School Bells ((OPEN))

|||`Griffin Brayden Edwards--:.

Capitolites just don't get it. Deaf people can't hear. So when they press microphones to his face and swarm him with questions that he cannot hear, what do they expect? For his mind to just randomly will him to be able to hear for 5 minutes? That just doesn't happen. The ruler of all beings, whatever great force that may be, just doesn't allow it. And they don't seem to realize that I will never answer their questions because I know their voices will never reach my ears. Why can't they figure it out? Besides, they should know by now ... Ember will win.

Griffin stared at his desk. Another day at school, another day of boredom. Except, the last couple weeks had been different. Everyone was noticing him. They all seemed to make efforts to say 'Sorry.' or 'How are you?'. Some even tried to figure out a few signs, or even make their own up in an attempt to get his attention. Except none of them ever truly had his attention. He was focused on Ember. Everyone around him seemed to think that Ember wasn't coming home. She wasn't dead. Yet. How could they imply she would die? How!? None of them understood. None of them knew Ember Hilbrook. None. They were all focused on Berkley anyway. They thought he stood a chance against the other tributes that were still alive in the Arena. Whatever.

He hadn't noticed his pencil moving on the paper on his desk. Smooth, simple strokes created a picture. It was the classroom. Except, it was a more elegant form. A softer image of the actual, real-life room with swirls and soft-edged features. He wished he could be in the picture. Maybe Ember would be there, sitting in the seat next to him. Maybe she wouldn't have had to leave in that world. He remembered watching the Bloodbath, watching Ember get attacked by the multiple weapons; knives, swords, switchblades. He hadn't wanted to watch that part of the Games, but he knew that deep down he had to. He had to know. He had watched her interview too. He had signed back at the television screen, although he knew she couldn't see him. Their goodbye had just not been long enough. He wished it had lasted forever. But then that wasn't exactly a goodbye was it?

He looked up. History was actually a fairly fun class for him. The teacher had the most dramatic motions. He looked like such a joke, waving and flailing around like a maniac, trying to explain things to the rest of the class. And sometimes, they would get to see pictures of the Capitol; the buildings, the people. Despite his hatred for the Capitol and its residents, the landscapes were sheer beauty with there flashy neon lights and skyscrapers that etched themselves in the sky. It was alot different than District 8, that's for sure. Perhaps he could live there someday, if only for the modern beauty of it all.

But District 8 was where Ember lives. Yes, lives. And she will always live here. And Griffin knew that meant he would always live here too. He reached into his pocket. He felt the large jewel on the gold band and the etching of the words, 'Remember, always.' He had bought the ring right after she left. It was going to be her 'Welcome home' gift. An engagement. He wasn't sure she would accept, but he would give her the ring anyways. He wanted her know that he loved her. Wanted to be with her. Forever and for always.

