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I'm not Falling for Him

Whip Barren shook hands with a neatly dressed, haughty Capital man. That alone would at least be enough for a sleeping bag and some food. She would be needing it after the couple of days she had been through. Seemingly of their own accord, Whip's eyes turned to the screen that hung on the wall to his left. Celeste was talking to Katniss and Rue, and, although no one had flat out said it yet, they were in an alliance to take down the Careers. Whip frowned as the same feeling of trepidation twisted his stomach; there was something in the way Celeste stood now that was different from before. Something in her eyes that told him trouble lay ahead. Ever since Axel's death.

Whip shook his head lightly, trying to rid himself of thoughts of the boy tribute that he had recently lost. There was no chance for him anyway; one less tribute for Celeste to contest with. Then there was the kiss. The number of sponsors had nearly doubled after the kiss. He was saving up though. Not sending her anything unless she really needed it. She was tough; she could suffer through a few cold nights if it meant that he could send her double swords later on in the Games, when it really mattered. There were nine tributes left, which meant that she would have to kill eight other tributes to win.

What worried him most at the moment was Katniss and Cato. She had emotional connections to both of them, which meant they would pose threats if they were the last ones left. She had already proven she couldn't kill Cato, and Katniss had been an ally most of the whole Games. The good news was, as far as he could tell, Katniss didn't want to kill her, and Cato already proved he couldn't.

On screen, Katniss, Celeste, and Rue were making huge piles of sticks because they had a plan. They were going to distract the Careers and destroy their supplies; Whip just hoped they had enough sense to steal some first. He was feeling apprehensive about the whole plan, for the food was surrounded by mines and one wrong move…

"They'll be fine," Whip jumped as he was jerked from his thoughts by a voice behind him. "She's tough. She can handle it," Johanna continued. Whip turned away from the screen to face her.

"I wish that were enough," He answered tiredly, moving past her. She caught his arm in a too-tight grip, and he stiffened immediately. She let go, nodding to the screen. He looked back at it and saw Katniss and Celeste's intense faces studying the pile of supplies.

"Who's the new guy?" The camera barely picked up Celeste's whisper as she scrutinized the boy from Three, who looked meek and feeble compared to the three Careers. The camera zoomed in on the Careers, who were under the tent waiting for their trap to be set into motion.

"You can't just go running off-" Clove was snapping heatedly at Cato as she sat on one of the larger boxes. Marvel sat facing the forest, sharpening his spear but listening to every word his fellow Careers exchanged.

"I'm not running off!" Cato practically growled at her, but Clove didn't seem fazed. "I know-"

"Do you?" Clove interrupted him, waving her knife around wildly as she hissed, "Really? She screamed and you took off and her face wasn't in the sky! Do you expect me to believe that was a coincidence? Next time we see her, she's getting a knife in the back!" Cato stopped pacing and glared at her harshly. "Don't glare at me! She doesn't care about you! She just cares about winning, and you are helping her do that!"

"Guys! Guys! Look!" Marvel interrupted them, standing and looking at the thin trail of rising smoke.

"You stay guard until we get back," Cato ordered the kid from 3 before the Careers ran off into the forest. The girl from 5 ran through, avoiding the bombs and reaching the food. She took only a bit before running off. The boy from 3 frowned, looking around and followed the noise a little way into the woods.

"Why didn't they kill them both!" Johanna snapped in a quiet, angry exasperation. "They had the perfect opportunity!" All eyes were on the screen now, anticipating the action to come. The room held it's breath as Celeste cautiously navigated her way through the bombs and stole some food and bags. The room released the breath as she made it safely back to Katniss, and Katniss shot an arrow that hit a bag of apples. It only took one more arrow to do the trick. The bag was split and the apples spilled down, activating the bombs.

Everything was chaotic after that.

The boy from 3 came back and stared at the ruined goods in horror and fear while, behind him, Katniss and Celeste managed to sloppily hide themselves behind some leaves. Cato came back. He looked at the boy in rage and snapped his neck without a second thought. The camera zoomed in on Celeste's face, the picture of horror, before returning to a wider view showing Celeste and Katniss running off. The room was just relaxing when Rue's scream filled the air.

All attention was on the screen again.

Katniss and Celeste found her and released her from the net that had ensnared her, and Whip felt Johanna stiffen beside him. Something was wrong. He felt it too. It was too quiet. No one leaves a trap unattended for long. They needed to get out of their now. Rue hugged them, and Marvel came out of the trees, running for them. Everything happened at once. A cannon sounded. For a horrific moment, the viewers weren't sure which of the four tributes had died. Then the camera zoomed in on Marvel's vacant, glassy eyes and the arrow and knife protruding from his chest. Rue was in Katniss' arms, and Celeste looked as if she couldn't process what had just happened. A couple Capital women were crying as Rue spoke her final words, and the two girls mourned her. There had been no hope for her. Not really. A twelve year old in the Games? Not a chance in hell.

