Here we go guys, chapter 4! Thank you for everyone who followed, favorited and/or reviewed last chapter, you have no idea how happy that made me, because I seriously thought you wouldn't continue reading it because it took me FOREVER to update!

There might me some Finnick now, so let's all be happy :D

By the way, if Finnick looks a little bit out of character, because, to be honest, he's a little bit too complicated for me, please tell me.

Also, the whole confrontation scene was giving me a lot of work, so Evanescence853 wrote it for me :)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Hunger Games universe, everything belongs to the Genius Suzanne Collins. Everything that you don't recognize belongs to me :) Winnow is pronounced like this (wɪnnəʊ)

'This isn't happening.'

She couldn't hear her mother's calls to the young suitor anymore as her ears started to ring, dulling her senses. It was as if her heart had dropped into her stomach and all she could do was stare at the boy with a distraught face.

Why was this boy in her house shirtless?

Why was he in her house, period?

She was kidding herself if she didn't know. Though, to really allow herself to process it was asking too much of her already mentally exhausted mind.

Pressing her slender body against the wall, she couldn't help but silently pray that maybe he hadn't seen her. But her attempts were rather futile. He had seen her, and was now staring back at her, eyes wide in equal surprise. Though, by the look on his face, it seemed he was more embarrassed than anything.

As if she wasn't? This all felt like some horrible nightmare… Maybe, just maybe, this was a dream.

Staring back wordlessly at the boy, she digs her nails into the palm of her hand, hoping to wake up from whatever wonderland she's under. But to no prevail.

"Finnick? Come back!"

Turning her head to the side, she stared dazed down the familiar hall to her mother's room.

The boy was still standing just a few feet away from her, not saying a single thing, and it was only making her sicker. Before she even took the time to register it all, she found herself calling out for her mother.

"Mom…"

It's barely and audible whisper. Clearing her throat, she tried again.

"MOM!"

It was a panic driven yell this time, and with it, the entire household fell silent. Not even a peep from the avox, not a sound from the boy, and not a word from her mother.

After a few moments of tumultuous silence passed, she could hear faint footsteps descending the hall. Turning to Finnick, she sternly said, "Go find your shirt, and get out."

She couldn't even begin to understand this, and for the moment she would blame both parties.

"He's my guest; he can stay as long as he wants. Finnick stay."

Turning around, Winnow is finally faced with her mother, and, despite of wanting to burst into tears, all she could feel at the moment was anger.

"Yes, let's talk about this guest of yours, mother. What is wrong with you?"

As she takes off on her accusing, Mrs. Ivory just rolled her eyes; acting so nonchalant that it only drove Winnow madder.

"Must you be so dramatic dear, honestly?"

"Dramatic?!" Winnow calls out, gripping her face exasperated, "He's my age! And… and you're married! I don't get it?"

Finnick shifts back and forth obviously conflicted. He wanted nothing more than to flee the scene, but he was practically at the older woman's mercy right now.

"I'm not asking you to understand." Eustacia looked over her daughter critically, eyes moving to analyze this when suddenly it all made sense. "Oh…" A cruel smirk spread across her painted lips, "I get it now, you're jealous because I'm sleeping with your little crush."

Winnow darted her eyes to gaze at Finnick's reaction, but he hadn't moved a muscle and he showed no reaction at all. It was like he was used to this sort of thing, like… it didn't faze him.

"Mother, that is so far off!"

She couldn't even finish her thought as her mother cuts her off, "Good! Because it's not like you honestly stand a chance with him darling. Boys like him want women, not little girls."

Her tone is so mocking and condescending that it literally made Winnow's skin crawl.

"Married women? Is that his type?" She didn't even bother looking at Finnick, knowing he was some unemotional robot or mute, "I'm not jealous of you mother, I'm disgusted… in both of you."

Shaking her head, she turned her back on them both and walked towards her room, but before exiting she called over her shoulder, "You're both pathetic." And before either can rebuttal, she was gone.

Winnow was pacing in her room. She didn't want to be in the house, but she didn't have anywhere else to go, all of her friend's where at Elsa's party. And she definitely wasn't going back to the party after the fight she had with Balthar.

Sighing, she took off her dress and laid on her bed in her underwear. If she was either leaving or staying, she definitely wasn't doing it wearing that dress. She would either put on her pajamas' or a not so flashy dress, but she wasn't wearing that dress again tonight.

Laying on her bed, she stared at the ceiling, just like that same afternoon before everything seemed so different. How could her mother do that? Winnow always knew that her parents' marriage wasn't perfect, but to cheat on her husband? Let alone with a boy – because that's what he was, a kid – old enough to be her son? Was their marriage that bad?

