~Nyrah POV:
As soon as we reach the Capitol, I get a message to meet a "patron". I had assumed that because I am a tribute that I wouldn't have to deal with silly Capitol citizens groping me. Guess not. I head to the car waiting for me. After a short drive I reach my destination: an expensive hotel. I give my name at the desk and I promptly get led up to a room by a gaping bellboy. I open the door and am surprised to see Plutarch Heavensbee.
I smile, "So I am assuming that this is a business meeting not a sex trip?"
Plutarch, the new Head Gamemaker, nods and gets right to the point, "I need you to ally with and protect Peeta. He can't die. If you befriend him, Katniss will follow. Haymitch has assured me of that. She plans on keeping him alive. We need her alive for her face. Her symbol is being used everywhere as you know. Your fellow tributes from 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are all in on the plan, to varying extents. You, Finnick, and Beetee are going to know the most." He hesitates.
"Get to the point," I say impatiently.
"You, Finnick, and Johanna have a big part in this. I'm depending on your strength, passion, determination..."
Good. Johanna is part of this. I would much rather be with her than have to fight her. I cut Heavensbee off.
"Quit it. I don't have forever to sit here and listen to you rattle on."
He grins and, finally, gets his main point out, "Beetee will devise a way to get you out. You can't know details for security reasons. Just trust him. District 13 is giving us a hovercraft to get you guys out. But it will probably be chaos at the time. Whatever you do, make sure that Peeta and Katniss-and yourself-get taken by the hovercraft with the red ladder and claw. As soon as everyone is out, the Rebellion truly starts in full. Your mentors will be sending you bread. The District it is from represents how many days, and the number of pieces represents the time of the escape."
I think this through. The main problem with this plan is Katniss. She is just so headstrong and untrusting. That much was obvious in her Games. I voice my thoughts.
Plutarch replies, "I know it will be difficult. But without Katniss, the Rebellion dies. That why you need to concentrate on Peeta, she won't leave his side."
~Finnick POV:
Johanna storms up to me.
"Why is Nyrah's left hand empty? I thought you were going to ask her to marry you!" she practically yells at me. Johanna is a very aggressive, get-to-the-damn-point kind of person.
"Nice to see you too," I snap, defending myself, "I was going too, I had it all planned. But the night I was gonna do it, they announced the Quarter Quell and well..."
She rolls her eyes at me. "Whatever."
I head to my room to get made over for the Opening Ceremonies. I have to say, this is my least favorite part of the whole being-a-tribute thing. In my first games ten years ago, I was practically naked with wave designs painted on me in blue and gold paint. I'm not expecting much more this year. My stylist walks in holding a net.
"Really?" I ask. She nods excitedly, eyes wide.
The golden net gets draped over one of my shoulders and knotted at my groin, barely covering my manhood. Well, the best part of the costume is that it is quick and takes absolutely no prep time. So I wander down to the bottom floor of the training center to find my chariot. The place is crowded with victors, both tributes and mentors. I see Katniss Everdeen standing all alone, stroking her horse. Might as well take this opportunity.
She doesn't even hear me behind her. So I take a sugar cube from the horse's bag and throw it in my mouth. The loud crunch startles her.
"Hello Katniss," I say casually.
"Hello Finnick," she replies. She looks just a little bit uneasy. I tend to have that effect on people, girls especially.
"Want a sugar cube?" I ask, popping another one into my mouth. They aren't that bad actually.
"No thanks," she says, "I'd love to borrow your outfit sometime though." Finally this conversation is moving. I was afraid that she was only going to give me one word answers.
"You look absolutly terrifying in that getup. What happened to the pretty little girl dresses?" I lick my lips slightly, that sugar is sticky, and then I finger the collar of her black high-necked unitard. We talk for a moment about money and the Capitol.
"What do people pay you for your company then?" Katniss asks innocently.
Ah, the moment I am looking for. I put my lips inches from hers and whisper seductively, "Secrets." It is basically true. "What about you, Girl on Fire? Do you have any secrets worth my time?"
She blushes a bright red and answers, "No, I am an open book. Most people know my secrets even before I do." It's really hard not to burst out laughing. If only she knew. Half of Panem knows her importance, but she is still totally unaware. Luckily for me, Peeta comes into the room so I make an excuse and leave.
~Katniss POV:
The conversation with Finnick left my skin crawling. I shudder. Would I have ended up like a freak, if I didn't have Peeta?
The crowd loves us. Peeta and I hold hands, yet again. But this time, we are above it all. Afterwards, we head over to an elevator to go back to our rooms. Peeta presses to button and we wait. What is taking so long? I really don't want to be in an elevator with people I don't know.
Johanna Mason of District 7 walks up to us, stripping off her costume as she went. She isn't wearing anything but her shoes when she stops next to us. Ironically enough, she starts talking about clothes. Ugh. I hate girl talk. Finnick Odair and Nyrah Cuda, District 4's barely dressed tributes, join us a second later.
"Didn't realize it was gonna be a naked party," Finnick practically purrs. His voice sends shivers down my spine, and not in a good way.
"Well I'm surprised that your stylists put either of you two in clothing at all! Me and Gloss had a bet about that. I mean, seriously, at least 80% of the Capitol's population has seen one of you guys naked." They all laugh. Johanna then turns to us, "Oh yeah I forgot to tell ya. All of us younger tributes are having a party on the roof in about an hour. Hang out. Get drunk. You in?"
I look at Peeta, shocked. He seems slightly more relaxed than I feel. He says, "Who is going?" as if he actually knows anyone here.
Finnick says, "Oh just Cashmere, Gloss, me, Ny, Johanna, and District 12's star-crossed lovers, of course. No one over the age of thirty is allowed tonight."
Right then the elevator dings and the door slides open. We all step inside. So much for being left alone. Haymitch is running trying to get on, but Finnick pushes the 'close door' button and waves at Haymitch as he calls, "You tributes don't need a babysitter!"
Johanna shrugs, "I don't know. I think Peeta might need someone late tonight..."
"No he doesn't!" I snap at her. The others, Peeta included, just laugh at me.
Nyrah slides in close, too close for my liking, to Peeta. She slowly traces her fingers up his arm. Peeta shivers slightly at her touch and then goes really stiff. She smiles at him and then says in a smooth silky voice, "Peeta, you are the only nonviolent victor in history. You really only killed one person, and that was mostly on accident." She places both hands on his shoulder, presses her scantily clad body against him, and whispers in his ear, "How are you going to survive now that you are in the big leagues?" He turns his head too look at her, his lips end up being only a mere inch from hers. His blue eyes meet her neon green ones. She slowly slides one of her long legs forward, grazing the front of his leg ever so slightly. Peeta is about ready to speak when the elevator stops on level four. Finally! That was the slowest elevator ride ever! District 4's tributes step off and Finnick calls out "see ya in a little bit!"
As soon as they step off, I breathe a sigh of relief. Johanna rolls her eyes at me and then starts talking to Peeta about his paintings. It gives me time to think. Why is everyone hitting on Peeta? He is attractive and nice, but there seems to more to it. Seriously, Nyrah is four years older than us. She can have any guy she wants, why is she messing with Peeta? It makes my skin crawl. I don't like it. Peeta is mine. I just said it. Peeta is mine. The more I think about it, the more I believe it. He is getting out of the arena alive. He deserves it. He is sweet and kind. And I love him.
