The Help (Hero and Mai)

[Hero]

He put an arm inherit make sure she wasn't going to hurt her. You know, after scaring her potentially senseless. He wasn't surprised. He had that ability. He felt the familiar paper of his sketchbook in his hand. He looked astounded. He thought because of the courtesy to draw it for her, that she would've kept it. You woulda thought.

He simply looked around for a trash can. Once he found one, he threw it away. What was the point I keeping it if he didn't have a purpose for it? He drew it for her. He wanted hero have it. He knew that maybe she would actually appreciate it. But again. She's got a house in Victor's Village and he's the one who didn't have a house at all. What would she eve see in him? He didn't matter. No one ever would care about him. Why would she be any different then anyone else?

"It doesn't matter. I won't have a portfolio. I don't have a life anyways. Just this. That's it. So it's no huge deal. Don't worry about it." He shoved his hands in his pockets, shrugged his shoulders up, and turned on his heel and slowly faced the wind, walking around the house and sitting against the wall.

[Lotus]

She watched his movements and felt her heart drop when he dropped the drawing in the bin. Why had he gone and done that? Did he not want to try? I mean, she wasn't really one to talk about trying, Jess hadn't really tried anything since the games. She was too broken to even think of something to try. But now, after meeting Clark, she new she had to try with him.

She had to try and make him see that he had something going for him; and quite a bit more than just his drawing ability. Did she really just think that? She shook her head softly and walked over to the rubbish bin, reaching in and picking it up. She folded the piece of paper back up and slipped it into her back pocket like before. She knew where he'd walked to, so she followed; quietly.

Kneeling down beside him she tried to make things right. She tried to get him to show that smile again, so she cleared her throat and tried. "I never meant to offend you. I just honestly thought you'd get more use out of it than I would. You have true skill in just that one drawing. It may be of me, but I saw past that and saw the true talent that was there. I was only trying to make you realise it..." She stopped, unsure of what to say next as she reached a hand up to stroke Atlas behind the ear.

She knew it was forward, and she knew that being forward hadn't got her anywhere before with Clark, but what else could she do. She couldn't just leave him sitting here looking defeated. "Why don't you come back to mine for a drink? Maybe we can...y'a know...be friends or something and then both our lives would have a point?" Had she really just said that? She really was thinking, saying and doing crazy things around this guy. She ran a shaky hand over her head and looked away. She doubted this situation could get any more awkward for her.

[Hero]

He looked over at her, Her dark eyes focused on his lighter ones. She suggested the one thing he had hoped to avoid since he was ever even thought of by his parents. She wanted to give him a point to his life. He knew there never would be. His life sucked and karma would get him back soon enough.

"Jess, I would love to but I can't. There's never been any point." He slowly stood, his back staying against the wall. He pushed himself off. He gazed out intently into the field behind the house. Vast land where he could maybe find someone to live with out there. Jess. He stopped himself before he could think of anything else stupid. "Listen Jess. Your life has more point than mine ever will. You go live you life. Don't let someone like me drag you down." He walked a few steps, feeling the cool breeze against his skin. The wind managed to rustle his curls a bit but he didn't fix it.

"I only made it for you. I didn't want it to be put in a dumb portfolio. I made it because I thought you were perfect." He stopped himself. What had he just said? You said she was perfect you idiot. "You don't need me.... I'll just screw everything up." He slowly walked over to the front of the house and sat down on the grass. He laid down and just tried to sleep.

[Lotus]

Jess sat and stared at where he'd just been sitting. What he had said hurt her deep down and she wasn't entirely sure why, but then he'd called her perfect. She didn't know how to feel about that. It angered her and made her face flush at the same time.

She stood up abruptly and strode back to the front of the house; Atlas right on her heels. "Don't you dare say that. Don't you dare say you'll bring me down or screw things up. If you haven't noticed I'm as messed up as a person ever could be. I'm as low as anyone could ever be. I can't be taken much lower. I was trying to be nice to. I was trying. For once, ever since I came out of those bloody games, I tried; because of you. You made me do that, and what do you do, you shoot me down like I have the most perfect life of all. Sure, I might live in a big, fancy house, but what's the point when there's no point to your life other than to see it till the end. I let my best friend die in those games and all I wanted was someone to be in my life again, other than my family and the idiots in the capitol. Was that too much to ask?"

