Yall are gonna love this chapter!

Since I didn't reply to any erviews last chapter, I'll do that now!

Shout out to:

Sparky She-Demon: Zahra is one of my favorite OCs that I've written!

McLoggernaut: I think I already replied to your review, but I fixed those errors in the last chapter! I was an idiot when I was twelve ;)

ReadBooksWriteThings: That's what I was aiming for! Because I still really love book Katniss, but I feel like she grew into herself in the 11-16 range, after her father died, but since I put her in the games at such young age, she would be very different. Enter Zahra, a District 8 version of Katniss to keep up her legacy!

brookeyy14: I thought so! Thanks for putting up with my inconsistant posts and other shenanigans for so long!

I heard the scream from all the way downstairs and knew immediately what it was. I felt my feet carrying me up the steps to Prims room. My hand on the bannister put my tattoo in plain sight.

Comita.

Caraway.

Silva & Monroe

I looked away just as soon as I had seen it. Images of six teenagers flashed in my mind as I forced myself up the stairs.

Willa and Aspen, so in love that they got married early.

Leevy and Lennox, twins who were so eager to give what little they had to those who had even less

Ceri and Almond, quiet, young and innocent, who never should've been reaped at the young ages of twelve and fourteen.

Prim could end up just like them.

I opened the door to her room and ran to her bedside, where she was sobbing quietly.

"It's alright Prim. It's all okay," I soothed.

"It was me," she cried. "They pulled my name,"

This year was to be Prim's first reaping. Ordinarily, I would've tried to comfort her and tell her that it was all going to be fine. She only had her name in the reaping bowl once. She wouldn't be picked. But she knew just as well as I did that she had a higher probability of being reaped, simply because her sister was Katniss Everdeen. I couldn't lie to her like that.

"I won't let that happen," I said instead.

Prim looked at me, her eyes bloodshot. "You can't stop it, either."

"I would rather die than let you enter the arena."

She smiled through her tears.

I made up my mind right there. I knew she would be reaped. It was clear to me. I would volunteer for her, and I would be going back into the arena.

…

"Ladies first!" Effie trilled. I steeled myself. Here it comes. She took a deep breath, and excitedly called out- "Primrose Everdeen." Her voice dropped at the end. She glanced back at me, sorrow in her eyes. I stood up quickly, a lump forming in my throat, preventing me from speaking. The best I could manage was "Prim!" coming out as a small squeak. Prim walked up to the stage, the crowd parting around her. I watched her tuck her shirttail into her skirt, and felt the lump in my throat dissolve.

"I volunteer!" I call out, remembering Zahra's bravery for Lydia. She was truly a role model for me.

Effie, Haymitch, Mayor Undersea, and everyone else turned to me in surprise.

"That's… That's not allowed… is it?" Mayor Undersea said.

"It is allowed," I said firmly. "I am sixteen years old. I can still volunteer."

"That's true," Haymitch supplied, knowing how much I wanted this. "She can volunteer. She can't be reaped, but she can volunteer."

"Alright then," Effie regained her composure. "And now for the boys." She dug her hand around in the glass ball, and pulled out a slip of paper. "Peeta Mellark,"

Peeta was a boy my age. His family owned the bakery. I didn't know him well, but I remembered him throwing me a piece of bread when I was eleven and starving, right after my father died.

We shook hands and were escorted into the Justice Building to say our final goodbyes.

"Hello, Katniss," said my first visitor. Peeta's father. The baker.

"Hello, sir," I said politely, standing up.

"You might want to sit back down," he told me. I did, concerned.

"Katniss, I've been meaning to tell you something for a long time now. Peeta is your twin brother."

I stared at him blankly, not believing it. "No he's not. Neither one of my parents would cheat on each other."

"It happened before your parents even knew each other," He explained gently. "You know that your parents only knew each other for four months before getting married, correct?"

I nodded. "Because my mother fell in love with the way he sang."

"Exactly," Mr. Mellark said, brushing his dark hair away from his face. "You're mother and I had a bit of… chemistry before she met your father. Anyway, she conceived and was pregnant with the two of you. Not much longer, she met your father, married him, and found out she was pregnant. She explained the situation to your father, who was very understanding. My wife, however, was not when she found out. That's why she's always been so cruel to Peeta, because he isn't hers."

I stared at him, his words barely registering with me. My father… my dad, who raised me and taught me everything I know… is not my dad. "So you're my dad? Not Andrew Everdeen?"

