Three days. Three days, and then my daughter's safety will disappear. Poof! Gone. Does that worry me? Of course. But I'm more worried about something else: Our male tribute. If Dillon is reaped, I don't think Prim will cope. It's hard enough to know you're going into the arena, but then, going in with you're love? Of course, as much of "her love" as he can be, both of them being twelve. It seems Prim hasn't considered the possibility, or refuses to let herself. And, if he is reaped, well, she'll be onstage by that time. I was five years older than she is now when I found out I had to go into the arena with Peeta again, and that was before my true love for him was discovered. She's strong, though. She'll hold a brave face for the cameras, even if a starving 10 year old friend of hers is reaped alongside her.
Thinking of which, we'll have to give her some tips for when she's reaped: - the emotion-less expression she'll wear on her face; the way she stands; whether she'll show the flicker of hatred in her eyes that I have. So much preparations, and yet, we must make it look like we didn't see this coming. Peeta'll be fine, but my acting skills never did fool Snow...
*"^"*
"Prim" I call, searching around the house for her.
"We're playing hide and seek," Finnick informs me, "I'm trying to find Prim."
"Well, please tell her that I would like to speak to her when you find her." I ask. He nods and resumes his search. He goes into the dining room, and I follow. He searches almost every possible hiding place for Prim, but doesn't spot her; I do. She's o the chandelier that hangs over the dining table, resembling a squirrel, and I am reminded of Rue. It's all I can do not to laugh at her placement or cry at the reminder, but I manage to keep a straight face.
Finnick doesn't seem to notice Prim, so I walk out. Best let him do things on his own. He'll ask for help if he needs any.
Peeta's heading out to the bakery when I see him. "Bye! I'll be back by six!" he calls.
"Love you." I reply, just before the door slams shut. I just sit down when I hear Finnick shout.
"Aha! There you are!" I smile at how quickly he found her, all things considered, and head for the dining. I enter the room just as Prim jumps down. She almost kicks me in the face, but misses by about a centimetre. I can't help but gasp at how close she was to kicking me. I don't even notice that she's lying on the ground before me until her groan. "What's wrong?" I ask, hoping she hasn't broken anything.
"My arm." She manages to moan. Good, at least she can walk and run.
Finnick and I help her up, before I diagnose her. Maybe "diagnose" is an exaggeration. I find a large purple bruise on her right forearm. Lucky she's left-handed.
"Try moving it." I instruct her. She complies, moving it slowly.
"The bruise just looks bad; it should be fine for reaping day." I tell her. Finnick frowns at the thought of another reaping. I can't imagine how or when we'll tell him about Prim going in. but it wont be easy.
Prim surprises me completely, and tells Finnick the whole story. He doesn't while she talks, just looks at her with sorrow. There's nothing she doesn't tell Finnick. She even mentions the training.
When she's finally finished, Finnick hugs her, and whispers "You can do it. You will do it." Even he knows she has the ability to come home. "Just remember," he adds a minute later, "Don't lose who you really are. Remember who you are now I don't want a different sister coming home to me."
The words hit me like a blow to the gut. My Finnick, my 7 old son, wants Prim to do what a victor seldom does: keep their humanity. Something Peeta and rarely anyone else who won the games have done. Of course, it's possible, but unlikely.
Even Prim must know this, but she nods anyways.
*"^"*
Peeta returns home with, judging by the scent, is full of cookies. Finnick sneaks up to Peeta and tries to peak at the contents of the box, only being told to stop messing by Peeta, and Prim doesn't even try to hold back giggles.
While Peeta makes dinner, as he usually does, I tell him that Finnick knows. Again, I keep my worries that Dillon may "coincidentally" get reaped as well, to myself.
Peeta isn't sure how to react. He's happy that we don't have to keep secrets from Finnick anymore, but angry at the Capitol for making all this happen. I can see it in his eyes, but only for a moment. He easily masks his anger, but occasionally, that mask will drop. Only for a second or two, though, before it's put back on.
Dinner is a pleasant affair; groosling, wild carrots and peas which we have grown ourselves. Peeta and Prim talk freely about this year's Games, with finnick adding in comments randomly, and I just sit there, eating, thinking of how Prim will present herself. Tomorrow we'll discuss it.
After we have finished eating, we go to the living room and play a board game which apparently is thousands of years old. It is called Monopoly. It's very technological. Basically, it involves a lot of Capitol advancement - holographics and stuff like that. Highly upgraded from the original.
*"^"*
When we finish playing, the victory going to Peeta, we eat most of the cookies and discuss whether or not Finnick can come to the Capitol this year. Peeta flatly says no; that there's no point whatsoever, but I think we can use Finnick to get sponsors, if he's willing to. Finnick, who of course wants nothing but for Prim to come back, immediately agrees. I explain that if Finnick acts slightly over-dramatic when Prim is reaped, and is constantly upset in the Capitol, surely the Capitolites will take pity on him.
Peeta eventually gives in, and Finnick is grinning from ear to ear, and I have no idea why. I guess I'll never fully understand the minds of my children...
Once the discussion ends, Peeta heads straight for bed, leaving me to put the kids to bed.
"Finnick, why are you so excited about going to the Capitol?" I ask once he's in his bed. "Because it's so... colourful." he answers. I don't fully believe him, but I don't question any further. Instead, I whisper goodnight, kiss his forehead, and go to Prim's room. She's already lying in bed, eyes heavy when I enter. i simply whisper goodnight, leave her room and go to bed. I feel Peeta's arms wrap around me just before I doze off.
A/N: SO sorry for not uploading this last Sunday, but while my laptop was charging, someone broke it! It's currently off for repair and I am forced to use the school computers, which are usually in use :P I'll try update by next Sunday, by which time I'll have my laptop back! Keep reading! Bye!
