DOUBLE UPDATE! – MAKE SURE TO READ PREVIOUS CHAPTER!

Chapter One-Hundred-and-Forty-Seven; Unnecessary

Stephanie was convinced if she heard the words 'This is the Hunger Games' one more time, the arena would shortly become the District 3 penthouse when Stephanie dived for Electra across the kitchen table.

"What if…?"

"No."

"You didn't even let me finish."

"I don't have to, to know I won't like it."

"It's a different idea this time but."

"No, it's not – it's the same as the previous ten you have suggested and I didn't like."

"Oh well this is fabulous. Haymitch you should have let me know she was telekinetic then I wouldn't be worrying over how she's going to win!"

Stephanie shot Electra a filthy look across the table as Electra glared back at her just as fiercely.

"Can the both of you get along for at least five minutes?" Haymitch muttered from the other end of the table, where he was nursing a very large drink.

Stephanie dropped her head abashed, feeling a little embarrassed for arguing so childishly with Electra. Though Electra, even though she was fourteen years older than Stephanie, clearly was not in the least mortified.

"Have you learnt those names yet?" Electra sniped at Stephanie.

Stephanie looked up from the list of which about fifty names had been circled in red pen.

"No," Stephanie replied shortly. "And I don't see why I have to," she added in a quieter mumble.

Electra's brows drew down sharply, "because if you want to come across as an independent and competent tribute to the sponsors you are going to have to approach them yourself. Neither I nor Haymitch are going to be able to cart you round the entire night like an overprotective parent making introductions! – You need to learn the names so you know which people to bother with and which ones not to waste your time on."

Stephanie frowned as her cheeks glowed hotter, but all the same she turned her gaze resolutely down the paper in her hands, pressing her lips into a thin white line of silence.

Her frown only deepened and she made a small sound in the back of her throat though, as she noticed one of the circled names; Dess Landa.

"What?" Electra snapped.

"Nothing," Stephanie mumbled not bothering to look up.

"It was clearly not nothing so why not share with the whole room," Electra shot back sardonically.

Stephanie clutched the paper in her hand so tightly it crumpled slightly within her grasps, as she raised her scalding glare to pierce Electra.

"Dess Landa is a circled name on the list," Stephanie said in a dangerously even tone.

Electra looked at her blankly, "I know."

Stephanie scowled. She had told Electra everything, which meant that Electra knew all of Stephanie's history with Dess, and that she couldn't stand the man.

"Just skip him – there're others on the list," Haymitch muttered.

Electra frowned then, "The Landa family is one of the richest in the Capitol! – Why on earth would she skip him?" she exclaimed incredulously.

"Are you serious?!" Stephanie shot back at her, "do you not remember what I told you he done to me at The Chandelier Rooms?"

Electra scoffed, "Stephanie this is the Hunger – "

Stephanie didn't even let Electra finish her words as she stood and stalked from the kitchen. Electra may or may not have shouted after her some disparaging comment about her storming off like a child, but Stephanie ignored it, as she barely restrained herself from stomping back into the kitchen.

Stephanie was half-way across the main room marching determinedly for the bedrooms when she stopped. She turned already knowing and came face to face with Haymitch.

"I know, I know she's only trying to help," Stephanie grumbled, folding her arms stubbornly.

Haymitch smirked slightly, "sweetheart I've known Ellen ten years and she never just 'tries to help.' She shoves her 'help' down your throat whether you want it or not."

Stephanie sniggered slightly, feeling some of the pent up tension from the argument leave her rigid spine and shoulders. However in the next moment Stephanie felt weary and almost despondent. Normally she would have just stepped forward closing the distance between them, and Haymitch would have wrapped his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her hair.

But now that frigid stretch of distance between them was ever constant.

"Here give me the list," Haymitch said, smirking slightly as he held out his hand for the scrunched up wad of paper Stephanie was still clutching in her fist.

Stephanie smiled a little sheepishly as she tried to push away the empty feeling, and extended her hand to pass him the page.

They sat down on the sofa and Haymitch tried to smooth out the crumpled page between them.

Stephanie hadn't made it past the first ten names she was meant to have learnt but Haymitch's quicksilver gaze flicked over them easily.

"Ignore Dess," Haymitch said gruffly.

