Shea Campbell-Renesmee District 6 {WIP}

There are few qualities which can, of themselves, define a person. These qualities are rare in their purest forms, and still rarer to be found in a truly good person. They can exalt or corrupt, glorify or destroy, and there is never any telling which path the guardian of such a rare characteristic will find themselves on. The angle by which the paths of destruction and success are separated is unobservable at first, though it grows with time, until eventually the difference is worlds apart. And then, try though they might, there is no turning back from the set path for even the strongest of these special guardians. For more often than not, the guardians find that their special path is one of destruction.

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“Shea! Hey Shea, wait up!!” Sawyer appeared at my side, his eyes already pleading.

“What’s up Sawyer?” I look at his eyes again, he wants something. “What do you want?”

“I need you to get something for me,” he says it shamelessly, it’s not like this is an unusual request.

I raise my eyebrow as my lips curl into a teasing smile. “Yeah. Sure…you need a pass for conditioning again?” I look around at our classmates as they pass by. They’re all heading from lunch to our next class, physical conditioning and fitness training. The Capitol likes to keep us decently fit, and we don’t exactly have a bunch of manual labor here in 6.

“No, no, that’s not it.”

“Well then what?” He’d better not make me late for class. There was a boy from our class, Cobalt, who had teased our little brother, Harrison, the other day, and I was planning on nailing his butt in dodgeball or boxing or whatever we did in conditioning this afternoon.

“It’s just that I really didn’t feel like the school lunch was enough today so I tried to get some extra…”

“How did you ask Sawyer?”

“How do you think? I just said, ‘Could I have some more stew?’”

“Well no wonder you didn’t get it.” I paused to look around. The hallway was clearing out, and at this point, I was going to be late for class either way. Whatever. I’ll just have to kick Cobalt’s butt twice as badly once I get there. “Fine…C’mon let’s go get you some stew.”

We trudged all the way back to the lunchroom as I pieced together a decent strategy. When we arrived, I walked right up to the lunch administrator (she did all the cooking), by passing the other lunch ladies. As always, I looked her straight in the eye, and spoke with a cheerful authority. “Hey Ms. Pred!” The wrinkled old woman smiled at me, I made it my business to be on her good side, just like everyone else. That was the easiest method to get your way.

“Hey there Shea. Did you like the stew today?”

“Yeah it was great! Did I taste some garlic and rosemary in there?”

“Mhmm, and just a hint of basil!” The lady beamed, she looked genuinely pleased that I had noticed. Herbs weren’t always available for cooking in District Six. She broke off and looked back at Sawyer. “And who’s this with you?”

“This is my brother, Sawyer. Which is actually why I came.” Ms. Pred’s brows knit as I went on. “I know you’re not done serving lunches for another half hour or so yet, but if there’s any extra when you’re done, would you mind letting Sawyer have some? If it’s not too much trouble that is.” I was careful not to play the “he’s a teenage boy, please have sympathy” card. Everyone did that, and it just got on Pred’s nerves. I was also careful not to mention the fact that “she took home large amounts of cafeteria leftovers for her own personal use, and surely she could spare some”. If Pred was going to give us this perk, she wouldn’t be guilted into it. I waited with baited breath, smiling apologetically at her. I watched carefully, and slowly Pred’s face cleared; she started to laugh.

“Dang it Shea! I just can’t say no to you! Here take this bowl for you brother! Just try not to make a habit of this, alright sweets?”

“You got it Ms. Pred! And thank you so much! I owe you one!”

I handed my brother the soup and waved goodbye to Pred. As Sawyer and I walked away together, my mind was already on Cobalt and Conditioning. I was jerked back to the present yet again by the sound of my brother’s voice. “Heck Shea! You really do get whatever you want!”

I tried to smile humbly and ignore Sawyer’s compliment, but the facts were: I did get everything I wanted, I had worked hard to get to that place, and I was very, very, proud of myself for getting there.

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