Hi there my lovely readers. The long wait is over and I am still nursing a writer's block. Here is chapter 3 for those who is keeping up with the story.

Also, I would like to thank my beta LightPhantom742 for editing this chapter and giving me some pointers :)

Chapter 3: Confusion and Frustration

The sounds of birds chirping and the liveliness of the city beyond his bedroom's walls aroused Hope's senses. His eyes fluttered open, wincing at the sudden luminosity seeping from the single window and into his room. He rubbed his sore eyes open and let out a gruesome stretch, waking up his joints and limbs. He looked around his room and then blinked as a bewildered frown marred his features. He wasn't in the Rivera, but that was only the tip of the iceberg to add to his confusion. The biggest shock came when he noticed that he was sleeping on his bed, in his same clothes. How did he get into his bed? He searched back in his head for answers, but his memory after falling asleep in the tavern came up a bit fuzzy. There was a weird sickening feeling in his stomach, like he had done something regrettable but he couldn't remember what he had done.

Brushing the thoughts away for now, Hope got up, grabbed a new change of clothes, and made his way to the bathroom down the hallway to prepare for his morning rituals. After refreshing himself in the bathroom, Hope entered the kitchen where he found his mother preparing lunch and a cold breakfast waiting for him on a table. He had overslept, but there was no harm done since it was the weekend.

"Morning." Hope greeted, walking to the refrigerator and pulling out a carton of apple juice, pouring the contents into an empty glass before putting the container back in the fridge.

"Morning sweetie." Nora greeted back warmly, putting down the knife she was holding after chopping some green vegetables. She walked to her son who was now seated around the table and leaned down, placing a soft and warm kiss on the teen's temple.

"Mom! Stop!" Hope groaned in protest, leaning his head away and a pout forming on his lips. Nora just chuckled wholeheartedly and returned to preparing lunch. "Aren't I too old for kisses?"

"Not when you're my child you're not." Nora concurred with a smile.

Hope made a grumble sound at the back of his throat and turned his focus to the cold meal sitting on the table. His breakfast was smiling at him. He stared uninterestingly at the scrambled eggs and the golden hash browns with a smiley face ketchup design on fried, cooked potatoes. His eyebrows inquired at the smile, seeing an identical smile in his head. "Mom?"

"Yes sweetie." Nora replied sweetly.

"How did I get home last night?" Hope asked curiously, poking with his food with a fork. His mother's brow knotted together, a look of pure confusion disfigured her feature. "After falling asleep in the tavern, everything is a bit foggy afterward and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in my bed. And I certainly for a fact don't remember walking home."

"Of course you didn't walk home. Snow kindly carried you the entire time."

"W-what?" Hope spluttered, coughing down a bite as a mortified expression cast upon his face. Did he hear right? Snow carried him all the way home, in his arms. "Why did you let him do that?" Hope asked embarrassingly, feeling slightly shocked.

"I didn't." Nora innocently said. "You did."

A pair of green orbs widened in utter surprise. Hope felt his cheeks burn red and his heart gave a slight shiver as warmth engulfing his form as he slowly started recalling fragments of memories from last night. The heat rose from the back of his neck before swimming up to his head, making his figure shudder like millions of ants were crawling on his skin. Oh God! Hope didn't even want to remember what he did or said the previous night. Surely Snow will not let him live this one down and there was absolutely no way he could face the blond at the Rivera after what happened. "Why couldn't you get dad to carry me instead?"

"I didn't want to bother him that late at night." Nora shrugged her shoulders.

Hope let out a long and disapproving groan. He rested his head on the table, feeling a weird sensation churning in his stomach. He didn't understand this feeling inside of him and it scared him a little. Sighing, Hope pushed his plate away, losing his appetite all of a sudden.

"No Hope." Nora said, her voice becoming seriously, while placing her hands on her hips. This posture usually meant business. "You didn't eat anything last night and I don't want you to go skipping meals today."