"I was planning to," Stephanie replied dryly.

A smirk ghosted across Haymitch's lips though his gaze remained on the page in his hands.

"What about them? – Are they very bad?" Stephanie teased lightly as she pointed at a few names that had been furiously scribbled out.

Haymitch's expression however tightened and Stephanie swallowed as the smile was wiped from her lips.

"What is it Haymitch?"

"They're Clearwaters'; Fas' family. They were invited to the party as a sort of apology," he replied quietly.

Stephanie swallowed thickly as she looked down at the livid red scribbles. And somewhere beneath all the crimson ink were Fas' family.

Anger and disgust hissed through Stephanie's veins for a moment as she considered, how only in the Capitol, would an invite to a party be considered the correct approach to express condolences.

"Haymitch, who killed Fas?" Stephanie breathed, as every drop of colour seemed to leach from her face.

"I don't know. Whoever it was had to be pretty high up anyway," he replied tightly.

Haymitch had immediately stiffened beside her when Stephanie had asked, and Stephanie knew why.

The last time they had spoken about Fas' death at the racetracks, Stephanie had been convinced that Seneca was responsible, that Seneca had made her a murderer.

She and Haymitch had argued over blame and responsibility there, and Seneca might as well have been in the room in those minutes for the icy wall he was successfully building between her and Haymitch.

Stephanie never actually said the words I believe Seneca is innocent. She didn't mention that she had talked out the possible suspects for Fas' murder with Seneca in his car, or the fact that she believed Seneca when he told her he hadn't killed Fas, or the fact that she now trusted the blue-eyed Gamemaker only second to Haymitch and Frenkin in this Capitol.

She hadn't said the words but Haymitch had heard them anyway and Stephanie could see the individual muscles in his jaw clench.

Stephanie felt her heart thump painfully; there it was again. One step away from Haymitch, one step closer to Seneca.

"I need to lie down," Stephanie breathed shakily as she clambered unsteadily to her feet. However as soon as Stephanie got to standing her head swam and a shower of spots appeared across her vision. A sharp sudden pain lanced across her torso, and Stephanie clasped a hand to her chest as she gasped.

She swayed on her feet and immediately Haymitch had his arm around her waist, holding her up as he always had been since the very first.

Stephanie grasped at Haymitch's arm desperately as she closed her eyes until the wave of dizziness had passed.

"I thought this was meant to be taken care of?" Haymitch muttered meaningfully.

It was the first time Haymitch had referenced the fact that Stephanie had spent all that time alone with Seneca, and through the roiling nausea Stephanie found her determination as she remembered her resolve.

Stephanie glanced down at the crescent nail marks she had made on the skin of Haymitch's forearm as she clutched at him, and she made a conscious effort to lessen her grip.

She would not bring up the blue-eyed Gamemaker to Haymitch needlessly again.

"I had a scan done successfully, but the results are still…pending," Stephanie finished, shrugging lightly as the nausea ebbed.

Haymitch looked at her for a long moment and Stephanie didn't know if he realised what she was doing or suspected at least. A part of her imagined even if Haymitch did guess that she was keeping things from him again, especially things concerning Seneca – Haymitch wouldn't ask her about them now.

Stephanie had gained a measure of independence and there were simply things that she would have to sort herself. Seneca for one.

Haymitch's gaze burned intensely for a moment and Stephanie was sure that he would kiss her then. However at the last second it was averted – as Stephanie jerked backwards.

Haymitch eye's widened slightly in surprise as Stephanie blinked rapidly.

"I-I should get a shower before we eat," Stephanie stammered out as she wrung her hands out nervously, backing towards the bedrooms.

Haymitch was still looking at her, frowning slightly in perplexity. But he made no move to stop her as Stephanie turned lightly and darted in the opposite direction.

As soon as Stephanie was in her bedroom she leaned against the back of the door heavily, her breath coming out in little spurts while her heart hammered in her chest.

She reached her hand into her pocket then fishing out Electra's silently ringing phone. It buzzed insistently in the palm of her hand as Stephanie looked at it dubiously. She knew logically there could only be one person ringing her as he said he would.

The irony of Seneca ringing her at that precise moment was not lost on Stephanie as she shook her head grimly.

