I wrote this chapter really fast, as everything just kept rolling out and it was hard to keep up with it. Things just kept coming to mind, so yer...

Anyways, here is chapter 4 and I hope you enjoy it x

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I still don't own The Hunger Games.

Immense conversation turns to deadly silence as I enter the room. The type of silence that echoes after a gun shot. The type of silence that even the blink of an eye can disturb. A silence you would like to avoid. If you can.

Unfortunately, for myself, I can't avoid that sound of nothing. Nor can I break it. After all, I did cause it in the first place.

As I stand awkwardly in the doorway, eyes watch me from every inch of the room. Well, at least it feels that way. There are only the Gamemakers and Snow here, but their eyes seem to double up when you're alone. Just there, as one individual person. One small girl against many big people. People high enough to take innocent lives and claim it to be reasonable. Claim it to be entertainment. Me against them.

President Snow rises from his seat at the head of the table and beckons me towards him. Although I want to turn away and run to somewhere no one can see me, I find my feet obeying his gesture.

I pass each Gamemaker on my way down the room. Every one giving me a full inspection, as if they're judging me. As if this is a trail and I'm guilty.

Except, I am guilty. Guilty for being different.

The seat on the right-hand of Snow is labelled with my name, Zinnia Mellark. I take it and turn my attention to Snow, who stands with a thin glass filled with champagne, tapping the rim with a spoon. Once everyone's attention is focused on him, Snow begins to speak.

"I would just like to take a moment to welcome our newest comrade, Miss Zinnia Mellark" He says, waving his hand above my head.

A few hushed comments are passed around the table, each one followed by either a point or a glare in my direction. So much for making me feel welcome... and comrade? Can he be any more insulting? I am not his 'comrade'!

"We are all delighted to have you in our company this evening, Miss Mellark" He continues, putting emphasis on the 'we', before adding, "But before we begin our wonderful feast, let us start the gathering with a little video"

As he says the word 'video', the curtains at the opposite end of the room slide open, revealing a large, flat screen television. The lights are dimmed, the screen lights up and the anthem begins to play.

The clip is of the tribute interviews. This is where the twenty-four tributes are given only a few minutes to connect with the audiences there and at home, and more importantly, get sponsors. This is always a vital time for them, as this is there only chance to show people their true personalities before they're trust into the arena. A perfect time for a sob story, to score sympathy points with those kind-hearted people of the wealthier background and hopefully, receive gifts from them when they appear in the arena.

Personally, the sob stories don't affect me. But that's probably because of the life I lived back in District 12. Where there was no time for tears to be shed. Where we all had to get over things and get on with our lives. Or what was left of them, anyway.

The anthem fades out and the audience begin to cheer once more. Caesar, the Hunger Games interviewer, has to calm down the audience, before he introduces the next tribute.

Peeta.

Peeta comes on, dressed in a formal outfit and looking very smart, but very different. The Capitol have changed him from the common little baker with burn marks on his hands and frosting on his face, into a smart, spotless young man. It's almost horrifying.

At least he's smiling anyway, but that's probably for the cameras, no matter how convincing it may look.

Peeta takes a seat opposite Caesar and the applauds fade down as they begin to talk. Caesar starts with the basic questions first, like how did he feel when he was chosen etc. The normal stuff. Then he moves on deeper, by asking Peeta if he has a girlfriend back home.

I know this. He doesn't. There's not even any girls he likes, although he has plenty to choose from. I've seen groups of them following him, trying to get his attention when I was at school. Not to blame them though, he is quite handsome. But even with all this attention, he's never dated any girl. Never. Not even secretly. I know, because he tells me everything.

I continue watching the interview, thinking about what his 'shock' confession might me, when I notice Peeta's face change. He's blushing. Blushing?

What? What just happened? What did he say?

"Rewind it quickly" I turn to Snow, who obeys my demand and rewinds the tape to the previous question.

I lean in closer and concentrate on the interview. Caesar is asking Peeta about his love life again, but this time, I'm not too quick to decide on his answer. Instead, I watch and listen to what he has to say.

Only, he doesn't deny anything. I don't move, and I don't even blink. I am not missing a single moment. What is he going to say? Is there really someone he likes back home?

Peeta sighs and looks at Caesar,

"Well, there is this one girl. I've had a crush on her ever since I can remember..."

I think I gasp, as the whole room turns sharply to look at me. Normally, I would glare back, or make some excuse and leave hastily. Except, I'm too shocked and I need to know what happens next.

In the space of the gasp and glaring, I seemed to have miss some questions between Caesar and Peeta. I'm about to ask Snow to rewind again, when Peeta stammers back to Caesar and the audience. I can see that he's heavily blushing as he struggles to push his next sentence out.

