Chapter 21

All around me are people in school uniforms smiling and laughing. It's strange to think that just a few months ago I was one of them. I had to get out of that house in Victor's Village. I did sleep soundly last night but I get a weird feeling when I am in that house. I feel as if I am being watched. I figure I would come down to school and see my sister when she got out of school. It's not like I have anything important I need to be doing.

I feel a tap on my right shoulder and turn but don't see anything. I shrug my shoulders and then turn around to see Fiona.

"Hey loser, can't believe you fell for that one." Fiona jokes.

"Ha Ha you're so funny but you shouldn't sneak up on me." I joke back

"Don't worry if you try anything I will be able to stop you. I've got a good one two punch." She winks at me and lightly punches my shoulder.

"What are you doing here?" she says in a serious tone.

"I got bored, wanted to get out of the house."

She nods

"So what's the real story behind the move to Victor's Village?"

I'm about to answer but then a teacher storms out

"Miss. Odair! Miss. Odair!"

"What'd you do." I whisper under my breath in a jokey tone.

Fiona light shoves my shoulder and mutters shut up.

"Miss. Odair you were supposed to stay after school today. The school year is almost over and you are somehow failing. You were supposed to stay so we could discuss summer school."

I cringe that is my fault. I realize that I recognize this teacher. I never had her because she only teaches the upper level students. I do remember her name though.

"Oh, I'm sorry Miss. Tribble that was my fault." I put on the charm. I don't want my sister going to summer school because I can't sleep at night.

"Finnick Odair what are you…"

She trails off probably making the connection that we are related. I wonder why she didn't get it before both of our names even start with the letter "F".

"Yes, I'm afraid that these bad grades Fiona has been receiving are my fault… you see I've been having trouble sleeping." I say this seductively and put lots of emphasis on the word sleeping and wink at her.

"Oh I see well… I guess we can make an acceptation." She blushes and starts giggling. "The best I can do t is give Fiona passing grades, nothing better than a C."

"That is perfect, thank you for understand." I wink she giggles and then walks off probably to forge Fiona's grades.

I guess the women in The Capitol aren't the only ones who are easy to manipulate.

Fiona lightly punches my shoulder.

"You shouldn't do that?"

"Do what? Help you from failing?

"While I am appreciative, you shouldn't use your charm or good looks to manipulate people." She tries to say this seriously but fails.

"Oh really? Because I remember you singing a different tune a few months ago." I smile at her.

She sticks out her tongue.

"Walk me home." She commands

"What if I don't?" I say sarcastically

"I'll tell everyone that the great Finnick Odair that um he isn't as charming as he seems to be?"

"That's the best you could come up with?"

"Well you didn't give me enough time to think about it." She pouts

"Ok well on the way home think about it and when we get there you can tell me."

We start walking Fiona talks about school work and the "drama" that is going around with all the girls in her English class. Apparently they are doing a play and the main guy is "super hot" and there is a kiss scene and they all want to be the one who gets to kiss him.

"But it wouldn't be real." I say

"What do you mean Finnick? A kiss is a kiss."

"No it's not. That kiss isn't real because he is pretending. He may not really want to kiss the lead female role but is doing it because he is in character. It's not him who is kissing the girl it is his character. Did that make any sense?"

"Yes because I am related to you. I can following your crazy way of thinking. But what do you know about kisses? Last I heard you hadn't kissed anyone. Unless one of the women in The Capitol has stolen your heart because the women in District 4 are dull compared to them." She says the last line impersonating Caesar Flickerman because he said something similar when he interviewed me for the games.

"No never been kissed and no, no women in The Capitol has stolen my heart. However the women in District 4 are dull but in a good way. The women in The Capitol don't even look human."

"What do you mean?"

I explain to her about the crazy hair, skin, makeup, tattoos, and strange surgery that you can have done.

"Sounds like looks in The Capitol are very important no wonder everyone thought you were a weakling in the arena." She says in a serious tone.

"Pssh you mean the pretty boy comments?"

"Yup." Fiona says awkwardly

I think she doesn't want to talk about this in case I start hallucinating.

"Yeah well I remember your last words to me were see you soon pretty boy." I impersonate her

"Hey, hey only I'm allowed to call you pretty boy. It is my right as your sister." She sticks out her tongue and I stick mine out at her.

We are almost at the house when Fiona turns and looks at me.

"Wait here." She says and runs toward the house.

"What? Why?"

She comes back a minute later.

"Okay Dad left to go fishing. He will be back late. You can come in if you want."

I'm being invented into a house I have lived in for 14 years. The feeling is strange but I don't feel sad just disappointed.

"Ok time to tell me."

"Tell you what?"

"Why you're in Victor's Village?"

"I wanted to be."

