Finnick POV-
When we arrive I do exactly what Annie wanted me to do I seek out Gloss and Cashmere. Before I go find them, I take Mags up to our floor. As soon as I step through the door there is an envelope awaiting me. As much as I do not want to touch it, I know I have to; I grab it shoving it in my back pocket of my pants. I can't open it now even though I have no clue as what is inside. I don't even stop to think about it I immediately head up to the roof. Just as I had thought, Gloss and Cashmere are up here waiting for me. I can tell that Cashmere has been upset and I have a feeling I know why. She is too caring just like Katniss and Annie. I finish walking up to her without a second thought I pull her into my arms. "Finnick I am so sorry, I am sorry." She tells me in a whisper. I can see that she is in tears at this point. Cashmere and I have gotten a lot closer in the last couple of years. Before letting her go I tell her "Cash, you have nothing to be sorry for." I can feel her nod but she still is upset. I can feel the weight of this envelope in my back pocket I know it is from Snow. It feels as if I am carrying bricks in my pocket. All I can think about is what is in side of the envelope. I don't even pay attention to what they are saying I am too focused on my pocket. Who knows what it written on just a piece of paper? Everyone of know that a piece of paper can change your life. I am scared to open it I know it is either a letter about Annie or it is an appointment. I am not sure which one will be worse at this point. I put one of my hands back in my pocket feeling the envelope. I know I should at least look at it but I cannot bring myself to read it. Gloss must notice me fidgeting
"What's wrong besides the obvious?" I pull the envelope out of my pocket and show them without saying a word.
"Have you read it?"
"No, I haven't. I know I need to but I can't not right now." I watch Gloss look at me closely I can tell he is trying to ask something but not sure if he should.
"Do you want me to at least see if it is something you need to do now?" I nod my head to Gloss handing over the letter
"Please"
I watch him open the envelope and then I watch him looking for any clues as to what it is. He only glances at the letter "It's a letter you can read it latter but I would read it up here." He hands me the letter back. I don't want to read it yet in a way I want to wait until Katniss and Gale get here but I know I can't wait that long. For once, I am at a loss for words I do not know what to say. All I know is I cannot stop thinking about this letter and the fact that my Annie is a tribute. How can my Annie be a tribute? How will she survive this? I am not blind I know that she is not even close to having the same strength as the others. Even if she did, I know there is no way she will be able to take someone's life. I really do not think she has it in her to do that. I am just thankful that Zale will be in the arena with her otherwise there would have been no way she would survive. She will survive now because he loves her as well. Sometimes I wish she loved him instead of me. I wish she could have fallen for him. If she would have than she would have been safe. She would never have to be in this position of facing death. I love her some much, it is because I love her that I wish she loved him. If she loved him then she would be safe. I am the reason, I am the reason she will be facing death. It is all my fault. If I would have just left her alone, only if I would have just let her fall in love with him. She may have fallen for him one day. It is my fault I killed the love of my life. I knew better. I know what happens when a Victor falls in love. I know there is no happiness for us. We are to be controlled, to be miserable to be hopeless. I am going to have to find out how to get her out of that arena. I am not sure what I will do but I do know that there is nothing I wouldn't do in order to get her out.
"Finnick stop right there. I know what you are thinking right now. You are blaming yourself you are regretting everything. Remember I have been there before; I did the same thing I blamed myself. I wish she had fallen in love with someone else. I have thought every single one of your thoughts before. Know this you are not the one to blame. This is not your fault remember who's fault this really is."
I know he is right but that does not change how I feel. Then again, I doubt he thinks he thinks he changed my mind. I remember what he went through when Katniss volunteered. At the time, I thought I understood how he felt. Now I know that I had not a clue on how he felt. It was a thousand times worse then what I had imagined. I should open up to him and talk to him he will probably be the only one who truly understands what I am going through. I am allowing one of my best friends to die in order for her to live. As much as I want to tell him not to, I won't because I know that he would not listen to me anyways. The biggest difference is his best friend did not love his girlfriend. I am thankful when Gloss starts to talk.
"Your boy tribute do you know him? Does Annie know him? Will he ally with her?" He asking so many questions at once it is then I realized how much he cares as well.
I laugh a little "Yes Annie and me both know him. He will be allying with her I will explain more when everyone's here but I will tell you this. After this you and I will have even more in common than before."
Cashmere leans in close to Gloss and whispers something I cannot hear. Even though I have no clue as what she actually said I have a good feeling she is about to leave. She comes back over to me pulling me into her arms then kisses my cheek. "Talk to him he will understand. I will give Mags Company until Katniss and Gale arrive." Before I can even respond, she is already half way to the elevator. Gloss is watching me closely
Gloss POV-
Cashmere leans in closer to me whispering, "I think Fin needs to talk to you alone for a moment. Gale and Katniss should be here soon." I nod to her understanding I know she is right about Finnick needing to talk. She is also right that Katniss and Gale will be here soon. She starts to walk away but not before going over to Finnick. I watch her as she hugs him and gives him a kiss on the cheek she whispers something that I am unable to hear. Once Cash leaves, I walk over to the ledge and sit not sure, if Finnick wants to talk to me or not. He ends up sitting on the ledge nearby, he is still fidgeting with Snows letter in his hand I have a feeling he is going to need a little push here.
"Finnick I know that I and you are not close and I am sure you would rather be talking to someone else but I know what you are going through. I understand."
"I know that you do, it's just..." I can see he is lost for word he once again looks at the letter.
