Reckless

Reckless - Chapter Two

Apparently she hadn't forgotten, because Claire snatched back the cereal bar and quickly ate the few remaining pieces, "How's he a jerk? I mean, I know he stole your shoe or whatever and 'kidnapped' you" She stopped to put air quotes round 'kidnapped' "but I really don't think that justifies it." She crumpled the cereal bar's wrapper up and threw it at me with a disgruntled face "You're the real jerk here - get me another cereal bar."

"I think we're going off the subject here." I said, raising an eyebrow and trying to avoid the topic of the cereal bar so I wouldn't have to pay her back.

"Well I have nothing to say to you if you don't give me another one of these," She glared, waving the wrapper in the air and using her serious tone.

Glaring back at her I said, "Fine. Where are they?"

"In the canteen," Claire grinned smugly, her tone becoming upbeat and gleeful as she saw the expression on my face "No, there's none up here. So you better get off your butt and find that cereal bar quickly!"

I sighed and got up, I put a cardigan over the tracksuit bottoms and tank top that I had slept in and didn't even bother doing my hair or makeup. It was pointless trying to look nice and hopefully no one would be about - nobody normally ventured out of their dorms till at least three in the afternoon on a Sunday, except for poor people trying to find cereal bars for their friends. I opened the door and heard Sam yell out at me "Get me one too!" 

"Get one yourself!" I yelled back at her moodily before slamming the door in exasperation and stepping out into the corridor. I winced, not used to the amount of light filtering in through the massive window at the end of the corridor. The room I had just vacated had been as dark as we could possibly make it, we'd closed the blinds and only left on a dim light to help us see, so we didn't have to be woken up by the excruciating brightness of the cold winter sun.

Rounding the corner I saw Chris slouched against the wall, listening to his iPod and tapping his foot animatedly to the beat, his mouth was moving slightly to fit with the lyrics and he seemed completely immersed in the song. Having an encounter with him was the last thing I wanted right now, so I ducked down slowly and cautiously sneaked round to where the staircase was. I was keeping one eye on him as I stealthily moved in the shadows and away from his line of sight - he looked absorbed in the music he was listening to but it never hurt to be careful, especially where Chris Everdeen was involved.

It seemed that keeping one eye on Chris didn't work, as my whole concentration was focussed on him and not, for instance, on the obstacles in my way. I crashed noisily into a large potted plant and fell onto the floor with a tremendous squeal. He whipped his head round to look in my direction as I launched myself behind the potted plant in a desperate attempt to cover myself.

The attempt didn't work and Chris peered at the plant curiously then started walking towards where I was hiding, "Anne?" I stayed silent, praying he would just leave me alone. He drew closer and stared at me in surprise "Anne, what are you doing there?" he asked amusedly. I was suddenly very concious of the fact that I was still wearing the tracksuit bottoms and tank top while he peered at me as if I was some kind of fascinating specimen. 

"I'm not Anne- I'm a potted plant," I tried to convince him "Now just move alone and we can forget this whole thing,"

Chris laughed at me, I was probably a amusing site to him, curled up behind the pot and begging not to be seen. He paused his iPod and pocketed it, offering his other hand to me so I could get up. I shook my head vehemently and pushed myself up from the floor using my hands, pointedly ignoring him. He gave me a strange look and withdrew his hand.

"Well, Anne the potted plant. What were you doing in the middle of the corridor behind a potted plant at such a lovely time of morning?"

I blushed in embarrassment and turned away from him, I marched towards the staircase and started heading down it quickly while he trailed uselessly after me with a smug grin on his face.