Chad Simmons

"You're not intruding. And you're welcome," I said and opened the door wider. "It's Cody. You remember Cody?"

"Oh, yeah. Nice to see you again, you're looking better."


I chuckled a little bit "Thanks."

"Did you... want to come in?"

Was he for real? She walked all this way just to see him. "Sure she does. Come on in, Cody."

"Sorry," I said and opened the door more. "Want something to drink? We have... well we have water," I said and laughed a little, no idea why I felt nervous.

"What? No chocolate milk? Damn."

I laughed a little. "Find me some cocoa beans and a cow and I'll see what I can do," I said then shook my head. Could I sound anymore like an idiot?

Chad

I smiled "No problem, sounds easy enough to me."

Cody

I chuckled. "I'll get right on that. Will water work for now?"

"It will, thanks." I said and sat down in a chair the Owen pulled out for me.


"So, I've got some things I need to do today. I'll leave you guys to it and be back later." I said and winked at Chad when Cody wasn't looking.

I rolled my eyes. Any more obvious and he'd be literally shoving me at her. "Alright. See you later man."

"Later." I told them and left the cabin.


"If you need to go with him I'll leave, I don't want to be intrusive."

"You're not intruding. I don't know what he has going on. I didn't have anything to do."

"Why are you two so far out from the other camp?"

I shrugged. "He... has his reasons. I just don't do well around a lot of people anymore."

"Can I ask why?"

"Just... I don't know. Everything. I... I watched my girlfriend and my cousin... get killed in the games... Right in front of me... and I've never been able to stop blaming myself. I feel like everyone that looks at me is... judging me somehow... for not making sure they made it home safely. And... I don't know... being around too many people just makes me... nervous now. People've told me it's because of everything that happened in the games, but who knows."

"Maybe the only way to break down those walls is to make yourself uncomfortable. You know? Go visit your family, have dinner with all of the others. I'm just babbling, I have no idea how you feel. I did lose Trace but not how you lost her."

"They want me to. They've asked me more than once. I know it'd make them happy. I just don't know if I can."

"If they've lost your cousin, don't make them lose you too. You should go see them."

I sighed. "Yeah I know."

"Sorry, I didn't come here to lecture you...." I said, feeling a little dumb. "What you do is none of my business anyway."

"It's okay, you don't have to apologize. Maybe I needed a little lecture."

"Do you want to get out of this cabin? Go walk around or...something?" I asking, shrugging a little.

I shrugged. "Sure. Why not," I said and went to the door, opening it for her. "Where... do you want to go?"