Guys, I just finished this chapter, I hope you'll all enjoy it !

I decided to make my posts a lot longer, twice as long in fact, because I won't be able to post as fast as now soon, so I think it's better if you have to wait longer for something longer, right?

Thanks for the feedback, keep reviewing ! :D

Chapter 4

As I collapse on my bed, I have the unpleasant sensation that some invisible hand is still playing with my hair. I can still feel Cato's lips on my cheek. I rub it with force in annoyance.

What he is doing? What he is planning? His entire act makes no sense. Attacking me, mocking me and then kissing me goodnight like he cared about me? And there are those words, stuck in my mind. Building you, he said. What does that mean exactly? Like I needed to be built. Like I wanted him to build me.

Entering the dinner car, I note with joy Cato is not here. I only find Astra, his mentor who indicates me where to find Brutus.

I double knock on the door and hear a growl that must mean I can come in. I find my mentor sprawled in a dark red armchair, watching a turned off TV. I don't wait his permission to sit in front of him.

"Here to talk business, aren't you?"

"You said you would help me to make an impression."

"I did."

And he doesn't speak more. I breathe deeply, trying to contain the fire is can feel rising inside of me as minutes go by.

"But if you decide not to, I can leave and mentor myself, I say, standing up quite roughly.

"Calm down," he says. "You'll need to fix that."

"Fix what?" I bark.

I sit though, crossing my arms on my chest. I hate how he, how everyone acts with me here.

"Your hatred. Your impulsiveness. Once you're in the arena, you can't tell sponsors to go to hell because you liked bread over dried fruits. Plus, with your little 5 feet, you wouldn't be hard to knock down. You have to control yourself," he says, leaning over. "Or it may cost you a lot."

"So you just want me to stand around, nodding to everything the Careers say because I am younger?"

"Hell, no! You wouldn't fight off during two hours," he laughs.

That's not amusing. I'm not fragile and certainly not easy to kill. And I'm not 5 feet neither; 5.2.

I don't want to stay quiet while the others make stupid decisions. I'm not going to let anyone impact on my plans of going home. I'm definitely not going to let of those stupid arrogant jerks have me killed because of their ignorance.

"Just try to agree, sometimes, especially to Cato, in the beginning."

"That's not happening."

The words slipped out of my mouth.

"There is no way I'm doing this."

"Honey," he grins, "he's your district partner. You will have the right to kill him when the time comes, but for now, you're really pleased to have him by your side, is that clear?"

"But, I don't like him!"

When Brutus presses his hands against each other, breathing out heavily, I realize my words sounded awfully girly and childish. Brain, brain, what are you doing when I need you?

"You're not in the playground and Cato is not your fellow. You are in the Hunger Games now Honey, and if you want to survive, you are likely to do things you don't want to," he says fluttering his eyelashes.

"Then I'll pretend I don't want to punch his nasty ferret face," I mutter, frowning.

"Great," Brutus smiles falsely.

I can see exasperation on his face. I was being annoying and immature, but I would not apologize for it. I'm not good at pretending anyway. There's a look on his face I recognize immediately, the same as mine when I want to break things.

Suddenly I remember Brutus' games. I can see him in my mind ripping that little twelve year-old girl's throat open and watching her bleed to death on the floor. There are images in my mind of how he beat up a guy with a tree branch, enjoying it. Anger him may not be the right thing to do right now, because despite how much I dislike it, I need help to win.

"What about my interview? How should I act?"

"I get it. Now, you want you're ready to consider what I say?"

I swallow hard but keep a straight face. It seems it's too late to calm him down.

"That's not how it works little girl! I'm here to help you because I have to and I might as well leave you to die in the arena. You have guts, I like it, but blind anger will lead you nowhere so you stay on this chair and listen carefully to what I say, unless I leave you alone to cry, understood?"

I nod. I feel like speaking would be a mistake so I just sit there like he told me to, waiting for him to advice me.

"Good."

I stay silent for a few more minutes as Brutus is closing his eyes to plan something or maybe just to forget I'm here.

"You're not good at pretending, hun?"

I hesitantly shake my head. Why lie? I'm a terrible actor. But once in the arena, being a terrible actor doesn't matter as long as you're a good killer.

"Well, that shouldn't be such a problem. You're sarcastic and self-assured by nature. That should be enough to get you sponsors. "

I'm so glad to hear I won't have to act the lovely-silly girl. And well, that's the closer of a compliment I might ever get from Brutus.

"Above all, don't let the audience have a doubt on your chance of winning. If Caesar asks you, answer frankly. A big Yes will perfectly do. You're a Career; you have the right to be confident."

"I am."

"I know," he grins.

I smile back. This interview shouldn't be a big deal.

"Before I forget, don't fight with your prep team when we arrive."

"My prep team?" I repeat.

What the hell is a prep team? Whatever it is, I'm sure I don't need it.

"C'mon Clove, have you ever watched the Games before? Of course you did," he cuts me. "Do you really think the Tributes always look as they do in interviews or for the Chariot ride? Your prep team is here to take care of you, to make you look pretty."

