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How did she even get here. Why did she even have to ask? She knew exactly how she got here. It started this morning when her sister, Merrliee, got the flu, a 101° fever. So obviously, she wasn’t able to drive her car to take her. And when Maysilee suggested that she drive her sister’s car, her and her parents said no, due to the fact Merrilee had infected the car, and they didn’t want two sick kids. Maysilee thought about taking her car, but then remembered it was in the shop, get repaired after her wreck on Tuesday…
Maybe thats why she couldn’t take the car.
Anyway, her parents couldn’t pick her up either, they both had a meeting about the Sweet Shop at 4:30, so they couldn’t pick her up until 5:00. So, after school, she waited inside near the doors, trying to scout out her parent’s SUV. Then it started to pour down rain into the parking lot, thunder and lightning and all. Maysilee watched as the rain poured down over the Panem High school campus. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder, it was her stupid principle, Principal Snow. He had told her school was closed and she had to wait outside, when he obviously saw the downpour casting over the school. Maysilee argued with him, until security forced her outside, in the cold, wet, pouring rain. So now here she was, her curls had fallen, her makeup running, her purple dress sticking to her as she wrapped her arms around her self, trying to keep warm. She shivered and shivered as the cold rain came down harder, and an even colder wind blows, almost knocking her off her feet. Maysilee, upset, started to mumble curses under her breath, saying everything she thought about Principal Snow.
As Maysilee was just about to give up on waiting and walk home, she felt something cover her head from the rain. She looked up to see a red, white, and gold letterman jacket cover her head. Maysilee looked to her left to see none other than the school heartthrob, Wyatt Callow, shielding her from the rain. “Huh…?” Maysilee murmured. Wyatt Callow was the Heartthrob of Panem High School. Every girl or guy that had ever had the chance to be graced by his looks, instantly fell in love with him. And Maysilee was really no different, whenever she was a freshmen and he was a sophomore, she had a massive crush on him. But the only downside of having a crush on him is that he would always turn the girls, or guys, down.
It was his perk of being a heartthrob, every time he turned someone down, someone else would just pop right up, drooling over him. But that would all soon be gone, he was senior this year, so after this, he’ll be off to college. “You shouldn’t be out here.” Wyatt deadpanned, rain dripping down his face and body. “You’ll get sick.” He said, looking towards her. Maysilee noticed his eyes, they were stunning, stormy like the clouds in the sky. “Not my choice. Principal Snow decided it was time for me to go, even though my parents aren’t here.” Maysilee huffed, feeling a cold chill run down her spine as he sighed.
“Don’t you have your own car? You’re on the richer side than most in the city.” Wyatt asked, looking out into the bare school parking lot. “I wrecked it.” Maysilee said bluntly, looking up at the letterman jacket covering her head from the rain. “Oh.” Wyatt mumbled. “Why are you still here? You’re a senior, and plus, you get out early.” Maysilee asked, looking at the boy towering over her, his black hair sticking to his face due to the rain. “Chess club had a meeting today, we’re getting ready for competition.” Wyatt grinned, looking back at her with those stormy gray eyes. And for some reason that Maysilee couldn’t explain, she couldn’t—wouldn’t— pull her icy blues away from those eyes.
A crash of thunder boomed in the distance, then a bolt of lightning struck somewhere in the town of Panem. “Come on, I’ll take you home.” Wyatt said, nodding towards the parking lot. Maysilee looked at him, cocking an eyebrow at him. “What?” Wyatt asked, genuine confusion in his voice. Maysilee then snapped her head away and stopped looking at him. “Nothing—never-mind…” Maysilee grumbled, looking at the downpour soak the city. It was a pretty sight, though Maysilee isn’t a fan of the rain, she likes the summer sun better than the wetness of spring.
