A/N- Well, here it is, Chapter 4.

((DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Hunger Games.))

CHAPTER 4: "Confronting the Careers"

I eye up the careers during my training sessions, deciding which one seems the most impressionable. For a second I'm sure that it's Cato, because he lets in a guy from District 3. But when I hear him explaining that he has a plan to use him, I decide against him. Eventually I narrow my choices down to Glimmer and Marvel, since they seem to just be in the career group because of their District number. Might as well talk to both of them.

Glimmer is the first one to be on her own, so I take that as I sign. It's during lunch and she is waiting in line behind the guy from 12. I get in line behind her. I'm not sure how to start this conversation.

"Hey," Glimmer starts the discussion for me. "You're Peeta Mellark, right?"

"Yeah." I freeze up.

"I've seen you in training," she pauses as if debating on something, "you're almost good enough to be a career."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but I doubt Cato will let you in." She announces as if she knows what I was about to ask. And with that last remark she strides off to a food station without a line, apparently not willing to wait any longer. I am glad when she leaves, despite my plan, odds are I would have said something stupid had she stayed longer.

It's not until after interviews that I'm able to talk to Marvel. And it's because we luckily end up in the same elevator, before anyone else can get in with us I click the doors shut as soon as he steps in. As the elevator starts to rise, I press the emergency power-off button and the elevator comes to a sudden halt. Thankfully no alarm goes off, but Marvel does look stunned by my action.

"Why did you all team up with the guy from 3?"

"Cato wanted him," he answers without any hesitation.

"If you wanted someone to be in your alliance, would he let you?"

"Probably. Why?" He asks staring at me.

"I want to be in your group."

"You?"

"Glimmer said I was good enough to—"

"That's my sister," he interrupts.

"Well, then you should trust her judgment."

"Why do you even want to join us? You love Katniss, be allies with her."

"I don't love her. Well, I used to love her. But she chose someone else and broke my heart. And now I'm going to break his heart. By getting her killed." I lie, but like all good lies I base it on truth. "All I need is for you to get me in with the rest of the careers."

"Fine, I'll make sure Cato lets you in. Just turn the elevator back on!" His voice shakes a little as he says this.

I restart the elevator and hope with everything I have that my plan works.

When the doors open up on the twelfth floor, they reveal a very angry looking Katniss. And even though she looks ready to kill me, all I can think about is how attractive she is when she's upset.

~theeShadyLady~