberstatt dragging Pillar Fray by the arm.

"You're my favorites this year. So I want a picture with you."

Reese's features lit up. He had been right. Someone had saw him and saw a contender and not a little sick boy. Kieran held him with the same esteem as a Fray.

"Sure!" he said, swirling his cherry stem around in his mouth.

"As long as Ms. Fray is okay with it?"