A/N: Sorry that it has taken so long to update. My exams are nearly over, just one to go! Hurray. But the chapter is quite long, for me anyway, over 2,500 words! Yeah, I kind of wrote this while my parents thought I was doing my English essay so better get back to doing that.

Thankyou to all of my reviewers so far: DrivesLikeACullen; xCrystalNightx; .x; Kiara212; MZC16; XxSarahCullenxX; Shelby Cobra; UnderlandSavior and Jane. This chapter is dedicated to you guys.

Anyways ENJOY!

Chapter 3: Over My Shoulder

Once, when Everest and I were younger, we went to the park. It was a beautiful day, birds were singing and the sun shone high in the sky. We were flying a kite; running and screaming like, well like little kids but then it got stuck in a tree. Everest, acting all brave, climbed the tree to retrieve it but when he got to the top he was scared. He didn't want to jump down. There was no other way to get down and he couldn't stay up there forever. He had no choice; the plan only had one exit.

I hear a cry like a distress beacon, it is a distress beacon, it's my father. I turn towards the noise. My father is being held back by four strong men, tears are streaming down his face – I really didn't think this through.

I am evil. His heart broke once when my sister disappeared. He took it better than my mother. A week after my sister's 'death' she killed herself, she couldn't take it – heartbreak number two. But he stayed, for me. And now I am set to compete in the Hunger Games. He doesn't know my secret, he probably expects me to die – his heart will break again. Who can survive three heartbreaks?

I look away, I can't watch anymore.

I look at Everest, his eyes are filled with pain, I can't take that either.

So I look to my destination, the stage.

I let go of Everest's hand and my fear ignites.

Before it was just a spark, a realisation that I had made a mistake, that I didn't actually want to do this. But it was ok, it was manageable because it was being kept under control by my faith in my gift, by the power of my eyes; I almost hypnotised myself.

I didn't hypnotise myself. If I really did then fires of fear wouldn't be pulsing through my body right now - because my hypnotising never fails.

But what if I don't get the chance to look my competitor in the eye? What if I get knifed in the back during the blood bath? What if I starve? What if I get ambushed by career tributes? What if I can't actually kill somebody?

I feel myself start to fall. I feel the blackness closing in, drowning the fire, and I welcome it. Besides this might be good for my image, a damsel in distress. It will make me more surprising.

*****

I feel a hand on my shoulder. Not a kind, comforting one but a rough one. I open my eyes and find myself looking straight into the eyes of a peace keeper.

"You all right now?" he asks and for a split second I think I see pity in his eyes, "Come on now, go to the stage. Competing in the Hunger Games will be fun!" Oh yeah, he's a peace keeper. He doesn't know the meaning of the word pity.

"How long was I out?" I hope it wasn't too long, I want to appear timid but not pathetic.

The peace keeper laughs, "Only about thirty seconds."

"Well, that's not too embarrassing."

I look down at my feet trying to work out if they'll be able to hold my weight. I don't know why but I randomly start giggling. The peace keeper booming laugh joins in. We sit there in the middle of a confused crowd, and laugh.

Heaven knows how long we sat there but we stop silent when we hear Jakiry's voice,

"Aiza, could you come up to the stage now please."

I do as I am asked; I think I've caused enough drama – for now anyway. My steps are slow and tiny. The stage feels so far away all I can thinks is how I don't want to be doing this. It's not fair, people shouldn't be able to make stupid decisions.

I don't want to compete in the Hunger Games.

I don't want to compete in the Hunger Games.

I don't want to compete in the Hunger Games.

I just want to win them.

But I don't want to kill anybody... So I won't; I'll make them die but I won't kill them. Still, I don't want to have to do that either.

I reach the stage and turn to face the crowd. My dad is on his knees and still crying but Everest hasn't moved, I think he's in shock. Zizal is staring at me like I'm a mad woman... then again maybe I am.

I turn to face Jakiry, "Hey." I am supposed to greet the announcer, right?

"Hey, mind letting us in on the joke?"

