Memories Of The Past (FINISHED)

'No need to be sorry'

My eyes snap open. I bumped into a guy?! I feel my head tilt up wards a little. A light breeze blew through my blood red hair and I felt my face reveal itself. He sounds concerned, what a gentleman... I can feel my pack sagging off my shoulder. I leave it despite feeling it prickle down my arm. I glance at my arm and get a hint at what he was concerned over. The was still a bit of blood left over from when I cleaned my hands. I forgot that I'm supposed to leave my hands alone after I accidentally cut them.

I hear him take a few steps for wards and for a second I almost cry thinking he was just gonna leave me here, humiliated. Sitting like a stunned bunny on a sidewalk. That didn't sound very fun. But, I hear him stop and my strange paranoia disappears. For some reason he comforts me. I almost snort in laughter at that. What am I thinking?, echos in my mind. No one wants to be friends with a broken minded girl. Then again, he seemed mature enough to understand people unlike other Careers who were so darn air headed they relied on their strength and liked to pick on the outcasts. In fact, not even the outcasts want to be my friend. I raise an eyebrow to myself. I was thinking like this, why?

'Do you need any help getting up?'

I raised my head to look at this guy. Very average looking but in a different way. He looked like a very creative personality. His hair slightly waved, a flat area in his hair, brown eyes and laid back. He looked about my height but, maybe a bit older than me. This sort of thing probably didn't usually happen to him. He must feel awkward...

"Nah, It's cool." I give him a smile, trying to tame the (if he was feeling it) awkward. "Thanks a million for even asking anyways! Very kind of you" I let out of my mouth. I shoulder my pack back on and push myself up. I take out a damp cloth and wipe my dirty and bloody hands before offering my, now clean, hand. I was right. He is about my height, but a bit taller. "Wanna tell me your name?"

Thomas. What a smart name. To me, just the name tells a whole story. A brilliant boy who is good at almost everything he tries. A boy with brilliant, protective parents and a bit of a rebel. What ever, I probably got all of that wrong. Before he told me, it looked like he was actually debating over whether or not he should reveal his name to me. I'm not some freak. I'm an actual person with real feelings. I know he wasn't trying to offend me, he was simply being himself. I relax, letting my shoulders droop. He is a nice person so, let it drop.

All I want is someone I can talk to, laugh with, and listen to. That's all I ask for. "I'm Rosette. But, you can call me what ever you want." I beam happily at him.

"Again, I'm so sorry for walking into you like that... I really just got lost in my mind and didn't look..." my sentance drifted off "Anyways," I cut in to my own apology, "You busy? I'm slightly lonely. If you don't mind, would you like to talk for a bit?

I laugh enthusiastically at his joke. I slowly take a small step in the opposite direction and look back over my free shoulder, silently questioning if he was going to come. I turned around to look at him and realize there was a bit of a quiet moment. I stumble over what to say for a minute.

"S-so, um, what brings you out here?" I choke out.

I realize I've been talking pretty loud for the past minute or so. I reach up and place one hand on the base of my neck. I should be talking a bit quieter. I remove my hand from my neck. He must think I'm going to engage in a more deep conversation. I glace around before opening my mouth.

"Ah, you don't have to answer that. The park is around here somewhere. Would you mind going there? I love parks."

((It's okay xD I can easily change my posts so they work around the story ))

I place my left hand just over my elbow on my right arm. I tried to avoid looking at him, a bit embarrassed this was going better than I had expected. I looked up at the crescent moon in front of us. Not getting sleep was normal but, he had a point about rather spending your time until you were good and ready instead of twisting and turning uncomfortably, awaiting sleep and feeling melancholy about lack of sleep. "I'm out here for a few reasons. Sleep might just be one of them... I'm not sure, myself." I pause. "I'm glad I'm not alone, then. Being alone at night for me usually ends in a sadistic way. I'm not sure if you feel the same."

I tear my eyes off the moon and tighten my grip on my arm as my eyes flicker down to the grass growing forcibly through the cracks of the sidewalk, yellowing from lack of water. Actually, I already was headed for the park. Why am I being so selfish and bringing him along? I bring my head up and look over at him and attempt to focus on both of his eyes. "Parks are my only way of really relaxing. I go to the park around here almost every night. Weird but, I don't sleep much. Life is way too short to waste time pacing, thinking of what to do."