They had walked into the parking lot, Wyatt refusing to take his school letterman jacket back until she was in his black pickup truck. The truck had worn down leather seats, having small tears and rips. Probably from all the girls he had in his car before her, their nails probably ripping the seats as they—
Wyatt entered the truck, grunting as he did so. Throwing his wet letterman jacket in the backseat. He complained that his back was swore from his work out yesterday. “So thats why he’s so muscular…” Maysilee thought to herself. Wyatt never played in sports in school, sticking to the “nerd clubs” like chess or mathletes. But his looks and mysterious nature always made people blind to his nerdy interests. A-lot of people said that his nerdy interest made him hotter, but they wouldn’t dare go for the people who weren’t conveniently attractive. Hypocritical. Maysilee was never one to have a crush, besides that one time in freshman year, but besides that she never had a crush on any of the boys in her grade or above. All of the boys were loud and annoying or incredibly creepy or just weird, or already in a relationship.
Haymitch Abernathy was loud and annoying, the class clown. And he somehow managed to get a girlfriend whenever they were in middle school. Now it’s almost the end of Junior year and they are still disgustingly obsessed with each other. Actually, during this year’s homecoming, she had caught them making out behind the school gym. It was honestly so gross for Maysilee to see him and Lenore Dove practically eating each other’s faces.
Wyatt started the truck up, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the arm rest that separated them. “Where do you live?” Wyatt said, pulling his phone out of his pocket and opening GPS. Maysilee looked at him, his wet hair sticking to his face, and his once baggy clothes sticking to his figure. Especially on his biceps, showing them off to the world. Maysilee couldn’t help but stare at them. “Uh— West Twelve Oak Street.” Maysilee said, observing how his hair practically covered his face like curtain while wet. Kinda like a cat who just took a bath. Maysilee thought he looked adorable with his hair all frizzed and wet from the rain and storm— Wait…did she just say he looked adorable?
Maysilee watched as Wyatt was about to pull out of the parking lot, but then stopped him by putting her hand on his arm. He looked at her with those beautiful gray irises, seeming a little shocked by her hand on him. Maysilee reached out her hand, and moved his damp hair away from his face, revealing more of his features to her. He hand a small scar on his forehead, she wondered where he got that from. Her icy blue eyes were transfixed on him, she couldn’t seem to look away, even if she wanted to. Maysilee moved a piece of Wyatts black, shaggy, hair behind his ears, eyes not daring to look away from her. Her breath started to become quicker the longer she gazed at him. She studied his face, memorizing the most noticeable and unnoticeable details about him.
Wyatt’s stormy gray eyes, his lips, his roman type nose, his stormy gray eyes, the mole a skew from his nose, the scar on his forehead, his stormy gray eyes, the small hair bumps on his chin, and those stormy gray eyes…They had enchanted her. Like he was some sort of angel that drew her in without even trying, and she was getting pulled in like being by a riptide. Maysilee was practically intoxicated by Wyatt’s looks, his smell, by everything he had to offer honestly. She wanted to kiss him until his lips turned purple— wait did she just say she wanted to kiss him? Yes, yes she did. She guesses the spark she had for Wyatt that had “died” in freshman year, never really died. It just…went into hiding. But being alone with him made Maysilee’s brain woozy, her heart pound, and her cheeks turn pink. She then realized, she had been just staring at him for a while now, and he just let her. “Sorry. I just wanted to make sure you could see the road…” Maysilee mumbled, looking out the window. “U-uh, thanks.” Wyatt said, his face turning a deep red. Maysilee looked back at him, and saw his face in a deep red shade, and started to panic, believing she had caused him an allergic reaction.
“Wyatt?! Are you okay?!!” Maysilee screamed, looking at his at face, cupping it and moving it side to side to find any hives. “I-I—uh—fine! So fine!” Wyatt choked out, his heart racing. “You’re not! You’re red!!” Maysilee screeched, reaching for her phone, about to call 9-1-1. “Wait! Wait! Im just blushing!!” Wyatt blurted out before she could dial the number on her phone. She stopped, and gazed back at him, looking with intention and carefulness. “It’s just something I do…My whole face just turns red when I get…” Wyatt trailed off, his face becoming a deeper shade of red than before. Maysilee’s cheeks turned pink as she realized she just embarrassed herself in-front of Wyatt, not only that, but also embarrassed him. “Oh— im so sorry—“
Wyatt interrupted her. “It’s fine, really.” Wyatt said, putting his foot on the gas and driving out of the school parking lot.
