Book Skins // [Maggie & Garnet]

m a r g u e r i t e

Ready or not (Uh-huh), here I come, you can't hide
Gonna find you and make you want me

Despite the hours of drills and retreads of old games, Maggie had been unprepared for the complete spectacle the pre-games ceremonies would become. She dreaded the laser like focus each possible sponsor interaction could have on her future. She knew that nothing about the games was based on merit – that notion had all but been expelled from her head – but she also knew that one of her greatest weaknesses was seizing the spotlight and holding onto it.

She’d never needed the accolades or attention of her peers; if anything, she could thrive without the need to compare herself to others. Her father had at least taught her that whatever was going on in her head tended to be far accurate than some second-hand news. And her mother’s decision to disappear held the weight that life could be personal without consideration of anyone else, too.

The library had been an open invitation for Maggie to squirrel away when the day had been too long or she hadn’t the energy to deal with the rest of her competitors. She’d slipped out of her opening ceremonies garb for comfortable sweats and wrapped her hair up.

Only one other tribute had decided to join her, a curious young man from eight.

She afforded him more of a peace offering than most. She wondered if he felt it too – the twenty-two other competitors from across the country, the spotlight, and the way all of this was supposed to build them up (or break them down).

“Thanks.” She said, eyeing him as he held his coat. “You aren’t a fan of capitol style I take it.”