as you \\SHIVER// - [Charity]

His chuckle rang out, deep and thick, and it brought a sparkle to Swallow-Anne's eyes. The water crashed against her and she giggled back. It didn't feel forced or feigned, it was just...natural. It wasn't the mask she wore trying to impress Tallow and the others, it wasn't the same need that she had around Mace. It was just fun. Good. Clean. Fun. Moving closer she listened to him question her back “No trouble at all, Swallow-Anne. I gotta say, though…I didn’t really expect anyone to find this place. I thought it was my own little secret, y’know? But speaking of secrets…not to be rude, but I ain’t seen you around here, either.”

She bit her lip again, knowing that she must have been trespassing on his land, but really not caring all that much. "Just got a little lost. I had to get away for a bit, everyone's all moping over Elon being dumb and gettin' killed. Just didn't wanna be around them cryin'. Too nice a day to spend cryin'." She mumbled the last bit, not really wanting to talk about him either. Her hands ran over her face and sigh gave a sigh before tossing the stick to the boy's dog. "You ain't mad at me for joinin' are you? I didn't mean to make you mad." Her lower lip jutted out a bit as she swam closer, the reeds at the bottom of the pond tickling her legs while she tread water. Her face searched his as she reached out to touch his arm to help keep her afloat.

He was strong and muscled, mature in the way other boys weren't, and it made a little flutter in the spot below her left breast. It was something she hadn't really felt before, so she pushed it aside, far away to where only she would know it existed. His arm was slippery and her fingers wrapped around his wrist, holding on to it while she laughed.
" S'deeper out here than I thought!" She felt her leg brush his and smiled, "Don't mind, do ya? I don't wanna sink."

Ain't trying to make him uncomfortable, just want him to notice me a bit. Want him to know its okay to touch me too. Swallow-Anne wasn't trying to be the girl she knew she thought she was, in fact, something about Nokota made her want to be more fun, but her instincts took over and she knew where she wanted this to go.

"you’ve got a look to you. A spark. It’s…nice. ‘S very nice" The heat in her cheeks was so intense, so deep that she thought they might explode. Ain't no one ever been so nice to me. Maybe Tallow, but she ain't no boy. No boy ever said something so nice and actually mean it. Her thoughts were racing as she tried to figure out just what to do. She wanted more, oh so much more, and Swallow-Anne wasn't afraid to just take what she wanted. Few and far between were the boys who actually turned down her little trysts, but Nokota was something different. Stirring up a urge inside that wanted more than just carnal things, something more than just being tossed on the shore and used like she was used too. "You sayin' I'm special? Ain't no one said I'm special before." She whispered against his ear as she saw his eyes sparkle.

Before she could breathe she felt him shiver and fall backwards and for a brief second they were both twined together under the surface. The bubbles rose to the surface around them as her hands slipped off his neck, her legs releasing their grip on his waist, she sputtered to the surface and wiped her hand over her face. Floating backwards she sent a splash at him as he shook his hair in a pretty good imitation of his dog. “No, ma’am. Don’t mind one bit.” Her eyes widened, "Swallow-Anne." she mouthed her name slowly, knowing what exactly what it sounded like, wanting him to catch the idea in his mind. Maybe even suggest she do what her name implied. "Ain't no ma'am, I'm just Swallow-Anne."

Her legs were starting to get tired from treading water, her arms too, but getting out of the pond meant that Nokota might as her to go. Instead she swam a bit closer to the shore, the water stopping just above her chest, she let her toes dig into the silt at the bottom. Wiggling them around she looked back up to him, Wanna kiss him...want him to kiss me. Ain't no nice guy ever kissed me before. Ain't no nice guy ever paid me no attention. Chewing on her lip again she let her eyes find his. She knew hers were coy and pleading, inviting him to come closer. Touch me, I ain't gonna hurt you. You'd be the one that's gonna hurt me. Ain't no nice guys like you want a girl like me.

"Why you so lonely Nokota? Ain't gotta be lonely, you're too nice." The dog swam up beside her and she let her fingers stroke the top of its black and white head. She looked at the dog, real nice dog, wish we could have one like this back at the home...dogs s'lotta work though and ain't no one back there want more work. Swallow-Anne wasn't one to have nice things, ole AssFace had some nice things, and Mace had lots of nice things, but not Swallow-Anne. She spend all the money she'd swipe from the wallets her and Tallow'd snag on drugs and other things to numb herself, but never once had she actually bought herself something worth while, something to have as her own.