Maysilee watched Wyatt drive through the town, not really caring to look outside the window, even though she should be. Her mother always told her that if she was in an uber and they turned the wrong way, was to jump out of the car at the next light. But for some reason, she trusted him to get her home, when he could very easily take to woods and do Panem knows what to her.
Maysilee watched as Wyatt drove with one hand, her anxiety somewhat rising. She was a new driver, only getting her license last month, and her mother and driving instructor told her keep her hands on ten and two. “You’re staring at me.” Wyatt commented, his voice startling Maysilee. “Oh, I usually don’t see people drive with one hand. But it’s not like it’s bad, I’m just curious.” Maysilee admitted, not removing her eyes from his one hand on the wheel.
She didn’t want to admit that her old crush for Wyatt had reignited, cause it would mean she would get her heart broken. Maysilee knew he rejected all the boys and girls that flocked to him, but she couldn’t help but feel the flame had been fanned and started to grow. Then she thought about it, how he was probably just leading her on with this good deed. Wyatt probably needed to keep his heartthrob/ heartbreaker image up, so who ever was there at school didn’t question him because he couldn’t get a girl. She was just another pawn in his game. Well, not anymore, she’s going to call him out, right here, right now. Maysilee looked Wyatt in the face as he focused on the road and said:
“So am I just a little ploy to keep your heartthrob reputation up?”
…
“My what reputation?”
“Don’t play dumb!” Maysilee snapped, she scowled at him as he stopped at the train stop, the bells ringing, and the train whistle blowing. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Wyatt deadpanned and looked straight at her, with those gorgeous gray eyes. “C’mon you know exactly what I’m talking about! How every girl and guy in this school comes up to you, wanting to date you! And you say no every time!” Maysilee quipped. Wyatt opened his mouth to say something, but Maysilee cut him off. “Let me finish! You’ve probably have had multiple girls in here and each time they tear up your seats while you make out, and then you leave them! You’re a heartbreaker!” Maysilee almost shouted at him. Wyatt frowned at her, then pressed his lips into a thin line, trying to come up with a response. “Uhh…People actually like me?” Wyatt asked, clueless. Maysilee looked at him, he really had no clue, did he? “Yes?!” Maysilee cried out in annoyance, how did he really not know that people were swooning over him almost every day?!
“Well to answer your…rant, Number 1, im not into guys, so thats why I turn them down. Number 2, I thought most girls who asked me out were just joking with me and trying to be mean. Number 3, those rips and tears on the seat are from my cat, Lou Lou, and some of my brothers.” Wyatt explained, looking more confused than hurt by Maysilee’s accusations. “Also I’ve never even had a girlfriend, let alone kissed a girl.”
“WHAT?”
“Yeah. Just something that never happened.”
Maysilee remembered something her Poetry teacher, Ms. Baird, had said while teaching a class her sophomore year:
“Some men die of thirst, while other men drown.”
And Sweet Panem did that apply to Wyatt.
He had all the girls at the school in the palm of his hands, and he just, didn’t go for them? And I understand why he would think they were all just trying to be mean, but it gets to point where you have to start wondering, “Do these girls really like me?” But Maysilee guesses it never crossed Wyatts mind.
Now she felt like a completely jerk, and that didn’t help her own reputation. Maysilee was know as the “mean girl” or “regina george” of the school because she was just so mean. But she didn’t mean to be mean, she’s just brutally honest, but it comes out it a mean way. Even by the way she jokes, it always sounded mean. When she was in elementary school with Haymitch Abernathy, she had called him Itchy Itchy Haymitchy as one off joke, but her tone fell flat causing him to cry to the teacher. She tried to apologize, but it was too late, the damage had been done. And ever since then she had been deemed a mean girl. And this just solidified her role as a mean girl.