"You have to understand, Katniss. Andrew loved you very much, just as he would if you were his daughter. He's still your dad, Katniss. He raised you."

"But he's not." I said.

The doors opened and a peacekeeper gestured for him to leave.

"Please, Katniss. Please understand. Don't hold this against him. He really loved you."

I turned my back. "You need to leave, dad." I said. I heard him sigh deeply, then leave through the door he entered.

…

I ignored Peeta while we were on the train. And Haymitch. And Effie, for that matter. I didn't even call Finnick once. I stayed huddled up on my bed, a blanket covering my head. Three times a day, Effie would knock on my door, telling me it was time to eat. Three times a day I would ignore her. Three times a day an avox would bring me a tray of food, which I would eat and leave the dishes by the door. Only once a day, Haymitch would bang on my door, telling me I had a phone call. I always told him to go away.

I felt the train pull into the stop on the second day, and dragged my fingers through my hair, trying to make myself presentable. I braided it quickly, my fingers flying through the design. Then I opened the door to my room and walked into the dining car where I knew the rest of the DIstrict 12 team would be. I saw Peeta waving out the window at the Capitol citizens, and I joined him. I saw two women who started to sob at the sight of me, standing there as a tribute.

"The Capitol gets attached to their Victors," Haymitch said. "The people are not happy about you going back in. They want security that you'll make it out alive."

I continued to wordlessly stare out the window.

Two peacekeepers escorted me into Beauty Base Zero. I silently noted that Peeta and the other tributes only had one. They were worried about someone trying to reach me, I realized. Or maybe they thought I would try to make a run for it.

I forgot how long it took to get a tribute ready. They needed to look perfect, whereas mentors didn't have to, since they weren't the center of attention anymore. I was done in about two hours, all suited up in my flames. Cinna dressed Peeta and me as smoke this year, to carry on my legacy as the Girl on Fire.

As I stood with Haymitch, Peeta, Cinna, and Peeta's stylist, I could feel eyes on my back the whole time. I turned around and saw a pair of green eyes near the front, gazing at me from the District 4 chariot. Every couple minutes, Adonia would redirect his attention to his tributes, but Finnick just kept on staring at me. I stared back, feeling fresh tears pricking at my eyes, but I pushed them away.. I was the one everyone was watching. I needed to be strong. I would not be seen as a little girl anymore. I was not twelve years old, and I wouldn't be hiding my skill just to look cute. I would prove that I deserved that eight I earned so many years ago. In fact, I deserved more.

I felt two warm arms snake around my waist and exhaled, knowing immediately who it was. I didn't turn around, not trusting myself to keep it together. I felt him press a kiss to my temple.

"How are you holding up?" Finnick asked me.

"I can't do this again," I whispered, praying that Peeta couldn't hear me.

"Yes you can," Finnick said. "You have to. Just think about Prim and your mother and Gale. You can't leave them."

"If I die, they'll be right back to square one," I realized. "They'll lose the house and my income and everything. And Prim can't hunt. How will they live?"

"Woah, woah, woah," Finnick said. "Don't get ahead of yourself. Look at me, Katniss,"

I reluctantly turned around, and just staring into his face brought tears to my eyes. I refused to let them fall, and it took every ounce of my strength to hold myself together in front of the other tributes. I could see matching tears welling up in Finnick's eyes, too.

"Please, Katniss," He said, cupping his hand under my chin. "You have to win. For all of us. I don't know how I would... I don't know what I would do if you… if you…" He swallowed. "I couldn't stand it if you died in there." I hugged him tightly, desperately. He held me just as hard. "I love you too much," He paused, cutting himself off abruptly. "We all love you too much for that."

I didn't respond, but just held on even tighter. "Come to my floor tonight?" I whispered into his shoulder.

"Of course," he said. I smiled. Someone laid their hand on my back as I stepped away, and I turned abruptly, my head already back in the Hunger Games.

"Katniss," Cashmere said. "I'm so, so sorry,"

Gloss was behind her, as were most of the other Victors. Cecelia, Beetee, Wiress, Blight, Zahra (who was training to be a mentor with Cecelia), Chaff, Seeder, and Haymitch, of course.

"We're all backing you," Seeder said. "Don't you worry. You're making it out of that arena."

I nodded. Now I really was in danger of crying.