She was tempted to bury the phone away somewhere and never take it out again but she reminded herself that she couldn't.

Seneca had said he would ring her when he had the cure to her fainting. It would just be childish to ignore the call that would ultimately benefit her.

Besides, Stephanie thought, I want to take charge of things myself, this is how I start! Before Seneca and Haymitch had 'discussed' – blackmailed, argued and fought would be a better description – finding a cure for her fainting without her even knowing until the last moment. Now, it was time for her to take care of things herself.

She sucked in a rallying breath, and before giving herself time to doubt her actions, she answered it.

"How did you sleep?"

Seneca's voice sounded in her ear almost immediately; the usual silky undertones to his murmur roughened slightly with audible fatigue.

"Better than you by the sounds of it," Stephanie quipped by reply.

Seneca chuckled softly.

"I've been busy," he replied cryptically.

"Yet you've found the time to ring me," Stephanie countered and she could almost imagine him smirking.

"Did you speak with Miss Hocol?" Seneca pressed.

Stephanie pursed her lips as her brow furrowed slightly. "Yes," she admitted begrudgingly after a moment.

"And did she tell you how she and I met?"

Stephanie sighed as she silently considered and Seneca seemed to almost be holding his breath on the other side of the line.

"Why haven't you just asked her yourself what we spoke about?" Stephanie sniped a little bitterly.

"You complained that I was finding out things behind your back. So I'm asking you now instead. Isn't that what you wanted me to do?" Seneca replied pragmatically, and she could hear the smugness dripping from his voice, as he knew he had her pinned.

Stephanie's eyes narrowed as she paced agitatedly across her room.

"Yes, she told me," Stephanie finally said.

"Well then you know I saved her life," Seneca said smugly as Stephanie glowered at the rainy skyline of the Capitol outside. She imagined that somewhere out amongst there Seneca was sitting in his home perhaps, in his smug Gamemaker silk blazer, smirking as he –

"Stephanie?" Seneca's voice sounded from the other side of the line, "are you that impressed you're speechless?" The amusement was almost palpable in his voice and Stephanie felt her cheeks glowing hotly.

Stephanie rolled her eyes, "you told a woman who had just been through a horrific ordeal that she owed you her life, and that she was indebted to you!"

Seneca scoffed incredulously. "Abernathy must be damn well infallible to meet your high standards then," Seneca retorted sarcastically, "I would have thought saving the woman's life deserved some credit."

Stephanie rolled her eyes as she took a measured breath, "and I'm sure Miss Hocol is immeasurably grateful," Stephanie shot back, her voice edged with that same sarcasm.

There was a beat of silence and then Seneca chuckled again. Stephanie frowned, irked unexplainably by Seneca's seemingly effortless, arrogant composure.

"You're not being very discreet," Stephanie said suddenly.

She could almost imagine the smirk on Seneca's face waning as his ice-blue eyes widened slightly in surprise at her words.

"Oh?" he drawled out the one syllable luxuriously.

Stephanie swallowed. "My stylists were talking about you," Stephanie informed him. "It seems to be you failed to make your usual yearly visit to The Hive to promote your Games," Stephanie's voice was laced with bitter sarcasm.

Silence stretched on the other side of the line for a few endless moments before Seneca spoke.

"It seems I have been a little lax in keeping up appearances," he murmured, his voice clipped and controlled.

Stephanie went closer to the window in her room, pressing the fingertips of her opposite hand that wasn't holding the phone, against the pane of chilled glass.

Her eyes traced the towering buildings in the distance almost searchingly.

"My other stylist Bright – "

"Bright?" Seneca interrupted, the amusement back and softening his voice.

Stephanie scowled even as she felt her cheeks heat up, "I never thought I would remember my stylists' names, and then…it just became a habit," Stephanie mumbled in explanation, huffing and frowning, refusing to admit that she could possibly feel embarrassed.

Seneca laughed quietly. "Do you have a pet name for me?" he murmured silkily.

Stephanie scowled, rolling her eyes, "nothing I could possibly mention politely," she shot back sardonically.

She could practically feel his amusement over the phone.

"Go on with what you were saying about Bright," Seneca said, trying to soothe Stephanie's almost tangible ire.

Stephanie leaned her burning cheek against the cool windows.

