Chapter Seven

Rated M for violence, language, and sexual situations in later chapters.

DISCLAIMER: The only characters that I own are Claire Moore, Logan Smith and the other characters that weren't in the original Hunger Games. All other characters belong to Susan Collins.

Fair warning I wrote this at midnight so at the moment I might think it's amazing, but then when I read it with all of my brain working I could realize that it is the worst thing I've ever written. I'll let you be the judge, so tell me if my midnight writing is just as good as my daytime. Either way I hope you enjoy the chapter! And since only have of my brain is on my grammar and spelling will probably be even worse than before.

I'm not sorry. I feel fantastic! I really threw them off their game. I don't care what score I get, because I have done everything I can. With my head held high I strut back to the twelfth floor.

I get there and see Effie freaking out and Haymitch laughing his ass off.

"What the hell did I miss?" I ask Peeta.

"Katniss shot an arrow at the Gamemakers," he answers.

"That is brilliant!" I exclaim.

"I didn't do it on purpose, and I didn't shoot them, I shot the pig they were eating," Katniss corrects us.

"If it helps I did actually throw knives at them," I admit.

"You did what?" Haymitch and Effie gasp in unison.

"I asked one of the Gamemakers to come down and stand against the wall. One did and I threw knives around him," I explain.

"Why?" asks an exasperated Effie.

"They looked bored, so I gave them a show."

"Did you hit him?" inquires Haymitch.

"No! Didn't you hear that I said 'around them' not at them," I clarify.

"Guys!" calls Peeta. "They're announcing the scores."

We all sit on the couch. Haymitch and I are the only ones who aren't nervous, everyone else is tense. I hardly pay attention to the scoring until they announce District 11. Thresh's face pops up on the screen, and at the bottom the number nine flashes. I let out a sigh of relief. That is a great score, and if I get docked for almost murdering the Gamemaker his score can make up for it. We all are surprised when the little girl from 11 gets a seven.

Now the moment of truth; District 12's scores. Peeta's picture comes up first. He gets an eight. We're all a little relieved. Katniss' and my picture are shown at the same time. The number flashing beneath us is eleven.

ELEVEN! We are only one point away from a perfect score! That will definitely get Thresh and me sponsors! We are all excited! Effie squeals like a little girl. Peeta gives Katniss and me a hug. Haymitch claps us on the back.

I forget that in two days I will be fighting to the death. I take Thresh's advice; live one day at a time. I need to talk to him before we go into the arena, and I might not get the chance. Once everyone has gone to bed I slip out of bed and go to find him.

I get to eleventh floor and realize that Thresh is probably asleep, that I have no clue where he is, and that it was a waste of my time trying to find him. I'm about to go back when I hear footsteps.

"Claire!" whispers a voice. It's Thresh.

"Thresh," I whisper back. "I was just looking for you."

"I was just going to find you too," he says. "I wanted to talk to you."

"Where should we go?" I ask.

"Follow me, we'll find someplace," he beckons me towards him. Thresh grasps my hand and pulls me through the hallways. Eventually, we come across am empty bedroom that's far enough away from everyone else.

"What did you do to get an eleven?" he inquires.

"I threw some knives around a Gamemaker," I reply.

"I'm surprised they didn't kill you," he states.

"Giving me a high score makes me a target for the Careers, so they might as well have," I explain. "What did you do?"

"Threw knives, threw spears, and threw around other heavy shit," he laughs. "But seriously, I'm really proud of you."

"Why?"

"Not only did you get an incredible score, but what you did to get it was extremely brave," he states.

"Thanks," I say and suddenly I get angry. "Ugh, why do we have to do this?"

"Do what?"

"Fight, kill, be killed! I don't want to do it!" I rant. "What if it comes down to you and me? I don't know about you, but I couldn't kill you! I mean you've just been so unbelievably kind to me! I've never been treated this way before…"

"What do you mean? What about your family?" Thresh asks.

"I don't have one," I confess. "My father died before I was born and my mother right after. The rest of my life I've been abused by people who say they'll take care of us-" I'm cut off.

"Us?"

"I grew up in the District 12 Home for Orphans," I admit. "The wardens beat us. I can't stand to see the other kids hurt so I take the beatings for them…"

I can't stop now, I tell him everything. I don't know why, but I need to get this out. After a while he moves closer to me and puts his arms around me. I don't pull away, it feels good. I cry into his shoulder. He pulls me onto his lap and holds me tighter.

"Claire, I promise you that I could never kill you," he assures me when I finish ranting.

"Why me?" I ask abruptly.

"What do you mean?"

"Why choose me as an ally? I'm not the obvious choice, so why me?" I press.

"You were helping Katniss. She's supposed to be your enemy and you were helping her learn a way to kill you. I didn't think I wanted an ally, but there was just something about you, like you wanted to be different. I don't want these games to control me, and you looked like you felt the same way," Thresh explains.

"I came here planning on dying. There's nothing left for me back home, I'm going to get you home," I promise.

"You don't have to do that, it's not what I want," he protests.

"I know, but I do." We lock eyes. He looks at me in a way that is completely different from anything I've ever seen before. Suddenly, he leans down and kisses me, and without hesitation or thought I kiss back.