"Okay." Hope gave a defeated sigh, yielding to his mother's wishes. As he continued eating, his thoughts wandered back to last night and then his head was afflicted with images of Snow, grinning and laughing. The images made his heart quiver and his stomach flutter, but Hope didn't understand this weird feeling inside of him. He searched through his brain for answers, but he couldn't find any explanations as to the reason why he felt this way whenever his mind was returned to Snow Villiers. And strangely enough, Hope still couldn't get what Snow said to him the previous night out of his head. The blond said that he was interesting and that puzzled Hope. No one had ever told him something like that and to say that he was more interesting than a girl made him feel… happy. Wait! Hope shouldn't feel happy to have Snow think that. He should feel annoyed and irritated like he usually did. Hope growled at his thoughts out of frustration. Everything about the blond was absurd and confusing.

"Oh dear…"

Hope trailed of thoughts snapped when he turned his attention to his mother who was opening cupboard one by one worriedly, searching for something. "Is something wrong?" Hope asked curiously his mother.

"I planned to make some banana breads, but it seems like we're out of vanilla." Nora sighed with a pout, placing her right pawn on her right cheek. She pondered for moment before her features brightened with a smile. "Hope would you be a dear-"

"Sure Mom." Hope quickly grinned, taking his empty plate and glass to the sink. His mother didn't need to persuade him with sugar-coated words for a quick run to the nearby shop down the street. Plus the walk to the shop was a welcome distraction his brain needed from the continuous, spiral thoughts of a certain blond and the strong, yet repeated thump thump thump in his chest begging to be realized. He received a courteous 'thank you' from his mother while handed him a few fols from her purse. He shoved the fols in one of his side pockets and headed to the front door. The outdoors welcomed Hope with a fresh, cool gust of air while the warm rays of sunlight warmed his skin and blinded him for a bleak moment. His ears could decipher the noises from the bustling business in the distance. Looking up to the clear blue sky, Hope wondered if his body's strange abnormality would phase out by nightfall.

Unfortunately it didn't. The oddness in his body had gotten worse with the coming night. Hope could feel it in the air, perverting the loud and energetic atmosphere in the Rivera before seeping through his skin. The sudden darkness covering the city was making him tense, mostly because he couldn't stop thinking about the previous night. As he glanced around the tavern from behind the bar where he was standing while wiping a set of wet glasses with a clean cloth, his eyes fell on a particular empty table across the room, feeling a slight tightening sensation around his chest. Nervousness has gotten to him and it was eating away his inside like a black hole, putting him on edge. However, the butterflies fluttering in his stomach made him feel excited. Hope had never been like this before and it was all because of one man; Snow Villiers. Hearing the man's name in his head sends a swirl of emotions firing through his body. And the sensation only appeared to be coming worse as the seconds ticked away.

"Hope, are you finished with those glasses?" Nora asked, appearing from the kitchen.

"Just one more." Hope informed, polishing the last glass. However, he didn't notice the door opening followed by an enthusiastic and overjoyed voice calling his name.

"Hi Hope." Snow's voice boomed throughout the building.

Hope's body recoiled reflexively, his heart almost jumping out from his chest. He looked up from the bar and saw Snow grinning at him, the same look that was permanently engraved in his mind. He never realized before but now he could not stop thinking that the annoying smile he once hated looked perfect on the blond's face. That smile was like an invisible magnet, too compelling to resist looking away. This time however, there wasn't a young woman attached to his arm. And that warmed up the knots in Hope's stomach, loosening them up. Rather than securing his usual seat with his fiery-haired friend, the blond chose to approach the bar. Hope tried to remain indifferent as Snow pulled out a stool opposite where he stood and took a seat, but inside, his physiology was acting up and he couldn't help but think it was related to Snow's warm and welcoming gaze.

"It's nice to see you again kiddo." said Snow happily.

Hope's eyes shifted towards the blond, seeing that charming smile. "Again? We see each other practically everyday."

"I know, but I like to cherish our moments together. We never know when I'll get my sorry ass dragged away to Pulse." Snow muttered apathetically, forcing a weak smile on his face.