“I’m sorry… that was so rude of me.” Maysilee murmured to him, not willing to look him in the eyes. “I’m so freaking stupid… I’m so sorry Wyatt.” Maysilee murmured again, tugging on the seatbelt for some sort of stability. Maysilee zoned out, her throat tight with guilt and shame, but something snapped her out of her zone, and it was none other than Wyatt Callow’s hand on her shoulder. “Hey, it’s fine, really.” Wyatt said, but not in a flat tone, but in an understanding tone, like her truly understood where she was coming from. “I understand the suspicion, but I am no heartthrob or heartbreaker, I’m just me.” Wyatt said, shrugging, then adding a smile to the end of his sentence. There was a silence, not an awkward one, but a pleasant silence. A silence of understanding, silence of forgiveness. That made Maysilee’s heart skip a beat, he was understanding with her, and thats was what she ever really wanted in life, to be understood.
Wyatt’s pick up truck stopped in front of the large, three story, house. His mouth wide as he pulled up to large house, never seeing anything like before. Maysilee giggled at his reaction to her house, seeing her parents SUV wasn’t home, she immediately panicked. She forgot to tell them that a friend or acquaintance or whatever you would call Wyatt and Maysilee, was taking her home. And then she looked at her phone to see 50 missed calls from her mom, 27 missed calls from her Dad and over a hundred un read messages from both of them. At least she knew they definitely cared about her now. Maysilee called her mom, only to get a mouthful of words and yelling from both of her parents. Wyatt listened in on the conversation that was happening with Maysilee and her parents.
“Yes but you have to understand-“
“DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW SCARED WE WERE MAYSILEE?”
“No but—“
“MAYSILEE GRACE DONNER YOU ARE GROUNDED FOR A MONTH!”
“But thats not fair! Merrliee does stuff like this all the time!!”
Wyatt stopped listening after she saying that, he just listened to the fighting, and after a while, Maysilee hung up with loud grunt of frustration. “You okay?” Wyatt said, looking at the blonde haired girl, her icy blue eyes shimmering in the sun light. “Yeah, just annoyed. I understand why they’re mad but they didn’t have to be so rude about it.” Maysilee ranted, anger lacing her voice. Wyatt put a hand on her shoulder, smiling at Maysilee. It was a reassuring smile, a smile that made everything seem right. He moved pieces of her golden blonde hair behind her ear, after they fell out of place from her outburst of anger.
“I wish they understood me like you do.” Maysilee said in a voice lower than a whisper.
Wyatt felt his face grow hot, knowing that he was beet red again. Maysilee laughed at his deeply red face, and then held a hand to his face, cupping it gently. He felt his face grow hotter and hotter as she cupped his jaw, he was melting in her hands. “Im a goner.”Wyatt thought to himself. He had never felt this way about a girl before, he had never felt his heart pounding in his ears, his needing to stare at her, his brain tingle with a feeling he just couldn’t grasp. Maysilee was a beauty, blonde hair , pale skin, icy blue eyes, and small freckles that littered her face. Wyatt looked at her and gave a crooked smile, his mind barely functioning, which was first. His brain was always moving, so to have it short circuit was a first.
Maysilee leaned in with a smile, then she kissed his cheek, her lip gloss staining his cheek. Maysilee grabbed her backpack and opened the truck door while giggling like a schoolgirl. Wyatt was completely frozen, barely registering the fact that she had just kissed his cheek. For the entire ride to Maysilee’s house, he had noticed how gorgeous she looked, even when soaking wet. Wyatt had seen her in the halls of Panem High School, but she was mostly hanging out with the popular kids, while girls and boys alike chased after him. But he had taken notice of her, and for some reason, she could never seem to leave his mind. Maysilee called out from the front door off her house, a smile plastered on her face. “Bye Wyatt!! See you tomorrow at school!!”
Maysilee said, unlocking her house with her house key. Then she headed inside and locked the door, thinking of Wyatt and those gorgeous gray eyes of his.
Wyatt drove off as soon as she was inside the gigantic house. He tried to keep focus on the road, but the thought of her kissing his cheek made him dizzy, in the best possible way. His red blush wearing off as he turned the corner to his house, waiting to see his the neighbors dogs, Prim and Kat, come over and greet him. Both Maysilee and Wyatt thought about each other as the sun set over the city of Panem. Both two people in a very large city who found love in the pouring rain.