an every day thing (open to all)

Cato lifted his broken ankle to relieve the pressure on it as he walked. He could feel his energy draing quickly, perhaps it was a bad idea to follow India after all. He followed along wondering if he would be able to keep himself quite at India's house, he didn't know, but he chose not to tell that to India. When India mentioned Patch's name he immediately snapped to attention. He was so happy that she was safe, but was less happy to see that she was in the company of that Mason fellow. Swallowing his distaste for Patch's sake he hobbled forward to properly greet Mason.

"First off, Patch, please don't run away like that again. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, or India for that matter."

He walked up to her and held her in a warm embrace than let her go. He looked Mason up and down and figured he would give him a chance.

"You must be Mason, I confess I haven't heard much of you other than your a decent guy. Any friend of Patch and India is a friend of mine though. My name's Cato by the way."

He extended his hand in greeting awaiting Mason to do the same.

((Not sure how long to wait for Mason before I try and jump start this again. Give me an idea on how long you two want to wait.))

((No idea. I've been playing the Sims 3 with my older sister for like 3 days now, it's fun watching people die. TAKE YO TIMEEE.))

mason extended his hand out and shook Cato's " nice to meet you Cato, if you have trouble with peacekeepers talk to me" he said putting his left hand on the hilt of his sword, he looked at cato's appearance he seemed to be a coal miner with a broken ankle which was easy to identify due to Cato not putting pressure on it " you know you will hurt your ankle more if you walk" he said with a hint of worry. he quickly checked his surroundings, the rain changed to a light drizzle and lights illuminated from the nearby houses.

((Please remember that all RP posts must be at least 150 words.))

Harley watched this group of kids about his age moving around. There seemed to 4 of them but with the drizzle and the distants he was at, he could not tell for sure. He thought through the possibilities in his mind.

Should I approach or just leave them be. I am on the last days of food. It is getting harder evey day to get food. People reconize me as the theif. And chase me away with a sword in hand.

He decided it was best to see if they needed his talent. On his way over he had a thought.

What if they relize who I am. He stopped and pondered some more. Hoping that maybe if he stood under the shadows of the houses they would not reconize him.

So he moved closer. Hoping they would notice him first that way they could start up a conversation. So he moved in just within sight of the gang of kids. Waiting for them to notice him

Annette laughed as they awkwardly shook hands. Her eyes started to water from the rain hitting her face and she looked up to see just rain clouds. A sigh of relief let loose from her body with a smile. She was just happy that her worst fear wouldn't show in front of people she wanted to be brave for.

Annette looked to the side and put her hand above her eyes to block the rain. She watched a blonde haired boy walked closer to them. Her head tilted to the side and she let go of Mason's arm. She started to walk closer to the boy, step by step. Taking one as he did.

As soon as she was face to face with him she smiled pleasantly. "Hi there," she took out her hand, "I'm Patch."

Cato shook hands with Mason thinking he could possibly be friends with the guy. Although the thought of this guy taking on Peacekeepers for him was kind of funny. Cato reflected on his wounds thinking better of the offer though, a friend like Mason could be helpful. Seeing Patch disengage herself from Mason and walk tentatively away he took on a look of worry. Where was she going, and why was she going there. He tried to quickly follow her but the muddy earth made it hard for him to keep his balance. Taking a slower approach he squinted through the drizzle finally seeing what she was walking towards.

He continued forward till he stood beside Patch, but before he said anything he took off his thin jacket and put it around Patch to protect her from the drizzle. He looked hard at the boy, he looked so familiar to him, had he seen him in the mines somewhere. Or was he that thief that had been hanging around.

"Hello, I feel like I should know you, care to enlighten me on your identity." Holding out his hand for the second time that day he waited for the boy to respond.

India stood besides Cato as he greeted Mason and they introduced themselves to eachother. She was looking down and pulling her jacket tightly around her to protect her from the rain. She did not notice Annette and Cato walk over to something, or somebody. She squinted and took a step forward to see Annette and Cato standing in front of a boy.

She walked over to them slowly, purposely splashing in puddles in the street, made by the rain. It seems that Annette and Cato have already introduced themselves to the boy. India stood next to Annette and observed the boy. "Hey," she said to him and put on her nicest smile. "I'm Ana Lucia." She stuck out her hand and wondered if the boy would accept her friendly gesture.

Harley shook everyone of his hopefully new freinds hands. And welcomed them with a very forced smile. He never smiled. We all seemed to on the boat. Poor, hungry, and sad.

He looks at each one thinking to himself.

Why are they so happy to see me.

Other thoughts floated through his mind. But he figured he would save his thinking for another time. Right now he was with the group of kids he was to join. So to get off the right foot he decided to tell them about himself. But the quizicle looks from the Cato made him stop. And he figured he should make something up. Tilting his head away from them so they would not see his earing. And started his story.

"Hello guys."

It sounded so forced

"I am Harley Whe......."