I don't even make an attempted to convince her. She isn't stupid she knows something is up.

"Fine don't tell me whatever." She says clearly annoyed.

I don't think I should tell her. I think she would want to come and live with me and I don't want that because my Dad would be lonely. Even though he doesn't care about me I still care about him and I wouldn't want anyone to be lonely. I know the feeling all too well.

"Does it matter. You can always visit me."

Her faces lights up when I say this.

"Awesome I can see the big cool house you got now."

I smile and nod.

"So are you excited Finnick?"

"For what? You coming to my house you aren't that important Fiona."

"No stupid the Victory Tour. And what do you mean I'm not important?"

I roll my eyes.

I had completely forgotten about the Victory Tour. What is there to celebrate? 23 people are dead. I don't think a celebration is needed.

"I haven't thought of the Victory Tour much."

"Well you should probably get on that brother it starts in 3 days."

"What 3 days?"

Then I remember for the Mags has asked me to see her today. It probably has to do with the Victory Tour.

"Yeah… I figured you knew since you are the victor and all."

"I don't want to go." I blurt out.

"That's what I expected you to say." Fiona says with sorrow in her voice "I wonder if any victor wants to go?"

"Some of the bloodthirsty ones would be glad to go you can trust me on that." I know Elle would've been happy going on a Victory Tour.

"You going to be ok? I mean cause you kinda freak out."

"I hope so." I can't give a straight answer. When I go to the Districts where I killed people I don't know what could happen. I doubt I would try and kill someone though.

"Well the good news about this is when you get back we can celebrate your birthday!" She squeals

"Oh yeah right the big 15."

"Don't run this already Finnick."

"What do you mean by that."

"For some ungodly reason you hate birthdays."

"I do not hate them. I just don't like them."

She rolls her eyes "Whatever Finnick. I don't care if you bring down your own party. Just try not to bring down mine again."

"What do you mean again?"

Fiona goes threw a list of things I did that supposedly ruined her birthdays when she finishes the list I get up and tell her I have to go and see Mags.

"Going to talk about super secret mentor victor stuff?"

"It's probably about the Victory Tour."

"Oh that's not as exciting as I thought it would be."

"What do you think we talk about?"

She shrugs "I don't know maybe bash the people in The Capitol or the other mentors."

"Yeah, well that has never happened. I'll see you later though."

"Maybe I could come to Victors Village tomorrow?"

"Maybe."

I realize that my Mother was right Fiona hasn't changed at all.

I make it back to Victor's Village and head straight to Mags' house. I knock on the door and expecting to see Mags answer the door I see James instead.

"Finnick."

"James?"

"Come in Mags and I were expecting you."

I see Mags sitting in her living room knitting.

"You wanted to see me? I'm assuming this has to do with the Victory Tour."

"Good you remembered." James says with glee.

"Actually no, my sister just reminded me."

"It's alright it doesn't matter you know now." Mags says

"It will all start tomorrow." She continues

"I thought it was supposed to start in 3 days."

"That's when you first arrive in 12." James explains.

"Oh well what happens tomorrow?"

"Louise, Abbi, and Emma will be coming to get you ready. You will then get ready for a brief live interview with Caesar Flickerman. Then you will be whisked away and we head off to District 12 and work our way up to The Capitol of course we celebrate in 4 last." Mags explains

"It takes almost 3 days to get to 12?" I ask

It took one day to get to the Capitol from District 4. That means the journey for people in District 12 must take at least 4 days. I wonder how much earlier their reaping is. They surely have to do it before any other District because we all have to get there at the same time for the opening ceremonies.

"That is correct." James interrupts my thoughts.

"Interesting. What exactly happens on this Victory Tour." I ask with nervousness in my voice.

"Well you've seen it happen every year." James says

Mags stops knitting and walks over to me

"It is the same as you see it in District 4. The victor comes and makes a speech in front of the justice building says something about the dead tributes and then you usually are taken into the justice building for some sort of party." Mags finishes

"As a side note in your speech you should say fallen and not dead." James adds on.

"So that's it that's all?"

It sounds too easy. I have seen it happen every year and every year I always feel a bit of rage towards the victor… but this year I am the victor.

Mags then starts talking again

"You know what is like on the receiving end during the Victory Tour but you don't know what it is like on the other side. While you may feel hatred towards the victor who is on the Victory Tour, this year you will be that victor Finnick. You will also have to look into the eyes of the family members of the fallen tributes. Even if didn't kill them or even see them in the arena you will still feel guilty. The worst part about the Victory Tour isn't the guilt though; it is that you have to act happy even though you may feel like falling apart.

I think she is done but the she adds

"It will be worse for you Finnick because you have to keep up the charming, flirtatious, egoistical act because that is how people see you, and that is how they will always see you."