Chapter 4 Behind Your Eyes

"Watch this," Marvel flicked a grape and hit a tribute on the back of their head. All the other Careers snickered except Clove.

"So that's how you're going to win the games?" Clove said grabbing a piece of bacon, "By clowning someone to death." She didn't hate Marvel, she just wondered how someone who's been training could still smile and joke around like he hasn't been trained to kill all his life.

"You need to relax," Glimmer scoffed. The blonde took this opportunity to kiss Cato on the lips making Marvel and Clove disgusted. The dark eyed girl didn't understand what was the point of their relationship when they clearly didn't care for each other. Cato would gladly slit Glimmer's throat or not help if that meant he could win the game.

Today was the day they had to present in front of the Gamemakers. Clove wondered how Katniss was feeling and looked over her shoulder to see her. Their eyes met for a split second before those grey eyes looked down.

"Hey I called dibs on her," Cato said.

You have no idea how wrong you are.

Just by the way the other districts were tense and huddling in whispered conversation showed that none of them were prepared for judgment by the Gamemakers. Clove wanted so bad to go over to Katniss and tell her that everything was going to be okay but she knew she couldn't. She saw that Peeta placed his hand over Katniss and was telling her something. Seeing that made Clove want to kill Peeta right then and there. What right did he have to touch Katniss?! Then she got a great idea that could cause a distraction and make her feel better.

"Marvel, take your hand out," Clove said. Cato's eyes shined up knowing this trick very well. Marvel laughed and placed his hand on the table when the blonde Career grabbed him from behind making sure Marvel couldn't escape. Glimmer stood up about to defend her companion when Clove gave her a look that stopped the blonde girl dead in her tracks. The dark haired Career pulled out a knife and slowly started to stab between Marvel's fingers. Marvel started to laugh but it came out weak and he gulped in air to hide his fear of what Clove was doing. The sound of the knife being jammed into wood caused the other tributes to see what Clove was doing. Every time she completed from the thumb to pinky, she started going faster, till she was skipping fingers and doing a very complex pattern. By this time, Marvel tried to move his hand away, but Cato wouldn't budge. Faster and faster the knife kept moving, till Marvel started to scream out of fear and that's when Clove stopped, only centimeters from his index finger. All the other Careers started to laugh and even Marvel joined in, after checking to see he was fine.

"That's not funny," he said flexing his fingers.

"You both told me to lightened up." She said seeing that Katniss was trying to contain her laughter. Clove's plan had worked, that was until Bread Boy started talking to Katniss again.

Clove was glad that they had a training session after breakfast because that's all she spent her time doing, throwing daggers imagining it was Peeta. She was lost in her own world that she didn't notice Katniss was staring at her wanting some type of communication with dark eyed girl. Katniss didn't know what triggered Clove but she wanted to talk to her and cool her down. During lunchtime is when the private sessions were beginning. Cato was called and Clove sat there waiting, too upset to eat anything. She hated feeling like this, angry and hurt at the same time yet she couldn't do anything to resolve it. Having to pretend she was soulless, a perfect killing machine only good to kill and cause misery to others. She's never felt more like a pawn for the capital's enjoyment till now.

Her name was called and her first instinct was to look for those grey eyes. Katniss was near and smiled when they finally had a chance for some type of communication. She mouthed good luck when no one was looking and Clove only nodded and walked away trying not to raise any suspicion to the other tributes.

It was almost too easy to impress the Gamemakers when she started throwing the daggers. She did a spin and threw a pair of daggers from each hand showing she had the potential to kill four people at the same time. She wanted to try more advanced skill but remembered that her mentors wanted her to lay low.

She could hear their compliments at her skill and finally they released her to go back to her room. The feeling was still heavy at the pit of her stomach which made her more frustrated. Not to mention that Katniss would be the last to present in front of the Gamemakers. The district 2 girl decided a nice hot shower would relieve some of the tension she was feeling and she would smell better.

The hot water felt so good on her skin but every time she closed her eyes she kept picturing Peeta touching Katniss. It made her blood boil and she gritted her teeth out of spite. No one should be allowed to touch what is hers.

Is Katniss really yours…your what? Your victim? Your property? Or something else?

