Synopsis: In the 74th Hunger Games, Clove wasn't picked as the tribute for District Two; instead, a local girl named Rylin was selected. Sharp, manipulative and dead set on winning, Rylin believes she has what it takes to beat anybody out-including fellow tribute Cato. But as she grows closer to the careers over their time in and out of the arena, will she be able to turn on them to win in the end?

This chapter rated T for language, CatoxOC, with future M themes.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, guys! I really appreciate it (: Once again, thanks to KaraBear929 from Quizilla, because through my rp with her I gained most of my inspiration for this chapter. I feel like I'm spoiling anybody reading this, putting out chapters so fast ^^ But I figure I might as well do it while I can-pretty soon I be bogged down with finals and such and it'll come out slow. I really enjoyed writing this chapter, because I found it easy to get into Cato's sort of malicious character. (: Any reviews are appreciated, and I hope you enjoy chapter 4! (:

…..

…..

….

"How can I show you…I won't kill you…until we're the last ones left?"

The words sounded pensive, but I was willing to be they were anything but. Something about the smirk that had just been on his face made me worry a bit, although I wouldn't let him know that. It was just…Cato was so devilish, seemed to have a crazy sort of mind. Yet he still seemed so assured about everything-that it would just be handed to him. It was clear that he believed I was simply going to agree to this alliance with something as unbinding as a handshake.

Well, I was sure as hell going to make him work for my trust.

"Yeah, just how are you planning on doing that, exactly?" A bit of a challenge seeped into my voice; I meant for it to be there. He should have known by now I wasn't an easy one to sway once I had a point to stand by. And trust me, I had seen more than enough to know it was unwise to trust Cato. Every little detail one could observe by watching him screamed the fact he would turn on you once you were no longer of use to him-this was especially apparent in his words. Even though he was so confident he was high enough up nothing could knock him down, his self image could be the defeat of him. After all, when you consider nothing a threat and brush someone off simply because of their looks, you aren't expecting a knife planted firmly in your back or at your throat-and when that happens, you're done for.

His arms still crossed, Cato moved slowly. His figure circled me, and I couldn't help but feeling like a diver trapped by a hungry shark. That's precisely what he was to me, hungry for his wants and needs to be met. I would gladly make sure it was difficult for him to do that. Because if there was one thing I hated, it was people who always got what they wanted, flaunted it, and thought they were God's gift to the world. Cato fit each of these criteria perfectly, making him almost impossible to not hate.

Notice I said almost. After all, I couldn't deny the strange attraction that was present despite the fact he was my enemy. On one hand, I wanted to let him die and make sure he suffered; on the other hand, I wouldn't mind a quick roll in the sack with him.

Wait, did I really just say that?

No, no, no! I could not, would not allow that to happen! I couldn't let him know that he attracted me, because he would most certainly use that against me. Remember I said I liked cocky guys? Well, when they knew I wanted them and knew they could get me…well, consider me hooked, lined, and reeled in to be fried up for dinner.

No matter how true it was, he could not know I felt that way. That would, ultimately, be my downfall.

I must have had a slightly worried look on my face, because his next words were "I don't know…why don't you tell me what it takes."

So now, the ball was in my court. Of course, I could give in to what my gut was telling me-sure, he would know he was my weakness, but at least it would be satisfying. On the other hand, maybe there was a chance I could get him after me. It would require a lot of manipulation, but luckily that was something I was good at. A lot of strong will to, a lot of resistance…and I wasn't sure I had the will power.

But, I would try.

As he crossed in front of me again, I tried my best to look a bit disgusted. "Please, Cato. Sorry to break it to you, but I'm not like the other girls you're used to dealing with. You can't just shoot me a look, make a suggestion, and expect me to trust you with my life. You're gonna have to come up with a much better idea than that," I told him sourly. Well, the bait was out…now, I simply had to wait for his reaction, see what his take on the whole situation was.

However, I wasn't expecting the reaction he had.

He chuckled a bit, a smirk wide on his face. "So, you think you can see right through me, huh?" he asked, head tilting the slightest bit to the left. He seemed….amused. "You think I'm an open book-all my intentions right out there for the world to see."

Actually, he was spot on. I was positive that I had nailed him for what he wanted, pegged exactly his personality type. But his next words made my blood turn to ice.

"Listen," he said, his voice slow and smooth as velvet. "I just want you to trust me; it doesn't have to be what you're thinking. But….you want to know the disconcerting part? The fact you automatically assumed I wanted something like that means that you've been thinking about it." He crossed his arms once more, fixing me with a smug look. "Why was that on your mind, Rylin? Unless of course….you wanted it."

