I don't own the Hunger Games.
"It's cut day, bitches."
The ceiling above Annie was cream, and she had been panting as she stared at it for two minutes straight. Enobaria had had them run ten laps of the field outside before coming inside for a group cardio workout and then weightlifting, finishing off with another three laps around the training room. It was tough work, but all of the other girls were on their feet already. Perhaps it was her breakfast, or lack of it, that was giving her a disadvantage. A multigrain bar and a third of an all-natural, two hundred calorie protein shake didn't really give her the required energy levels.
It was working, though. She had lost five pounds in two weeks, and now weighed in at exactly one hundred and eight pounds. She was below average height at five foot four, but she wanted to lose more weight- the spotlight demanded it of her. Cassidy's diet had help to a certain extent, but Annie had felt like she wasn't making enough progress and had cut out even more carbs and calories. If getting a little breathless whilst training was the price to pay, then so be it. She could handle that.
"What's cut day?" Annie asked, finally sitting up.
"Cut day," Johanna grinned deviously. "Is the best day of the year."
"Agreed." Clove seconded her as she did some gentle lunges.
"Cut day is where the newbies that came into the squad a month ago either get cut or get to stay. A few of the squad members that were already here might get cut as well- nobody knows." Cassidy explained. "How many times did you face cut day, Johanna?"
"Once." Johanna snorted. "When I was seventeen and a newbie. They didn't even think about cutting me, though. What about you, Cass?"
"Shut up." Cassidy frowned and went back to stretching out her hamstrings.
"Anyway," Johanna continued. "When we break for lunch Enobaria is going to make the announcement on who stays. Four girls and one guy came onto this team, but not everyone will get to stay."
"Don't worry, Annie." Clove clapped her on the shoulder before walking away. "I'm sure you'll be safe… Maybe."
"Ignore here." Glimmer smiled warmly at Annie, but it didn't stop her from worrying. Panem were playing the Dolphins tomorrow and she was going to have a flying solo- she prayed that it wouldn't be her last.
…
A loud, angry slapping sound echoed through the workout room with every punch Finnick threw at the bag hanging next to the floor to ceiling windows. He was engrossed in his workout, landing angry blow after angry blow. Blowing off steam was something he had to regularly- it came with the territory of being Izabelle's boyfriend.
"Uh, Finn. You might want to slow down a bit." Gale, an offensive linesman for Panem, warned. "You don't want to do yourself an injury before game day."
"I don't care." Finnick grunted between blows. He had never been so annoyed in his life. After everything that had happened the previous night, Finnick had never responded to Izabelle's text. The result? He was benched for the game against the Broncos in a week's time. He was playing tomorrow, but after that…Nothing was confirmed. It was her way of telling him that he had disappointed her.
"I've got this." Cato's annoyingly familiar voice made Finnick punch even harder. "Finnick. Come on, man."
He ignored him, and the sweat that had already broken grew more intense.
"Finnick. Think of Cresta."
"What the hell man?" Finnick whirled around and glared at Cato. "Not relevant."
"Walk with me." Cato gestured to the practice field, where most of the players and a few of the cheerleaders had already made their way outside to practice.
"Don't fucking say it, Cato." Finnick snapped as they walked down towards the field. "I still don't know if I'm going to break up with her. I don't want to."
"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't make that decision for you." Cato sighed. They stepped onto the field and the tight end picked up a spare football. He wound back his arm and threw a short pass to Finnick, who easily made the catch.
"It's just crazy, you know? We've always had our problems, but a month ago I was thinking about asking her to move in with me. She probably would have said no, but I still wanted to do it. How can I change my mind so quickly? I don't even know if I love her anymore."
Letting Finnick vent had become one of Cato's specialities. It was one of the least aggressive ways to take your anger out, and less violent than abusing a punching bag. They casually threw the football to each other as Finnick held his glare.
"Just do what feels right." Cato shrugged.
