Chapter 4

I sip the last of my stew and pick up my steak knife, it's really comforting. I start spinning it in my fingers, when Haymitch stumbles in. He notices the knife and turns to me.
"You any good at throwing that knife or can you just play with it?" He slurs.
"No." I say bashfully.
Gale POV
Just as Haymitch turns towards the bar, Charlie jumps up, propelling the knife past his head and into a liquor bottle on the bar, sending the shards of glass scattering over the floor.

"You could have hit me face you know." He says, trying to point at his face. "Wouldn't it be a shame to see this pretty face impaled." He says just about finishing his sentence before the alcohol takes over him and he falls unconscious on to the floor. Effie starts scolding us like I've often done to Rory and Vick, before instructing us to our rooms to clean up. On our way out two attendants come in and pick up Haymitch. As I pass Charlie in the corridor, I flash her a smile and say:

"Nice skills." She replies with a smirk and a bow before pushing open the door and entering. I go around the corner and do the same, locking my door and walking though into the shower cubicle. After trying a million different combinations of temperature, pressure and smell I find a setting that works and let the water soak me.

As I'm just about to get out when I hear noises coming through the wall which I can make out to be singing:

Well now I know in the end,

That we couldn't pretend what it's like.

And now I'm sure, that there isn't a cure

And we know what it's like to get by, to get by.

Am I not ethical? Am I not logical?

In this crazy world, to survive?

And we're never turning back, never turning back.

Must we always have to struggle for sky?

All our lives.

I've never heard the song before, but what I'm sure is Charlie's voice sound completely angelic. I hear her water go off and I turn off mine and when I get out, I sling a towel around me and dry before changing into some black loose trousers and a cream plain top. They were the plainest clothes in the draw, and if that's what men wear, I can't imagine what Charlie has been delighted with.

I walk back down the corridor to the dining and living area, where Effie is sitting on a couch muttering something at her watch. A pair of footsteps made their way down the corridor where the rooms are through to the room, and their owner sits beside me on the sofa facing the television set. I look down to her face and see a simple necklace hanging over her neck, a simple silver chain, gold band and outline of a four leafed clover. The inside is set with green gems, it matches my pin. Charlie looks up at me as I pick up the charm and run my fingers over it.

"Katniss." She mouths, and I take the pin from my pocket and show it her, before returning it there. The set flickers on and we are presented with the blue hair and suit of Caesar Flickerman, who tells us he will be recapping the reaping with his guest, President Coriolanus Snow. Great.

Hey there! I'm super sorry for my little break, I was away and busy with school, but now I can update frequently. Over my little break, I've decided to take a new direction with the story, and all will be revealed soon! Again, super sorry about the break and short chapter,

Abi :)