I'm, uh, not supposed to be here *Connelly*

"Are you alright? That tree must've hurt." Iris jumped up, attentive. "What, who's there? Show yourself!" She reached to her side, where a small dagger she only used for self defense was hidden. She pulled it out, aiming to where the voice came from.

Who was it? A wanderer, a runaway? A thief? Miss Paranoid as she was, a million things ran through Iris's mind. None them were very pretty. She knew she shouldn't have come. She was going to die, and it was all her step-mom's fault.

She remembered her yelling at Iris, flinging her pale white hands in fury. The cretin had slapped Iris. Iris had never been slapped before. Her free hand went to where the slap still burned. A tear fell.

Iris's attention jumped to the boy standing in front of her. He was generally nice looking, and had a, strangely enough, small smile. Iris rarely saw people smile. Everyone was in a permenant bad mood. But that's not the point. Point was, Iris was enthralled by him. It was very strange to see someone happy.

"I-I'm sorry. I guess I'm still a little jumpy," she mumbled, putting her dagger away and rubbing her wrist. "I'm Iris."

Iris was the example of beautiful. She had even skin tone, wavy auburn hair, not a strand out of place, innocent blue eyes, and gentle features. But all this was marred by her current uneasy state. She was the picture of insecurity.

Her hair was too frizzy, her eyes were bloodshot, her skin was red in places, and her pose was unnatural. Unlike the boy, who looked very nice. She flushed as she thought this.

Iris's blush slowly faded as Connelly's eyes swept over her. He was studying her. It made Iris curious as to what district he came from. Certainly not District 12. Although sharing similar features, such as his olive skin, Connelly's hair was too bright, like someone from District 4 or 5, and his eyes were blue grey, not just plain. He just didn't fit the category well at all.

Maybe he was mixed, like Iris. According to her father, when they were still on good terms, Iris's mother's family moved to District 11 from District 6 years before the Rebellion. And Iris's father's family had always been in District 11. So she had features unlike most of the district.

As she was surfacing from her thoughts, she realized what was happening. Not only was Connelly much closer to her than he had been, but he was at that moment moving her hair out of the way. As her hair stilled behind her ear, Connelly stepped back and Iris flushed a deep red. It was a dark hue that spread to her neck. Iris stared up at Connelly and almost willed him with her eyes to look at her. But to no avail. Connnelly took off, muttering a, "Sorry."

Iris followed him, but no where near as fast. She was a good ten feet behind him by the time he reached the tree. Bad plan for him. This was where she excelled. Iris was usually used to reach the highest branches durring a harvest. She began climbing after him, finding the perfect foothold instantly. Soon, she was neck and neck with him.

"Why? Why follow me? Aren't you mad?" Iris thought it was such a silly question. Surprised? Yes. Embarrassed? Slightly. Lingering for more? Of course. Mad? Never. And she herself should be asking why. She was a wreck. Anyone could see that. Normal people wanted to be alone. But Iris wasn't normal. She liked the touch.

"No," she replied simply. She stared into his eyes that were neither grey nor blue, but he broke the trance, looking off somewhere else. The moon.... she thought. The wind picked up and her hair drifted. Connelly moved it back behind her ear, the little strand that started it all, granting her wish for more.

"Um, Just wondering but what District are you from exactly?" Connelly asked.

It was the same question that bothered Iris. What district. Anyone could see that Iris didn't have the plain features of District 12 or 11, more along the lines of 4, 5, or 6.. But, her clothes and her skin screamed District 11.

"I'm from District 11. But my mother's family came from District 6 a long, long time ago." Iris paused, pursing her lips. She stared at Connelly's eyes again, drawn in by them, the way they were two colors, but also neither color. "May I ask the same question?"

((I would love to be your gay lover. On rpg, of course))

Iris caught her breath as Connelly just barely stroked her warm skin. As the tips of his fingers touched it's surface, her blush deepened. But she did not look away. She was enthralled by him again. His eyes held hers and she couldn't bare to break it. But he did. He dropped it, and she sighed.

"I'm from.... 11. I ran away from it when I was just ten years old and I've come to District 12 to live instead." Connelly looked away from Iris and blushed, knocking her further into reality. It was obvious he didn't trust easily. So why was he sharing information with her....? She decided to tell him something that she wouldn't tell to anyone.

"I'm, uh, not supposed to be here. I was hungry and stole from the Capitol and my step-mom found out. I think she wants to behead me," Iris admitted carefully. She was always too trusting.

((Oh my god, you big showoff!))

Connelly was already so close to Iris. That's why she wasn't really suprised when he touched her skin again. Heat radiated from it, but not from a blush. It was a good kind of heat that she wanted to stay on her face forever. Like wamth, but not pain. Not at all like fire, or the sun. Perhaps it was love. It grew when Connelly kissed her.

It was a gentle kiss, just the barest touch of lips. But it was enough to drive Iris crazy. She got lost in the kiss, so she didn't know how long it lasted. But too short, she knew that much. They drew back and smiled at each other. Although Iris's was more of a goofy grin. Definately not very romantic. She smiled her odd single dimple smile. She loved this feeling

Still holding Iris's cheek, he pressed his forehead against hers' and said in a quiet voice, "You know... this could work. We could do it you know. We could." Her smile widened again. She wanted to run away. She wanted to leave the evils her step-mother and the Capitol place on everyone. She wanted Connelly. Bad. Even though she hardly knew him. She really, really wanted to be rebelious.

Iris was taken away by the idea. Incredibly happy. So it hit her hard when Connelly told his story. When he was finished, tears began to fell. What he said was just awful. Carrying the death of your own sister was a terrible thing. Iris's mother and twin brother died, but she never knew them. She wished they'd live, so they could have a better life. But it was nothing like what Connelly had just told her.

"That's, that's horrible Connelly. I'm so sorry." Iris could somehow tell that Connelly blamed himself. Guilt was written all over his face. "It's not your fault though.... You may think it is, but you had no way of knowing that it would happen." She gave him a sad smile and sat down on the branch.