Chapter Two

School was awful that next Monday. Everyone did as they were told for once. They all got their family history and I was jealous. It was probably so easy for them. They didn't have to worry if it would send their parents over the edge or if they would get a simplified version.

I lend my head into my hand, watching the next classmate stand in front of the class, happily holding their sheet of paper. I wished I could have that much enthusiasm with this torturous assignment. "My family was originally from the Capitol. We didn't fight on either side. My grandparents did what they needed to survive. My grandma even died during this huge bombing. Shortly afterward, my grandpa and my mom moved here and my mom married my dad and I was born. My grandpa named me Prim, after Willow's aunt." The brunette declared, making everyone turn to look at me.

I slightly sank in my desk, not liking the attention. My cheeks heated up as I felt their stares. Why couldn't people leave me alone? "That was a very interesting story. Thank you, Prim." Mrs. Belling smiled, taking the eyes off of me. "Next is Fin."

Fin glided to the front, smirking at everyone. He placed his hands on his hips, making sure that we were all listening to him. "As most of you know, my name is Finnick. I was named after the victor Finnick Odair. He was originally from District 4, just like my family. During the rebellion, my grandparents and parents fought against the Capitol." He explained. Everyone clapped as he took a small bow then sat in his desk.

I slightly rolled my eyes. Of course, Fin thought everyone adored him. It was obvious to tell that he thought he was better than everyone else. I turned around to watch him shake his head, swirling his blonde locks so that they rested out of his green eyes.

I turned around to face the front, ready to watch the next classmate speak. She slightly fidgeted, the attention getting to her. She cleared her throat then ran her petite finger through her dark black hair. "My family was originally from District 5. My grandpa died helping to create the power outage for the country. I was named Rue after the tribute in the 74th annual Hunger Games." She shakily explained. She kept her head down as she rushed back to her seat.

Everyone clapped, looking at each other. Everyone began to whisper to each other. What power outage? Mrs. Belling smiled, clearing her throat to gather our attention. "Lastly, we have Willow."

I took a deep breath as I stood up from my desk. I tossed my braid over my back, staring at my classmates. Now I realized what made Rue so nervous up here. I looked down at my paper, seeing my hands shake. I could hardly breath. What was happening?

"Whenever you're ready." Mrs. Belling gently smiled. I nodded my head, taking a big gulp. I tried to read my paper, but it was shaking too much. I tightly gripped it, slightly steadying it.

"So, um. As most of you know, um. My name is Willow," I shakily began, taking my eyes up from the paper for a few seconds. Everyone was quiet, their faces looking serious. I wished one of them would smile or laugh. I wanted anything to take away this deadly silence and attention. I cleared my throat, looking down again. "I was named after my mom's favorite trees. There are lots of them in the meadow where we have picnics and stuff. Um, my parents were both from here. And um, they fought in the rebellion."

I glanced up from my paper, my eyes meeting with Fin's green ones. He didn't show any signs of sympathy or care. Quickly, I darted them to Prim's blue ones, but that was useless. She was staring down at her nails. I looked to Rue, whose brown ones gave me comfort and support. "My mom was the symbol of the rebellion. For some reason, everyone just liked her. She said that she thought they should like my dad more because he was much more charming." I slightly chuckled, trying to clear the air, my eyes locked with Rue's.

No one laughed along.

My bottom lip trembled as I tried to think of what to say. "And you guys already know the ending so, um, yeah. That's my history." I stammered. Quickly, I rushed back to my seat, laying my head on my desk and covering my face.

Hot tears began to stream down my face. I didn't know why I was crying. None of the other kids cried when they told their history. Why was I acting to strange? "Thank you, Willow." Mrs. Belling stated, taking the eyes back onto her.

I sniffed, wiping my nose with the back of my hand. She continued to talk, but I blurred her out. I felt stupid. I should be proud to have parents that were involved in the rebellion. I was proud of them. So why was I crying? What was going on?

Gradually, it was time to go home again. I quickly gathered up my stuff, shoving them into my bag. I knew my eyes were red and puffy. I knew everyone was going to go home and tell their parents. I knew tomorrow they would all laugh at me.

"Willow, can you stay, please?" Mrs. Belling asked, making everyone ooh and giggle. I kept my head down, letting them all leave the school house as I stayed behind. One of them shut the door, leaving me and Mrs. Belling alone.

"Yes?" I asked, looking to the floor. She tilted my chin up, making me look into her soft green eyes.