"That's the thing. What's right anymore?" Finnick threw the ball with more force this time.
"You tell me."
"I don't know what's right." Finnick didn't seem to notice that Cato was wide-eyeing him and subtly shaking his head. "I owe Izabelle so much and we've been together for such a long time. We've been through shit together and I'll always love parts of her, but I now I think I'm falling for Annie Cresta who I barely even know!"
"Finnick?"
He dropped the ball and turned around sharply, his mouth hanging open in shock.
She heard that. Now I'm in for it.
"Annie…I…" Finnick couldn't quite find the words. He had no idea what to say to the startled looking girl in front of him. Her green eyes were wide and her jaw was dropped in a similar way to his own. Before he could say anything, she turned and ran away from him. He moved to go after her, but Cato held his shoulder.
"Let her go, you're both in shock. It's their lunch now, anyway." Cato explained quietly. "You don't know what to do right now anyway- it would be wrong to lead her on."
Yeah. Too late.
…
He was falling for her. Finnick Odair was falling for her. Finnick, the forbidden captain of the Panem Allstars who was no-go when it came to relationships and was in a serious relationship with the owner's daughter who ran pretty much everything. She couldn't think about that right now. It was cut day.
"Where's your lunch?" Marvel asked when she sat down next to him. His own plate contained a chicken and pasta salad, paired with a protein bar. Enobaria was ready at the front of the room to start the announcement.
"I'll eat after." Annie lied. Enobaria tapped on her microphone, and a hush spread around the room.
"I want to make this quick, but there I still some things I have to say." Enobaria started. "The Panem cheerleading squad is one of the finest in all of the NFL. Many of our girls go on to compete in the Cheer Worlds, or find a career in performing arts and show business. We demand the best from all of our girls, and the best is what we get. We have very high standards, and that is why not all of you can stay."
"So, without any further delays, I will announcing the cuts and the new members who will be staying." Enobaria pulled a card from her pocket, and Annie held her breath. "Tammy Fields, cut. Michael Bennett, cut. Louise Opal, staying. Missy Wensten, cut. Natasha Del Rossa, staying. Annie Cresta, cut. Emily Johnson, cut. That will be all. Congratulations to the newbies staying on. To those who got cut, both old and new, perhaps I will see you next year. Who knows?"
Annie felt her whole body go numb. She couldn't move, couldn't talk. Marvel was patting her on the shoulder sympathetically, but she barely registered it. It was over. It was all over.
The only thing that snapped her back to life was the sight of Enobaria weaving her way through the tables to the exit.
"Coach!" Annie called as she made her way past her table. Enobaria stopped and raised an eyebrow at her.
"Yes?"
I respect your decision and all, but…Why?" Annie asked, feeling hurt. She thought that she had been thriving with the Panem squad.
"Honestly?" Enobaria glanced sharply at the cheerleaders around them, and they scattered. "You're failing your physical."
"My…My physical?" Annie asked. She bit hard on her lip to keep back tears. She would not cry in front of her coach.
"Yes. You're a great cheerleader with some real potential, but your fitness isn't up to par. It was a tough decision, but this morning's workout really proved it to me." Enobaria explained. She genuinely sounded apologetic.
"The mile sprints are next week." Annie said, thinking quickly. "What if I can run a mile in under five minutes?"
"It would take more than that. You would have to do it every day for a week before I reconsidered." Enobaria explained, folding her arms.
"I'll do it." Annie said instantly.
"Okay then. If you can do that, and cut ties with Finnick Odair, then you're back in.
"Wait…What?" Finnick? What did he have to do with any of this?"
"The two of you have been getting close, and I've seen the way you look at him. It can't happen, Annie. I really don't want to lose a talented cheerleader over this. If you cheer well tomorrow, can prove to me that you're in proper shape and you promise to only talk to Odair in polite greetings and basic manners, then I will consider welcoming you back. Deal?"
Annie didn't even have to think about it.
"Deal."