I sit there for a little while, lost in thoughts, ideas swirling through my head in a spitfire motion.
"Go to bed Finnick." Mags orders me, interrupting whatever I was doing. I nod and stretch, my muscles stiff from sitting in the small chair.
"Night Mags." I head down to my room and change into a pair of plaid bottoms and no shirt. It's become a habit to sleep topless, from all the previous nights of bad dreams, and no sleep. It will stick to me from sweat. Which is sure to come pouring tonight. I head to the bathroom and comb my matted hair out of my eyes. People seem to rave about my famous sea green eyes, but frankly, I think they just look haunted. And if anythings hypnotizing it's those piercing blue eyes the blonde boy has. It's like they can see you, and when he releases his gaze, you shudder, thinking he has just read your very soul. But I push the consuming thoughts of Peeta and the other tributes out of my head as I climb into bed. Except for one.
~F.K.F.K.F.K.F.K.F.K.F~
I wake up to find someone screaming and after a jolt of apprehension, I realize that the sounds coming from me. There's a knock on my door. "Come in," I croak, voice hoarse.
Mags enters with a mug in hand. Steam rises from the cup, and I assume its that warm chocolate drink they served to me before."You wanna tell me what it was about," she pauses "or do I already know?" I open my mouth in reply but quickly shut it. I don't think she should know about this one. She looks at me expectantly but I just shake my head in response. "Alright Fin," she sighs "try to get some sleep." She walks out of the room but leaves the mug. The door closes softly.
To be truthful, my nightmare was about the Games. To be 100% honest, they were about Katniss.
She was standing in the middle of an open area. Suddenly the ground gave out and she called to Peeta, he quickly ran to her but then they both slipped over the cavern, I ran over with speed so fast it scared even me and grabbed her hand, she had her fingers interlocked with Peeta's so I was holding the weight of two people, and I could feel the muscles in my arm straining. My face was obviously pinched with pain. They were slipping and I knew I couldn't do it, I couldn't hold them any longer. Suddenly his hand slithered from Katniss' grip, I tried to grab him with my other hand but he was already falling. Both of our faces were horror stricken, not believing the sight before us. She started crying, saying that she had to be with him and released my hand, falling after Peeta, "Katniss no!" I yelled after her. "We need you! Your the -" Thats when I woke up screaming and Mags came in. I laid back down, shuddering at the memory. I then vowed never to let that happen. I laid there for the rest of the night, contemplating the many things I could have said before waking up. "Your the-"... what?
~F.K.F.K.F.K.F.K.F.K.F~
I don't remember sleeping a wink, but I must have because I wake up to the hurried voices of my prep team. "Finnick!" One of them squeals. I think her name was Zannella or something, not that I payed enough attention to remember. Or care. She looks new though.
"Hey," I say, waiting for her to introduce herself. I resist the urge to roll my eyes when all she does is giggle nervously.
"Zandy." Julius whispers in my ear. I smile appreciatively.
"You look so sweet when your asleep!" Zandy squeals. I quirk an eyebrow. She was watching me sleep? "Not like I was... like staring or anything...I was j-just," she rambles on. It's clear she's embarrassed. If not the stuttering, then it was the fact that her face was beat-red that gave it away. I don't know what to say to that, it's not like anyone's told me I look sweet when I sleep. Sexy, yes. Hot, yes. Gorgeous, maybe. Sweet, no.
I guess it's a compliment, although I don't know how anyone could look sweet in their sleep. Especially a victor from the Hunger Games. While I was thinking this, I didn't even realize the prep team had put me in a chair until I saw the all too familiar jar in Diego's hands.
"What the hell? I thought we were done with this!" I put my head in my hands and run my fingers through my hair. I groan loudly, remembering the pain that stupid cream made. That stupid cream that stops your facial hair from growing back, after they've removed it. It might keep your skin smooth, but the pain it initiates in the beginning is almost unbearable. Almost.
"Finnick stay calm." Diego says slowly. "It's fast and easy, really it is."
I roll my eyes this time, and scoff. "Sure," I say sarcastically.
My face scrunches up and I bite my tongue as he applies the cream. "Now Finnick," Julius says when Diego is done.
"Since your past your teen years, I need to apply a heavier coat of stronger cream." I stare, a slow bitter smile creeping across my face.
"You're kidding right?"
10 minutes later they have me strapped to the chair, kicking, thrashing, and bellowing as loud as my already raw throat will let me. Somehow, they manage to sedate me, and start applying the cream. And while I'm drifting in and out of consciousness I form one thought.
Julius better have faster reflexes than he did 10 years ago.
With my last bit of strength I throw a punch, then the world goes black.