He stopped. They would reconize that name. He cough to try and cover the drop off.

"Excuse me. It is Harley Whey. At your service."

It felt so good to be accepted. Or atleast so far. Till they find out the real me.

India recognized this boy. She didnt know how, maybe she has seen him around, prawling the streets of District Twelve. She didnt recognize this boy fully until he introduced himself. He introduced himself as Harley Whey. She knew he wasnt telling the complete truth. He tried to cover up his stumble on his words with a fake cough, but India knew all the tricks in the book.

India tried to hold in a loud gasp that was trying to escape her lips. This boy. She knew him. Harley Whence. That was his name. "Nice to meet you, Harley Whey." She said with a fake smile. She did not like being lied to. This boy was trying to cover up his identity, but Why?

Harley read the look on India face. She knew who he was.

Way to get off on a good foot

He thought to himself. He walked around so he was infront of India but had his back towards the others so they could not here him. And said to her.

"You know who I am don't you. The less people that know about it the better it is for. The least thing I need is for one of your freinds to backstab me and turn me over for a fair price. I trust you won't but I don't know about the others. Could we keep this our secret please?"

He said this as quitely and sincerely as he could. With the rain they could not here there conversatoin.

India listened to him carefully. "Yes. I know who you are, and I know you know who I am, too. You probably don't recognize me Harley Whey, but you will soon." She knew he didnt trust Annette, Cato and Mason. She knew what he has done, and she was terrified of what he might do. She grabbed his arm firmly and jerked him close to her. She was a bit smaller than him, but she was strong.

She looked him up in the eye. "Listen to me closely, Harley. I know what you've done. God knows what you will do. But listen here. If you even touch one of my friends over there, if you even come across as a threat to them," She pulled him even closer to her and whispered. "I will end you. Slowly and painfully. I may be a girl, but I'm not afraid to do that. You understand me, buddy?"

She let go of Harley's arm with a slight shove backwards. She looked at the mark she left on his arm with a satisfied thought. India looked back at her friends to make sure they didn't see anything.

He could feel his face turning red. He just got served. By someone he thought was his freind. He should not have went over to see these people. It was causing him more trouble than what it was worth. But the least thing he wanted was some people with his life on a string. So he did the stupid thing and stopped her

"Wait!"

He called to her. And ran up to her splashing through some puddles.

"I just want you to keep my secret. No one else should know me except you. And I would like to keep it that way. I have no intrest in harming your freinds. I want to be your freind. Not your enemy."

He was practicly begging at this point.

"Just give me a chance. I will prove myself to you guys. But I need chance. That is all I ask."

He went over and leaned up against the wall and threw his jewel incrusted knife in the ground. And fell right next. He was so tried. He had been running all day. Today he stole the knife next to him. He planned to knock off some off the peacekeepers tonight with it. But these people had stopped him without even knowing it.

India turned around and listened to what Harley had to say. "I can be your best friend, Harley. Or I can be your WORST enemy. Prove yourself to me. The others think you are a good guy. Someone like them. But I saw right through it. But, you seem pretty nice. I'll give you one chance, I'll keep your secret. Screw up, and I'll have your head."

India watched him walk over to the wall and followed him. She eyed the jewel incrusted knife in the ground. She picked it up and turned it over slowly. "You stole this, Harley?" She didn't give him a chance to answer. "Yeah you did." She put it in her knapsack and closed it. "I'll give this back when I think your ready." She reached her hand out, grabbed Harley's hand and helped him up.

"Come on, Harley." She said. "By the way, you and me are sort of alike. We're both hated by this town. I think that people alike, should always stick together, eh?" She smiled her prettiest smile and winked at Harley.

Cato took the grip of Harley in his own, but relinquished it quickly. There was still something about him that seemed familiar. He stepped back lost in thought, and he briefly realized that India was stepping closer to this new guy. He felt he should stop her, but his instincts told him that she would be alright. He began to run through several scenarios in his head, old memories where he could have met this fellow. Than it hit him, the mines, this guy was from the mines. He was the thief who stole a jewel from and excavation site. He was a criminal, perhaps not unlike the rest of them in some way, but at that moment Cato decided he would keep his eye on him.

He broke out of his daze and saw India helping Harley from the ground. Perhaps now was a good time to have a chat with him. He hobbled forward toward Harley, luckily for him his arm strength was still good. He grabbed Harley by the collar of his shirt and hauled him up against the wall. His strength was still not fully returned and he could feel it waining the longer he held him. He decided he would keep it short.

"Okay friend, I thought I recognized you from somewhere, you were in the mines with me. You and me aren't that different other than our approach to life. If I ever see you to close to India or Patch I'll break you. It is my job to keep them safe, do I make myself clear." Without waiting for an answer he put down Harley, and put an arm protectively around India.

