The room was smothered in silence and darkness. She rolls around her bed wearing a flimsy nightgown. She was sound asleep, all her cares were cast nowhere, even when her bedroom door creaks open. He closes the distance between them slowly, wary of each creak of the floorboards under his weight. He heaves a disgruntled sigh as he eyes her soft, porcelain-like skin. Hands trembling, he strokes her exposed thigh, fingers inching up, and up, and up, until she's snapped out of her sleep.

She turns, startled, "What-?" but he slaps her mouth shut with his other hand. "Shh," he said, his breath stinking of alcohol and cigarettes. "This will be our little secret, okay?"

Then she screams.

Clove snaps out of her dream. She clutches her head in her hands, trying to calm herself down from that disgusting nightmare. Reality check; white linens, monochrome walls, a side table with Sun Tzu's Art of War, a wall clock that says 3:30 AM. You're awake and this is not a dream.

She sighs and goes to the kitchen to grab herself some water to further calm herself down.

"Another nightmare?"

Clove turns around in surprise. It was Cato, a glass of whisky in hand. She averts her eyes from him and remains silent.

"I take that silence as a yes." Cato sighs and walks towards Clove. "Hey, I'm sorry for what I did the other day. That bit with lover boy. I know how... sensitive... you are to those... shit."

Clove closed her eyes and scoffed at his remarks. "Whoa, who are you? The Cato that I know is a mean unapologetic asshole."

"I'm just trying to comfor-"

"I don't need your pity, Cato. You already helped me in that department, remember?"

Cato smirks and lets out the slightest of laughs. "Of course. Who wouldn't forget one's first kill?"

"So you're going on a date with Peeta Mellark?" Enobaria arches her brow at Clove. Clove simply shrugs.

"And what do you propose you'll do with him?"

"You said that our objective is to ruin the image of the glorious star-crossed lovers. And so I will. By going on a date with lover boy and showing the whole world that he's a cheater."

"It's not that easy to control a strong narrative."

"Oh shut up. I know what I'm doing. I'll be back before midnight."

And with that, Clove leaves their penthouse in high heels and a strappy red dress. Clove and Peeta met up on one of the prestigious restaurants in the Capitol. Everyone was startled to see the duo eating alone. The Prince Charming from District 12 and the brute seductress from District 2? It doesn't exactly paint a perfect image. After a round of Framboise and Sacher torte, the couple were finally relaxed with each other.

"So Clove, how are you?" Peeta asks with that innocent and charming demeanor of his. To Clove's surprise, she was touched with the remark. It's been a long time since someone had asked her that question. She looks down, toys with her food, before smiling and utters a reply, "I'm more than good." Shit, did she just genuinely smile at him?

Clove chides herself. This is not the time to have flings. This is strictly business. She waves her hand to the waiter and orders a glass of bourbon on the rocks.

"Whoa, don't you think you should slow down with the alcohol?" Peeta asks with concern in his eyes.

Fuck. She hated this. She hated it when people looked at her with those scornful eyes. She doesn't need pity nor sympathy. She's Clove and she mercilessly pulls out the guts of anyone who messes with her with a knife.

Better get this night over with, then.

"I'm bored. I want to go now." She drawls.

"Clove, we're supposed to talk about what happened between you and that asshole. We haven't even talked about anything yet. Come on, I'm here to help you." Peeta pleads.

Disgusting. Disgusting. Disgusting.

Clove bangs her fists on the table. She can't understand this fluttering feeling on her chest.

"Look, lover boy. Can we just go?"

Peeta stares at her in shock and looks around the restaurant. She follows his eyes and realizes the commotion she just made. Peeta gallantly stood up and puts his hand around hers. "Yep, I really think we should go."

Peeta was exactly what Clove pegged him for. A gentleman with a giant, compassionate heart. In other words, another boring guy she could use to pass time. She swears, she's sick of the throngs of guys like Peeta who approach her, thinking that they could "fix" her. Utter bullshit.

They walked around the plazas and parks in the Capitol, marvelling at the flicker of lights from far-away buildings and laughing at the busy hustle of the "peacock-costumed" citizens. After half an hour of walking, they finally arrived at their building.

Clove looked at the giant wall clock by the reception. 11:00, exactly on time. Now it's time to make a move.

"Look, I had a really good time." Clove said. Peeta smiles at her. She smiles back at him and grabs his hand towards the elevator—the one reserved for the gamemaker.

"Hey, I think you had the wrong elevator-" Peeta starts but then Clove pulls him in a long, passionate kiss. She kisses him with an intensity of a woman who had finally reunited with his long-lost beau. There, she felt it again, that tingling sensation in her chest. But what she doesn't know is that Peeta felt it too, and now he has been returning her kiss with the same intensity. They were too lost with the intensity of their kiss.

Until they were snapped back to reality when Seneca Crane walks out of the elevator.

A/N: Phew, it feels like years since I last updated this story! I'm just going to clarify that I did not give up on this story. It's just that this time around, I will be updating this story slower than usual. College is killing me, folks. I've been put in charge of four executive positions this semester so my schedule is so loaded. Anyway, what do you guys think about this chapter? Don't forget to leave a review!

(And yes, Clove's dream is a hint about her background. *wink* )