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A/N: This chapter was really hard to write I just wasn't feeling very inspired which is mainly why this took so long. Sorry :'(

Chapter 9:

Finnick POV:

After we said our goodbyes, Fiona and I were escorted by Chrysanthemum and two peacekeepers to a train. I'd never seen one up close before, it was sleek, shiny, and intimidating, and if it had been transporting me to the Capital and most likely my death, I would have been excited to ride the train.

Upon out entrance to the train my eyes landed on the two past victors that we now play the role of mentors for Fiona and I. I recognized them both, first I saw Mags, the victor of one of the earliest Hunger Games. Her warm eyes and kind smile gave off a grandmotherly vibe that I felt oddly comforted by.

Next to her sat Sandstorm Seaton, victor of the 54th Hunger Games and quintessentially scared me and everyone else I knew shitless. He was absolutely vicious in his games and truly seemed to enjoy everyone of his kills, even keeping every tribute's district token who he'd murdered and had the pride and audacity to wear them to every Reaping, smiling sadistically the entire time.

"So are we going to do anything productive or are we going to stand here and stare at each other until we get to the Capital," Fiona broke the silence, her voice laced with bitterness and her eyes glazed with anger. I didn't want to be here either but I refused to revel in the thoughts of my probable death, but I refused to have people's first impression of me being rude.

"Well well I see we have a feisty one this year," Sandstorm smiled as if Fiona's rudeness was some sort of precious gem that he rarely came across. I rolled my eyes, normally the male mentor was with the male tribute but I can't say that I was exactly begging for Sandstorm to coach me until the games. Hopefully it would be different this year.

"All business, I like. How old are you, girl?" Sandstorm asked. Fiona did look older than 13, maybe 15, that could help her in the games she was tall for a girl, about 5'7 and she wasn't ugly. That helped in the Capital too. I'd seen her at the Career Center quite a bit, I'd only been there a couple of times to train but I always saw her leaving when my dad and I came from the boats.

She was a threat, and as I continued to look her over I felt myself looking at her more like a tribute and less like a person. It was scary how fast it happened and I quickly shook away my thoughts. "I'm Fiona Atlantic, I'm 13 and I will be the youngest victor to ever win the Hunger Games," she spoke as if it were already a fact.

I caught Mags rolling her eyes and I chuckled, earning me a cold glare from Fiona. "Excuse me I hate to ruin whatever this is but I need to get my two beautiful tributes to their rooms we will be in the Capital in a few hours," Chrysanthemum interjected, " Come, come my beauties," she said looking Fiona and I over, sighing "Oh look at you! I just know I will get a victor this year," the four of us followed her quietly. I found myself walking next to Mags with Sandstorm, Fiona and Chrysanthemum pounding ahead.

"She was talking about you boy," I hear Mags say as she nudges me with her boney elbow. "What do you mean," I look at her skeptically. She just shakes her head and smiles as if she knows a secret I don't. We reach our rooms, "We will be in the Capital by 4, lunch is at 2:30 sharp, don't be late because punctuality is vital!" Chrysanthemum shrieked. I entered the place that would play my room for the next few hours. I plopped down on the bed and attempted to take everything in.

I'm Finnick Odair. I'm 14 and I was reaped for the 65th Hunger Games. Until now I hadn't had the chance to really think about what being reaped really meant for me. I only thought of what it meant to the other people in my life, like Thom, my parents, and Annie. It meant that I would have to kill people. It meant that people would try and kill me and probably be successful.

It meant that I would have to become something that I really wasn't and something that I never wanted to be. I thought of Annie and how she would look at me if I won. I know she said that whatever I did she knew it wasn't really me, but I still didn't fully believe that Annabel Cresta, the girl who would move worms off the street and onto the grass so they wouldn't get run over, would have a killer for a best friend, or maybe eventually more than a best friend, I quickly shook the last thought out of my head.

I thought back to our goodbye, I could still feel how soft and warm her lips were on mine and how she tasted like coconuts and innocence, if that even had taste. I was surprised when she actually kissed me back, it was the best moment in my short life.

"You need a district token, right," she asked sniffling as tears poured from her beautiful eyes. "Not anymore, fish," I consoled, giving Annie a comforting smile. I knew I shouldn't be smiling at a time like this but I couldn't stand seeing the best person I know cry. I let my gaze rise up, so I could really look at her before I was gone forever. She stared at me, doing the same thing, memorizing. When she was done studying me like a book, she closed the space between us, stood on her tip toes so she could reach my face, and pressed her lips on my cheek. The warmth spread over me like wild waves. After that I was drawn to her lips like a moth to a flame, all the times I thought about kissing Annie, I had to kiss her. She was so beautiful inside and out and I couldn't leave the world without kissing her. I leaned down, wrapped my arms around her small waist, and kissed her softly at first and I felt her shock,but after a moment she quickly kissed me back. She felt so lovely and safe. I could see myself kissing only her for eternity, I was pulled from my wishes as we both needed to breathe. I missed the feel of her already and I'd barely gotten to experience it. Her lips just sealed my swear to return to her and kiss her as much I could.