The raven haired girl punched the wall out of anger. She had not been trained for this at all. This wasn't supposed to happen at all. Finally once she felt her skin was red hot and steam came off of it she stepped out feeling drained. The raven haired girl dressed and headed at the rooftop. She could hear giggles coming from Cato's room knowing very well who else was with him and what they were doing. She scoffed and headed to her destination. The rooftop had a light breeze which felt good against her hot skin. She pulled out a dagger that she had stolen from the training room. She played around with it, flipping it in the air and catching it in midair but always careful to hold it by the handle. It would be hard to explain to her mentors why she was bleeding.

Suddenly the door slammed and Clove turned to see grey eyes raging with fire.

"I don't believe this! I lost my only chance of impressing those stupid Gamemakers!" Katniss said angrily. She looked like she was ready to pull her hair out of frustration but calmed down once she saw Clove, standing there cool and collected flipping the dagger between her fingers, like a student would with a pencil. Katniss envied how calm Clove always seemed to look, like she had everything figured out.

"What happened?" Clove said motioning Katniss to sit next to her. Clove wiped a stray tear from Katniss' face recalling that she did this to her sister only a couple of days ago. Funny how it now feels like a lifetime ago. The brunette started with how the Gamemakers all looked bored and drunk. How she hated being the last tribute to impress them and her first shot didn't quite make it. Katniss felt like she could say anything and Clove wouldn't stop her or judge her.

Yet once Katniss finished her story she didn't expect Clove's reaction.

At first it was a snicker. Then it turned into a chuckle, till it was a real laughter coming from one of the deadliest girls in the games. Clove held her side, as if they really would split open. Katniss didn't know how to act. She was in shock that Clove was acting out of character. Then she met those dark deep eyes that were lit up and Katniss was also taking into the laughter.

"It's not funny," Katniss said but slowly she felt all the anger leave from her body. She remembered how one of the Gamemakers fell into a bowl and then she too, couldn't stop laughing. Both their faces were red and their sides were aching from the lack of oxygen. It felt right for them to have this moment together.

"You're right, Katniss," Clove said wiping a tear. "But it's just your so hard to control, I wish I was brave enough to do what you did. And I thought I was crazy."

"Really?"

"I mean we're screwed anyways so why not have a little fun."

Katniss thought about it and agreed with that statement. She felt better that Clove was complimenting her when she knew that Effie was going to have a heart attack when she heard the news. Katniss was concerned how Clove sounded like she counted herself out of winning. If Clove didn't believe she would win, what chance did Katniss have in winning? They both stared at the sky but didn't say anything. The stars look like they were brighter and shined different colors. This time the girls naturally were closer for warmth neither wanting to say anything or question how right it felt. Clove smelled like a spicy mint while Katniss had an earthy smell. It was getting late and Katniss had to leave because Haymitch was probably wondering what happened to his tribute. She stood up trying to not feel guilty when she saw Clove's eyes.

The dark eyed girl also stood up deciding it was time to sleep for the big interview they were going have to do with Caesar. It was always awkward for them to leave the rooftop and revert to acting like enemies in front of others. Clove was about to say something, when she was caught off guard. The grey eyed girl took the opportunity to hug Clove tightly, thankful she hadn't been shoved off. She usually didn't like giving hugs except for her sister Prim but this one felt so special. Clove at first, was frozen from shock but then returned it, leaning her head on Katniss' shoulder.

"Thank you for listening to my crazy antics," Katniss whispered in Clove's ear.

"You have no idea how much I've wanted to do this." Clove said giving Katniss a tighter embrace."Somehow you still manage to surprise me."

They both gave a light laugh before having to leave the rooftop. For now it was their sanctuary that held their secret. Clove couldn't wait to go to her room and use her token while Katniss had to hear Effie rant about manners. Till their scores were announced that night. Clove thought she could have done better but Cato was furious. Then when District 12's scores were announced, Clove silently cheered for Katniss when she saw the eleven. Cato on the other hand was angry screaming, throwing things, not believing a mere miner's daughter could achieve such a score. Clove was heading to her room but she got a weird sense that someone was staring at her. It was Enobaria and Clove didn't like the look she was receiving as if her mentor knew what was happening between Katniss and her. It left the raven haired girl with a sense of fear that her secret was being discovered but she tried not to look suspicious. The day had been long that left the tributes physically and emotionally tired. Yet both thought of one another before they found sleep.

Chapter Title is by Shayne Leighton. Really recommend to listen to this song.