"What are you even eating?" Taiya asked.

Tyler had promised them they'd get to spend the mornings together after the tributes had gone off to training. But so far all Finnick had done was stuff his face with food.

"Sugar," he mumbled with his mouth full. "Want some?" he offered, holding out the bowl of sugar cubes for her.

"I'm pretty sure those are to go in the coffee," Taiya rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, but they're nice."

"That's not even a proper breakfast Finnick."

"And an apple is?" he challenged.

"Yeah. It's fruit. It's better than sugar cubes."

"I'm happy with the sugar cubes," he shrugged and Taiya let out a loud sigh.

"I can't tell whether you two are arguing or flirting," Tyler muttered, as he drank his coffee.

"Arguing," Taiya answered.

"Flirting," Finnick said at the same time.

Taiya turned to look at Finnick inquisitively. "You think this is flirting?" she asked, and he nodded. "Oh boy," Taiya groaned. "Actually that explains a lot," she noted before she looked down at the sugar bowl. "Just remember with a sugar high, comes a sugar crash."

"We should probably go Finnick," Tyler spoke up. "Make a plan for the tributes."

"No," Finnick shook his head in a panic. "You said we can have the mornings together," he said as he reached over and grabbed Taiya's hand. "Please Tyler, come on man."

"It's only for a week while the tributes are in the apartment," Tyler tried to comfort them. "After that, you guys can hang around here together without being worried about being spotted and the secret getting out."

"Moxie," Taiya disputed as she ate her apple. "She comes in here all the time. She could still see. And trust me, if Moxie knows, everyone knows."

"Well then don't get caught by Moxie," Tyler suggested sarcastically, making Taiya glare at him.

"Helpful," she snarked back at him.

"Truce?" Finnick interrupted the two, holding the sugar cube bowl up for Taiya.

"You're a child," Taiya laughed.

"You both are," Tyler disputed. "Fine, you two stay here and enjoy the morning," he relented. "Finnick, I want you in the mentor room at 12pm, Taiya, you're having lunch with Crane and his brother, don't be late. Either of you," he warned before he left the apartment.

"I swear that guy's patience decreases every day," Finnick sighed, making Taiya laugh.

"I'll agree with that," she nodded.

"How did you get home last night?" Finnick asked awkwardly.

"Seneca walked me back," Taiya answered quietly. "How about you? I didn't hear you come home."

"I didn't get back until late," he muttered. "I would've come to see you but I didn't want to wake you."

"That's ok," Taiya sighed before she turned in her chair and grabbed the sides of his face, touching their foreheads together. "I love you."

Finnick nodded, as he raised his face to kiss her forehead. "I love you too."

Taiya smiled as she looked at him before pulling him in for a hug.

"I found out something interesting last night."

"What do you mean?" Taiya asked as she released her hold on him, allowing him to move back slightly.

Finnick sat back in his seat and sighed before admitting, "apparently Crane's dad, when he was the head game maker, would take bribes and adjust the environment in the Games so his friends would win their bets."

"Oh my god!" Taiya gasped.

"I can't even say I'm surprised. The games being rigged… shocker," Finnick scowled.

"But I mean I've listened to Seneca talk, he always says how important the integrity of the Games is. I just thought…"

"What? That all the Crane's are honourable, come on Tay. They're a Capitol family."

"You're right," Taiya admitted.

"He also constantly cheats on his wife."

"Lovely guy," Taiya scoffed.

"And she knows. And she stays with him so she can have her own affair with the stylist that works for District 2."

"A stylist!" Taiya gasped. "A Capitol elite woman is having an affair with a stylist? That's crazy! How did you find all this out?"

"I um… the woman last night tried to give me jewellery to make herself feel better about what she did. But I said I'd take a secret in exchange instead. I mean what am I going to do with jewellery? It's not like I can give it to you when it's come from doing that. We don't need money either. Secrets are worth more to me."

"You asked about the Crane family?"

"Well of course I did," he smiled softly. "If you're getting involved with this family, we should know what they're about."

Taiya smiled at him and leaned forward to twirl one of his curls around her finger. "I love you so much. Always."

Taiya was on her way back from lunch with the Crane's and when the elevator doors opened she was greeted by none other than the female tribute from District 7, who had obviously just left her training session.

Immediately upon seeing her, the girl shrunk into the corner and started sniffling, making Taiya smirk as she stepped into the elevator and clicked the fourth button.

"You don't have to do that with me," Taiya smiled over at the girl. "I'm not allowed to talk to anyone about the Games, not even with people from my district, so your secret is safe with me. I know you're putting on an act."