"I don't mind being ugly."

"But your future sponsors do. So you'll just let them wash you, wax you and dress you up, ok?"

"I don't want to look like a doll!" I scream

"You don't have the choice," he says, stressing each word.

I visibly already lost the fight. So I just grumble sinking in my armchair.

"You may not like your outfit for it, but the Chariot ride will be the first impression people will really have of you. So you just have to stand victorious and look at them like you're ready to fight."

"I am ready to fight."

"To the death?"

"And more," I smile.

Someone knock on the door. Ho dear, no…

"You two are late," Brutus mumbles when Cato and Astra enter.

He's really the last person I feel like seeing now, but it seems avoiding him isn't in my power. I just pretend he's invisible and enjoy the fact that I don't have to share my armchair with him. He seems so unpredictable and unstable; I don't know how to act towards him. Luckily, he just sits and stares at Brutus.

Until our eyes meet. He then smiles widely, a smile that would make girls in Two faint. But right now, it just creeps me out and I decide to report my attention on the screen, trying to get rid of the unpleasant feeling in my stomach.

Come on Clove, you can't be afraid of him

My hands tighten on the arms of my chair, trying to suppress all the confusion in my mind. I close my eyes, picturing in my mind how lovely it would be to see him dead. How I would enjoy sinking my dagger into his chest. What a wonderful feeling it will be to take that arrogant smile of his face, cutting two deep wounds on each side of his mouth.

That actually calms me down and I'm able to open my eyes again.

"Clove? Is that ok?" Cato asks, faking worry.

"Absolutely fine."

"Focus on the screen please, we're going to watch the Reaping guys," Brutus informs.

That should me more fun.

First, we see the boy and the girl from One volunteer, as always. Astra already pauses the video.

"These two are you allies. It's a pact between Districts One, Two and Four. But I guess you know that," she says, flipping her brown hair. "Join the Career and you'll be safe for a while. Refuse to ally, you'll be dead in an hour. "

After comes our Reaping. I have to say, my volunteering is a master piece. I mean, I went faster than all those others silly and climbed on stage, not impressed at all. THAT is volunteering. I absently stare watch the sequence of Cato's selection, praying it to go faster. I feel like I'm surrounded by evil ferrets right now.

After his the turn of Three. The boy volunteers, but I don't see why.

"Why does he volunteers?" says Cato, forming my thoughts. "I mean, he's skinny and he's as tall as Little Clove."

I immediately turn round and give him a hatred-full look.

"What is your problem? My height is perfect!"

"But he's seventeen. And he is a boy, while you're just a fourteen years-old charming girl," he says with a seductive smile.

I never liked the way boys in Two were flirting with girls, but coming from Cato, that started to be really scary. He's looking in the pit of my eyes, and I have no choice but support his glance. I don't want him to think I'm weak, or worse, that I appreciated what sounded like a compliment.

"District Four guys! F-O-C-U-S!" Brutus shouts.

Dear Brutus, you saved my life.

"Same for them as for One. Don't underestimate them."

"But the girl is shaking to death while volunteering!" I protest.

"She is not," Astra tries to deny.

"She is."

I'm about to thank him when I realize he's Cato and I don't want to thank him.

"Anyway, don't underestimate her. She must have a reason or a certain aptitude to volunteer. She's in the Career pack, you like it or not," she orders.

I sigh. And one useless tribute to carry around, one.

I barely pay attention to tributes from five and six. Chat have they got to offer? A skinny girl that looks like a fox and a boy with a scar on the cheek, probably made while building tracks: an undernourished girl and a clumsy boy. What a threat.

There is thy boy in seven that seems quite strong. Maybe we could ask him to join if he has any useful skill. Or maybe we could kill him. I like both.

District Nine and Ten fly in a blink. Nothing good, as usual. Then Eleven. A little girl is reaped and give panicked looks all the way to the stage, her lovely face frozen in fear. I will so love to see that look in her eyes when I'll kill her. The boy, him, seems quite interesting. He's a mountain. A huge black mountain of muscles. Astra pauses the Reaping.

"This boy, we're asking him to join," Cato says.

"Like I was not going to do it," I mumble.

"Of course you were going to," Brutus says.

He's looking at me with a come-on-girl-you-said-you-would-try-to-agree look. I sigh again and focus on the recording.

"Can't we just turn off the TV? Nothing interesting ever happens in District Twelve," I ask.

"Don't be so arrogant," Astra says with contempt.

As a girl volunteers for her younger sister I can't help myself but comment:

"What is she going to do to hurt me? Throw pieces of coal at me? Hugh, I'm shaking in horror. I'm off"

"SIT DOWN!"

I didn't expect Brutus would shout at me this way. No need to say I sit back.

And as I said, nothing interesting happens until the train stops.

"Guys" Astra says clapping her hands. "Welcome to the Capitol"

Yeah, suspense ! Don't hate me, you'll have the Chariot ride and I think first day of training soon ;)

Tell me how you feel, about Cato, Brutus, Astra, even about the armchair I don't care, I really appreciate having your impressions!

Love you all!