Like I said about Chapter 11… I wrote these two chapters as one ginormous 3,000 word long chapter. But I decided to cut it up because I think it's more fun to read a shorter chapter and move onto the next chapter than to read ONE long chapter... Two is better than one? hehe

But I think I like this half better… (; Hope you like it! REVIEW PLEASE!

Chapter 12: Break Away

I slipped into bed, loving the feel of the soft sheets enveloping me in comfort. I felt protected, warm, safe, hidden. I gave a big sigh, resting my head into the memory foam pillow. The bathroom door swung open. Finnick sauntered out in his boxers. Most women in Panem would probably faint at the sight of Finnick O'dair in his boxers...and only his boxers. Don't get me wrong, Finnick is a very attractive man...but we are definitely just friends. I feel no attraction toward him whatsoever. And people stripped down to their undergarments are just something you get accustomed to on the job.

It's not like I was Johanna...I didn't strip naked in public. I had to smile at the memory because Katniss had been so freaked out.

Finnick stopped suddenly on his way to the bed. "Oh, Finnick, have you been working out?" he mocked me in a girly, high-pitched voice.

I started cracking up, in between breaths I managed, "I-do not-sound like-that!"

He laughed, too, "Oh yes, yes you did." I shot him a venomous glare, but my threat was interrupted with another round of giggles. Once we recovered, he stared at me for a second, "What was that all about anyways?"

I rolled my eyes, "Katniss."

He raised an eyebrow, so I continued, "I was..." I debated my next word choice. "Psyching her out."

"How, exactly?" he said holding back laughter.

I scowled, "I'm...working on getting her to reach a jealous state."

"Jealous of...you and me?" he guffawed.

I rolled my eyes, "No, you idiot. Of me and Peeta." Finnick really needed to pay more attention.

He gave me a dubious look, nodding mockingly. I rolled my eyes, "Forget it."

Finnick laughed and leapt into bed, struggling under the covers.

"Don't you even give me that crap, Finnick O'dair! You're the one who totally flirted with her before the parade!"

He chuckled at the memory, "That was just a little fun."

He sighed. "But you-" he shook his head. "I know you, Charlotte. You're plotting...I can see it in your eyes."

I stuck my tongue out at him, defiantly, "So what if I am?" He raised an eyebrow and shook his head.

Finnick was right, I was plotting. Ever since I had seen the 74th Hunger Games, I had been enamored with Peeta and Katniss. I was desperate to unite them as a happy couple. For some reason, I was completely determined that Snow would not separate them. It had become my accidental mission to bring couples together...like Annie and Finnick. I supposed it was to satisfy the romantic, girly side of me that longed for the romance I had squandered long ago. Whatever the reason, I wanted their happiness. I had appointed myself the matchmaker, and I took my job way too seriously. There was just a part of me that could not let it go. I had to make sure that they ended up together. Someone in the world deserved to be happy. I couldn't describe why I felt so strongly about it, I just knew that I was fully committed.

"Good night, Char," Finnick said, rolling onto his side and pushing the button to turn off the lights.

"Night, Finn," I whispered.

"Sweet dreams," I heard the wry smile in his voice.

"Don't let the bed bugs bite," I replied.

We laid there in silence, trying to sleep. I closed my eyes focusing on anything but him. I could not dream of him tonight. It was too painful, much too painful...even more so than my nightmares about the games. In these dreams everything was beautiful and perfect. It was my lovely 13th year. Paradise. Then everything would be whisked away out of my reach and I would be thrust into a terrible, agonizing darkness. I would see the hurt I had caused my family and...him. Everything I loved, everything in the beautiful dream would go up in voracious flames. I would stand alone in a pile of ash, surrounded by a never-ending darkness until it consumed me. I had tried to beat my subconscious by waking up earlier to avoid the darker turn of my dreams, but somehow I never failed to wake up only after the darkness overwhelmed my soul. Fantastic.

I sighed, dreading the night to come like I dread all my nights. Finnick shuffled beside me.

"Finn-are you awake?"

"Mhmm," he mumbled.

"Do you think it will work?"

He rolled over to face me; a worry line creased his forehead. His eyes were distressed, "I don't know, Char. I don't think we can know. We just have to hope."

I gave a half-hearted smile and stared up at the black ceiling. "Char," Finnick began. "Will you-will you sing?"

I smirked and taunted, "Sing little Finny a lullaby?"

He chuckled and shook his head. I smiled over at him, "Okay, okay, what do you want to hear?"

He said, "Something...peaceful."

I gave a short laugh and sighed, thinking.

Closing my eyes, I began very quietly,

"Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray

I grew a little louder, loving the sound of my clear voice ringing out in the dark room,

"Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I prayed I could break away

As I continued on to the chorus, I remembered how I had written this song a few months after my first games. I wrote it dreaming of escape. How very appropriate for me to sing it now. Songs truly had so much power and influence. They related to us all in a way that nothing else could. I had always reveled in the majesty of a beautiful melody,

"I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes till' I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway,"

I grew quieter towards the end. The last word was just a whisper, but it was a promise. I would break away from this life, from Snow, from the arena, from everything.

As I finished, I heard a rumbling beside me. Finnick had fallen asleep. I chuckled to myself as he snored. An idea came to me as I was staring at the ceiling. Songs. They had so much power. Enough power to invigorate, inspire, and entertain people. Good melodies got stuck in your head and you found yourself singing them by accident. What if a song could be used to ignite a flame...a flame of resistance? What if the songs I sung tomorrow hid an underlying message that spoke to the rebels in the Districts, but went unnoticed by the people of the Capitol? The wheels in my brain were turning. I could see it happening. I shot out of bed and grabbed the standard hotel notepad and pen off the nightstand. I scribbled down songs and lyrics. If I changed a few lines here or there and substituted a song or two, it could work. I grinned a huge, wide excited smile. This was the first time I had been excited for the concert. I was anticipating the reactions from my victors, the rebels, the Capitol citizens, and President Snow, especially. My singing finally had a useful purpose, and I felt that now I did have a place in the Resistance. I was a piece in the rebellion that no one else could be. My weapon was that of song, and it related to people on a level that no spokesperson ever could. A shiver of anticipation crawled up my spine.

I held back a squeal, as Finnick was still snoring away, and I scribbled down more and more lyrics and songs and choreography and stage settings. Everything had to be perfect because one false move could give away my true intentions in a too revealing way, which could send the televisions around the Districts into darkness. I had to keep the rebellious meanings subtle enough to sneak by, and the dances had to be entertaining enough to distract the Capitol from the true meaning of my words. Goosebumps popped up on my arms.

I wrote until I was so tired the pen fell out of my hand. I passed out and dreamt the dream I knew I would. Paradise was lovely, until the fire destroyed all the light. Knowing the nightmare would come did not make it any less painful. But when I awoke, I saw my writing and the darkness that encompassed me seemed to dissipate. Hope swelled within me as butterflies filled my stomach.

"Finn! Finnick! Wake up! I have to tell you something!" I shook him, eagerly.

DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW! I'M EXCITED FOR THE CONCERT...WHAT ABOUT YOU?

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO CHAR THAT WAS THE "UNTHINKABLE?"