India watched while Cato held him against the wall. "Cato! No. Don't hurt him!!" She yelled. She watched as he put Harley down. She crossed her arms and stared into Harley's eyes from a distance. "Cato.. I know who he is. Don't worry, though. I scared him a little already." She stepped in front of Cato and Harley to be between the two.

"Cato, Harley is not necessarily the greatest kid, but... I promised him one chance to prove himself to us. If he screws up, he's dead. I already promised him that. He was practically begging me, Cato." She reached into her bag and pulled out the jewelled knife. "I have this safe and away from him. I'm pretty sure this ass the only weapon he was carrying."

India stood a bit closer to Harley. "Remember our deal, Harley. I can be your bestfriend or your worst nightmare." She walked back over to Cato's side and felt his arm go around her. "Come on, Cato. We need to get to my parents house before nightfall, and it's getting pretty close." She pointed to a house that was three doors down from the house they were standing in front of. "It's right there."

She breathed in heavily and shakily. Wondering if they will take care of Cato. She'll get to see her siblings again, but just for a split second. She wondered if her parents will reveal her secret right when they see her. Her mother did not speak great English, but her father was amazing at English.

We will not have a homosexual living in this house! Leave immediately! That was the last thing her father said to her.

((***was))

Harley stood there in a daze. Had India just winked and smiled at him. There was only one way to find out. He turned to India. But there was no one there. He walked down and saw India. But she was not alone. Cato was next to her. He walked behind them. this must have been where she lived.

"India!" He yelled over to her.

He ran up to her

"I was wondering if before you turn in for the night I might have a word with you. Alone."

He was awaiting his answer kicking dirt with his feet.

India glanced at her parents house and looked back at Harley. "Oh.." she said pointing over at the house. "You think I live there? No. My.. my parents kicked me out a while ago. I'm taking Cato there, to see if my mother could fix his ankle. I am not planning on staying there." She took a look back af the house and swallowed.

She wondered why Harley wanted to speak with her alone. It was probably about the 'her knowing who he was and not to tell anybody' thing. "Sure, Harley. Let me just get rid of Cato for a second here so we can speak in private." She jerked her head to the side, showing Cato that she ment for him to walk towards the house and wait for her there.

"So.." she said looking down. "What is it you want to tell me?"

Cato took the hint from her. Although it was against his better judgement to leave the two of them alone. He knew they were at least close to India's house and he wondered how things would go down while they were there. He was prepared to defend India no matter what, he wouldn't let her suffer at the hands of her parents. He couldn't stand to see someone in pain both physically or mentally. He let himself sink down against the wall losing himself in thought. The past day had been more action than he had in a very long time. Meeting India and Patch letting them stay at his house, his wounds. It was more than most people could deal with.

Now today he had met Mason and that swine from the mines, Harley. And was it just him or did India seem to like him. Hey it was none of his business, he was just her guardian, whatever she wanted, unless it was life threatening shouldn't bother him at all.

India mouthed a 'thank you'd over in Cato's direction and glanced at Harley. "So.. are ya gonna talk to me or not, cause I have important stuff to take care of." She said. She took one step forward and glanced at Harley again. "Speak, kid."

mason had watched the whole event of the new kid, he simply puffed a cloud of mist from his mouth due to the temperature quickly dropping. he shuttered at the fact he looked starved and stole for a living, he reached into his bag of money and pulled out 50 and walked to Harley and put the 50 dollar bill in front of him " live while you can kid thievery will just kill you before the games do, just remember that." he turned around to see India and Cato.

" just remember if you guys have peacekeeper trouble let me know" he said as he passed Cato and back to his original position. he glanced at Annette then the sky to see it clear up to reveal a beautiful full moon and an array of stars surrounding it.

Harley must have hit a button or two saying that this was her house. And figured what he was going to say could wait. So he said the first thing that came to mind.

"When can I have my knife back. I don't want Cato to know that I am armed. He might get the wrong idea. And kill me because I know he wants to. And will look for any reason to. Plus I sleep in a district 12 street I need some portection."

He waited to see if she would hand him the knife.

Mason walked over and placed a 50$ dollar bill in front of him.

"You better pick that up or someone will steal it. Cause I am not taking it."

India shook her head and raised her brow. "I know that wasn't what you were gonna say. Tell me the truth, I hate being lied to." She looked at Harley and wondered if he was gonna say, what he really wanted to say.

India reached inside her knapsack and pulled out the knife. "Oh, you mean this little thing?" She asked, while stroking the blade. "You're not getting this back until I think your ready, but you know what, I'll be nice." She slowly extended her hand clutching the knife to see if Harley would reach out for it. When he did, India quickly pulled her hand back and smirked. "Haha!" She laughed. "I'm not that easy, Harley. You want this knife, you work for it. Impress me." She said with a smile.

India didn't notice that she has been smiling a lot ever since she met Harley. She has never liked to smile. Never ever. She was always very kept to herself, but all these new people she has met that day, Harley, Cato... they were making her smile constantly.

"So, Harley. What were you really gonna tell me?"