Chapter 4- "Clues"

Noah let me stay. I wasn't really surprised- well she certainly was when I came knocking on her door. She nearly shrieked in surprise upon opening the door. But I soon found out Noah had no father- only a mother, the two of them who lived quite comfortably in their little home.

They're very much alike. Both in looks and personality. Kind, smiley, bubbly, talkative. I hardly got a word in over the meal that they had shared with me, generously. The house was warmer then outside- heated by a stove, and they gave me piles of blankets to sleep with on the living room coach.

There was only one awkward moment though- when her mother took a moment to look stern and tell us to behave ourselves. If you get my meaning..

Noah giggled like mad, shaking her head- as I flushed scarlet.

After enjoying my discomfort Noah murmured that she wasn't my object of affection. Then there was a wink, raised eyebrows, and a whisper- course her mother broke out into grin. Teetering like her own daughter, she was a teen still- even though she was at least forty.

Before I went off to sleep there was a small debate about my clothes. Her mother was concerned I would get sick with not being dressed properly, and of course since they had no man in the house- I would have to go borrow some clothes from a neighbor of theirs. Who turns out to be Caleb, living just down the street- Noah said we'd be heading over there in the morning.

I slept soundly through the night. The coach creaked and was springy- but I wasn't complaining, not in my mounds of blankets! And when I was woken up with the smell of sweet, mouth watering cinnamon- I couldn't help but be pleased with my new best friend, Noah.

I can see why Hope keeps her around..

Bleary eyed, and stumbling- I found my way to the kitchen.

"Oh, you're up!" Miss. Orr exclaims, flashing me a smile as she looked up from the cooking she worked over. "I hope I didn't wake you- I tried to be quiet. Did you sleep well?"

I yawn, and nod. "Yes, thank you. I was out in seconds. I really appreciate you letting me sta-"

"Nonsense!" She insists, indicating a hand towards a seat at the small table beside the kitchen. "Anyone of Noah's friends are always welcome here. Now come sit, I made you breakfast. Noah's not up yet, though I don't expect her to be until at least ten."

Her eyes flicker to the clock on the wall that read sometime late of nine in the morning. I slid into the short chair, as she placed the plate of food in front of me. I was delicious. The smells came off it in creeping wafts- filling my mouth with saliva.

"Thank you." I say, but I make no move to eat it- I watch her and wait for her to sit also. She had busied herself in the kitchen again and I cleared my throat. "Are you not eating?" I ask.

Her grin falters- but then her eyes warm up as she looks up at me. "Oh no, I've already eaten- there's no need to wait for me. And don't worry about Noah, go ahead."

Hesitantly I took my first bite. It was just as good as I thought it would be and I found myself picking up pace- the hot food burning my tongue, until it was nearly all but gone.

That's when I hear the stumbling footsteps. I look up to see a half asleep Noah, with a tangled bun on the top of her head and clothes that swallowed her thin form, of sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt.

I grin at her disgruntled- unmorning person face.

"Sleep well?" I tease, as her mother places a plate in front of her also.

"Meeh." Is her reply- through a mouth full of food.

My smile grows and then Miss. Orr suggests that I take a shower, insists that I do before any of them- since they tend to take longer and Noah was eating. So I ended up quickly cleansing myself, though the shower was smaller then I expected (well I don't what I expected from two short woman in the first place) but I had to slouch the whole time.

After that I dressed in the clothes I had- jeans and T-shirt. While Noah showered I tidied the living room. And when she came back she was cleaner- wearing jeans, a heavy jacket, and a scarf tightly bound around her neck, under the layers of short brown hair.

Her usually perkiness was back in full.

"So.. you're here on a whim- and you think Hope is a compulsive liar, you made her cry, and.."

"I think she's related to a woman named Keera Grooves." I finish for her, and her grin widens- but then she frowns as she takes in my clothes.

"You're gonna be cold, I don't know if Caleb will have any spare jackets that'll fit you." She scrutinizes my figure, comparing it to Caleb's shorter one no doubt. "But we'll just see. He isn't that far, just about four houses down. He won't mind."