"Because... because...she came here with me" He finally gets out.

His confession. The confession that shocked Snow. The confession that shocks me now. Peeta is in love with... Katniss?

The door makes a loud thud as I slam it behind me and the sound bounces of the walls and back into my ears. I don't stop to see what damage I may have caused, I take flight and flee down the corridor. And the next one, and the one after that. I just run, run and run. No idea where to go or where I'm even heading.

My heart is beating at a dangerously fast rate and my head is spinning round and round. I feel physically sick and I almost threw up several times as I race down the endless, identical hallways. The whole time, the only thing I can hear over the beating of my heart, are the words Peeta is in love with Katniss, he's in love with her and I didn't know. I don't even know my own brother anymore. But no matter how fast I run, how far I run, I can't escape the truth. Peeta's changed.

Trying to shake the images of the new Peeta distracts me from the fact that I'm running into a dead end. Luckily, I manage to notice the wall in time and I skid to a halt, before collapsing in a heap on the floor.

By now, I'm hypreventilating and when I hold my hand up, I can see it's shaking. My whole body is shuddering as the tears pour out by the bucket-load. No amount of sniffing or wiping my eyes can stop them from streaming down my burning face. In the end, I give up and sit there, letting the drops of water fall down my face and drip into my lap. My heart rate is gradually slowing down as I gulp down the air, forcing it into my lungs. I close me eyes for a moment, the when I open them again, I notice someone standing beside me.

My eyes flicker up to whoever it is that stands beside me. He's very tall, muscular, athletic looking and his skin is a soft golden colour that shimmers slightly in the spotlight created by the chandelier that hangs above his head. A wave of bronze hair covers his head, parts of it lighter from the sun, I suspect. Wow. He's stunning just to look at.

The stranger bends down infront of me and I feel his smooth fingers wipe the tears that still trickle down my cheek. My eyes move up and meet his. The second they do, I know who this stranger is. It was obvious to me who he was by his eyes. His sea green eyes. This stranger crouching before me, is none other than Finnick Odair.

Finnick is a somewhat living legend, every young girl's fantasy. Ok, maybe not every girl. He's not only gorgeous, but he's a victor as well. Winning the 65th Hunger Games at the tender age of fourteen completely changed his life. He changed from an average, charming boy living in District Four, to a unique, seductive sex symbol. Finnick is well known for his numerous flings with Capitol girls and, of course, those amazing eyes. Most girls my age would die to be in my position right now, but somehow, I've never understood why.

Sure, Finnick looks like he was carved by an angel, but I've never seen what could be so attractive about his history with girls. From the rumours I've heard, he thinks he can have whatever girl he lays eyes on, and always, he gets them. That's not something I find attractive. Good as a friend, but not as a boyfriend. But, that's just me.

"Breath any harder and they'll be no oxygen left for me" He grins cheekily at me, his eyes twinkling slightly.

I sniff and wipe my damp eyes "Oh, sorry about that"

"Nah, don't worry 'bout it" He says. "What's wrong, then?"

I sigh, "Long story. It's complicated"

Finnick rises up to his feet and holds his hand out towards me, "I have time"

I smile at him and then put my trembling hand in his. He pulls me to my feet and it feels that almost instantly, my body relaxes. Maybe it's just the nice feeling of someone there to comfort you that puts me at ease. I'm not saying I trust him, but all the same, he makes me feel comfortable and it's worrying how quick he can do that. That's probably why all the girls that meet him, fall for him almost instantly. Except, maybe not all the girls he meets are collapsed on the floor, drowning in their own tears. What can I say, I'm currently an emotional wreck.

In fact, I honestly don't know why I reacted like I did before. Just the sight of Peeta and the way he's changed must have got to me. And remembering that I'll never see him again. That must have played a big part in my mini breakdown.

Finnick's room is pretty much the same as mine, I notice, as he takes me in and sits me down on the sofa. I automatically sik back into the velvety fabric, letting it almost hug my body. When Finnick returns from searching through a cupboard, I sit back up. He places a box of tissues on the table by my feet and sits down beside me.

"So... you know me, but I don't know you" Finnick says to me.

"Oh right, well you are the famous one" I jeer at him in a sly way. "My name's Zinny"

"Hmm, interesting name..." He points out.

"You can talk! What about 'Finnick'? That's got to be weirder than my name" I retort back to his grinning face.

He puts his head back and laughs, "You could say that"

"So, this long story you were going to tell me?"

I take in a deep breath and retrace my memories to him, from the reaping up until this minute. The whole time I'm explaining, he doesn't move an inch. He sits there, his full attention on me. And his eyes looking directly at mine. It's clear to me that he must do a lot of listening.

By the time I've finished, I feel much better. Letting everything out to someone does lift a bit of weight of your shoulders.

