the closer we get to the reaping: // Tristan

[aliciamusa]

Once I saw the apple tree I knew I wanted to climb the tree. but the first branch was just out of my reach. "I like the name Meadow it matches her."I smiled at him and put my head against his arm. I can't put my head on his shoulder because I'm short so his arm is the closest thing. I keep smiling as I look around. It is so pretty around here I might never want to leave.

[angel]

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"I like the name Meadow it matches her." Lula replied with a smile that Tristan immediately returned. He stiffened slightly in shock when he felt her head rest against his arm. Glancing down at her, Tristan felt pride wash over him at the peaceful expression dominating her features. I really did something right, he realized happily before noticing the way she looked at the apple tree. "Do-do you climb trees? I do sometimes. It's nice to just sit on the branches and look out over things," he felt his nervous gaze flicker from the tree to Lula to Meadow.

[aliciamusa]

"Sometimes. But only when the branches are close together so that way I don't fall again."I said again really soft so he didn't hear me. I don't want him worrying about me. I want to ask him about the games but I have this feeling this is not the place to talk about it.

[angel]

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Tristan strained to make out what Lula said, but it was too quiet. Why do I always have to mess things up? he frowned when he noticed the peaceful expression on Lula's face had vanished. And it's all my fault. Tristan miserably struggled to find a way to cheer her back up once more, but nothing came to mind. "Lula I-...I'm sorry I always mess things up," he finally mumbled, dejection swimming behind his eyes as he stared at the ground.

[aliciamusa]

"No you don't I am just different. I love climbing trees but I fall a lot because of how short my legs are."Then I did something I never thought I would do I gave him a hug. I even smiled too. This time it wasn't some fake smile.

[angel]

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Tristan felt his jaw drop. Is she...? he stuttered to himself, unsure of how to react. Shaking his head, Tristan knew he must be dreaming. When I open my eyes, I'm going to be on that bench and this never happened, this isn't happening, he told himself. Blinking, Tristan glanced down to still find Lula with arms wrapped around him. Rather than his usual blush, a small smile lightened his features and he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her in return.

"Thanks," Tristan murmured after a few moments of silence. He looked towards the apple tree before turning his stormy eyes back to Lula. "And I wouldn't let you fall," he assured her, squeezing her gently.

[aliciamusa]

He Squeezed me lightly and told me he wont let me fall. What happens if I fall. I might break something again. Last time I fell I broke my foot. What would I break if I fell of this time. I looked over at the tree. It looked so tempting to climb.

I wanted to climb it I did. I also did not want to fall. I wanted to be with Tristan too. I just did not want to get hurt. If I ask Tristan he might get picked for the games. If he does I will be devastated. I will cry for days on out. My last boyfriend went into the games. It is like the odds are always against me.

I look up at Tristan. I find his gaze and hold it. His eyes are so cute on his face. I start to blush, I hope it is not that noticeable. I smile and put my head against his chest. I finnaly say "Promise?"

[angel]

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Tristan could practically see the wheels turning in Lula's head as her gaze flickered back and forth between him and the tree. He waited silently, knowing he needed to give her time to think. As the seconds passed, Tristan wished he could simply read her mind. No, what she's thinking is her personal business. If she wants me to know, she'll tell me, he quickly corrected himself although the anxiety still grew over what she could possibly be thinking.

Lula's eyes suddenly were back on Tristan and he thought he almost saw her cheeks darken. Shaking his head slightly and passing it off as only the play of the sun on her cheeks, Tristan gave her his full attention. "Promise?" she hedged and Tristan felt his smile grow. "I promise," he vowed before sticking out his pinky, an old habit of his.

Realizing what he was doing, Tristan looked at Lula uncertainly. He pulled his pinky back slightly, worried she might see it as childish and leave. The thought of Lula rejecting him hurt Tristan more than he anticipated. With the reaping coming up soon, Tristan knew anything could happen, he only hoped things would turn out for the best.

