~ Third Person POV ~

It was difficult being the shy kid in school. It was even more difficult when your parents were famous. Famous for taking the lives of others in the Games. Even though the slaughter was not intentional, it still occurred. It was survival, and it was blamed on President Snow for his infamous dictatorship over Panem. Still, that didn't clear the case. It didn't make Willow feel better when the kids poked at her; when they called her out for it. When they looked at her with frightened faces. When they whispered and pointed. The truth had spilled out, and the ship had sailed. There was no way the ordeal could be veiled. In fact, it stained the minds of those around Willow. It stained her own mind.

After seeing the video of her mother's arrow lodging into skins of others--the horror had never been so palpable. It had never tainted her as much as she anticipated. The torment stained her dreams at night, and ruined her days at school. It was terrible. It was a burden. Demise.
Rye took it with confidence, which Willow often despised. He put those who bullied him in their place. Easily. But Willow did not wish harm on others, and she couldn't muster the confidence to put the bullies in their place. So she became the mat that her classmates stomped over. And they dirtied her. They made her the poster child of harassment. And it manifested.

Willow was early to class that day, as she usually was. She sat one row in front of Corin which made it easy to turn around and talk during moments when the teacher wasn't looking. All was about it change, however.
"Hey, Corin, do you have an extra eraser?" Willowed asked, turning to see her best friend behind her in the assigned seat. Except that her best friend was not there. But her books were.
Uh, Corin?

Willow's peripheral vision caught sight of that ginger red hair, bundled in between the large group of popular girls. Popular fifth grader girls who were only popular because they wore Capitol clothing from time to time. That was the only way to become popular in elementary.
Willow bit down on the side of her cheek. Was Corin really talking to those girls? The ones who picked on her freckles and mocked at her lisp. And she's really with them?
Willow mustered up the gumption to walk over to the table they all huddled closely amongst each other, like they were all taking part in some private ritual.
"Corin?"

"Oh, no." One girl whispered a little too loudly, then turned to face Willow. "Who are you looking for? Because Corin isn't your friend anymore, sorry."
Willow's eyes fluttered onto Corin's green orbs, which then diverted down onto the ground sheepishly.
"But I--"
"Sorry to break it to you," a brunette girl stepped in front of Willow, showcasing her Capitol bling draped around her neck, "but you have no friends. That's why Corin sided with us. You weren't good enough for her, and well, you just aren't good enough in general."

Willow had been sliced at before by those particular girls, but this time, her wound stung more painfully than it had before. Corin had been there for Willow since practically kindergarten. And now she was gone. For whatever reason. She was gone. It stung.
Tears glistened in her eyes as she painfully accepted the fact: Corin was gone; brainwashed. Hijacked, Willow thought. She retreated back to her desk, pushing aside the hurt for now--she would deal with it later. Later when it would kick in.

The bell rang just as the popular boys rushed into the classroom, causing a great commotion as they piled in and ran to their desks before Mrs. Hemington gave the typical tardy lecture.
Devon North was one of the popular boys. He too had a clothing item from the Capitol; specifically sneakers that glowed in the dark. Classy.
Willow never took a liking in him until fifth grade, once her boy-crazy hormones kicked into action. Every girl felt the same way about him. He was cute. But his personality was as rotten as his hair was dark. And his friends were just as foul-mouthed.

"Your face is giving me a disease, Willow." Aerin, one of Devin's friends, joked.
"Look away it might be fatal!" Devon added. Willow looked up from her desk at his voice. That raspy squeak of a voice. She rolled her eyes, sighing. Don't let them get to you, Will. She heard Rye's voice in her head.
Devon then leaned over and set a hand on hers. "Don't be sad, I don't mean that."
For a moment Willow almost bought his sympathy, until however he burst into a laugh. "Well, maybe a little bit."

"Okay class, I have a big announcement today." Mrs. Hemington lowered her glasses at the children. "We will be having a new student. Don't bite. Especially you Devon--remember your manners. That goes for everyone, okay?"
The children nodded dryly. Willow looked around the room. There was only one empty seat next to her. It had always been empty; usually for the kid who got in trouble, which ended up being Devon ninety-eight percent of the time. But maybe now it was for that new student? She just hoped that whoever it was, that he or she would be nice. It was a simple desire. 