After a quick goodbye to her mom, I follow her out of the house. It's around eleven thirty now and the sun is high in the sky. The sunlight glitters over the black sludge in the streets, but only thin strips of the light peek through the gray clouds over head. They threaten snow, but for now there is only a fine chill hanging in the air.

I'm already shivering and gooseflesh crawls up my arms by time me and Noah make it down to the house. It looks hardly different from her own. If one thing, maybe it is a little larger- but otherwise the concrete is infinite.

The knock on the door is answered by the footsteps, practically prancing towards the door- the door is flung back to reveal the boy, Caleb, grinning. He takes me in with no surprise though and greets us ecclesiastically.

"Noah!" He exclaims, swooping forward and placing a kiss on her cheek. "I was waiting for you to come. Are we still gonna go visit the fort later? Grant called earlier and wanted to know."

"Of course, don't mind if this tourist tags along though, do you?" She nudges me in the ribcage playfully and I smile earnestly at the boy.

"Nope, fine with me." Caleb replies, but he looks over my shirt and I take in his bundled jacket and scarf- he even has gloves hanging out of his pockets, the thin kind. "You gonna be warm enough?"

I open my mouth- but Noah always seems to beat me. "Actually that's why we're here, you don't have any extra jackets do you?"

He seemed to ponder this for a moment, and I tried not to flinch when an especially icy wind roared to life against my back. Then he nods. "I think I do, something of my dads- he's off on business in the Capitol now, but I'm sure he won't mind at all."

Noah grins, hooking an arm through mine- as he leads us into the house. As we transition from the entry way to the living room- soft voices carry to my ears from the kitchen. I raise an eyebrow at Noah behind Caleb's back but I see her smile has suddenly fallen. And then we step onto the white tiles of the kitchen's floor, there standing before us is a short, tan, pretty woman with sharp facial features- I assumed this to be Caleb's mother, Tera.

Across from her though, leaning against the counter between them, her hair pulled back into a side braid of threaded gold, her eyes bright, and holding a mug of hot coffee- is Hope. The two of them were leaning towards each other- appearing to have a pleasant conversation.

Hope's back goes ridged at the sight of me.

Otherwise the mother lifts her eyes to mine and they are kind, not as girlish as Noah's mothers- but Tera's show me that she is like my own mother, one who was closely tied to the tragedy of our nations past. Who's grown passed the hate, who's trying to forget their own bitterness...

"Who's this?" She ask, looking to Caleb with obvious adoration. "You have a new friend?"

Her son shrugs. "He's from District 4." and then he flourishes a hand between us. "Damien this is my mom, Tera. Mom this is Damien."

My smile doesn't even cut half of how bright hers is. I'm distracted by the way Hope is staring determinedly out the window, sipping from her mug only occasional. Does she always come here in the mornings? Had she spent the night here? No, she was changed. I wondered when she had come here though..

Caleb explained to his mother that I needed to borrow a coat and she relented easily. I was given a nice, comfortable gray jacket- that fit nicely. There was some small talk, where she asked me about my family, their jobs, and how they are getting along with this new nation. Traditional things that Noah's mother asked me over dinner last night. It just felt different because I knew Hope was hearing it.

Once that was over with, Caleb told his mother that we were gonna go to Grant's (where ever that is) and then head out to the fort. Hope was invited, she agreed with a small smile, and I felt my stomach do flips as Noah dropped my arm and retreated to her best friend. Hope accepted Noah's new attachment and it was like with me- the fight was forgotten.

The girls took lead, with me and Caleb walking behind them slowly. We were heading away from the square- they convinced me that this was a short cut through the old victors village and to the mid-town houses where this Grant lives. While the girls were doing their own whispering- Caleb filled me on this kid. Apparently he's just this younger boy the three of them usually hang out with, he was only about fifteen and Caleb's cousin- son of Alex, Tera's bother.

They wanted to take me to the 'fort'. I don't know what they mean and every time I ask Noah hushes them and giggles- telling me it's a surprise. Hope and Caleb didn't seem all to amazed with the prospect of going to the.. 'fort' but Noah I guess was just always enthused.

Hope seemed in fine spirits- but I couldn't help but feel like it was all false, and that is was dimmer then usual. She hasn't met my eyes once. Only spoke a little and as we got further into the walk she fell all silent.