Hope found his gaze boring into one of the side walls when a silence drew between him and Snow. He ignored the world around him and the sounds of the lively soldiers' voices bouncing off the walls. It was nearing down to the third month which was the expected length the new recruits needed before they were sent off to fight the war on Pulse. "It's nearing that time once again." He muttered to himself. Hope knew it was inevitable. He had seen it happen three times already, but this time something was off. Usually he was thrilled at the idea of the men leaving and yet something in his chest was telling him otherwise. A pair of sea-green orbs drifted around inside the Rivera, seeing the young men smiling happily while continuing to destroy their livers by consuming more alcohol. Sooner or later, the soldiers will be gone and that applied to their liveliness, their noise and Snow as well. For some unanswered reason, he wanted it to last a little bit longer this time.

"Looks that way." Snow murmured.

"Are you scared?" inquired Hope carefully.

"Not really. I am good as dead anyways. Might've just enjoyed what little time I have left." Snow cheered happily.

"What?" Hope's body went rigid.

"Ohh that." Snow laughed to himself, brushing away what he said before. "Just ignored that. I'm just talking nonsense."

Hope stared at the blond. Was Snow joking just now or was he serious? Looking at the blond's face carefully, Hope could tell that Snow wasn't himself for a moment ago. That smile wasn't the same as the numerous others he had seen before. This smile was forced out, almost like instinct or a barrier, and Hope didn't like that.

"It's a full house today." Snow commented warmly while glancing around the building.

"It's not too bad." Hope shrugged, looking around the full tavern.

"Don't go working yourself to sleep like last night." Snow winked at him.

Hope's heart leapt inside his chest as a bile of warmth sudden coursed his form. He glanced away shyly, feeling the heat rushing to his ears. "Um…" He tried to speak, but a frog suddenly settled in the back of his throat. Snow gave him a curious look and he swallowed down the large lump. "About last night…" He forced out, and then saw the blond's features brightened.

"Ohh did you sleep well last night?" Snow asked smiling.

Hope's face flushed in embarrassment. "I-I didn't cause you too much trouble?"

"Not really. From what I remember, you were quiet and like to snuggle." Snow snickered.

"What!" Hope almost yelled, his face burning bright red.

Snow laughed, enjoying the teen's reaction. The boy was either acting cute or distressed with that piece of information. "Don't worry about it. It was either that or walking home, and you for one wasn't looking forward to that walk home."

Hope coughed to clear his throat. He could feel the blood rushing to his head, making him lightheaded. "Thanks." Hope said meekly, looking away.

"What was that? I think my hearing was a little off." Snow asked, leaning forward while grinning like a cheshire cat.

Hope muttered a foul word under his breath, suppressing the blush rousing on his cheeks. As much he wanted to, he didn't want to give the smiling man the satisfaction of his gratitude. But his parents didn't raise a misbehaved child. So he resigned himself to the blond and sighed deeply, closing his eyes for a moment because he didn't want to see the gratification on the man's face. "Thank you." He said sincerely while ignoring the fast beats pulsing in his ears.

"It's nothing kiddo." Snow reached forward and tousled the teen's hairs. He smiled wider when the youth didn't make an attempt to move away.

There was a noticeable glee radiating from Snow; an infectious thing, really, putting smiles around whenever the man was near him. Snow's eyes, cold blue as they are, were only full with warmth and kindness. And it's no secret that it's all directed towards him whenever Snow came into the Rivera. Hope found it strange that someone found him so interesting and that alone made his heart soar. "Snow?" He called out softly. The said-blond blinked at him curiously and Hope could feel his face warming up again. "Why do you do all those things? You talk to me and keep me company every night. Why do you do that?" Hope asked, gazing into a pair of bright blues.

Snow mulled over his thoughts for a second and then smiled. "Well because it's fun."