[aliciamusa]

He said promise and held out his pinkie but then he put his hand back down fast. I took my pinkie in his and held it up. I know he is trying hard to keep me around just as much as I am trying to be around him. I know one move and he would hate me. I smiled as I held up our pinkies. I found his gaze again and held it for a long time before I put my hand down and took his other hand with my hand. We would make a cute couple. I think. People might think other wise and try to get him to leave me. I don't think he would, if we ever became a couple. he is too nice. I smiled again.

[angel]

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Tristan's grin grew impossibly wider when Lula hooked her pinky with his. This is turning out to be one of the best days ever, he decided before gently pulling Lula towards the tree. He could tell she was really nervous about falling, but when he made that promise he meant it. I'd never let her fall. Thinking about the day so far, Tristan wondered how they went from just meeting to this. Pausing, he wondered, what is this?

With their pinkies still intertwined and their bodies close together after their hug, Tristan suddenly realized how close together they were. Before his nerves could return, he focused his attention on the tree that now stood in front of them. Moving a little closer to the trunk, Tristan turned to face Lula and held out his hand. "I'll help you up and make sure you don't fall," he told her before glancing at the branches and deciding which was the best for her to start on.

[aliciamusa]

As we walked over to the tree I got scareder and scareder. I trusted Tristan to not let me fall. I trusted him, because I did not want to mess anything we might have. Trust is the first thing in any relationship my mom told me. My mom wanted to help me get a boyfriend so maybe I could move out. Well most of my boyfriends don't...... I stooped dead in my train of thought. I know what the capitol wants from me now. They want me to volunteer. They purposely put my boyfriends names in more times, because they want me. Why do they want me though.

I looked at Tristan with a reassuring smile. I found his gaze again and held it. He was cute, really cute. I blushed and this time I didn't care if he saw it.

[angel]

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Tristan could see how frightened Lula was, but he knew that she also really seemed to want to climb the tree. "I'll help you up and then come up their with you and tell you something I get nervous about," he promised, immediately regretting the last part. I'm going to sound like such an idiot, he mentally groaned before taking a breath. No, I'm doing it for her. Taking her hand, Tristan noticed a blush spreading over Lula's cheeks and he could not help but grin.

While he looked like a rotten tomato when he blushed, she blushed a beautiful shade of pink and Tristan could not help but notice how pretty she really was. Tristan quickly looked away before his own blush, which was hardly attractive, could stain his face. Taking her hand, Tristan locked eyes with Lula once more before hefting her up onto the lowest branch. As soon as he felt her land gently on the tree branch, he kept his hands in place, ready in case she was not stable.

"Are you ready for me to get up there?" he asked, afraid that if he let go before she knew he would, she would fall. He gave her a warm smile, letting her know that no matter what he would make sure she did not fall.

[aliciamusa]

"yea I'm ready."At least I think I am ready. I don't know. I forgot what it was like to climb trees. I looked back down at Tristan as he tried to come up. I whistled to Nightblade so she would be under us. Just in case we both fell. I smile when he got up here and sat next to me. He was so cute, even if he didn't know it.

[angel]

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As soon as Lula said she was ready, Tristan slowly let go of her, watching intently for any sign that she may fall. When he glanced up at her eyes, he realized how weird and possibly creepy he looked. I hope she knows I'm just making sure she doesn't fall, he began to worry while pulling himself onto the branch next to her. Of course Tristan knew the real reason his nerves had begun to resurface was because of what he was about to reveal to her. I'm going to sound so stupid, but I promised I'd tell her, he sighed, staring at the two horses who had moved closer to the tree in case they fell.

Letting out a breath he had not realized he was holding, Tristan met Lula's eyes and immediately returned the smile she had on her face. Shifting under her gaze, he willed himself to speak up. "I-I get nervous about talking to girls or even just being around them," Tristan admitted in a rush before sheepishly looking at her through his brown hair that had fallen over his eyes while he climbed the tree.

[aliciamusa]

From looking at the ground my hair had fallen out of place. My bangs were in my eyes and my hair was on my shoulders instead of my back. Tristan get nervous around girls. Unlike him I get nervous around anybody. "I get nervous talking to anybody. So don't worry. Only you are easy to talk too." I smiled again while looking in his eyes. I felt like I could tell him everything.