Looking to his right he noticed someone familiar. A girl he had seen before. Where ... ? The Justice Building. She had been the last to talk to Ember before her departure to the Capitol. But, Ember had never introduced this girl to him. Who was she? He quickly ripped a piece of crinkled paper from his sketchbook. He scribbled, "Hi. I am Griffin. Who are you?" Sure it was blunt and to the point, but he wasn't sure of what else to say. He tossed it on her desk, trying not to draw attention to himself. Perhaps she remembered him, or knew him, or had told Ember something important before she left. He wanted to know. He had to know.

```Griffin Brayden Edwards-:.

Griffin glanced towards the clock. What time did school end? He needed to get out. Go somewhere more ... serene. Peaceful. He tried to find that place in his mind but just couldn't place it. Everywhere he went someone from the Capitol shoved something in his face and asked a million questions that he couldn't hear or answer. No place was safe. Not anymore, not right now. Ember was the only safe place. If she was with him today, there wouldn't be anyone following him, no need to think of an escape plan, no need to be passing notes during History class. And no need to worry about a single thing. But she was gone. She wasn't in District 8 right now and sadly, that meant that he was being pestered by Capitolites, was thinking of an escape plan, and was most definitely passing notes during History class. Why couldn't the past be changed?

His notebook flew in front of his eyes and landed on his desk, causing his pencil to fall to the floor. He looked up quickly, making sure that the teacher wasn't looking. Luckily, he hadn't noticed anything while he was acting out the events of history for the class. He quickly picked up his pencil before reading her reply. "My name is Delphinium Ridiris. I watched the interview. You and Ember are very close, right?"

Griffin blinked at the green letters. What a name. It made his name seem even less boring than it already was. Close. Hell, he wanted to marry her. Obviously, Ember had something about them dating to the audience as well because everyone sure seemed to know about them. And he always got kids walking up to him and asking him about Berkley. As if he knew. He didn't know the kid, and because Ember was going to win, he would never know Berkley. All he knew was he was a farmer boy. His family employed a lot of people. They were quite important to District 8. And since he never foraged an alliance with Ember, he didn't really care much about him. At least not enough to pay attention.

Griffin etched new words onto the paper below the green writing of Delphinium. "Yeah. Dating." He debated whether he should tell her more. He decided he didn't want to, at least not yet. He didn't know her and it was definitely possible she could tell the press everything he wrote down. They didn't need to know he wanted to marry her or that he loved her more than his own life. He wasn't sure anymore ... If Ember died in the Games, he wasn't sure if he could keep going. His life would never be of any value without her. He was just a useless, lonely, deaf boy without her.

But he had to add a question to his response. It was why he was talking to her after all. "What did you say to Ember? Why did you go see her?" He didn't want his words to seem blunt and accusing, but to his eyes, the words jumped of the page in that way. Anger had certainly set in his heart when Ember left. Pure rage at just about everything. How could the capitol think taking her away was a good thing? How could the force that controlled the Earth just take her from him? Hadn't they taken enough already? Maybe they hadn't, maybe they had. But Griffin guessed if they hadn't granted him the ability to hear, that magical force would never grant him the chance to love and be loved either.

|||`Griffin Brayden Edwards--:.

When the notebook was passed back to his desk, he opened it slowly. Not just because the teacher might be looking, but because Griffin wasn't quite sure if he was ready to see her reasons. He knew his reasons for having said goodbye to Ember, he loved her. But this Delphinium girl, what were her reasons? She hadn't known her. In fact, he was becoming irritated with the fact that this girl had said anything to Ember. She didn't even know her!

But he opened the sketchpad of his and saw more green letters. "Make it easier for yourself and just think of me as Del." Well, he couldn't really call her anything. She would only see his hands move for her name. He already had an idea about her name sign too. Her name looked alot like Dolphin. Griffin couldn't help but want to just call her dolphin. It wasn't like she would know what the movement of his hands meant anyways ... "I told her that her hands will save her life." Griffin couldn't believe she had something like that. Her hands would save her ... As opposed to her feet or her elbows? What? He wasn't really sure he understood what the words meant, but instead continued to read.

"Can you understand me if I tell you in person, someplace quiet... Or do I have to write it all out?" Griffin responded with a simple, "I can lip read. After-school. Wherever you want." He was a bit curious though, wondering how personal any of this was. How could anything she have to say be more personal than what he felt for Ember. And everyone knew now. All over Panem, they knew that in District 8 there was a deaf boy that was dating the District 8 female tribute. They even knew his name ... Nothing was secret anymore. He supposed it had never been a secret, just unknown, but it still seemed like nothing of his was private anymore. Not that he cared much. Heartbreak did that.

He passed the sketchpad back to Del and waited. After-school. He needed to make sure he watched an update of the Games. It had become routine now, checking the television after-school everyday. He had to check Ember's status. He could care less about the others, but it was so important to check on Ember. It was mandatory. If he didn't know, he panicked. Not knowing made everyone panic. Or so he thought. But he rethought his theory because he was sure that there were people out there that would rather not know. And no knowing caused them to remain calm. But he wasn't like that. And he found himself becoming paranoid for the past few days. Not knowing did that.

And he found himself angry. He was no longer upset with or crying over the loss of Ember, but was enraged. Mostly for no reason. He wasn't sure who or what he hated, but figured it must be the Capitol. Anger was growing inside him and he couldn't get it to leave him. And that's what the loss of his only friend had done to him. That was the one thing that scared him. He wasn't used to rage and anger. It was such an overwhelming feeling and he couldn't help but wonder if it might swallow him. Would any of the loving Griffin be left? Or would he just disappear within the new one that was growing?

Griffin let his eyes wander over the green script. 'Meet me on the front steps.' She was walking past him, as was the rest of the class. He stood and walked out of the classroom as well. The bell must've rang. Once again, he hadn't been able to hear it. He remembered when he was little and there was a fire drill. He hadn't moved and left with the rest of the class, but instead remained back in the classroom, playing with an action figure. One of the past victors. Left behind holding a Victor in his hands. He only wished he could be holding the future Victor's hand now. Why wasn't she here? Weren't Victors supposed to return home? Where was she? Where was Ember?

School blurred the rest of the day. And all Griffin could think of was Ember. And his mom. His mom entered his head a few times. She had written a letter to him not too long ago. She usually just sent gifts, but this time she had written a letter to go with it. Oranges and some Capitol clothes. And a letter. She had written it herself. It wasn't a generic card, it was her. When he opened the letter a picture had fallen to the ground, but he had ignored it, too intent on reading something from his mother. Writing to him was like speaking to him, and surely she had to know that. His deafness had been why she left. She must know this meant so much to him.

'Griffin, my son. I'm sorry for have never written you. I do wish I had because I could've told you how much I love you. But I write you now because I feel that I am finally strong enough to address you. I know you probably hate me for leaving and probably don't believe me, but I love you and I miss you and I'm so sorry for leaving you and your father. The truth is, I couldn't stand seeing you in pain. Not being able to hear me sing lullabies to you or hear my soothing voice when were scared. I wasn't ready to the your parent. That's why I left. Not because of you, but because of me. I just wasn't ready. I'm sorry for failing you, Griffin.'

Tears streamed down his face. He hadn't been sure they were tears of rage or pain or longing or happiness, but they were there. And he had almost forgotten to read the rest of the letter after that point.

'P.S. I watched the tribute's interviews. She really is beautiful. I hope you enjoy the picture I sent and I know she will be the one to make it home. The odds are in her favor.'

He bent over and picked up the picture. The back was labeled simply, 'Ember Hilbrook. 59th Hunger Games Victor.' He turned it over to see a picture of her. It was a picture of her during her interview. She was beautiful. She was perfect. And she would be the Victor. He let his mind give a silent thank you to his mum. Although she had left and had never written him, he still loved her. He loved her and missed her. The oranges she had sent that day were gone within and hour, and he wore the outfit she had given him through the night. And Ember's picture was now held in his pocket. Always.

When the final bell rang, he left the school. He stopped on the steps looking around for Del. He held has sketchbook in his hand and he had a pencil behind his ear. He was ready for a chat. And a serious one. No more thoughts of his mother, for the moment at least. Right now, Ember was the only thing he was worried about. It was time to figure out who this Del was.