Training For The Games (tori)

We walked in silence until we made it out of the training arena. Then Stella turned to me and said, "It's absolutely crazy that you would say that, you know. Everyone has to be good at something. Besides, you're a terrible liar, and I've already assumed you are lying."

Lying? Was I? I tried to remember. But this time, I didn't recall pulling my hand through my hair. Maybe I was lying to myself as well, so i didn't notice. Stella didn't give me much time to think anyways. She just jumped into her next idea. "Since you seem so sure that you have no combat skills to speak of, I have decided to work on your people skills. Who knows, maybe you're secretly an amazing public speaker who could run for Mayor. Or something like that."

I scoffed. Me? A good speaker? I had to turn away and walk away from her so she wouldn't here my laugh. Had she not been talking to me for awhile? Did she not catch on to how bad I was at talking to people? I've never been fully comfortable around anyone. Although, maybe that's just because I've never had a chance to be.

No one has ever wanted to hang out with me on weekends. I've never been told so and so had a crush on me. I don't think I've ever enev had a real friend. I'm just the weird kid who doesn't talk in class, lies a lot, and is constantly writing in a stupid notebook. The guy who tries to hard and makes a fool of himself. Who did Stella think she was dealing with?

"Oh come on." she pleaded with me. I turned back to her with a firm answer in my eyes,"no." I held my gaze until she shyed away from it. No way was I making even more of a fool of myself.

"Oh, I give up! This obviously this isn't your area of expertise." Obviously. We stood there akwardly for a few moments. I felt bad for acting how I had. It wasn't a very mature way to handle things. This was one of the reasons I knew I'd be bad at speaking.I was horrible with reacting to things. Stella probably hated me right now. No wonder I push so many people away.

Thankfully, Stella broke the silence first. "So...what do you want to do?" I hate questions like this. I never knew how to answer. What did I want to do right now? I wanted to write of course. But I wouldn't tell her that. I sat on the bench that was a few feet from where I was previously standing. And tried to think of something. Stella followed me over and sat on my right.

"Well.." I tried to fill the silence. My stomach growled, as if answering me. "I suppose we could eat. I seem to be hungry." Stella giggled and it made me smile. "If that's okay with you, of course. We could go to a restaurant, or my mom brought home stuff to make lasana, if you want."

Stella seemed to be deciding. I tried to think of all the restaurants around the district, but couldn't think of them all. Oh, well, good thing Stella is making the decision.

After a few moments, Stella replied. "We should go to a restaurant. How about that one in the square? You know, the seafood place? Ugh, I wish I could remember what it was called.... Um, Red Lobster, The Crab Shack? I'm not good with names..."

I tried to think of the seafood restaurants that lined District 1's square. There were so many, she could be talking about any one of them. Seafood, huh? I had never been a big fan of seafood, but it's not like I didn't eat anything when I went to a seafood place. Because I always ate a lot.

Oh! "You mean Blue Fin? I've never actually been there before." I said proudly. That's right, I was good for something. My fantastic memory. Blue Fin always smelled good when I walked by it before, but I never took the time to stop on by.

Stella looped her arm through mine in the middle of my thoughts, and dragged me to the side. "That's it, you're coming with me." she said excitedly. I lost my balance, but Stella didn't wait. I just looked like a fumbling idiot for a moment as she dragged me along.

How does some one so small have such a big amount of enthusiasm at everything? It takes a lot to get me excited. I chuckled at her meager attempt to once again figure out if I had some sort of talent when we slowed to a fast walk. "So, Derek, what's you're hidden talent?"

"I don't think I have one." I said quickly, the hand on my other arm running through my hair. I didn't know who Stella's friends were yet or if she could keep a secret, but she did seem pretty nice so far. And she was really very entertaining. "Maybe, we can figure it out while we eat. I think my stomach needs something before it eats you."

We walked into the Blue Fin when we got there, and the waiter gave us two menus. "Just the two of you?" he asked questioningly. I said yes, and told him table or booth would be fine. He nodded and seated us at a table in towards the wall in the restaurant.

As he walked away, I haded Stella her menu and looked at my own. I had no idea what to get. "Um.. so since you been here so many time, what is your recommendation?"

"Well," Stella replied quickly, "almost everything's good. I get something different every time I come. They import fresh fish from District Four and get a lot of spices and other things from the Capitol. I, uh, asked the manager once." Stella laughed and continued. "Their calamari's awesome, but it's really only an appetizer. You want to get popcorn shrimp and french fries? It's promise it's good, even if it sounds like a kid's meal. Actually...it just might be. I really like some of their drinks too. It may sound a bit stupid, but I have a passion for strawberry-banana smoothies."

"Wow." I said overwhelmed. It was really all I could muster. That was an awful lot to take in a one time. How does someone possibly seem to get that out all in one breath?

"But, you know, you could just check the menu if you want something else..." Stella blushed slightly and buried the remainder of her face into her menu. I couldn't help but chuckle. She was so adorable to watch, and she didn't seem to ever stop talking! My god, how did we meet again?

I don't think I ever speak very much, and here shecan ramble on about the simplest of things. It really was admirable, I wish I could talk to people freely. Instead, I vent in my writing, and seem to lie constantly.

"Well, let's hope the popcorn shrimp and french friesare as good as you promised." I smiled, putting my menu down. She seemed to be taking a little longer to decide. Slowly, I slid my back pack off my back, and set it in my lap.

A minute later, Stella seemed to have decided, and looked at me curiously as I thumbed through my back. I finally pulled out a small leather bound spiral notebook that looked old and used. It was a little tattered, and had small sketches or random objects and quotes written on it from when I got bored.

"What's that?" she asked quietly. I smiled and held it out, motioning for her to take it. It was one of the most precious things I owned. The only talent I did have, or thought I did. My writings, however, this was only one of my notebooks. I smiled as she took it. "My secret talent."

"Derek, I...don't know what to say..." Stella seemed rather suprised. "Wow, that's a first. Congratulate yourself, I'm speechless."

I laughed. I made her speechless? And all it took was probably my biggest secret. I smiled back at her as she lipped through the pages of one of my notebooks. I hope she doesn't thing they're awul. I don't even know if I'm any good.

"...Wow, Derek...Um, do you think I could read a bit?" This took me by suprise. She wants to read it? "Um.." It was all I could manage out. Nice.

I thought she might skim through it and everything, but she wanted to read the entire thing? Would she make fun of me for it? I wasn't sure if I was ready to let one of my notebooks go with her. But she had been exetremely nice, and fun to be with. I suppose everything is worth a chance. "You really want to read it? I suppose if you want to you can. Just don't lose it."

The waiter reappeared at our table and we gave him our orders. He smiled and went off to retrieve our drinks. Stella was still engaged in my writing notebook when he came back with them. He left hastily rto get our food. "You don't have to read it now, you know." I whispered.