I felt my hand rubbing the bracelet on my wrist as I laid on my bed. I let thoughts of Annie quiet down and began thinking of how I would get back to her and my parents. I knew I had to get to get people to like me, people usually liked me but those are district people, people who knew my family and that I'd had things in common with, not Capital citizens who were rich and had no idea what the real world was like.

I was startled by a pounding on the door, "Oh, Finny it's time for lunch," Chrysanthemum chirped through the door. I walked over to the door and opened it to find Chrysanthemum beaming with Fiona behind her scowling, her daggers of eyes set only on me.

"Well meet us in the dining car, handsome," Chrysanthemum smiled looking me over in a way that made me extremely uncomfortable before clacking away leaving me alone with Fiona.

As soon as she was out of sight Fiona turned to me, "Look Odair, I don't care how pretty you are, I know how to kill things and I'm going to kill you. Your little red head stole you from me once, I won't let her get you again." "So that's why you want to win," I stared at her like that was the stupidest thing I'd ever heard, because it was. I mean who hates someone that much? "Of course not, I have no friends, or family, I know everyone will love me once I win the games, because I will. I just wish I could bring you with me, you're just too pretty to die," she mused to herself, "Oh and Sandstorm is my mentor, you can have the old woman, not like you'll win anyway," her cockiness was sickening but I chose to remain quiet.

She strode away dripping with confidence I followed her shaking my head in disgust. I entered the dining car to see a table overflowing with all kinds of food I'd never seen before that looked absolutely delicious. I took the only seat available next to Mags, she greeted me with a warm smile.

"Hi Mags," I smiled, despite this difficult situation I found and odd comfort in being around her. I piled my plate high with all kinds of food, cakes, breads, steaks, chicken, everything you can imagine. I ate it, all of it, I'd only had chicken a few times in my life and Annie had told me about some other meats like deer and turkey but I never imagined that it would be this delicious.

"Slow down, you'll make yourself sick," Mags warned lightly. "But it's soooo good," my explanation muffled by my full mouth, causing her to chuckle. After nearly eating myself in to a coma I leaned back in my chair half asleep.

"Come with me, I want to give you a heads up about something," I was jolted awake by Mags whispering quietly in my ear. I nodded quietly and got up to follow her after she excused us from the other.

"That old woman does the oddest things" mumbled Chrysanthemum as we walked off. We reached a room that reminded me of a living room with a couch and a love seat flanked by a few chairs.

"Sit, Finnick," she gestured to the chair across from her, I swiftly sat down. " First, I want to say I'm sorry that this happened to you, all of you children deserve so much better than this," she looked me over sadly, shaking her head. I never thought I'd hear those words from a victor. She sighed before continuing, "I know normally we don't start officially mentoring until we get to the Capital but I feel like as your mentor I should give you a few tips. First, when we get to the Capital, look out of the window, wave and smile. Remember you are hap- no overjoyed to be in the Capital, the Hunger Games are a privilege," she advised.

"But I don't want to be here," I interjected.

Her face turned gravely serious, " Finnick, everything in the Capital is an act, the smiling, the laughing, the pride that all the tributes- even some of the victors- have, they just want to win, boy, remember that. Now once we get enter the Capital, there will be men and women- double, even triple your age, saying they love you, screaming for you to marry them, show nothing but confidence and act as if you want all of them just as much as they want you. The Capital likes pretty things, you're already beautiful, it's your job to make them fall in love."

Her advice, coupled with the serious look that graced her face told me to exactly as she said. "It won't be long before we get there now," she commented as she rose from the couch, wobbling a little I quickly got up to help her, taking her hand and putting it in the crook of my arm so she wouldn't fall, again.

"Thank you, Finnick," she reached up and patted my cheek lightly, smiling again. After a few minutes we reached the dining car to find Sandstorm and Fiona mumbling, but they quickly stopped once Mags and I entered the room and looked up smirking, they must have been talking about what Fiona would do too.

"Everyone we will be arriving in the Capital in two minutes," Chrysanthemum screamed, clacking all through the car, fixing her already hideous hair and outfit. Instead of excitement I felt myself overcome with dread, the closer we got to the Capital the closer I got to my new fake personality that I couldn't take off until I left, if I left.

There was no need to announce our arrival because looking out of the window all I could see were sky high buildings and a sea of colorful people, waving, smiling, and cheering. I followed Mags advice and waved, smiled brightly and winked, at the ' beautiful' women. When I heard a gust of wind I turned around to see Fiona hurling knives at the wall closest to me, grinning as they all landed within an inch of each other and about a foot away from me.

Everyone in the crowd turned to look at her for a second, but before even I lost interest their attention was back on me. I continued to smile and wave as we exited the train, feeling Fiona's burning desire to throw one of those knives right into me.

Mags said I needed to make them fall in love, so I did just that, I made eye contact with one lady with purple skin and yellow eyes with an orange clouds for hair and blew her a kiss, sealed with a wink. After that I saw a green hand reached out to me, I swiftly grabbed it and kissed it lightly. The girl actually fainted. Even if I survive the games Annie I going to kill me.

A/N: this was just so hard to write idk where my inspiration has gone but it needs to come back asap... Reviews keep it going xoxox