The victors village was just as gray as everything else of the district. I looked around though- at all the empty houses. Every single one of them was locked up, windows shuttered, lights off. None of them looked lived in, or taken care of.

As we passed one, close to it's front porch, Caleb rapped his knuckles against a rail to the stairs. The thin layer of ice on it quickly fell away but I found myself staring at the house- wondering if any of those five victors of District 8 had ever lived in there. Had Keera? I kind of felt my heart sink at the thought that the woman would be dead now- seeing as all these houses were empty. That, or she remains in a different district or the Capitol...

I wondered if Hope knew..

She held an air of indifference to the area we were in. She looked straight ahead- not glancing at any of them once. Her hands were thrust deep into her dark blue coat pocket, but I swear they were curled into fists. Strays of loose hair from her braid fly around her soft face-

Noah pauses to wipe some sludge from her boots, and I strut forward at this chance- boldly matching Hope's stride and asking. "How was your night? Did you make it home back in time?"

"It was nice." She still looks ahead, but shows a smile. "I was home before ten, so no worries really."

"Oh? Your mom wasn't worried at all?" I inquire.

This I know I saw- her pale cheeks tinge with red. "My mom wasn't worried in the least." Is her quiet reply, but she doesn't need to be concerned about Noah and Caleb hearing- they were diving into their own conversation, with heedless flirting.

"Well I'm glad you didn't get in trouble for my expense." I say, and I wait for a response- but there is none so I try another conversation topic. "So.. what is this fort?"

This she scoffs to a little. "It isn't a fort- that is just what people like to call it. It's just a rundown crumbling thing, that the rebels used to meet in. there are a few campfires around it. It's only a few hundred yards outside the gates. It really isn't that interesting.. just the only thing people can say holds any significance around here."

Her words are meant to be stinging, as if the place offends her. "Does it mean anything to you?" I ask.

"No." Her voice immediately replies, but then she glances behind herself- towards Noah and she sighs. "Yes."

Now we're getting somewhere. I lean towards her side a little more. "Why's that?"

She considers this for a moment, shifting her weight as she walks- which you'd think would be difficult but she is quite good at it. "It..." She pauses, and seems to really maul this over. Her eyes lift to stare insistently into mine suddenly- I try not too look away first. "It's a place I don't like to visit. It makes me think of things- I rather wish I could forget."

"Like what?" I murmur, truly interested- but she looked away already, her face becomes indifferent again.

"Nothing that matters to you."

God she makes me want to yell! Of course it matter to me! How else am I suppose to help you, Hope? When I don't understand? When you say things like this, and then cut me off? And considering I still don't know this boy you're hiding...

The rest of the walk was quiet- and then we meet up with that boy Grant. He looks a bit like Caleb actually, but a lot more like Tera. It was strange. But he was a sarcastic little thing- full of laughter- and within minutes he had Hope grinning and sputtering with giggles. So he was on my approved list immediately.

Hope was right about how unimpressive this fort was. It was mostly just a crumbling square building, with a dirty (forest?) surrounding area. Noah began to poke through a pile of interesting looking stuff, the younger boy Grant was messing with it too- trying to catch Noah's pretty attention. Caleb stood back with Hope laughing at the pair- while I looked around at the sickly plants.

I wandered away from them, approaching the building. It was cracking, and concrete- just like the district. But as I entered there was an ancient looking table standing there, with three chairs and a fourth faded and broken laying on the ground.

The rest of it was empty, as if they had cleared it out. It was filthy though, as if homeless people took regular shelter here. I was looking around at a pile of old looking rags when Hope drew up to my side- she was staring at the table thoughtfully.

"What do you think?" She asks, nonchalantly.

I shrug, looking at her face sadly- as I see she is strained behind that mask. "Why do you hate it here?"

"I don't." Her legs bend and she plucks the rag off the ground- it turned out to be an old blanket. Her fingers brush over it softly- her eyes close almost painfully. "It's not the place- but the memories."

"Memories?" I echo, dumbly. What did she mean? The ancient memory of the rebels that lived here? Or.. more recent ones?

Her eyes pop back open and they are filled with guilt. "Damien?" She whispers, and I step closer unconsciously- she tries to shrink away but she continues to say something as if she didn't really want to ask, as if she was scared to say- and like she had been holding it back for so long. And not just for me, but from everyone. "What if.. what if I'm not the angel you want me to be? What if I've made stupid mistakes in the past?"