"So, Peeta never told you about Katniss, then?" Finnick asks me.

"Nope" I reply.

"He's just been hiding it for all these years then?"

"No... well, yes, maybe. Finnick, I honestly don't know anymore. Whatever the Capitol have done, or said to him, it's changed him. The Peeta you see on the screen is not the real Peeta I know. Not even close! He's becoming a different person and he's not even in the Games yet! And I... I can't keep up and deal with it"

"Yes you can, Zinny. It's ok to feel that way, I did"

"I know, but... it's easy for you to say that. But I'm not going to ever see Peeta again!"

"Zinny, I've been in Peeta's position before. And, I've been a mentor for previous years, including this year"

I sigh, knowing that he's right. If anyone knows the situation, it's Finnick. He's been a tribute before and mentored others. He's probably got more experience than anyone.

We sit in silence for a few minutes, neither one of us moving. After a while, the silence feels too awkward, so I speak up to lighte the atmosphere.

"Hmm, you know what I've been thinking?" I grin at Finnick, who's fiddling with a piece of tattered rope.

He looks up, "What?"

"That you look much different in the flesh than on the TV" I answer.

Finnick's left eyebrow raises in a matter of confusion, "In what way?"

"You're not as 'pretty' in the flesh. Must be the airbrushing, I guess" I say, adding a little shrug for good measure.

Haha, bet that niggled at his ego...

"Oh, I get it. You're playing hard-to-get" He shakes his head a little, "I know your type"

"Oh, don't flatter yourself! I'm not like the other girls you've had experience with. I don't fall for your charm and flattery" I reply, the end of my lips curved upwards, in a somewhat smile.

"Oh really, is that so?" He grins back at me, reaching towards the table.

I turn my head away for a moment, "Yup"

When I turn back, Finnick's holding a bowl of sugarcubes, his white teeth crunching on one. He leans in closer to me,

"Want a sugarcube?" He whispers in my ear, in his seductive voice that all the girls back home get butterflies over. God, he's so full of himself, but it's humorous to watch his attempts to seduce me to a fluttery girl with no control over her eyelashes. Pfft, not gonna happen.

I decide to make this more entertaining for myself, so I lean in closer to him, my eyes only inches from his. I stare deeply into his sea coloured eyes... and errupt into fits of laughter. This seems to take Finnick by surprise at first, but it's not long until we're both collapsed on the sofa, doubled over in uncontrolable laughter.

When we at last start stop laughing, and begin to breath normally, I look up at the clock that's standing on his desk. 10:27pm.

I instantly jump up from the sofa, knocking the box of tissues that balanced on the arm.

"Is that the time? Oh my gosh, am so sorry, I gotta go"

Finnick stands up too, then walks over to the door. He opens it and gestures for me to leave. When I do, he leaves as well, locking the door behind him.

"I'm presuming you have no idea where you're going, am I right in saying so?" He questions me.

"Yup, no idea whatsoever. Everything looks the same" I agree with him.

"Ah, I know the feeling. Need someone to escort you back to your quarters?" He grins and holds out his arm. I take it, linking mine through his.

"I believe I do, kind sir" I reply with a hint of elegance to my voice.

He nods at me, then leads me down the corridor.

Several minutes of walking down identical corridors and we finally arrive at my room. I fumble around for the key and find it at the bottom of the pocket that's sewn into my shawl. I turn the key in the lock and the door swings open. I step inside the doorway, before turning back to Finnick.

"Thanks, Finnick" I smile gratefully at him.

"Nah, no problem. I know this place like the back of my hand" He replies.

"Not just that. I'm mostly talking about earlier. That was really, erm, thoughtful"

"Ah, thoughtful is my middle name"

I softly hit his right arm and sigh, "No, seriously, Finnick. I appreciate it"

"I know, and it's cool, no worries" He says.

"So, I'll see you around then?"

"I think you will" He smiles back at me, then turns to walk away. He must change his mind about leaving that second, as he stops and looks back at me.

"You know what? I kind of like you, Zinny. You're not that bad... for a girl anyway" He adds.

I give a small snort, "Was that you're idea of a compliment, Mr Odair?"

"Hmm, yeah, I think it was" He says, then turns and walks back down the corridor.

As he's leaving, I call out to him, "And you're not that bad yourself... for a victor"

As he disappears around a corner, I swear I hear him laugh.

I go back into my room and close the door shut. A smile sneakily forms on my lips. Against all bad things here, at least I've found myself a friend. Even if it is Finnick Odair.

Rightt, so that was chapter 4! For those who don't know already, I have an obsession with Finnick x I think he's wonderful ;D

So, I cannot stress the importance of reviews! Please be nice and leave a comment for moi

Thanks, FireflyLlama XD