"One less tribute for her to worry about," Johanna whispered behind him. That's when Celeste saluted to district 11. Both Whip and Johanna sucked in a breath. "Shit." Johanna snapped, and Whip turned and ran down the hallway towards the Gamemakers room.

"Don't kill them; you'll just create a martyr." He heard Haymitch talking to Seneca Crane. He rounded the corner and came to stand beside Haymitch.

"He's right. You shouldn't kill them," Seneca looked at both of them skeptically, opening his mouth to reply, but Whip beat him to it. "You should give them something to root for." Seneca rolled his eyes, but there was a spark of interest in them.

"Yeah? Like what?" He questioned, and Haymitch looked around and then back, as if the answer were obvious.

"Young love." He told Seneca, who looked more than mildly interested now. Seneca nodded thoughtfully, going back into the room he'd just left. Young love. It was an intriguing idea.

-Hunger Games-

I was running as fast as I could. Leaves and trees and bushes blurred past me as I pumped my legs faster. My knuckles turned white as I clutched the knife tightly. Someone was chasing me. I didn't know who, but I really didn't want to find out. Someone was chasing me, and they weren't friendly. There was a thunk, and I just saw the hilt of a knife embedded in a tree before I was past it. My heart pounded harder in my chest. Clove. Clove was chasing me. I had to get out of her throwing range.

I took a sharp left, ditching the path I'd been following for a more rugged terrain. The crack of twigs snapping underfoot told me Clove was in hot pursuit. I couldn't climb a tree; I wouldn't get out of range fast enough. I couldn't hide; she was too close not to know where I went. My only option was to turn and fight; I had to kill her. Sticking my hand out, I grabbed the branch of a tree and swung myself behind it, ignoring the painful wrench it gave my arm. I took another knife from my belt, so a knife was clenched in each hand. I was ready. I took a deep breath. Clove's footsteps slowed as she approached where I hid.

"Come out come out, bitch!" I pressed the back of my head against the rough trunk of the tree and squeezed my eyes shut tightly, flipping both knives. "You can't hide forever!" There was silence. I didn't move. Finally, after a couple minutes, I couldn't wait any longer. Cautiously, I peeked around the trunk. A knife came flying at my face so fast that I barely had time to jerk my head back. My feet slid forward, and I landed hard on my back, immediately trying to scramble to my feet. I had just regained my feet when I was tackled from behind.

I flipped my attacker over, trying to pin her hands and feet, but she wriggled out from under me, and slammed her feet into my gut, driving the air from my lungs. I gasped for breath and threw a knife at her, but it was a sloppy throw, and she ducked easily. I managed to regain my breath as she pinned my wrists with her feet, twirling the knife in her fingers with a malicious grin on her face.

She leaned toward me to whisper something, but I bashed my head into hers, making her howl in pain. That was the distraction I needed to throw her off of me and scramble to my feet. Before I could run, she grabbed my ankle in a vice like grip and yanked my foot out from under me, making me fall stomach first to the ground. She was on my back now, grasping my hair and yanking my head and chest backward so my back was arched upward and my neck was exposed. Her legs were wrapped around my waist, pinning my arms at my sides and making it impossible to fight back. She pulled my hair harder and pressed the cold metal of a blade to my neck, stopping my thrashing.

"Where's Cato now? Hmm?" She questioned in a falsely innocent voice. I blinked away the tears of pain and frustration, knowing I was about to die. "He can't save you," I could hear the smirk in her words and hated her all the more for it. "No one can. Just like no one could save your poor little district partner," I let out a scream of fury and thrashed but stopped as she pressed the blade harder against me throat. "Don't bother screaming. No one's going to save you. Not that bitch from Twelve and certainly not Cato. I don't even know how you-" She was cut off abruptly and her wait disappeared from my back and hair. As soon as I was dropped, I flipped myself over and scooted backwards, away from the scene in front of me.

"Cato!" Clove cried, struggling as he gripped her collar and lifted her off the ground. "What the hell!" She yelled at him, and he just glared at her harshly.

"I'm sorry, Clove." He punched her clean across the face, making her head snap to the side and her body go limp. He set down her unconscious form on the ground gently before turning to me. I grabbed a knife from my belt and stood quickly, inching backwards. He held up his hands like he would have to a rabid dog who might attack him at any moment.

"What do you want?" I snapped at him, holding my knife up and glancing at the sword hooked through his belt.

"I'm not going to hurt you, alright?" My eyes flicked from his eyes to the sword on his belt and back to his eyes.

"I don't believe you." I stated flatly, still breathing hard from my tussle with Clove. He slowly reached for his sword, and I tensed further, drawing back my knife. "Don't move!" He still had one hand in the air while the other one drew the sword.

"It's okay," He spoke calmly, never breaking eye contact with me as he threw his sword down in front of me. "See? I'm not going to hurt you." I took a cautious step forward, my eyes never leaving his, and kicked the sword away from us.

"Is that what you said to Three? Before you snapped his neck." I questioned coldly, trying to keep any emotion out of my voice. There was a flicker of pain and regret in his eyes before they iced over again, and he dropped his hands.

"Fine! Stay here. See if I care, Darling!" I winced at his reference to my Capital name. He started towards his sword, but I stepped in front of him. That infuriating smirk was back on his lips now as he looked down at me, and I resisted the urge to swallow. "I think we already established that you can't kill me."

"Why me?" That wasn't what I had planned to say, but the words tumbled out anyways. "Why not Clove?" There was a flicker of something in his eyes then, but it vanished quickly.

"You know where the bitch from 12 is, and I need to find her." He didn't look at me when he spoke, but instead picked up his sword. "We can help each other." I debated it. "Look, Lover Boy hasn't died yet, which means 12 will team up with him. 11 is on his own. 5 will get killed in time," He waved a dismissive hand as if she didn't matter. "That leaves me, you, and Clove. Your best chance of survival is with me." He was right… about all of it. My best chance was with him. "The offer is expiring." He told me, turning to leave.

"Fine." I spoke hurriedly, and he turned, smirking again. I smirked back at him, straightening and not allowing myself to be intimidated. "But one wrong move, and I will kill you."

"Whatever you say, Darling." I walked past him, pausing when I reached him.

"And don't call me that." Then I was leading us away from Clove while he let out a very sexy laugh from behind me. I had a new ally. A very infuriating, very attractive ally.

"You're welcome," We had been walking for all of thirty seconds in silence when Cato broke it. I didn't give him the satisfaction of glancing back at him.

"I don't remember thanking you." I called back. His breathing hitched as he jogged to catch up to me; I glanced at him, and he sent me a smirk.

"I saved your life back there." I stopped, looking at him with an eyebrow raised as he turned to face me, leaning one arm on the tree that was behind me.

"And I saved yours when you were stung by tracker jackers, so I guess that makes us even." I told him, trying to ignore the way my heart sped up as he looked into my eyes. "And I didn't kill you just now, so I think you owe me," I smirked and walked past him. He caught up easily, and I could feel his smirk.

"I saved your life when you were drowning and I spared your life when you were begging me to kill you, so you owe me." I cocked an eyebrow at him, going through the information in my mind and noting how he didn't mention what happened after he spared me. "I saved your life twice; you only saved me once."

"We should make camp," I changed the subject skillfully, turning back to the forest. We'd walked a good distance away from Clove, and I judged it was safe to rest here. Cato couldn't climb, so that meant we would be sleeping on the ground: exposed. We ate what the sponsors sent us, which was chicken soup and bread. The bread didn't look like anything I'd seen before, but I assumed it was from one of the districts, maybe 11 because it was very good.

"I'll take first watch; you can sleep." My gaze snapped to Cato distrustingly as he spoke those words.

"That's okay; I'm not tired anyway." Cato rolled his eyes at me and glared.

"You still don't trust me?" He questioned incredulously. "I save your life. Twice!"

"We are in the Hunger Games! It's not completely unheard of to slit someone's throat while they sleep. How do I know you and Clove didn't plan this?" He just shook his head at me, smirked, and leaned against the tree. "You can go to sleep; I'll keep watch."

"Like hell," He snapped, his gaze turning wary. "You think I'd trust you?"

"Fine. We'll both stay up then." I expected him to back down, but instead he turned a glare on me.

"Fine. Good night, Darling." The word made my blood boil, and my fingers wrapped around the hilt of my knife, but I didn't draw it. Instead, I leaned my back against a tree and curled my knees up to my chest.

"Marvel's dead." I wasn't sure if he knew, but I supposed I should tell him before he sees his face in the sky tonight. It should happen any moment now. I saw Cato shift and look at me briefly before sighing.

"I figured." Was all he replied before the anthem began playing and Marvel's face appeared. Next came Rue's small, innocent face, and my heart gave a painful wrench. Rue's face faded, and the last of the light faded with her. The silence stretched on after that. It wasn't so hard to stay awake due to the freezing temperatures and chilly breeze. I refused to shiver or show signs of weakness in front of Cato. If the alliance was going to work, he would have to think of me as an equal. He was dangerous. I kept having to remind myself of that. I glanced over in the darkness at where Cato would be, leaning against a tree. I could just see him, and I could hear his light breathing in the silence.

"Are you cold?" I looked up from where I had been studying the trees for the past hour or so to look at Cato, who was watching me.

"It's not so bad." I lied, surprising a shiver that crept up my spine.

"Liar." Before I could reply, he shifted, placing his hands on the ground in front of him and slid over to me without getting up. I looked at him next to me and he looked down at me. For a moment neither of us said anything, and then, "I saw you, you know,"

"What?" I questioned in confusion, gazing up at him. He wasn't looking at me anymore, though, he was looking straight ahead.

"I saw you. On the television. Your sister was Melody Greenwich." I was surprised to say the least; I shouldn't have been, but I was. Of course he heard of my sister; she was a Victor. He trained at the academy; he would've watched reruns of all the Games.

"Abernathy." Was all I said. I sensed his confusion so I elaborated. "Melody Abernathy."

"She married Haymitch." Silence met his words. "I kind of admired her, you know. She didn't give up. Even when she was nearly dead; she fought." Why was he telling me this?

"I know. She was my hero." Why was I telling him this? Why were we talking about Melody?

"They did pieces about your life, you know. When my parents came to visit me, they told me to watch out for you. That you would be my biggest competition because you were a fighter like Melody." I looked at the profile of his face with an interest building in my heart.

"What did you say?" I asked him, genuinely curious. He turned to me with a smirk in place on his lips. My heart beat in my throat, and I wanted to kiss him. No. I couldn't do that. I leaned back a bit, trying to make that feeling dissipate.

"I didn't believe them. I didn't think that you could be any threat to me." A feeling of indignation momentarily overtook the desire.

"Really?" I questioned him, raising an eyebrow tauntingly, daring him to tell me I was harmless again. He glanced down at my lips before meeting my eyes, and then he swallowed and looked forward again.

"I was wrong," That stopped short my protests. Cato was admitting he was wrong. Had this ever happened before in the history of Panem? "I can't kill you." He gazed at me searchingly. "My whole life I've trained for this and worked, and now I'm here. I'm so close to winning. To bringing honor to my district. And I can't kill you."

"Why?" I finally voiced the question that had been burning in my mind. I was gazing into his ice blue eyes, and he was gazing back at me, slowly coming closer. This kiss wasn't like our first two kisses; this one was soft and gentle. My lips moved with his, and the world, the Games, and the Capital faded out of existence. I pulled away from him, and slowly opened my eyes, looking at him. So many feelings filled my heart that I worried it might explode. It scared me. It scared me how strongly I felt for him, and it scared me how he could make me feel so safe in the most dangerous place in Panem.

"We should get some sleep." I told him, not looking at him, knowing that if I did I would loose whatever control I'd gained.

"Go ahead. I'll take first watch." I looked up at him with a smile tugging on my lips. His face had broken into a grin that made him look three times hotter. I quickly looked away.

"Don't start with me." I couldn't help the smile that graced my face then. I settled in next to him, our shoulders touching, determined to stay up the whole night.

My first thought when I woke up was that I definitely had not stayed up the whole night. My second thought was confusion regarding my first thought. I tried to bury my head farther into the warmth it was resting on; some part of me knew that it had been a long time since I'd had something remotely comforting. The warmth shifted a bit in response to me. The warmth shifted. I blinked awake, forcing myself back into the present. My head was leaning on Cato's muscular shoulder, and I quickly jerked it upright, looking around. That was dangerous. We could have been killed had another tribute found us while we were sleeping.

It was completely light out, and I decided to go hunting or to set some traps, make myself useful. I tried to get up only to have Cato's arm tighten around my waist. We had been sleeping together. We-we couldn't… right? Two people were getting out of this arena. What if those two people were us? Would there be… would he…? I shook my head to clear it, and tried to get out of Cato's grip, which I soon learned was about as easy as catching fish with your bare hands. The soft beeping sound of a sponsor gift filled the air, and next to me, Cato stirred. He looked down at me for a moment and then smirked before releasing me. I reached for the gift, but before I could grab it, a voice stopped me.

"Attention, tributes, attention!" My head snapped up to look at Cato. His face mirrored my surprise, and I glanced at the sky as if it would show me Seneca Crane. "Commencing at sunrise, there will be a feast tomorrow at the Cornucopia." I glanced at Cato and he shook his head. We didn't need food. We could hunt, and we had plenty of sponsors. "This will be no ordinary occasion. Each of you needs something desperately. And we plan to be… generous hosts." Two announcements in one game? This was no ordinary Games. Peeta. The realization hit me like a smack in the face. They're giving Katniss an opportunity to save Peeta's life.

"We're a half day away from the Cornucopia. We should start moving." Cato told me, and I nodded in agreement. A bad feeling knotted my stomach, but I dismissed it. We had a feast to attend.