The girl looked over at Taiya sceptically before smirking. "What gave it away?"

"I know an act when I see one," Taiya smiled. "I've got one of my own."

"Hmm. Do you think mine will work?" she asked.

Taiya smiled over at her. "Absolutely I do. Watch your eyes though. You're crying, but your eyes are cold."

"Noted, fix the eyes. I'm Johanna."

"Taiya," she introduced herself as the elevator reached her floor. "I'll be seeing you again when you get back after the Games."

"You think I can win?" Johanna asked with a smirk on her face. "No faith in the tributes from your district?"

Taiya gave her a small smile. "I'll see you after," she repeated before stepping out of the elevator.

"How was lunch?" Tyler asked as Taiya stepped into the apartment, immediately turning off the television.

Taiya looked at him. "Why did you just turn that off?"

"No reason." Glaring at him, Taiya made her way across the room and grabbed the remote. "Tay, don't," Tyler warned.

She ignored him and turned the TV on and Caesar Flickerman's face flooded the screen.

"It's remarkable Claudius. This pair of victors from District 4 are absolutely taking the Capitol by storm! We've spoken about Finnick's flirtation with the affluent woman of society during the last Games, and it appears he's mentored his tribute to do the same. Just in, we've received pictures taken of Taiya Ambersnow out at lunch with our very own Seneca and Romulus Crane. This is on top of Taiya reportedly spending time with Seneca all of last night."

"We did get pictures of that as well Caesar," Claudius interrupted. "Pictures of Seneca and Taiya looking very close at a nightclub were just sent to me a few minutes ago, take a look," he said and pictures of her holding Seneca's hand came up.

"Flirtatious! I love it!" Caesar cackled.

"What do you think Caesar? Harmless flirtation or is it more than that?" Claudius asked.

"Oh my god," Taiya groaned.

"It definitely looks like the blossoming of a new relationship," Caesar answered. "I know privately you and I spoke about Taiya and Finnick when Finnick himself was a tribute. We watched her interview during his Games and it looked like there might be more there, but they remarkably did not even look at each other last night. I guess that close friendship just… fizzled out."

"Do they have nothing better to talk about?" Taiya scoffed angrily. "24 kids are about to go into an arena and 23 will die, and they want to gossip about mine and Finnick's fake love lives? Seriously!"

"This is why I turned it off," Tyler sighed as he took the remote from Taiya and turned it off again. "They're shallow people."

"Yeah. I got that," Taiya scoffed as she threw herself down on the couch. "How'd they even get pictures?"

"The Capitol people gossip. It's in their nature."

"It's gross," Taiya snapped.

"It is. But they don't think so," he said carefully as he watched her angry expression. "Tay, to be blunt. You've got to get used to this. This is how it's done. You knew that. You can't get angry every time you see something you don't like."

Taiya looked over at him with a huff, before nodding quickly. "I know. I'll be in my room," she said quietly, getting up and walking over to her room where she'd be able to get a moment's peace.

3 weeks later

"No way. No way. No way," Seneca gasped, his eyes wide.

"This is ridiculous. How the hell did this happen!" Lucius snapped angrily.

"I was right!" Taiya laughed. "I knew it."

"Johanna Mason won? Johanna Mason? The snivelling loser?" Lucius rolled his eyes.

"She's not a loser," Taiya snapped, turning to glare at him. "She's a victor. She'd beat your ass."

"What did you say Ambersnow?" he challenged.

"She's right," Romulus smirked. "Taiya would be able to take you as well. I wouldn't be taking on a victor if I were you, Lucius."

"Whatever. I'm getting a drink," Lucius scowled as he turned and stomped away.

"I can't believe it," Seneca laughed as he turned and kissed Taiya's cheek. "You just won me heaps of money!"

"Well done Taiya," Romulus congratulated, patting her on the back.

"Come with me, we're getting some drinks," Seneca grabbed Taiya's hand and pulled her to the bar.

They were at an elite Capitol party celebrating the conclusion of the Games. Not that that was something to celebrate. But Taiya was right, Johanna had won the Games. She'd convinced everyone in her arena that she was nothing but a weakling. But once some of the competition had already been eliminated, she turned lethal. The other tributes had realised too late who the real threat was. Johanna made quick work of them with her axe.

"Hey, are you ok?" Seneca asked, touching her gently on the arm.

"I'm fine," Taiya pecked him on the cheek.

"What do you want? Anything? I'm buying."

"Get her a bourbon," a slurring Haymitch requested as he slumped up against the bar. "Mind if I borrow the belle of District 4?" he mocked as he waved his hands in the air, making her roll her eyes.