"Have you talked to your parents about your history yet?" She questioned, slightly puckering out her pink lips. I felt the pressure building up behind my eyes. Of course she could tell I didn't ask them. My story would have had to be at least an hour long then.

"No." I breathed, trying to keep the tears in. I didn't want to cry again.

"You should really consider it, Willow. They could help you understand what they did and why. It could be good for you." She explained, gently touching my shoulder. Pht. Good for me? What would I gain asking my parents for their history? "I know this assignment is probably really hard for you, but if you don't ask them soon, I'll explain what happened and you'll feel railroaded and I don't want to do that to you." She added.

"Explain it to me? Why?" I fired back, hurt present in my voice. I didn't want her to do anything! She couldn't make me listen to her speak about my parents' story!

"Well, I have to teach the other students what happened."

"No! You don't!" I argued, anger filling in my veins.

"Yes, Willow, I do. That's my job as a teacher," she calmly replied. I furrowed my eyebrows and tightened my jaw, growing upset with her. "I've delayed this subject for as long as I could. It's time for me to move on to the hard details."

I looked to the floor, tightening my fists. This was stupid. I thought I hated school before, now I absolutely despised it. They were going to tell me about what their thoughts on my parents were.

I wasn't going to let that happen. I was going to hear the whole story from my parents point of view. I was going to hear the true story. Everyone knows that the best way to know if a story is true is to ask the person it happened to.

I turned on my heels, storming out of the school house. Rye was sitting under the tree, a look of worry washed over his face. When his eyes finally caught sight of me, he let out a loud sigh, running to me. "Willow! I thought something bad happened to you!" He declared, hugging me tightly.

I rolled my eyes, slightly pushing him off. He didn't seem to mind, quickly grabbing his bag and jogging back to my side. "Hey, look! It's the crybaby!"

I snapped around, anger clear on my face. "Shut up, Lucas!" I shouted, feeling the pressure again. I wasn't going to cry in front of them. Not again.

"Why'd you cry you big baby? Did you get scared of everyone staring at you?" He taunted, his brown eyes twinkling in delight. He loved watching me suffer.

"You wouldn't understand, doofus Lucas!" I defended, making the other kids ohh. Rye's hands snaked onto my arm, bringing my eye to look into his gray ones. He pouted out his lip, afraid of what was happening.

"Guys, knock it off," Fin butted in, stepping between me and Lucas. I arched my eyebrow, surprised at his actions. Usually Fin was the one to encourage a fight. "Just because Willow has a hard time keeping her cries to herself doesn't mean you have to pick on her." He smirked, his green eyes sparkling.

I huffed, feeling betrayed. Fin was supposed to stop this fight and now I wanted to punch his face in. "'Low," Rye whispered, shaking my arm. I looked down, my emotions softening. "I want to go home." He pleaded.

I looked back at the laughing kids, most of them making fun of me. I turned on my heel, trying to ignore their teasings and taunts. Rye rubbed his gray eyes as we walked home. Suddenly, I felt bad for scaring him. "Rye," I began as soon as I knew the others were out of earshot. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, 'Low," he answered, shrugging his shoulder. "Why did they call you a crybaby?" He questioned, kicking a rock down the road. I bit my lower lip, deciding how to answer. I didn't want to look like a wuss. "I've never seen you cry." He quietly added.

"I wasn't crying, Rye. I just...the kids thought I was," I stammered, trying to come up with an excuse. He awed, nodding his head. I stopped on the road, bending down to his level. "You can't tell anyone about this, okay? Not Mom. Not Dad." I declared.

"Uncle Haymitch?" He asked, tilting his head.

"Especially not Uncle Haymitch." I replied, trying to look serious.

"Why?"

"Why?" I repeated. "Because then they'll think the other kids are picking on me, but I can handle myself." I explained, hoping he'd get the message.

"But Dad said if other kids pick on us then we're supposed to-"

"I know," I exclaimed, cutting him off. He sucked in his lips, his eyes showing confusion. "If they think I can't handle myself then they won't let me take care of you anymore and Mom or Dad will have to walk us home everyday." I declared. He gasped, covering his mouth. "And we don't want that."

"No! Then we'll be called babies even more!" He shouted, his gray eyes wide in fear.

"Mh-hm. And that'll make even more of a mess. So let's just keep this between us, okay?" I stated, arching an eyebrow at him. He hummed, nodding his head. "Good." I nodded before I stood up and continued walking. At least I could trust Rye not to tell. He was the only one I trusted right now.

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