She felt tears brewing in her eyes as she looked right into his eyes. He had lovely eyes, even in the dark and he looked shocked. At last, something she had said had made an impression. She turned away then and took a few steps before turning back and saying, "For your information, I'm far from prefect." She turned and started walking away, calling to Atlas to follow.

[Hero]

He simply scoffed at her. Her strong belief that he could make things better surprised him. He knew he couldn't. With no steady upbringing, how in the world could he help anyone else? Maybe he wouldn't bring her down. Maybe she was already at her lowest. She said so. For sure, he already had gotten there. But once she stated that she tried because of him, that brought him out of his tangled thoughts and into the real world. "Well, why me? This could've been through anyone. And it had to be me? You have a brother you can go to. I disappear for months at a time. I'm an unsteady person. Why put all that faith in me?" He looked up at her, his brown eyes begging to bring some bit of comfort to him.

He stood, facing her now. "You're right, you don't have a perfect life. And it may not be much better than mine. But it's better. You have a fancy house. I'm either stuck on the street or inside that house, which isn't much better. And idiots in the Capitol? I must agree with you on that one." He turned, his back now to her. "No," he hung his head, burls falling in his eyes, "It wasn't too much to ask." He turned back to her.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted someone to and got so used to pushing everyone away and that's just what happened I guess." He held his hand out for her to shake. "How about we both give each other's lives some point. What do you say?"

[Lotus]

Jess turned back to him slowly and listened to his words. They made her heart ache to hear them coming from his mouth and his eyes were burning so much that she just wanted to know what he truly felt behind them. They were fascinating and she couldn't wait to see them in the light.

She nodded her head softly and stared at his hand; unsure. She flickered her eyes away and then back to his hand before slowly placing hers in his and shaking. There was a strange feeling that accompanied it. It was like a tingle had shot through her arm and it actually made her feel good for once.

She turned and started walking away, only to stop and turn back. When he caught up with her she decided to tell him. "You want to know why I wanted to try and put my faith in you? 'Cause you're the first person to bother with me. My brother has always known I'm a mess and he helps the best he can, but he has his own life; his own family to tend to. I need someone and I was willing to try just 'cause you showed a little bit of interest in who I actually was rather than what I'm known for." She felt her cheeks get hot and she watched her feet walk. "Is that a good enough reason for you Clark?"

[Hero]

For the first time, he actually felt it. He felt the electricity shoot through him like lightning. He had to admit, he actually liked it. The feel of the calluses on her hand from a lot of obvious hard work. Her fingertips soft against his hand. It was the kind of feeling you might get after kissing someone, and now, he actually wanted to kiss her. But head in the game, Clark. No time for that, You get met her.

He shrugged at her remark about being the first one to actually care about him. "I try you know. I didn't have a steady family. So, just about anyone I meet and are nice to me become my friend. But I've never met anyone like you. And to be totally honest, not to be cheesy or anything, but I 'm glad I met you. You've given me a bit of a purpose, you know?" Once he was finished, she started walking away. He knew he shouldn't, but he did anyways. He walked back up to her and put a hand on her shoulder. Once he had regained her attention, he kissed. Long and good.

[Lotus]

Jess understood what he was talking about but didn't know what to say back. It was the same for her but in the reverse. She opened her mouth and nothing came out. She tried again and managed a tiny voice that was so often blessing her with it's presence. Smell the sarcasm? "I feel the same; if that makes sense."

She started walking again and didn't understand why he kept stopping her. She turned to see him only to find his lips on hers; kissing her and wanting her to kiss him back. She froze; unknowing of what to really do. Her hands stayed limp at her sides and she broke away before he thought that's what she wanted.

She would be lying though if she didn't admit how good his lips on her actually felt. The surge through her body was even stronger than when he hand just touched her hand. Her eyes flitted anywhere but his face and she felt her cheeks grow hot. She tried to swallow over the lump in her throat as she tried to turn her gaze back to him. "I d-don't understand..."