I look straight into one of the cameras, "Well, you know that it's said there is a thin line between love and hate? Well I guess there is also a thin line between fear and humour." I barely whisper the words however true they are; I am so scared now, I was so scared then, I don't know why I laughed.

"Aw bless, she has gone all shy now." Jakiry addresses the crowd this time, "Well, let's have a round of applause for District 7's tributes for the 75th Hunger Games, Zizal Karry and Aiza Monett!"

A brief ripple of applause flutters from the audience as Zizal and I shake hands. I take my first proper look at him; unsurprisingly his eyes are filled with fear of death. However I do not think he will be new to pain, his nose is crooked indicating several breakings and there is a scar above his left eye. He won't have any visitors in the justice building, you can tell just by looking at him that he is from the orphanage.

Ages ago, way back in history, orphanages used to be all right: kids were treated well; fed properly and loved. But it's gone downhill from there, nowadays orphan pretty much equals rodent.

However much I disagree with common views of kids from the orphanage, I feel I must think of him as a rodent. Maybe, just maybe, it will make it easier to send him to his death.

Besides he does kind of look like a rat.

I am escorted to the justice building by an extremely fat peace keeper. Stupid over fed capitol robots. The peace keeper holds a very firm grip on my shoulder, does he honestly expect me to faint again?

The room I am led into is extraordinarily posh. A gold framed mirror hangs one wall and the others are painted lilac. I kick my shoes off and sink my bare feet into the soft cream carpet, it is so soft it feels like walking on ice-cream only not cold, obviously. A plush couch stands in the corner; I suppose that is where I am meant to sit.

I curl up into a ball and rub my hands along the silky, purple fabric. I have not been sitting for long when my dad bursts through the door.

His face is red and streaky, blotched with tears. My heart shatters into more pieces than I ever thought possible. At least I won't actually be able to see his face when I am actually competing in the games.

I try to put a positive spin on all of this, but it's impossible. So instead I break down and cry with him.

We sob for ages. Both starting sentences but finishing them with a wail and more tears.

"The bracelet..." he starts and I nod, I know.

When my sobbing eventually stops I start the speech I have prepared, even though my tears are still freely flowing.

"Dad, I love you more than anything in the whole world. Please forgive me for anything I do in the games. I will only be doing it because I need to win – I promise, Dad, I'm coming home. I'm going to come back to you so please stay strong until then. Don't do anything stupid; I can't lose you like I lost Mum, I love you too much. And Dad..." I lean closer and whisper in his ear, "I am going to be the last victor of the Hunger Games."

My dad only has time to give me a confused look before a peace keeper barges into the room and drags him away.

I sit back down, tucking my feet underneath me and try to stop crying.

I fail miserably. However the tears are less rapid now.

The door opens for the second time and Everest shuffles in.

I bite my lip and look downwards, tears falling onto my dress.

I hear Everest moving closer. I feel Everest sit down on the couch next to me. Then I feel Everest's hands cup my face.

I close my eyes as he brings my face upwards. I expect him to tell me to stay strong; to promise to come home or wish me luck. I sit and wait for the words.

But no words come. Instead I feel his lips touch my cheek as his starts kissing away my tears, literally.

Maybe I don't know him as well as I think I do. Maybe it was actually both of us who were too afraid to show our true feelings.

His kissing stops and I open my eyes to look at him,

"Aiza, I'm sorry. I..." I lean forward and press my lips against his to let him know that it's all right – it's more than alright.

After a few minutes we break apart. I rest my head against his shoulder and sigh.

"You don't know how long I've been waiting to do that." I whisper

"I think it's safe to say we were never just friends, we've always been something more."

"I just didn't realise it was love."

"I love you," he says as he kisses the top of my head. Typical, they always confess their undying love for you when you're on your death bed, couch.

I reach up and stroke his cheek, "I'm coming back you know, I'm going to win."

"Please do."

Should I tell him about my eyes? Should I tell him how I intend to win? Should I tell him about my bigger picture?

"Everest, there is something I need to tell you." We are now sitting facing each other, holding hands, "There is something I can do with my eyes, I can... I can hypnotise people." I look away, for once not knowing what his response will be.