I don't know who started it, but I figure it must have been Adonia from the District 4 chariot. Anything that rebellious usually spawned from her. But every single person in the room was holding up the District 12 three finger salute. I glanced at Haymitch, who raised his flask in my direction, his left hand joining the salute. Every single person was saluting me. Cashmere, Gloss, Chaff, Seeder. I turned around and Finnick was doing it too, a wide smile on his face. He tipped his head at me. I soon noticed that it wasn't just the Victors and stylists. The tributes had joined them too. Even the Careers. I had won their respect. Every single citizen of Panem felt for me.

…

"An eleven!" I heard a familiar voice say. I turned around and saw Finnick bounding towards me across the training room like a child. "Katniss Everdeen, you really are the Girl on Fire."

He picked me up easily and spun me around.

"Finnick! Put me down!" I protested, secretly enjoying it.

"How did you do it?" he asked, setting me on the ground.

"I shot an arrow at the gamemakers," I whispered.

"You what?" he asked, wide eyed.

"I shot an arrow at the gamemakers. They got bored after I missed a few bull's eyes. I guess they figured I lost my touch, so I shot the apple out of a roast pig's mouth."

Finnick smiled widely. "That is priceless. Not very smart, but definitely worth it."

"They won't go after my family, will they?" I asked him, worried.

"No. They'll need them for the top eight interviews. But it did paint a huge target on your back, so it will be a little tricky."

I inhaled sharply. "I should've guessed that."

He placed his hands on either side of my face. Finnick had always been very touchy-feely. It was his love language. But I couldn't help but notice his gestures had become more and more romantic over the past year or so. "Promise me you'll be careful," he said.

"I will. I'll win. I promise."

…

"Please welcome the Victor of the 66th Annual Hunger Games, District 12's Girl on Fire, Katniss Everdeen!" Caesar shouts.

I walked up the the stage, flames licking at the bottom of my dress. It was a light purple and red, like how a very hot fire would look. He took my hand and helped me into the seat.

"Now Katniss," Caesar began once the crowd had settled. "I think we're all dying to know how you feel about going back into the Hunger Games this time around?"

I smiled. "Well, Caesar, I'm not exactly looking forward to it. I already won fame and all the money I could possibly need. So I'm really just wasting my life for nothing. But I'm protecting Prim and that's all that matters."

Caesar leaned forward. "Does that mean you're nervous about these Games?"

"Well everyone's always nervous about the Games. But I'm very confident about myself. I was the best contender when I was twelve years old, so what does that make me now?"

Caesar laughed at my attitude. "Very good point, Katniss. Very good point. Now, I have just a few more serious questions to ask you. Tell me about your sister. You must love her very much in order to re-enter the arena, correct?"

"I do," I answered honestly, both of us sobering up at the question. "I love her more than life itself."

"The other Victors seem to love you a lot, too." He turned to the audience. "Has everyone seen the footage from before the opening ceremonies?" The crowd cheered. "For those of you who haven't, we'll make sure to air it as soon as the interviews are over. It's not something to be missed. Now, Katniss, can you tell us about the dynamic with the Victors? You seemed very close to all of them."

"Of course, Caesar. Going through the Hunger Games… it changes who you are. It is challenging, both physically and mentally, and no one really understands you except for a fellow Victor, so we really are just a tight knit family. Especially those of us who mentor every year. Me, Finnick, Cecelia... You know who we are. So the idea of one of us dying… It's terrible."

"I can imagine. I think, if this is your last time here with us, we would all like to see your flames again. Would you mind-"

I stood up and began to spin, the bottom of the dress burning away to cut it short as a knee-length purple dress with flame designs at the bottom.

The crowd cheered, and I could see Finnick beaming from the wings. That made it worth it.

"Just one more question, Katniss," Caesar said, helping me into my seat. "You're sixteen now. I know we all see you as the Capitol's little girl-" I wanted to throw up when he said that, but I restrained myself. I was not the Capitol's little girl. I made eye contact with Finnick on the side, who looked just as angry as I felt. "-but have you found anyone special?"

I giggled, my Capitol mask from years ago kicking in on autopilot. "Oh, Caesar!" I said, trying to sound scandalized. "My mom says I'm not allowed to date until I'm eighteen!"

"But do you have your eyes set on someone?" Caesar pressed.

"Yes…" I told him, blushing and looking down.

"Who? Anyone we would know?"

I kept my mouth shut. I would not reveal details this intimate to the whole world.

The buzzer saves me. I grinned. "Looks like we're out of time, Caesar."

Caesar sighed in annoyance and dismissed me.