Now that made her look stupid. Of course she understood what a kiss was. But why on earth had he done it? And to her? She squeezed her wrist and felt the surge of pain. "Please come with me."

[Hero]

Honestly. It was amazing. He had never kissed a girl. At all, much less like that. He knew he would have to sooner or later. And he was glad that he had kissed her before he let her go, before she could waltz out of his life forever. He actually felt a bit proud of himself for it. But he could never the forget the way her lips tastes. Sugar. Probably from testing the cake for its common perfection. Even though he had tasted that cake batter hundreds of times, it never as good as it had coming from her lips. It was a strange feeling though. Being 20, and still never having kissed a girl. Sure, he had given plenty of hugs or gotten an occasional and very rare kiss on the cheek, but never a full blown kiss.

"You don't have to," he whispered, his breath got against her ear. For some reason, her eyes avoided his. He isn't blame her. They were total strangers to one another and he had just firmly planted his lips upon hers. That simple. He chuckled a bit whenever she began to stutter, probably asking a million questions in her mind. And he felt as if he had the ability to answer them all, in all the same way. He watched asshe squeezed her wrist. An unnecessary act. Once she pulled her other hand away, he saw the the scars. The hurt. The pain.

"I guess I will." Whenever they walked, he took her hand, waiting her reaction. Yep. It was official. Clarkson Underton finally had a crush.

[Lotus]

Jess pulled her sleeve down over her wrist when she saw his eyes wander to where her scars where and where the new ones were slowly healing. She felt self conscious and after him just kissing her she wasn't in the greatest of mind sets.

It was strange the way her heart leapt when he said he'd tag along with her. She really had put a lot of trust into him in a little space of time. When they started walking and his hand slipped into hers, she didn't react. She didn't know how to. She looked down, staring at the way his fingers entwined with hers and very slowly, hers contracted to entwine properly with his.

She looked up to find him watching her and she looked away; nervous. "How does mine sound for that drink I said about?" She was worried what he'd think of her house. It wasn't a home, it was just some place she stayed to keep a roof over her head. It had no meaning to her; it only reminded her how lonely it was.

"You can use one of the many spare rooms if you like. Get you off the street and out of my fathers house?" She wasn't expecting him to agree. After all, to her, he was a guy with everything going for him and she was a broken nineteen year old that didn't know what day it was.

[Hero]

He watched her reaction as he took her hand. Uncertainty spread through her eyes, but it wasn't exactly a bad thing either. He didn't expect her to take his hand as well, to intertwine fingers with his. He was surprised at the amount of trust that she had really put in him. But then again, maybe she just needed someone to talk to. No sex. No relationship. Just a friend. And a drink sounded nice to him, even though his father had forced old wine down his throat and had never drank willingly. He did a little half smile. "I would like that. And Jess, thank you."

They walked in silence the rest of the way until she offered him to stay in one of the spare rooms. He had never taken charity from anyone, but maybe this time, he just needed to let someone help him.

"I couldn't Jess. I'd be bumming from you, and I just don't do that." He looked away from her as they arrived. He simply stared at the ground, unsure of the words to say. No charity.

[Lotus]

Jess opened her front door and Atlas bounded inside, heading straight for her food bowl. She had forgotten that she'd only drunk water today; her father not letting 'that mutt' eat in his precious home. She shuddered at the memory of him slapping her the first time she'd taken Atlas to his home and she'd asked if he had anything for her.

She waited for Clark to step inside before she closed the door behind him, flipping the light switches on. His eyes widened and she just shrugged her shoulders. She'd done nothing to make the place her own since she'd got it. It was just somewhere for her to stay away from her father. She had no photos and had never bothered with decorating the place with anything she liked; she'd lost all interest in that.

She shrugged her coat off and took his to go and hang up. When she came back she'd thought of a way to get him to stay. "I have more money than I know what to do with. I have more rooms than I'm ever going to need. This place is lonely and huge. Besides, I wouldn't want to be the one with the thought of just letting you go and live on the streets or back with my violent father." He looked shocked but she just shrugged her shoulders.