~F.K.F.K.F.K.F.K.F.K.F~
When I wake up I'm in bed, but I can tell the prep team has been working on me. The thought of Diego, Yokaria, Mika, and even Zandy probing and plucking over my body while I'm unconscious makes my cheeks burn. I don't know if it's from embarrassment or anger, but I know I don't like it. At least I'm not self conscious about my body, I smirk. Ugh Finnick, my voice reminds me, Your not like that, you idiot. Do you really think your that vain? Then I pull myself together and sit up. When I stretch something falls over my eyes blocking my vision. I reach up and find a small sticky piece of paper on my forehead. Finnick, meat us in the lounge for lunch- it reads in neatly written script. I get dressed in a soft feeling blue button up shirt, I arrange my black tie to a perfect line, then pull on black slacks and tighten the sliver belt buckle. Reaching down I tie my black dress shoes, check myself out in the mirror. Nice. Then stalk out the door with almost an air of arrogance around me, and head to the dining room.
After some small chat, and a few apologies to Julius like, 'Sorry, but you had it coming bud.' We get to the serious talk.
"So," I say, "What am I going to be wearing to the Opening Ceremonies?"
"I thought of a brilliant outfit!" gushes Yokaria. I look at her through narrowed eyes. "Your going to be wearing a golden net!" I splutter for a minute, gracing Diego with water from the drink I'd been sipping. But all she says is " Do you get ropes burn easily?"
~F.K.F.K.F.K.F.K.F.K.F~
I stand in front of the mirror after Yokaria finished 'dressing' me.
I feel degraded.
I feel exposed.
I feel violated.
I don't feel good.
Yokaria has dressed me in a golden net that matches the bronze of my hair, but she has cleverly draped it around my area so I can't technically be called naked, but I'm pretty damn close, way to close for my taste. She has done nothing to my face besides just plucking loose hairs around my eyebrows. She has also buffed my nails in a nice clear coat. I stop examining myself and turn around. Your the man Finnick...Your the man. I tell myself. But it's a bit hard to make yourself feel manly when there's almost nothing to back it up. I run a hand through my tousled hair – a nervous habit i'd picked up from Annie- not caring that I might have messed it up. Then I compose my façade, and head to the elevator.
I punch the button that says ground floor with my knuckle. I immediately feel the elevator start to descend. Must be nice to have quick travel at your fingertips. I mutter under my breath. There's no one in here with me, but I have a gut feeling that everything in this place is bugged.
When I reach the bottom of the Remake Center I plaster on a smirk and walk out. I automatically scan the area, and guess almost everyone's here.
I see an elevator land and Katniss walks out, she glances over the tributes, clearly looking for Peeta, or maybe even Haymitch, someone she knows. When she doesn't find them, she goes over to her chariot and starts gently stroking her horse. I know she isn't going to go around and start introducing herself. I chuckle at the thought of her pasting on a fake smile and cozying up to Brutus. Like Cashmere is trying to do. Ugh, I think. I never really liked Cashmere... or Gloss for that matter. They were always too Capitol. I turn my attention back to Katniss and my jaw almost drops.
Katniss seemed to press a button on her costume, and suddenly the outfit just started... glowing? She seems to be giving off a radiant warmth. The glimmer in her hair making it all the more illuminative. I find myself gaping, so I avert my gaze and cough awkwardly. I need something to distract me.
Because Finnick Odair does not long after people. Repeat, not.
I quickly stalk over to my chariot where Mags stands. Not thinking straight, I grab a handful of sugar cubes and stuff one in my mouth. Mags raises her eyebrows. "Nothing," I snap but she's still looking at me. "Just drop it okay!" I hiss at her. She raises her hands in surrender and hobbles off toward Seeder.
I stand there silently for a couple seconds until I see Cashmere coming toward me, I dash behind my chariot just as she gets there but it's too late. "Finnick," she purrs softly. I grumble under my breath, but stand to greet her.
"Cashmere, darling. How nice to see you again." I say lowly.
She smirks, "Ah yes, I believe it's a pleasure for anyone to stand in your presence eh? Perhaps you'll grace me with it later tonight hmm?" It's obvious she's trying to be seductive but it's not even close to working with me. But I can't very well let her know that right? So it's back to my old ways.
"We'll see about that, depends on what you've got. If it interests me in any way I might just meet you tonight at the corner of the stairs on the third floor." More like at the corner of You and Wish.
She seems a little too happy with that offer, I decide. But all he says is "See you tonight." Then walks away like a smug little twit. I shudder and stand there quietly for a couple minutes, but soon enough I can't take it anymore, and before I realize what I'm doing, I suddenly find myself walking toward Katniss. I can't stop. I desperately try to change course, but my legs pick now to finally listen to my head. If only they had before Cashmere spotted me.
Then all too soon I'm standing behind her, looking at silken hair. She's not even aware of my presence, so, with what I hope is a nonchalant manor, I jam another cube into my mouth. Smooth. With one swift crunch, she turns around. Shit, I curse inwardly, I didn't think this through. Because now we're a mere couple inches apart and I'm staring straight into the most beautiful grey eyes I have ever seen. And so uncharacteristically like me, even I'm shocked, I find myself suddenly at a loss for words.
