Bad Blood by Bastille

If we're only looking back

We will drive ourselves insane

As the friendship goes resentment grows

We will walk our different ways

But those are the days that bind us together, forever

And those little things define us forever, forever

Chapter 2

Winnow sat on a couch next to Mags, chin propped up on her hand as they watched the Reapings Recap. For the first time since meeting her, the mentors and escort noted Winnow looked completely engaged. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the screen intently.

She was busy trying to pick out who the biggest threats were to her. If she was going to go down, she was going to take as many people as possible down with her. Winnow wasn't really sure she wanted to win, either. Did she deserve it more than the other tributes? She had nothing or no one waiting for her. She didn't know what she wanted.

"Winnow," Finnick called, trying to get her attention. She glanced away from the screen to him, her brows raised in question. "To come up with a strategy for each of you, Mags and I need to know your skills and strengths," he informed her.

She glanced to their other mentor, a smile flickering onto her lips. Mags had always been Winnow's favorite Victor from their district. "I'm good with a trident, and a blade." She said.

"Winnow's really smart, too." Kai piped up. Winnow turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow at him.

"That's good. We can use that. You could join the Careers," Finnick said, nodding in approval. "Now what about you, Kai?"

Kai shrugged, rubbing his arms. "I'm smart. My parents are pretty well-off. I stayed in school instead of starting to work. I don't have any skills." He confessed.

"That's not true," Winnow's low voice interjected. "You're good with a scalpel. That could be translated to a short blade," she suggested. Kai and Finnick looked incredibly surprised at her statement. She shrugged at their expressions and turned to look out the window.

Mags tugged on Finnick's sleeve, mumbling unintelligibly- but Finnick seemed to understand her. "A scalpel…you intend to be a doctor?" Finnick asked Kai, relaying Mags' question to the tribute.

"A surgeon, actually, but yes." Kai answered, running a hand through his dark hair. He kept glancing nervously at Winnow, as if she might say something else.

"That could be your angle," Finnick mused. "You're training to be a doctor. Do you have a lot of knowledge on medicinal plants?" he questioned, to which Kai nodded quickly. "We could make you essential, a highly sought after commodity. Someone who could fix the others up. Who wouldn't want you in their alliance?" Finnick explained in excitement.

Mags smiled broadly, gesturing encouragingly at Kai, who seemed to relax greatly at seeing their enthusiasm and hope. "What about an alliance between the two of you?" Finnick suggested quietly. His expression was unsure, as if he wasn't quite sure what he was getting into by bringing it up.

Kai started, and Winnow slowly turned her gaze from the window. "If I'm to enter in an alliance, I need someone I can trust," She responded simply.

Kai scowled at her, the unpleasant expression marring his handsome features. "And you're saying you can't trust me?" he questioned, his voice tight.

"I'm saying I can't trust anyone." Winnow responded without emotion. Her eyes flickered to each of the three faces in the room. She stood, brushing off her dress and strode from the room.

Finnick and Mags looked to Kai for explanation, and saw his hands clenched into fists where they rested on his legs. Mags reached past Finnick and gently lay her hand over Kai's, causing them to relax. "Do you think you can shed any light on what just happened, Kai?" Finnick asked.

Mags' head tilted in curiosity, nodding to encourage Kai to speak. The tribute sighed and thought for a moment before speaking. "Winnow and I were friends once. More than friends, really…If you know what I mean," he said, blushing a bright red.

"And what happened?" Finnick questioned immediately, prompting him to go on. There were a million thoughts in his head, considering what he might be able to do with this information to gain sponsorship for his tributes.

Kai seemed uneasy, glancing towards the hall where Winnow had just disappeared down. "Her sister died." He answered. Mags held a hand up to her mouth, quietly gasping. "It was two years ago," Kai offered. "Winnow was never really a warm person, but she wasn't like this. She had tons of friends, tons of guys who wanted to go out with her, and she liked me," he continued, his cheeks glowing red again.

"Her parents had died a long time ago. All Winnow had was her sister, Genna, to raise and take care of her. And suddenly, when we were sixteen, Genna got sick. And they couldn't afford a doctor or medicine, so Genna died." Kai explained hesitantly. "Winnow had to pull out of school and start working on the fishing boats. Where her parents died," he said, swallowing hard.