I ran off stage, and Effie, Haymitch, Finnick, and Zahra met me there. I shivered in my sleeveless dress as I passed underneath the air conditioner. Zahra hugged me first, with Finnick waiting behind her. He had removed his jacket, and I could see a little bit of sweat on his forehead.

"You're like ice," He said. "How are you so cold when you're under those stage lights?"

"I have no idea," I whispered back to not disturb Peeta's interview.

"Here," He handed me his suit jacket and I put it on over my dress.

I mostly ignored Peeta's interview, until the last question was asked.

"Now, Peeta, you seem very close to the GIrl on Fire. Any hints at romance in your relationship?" Caesar asked. My ears pricked up at the mention of my Capitol nickname as I stood backstage wearing Finnick's jacket to protect me from the cool air. FInnick's arm, which was draped casually across my shoulder, tensed. I dared myself to hope it was because he was jealous.

"Not really, Caesar. I do love her, and she knows it. I'm pretty sure she loves me, too." Peeta admitted. I felt Finnick's arm lift off of my shoulders, and I glanced up at him. He was staring at me, hurt and confusion written on his face. I felt sorry for not telling him about my relation to Peeta earlier, but I really hadn't seen him much during the week. I realized he was trying to respect my relationship with Peeta.

"It's not what you think, Finnick," I told him.

"There aren't many ways that can be translated, Katniss," He whispered back.

"You love each other, yet there isn't any romance? Could you explain that to me?" Caesar asked, puzzled.

"It would be kind of scandalous if we were romantically involved with each other," Peeta said vaguely.

"Please give us some details, Peeta! Don't leave us in the dark like this!"

"It is not customary in District 12 to fall in love with your twin sister." Peeta said, timing it perfectly so that the buzzer went off as soon as he got the last word out.

I couldn't believe he said that on stage. I had seen it coming as soon as the question was asked, but I was so upset that he just revealed that to everyone.

As soon as he was in striking distance, I grabbed onto Peeta's jacket and slammed him against the wall. "What was that?" I shout, anger clouding my senses. "You can't say things like that!"

"Why not?" Peeta said back, his voice raised slightly with anger. "It might just keep us alive."

"You just revealed a major scandal. Think about our parents. They will be beyond embarrassed. And Prim! She'll be hated in the district! That was so dumb"

I felt two strong arms pull me into the elevator, and I fight them every step of the way, tears pouring down my cheeks. Eventually, I am deposited on a bed, and when my vision clears, I can see Finnick on top of me, holding me down.

I immediately stop fighting, afraid of hurting him, and he moves to sit down. I sit up next to him.

"Sorry, Finnick," I mutter.

"It's alright," He responds, combing his fingers through my hair. "I would respond in a similar way."

I hummed in response.

"Is it true? What Peeta said?"

I silently nodded. "My mother hooked up with his father before she met my dad. They split us up at birth, and just told us the truth on Reaping day."

Finnick was silent for a long while, and just continued playing gently with my hair, tugging out the pins as he found them. "Do you mind if I stay tonight?"

I nodded and got up to get out of my dress.

…

I woke up to Finnick thrashing in his sleep. Again. For the third time since I volunteered. "Finnick," I said. He snapped awake, his Victor's reactions kicking in. I repeated his name and his eyes finally found mine. "Come here," I said, sitting up and turning on the lamp. He crawled closer to me, and laid his head in my lap. I'd never seen him like this before. Usually he was able to pull himself together quickly after a nightmare. "Come on. It was just a dream," I said. He latched onto my hand.

"They were killing you," He whispered. "Torchering you."

"The tributes?" I asked. He nodded. I smoothed his hair down with my free hand, and he leaned into my touch. When he went through episodes like this, he looked far older than his nineteen years suggested. "It's okay. I'm still here. It was just a dream. Go back to sleep."

Finnick began to tremble. "No. No. No, I can't. Every time I sleep, they just get worse. Please, Katniss. I need your help."

I laid my hand on his cheek. He's never been this bad before, and I began to feel hopeless. I wasn't sure what to do. "I'm sorry, Finnick. I can't do anything. We all get them, you know that. Just try to think positive. Tell me about your routine tomorrow."

"I'll see you and my tributes off, then go to the mentor's lounge and cry my eyes out. Then I'll go sleep with some insane Captiol woman."

"Oh Finnick," I sighed. "I said positive thinking, not negative. What are we supposed to do with you and your bad attitude,"

"You could always just kill me," He offered meekly.

