Winter's Cold Grasp {Charade}

You ever get the feeling that somebody's watching you? Like those moments where you're walking down the sidewalk alone and you feel a sudden urge to stare across the street or cast a furtive glance over your shoulder? I hate moments like those; they seem to happen pretty frequently. Call me paranoid, but really, is it being paranoid if someone really is out to get you? I think that's called common sense. Anyway, it's pretty late out and I'm headed back from a job Da didn't have the time to do. It was simple enough, change out a few gears and oil the contraption up. No big deal. However, when I was headed towards the customers house I had that uncanny feeling like I was being looked at. I didn't see anyone, so I figured it was either my imagination or the person in question must have been behind the safety of their window; after all, this is district three. Lots of people are shut-ins.

But now that I'm my way home I feel like that again. And getting that feeling twice in the same spot is no coincidence. Call it intuition, but somethings off here. I stop short in the middle of the sidewalk and blow some air into my cupped hands to warm my nose. But that action also covers the way my eyes dart back and forth to check my surroundings. There's no one in front of me, and most of the windows aren't lit. The few that are have no shadows near them and thus, no one is standing by them. Across the street I don't see anyone walking either, but I think I do catch some movement. But... higher? I peer upwards and am surprised to see a small body on someones fire escape. And wouldn't you know it, but they are holding something up to their face. At this distance I can't exactly make it out through the dim illumination if the street lights, but I think I can guess. Whoever's up there is about to get a piece of my mind.

I start across the street in a hurry, but then my ears catch the sound of something hitting metal. Guess the creep saw me coming. I speed up and manage to get to where they are just in time to see them hop off the last rung of the ladder. But then I'm surprised. The creep's just a small girl, easily a couple years younger than me. Still, that's no excuse for being a creep. One of my hands slams into the side of the fire escape with enough force that my feathered earrings jangle next to my face. The placement of my arm prevents her off from going in that direction if she tried to. I fix her with one of my patented 'don't lie to me'glares and curl my mouth up in a sneer." You spying on me? Cause if you are, you need to admit it before I do something we both regret. And don't even think about making a break for it cause I'll run you down." That might have been laying things on a little thick. I wouldn't hit her. But a peeping Tina like her might need to be put in her place. I have to say though, part of me is a little curious to know why a girl of her age would be spying on people. Playing a game? Some kinda informant for the peacekeepers? If that's the case, am I really worth the trouble? I mean they pulled me in for questioning a grand total of one time and I don't think I'm that much of a threat. Who knows? Stranger things have happened, and Panem gets a little stranger every day.

Aw crap.

I did lay it on too thick. The gal's clearly terrified and somehow I think she isn't faking that. In fact, she looks like she's about to cry. I'm not sure about her explanation. It still seems like she's hiding something because what she said doesn't wash. Just watching the street? Who does that? Is that what younger teens are into these days? Okay, so maybe she wasn't spying on me, but she had to have been waiting for someone in particular. Or hiding. Man, this is not how I was planning to spend my evening. I retract my arm my but leave my eyes locked with hers, softening my gaze just a little bit.

She's gotta be a couple years younger than me, but she has something to hide, because otherwise, she wouldn't have fervently asked me not to tell anyone about she was doing. Which means she knows that people don't take kindly to being spied on, and yet she's doing it anyway. Suspicious. I snort and toss my head a little, the impromptu mohawk that is my hair swishing to one side. "Why would I tell anyone? Not like I know who else you were watching."

I hate to admit it, but I'm curious now. Curious enough that I'm not just going to let her go."Okay, let's say I believe you. You better be careful. The next person that spots you might not be as forgiving." I cross my arms , which adds to the effect of scolding. Still, Da always says that you can never be too careful. Might as well get some information out of her to see if she's really on the up and up. "You got a name?" If she really is just a kid that amuses herself by watching people through a pair of binoculars, she must be bored out of her skull. Maybe I could help with that. I'll just have to wait and see.

Heh, the kid's got some moxie. Now that she knows I'm not an immediate threat she certainly regained some confidence. Felicitas. I'm reasonably sure that's really her name as I don't think she's lied to me yet. She even admits that she knows what she's doing could be considered weird, but plows on ahead anyway. I snicker in subdued disbelief and toss my head a little bit."Not that its any of your business, but I'm on my way home from a repair job." Yeah, the kid is definitely curious, but I guess I probably was at that age too; though I don't think I ever spied on anyone. Uncrossing my arms, I shrug nonchalantly. "Name's Jackie." It's not my full name, but it is what I usually go by. Course, she doesn't need to know that.

My stomach rumbles and I stop to think about the last thing I ate, which I can't actually remember which means that having dinner slipped my mind while I was working again."Anyway, It ain't exactly safe out here at night. I'm gonna head home and grab a bite to eat. You can come if you're not to busy spying on someone else."After finishing my comment in a sardonic fashion, I move past her and start walking in the direction of the shop. If she decides to take me up on my offer, then whatever. It wouldn't be the first time I let someone follow me home; though thankfully, this time I don't have to clean up any blood.




OOC:
Not very long, I know, but at least we can move it along now!

I must be going soft.

A couple months ago and I would have left her in the alleyway with a bruised jaw. Instead I'm offering food? Must be because of the most recent quell. The games suck, but they suck even more when all the tributes are younger than you are. It doesn't take long to make it to the shop; even so, she starts to complain about the length of time its taking. I don't bother to respond, only shoot her a withering look and unlock the door in front of me. Its kind of dark, but after a moments fumbling I have a couple candles going and the door shut behind me. By this time, Da is going to be asleep in his chair so there's no chance that he'll come downstairs. In a matter of a few minutes, I manage to rustle up a hunk of bread, a roll of salami and some cheese. One knife later and I have a pair of roughly cut sandwiches ready for eating. I plop one down on the table and motion for her to take it as I grab a seat and take a generous bite out my own. The shop floor is pretty clear, grandfather clock in the corner, bits and pieces on the counter, the door to my room nice and shut away from prying eyes. "Eat. You look like you could use it."

The stairs near the back lead to the second floor which consists of the bathroom and Da's room; nothing special and so I keep my attention on Felcitas. I'm not really sure what else to say to her, other than to jab at her weirdness again. Shaking my head in irritation, I flip my hair to one side and raise an eyebrow. If she has anything left to say, now's the time to say it; otherwise, she can finish the sandwich and go home. It's late anyhow and I'm sure her family is going to be looking for her soon.color=A00114] "You got somewhere to be? I bet your parents don't have a clue where you are."