Deciding she'll stay home, she went to her drawers and took out her pajamas shorts and shirt. She went to bed after turning the light off and, not wanting to risk hearing anything outside her room, she put her earphones and her music player on, the music so loud she could barely hear herself think.

A few days later, Winnow made her way towards the train station to go to school, wearing her school uniforms which consisted of a black skirt, white blouse and long black stockings. One of the flexible rules of the school's dress code was that wearing a tie was optional (making this a tie of their choosing) and the shoes students wished to wear. Winnow was wearing a black crossover tie and her favorite yellow ballerina shoes.

She didn't see anyone during the following days after the party/mom fiasco. She got up as late as possible, left to just walk around the Capitol, and got back home to lock herself in her room. She didn't answer any of the phone calls or texts from Balthar or Rachelle for that matter, and she did her best to ignore him during class. She hanged out with Rachelle, but Rachelle was getting a bit annoying with every day that passed.

"Hey, how come you and Balthar aren't talking? Something's wrong?" Rachelle asked during lunch, for the hundredth time that week. After asking Winnow more than ten times why she had left the party early and why wasn't she answering her phone and texts, Winnow finally told her why. Of course, it was a lie. "I wasn't feeling so well, and I told Balthar he could stay if he wanted to, that I wouldn't mind." Was her answer. The thing is, Rachelle wasn't the brightest bulb of the store.

"For the last time, he didn't answer one of my phone calls, and I didn't like it at all. So, if he's not answering my calls, I'm not answering his. Would you stop asking the same thing over and over again!?" Winnow finally snapped.

Rachelle stared wide eyed at her, and then she started to frown. "Well, if you didn't want to tell me, you didn't have to. You don't have to yell at people, let alone your best friend." And with that, Rachelle turned in her heal and left Winnow alone.

Winnow sighed. Perfect. Now her 'best friend' was mad at her. She didn't like Rachelle, but she didn't dislike her, either. She was one of the few people she actually could… tolerate. 'Well, you didn't actually tolerated her there, did you?' She thought to herself, standing up and getting out of the cafeteria, making her way towards her locker.

"Winnow!" She heard behind her. Knowing whose voice it was, she ignored it and continued walking.

"Winnow, stop!" Balthar screamed at her retreating form, picking up the pace and walking faster. Hearing this, she too started walking faster, but she wasn't fast enough, as Balthar had reached her and grasped her arm.

"Winn, darling. I've finally found you! Why haven't you answered my texts?" Balthar asked, with a oh so fake concerned look on his face. Winnow sighed and got her arm free.

"Balthar, I'm not in the mood. Just let go. We'll talk about this later, ok?" She said and continued making her way towards her locker. Balthar ignored her though, running and getting in her way.

"Please baby, I'm sorry for everything I did at the party. Let's go out to dinner tonight or something."

Winnow just moved out of the way and finally got to her locker, with Balthar right behind her. She got her purse and some books from her locker, sighed and looked at Balthar.

"You can walk me home. But I don't want to talk about what happened." Winnow knew that because they would be in public, so he wouldn't actually touch the topic or act like his usual self on the way there.

Balthar smiled – a smile she knew wasn't real - and took her hand in his. Winnow didn't complain, she didn't want another argument, she already had too many and it hasn't even been a week. Both teenagers made their way towards the train station, and waited for the train to Winnow's place.

"Sweetie, how've you been? I've missed you, I'm so sorry for leaving you alone at the party."

"Balthar, please. I'm really not in the mood. We'll talk about this later, ok? Maybe tomorrow."

Balthar's jaw tightened, as he tried really hard no to scream at her. They were in public, it had to appear that they still loved each other and that they only had a tiny misunderstanding. But he was so mad at her for leaving him at the party and for slapping him. Who did she think she is to slap him? No one slaps him, and much less a lowlife bitch like her. God, he really wanted to break up with her. Yes, she was one of the most popular girls in school, but she wasn't even that pretty or that hot. There are plenty of hotter girls out there.

They spent the whole ride home in silence. Balthar had his arm around her shoulders and pecked her cheek every once in a while. When they got to her house, Balthar cornered her at her door.

"Now, can we talk about why you didn't answer my texts and phone calls? And as to why the fuck did you slap me?" He said in a menacing tone, towering over her.

Winnow, for the first time, was scared of Balthar. Yes, he was mean and rude to her, but he never actually cornered her like this. Yes, he grabbed her arm and kind of threatened her at Elsa's party, but he never got this close, and he had a look in his eyes that showed that he meant what he was saying.

"I really wasn't feeling so good these days, I didn't want to talk to anybody. I didn't even answer Rachelle's texts. I-"

"I don't give a fuck about that dumb bitch. You answer my phone calls and texts, always. And never ever fucking slap me again, or else. Understood?" Balthar whispered into her ear, and through the corner of her eye, she could see the look of pure evil in his eyes.