I was completely, utterly shocked.

I mean, he really just went there!

For once in my life, I was speechless. My jaw was slack, my mouth hanging half open; I knew there was a look of disbelief painted clear across my face. It became apparent from his expression that this was precisely what he planned on happening, and to make matters worse, his smirk only grew. "Well?"

Think, Rylin, think!

"Th….that's not….you don't have anything to base your assumption on to say that it's true!" I shot at him, my words quick and slightly unsteady. I knew that despite my attempt to defend myself and my honor, that my secret was out. This was only further proven with his next words.

"Oh, I don't have to prove it. It's clear by the look on your face," he said. And perhaps it was just because I looked as if I was about to argue again and he wanted to shut me up, but he took a stride towards me, closing the distance between us. "I know what you want, that's all. You want me."

It was time to switch tactics.

I inclined my chin to get a better look at him, and concentrated on making my voice hard and clear. "What I want and what I don't want doesn't matter at this point. But…so what if I do? It doesn't mean anything."

This seemed to throw him off a bit; it clearly hadn't been the answer he was expecting. "Look," he started, his tone a bit harder. "I didn't come here to fight lust with lust. I need a partner I can count on, and I'll prove that I'm trustworthy. Are we sealing this deal, or not?"

I expelled my breath quickly, knowing that arguing wouldn't be any use anymore. So I set my jaw, stared him directly in the eyes, and told him "Do you worst."

… Cato's P.O.V. …

It was that easy.

In one fluid motion, my hands gripped her hips and pushed her back onto the hard wall. My lips came down on hers roughly, and I was content to see she didn't shy away from the action. While at first I thought she would be stubborn about the whole situation since I had been right, I was taken by surprise when I was met with no resistance. Instead, I felt a hand at the base of my neck, another on my chest.

One of my own went into her hair, yanking out the band that held it up and out of her face. As it fell around her shoulders, I separated my lips from hers for a moment; they travelled about her neck instead now. I knew precisely what I was looking for-a noise, a quick movement, an involuntary reaction. And as they hit a spot at the base of her neck, I heard a sharp intake of breath.

That was my cue.

I sucked on the spot, grazed my teeth over it, everything I had learned in my years that could drive a girl crazy. It seemed to have the intended effect, because the next thing I knew the feeling of nails could be felt through my shirt as her fist tightened. Her head moved back and to the right, exposing the spot I was working on even more to me.

After a moment of this, I pulled my head back; my eyes fell on a quickly darkening mark that contrasted sharply with her skin. I barely had time to admire my handiwork when I felt her hand in my hair, grabbing at it and pulling my face back to hers.

Well, someone was awfully impatient…

But I wasn't complaining, I realized, as she tried to take control. Notice I said tried. The feeling of her soft lips pressing roughly against mine, her teeth nibbling on my bottom lip, and her hand dragging her nails down my back was almost enough to send me over the edge. But I kept my composure, despite the apparent fact Rylin knew what she was doing. Which, trust me, was a lot harder than you would think-not just because of her, but because it had simply been so long since I'd gotten any.

The girl was going to get in way over her head.

Despite the fact I felt an aching in my gut that wanted to push me forward and told me to finish the job, I realized I might get more satisfaction in seeing her put off. After all, this was proof that she wanted me-I had her in the palm of my hand. So I saw the idea of making her wait, just as I had to wait for her to join the alliance, almost as satisfying as going on ahead and screwing her now.

Smirking with the knowledge I would go through with the plan, I slipped my hands up under her shirt and ran them up her sides. I could feel her react to my mere touch, and I had to practically force myself to pull my lips away from hers.

Immediately, she assessed me with a confused look in her eye-clearly, she hadn't been expecting me to stop anything. "What-?" she started to ask, but I put a finger up to silence her.

"Sorry, Rylin…I don't do much on the first date," I told her, voice dripping with sarcasm. The look on her face made it apparent she was half torn between attempting to get me to change my mind, and half fuming at my words.

"You're…..not serious…?" she asked, and I understood where she was coming from. What with us being in the same District, that meant the same floor-easy for both of us to go to one room, and the other sneak back to their own after we were done to avoid the others on our floor knowing.

But…I wanted to see her sweat a little.

"Same time tomorrow?" I asked. Before she could answer, I slid my hands out from under her shirt and turned, heading down the hallway to go back to our floor-but my room.