"She changed. She was cold. She was just so angry…And I understand why, I really do…but it didn't mean she had to push us all away. Her friends and I, we tried to be there for her, help her. But Winnow didn't want it, didn't want us. She just flat-out told us that she didn't have time for us anymore, and to just leave her alone. We haven't spoken since. Until today," Kai finished, keeping his eyes on the ground, on the screen, the ceiling, anything but Finnick and Mags.

Mags and Finnick had similarly horrified expressions, but quickly schooled them to indifference in order to spare Kai's feelings. Just in time, too, as Kai looked up- clearly feeling guilty for having told them. "I see," Finnick said, sort of at a loss for what else to say.

Kai got up, tripping over his own feet as he moved away from the mentors. "Don't tell her I told you," he requested, the pair of them nodding quickly to his request. "I might just be the first one she kills in the arena if she finds out," Kai muttered to himself.

Winnow had settled in a comfy chair in the drinking car after leaving the compartment holding her district-mates. The bartender clearly had no problem with underage drinking. At least for those who were being sent into an arena to kill each other, for he had served Winnow with little more than a raised eyebrow.

She was nursing her second drink- something far too sweet and of the bartender's choosing, for Winnow had given no preference. The door slid open to the compartment, admitting a large, muscular boy Winnow's age with short, blond spiked hair. Winnow paid him no mind, though she did quickly recognize him as the tribute from District Two. C-something, she was sure.

Two barely glanced at her, either, before sidling up to the bartender, trying to smooth-talk him into handing over a drink. The bartender merely looked at him, unimpressed, and handed the tribute what he wanted, before turning away from him. Two's eyebrows rose, and then he turned to survey the compartment, drink in hand.

The only other occupant was Winnow, who kept her gaze firmly on the window, watching the land they sped past. Two took a swallow of his drink and meandered over to Winnow. He sat down in the chair opposite her.

"You're from Four, right?" he asked, forcing Winnow to look at him.

Winnow sighed and glanced at him. "And you're from Two." She responded uninterested.

"Cato, actually," Two corrected, holding his hand out for her to shake.

Winnow eyed his hand suspiciously, before taking it reluctantly. "Winnow." She informed him, retracting her hand from his as soon as possible, before turning back to the window.

Cato ground his teeth, frustrated with the young woman before him. He was the one that was going to win these Games, so she should know that, and show him some respect. "I'll be the head of the Careers, you know," He remarked. "So are you Career Material?" He asked her, looking her up and down without any subtlety.

Winnow punctuated the silence with yet another sigh, turning to face Cato again. "I might be. I guess we'll see in Training, won't we?" she decided, her lips tilting up as she noticed him examining her body. "Before I even consider joining your little 'pack', I'll need to see if you and your…friends are any good," Winnow informed him arrogantly.

She could see the shock and anger that shot through Cato's eyes and smirked. She stood, tossing back the last drops of her drink, and stalked towards Cato, careful to make her movements seem predatory. His eyes darkened at her approach, and his knuckles were white from holding onto his glass so tightly. "You might be good with a sword, Career-boy, but do you think you can handle me?" Winnow murmured daringly into his ear.

Cato's eyes shot up to hers in shock, before quickly shifting to arrogance. "I know I can, that's for certain, Four," he shot back quickly.

Winnow just laughed, as it antagonized Cato to no end. "We'll see, Career-boy, we'll see," She told him, before leaving the compartment, her hips swinging seductively.

Cato's eyes were glued to her backside, his eyes darkening as indecent thoughts ran through his mind. He took a gulp of his drink, glancing to the seat that Winnow had just inhabited. "I'll just have to show you, won't I, princess?" he muttered after taking another swallow of his drink.

A/N: Alright! A huge amount of information was given in this chapter and I want to hear your thoughts! Was it too much? Too little, or just right? And Cato's been introduced! In just a few short chapters, the rating will be upped to M!

I'm grateful for the response so far! I want this story to be a guilty pleasure for its readers- a departure from usual Hunger Games stories with OC's! Winnow is wicked, and will have no problem hunting at Cato's side- unlike many other HG fanfics where Cato's love interest is disgusted by that side of him (I love those stories, don't get me wrong, but I want this story to be different!)

Reviews Please?

Revised 7/26/16.