She walked further into her house, to the kitchen at the back. She wasn't used to drinking so there was a stock of alcohol in the cellar that she had never touched. "Make yourself at home; if you want to stay or not. You're more than welcome to come and go if that's what you'd prefer." She came back with a bottle after a few minutes and set it on the counter. "Just don't ever thank me."

[Hero]

He stared in wonderment at the mere size of her living room. Never before had he seen one simple room as big as this one. Gold covered it, ceiling to floor. This one room had been bigger than all the house's he's ever lived in, combined. But that wasn't exactly saying much on his terms. But at least the houses he lived in were decorated, personalized to make comfortable. This house had nothing. Aside from the paint and furniture, nothing was there to really signify Jess's presence much. Luckily, he still held on to the drawing.

He picked up an empty picture frame and slid the drawing

[Lotus]

She'd poured the glasses of whatever it was she had in her hand and had walked back to Clark. She watched what he was doing with one of the photo frames and she thought back to their argument over the drawing. She had sworn she'd slipped it in her back pocket again; maybe he'd slipped it back out.

She cleared her throat a little and he jumped; to which the corner of her mouth turned up a little. She held out the glass for him to take as she said, "Here. No idea what it is, just the first one I reached. I hope it's okay." She tried to smile softly but ended up just standing there awkwardly as she pulled at the edge of her sleeves.

[Hero]

He wouldn't be surprised if she wondered how he got the drawing back. Maybe he wasn't exactly the best person to be around. He could pick-pocket anyone. But he didnt want her money. He just wanted her to know that she meant something. Maybe if they had a relationship (which is quite unlikely) and it ended badly, he would still try and be close to her. Every girl deserved that. Every guy did to but he wasn't about to start thinking about that.

He reached out and took the wineglass from her. "Yeah, it should be fine."

Realizing the moment was getting quite awkward, he quickly took a drink and ran a hand through his tangled hair. He walked close to her living room again. He stood between the door between there and the kitchen. Still, he hasn't seen any attemp to even make it her own. No pictures. No drawings. Nothing.

He turned to her and asked, "Has it always been this way?"

[Lotus]

Jess watching him looking around and felt self conscious at how sparse her house was. It was just that she'd never felt she belonged anywhere so there was no point trying to make this place homely when she didn't want to stick around. She sighed and leant against the counter. "Here? Yeah, never wanted to make it feel homely." She looked away and rubbed around her aching cuts on her wrist. "It's just..." She shook her head, "Forget it."

She walked over to him and smiled softly before brushing past and going to sit on the couch. Atlas came to sit at her feet and she patted the space on the couch next to her for Clark. She watched him as he walked over. "Changing the subject away from me. How did you get the drawing outta my back pocket?"

[Hero]

He looked around one last time before following her to the couch. He changed his grip on the glass. He sat on one leg, which hurt quite a bit. He thought of different ways he could add to the place. Valances here. Paint there. Maybe some more pictures and flowers on the mantel and tables around the room. "Well, then maybe we can try decorating together. I need something to keep busy with. And I think you would have some fun with it."

When she brought up how the drawing came from her pocket, he laughed. He knew it was coming but he wondered how long it would take to figure it out. He shrugged. "I just did."

[Lotus]

She watched him as he assessed her house, feeling inadequate all over again. She didn't want to live here. This place just reminded her of what she'd done to get it and she hated every thing about it. She shook her head and turned away from him slightly, "Any other place maybe, but I don't see how anything personal in this place is going to make it any better. Yeah, okay it's luxury but what I had to do to get it wasn't. This place doesn't make up for what I went through to come back..."

She shook her head softly and looked down at her hands, heat rising in her cheeks. He had suggested decorating it together, meaning he would be seeing her again and maybe even stay. She looked back up and watched him intently. "You want to stay?" She looked at him hopefully, trying to forget the depressing nature she'd taken the conversation.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm surprised I didn't feel you slip it out my back pocket. You're good."

[Hero]

His eyes met her gaze for a spilt second. He then felt his checks hear up just a little bit. He smiled and took another drink of his wine. "Well, it's always worth a shot, right?" He smiled at her. He put a hand lightly in her shoulder, trying to have her look at him. "I'd really love to help out."

"And odds are it won't, trust me, I get that. But you can at least try. You would be stuck with me for however long it takes, so I'm not sure the perks of that. I think we could make this place feel quite homely."

He felt a bit of excitement when she asked him to stay. "I'd love to. Maybe we can both be company for each other. And thank you."

[Lotus]

She finally turned back to him and smiled softly as she nodded her head. "I guess I can try... About time I did again right?" She moved closer to him and took a sip of her wine, not really enjoying the taste of it at all. "I'm sorta glad you want to stay. I mean I don't know you, but I feel like I do. If that even makes sense."

She took a gulp of the wine and pulled a face, trying to wash it down quickly. She looked up to him and he had an amused smirk on his face, but she just shrugged her shoulders. "I just don't understand something." For once she was going to be forward. She'd said she'd try so here she was, trying. "You didn't even want to spend time with me and now all of a sudden you want to stay with me. What changed your mind?" She looked down, remembering the kiss between them. She hadn't kissed him back but it had stirred something within her. Is that what had changed everything?

[Hero]

He took a large drink of his wine, pulling a face to cover the horrible taste of the wine. He laughed as she made the same face. He put his glass on the table, giving up trying to fake that it was even at all good. "I think it does make sense. I'm no Victor, in fact, I'm far from a regular person but I think it would be fun for us."

He took her wine glass. "I'll clean these and maybe we can just have something regular. No alcohol." He smiled and stood, walking into the kitchen. He began washing out the glasses, stealing glances at her as he did.

[Lotus]

Jess nodded her head in response to him, "You seem regular to me." How cheesy could she get? She sighed and shook her head, watching as he wandered back into the kitchen. She sat back and thought. He'd already taken to feeling at home in this place, where as she'd been in it over a year and she still didn't feel right.

She sighed and stood up, walking into the kitchen. He'd never answered her question and she was oblivious to the looks he was giving her. She didn't really understand looks any more, only the bad ones. She leant against the counter and watched him. "You never answered me..." She took a step closer to him and walked up next to him, cornering him slightly. "What changed your mind?"

[Hero]

He thought she sounded a bit cheesy. But then again, he would rather it be cheesy than a lie. He laughed a bit before he disappeared into the kitchen. When she followed him, he realized that he had never answered her question. Why had he decided to change his mind with her? He smirked a bit, trying to think of an answer.

She tried to corner him but he didn't budge. Now, their bodies were closer than they should be for people who just met. She asked him again. He finished cleaning the other glass.

He shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I just found a sense of happiness for once."

[Lotus]

Jess took a step back and felt her face heat up slightly. She ducked her head and moved back to the counter she'd been leaning on. She nodded her head, even though she didn't understand. She grabbed onto her arm and squeezed, walking over to the fridge. She got out a bottle of fizzy juice and place it on the counter top. She wasn't sure what to say to him.

"I'll be right back. Normal glasses are in the cupboard above your head." She smiled weakly and walked out of the kitchen. She headed for the downstairs bathroom and as soon as she was inside she sunk to the floor. He found a sense of happiness with her? She shook her head, it didn't make much sense but she couldn't just leave him in the house alone thinking he'd done wrong.

She dug her nails into her arm and instantly felt calmer. She nodded her head. She could do this. She could be okay around him. She stood up and splashed her face with water before taking deep breaths. "You can do this." She nodded her head and walked back out into the kitchen, only to find Clark back in the living room. She found herself smiling softly and she sat on the couch, further away from his this time.

[Hero]

Awkwardly, he put the wine glasses into the dishwasher. He reached above him and drew out one glass for her. He didnt want anything. He grabbed some ice and poured her the soda. When she left, he didnt know where she went so he just wet back to the living room. He was left alone with his thoughts for once. Luckily he still had his bag with him. Sketch pad and all. He pulled out his pencil and began to draw a younger version of himself. From pictures he had seen, he had a good idea of what he looked like. He realized he had left the glass in the kitchen so he went to grab it. He set it on the table and waited for her return.

When she came back, she now sat further away from him. He put down his pencil and looked up from his drawing.