My throat gets tight, and a high pitched squeal from outside lets me know that Noah is enjoying her time- but I can hardly look into the hazel eyes staring up at me. They are nearly pleading. The gold in them is striking, like the blinding sun. I struggled to find an answer, I couldn't think- what was she saying? That she is.. bad? I couldn't buy it. Mistakes though, everyone makes mistakes- so that's what I told her. But she only shakes her head.

"Not these kinds, Damien. I've.. hurt people- people who didn't deserve to be torn a part like that. It was cruel of me... I-" Her voice catches and she drops her head, staring at the floor. "You would hate me."

"Hate you?" I nearly laughed at this and her face snaps back up in shock. "Why? And who could you hurt? I've never seen you cruel.. I don't buy it. St-"

Her hand reaches out for mine and her fingers tighten around it. "You don't believe me?" She demands.

I nod. "Not in the least." I don't she has to be making this up now, like before with the excuses.

Then she drops her hands and she sighs heavily- eyes looking to the wall. "Then I am too good at what I do." She murmurs and starts to walk away.

I make to follow. "What do you mean?"

She stops me with a raised hand and her voice is muffled nearly to silence when she replies. "A game."

Before I could have her elaborate she is slipping out and back with the others. She replaces that mask with a blinding grin- joining into the laughter that I don't even think she knows to what it came from.

To my dismay the rest of the morning was spent here, running around the forest. We played some traditional games, but I never got another chance to talk to Hope at all. As it was rounding to around three we headed back into the district- and it was busy with life now. People were about, we stuck to upper town and the square so I didn't see any of those unlucky homeless people. We ate in town- Grant bought us all lunch (apparently his father is rich, working for District 1).

We sat around mostly- other kids around the district came over to us. Most of them greeted Noah, with a hug or some with a peck on the cheek. She was all smiles and kind words, nothing like the Hope I'd seen. Nothing at all like that new Hope I was beginning to see sometimes... and I couldn't really say which one I liked better.

Noah mostly stuck to my side after the fort. She told me about the people that kept coming around. I was greeted weirdly by some, with uncertain looks and raised eyebrows. Otherwise the experience was nice. I enjoyed this more then I thought I would in District 11. Even is it felt like my ears were freezing off. I felt bad for ditching my friends- but I can't say I regretted this. Because I suddenly felt like the only one who knew the real Hope. Where as at the beginning of the week you could have asked her about me- and she would have looked confused.

Grant was laughable, Caleb was sweet, and Noah was just hilarious to watch. Hope was warm and the same Hope I had known for the last two years- not the last two days.. and I must say I just wish I could know the other one. Even if she thinks I would hate her, that she was a terrible person. I wanted to tell her she's wrong, that she could never be terrible. But then I remember what she said those two words. 'A game.'

What did they mean? What could she be referring to? She was good at it?

I tried to get these questions in all through the day. But everything was so crowd and we kept going around to shop from shop. Noah was a whirl wind of energy- Grant nearly as much. Caleb was the amused sort and Hope tried to stick with Noah- so I couldn't talk. I had a lot of fun despite the lack of talking to Hope.

She is fun though, not a mope fest- I just felt like I was missing something, that's why I keep thinking of her negatively.

Saturday ended too soon for my liking- I learned not enough, and Noah had only asked her once about the mystery guy- to which Hope just rolled her eyes and said there was none. It ended with us watching Grant head home and then Hope walking first Caleb and then me and Noah to our doors.

It was nearly eight at night, already pretty dark but she waved away my offer to walk her home. Told me not to worry about it. Then after making sure we were inside- she left. I felt exhausted after today's constant walking around, and my lungs straining to filter oxygen out of this thick air- after a beautifully cooked dinner from Miss. Orr I went straight off to bed- praying tomorrow I get the answers I need. Because two days, just seemed like an impossibly short amount of time.

A/N: What do you guys think Hope is hiding? What does she mean..? Who knows- but the chapter after the next will be from her POV. I'm excited, I don't know about you, but thanks for reading. Please review. -Taryn(: