Hey, Everybody! It's the first chapter of the day! Whoo! Only four more and then I can start the sequel! OMG I might actually get that far today! I already finished my advanced chemistry paper and my physics homework. The only other thing I have to do today is cut the grass. I could do it! AHH! Alright, now, Read on!

Chapter Thirty-Six

Finn Mellark's POV

*Two Weeks Later*

I can't help the smile that spreads across my face as I walk into the Aquatic Sports center of District 4. Today is the last day of qualifying rounds for the Olympics. I've spent the last week here in District Four, doing qualifiers for the swimming in the upcoming Olympics. And I've managed to come in first in almost all of my events.

I move through the crowds of people, who are both here to compete and watch the competitions. The events for today are all the co-ed competitions and I plan on taking the top stop once again. I am currently in the lead, but there is a swimmer from District 4 who is hot on my heels.

I come to the section in the center that has been assigned to me and my coach and nutritionist. They're my support team. I'll be honest and say that I feel slightly out of place here. I am the only swimmer here from District 12. Most of the swimmers are from District 4, with a few coming from Districts One and Two and the Capitol.

Honestly, compared to the swimmers from the Capitol and Districts One and Two, my skill level is much higher than theirs. I am even better than most of the District Four swimmers, but there is one swimmer that I have been battling against since the beginning of this competition: Summer Emerson.

Summer Emerson is one of the most stubborn people I've ever met. And my own mother is Katniss Everdeen-Mellark. She's always got this look on her face like she's bored or unentertained, even when she wins an event. And she has this smirk that says "I'm better than you". She's amazing.

I really do hate to admit it, but I find her attractive, both in her physical appearance and her personality. Her hair is beach blonde and her skin is sun kissed. Her eyes are a gorgeous shade of turquoise and they sparkle just like the ocean itself were reflected early morning sunlight. Whenever I see her outside of the Aquatic center, she's always laughing or having fun with some of her friends. She's gorgeous.

"Hey, kid," Coach says, snapping his fingers in front of my eyes. I had been staring at Summer and I hadn't even noticed it. "You gotta keep your head in the game. Don't be letting the pretty girls mess with your head."

"Okay," I reply, nodding my head. Coach is right. If I'm going to take the lead in this competition, I need to stay focused.

My first event starts in about half an hour, so I start doing all my stretches. My thigh muscles kind of ache from all the swimming and other exercising I've been doing this past week, so I make sure to take some extra time stretching them. The last thing I need is to get a cramp in the middle of my 200 meter backstroke.

The tone goes off that tells all the swimmers to get into position; this is my first competition against Summer. I am in two and she is in lane one. As we are getting into position, she flashes me a flawless, white smile and winks at me before pulling on her goggles. I swallow hard and then shake my head, trying to get myself to focus. I have to focus because I have to win.

"One your mark, get set, Go!" I jump into the water, barely having time to think about it before I do. I've practiced this event so many times that I barely have to think about anything I'm doing. I could probably do the entire thing with my eyes closed.

As I push off the wall to start my second length, I catch a glimpse of Summer. She is about half a body length ahead of me. I pick up my pace, pushing every muscle in my body to its limit. It pays off because by the time we're both pushing off the wall to start our next length, I have managed to pull ahead. But I don't back down. I'm here to win, nothing less.

During the final length, Summer and I are head to head. I can hear the roar of the crowd through the water. They're going completely insane by how close this race is. As I come up to the wall, I kick my legs are on last time and reach on my fist, and successfully punch the sensor on the wall. I've finished.

I come up from the water, pulling of my goggles and cap, gasping for air. I look around me. To my right, everyone else is in the midst of finishing their 200 meters. I look over to my left to see Summer smiling, whether that smile is because she won or not, I do not know.

Once everyone has finished, the announcers come over on the radio and announce to the swimmers and the crowd that Summer and I have tied for this event. I glance over at her when we get the news. She doesn't seem upset or anything. Actually, she just winks at me again, which makes a blush flush across my cheeks.

We all get out of the pool and head over to our sections. I get an earful from Coach about how I let a girl beat me. I don't feel like arguing and telling him that she didn't technically beat me. It was a tie. But I know that won't matter to him. If I didn't come in first, I didn't win which means I lost. Coach finishes yelling at me just as my nutritionist hands me my lunch: two all-white meat turkey sandwiches on multi-grain bread, a salad, an apple and banana, and a large Gatorade. I have to replenish all the nutrients I can before my next event which is in two hours.

I take my lunch outside, deciding I don't want to listen to Coach tell me what I need to do better. I'm just not in the mood right now. Outside, I see Summer with a couple of the friends I've been seeing her with all week. They're all laughing while Summer eats her nutrient packed lunch.

I glance up from my lunch at the same time Summer looks over at me. She smiles when our eyes lock. She really has beautiful eyes. She says something to her friends and then gets up and walks over to me, bringing her lunch with her. She sits down at the same table I am at and then just continue eating.

"What?" She asks me when she sees that I am still watching her.

"Why did you move over here?" I ask her, trying my best to not sound mean.

"You looked lonely. Plus, the sun is better over here and I could really use the work on my tan." She tells me, flashing me her smile.

"Shouldn't we not be hanging out with each other? We are each other's competition." I inquire.

"Is that what your coach told you?" She asks me and I nod. "Don't listen to him. Trust me; you'll meet some of your best friends at competitions like these." She tells me with a chuckle.

"So, um, how do you like the competition so far?" I ask her, trying to make some small talk.

"It's nice, but I keep catching this hot guy checking me out." She replies. I feel my face heat up with embarrassment when I realize she meant me.

"Oh, well, I was just . . ." I stammer.

"Checking out the competition?" Summer offers as an explanation.

"Yeah," I tell her, nodding.

"Oh, cut the act, Mellark. You think I'm hot and you know it." She scoffs with humor.

"Yeah, well, you think I'm hot, too." I reply, slapping a smirk onto my face.

"That's right," She tells me, winking once again. "I bet you and I could have a lot of fun together." Oh, this is going to be a very interesting day . . .

So, what do you think? Do you think this could be the girl for Finn? Tell me what you think of Summer in your reviews! Thanks so much for reading and please leave me a review on your way out! (And vote in my poll! I need more votes! Please!)