"We'll be over in the chairs," Taiya smiled at Seneca. "Grab Haymitch a bourbon as well would you?" she winked at him before supporting Haymitch as they walked away from the bar. "Are you out of your mind? What are you doing?"

"I'm fine," Haymitch tapped her hand. "I just thought you could use a moment where you don't have to act."

"Thanks," she muttered as she let him slump down into a chair and took a seat beside him. "I hate it here," she breathed out quietly.

"Don't we all," he hiccuped. "It's your first Games in the Capitol."

"I had to hear all about it. All the time. It's all these people talk about."

"As soon as the victory party finishes we'll all be on a train home. Where's your boy toy?"

"Which one?" Taiya sighed.

"The real one," Haymitch clarified.

"In the corner over there, whispering in some lady's ear," Taiya pointed with her head.

"Here you go," Seneca's voice interrupted, as he came up behind her and handed her a glass of bourbon before hesitating and reluctantly giving one to Haymitch before he took a seat beside Taiya.

"So," Haymitch smiled as he flipped his hair out of his eyes. "What are your intentions with my dear young Taiya?"

"Haymitch!" Taiya's eyes widened in embarrassment.

"It's ok," Seneca smiled.

"No, we're going to go over there," Taiya rolled her eyes and grabbed Seneca's hand and pulled him up from the couch and over to Romulus, but not without shooting a glare back at Haymitch, who was smirking at her as he raised his glass in the air.

"There are the winners," Romulus smiled as they approached.

"I didn't win, Seneca did," Taiya smiled at him as she wrapped an arm around Seneca's waist.

"Please, he only won because of you. On his own Seneca's useless. He's never won a bet before," Romulus teased.

"Shut up Romulus," Seneca groaned.

"Hey there boys," a sultry female voice spoke up and Taiya's eyes instantly widened.

Finnick's 'date' for the night had approached them, dragging Finnick along with her.

"Is this the victor from last year?" she asked.

"Yeah, this is Taiya," Seneca answered for her when she stayed silent.

"Nice to meet you," the woman with the bright green eyelashes smiled as she held her hand out for Taiya to shake.

Taiya tried her hardest to put a smile on her face as she reluctantly shook the woman's hand, trying not to cringe too much.

"I'm Claudina," the woman introduced herself.

"Great," Taiya snapped, her eyes darting over to Finnick, who was also looking at her panicked.

"And of course, you two know each other," Claudina smirked as she grabbed the crook of Finnick's arm. "But boys, meet Finnick Odair."

"I've heard a lot about you," Seneca smiled, shaking Finnick's hand before wincing as he pulled away. "That's a good grip you've got."

"Thanks. I've had practice."

Taiya looked around the room. They needed someone to intervene here and break up this interaction before both she and Finnick blew their covers.

Luckily, it seemed that Gloss had heard her silent plea and yelled out, "Taiya!"

"Coming!" she yelled back in a high-pitched voice, grabbing Seneca's hand and dragging him away with her.

Finnick could handle being around Romulus. But neither of them could handle being around each other when they had their own separate dates.

"What's up?" she asked as she reached Gloss, mouthing him a silent 'thank you.'

"I hear you told Crane here to place a bet on Mason?" he asked, reassuringly patting her quickly on the arm.

"I did," she smiled.

"Well done kid. I'm impressed."

"Thank you," she smiled. "Pure talent," she muttered sarcastically, making him nudge her. "Seneca this is Gloss, the victor from…"

"District 1, of course. Victor of the 63rd Games," Seneca smiled, shaking Gloss' hand.

"Seneca Crane, pleasure's all mine," Gloss smiled irritably.

"My glass is empty, and I'm celebrating so I'm going to go grab another drink," Seneca said. "You want another?"

"No, I'm good," she smiled at him, allowing him to go off to the bar alone before she loudly exhaled. "Thank you so much, Gloss. You just saved our asses."

"I think that woman was testing you."

"For Snow?"

"Doubt it, she's not important enough to work for Snow. I think for herself. Maybe she thinks once she spends time with him that he'll be genuinely interested in her. Idiot," he scoffed. "Caesar and Claudius speaking the other week about you two would have caught people's attention. In a way, both of you acting so unbelievably uncomfortable might have helped dispel some of those rumours. Not to mention you ran to get away from him," he smiled at her. "You might just survive this Capitol after all."

Another chapter! Next chapter we'll see more of Johanna. I have changed the timeline to bring Johanna in earlier, but I just want more opportunities to have her in this, and allow them to bond because they will be besties!

And thank you for the comments! I love the other victor's from Catching Fire, and I can't wait to put little moments in this book where you see them before the 75th Games starts!