I can't sleep, so this is going up now.

I just love how irritated you guys got with Tara haha. Just sayin'.

A lot of this story is mine, but even more of it isn't :D

The stars are out tonight. The best thing about District Twelve is that they are always out. Every night, I have the pleasure of seeing them: the twinkling sparkles of white and silver scattered over a black canvas. District Twelve's skies are the only thing that can contest District Four's ocean, I think. Right now I'm out in the Meadow, hiding in a clump of flowers, appreciating solitude. Nobody can see me from my position. I'm stargazing, and listening just to the mockingjays and the breathing of the night. Sometimes I hum with the mockingjays, sometimes I sing my own song. Mostly, I'm silent... but really, there's one person who almost always knows where I am, no matter how stealthy I'm being.

"Hey there, Miss Tara."

I don't even need to look up for him. "Hey, Mr. Hawthorne." He settles into the bed of flowers, lying down beside me, and he stays silent. I do a quick counting in my head. "Finn has been in District Four for eight hours now..."

Riegan turns his head slightly to me and smiles. "... but I'm not in District Two, so that's good, right?"

"You wanted to go home, didn't you?" I ask abruptly. "A few days ago when we convinced Lira for you to stay? You wanted to go back home instead of stay here with me."

He laughs lightly. "Tara – Miss Tara, you are home."

I smile a little and turn my body to face him. "But you did. You didn't want to stay. I know you, Riegan. Why?"

"I don't like him."

"But why?" I ask helplessly. I think over the past few days. Felix has mostly been staying out of our way; I think because he knows that Riegan and I wanted to spend most of our time with Finn. But when we have seen him, he's been quite nice.

He sighs. "I'm here, Tara; can't that just be all that matters?"

"No, because you don't like being here."

"Yes, I do!" he insists, turning to me. "Believe me, I do like being here. I just don't like him, okay?" He sees I'm about to ask the question again and he interrupts me: "I just don't get good vibes, all right? But look. What matters is, I'm here. With you. Until my birthday. You and Matz and Katniss and Peeta and Elli and Haymitch and everyone here gets to celebrate it with me this year. And that's good."

He looks so determined for me to just let it go. Hesitantly, I sink back down into the ground beside him. "Okay."

The silence that happens next is awkward, which is strange. Riegan and I aren't awkward – when we're not talking, the space is filled with unspoken words, usually. So he says quietly, "We should bring my friends here, when my parents come back for the birthday."

"Oh, yes!" I say eagerly. "I would love them to be here."

"And Finn, obviously, and Rysnna," he continues, sounding a bit more enthusiastic.

I hate to rain on his parade, since he seems to have forgotten that his birthday is a double birthday. Well, no. I guess we can have Felix's celebration on one day, with Riegan's on an other. So, I just stay silent and I don't reply, because there's nothing I can say that won't get him ticked off. He doesn't start up another conversation, but now, it's just the "unspoken words" – the breeze around me is filled with it. Our soundless conversation is still there. And it's just the way I like it.

...

"No, I think you're supposed to put the eggs first," says Riegan.

Mother looks baffled. "You have to bake in order?"

"No... I don't think so. I don't think Father does," Matz cuts in.

I point at the paper that's taped up on the cupboard above my head. "But it says in a large bowl, blah blah blah, beat in eggs one at a time, and thenstir in vanilla. Doesn't that mean it has to be in order?"

This is why we let Father do the baking.

"Wait, wait, so we have the cream butter and the sugar here, and it's light and fluffy, and we have vanilla here, too," says Mother. "Let's just try and beat the eggs with it."

But Father's away, helping the Domitilla family move in, fixing some of the parts of the house that are a bit outdated. So, because we were bored, Matz and Riegan suggested that we try and bake a cake. Mother was strangely enthusiastic about the idea – I think she wanted the challenge. Well, we're barely done, and we're already messing things up.

Suddenly, the doorbell rings.

"I'll get it!" Matz, Riegan, and I say in unison. Since I'm on the outside of the kitchen counter, I get a head start. I get to the door first, and I peek out the peephole.

I see who it is and open the door a little hesitantly. Oh, and Riegan was in such a good mood this morning, too. "Hey, Felix," I greet him. I can hear Riegan and Matz's footsteps halt behind me. Whoever Riegan dislikes, so does Matz... which should explain for as to why Matz turns around abruptly and back into the kitchen. I feel sorry for Felix.

Riegan, however, takes a step forward and stands beside me. "'Morning, Felix," he says, almost cheerfully. I do a double-take and stare up at him.

Felix smiles. "Hey." He spies that we're both wearing aprons: Riegan's wearing Father's "Kiss-the-Cook" one, and I'm wearing one that has little puppies all over it.

"We're baking a cake," I explain, grinning.

"Come join us?" Riegan suggests. Again, I have to force my jaw closed and my eyes not to look so huge. What's going on?

Felix nods. "Be glad to."

Mother, who is beating with great concentration, looks up. "Hey, Felix."

