Another District One chapter, because I just love that district :) I have a ton of characters from there, and the ones I've written about so far will probably be featured more than just once, especially the characters in this chapter. These three are from another one of my fanfics, Note to Self. This story, though, takes place nearly twenty years in the past. :) And it's in third person, because I had no idea whose point of view I should write… It's a good thing this is a really random fanfiction. Hope you enjoy!

"Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself, the most comforting words of all; this, too, shall pass." –Ann Landers

Chapter Three: Trouble

He was late. He knew he was late. But yet, he took his time as he walked back to the house. His parents, both quarry workers, wouldn't be home until after dark. And if he kept walking at this pace, he hoped, his sisters would forget about him. Still, when he arrived home, he went around the side of the house and opened the back door. He took great care in doing this, as he knew better than anyone that the hinges squeaked.

"Beacon!" Diamond covered her mouth with her hands. Beacon swore under his breath. The whole point of walking through this way was that Diamond wouldn't notice. But it didn't matter now, because both of his sisters had already seen him. Diamond was frozen, staring at him in shock. Hyaline, the youngest of the siblings, looked up from her coloring. Their brother's lip was split; a stream of blood trickled down his chin. One of his eyes was swollen shut.

Beacon wasn't going to offer up an explanation. He shook his head, walking straight past his sisters.

"Beacon!" Diamond repeated, sounding angry this time. She followed him, having to take two steps for every one of his to keep up. She shouted his name once more as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Beacon turned around.

"What?" he growled. Diamond winced.

"Why do you keep doing this?" she asked. Beacon scowled.

"I'm fine. Leave me alone."

"You're not fine! This is the third time you've come home like this!"

"So?"

"Third time this month."

"I got into a fight! Big deal!" Beacon raised his voice.

"Big deal," mimicked Diamond, "Look at yourself!"

Hyaline watched her siblings fight from her spot at the kitchen table, swinging legs that weren't quite long enough to reach the ground. She listened to them argue for what seemed like forever, and wished her parents would come back from the quarry soon. Her siblings didn't fight as much when Mom and Dad were at home.

"You don't have to tell why," said Diamond, lowering her voice, "Just sit down at the table. I'll get the first-aid kit." Beacon gave up with a sigh, nodding his head mutely and doing as she said.

"Hi, Hy," he said, taking a seat at the kitchen table.

"Hi, Beacon." Hy looked down at the paper she was coloring and realized her picture didn't resemble in the least what she was trying to draw. She began to crumple it into a ball.

"Hey, it wasn't half bad," said Beacon. Hy shook her head.

"I didn't like it," she said.

As Beacon and Hyaline talked, Diamond stood on her toes to reach the highest cabinet, and took down the first-aid kit. She set it on the table in front of Beacon.

"Hy, get some ice?" Hy nodded and did as she was told. Diamond opened the first-aid kit and searched through its contents. The bruises would fade, but his torn lip wouldn't heal as easily on its own. She looked at her brother apologetically when she found the needle.

"You sure about that?" Beacon seemed doubtful.

"We could wait until Mom and Dad get home. But they'll want to take you to the hospital for it."

"Do your best." Diamond nodded and began to stitch up his lip. By the time their sister came back with a bag of ice, the thirteen-year-old's shaky hands had slowly, but surely, made a row of five neat stitches.

"Not bad," said Beacon, looking at his reflection in the window, "You could be a doctor someday." Diamond grinned at him proudly. Beacon didn't return the smile; he didn't want to pull at the stitches his sister had been so careful to sew straight.

"Beacon," Hy called from the window.

"I don't think I could've done better myself," Beacon continued, taking the bag of ice and holding it to his eye.

"Beacon," Hy repeated, raising her voice.

"When do you think—"

"Beacon!" Hy exclaimed. Beacon looked over at his younger sister.

"What?"

"Mom and Dad are home!"

All three siblings exchanged a panicked glance. Then, Diamond snapped the first aid kit closed and flung open the cabinet door to put it back where it belonged. Hy grabbed a dishrag to wipe up the melted ice that had spilled onto the table. Beacon nearly knocked over his chair as he raced out of the kitchen, through the living room, up the stairs, down the hall, and into his room, where his door would remain locked for the rest of the night.

Hope you liked this one! And you will definitely see more of Hy, Beacon, and Diamond in later chapters! :D Please review!