"Fun?" Hope blinked and frowned, a look of confusion blanketed across his face. There was a pang in his chest, like hundreds of needles stabbing into his heart. Maybe it was wishful thinking, however deep down under the layer of swelling emotions, it wasn't the answer Hope had wanted to hear.

"Yeah. It passed the time." Snow informed him wholeheartedly.

Hope felt his heart wrung tight, disbelief coursing through his eyes. Somewhere between the blurred lines interacting with the blond, he had thought for a moment that Snow would actually say something caring and sweet or something remotely similar along those lines. But the blond didn't. In the end, he was just someone that the blond wanted to tease and play with, a sick joke to pass the time. The nerve of this man!

"So I am just a joke to you." Hope stated in disbelief.

"Huh!" Snow said with much intelligence as his brain could muster while his face had contorted into a frown.

Hope balled his fingers into a fist. He should've expected much. "You think teasing me is funny?" He asked, his voice rising. He could feel his temper slowly started to boil beneath his skin, anger churning in his gut. Hope didn't know exactly where this anger came from, but it seemed to mimic the sudden stiffness in his chest. The blond really did bring the worst out of him. He felt like he was on a teeter-totter of emotions.

"No. That is not what I meant." Snow quickly tried to apologize.

"Hope, what's going on here?" Nora asked concernedly, approaching the bar when she heard her son's voice from across the room.

"It's nothing." Hope looked away, not meeting his mother's gaze. The banked coals of his anger had flared and turned bright, making his skin burn. "I'll be in the kitchen." He said, wanting to be alone. There was no way he will stand there and continued to be the object of the blond's amusement.

"Hope wait!" Snow hastily stood up and clasped a hand on the teen's shoulder.

"Leave me alone!" Hope hissed, shrugging the man's hand away while giving the blond a heated glare. He saw Snow pause and look at him with a pair of troubled eyes. The air around the tavern seemed to turn completely quiet as prying eyes around the building shifted their attention to the sudden spectacle growing at the bar.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Hope suppressed letting out a loud groan. "You're an idiot." He said, his teeth clenched. Really? How dense was this man? He knew he will get chewed out for this later by his parents, but right now he didn't care. He had had enough of this man and he didn't want to deal with him anymore. Especially the blond's stupid mouth. Whenever Snow opened his mouth to speak, something stupid was said and it killed everything else about the blond. All he wanted was for his moments of peace and quiet back, but the world wasn't being fair to him. His life was doing fine, but then reality had to go throw a war and an idiot blond at his face.

"Hope, we don't call people that! Apologize now!" Nora demanded.

"I am not going to." Hope stated. "And why should I? All he does is pick on me everyday and I hated it."

"You hate me?" Snow asked carefully, blinking confusedly.

"Duh!" Hope said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "But being annoying wasn't enough for you. You had to go around and call yourself some sort of Hero." He added, displeasure seeping from his voice. He saw Snow flinch, the man's body becoming stiff, as a pair of bright blues jewels widened in realization. "Really, who were you trying to fool? Yourself. Because you did a good job with that one. You're just the worst kind of person there is." He added without missing a beat. The room fell under a heavy silence as eyes stared in shocked at the scene. It felt like the temperature in the room had gone down a few hundred degrees. And Snow looked like he wasn't breathing, he was stuck in a moment of complete and utter shock.

"Hope!" Nora scolded.

Snow said nothing, which was a good indication to Hope that he had hit a sore spot. He bared his teeth to himself. It seemed all those boasting the man did over the past months had finally left him speechless for once. However Hope could not help but feel his stomach churn twistedly when he saw signs of anguish and misery reflected in those blue orbs. His heart constricted and he looked away from those blue eyes. Surprisingly, the feeling seemed to becoming worse all of a sudden from the quiet atmosphere and all of the eyes in the tavern directed towards him. Not liking the weird atmosphere, Hope pushed past the blond and stormed out of the building, ignoring his mother's cries for him.

To be continued…

A/N: Did I forget to the mention that there will have some drama and angst in the story? Oops! Please don't kill me.

Reviews are much appreciated!