She could feel the sun beating down on her back, tendrils of her hair started drying in wavy strings by her face. Her fingers brushed them back as she took in Nokota. His strong body, dark hair, and the words fell out of her mouth before she could catch them, "..and why ain't you kissin' me. Ain't I pretty enough for you?"

As she linked their hands together she felt him pull her close again, their odd game of give and take starting up once more. He looked her over as she told him just how different he was and a smile played at the corner of his eyes. Almost like he wanted to tell her it would be okay, before letting out his laugh again and sweeping her up and out of the water. His arms held her up and as if it was second nature she wrapped hers around his neck. She nestled into his chest, feeling his strong muscles against her bare skin. Her hot breath letting out against his moist skin, her lips so desperate to press against his. “No problem here. My dog’s probably mighty excited to talk with you some, y’know. Tell me anythin’ ya want, Swallow-Anne.” She felt herself holding on to him tighter, praying he was going to let her go again.


"You're awful strong Nokota. Carryin' me 'round like a princess from one of those story books." She could feel a flush come through her cheeks as they splashed through the water, his dog tramping behind. Ain't never been held like this. Most guys just grab me and do their thing. Ain't never been treated like a real lady. She soon realized just how odd she felt in his arms, how much she wanted more than just being held, but how just this simple motion was more than enough to make her feel good. As they neared the shore she smiled up at him. Ain't much to know about me. I'm pretty borin'...but you ain't borin' are you? You got more dogs? I like this one, he's real nice. Seems smart too. Ain't so smart myself, but oh well. Tallow's the smart one. She's my best friend, ain't got a lot of friends, but she's the best of the lot."

She slid out of his arms once they were on the dry land, bouncing over to gather her clothes. There was nothing now to hide her near naked body as she bent over to pick up her shorts. Panties are too wet to put my shorts over. Ain't gonna walk around with a wet ass. Looking over her shoulder she saw Nokota in his own went underwear, as their eyes met she shimmed out of her sopping wet briefs. She knew he was getting an eyeful as she slide the jean shorts over her legs and up to her hips. Rolling the top down she slipped her worn shirt over her head as if it gave her any coverage and shook her hair out. She turned around slowly, "Its too hot to stay out here, why don't we find somewhere to play?"

For a few moments the pair walked in silence, hand in hand through the woods. As the trees began to thin out Nokota once more chuckled at Swallow-Anne's question. She felt him straighten and almost glow with pride. Wish I had something nice like this for my own. Wish I had anything I could call mine. It wasn't like the house was that great or fancy. If anything it was small and quaint, but it was still not stuffed to the brim with screaming bratty children. There was a flock of sheep, and several more dogs watching over them, it was just like a picture in a storybook.

“Yep, a whole ranch. It might not seem like much down there, but it’s my pride and joy…a whole herd of sheep, my own land, my own house…my aunt and uncle ‘re always worried sick, but that’s parents fer ya.” Her eyes still wide in amazement of all that Nokota had compared to her. Even had parents and aunts and uncles and everything.He was wanted, not just some crack baby born in the District Square by morphling addictsSo lucky and he ain't even knownin' it. Even got bunches of food he doesn't have to share with no one! A pang of jealous flooded through her as she held on close to him.

She stayed quiet as they walked slowly towards the small home, Nokota giving her hand a squeeze “Oh, believe me, Ms. Swallow-Anne…you make me plenty nervous. But I guess if you didn’t…this wouldn’t be much fun, now would it?” She wrinkled her brow looking up at him, "Ain't meaning to make you nervous at all! Nokota I ain't meaning to make you not like me. Just ain't sure how to act 'round someone so nice. Still don't know why you're bein' so nice."

As they neared Nokotas home she saw him giving the land and the dogs a once over, making sure everything was in its place as he opened the door with a smile that brought a rosey tint to her face. His home was filled with small trinkets and worn furniture and smelled like man and dog, but it was comfortable and cozy and she dropped his hand to look around at things. He slipped off to the other room and she stepped over looking at a small sculpture of a boy and some sheep. Her fingers ran over the smooth grain and she cocked her head at it, So pretty, wonder if he did this himself. As she was contemplating his artistic talent she heard him enter the room holding towels and a shirt for her.

“I know it’s just a shirt, but I didn’t want you walkin’ around all wet and cold…make yerself at home. I know it ain’t glamorous or nothin’, but it’s something, eh? Now…food…whatcha feelin’ like?”

Taking the shirt she stood in front of them and shucked her wet clothes off, bundling them into a ball by the door, before pulling his over sized tshirt over her head. Smells like him she smiled a bit, now covered only by the shirt hanging down to her knees. "Ain't real picky with food. Kinda hard to be living 'round here." She followed him into the kitchen leaning against the door frame with the same innocently seductive look on her face. "I'll have whatever you want though."

As he helped lift her off the floor she felt a shock of electic in his touch. For a second, a split second, she felt like there was nothing in the world but his blue eyes and his hands on her skin. Chewing on her lip she moved with him to the pantry and as the brought the mug of food to the dogs. “See that older one with the white and gray face? That there’s Doc. Pretty rude to guests, but ya can’t blame ‘em. Bit of a rough life, but he’s a loyal boy. The smaller one there, the one with us in the pond? That’s Cork. Uppity he can be, but he I think he likes ya quite a bit. I’mma call him over, and so long as yer not too fast, you can pet ‘em. Just be careful now. Too quick while he’s eatin’ and he’ll think yer tryin’ to take his food. But he’s real nice.” Nokota rambled on as his arms wrapped around her, she felt her breath quicken and her eyes closed for a moment.

“Don’t be afraid now.”

Oh but I am. Ain't never felt so much like touching and kissing a boy. Ain't never wanted it so bad that it made my tummy tie up in knots. All I want is him to feel that too. Ain't gonnna hurt to just do it. Opening her eyes she felt him guide the mug to younger of the dogs who lunged for it, eating it greedily. Nokota's head rested on the top of hers and she sucked in air, trying to find the courage. Their hands were intertwined as Cork munched away, but she felt herself lowering them to the ground. Leaving the mug there she turned and looked to Nokota with stars in her eyes.


Just do it. Don't hold back no more. Just do it. Her eyes traced his and she moved close to him. His breath hot and sweet as she leaned in her fingers reaching up to stroke his face. Don't push me away. Don't make me lose this moment. Don't make me go. Pushing herself on on her toes she pressed her lips to the side of his neck above his collar bone. His musky scent was intoxicating and she felt herself go weak in the knees.

There was nothing around them to her anymore. No dogs. No stew. No anything. Just Nokota.

A groan escaped his lips as she pleaded with him. His hands were clutching at her and their bodies seemed to be forcing themselves back together. Giving a quick command to the dogs they scampered outside and Nokota's hands were around her waist lifting her and carrying her to the couch, his lips on her as the tumbled into a mess on the cushions. Her legs straddled his waist as she let her mouth explore his. she reached up and let her damp hair cascade down her back, shaking it out and pressing herself to him.

But there was a hesitation, a stoppage to the passion, as his mouth stopped working as rapidly and she felt her stomach drop. He ain't liking this. We gone too far for him. Ain't sure why he's slowing down, don't let him stop ain't want this to stop for all the food in Panem. Ain't want this to stop for anything. His fingers brush the hair back from her neck as he leaned forward his teeth nipping the sensitive skin just a bit, and she felt her back arch and a moan slipped through. More Nokota, more. She wanted to scream at him to keep going, to not let the moment end. Her eyes closed and she heard him ask, “What do you want?”

What do I want?! What do I want?! I want to be taken and loved. Cared about, unlike everything else in my life. I want him to make me feel like I ain't just a piece of trash. I want his hands to rip off the shirt. I want his body to take me for his. I want him to love me and not make me go back to that damn home. So crowded and full and ain't even people who like me. I just want him to want me. Her mind raced with answer to the question, full of things she couldn't say without sounding like a love sick child. Opening her eyes she leaned forward and put her lips against his ear. "I want you."

The answer was short, but it was all she could say at that moment. She wanted him, all of him, not just physically but emotionally, and romantically, and all of those other things that little girls dream of. Thoughts of being swept away to live on this little farm with him and his dogs, instead of coming home to the stuffed to the seams Community Home, were pushing her ahead. Letting her lips trail from his ear down his cheeks back to his own set, she hope, wished, prayed, he felt the same.