Right as Willow was daydreaming of the new student, creating a crazy display in her head of a girl with light pink hair and purple lipstick wearing what Aunt Abernathy would deem normal, the classroom door opened. There he was. Secretly, Willow wanted another girl--one to replace backstabbing Corin. But a beggar couldn't be a chooser.
"Welcome!" Mrs. Hemington said ecstatically. "Tell the students your name."
The boy straightened up, revealing how tall he actually was for a fifth grader. He ran a hand through his thick brown hair and looked to his shoes as he spoke in the slightest shake of a tone.

"My name is Oliver." He--Oliver--said.
"Great, thank you. Oliver, how about you go sit back there next to Willow. Miss Mellark can you raise your hand?"
Willow perked up from her mental evaluation of the new boy. She shot her hand in the air, seeing that Oliver caught sight of it. He nodded and walked towards the back of the classroom, looking up sheepishly to acknowledge the students. His gait was pretty awkward, Willow mentally noted. He seemed confident, but unconfident all the while. Even a little sleep-deprived.

Oliver awkwardly slung his backpack onto the desk next to Willow, accidentally slamming it a little too loudly. Devon and his posse turned around to snicker at him. Oliver looked up at them, cheeks turning a faint pink. "Whoops." He mumbled aloud to, then he sat down and turned to Willow who had already been examining him. Oliver's eyes instantly captivated Willow. They were green, but not like Corin's. Lighter, like a green olive. As crystal clear as a marble. They were a beautiful set of eyes. She couldn't deny that.

Willow watched as his pupils grew larger, dilating like the lens of a camera.
"Willow, right?" He asked. 
 She nodded, smiling a courteous smile. "Yep, that's me."
"Cool." Oliver cleared his throat. "Hi."
"Hi--"
Mrs. Hemington's boisterous voice cut her off. "Alright, let's go over that homework assignment everyone!"

Oliver had been one of the first students to leave the classroom once the bell rang. But Willow would keep an eye out for that enigmatic boy with the pretty eyes.
On the more solemn note, it was time for history. It was time to learn of the horrendous Hunger Games. Willow braced herself.
"Today class we will be watching a film about the Hunger Games and the rebellion that killed thousands." Mr. Kendric said, waving his hands around unenthusiastically. 
Either all these teachers hate their job, or they're just sad people, Willow thought as she attempted to distract herself.

She slumped down in her chair as the video started to play. Oh, no.
At first the video focused on details of the reaping. It showed the very famous scene where Katniss stood up to save her sister.  "I volunteer as tribute!" 
Willow's face heated as students turned around and smirked at her. One thing was for sure--her mom was a badass.
"Your mom is so brave, but why aren't you?" Devon whispered at Willow.
"Shut up."
"Oh, threatening. So threatening--"
"Devon, shh!" Mr. Kendric scolded, taking this video more seriously than needed.

Further into the video, it showed Katniss screaming from the excruciating pain due to her leg wound, which the kids grimaced at. Most of the footage then revolved around the actual murder, which resulted in much of Katniss and some of Peeta. Katniss's message to President Snow, several segments of the fighting, Prim and all the children held captive at the Capitol, Katniss shooting President Coin. It all felt like an escalating travesty, the more it showed, the worse it got. Willow tightly closed her eyes shut during several segments in the video. It pained her all too much.
At the end of the video, Willow couldn't help but let the tears that had built up, fall down her cheeks. The students stared at her like she was some alien.

Oliver was the first one out of the classroom once again, and Willow was the last. She packed her bags, lost in a malaise.
"I'm surprised you didn't know about this all, Willow. I mean, both of your parents were involved in it." Mr. Kendric said. 
Willow wiped the edge of her nose with her palm. "I think I'm beginning to understand."
"Oh--well, that's good." 

Willow left the room downcast. More than anything she needed to wipe her memories of what she had encountered there in that classroom. Otherwise, she'd lose her mind.
There has to be a remedy.