"O…okay, Balthar. It won't happen again. I'm sorry." Never in their three years of dating has Winnow ever apologized for anything she'd say or do. She was afraid of him. She didn't like the look on his face.

To the unknowing eyes, they seemed to be a couple of teenagers cuddling outside her house, but this was much worse.

Smiling, Balthar caressed her arms, kissed her cheek, and smiled, saying "Perfect. I'm so glad we could fix this. You know how much I hate fighting with you, especially when I've done nothing wrong. I'll see you tomorrow at school?"

"See you tomorrow." She whispered, looking him straight in the eye.

Balthar leaned in and kissed her lips, patted her cheek, and left.

Winnow entered her house and made her way to her bedroom. Just like the rest of the week, she didn't bother to tell her mother she got home. She didn't want to see her.

Opening the door and entering her room, she was surprised to see a certain teenager with sandy blond hair, tanned skin, and sea green eyes, sitting on her bed. Winnow stopped in her tracks and just stared at him. What the hell is he doing here, again?

He just smiled a charming smile at her, sitting up straight.

"Hello, do you remember me?"

"Yes, you're the guy sleeping with my mom."

He seemed to tense a little bit at that, but acted as if it didn't faze him, and chuckled at her.

"Yes, about that. I really have to say that, contrary to what your mother said, she is not my type. I was just testing the waters, you know? And I realized my type isn't married women, but young, pretty girls, like you."

Winnow sighed and rolled her eyes. "Really?" She said with a bored tone to her voice.

"Yes. Since that night that I saw you, I can't stop thinking about you."

Winnow snorted at that. "Yeah, I bet that's what you tell every girl you see."

Chuckling again and shaking his head, he stood up and walked towards her.

"Woah, stay there buddy."

The teenage boy ignored her comment, and continued until he was in front of her, really close. Smirking, he caressed her cheek and took a curl of hair from her face.

"My name is Finnick. And, it would be my honor to spend a night with you. And, if you allow me, many more nights to come." He said, taking her hand in his and kissing it.

Winnow was speechless by now. Spend a night with him? Is he crazy? They had just met, for goodness sake!

"So, you had sex with my mom like, 5 days ago, and now you want to have sex with me? That's sick."

Finnick sighed and backed away, looking down.

"Ok, your mother asked me to do this, as an 'I'm sorry' gift. She said she had no idea you had a crush on me, and that she regrets getting you mad with her." He said after a long sigh.

Winnow was speechless, again. An 'I'm sorry' gift? What? And she didn't have a crush on him!

"As a gift? What she bought you for the night?" She said.

Finnick kept looking down and didn't answer. Not even a chuckle. Winnow's eyes widened.

"Oh my God, she DID! She actually paid you to sleep with me?! What kind of mother does that?!"

"You would be surprised…" Finnick mumbled to himself so Winnow wouldn't hear him.

Winnow sat down on the corner of her bed, while Finnick, sensing that she didn't want him near her, kept his distance and sat down at the chair near the vanity.

"That's why she left. She said your father would be here late, so she went to a friend's house or something, to give us privacy." Finnick said after a long and very awkward silence.

"How long are you staying?" Winnow asked, still not looking at him.

"Two hours. She told me at what time you normally get home, so I could get here before you." Finnick said, looking at her confused. Was she actually thinking about sleeping with him? Of course she is, she is a Capitolian, they only think about sex, money, fashion, and how to kill their tributes every year.

"Well, this are going to be two long hours, 'cause there's no way in hell I'm having sex with you." She said after a sigh, looking at him.

Finnick was shocked. Really, his eyes were as big as saucers. Seeing the look on his face, Winnow couldn't help but laugh. "Haven't heard that in a while, huh?"

Finnick couldn't help but chuckle at that. Indeed, he hadn't heard that in over a year. Women, men, young, old, he hadn't ever had a rejecting costumer.

"So, we've got two hours to kill. What do you want to do?" He asked her, his charming smile making a comeback.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm starving, want to get something to eat?"

Smiling, he nodded and they both made their way towards the door.

"By the way, my name's Winnow."

There you go guys! Hope you liked it! Yay, some Finnick, finally! :D

By the way, I'd like to thank a million times the wickedly talented Evanescence853 who made two beautiful posters for this story! I love them sweetie, thank you so much! Please go check her story 'Of Vanity and Corruption', it is AMAZING. And please read as well Maddie Rose's story 'Porcelain', also AMAZING. Go ahead, go. Just go… Why aren't you going? GO! (extra points and a cyber-cookie to the first one to tell me which movie that reference came from ;) )

Keep tuned for future chapters, and please review and share!