"She was saying that she suspects you like someone," Stephanie mumbled.

Seneca made a humming thoughtful noise. "Hmm, it is a possibility," he mused aloud, his voice lilting teasingly.

Stephanie barely resisted rolling her eyes again, "I mean you have to conceal your actions more," Stephanie muttered.

Seneca actually laughed outright, "are you scolding me?" he asked and Stephanie could clearly imagine the smug grin he would be wearing at that moment.

"I'm warning you," Stephanie corrected sharply.

"Very well then, thank-you for the warning. I'll take it in into account." Stephanie could still hear the smirk in his voice though, and she knew he wasn't taking her seriously.

"Seneca I'm serious!" Stephanie barked.

"Stephanie," Seneca interrupted her before she could speak any further.

Stephanie instinctively fell silent.

"I know how to be discreet," Seneca assured her quietly and Stephanie felt her panic abate. A sudden frown marred her brow though at Seneca's next words.

"It is nice to have you worrying about me for a change though," he murmured, the smirk clear in his voice.

"I'm not worrying about you," Stephanie corrected him sternly, "but how do you think people like Bright would react if they knew…" Stephanie trailed off.

"Knew what?" Seneca queried lightly.

"You know what," Stephanie grumbled.

"What? – That it's you I'm in love with?" Seneca answered as though it were the most casual thing in the world.

Stephanie huffed a breath heavily, as she narrowed her eyes. Seneca in typical Seneca-style it seemed was doing his best to dance all over her thinly stretched patience.

"I imagine Bright would be very surprised," Seneca added in the next breath, sounding arrogant all over again as Stephanie's patience was dashed to pieces once more and a growl practically bubbled to her lips.

"What was that?" Seneca prodded her, deliberately taunting.

"Seneca have you got the cure for my fainting or not?" Stephanie snapped.

Seneca chuckled, "you're getting very demanding," he continued to tease.

Stephanie frowned, "Seneca," she growled under her breath warningly.

"It's almost worth annoying you, just to hear you say my name like that," Seneca murmured silkily and Stephanie sucked in a sharp breath.

"I'm about a minute away from hanging up on you," Stephanie threatened.

"A minute may be all I need," he retorted immediately.

"What's the cure to my fainting?" Stephanie asked bluntly.

"I don't know yet, I'm still trying to find out," Seneca replied before adding, "I'm a Gamemaker, not a medic."

Stephanie's brow furrowed immediately as her breath hitched in her throat and realisation dawned.

"If you didn't call me to tell me the cure to my fainting…then why did you call me in the first place?" Stephanie breathed.

There was a heartbeat of quiet.

"To talk to you, to hear your voice…do I always have to have a reason to call you?" Seneca murmured.

Stephanie really was speechless then as she swallowed convulsively and her thoughts raced ahead of her.

"Yes," Stephanie answered sharply, "otherwise you're calling me unnecessarily."

"Yes I suppose it is unnecessary to talk and such with me when there is no reason to – unless, of course, you actually…wanted to talk to me."

Stephanie's heart hammered in her ears as she quickly dropped the phone from her ear, ending the call.

Something entirely dangerous stole across Stephanie's skin then like a hot flush.

Unnecessary…

It had been unnecessary so many times for her to speak to Seneca, to indulge him and rise to his bait. It had been unnecessary of her to let him give her his blazer, to let him carry her and hold her hand and comfort her. It had been unnecessary of her to follow him down to the lake when she could have easily gone back to the car.

It was unnecessary of her to talk with him on the phone then like she did; to warn him that he might be in danger because of his indiscreetness and to tease him back.

Seneca's words came back to her then, echoing clearly in his voice in her head.

Why did she do all those unnecessary things if not because a small part of her at least, actually wanted to?

Thanks to all new favourites / & / follows and reviews!

Thanks to girlworthfightingfor for the review; I'm not sure if you would have liked the Haymitch/Stephanie moment previous chapter but hopefully this chapter made up for it? – I mean not kissing Haymitch to talk to Seneca, and some sort of admission at the end there? :P And you are most definitely right! – Trust me when I say no character no matter how essential they may seem are safe mwahaha…:P

asunatiger; wow; thanks for that huge compliment! I hope my story continues to be as enjoyable as it has been! :D