"Hi, Mrs. Everdeen," he greets. Like Rysnna, he has that weird (or respectful, depending how you think of it) rule of etiquette to call older people by their last name. I reach over on the hook that holds a bunch of aprons and pick a pink one with lace lining the edges. I grin and hand it to him. He laughs. "Thanks."

I wonder if Riegan's just being friendly because Mother's there. Mother says tiredly, "Know anything about baking, Felix?"

"A little."

As it turns out, with Felix's help, we get a decent-looking batter in the oven. The boys go outside to throw mud or something, but I stay with Mother in the kitchen, sitting on the counter. "Did you ever really like Finnick Odair, Mother?"

Mother looks up, raising a brow. "Uh … that depends on what you're saying..."

I shift awkwardly. "As in, like-like."

"No."

"No?"

"No, of course not," she says firmly. "When I was closest to him, he was not only very in love with Annie, but he also was the first person to recognize that I loved your father. First person to tell me, anyway."

"But you never cared for him," I say slowly.

"Not like that, no," she replies, leaning against the counter thoughtfully. She looks at me curiously. "Why?"

"Because," I say, teeth grinding together, "I can't find the line between friendship and ... not friendship."

"Riegan?" Mother looks alert.

I huff and say exasperatedly, "Both of them."

"Finn, too?"

"Yes," I say helplessly.

"I never thought you liked Finn," says Mother, confused. "Riegan, I mean, yes... a little. Not Finn, though."

"I don't think I do," I answer, equally perplexed, "but that's just it. I don't know." Then I shake my head. "No, I don't think I ever really liked Finn like that, I guess... it's always awkward with him. I can never figure out what to say."

"There you go?" Mother says this as a question, so she's unsure, too.

"I guess."

Mother's eyes go down to the oven, but she's still talking to me. "What about Riegan?"

"I don't know," I say helplessly. "I don't think there's anything romantic between us, but Mother, I don't know if he's acting like a best friend or..."

"A 'boy' friend?" Mother finishes for me wryly.

I blush just thinking about it. "Yes."

"What's this? I'm hearing about boyfriends?" I nearly lean back too far on the counter. I grab the edge of it to steady myself. Father has come home. He comes up behind me and grins. "My little girl's too young for a boyfriend..."

I laugh. "Don't worry, Father... no prospective boyfriends on the horizon for me..."

"Good." He smiles. "And I smell... chocolate cake? My family was baking without me?"

"Father's home!" comes a squeal from the outside, and Matz comes running in. "Hi, Father!"

"Hey, Matzo." Father laughs. Matz – almost 9, but he's still as much as a little boy as I have ever known him to be. He jumps up into Father's arms.

"Hi, Mr. Mellark. Are they all done?" asks Felix.

Father nods. "Mostly."

"I should go back," says Felix, already taking off the bright fuchsia apron. "I had a great time; thanks for letting me help out."

"It was great to have you," says Mother.

"Do you mind if we go see?" Riegan suggests.

Again, I'm really beginning to think that I'm hallucinating. Felix nods eagerly. "Yeah; you guys can come over."

Matz, who still seems convinced not to like Felix, decides that he's going to stay at home. Riegan and I tell Felix we'll be on our way there in a second, since we're still wearing our pajamas, so Felix goes ahead. When I'm alone with Riegan, walking down Victor's Village, I strike. "Okay, tell me what's up."

Riegan grins cheekily. "What?"

"Why are you being nice to him?" I demand.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he says, taunting me.

I laugh and jump up on his back. "Tell me or I'll choke you."

Riegan laughs, and he just lets me ride on his back. "You wouldn't."

"Tell me." I pause. "Did you change your mind about him?" I ask hopefully.

"Um... yes."

I lean my cheek on his shoulder and ask, "Why not sure?" I reach down and poke his ribs, causing him to nearly drop me. I laugh.

"Number one, please don't break my back. Or you. Don't break you. I'd get in trouble," says Riegan. I grin.

"What's number two?"

"I decided... I would try and get to know him," he says resignedly, "if I like him, then excellent, I've got myself a new friend. If not, well, then."

"And I accept that!" I say encouragingly. "I just want us to get to know him better. I mean, we should at least try and tolerate him, or something, since he's going to be my neighbor – and by extent, he's going to be yours, since you're here often." I go off his back when we come closer Number Six of the Victor's Village.

Of the empty houses, this one's the prettiest. Most of the Victor's Village grounds used to just be sprawling bright green lawns, but Mother and Father, like I had told Felix, had a lot of time on their hands. A variety of trees and bushes are scattered all over them now. Number Six sits on top of the highest hill in Victor's Village, which a brook cuts around. Riegan and I can hear the rush of water from the road; I remember dipping my feet in it with Matz when we were younger.

A brick fence and a black, wrought iron gate guards Number Six, which is a wide, squat house, with a peach-like color. The trees create a kind of archway over the path leading to the front door. There are cherry blossom trees: bright, happy, pink trees. Mixed in are simple trees that I can't quite name – but the flowers that dangle from its leaves and branches, I can recognize. The ivory petals face down to the ground, closed in. They are appropriately named "silver bells".

