Picture attribution: By Audrey from Central Pennsylvania, USA (White Rose Uploaded by Fæ) [CC-BY-2.0 ( /licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Chapter One
Finnick knocked on the door, turning on his charming appeal. He flicked his hair back, put on that smile that makes girls swoon and puffed out his chest. Deep down he hates this and hates himself for doing this, but most of all, he hates President Snow for making him.
Finnick is considered to be desirable. Once he won the games, he had…certain duties to fulfill with anyone who wanted to pay to have the great Finnick Odair for a night of pleasure. This was just another one of his clients.
'One Minute!' A feminine voice from inside the apartment called back.
Suddenly the door flew open, revealing a petite girl with long silvery/blonde hair which hung in waves, reaching her waist. She had sea-green eyes, much like Finnick's, which reminded him so much of the ocean back in district 4. She wore a simple silver dress which sparkled like a diamond every time to light hit it. Her wrists and neck were covered in delicate looking jewellery which, even to capital standards, looked expensive. Her make-up was light and subtle; she was the most un-capital looking person he had ever seen the capitol.
'Hello. It's lovely to meet you, my name is Silver.' She said, extending her hand out to Finnick to shake. 'Of course, I don't need to ask who you are.' She smiled warmly and opened the door wider to let him inside.
'Beautiful name, matches your face.' He said, using his charming appeal.
What struck Finnick the most about this girl was how young she looked. She could only have been about 16 or so. It felt so wrong, considering what he was paid to do to her.
'Would you like to take a seat? Can I get you a drink or something?' She said politely.
'Uhh.' Finnick stumbled, lost for words. He wasn't used to civilized behaviour when it came to business. Capitol people just wanted to get it straight into it. 'Just water please.' He said quickly and sat down on the expensive looking couch. The apartment had a very blue and silver theme to it, which, again, reminded Finnick of being home in his district.
'Kandee? May I have a glass of water and a glass of milk please?' Silver asked the Avox who was standing in the corner of the room. Finnick tried not to look surprised at this kind and courteous behaviour towards an Avox since, by capitol standards, they were considered to be the lowest forms of life. No one was on name-terms with the Avoxes.
Silver elegantly sat down on the couch next to Finnick and looked up, beaming at him.
'So Finnick, how do you like the capitol?' Silver asked.
'It's very nice here. Very colourful.' Finnick replied. He was lying although it was necessary. He had to tell the clients what they wanted to hear.
'What about District 4. I've never been there, what's it like?' Silver asked.
Finnick's eyes shone with the memories of playing in the sea with his brother and collecting sea-shells on the shore with his sister. 'It's beautiful.' He said truthfully.
The Avox came back with two glasses and then disappeared again. Silver and Finnick sat in silence, drinking the drinks beside each other.
'Uh…you have a lovely apartment.' Finnick said awkwardly. He couldn't understand why they were talking. He wasn't used to this. Clients weren't supposed to behave like this.
'It's my father's although he's hardly every home.' Silver replied. Finnick wondered whether maybe she was waiting for him to make the first move. He drained the rest of his drink just as Silver asked him the next question.
'Do you want to play a game?' Silver asked suddenly.
'Okay.' Finnick agreed, giving her a flirtatious smile.
'It's in my bedroom, I'll go and get it.' Silver smiled cheekily and got up to walked into her room.
Silver's bedroom was painted turquoise with a silky silver duvet and stars painted on the ceiling. Silver turned the light on and walked to the cupboard to get the game. Just as she turned round, she found Finnick standing directly behind her. Silver opened her mouth to say something but Finnick pressed his lips against hers, gently pushing her against the cupboard door.
After the initial surprise, Silver finally gathered her thoughts and firmly pushed him away.
'Sorry…I….'Finnick started, a look of confusion coming over his face.
'I don't understand…' Silver trailed off.
'Wait, am I doing something wrong?' Finnick asked, perplexed.
'I don't know what you mean.'
'You asked me here for me to sleep with you, right?' Finnick frowned as Silver blushed a deep shade of red.
'What? No! I just wanted to play a game.' Silver exclaimed, nodding towards the board game in her hand.
'Oh.' Finnick said, feeling embarrassed. 'I thought…when you said game, you meant…..'
'I didn't mean that.' Silver laughed with embarrassment.
'Girls are so confusing.' Finnick chuckled and followed Silver back into the living room. 'Shall we just pretend that never happened?'
'What never happened?' Silver asked innocently.
'You know…the kiss?' Finnick said, frowning. Surely it couldn't have been so bad that she had already forgotten about it?
'What kiss?' Silver grinned at Finnick who then grinned back when he finally realised that she was playing with him.
Silver and Finnick sat opposite each other with the board game in between them.
'What happens if you win?' Silver said.
'You have to tell me a secret.' Finnick replied simply. 'What if you win?'
'You have to agree to be my friend.' Silver replied.
'Don't you have any?' Finnick asked curiously, rolling the dice to take his turn.
'I get home schooled. Besides, the other children would just laugh at me because I'm different. I don't want them.'
'Just because you don't look like all the other weirdos in the capital.'
'That's what people do though, pick on the different people.' Silver shrugged. 'No offence but why do you think so highly of yourself? You just assumed you would let me sleep with you.' She narrowed her eyes at him.
'It's….complicated.' Finnick replied.
'Isn't everything?'
It was an old fashioned game: a board game called snakes and ladders which was played during the old times. Finnick and Silver played the game, whilst eating the array of sugary capitol foods that Silver had brought. Silver had the most fun she had ever experienced and Finnick had a nice time considering what he was expecting. Finnick won in the end although it was fairly close.
'Secret please.' Finnick said, sitting back and looking pleased with himself.
'Why do you want a secret?'
'I'm saving them up.' Finnick shrugged.
'It's not my secret to tell.'
'Even better.' Finnick grinned and lent forward in anticipation.
Silver leant forward so her lips were against Finnick's ear.
'President Snow killed his first child.' She whispered and then sat back. 'How was that for a secret?'
'Best one yet.' Finnick replied, grinning.
'I know I didn't win the game, but will you still be my friend?' Silver asked.
'Of course I will. Why wouldn't anyone in the capitol want to be your friend?' Finnick asked with interest.
'Because they think I'm weak.'
'And why is that?'
'I don't like fighting and I don't eat meat.' Silver sighed. Finnick couldn't help but smile at the girl.
'That is very un-capitol like of you.' He commented.
'Fighting isn't nice. It scares me when people raise their voices. I don't like eating meat because I don't like hurting animals.' Silver admitted, hanging her head in shame.
'That's nothing to be ashamed about Silver.' Finnick said comfortingly.
'My dad's ashamed. That's why he was so happy when I asked him if I could have you, he thought that I had finally taken a liking to the hunger games.'
'But instead you asked me...so I could be your friend?' Finnick asked in confusion.
'Everyone needs a friend. As long as you're willing to be friends with me.' Silver shrugged.
Towards the end of the evening, Silver started getting tired. Finnick noticed this and asked whether it's best if she goes to bed now.
'Yeah, I guess so.' Silver yawned. 'Did you bring your pyjamas?'
Finnick smiled in amusement at her naivety. 'Sorry, must have forgotten them.' He said kindly.
'You can sleep in the spare bedroom.' Silver said, showing him to his room.
'Thanks, Silver.' Finnick smiled.
'No, thank you. You're a good friend.' Silver replied.