Returning at home only at night, sleeping for a few short hours and napping at different times through out the rest of the day was basically routine for me now. I look away from Thomas and back to the Wonderland cat's smile of a moon. I realize I'm shaking slightly and reach into my pack, with my left hand and, by memorization, without looking I open a blue (I'm hoping) rectangular box, pull out one of the pills that taste like powder and frozen water and pop it into my mouth. I shut my mouth and force myself to swallow.

I try to focus on the moon while I feel the medication scorch my lungs and, for a second I think I can actually feel the pain. But, I realize it's shock. I realize my eyes had grown in size and I return them to their normal size. I realize what an awkward silence I just threw in. I suck in a breath of air and ask "So, do you have a favorite animal?" Small talk. It always works in the movies.

I realized I had used a bad term of word when he questioned 'sadistic'. I waved my hands at him and straightened up, eyes widening and my mouth slightly agape. "No I... I meant it more like something unusual happens and I end up getting the short stick. I'm not wording this right..." God, I am not good at this.

I could hear our voices echoing along the deserted street. Our footsteps almost in sync. I could see the park just a distance away. A couple of benches scattered here and there. A small pair of swings off to the corner. That was about it other than a few tall trees. I wasn't even sure what type of trees they were and I wasn't in any rush to find out.

Once again, I lean for wards and laugh. He has a good sense of humor, this one. It was true though. I have been noticing of late that some of these Careers are straight out air headed and bossy for that matter, too. "I like any animal, really, except, most of them hate my guts. But, whatever, I respect what animals want and don't want."

I almost trip over the flat surface ((skills)) when I hear the part about some of them being cute. I know everyone had feelings and all but, he was so open about thinking they were cute to a, more or less, stranger that it had caught me off guard. I began blushing outrageously hard and was happy, grateful even, that it was dark enough out that he couldn't see my face all too well. I wasn't really prepared to talk about liking anyone with him until we were closer, more trustworthy.

I almost sensed a hidden challenge behind his words and just about put on a hard core gamer-gal expression. I re-thought it last second and just gave him a simple smile, feeling my eyes smile with me. "Yeah, sometimes there are real gems out there. I really could care less about looks. They're more of a side dish on the tray of life. It's whats inside that counts." I breath in... And let out a gentle sigh "I'm sorry for the questions, Thomas. I swear I'm not a stalker but, do you have a favorite color? Any dreams you want to fulfill?"



((Just testing colors , sorry if it hurts your eyes or anything...))

I averted my eyes to the ground. He didn't seem to be making a joke with that one and I felt slightly ashamed for smiling a bit at his comment about the something bad happening. "I wouldn't like to think anyone would point a gun at you. Everyone can be reasoned with. Violence is never the answer." I didn't have the courage to pry at what he meant by that.

It was brutally honest how he said it, but he had a point. People should take care of their looks. I had never really taken the time to think about it but, deep inside I had known that looks were just as important. Presentation, appearance and personality. That's basically what the Hunger Games was all about. "Life can be harsh at times..." In that one, I didn't necessarily mean looks or personality. I didn't understand fully, myself, but I was probably talking about slaughtering our neighbors in a game, all for someones entertainment.

"I don't doubt you one bit about the criminals and all." I half heartedly smiled. He seemed to be enjoying himself as much as I am. He was being honest but it seemed wrong not to say what was on my mind about him. "You seem very well taught and you seem to be pretty intelligent. I can't tell too well with this lighting but, your looks aren't half bad. Your quite the package. A gentleman, funny and honest. I don't come across many people like you, you know." I hoped he understood my compliment. "I think you already knew this but, it's important you have a lot of confidence in yourself. Not too much confidence that you get a big ego and not that you don't have any... Because I know you do." I'm being ridiculous. He was being modest, of course he understands. But, I give him a crooked smile anyways.

I let out a small breath of air filled with quiet laughter. "Stalkers are admirers, are they not?" Of course, I was starting to admire him. He had a lot of great qualities. My admiration wasn't exactly strong enough that I would take up following him for a hobby, though. "If you don't want to answer them, by all means, feel free not to."

I look ahead, seeing as we were now in the entrance of the park, a few feet away from a street lamp. His face was slightly lit up, not enough to completely see all his attributes but, enough just to have a few ideas. "Have you ever had a pet?" It wasn't the greatest question but it could still lead up to a good friendship.