There are shrubs on the lawn, as well. They're all flowering. Most of the flowers are yellow, pink, white, or orange. The petals are thin and large, spread out over the leaves on the stems, facing upward, like they're watching the clouds. In contrast to the silver bells, the filaments of these flowers reach out to kiss the sky. These are honeysuckles. I bend over to admire them.

"Tara!"

I glance up and see Sabina running toward us on the gravel path, honey-colored hair flying behind her. It brings on a smile just to see it. I've only known her for a few days, and yet she runs to give me a hug. I laugh, picking her up and hugging her. "Hey there, little buddy."

"My room's a rainbow princess room!" she enthuses. "Go, go! Go see my new house, Tara!"

Riegan and I both look at each other and grin. I let Sabina down and she pulls my hand, leading Riegan and me up the front steps of the house. All the Victor's Village homes look the same – the style, I mean – but the inside is usually totally different. Number Six has many wide hallways and spiral staircases. Sabina leads me around one corner, and then she cries, "Oh!"

She has led me right into Felix. I hit my head with his chin, and I jump backward into Riegan, stepping on his foot. Now, we are all in pain. Felix is rubbing his jaw, Riegan is bouncing up and down on the other foot, and I'm holding a hand to my head, which feels like it's bruising. "Sabina," groans Felix irritably, mouth opening and closing, "oh, gosh, that hurts."

Sabina has let go of my hand, and her hands are clasped over her lips. "I'm so sorry!"

"What's all the commotion?"

From the far end of the hallway comes Caelina. "Sabina played bowling," Felix says, leaning against the wall, still rubbing his fingers on the side of his face.

"I didn't mean to!" she howls. "I just wanted to show Tara my rainbow princess room."

"Oh, come, you three – we'll get you some ice," says Caelina, and I can hardly believe that this woman played a sexy female protagonist in the movie I saw a few days ago. Riegan recovers and stands up. He wiggles his toes a bit, and then he walks beside me and Felix into the kitchen. There, Caelina gives Felix and me ice. I hold it up to my temple, and Felix holds his around his cheek.

Caelina looks to Riegan. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine." Riegan nods. He looks at me and Felix. "You guys?" I shrug, removing the ice from my forehead for a moment and run my hand over it. I still feel pain at that slightest pressure.

Felix's mouth opens wide, and then he hastily shuts it. "Um. I think I'll be okay if I don't yawn, or something."

"I'm sorry!" Sabina cries again. "I didn't mean to, Felix!"

"It's okay," Felix replies, even though I'm pretty sure it's not really. "We obviously haven't broken our habit," says Felix to me, a small smile showing up on his face. I find myself returning it.

"More painful this time around, though," I say ruefully, "and not just to us this time." I turn around to my right, where Riegan is (faking) being distracted by the backsplash. Again, I really can't see what it is about Felix that bugs him so much – and that's saying something. I usually know what's going on in his mind, but now I just can't tell.

Again, both Felix and I try to talk at the same time. I'm beginning to ask what he thinks of District Twelve, and he asks what Twelve school's like. I laugh. "It's okay. I don't know many older people, so I'm not sure who'll be in your class..."

"Teenan," Riegan suddenly says, a bit stonily.

"Oh. Well, yes, let's hope not." Even though in a town this small, it's not very likely that Felix and Teenan won't end up in the same class. She's just going to just go crazy if she finds him there... I feel a rush of pity.

Riegan and I stay for a while longer, and although he seems determined, and really friendly during the whole time we're there, Riegan still seems a little relieved when he glances at the clock. Lira and Gale always call at 10:00 A.M., and then again at 4:30 P.M., which is what time it is now. "Why don't you just go to take the call and come back?" I suggest. I'm enjoying talking with Felix. "I'll wait here."

This backs Riegan up into a corner. He hops off the bar stool and suppresses a look. "Fine. I'll be back in a few minutes." He gives one last cold glance – I think to me. That makes me crumble slightly.

When Riegan leaves, Felix looks at me. "I think he's in love with you."

I clench my fists. "You and the rest of the world, apparently."

"Is he?"

"It's not something he just -" I sigh. "You don't just walk up to people and say, 'I love you' out of the blue, Felix."

Felix shrugs. "You're his best friend, aren't you? I'd think you'd be able to tell."

"Yes, I am his best friend..." I lean on the counter. "No, he's not in love with me." I think.

"So..." Felix's face turns pink. "Do you think he'd mind if you went out with … me?"

I'm taken aback, but I think I cover it up. I wear a shy smile, but my heart's thudding and my stomach's doing the cartwheels again. "Why? … are you asking?"

"... yeah." He looks at me reluctantly. "Would you like to go out with me?"

I meet his eyes and smile. I am forcing my voice to ring out clear instead of crack like I'm expecting it to as I tell him: "Yes."

...

Oh, I can't wait to hear the opinions on this one... !

If you could be so kind, please review? :)