"Finnick!" I said, shocked. I won't lie, most of the Victors, including myself, had gone through suicidal thoughts. But hearing them voiced by Finnick, my best friend, the boy I had a crush on for the past two years, was simply terrible. "Don't say that! I need you!"

"Why couldn't someone have volunteered for me?" He asked miserably.

"Because you needed to meet me," I offered.

"I still would've met you. I would be a world famous supermodel. You would meet me during your victory tour."

"But you kept me alive. You intrigued me, Finnick. I wanted to get to know you better." I paused, thinking back to my games, and how Cameron and I received an unmarked sponsor gift. It later became clear to me that Finnick must have sent it. "Cami would have been eighteen next year. That means her twin is going to volunteer." I said, in an effort to change the subject.

"But Cameron's dead. Just like everyone else who ever meant something to the world," He replied in his pessimistic, depressed, half-sane state of mind.

"Finnick!" I protested. "That's not true! Yes they meant a lot to us, Cameron and Savannah and Lana and…" I stared at him, wondering if I should say the name I had been asked time and time again never to say. "Annie," Finnick made an awful choking sound in the back of his throat. "But we mean a lot to the people around us now. We can't lose hope. Please don't do this to me. I know I'm being selfish, and it's a lot to ask, but I need you, and you need me. If I started talking about death, you would be at my side in an instant to give me this same speech."

He made the terrible choking sound again, and I squeezed his hand. "Just go to sleep, Finn. I'll be here to wake you up before the nightmares get too bad."

He nodded and closed his eyes. I began to run my fingers through his messy bronze hair, and he made a sound similar to a purr. I smiled.

…

The next morning, Finnick was still lying in my lap, and I was still sitting up against the headboard. I began to run my fingers through his hair, smiling at how soft it is. He woke up after about ten minutes.

"Good morning," I said through a yawn.

Finnick frowned. "Did you sleep at all last night?" He must've noticed just how tired I looked.

"No. No one ever sleeps before the games. Happy Hunger Games, by the way."

"The odds are most definitely in your favor this year, Katniss," he said.

I glanced at the clock. It was seven on the dot. "You should get back to your floor," I said and began to crawl out from under him, to get dressed.

"Wait," Finnick said. I stopped, still mostly underneath him.

"Yes?" I asked. He sat up halfway, onto one elbow. Very gently, his hand found its way to the back of my neck. I felt my heartbeat pick up, hoping he was about to do what I thought he would do. Very, very slowly, like the professional he is, he pulled my face down until our lips touched.

I gasped at the contact, and sat perfectly still. I didn't quite know what to do, so I sat as still as possible, until he let go of me and sat up on the bed.

"I'm sorry," He whispered. "I had to do that. Just once."

"Finnick, that was amazing," I whispered back. His eyes met mine, and I could feel a blush beginning to paint my cheeks.

"You liked it?" He asked shyly. "I've never kissed anyone like that before. Annie and I never had any real physical contact, and so all the kisses I've had have been with older Capitol women, so they're so sexual."

"I've always hoped… I never knew you felt that way." I said.

He smiled softly. "Last night, when Peeta said what he did… I was heartbroken, before I knew you were siblings."

"I'm sorry I never told you. I wanted to, I just…"

"It's alright, Katniss," He said. "I like you. A lot. Even if you loved Peeta, I would've wanted you to be happy."

"But I don't want Peeta. I want you," I told him honestly, my blush intensing.

Finnick grinned slowly. "You do?"

I giggled in a deliriously happy, un-Katniss like manner. "I want to be with you, Finnick Odair."

He swung his legs off the side of the bed, so he was sitting right next to me. "You make me so incredibly happy, Katniss." He gave me one more peck on the lips, but I pulled him back the second he let go, and kissed him much more intensely than he did me. When he pulled away the second time, he was no longer smiling. "I just got you, and now you have to leave," he said sadly. "I have to go back to my floor, but I'll come to see you off at the tubes."

"I'm terrified, Finnick," I admitted. He leaned his forehead against mine.

"I know, Katniss. I know better than anyone. I promise you, you'll make it out as soon as possible. Not many of the other tributes will receive sponsor gifts, because their mentors are all rooting for you."

"That's terrible." I said, horrified.

"It happens every year, just on a smaller scale." He kissed my forehead, where his had rested just a second earlier. "I'll see you later. I need to go for real now."

"Goodbye Finnick," I said.

He smiled at me one more time, then left my room.