"I know." What? How can he know? "I saw what happened with your sister." Oh God, he saw!

"It's ok, I know you didn't mean to do it."

He's right, I didn't mean to.

It was four years ago, when my sister was fourteen. I was in the kitchen playing with my dolls. She was there too, teasing me. I was getting upset, I was getting annoyed. I looked up and told her to get lost, but as I said the words my eyes locked with hers. The next morning my sister's bed was empty, she was gone. A man said he had seen her down by the river, that's where the drowning theory came from. No body was ever found. My sister was lost.

Everest shakes me lightly by the shoulder

"Let me guess, if you think deeply into the memory you see a flash of white by an open window?"

I think then I nod. I do remember seeing a flash of white by an open window.

He points to his hair which makes me smile. He stares at me puzzled.

"You finally admitted that your hair is white."

"No comment."

"That's how I'm going to win." He nods, "Then I'm going to come home and kiss you again." I smirk spreads across Everest's face, "Before I head back to the capitol and hypnotize President Snow into stopping the Hunger Games once and for all."

"No! Aiza don't be crazy, you can't do that. It's too dangerous, I forbid you to do it."

"Fine, we can argue about it when I get back." I know who is going to win that argument.

"If you get back." Everest says with sorrow in his voice.

"You doubt me?" I ask, shocked and feeling betrayed.

"No, just reminding you that the overly confident hare got over taken by the tortoise."

"So now I'm a rabbit?"

"And if you are a good rabbit and win you can have a bowl of carrots when you get back." Everest kisses me on the nose and I giggle.

"I love you." I say and kiss Everest again.

"I'm scared Everest, I don't want to do this, I don't actually want to compete in the Hunger Games."

"I know, I know," He soothes stroking my hair, "Don't worry, you didn't choose to do this." I bury my face in his shirt.

"But I did, Everest, I hypnotised Jakiry."

"No, the Aiza that is going to compete in the Hunger Games hypnotised Jakiry."

"What do you mean?"

"Think of her as a different person. It will make it easier... easier to kill them."

He's right, it will. It doesn't stop me being afraid though.

"But don't worry, I'll love both Aizas."

There is a knock at the door and the peace keeper that laughed with me at the reaping pokes his head round,

"Times up."

Everest gives me one last peck on the lips and ducks out the door. The peace keeper closes the door, keeping himself on the inside.

"Mind if I visit." What!? He wants to visit, he wants to talk? I nod, astonished.

"Didn't expect me did you?"

"I don't know you." I state, simply because it is a simple statement.

"I don't know you."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I want you to win."

"Why?" Why does he want me to win? What makes me so special?

He shrugs his shoulders, "Dunno, there's just something about you that says your worth keeping." With that he backs out of the room; my last visitor, a peace keeper, a stranger who believes in me.

I have to stay in my room all day. I receive a light lunch because I am set to have a feast when I get on the train.

By the time I leave it is dark. A sleek, black car takes me to the train station.

For a reason I can't work out the station was built on the top of a really tall hill. From the top you can see nearly all of district 7: the shops and the schools; the houses and the gardens; the markets and the cobbled streets.

Before I step onto the train I take one last look over my shoulder, district 7 is a maze of light.

It is tradition in our district for, on the night after the reaping, every person to light a candle and stand outside their house.

It is a symbol to offer guidance in the dark days they will spend in the arena. A light to guide them to victory.

It barely ever works.

I wonder, is Everest out there? Holding a candle and wishing me well. Thinking of me like I am thinking of him, as I board the train and become Aiza 2 – the Aiza who chose to compete in the Hunger Games.

A/N: What did you think? Like the romance or thought that it sucked? Tell me either way, constructive criticism is very welcome.

So you found out what happened with her sister! Only one person guessed and well lets say they were pretty close-ish.

Don't know if anybody has noticed this but I could not resist calling someone Everest and giving them white hair.

Also nobody seems to know what district 7 represents. I read somewhere that it is construction? So if I get no corrections I will go with that.

Anyway thanks for reading and please review, it doesn't take long. XD