"It's terrifying not knowing. We both know your real fear is that her fate sealed in that piece of paper.
"I know I should but I am terrified of it. When did I become so scared of a piece of paper with some words on it?" I know what he is saying I think we all are sacred of what can lay on a piece of paper.
"I understand I still panic every time I see one. I am always worried about what he will do next. With Katniss, he never follows the same rules he has made changes just for her. It's ok to be scared and pissed."
We sit here in silence for a while before he abruptly asks, "How did you do it?" I am not sure what he is meaning. "How did I do what?"
"How do you let your friend die for the girl you love?"
"I'm still not sure. I wanted to tell him no, I wanted to tell him to fight and come home, I wanted to tell him so many things but I could not do it. Katniss and I may have only known each other a short time when she volunteered but I didn't start living until the day I met her." He thinks my answer over for a while.
"I couldn't tell Zale no either and even though I know he wouldn't have listen to me. That is not because of me but because of Annie. I know that he loves her. We may have been best friends before I was in the Games. Things changed when I won I was constantly having to go to the Capitol. We grew further apart but Annie and Zale grew closer together."
It is then that I understand it is not just Annie but it is one of his friends and the determination I saw was in his friends eyes was not for him but for her. He will risk his life for her life. Some may think we are in the same position but that is not the case at least not entirely. I knew that Katniss had it in her to come out of the arena. I knew she was strong enough and was willing to fight to come out alive. Marvel was my best friend and he was willing to sacrifice himself for her to come home to me. He knew he did not need to fight for her for she could fight for herself. Unlike Marvel, Zale is going to protect her, fight for her and will die fighting for her to live. He will not be doing this for Finnick but for her to live. From what I know of Annie, this is what is going to destroy her.
"I see it now, I understand. You're right there is nothing you can say to make him change your mind. Remember that Annie loves you and just be there for her." We sit there in silence for how long even I am unsure.
Katniss POV-
The first thing we do when we arrive is go to find Finnick. I know he will be on the roof but Haymitch wants to stop at the fourth floor first. At first I am not sure why. At first until it dawns on me I have been so worried about what state Finnick would be in I forgot about Mags. It's not Finnick, Haymitch is looking for it is Mags. I do not think any of us even questioned where Finnick would be it was a question on where Mags would be. When we got there, we found Mags and Cashmere sitting in silence. Haymitch walks over to them "Cash go ahead and go up with those two I will stay with her." Cashmere doesn't say a word she just joins us in the elevator. Where we head straight up to the roof where we find Finnick and Gloss. For once, I do not go to Gloss like I normally would I go straight to Finnick. As soon as I get to Finnick, I pull him into my arms. "I am so sorry Fin." I can feel him shaking in my arms. The last time I saw him this distraught was the reaping after his 16th birthday.
"Katniss she can't handle this she will never be the same."
"You're right she won't be the same none of us are the same."
He holds out an envelope that he was holding lightly in his hands when we found him.
"No... Have you read it?" He just shakes his head.
"It's time then."
He starts opening it his hands are shaking. I know he is terrified. I can see the pain in his eyes. I let him take his time; I also give him some space walking closer to Gale and Gloss. He takes his time reading it. Once he is finished, he almost shoves it in my hand walking away. I start to walk towards him but Gale puts his hand out stopping me shaking his head at me. Gloss pulls me closer to him. By this point Finnick his yelling and his arms are going all over the place. Gloss kisses the top of my head before walking over to Finnick. I don't pay attention to what he says I just go to open the letter knowing Gloss is trying to calm him down.
Mr. Odair,
I trust you understand that announcing that you and Miss. Cresta are any type of relationship will not help her cause. If anything comes out that, you are attached to anyone then she will not leave the arena. That tactic may have worked for Miss. Abernathy but it will not work again. If you are to disappoint any of your clients in the slightest, you know the consequences. We will also have to wait and see how desirable she is by chance she survives but know this I have already had several offers.
Snow
I hand the letter over to Gale and Cashmere even though they read most of it over my shoulder. I go to where Gloss and Finnick are. He is no longer screaming he is now on the ground crying almost hysterical. He is a complete mess. Once I am near him I pull him into my arms on the ground hold him tightly. I hate what I am about to do but I have to. I know we need to be at the tribute parade soon but he cannot go looking like this. I need to make sure he is ready. "Finnick I know you are scared and I know you are breaking inside but you need to be strong for her. You know what you have to do down there. You can do this, you can get her out of the arena." Slowly I pull him up to his feet and without saying anything, I escort him down to his floor. Mags is already waiting for him. She just nods at me when we walk in taking him straight to the bathroom. I start the shower for him and wait until it is ready and he is ready for me to leave. When I know he is ok, I leave the floor only stopping to tell Mags how sorry I am.
I head back to my room where I find Gloss waiting for me. The last time I saw him was two months ago as we have not been requested back to the Capitol since then. We do not talk; as we normally would this time, we just stand there holding each other. We both know what this means Snow is going to keep targeting each of us. Every time one of us shows any signs of being happy, he will do everything he can to break us. I know Gloss will be flashing back to when Marvel and I were in the arena. Even I know that there are differences between Annie and myself. I am nothing like Annie I was ready for the arena even though I never wanted to participate in them. Annie is not prepared at all. The only thing that will be helping her in that arena is her district partner Zale who has trained for this will be doing everything he can to protect her in there. Unlike everyone else Finnick has already told me all about Zale and the fact that he is her best friend and he is in love with her. The only problem with this is the fact that in order for her to live he will have to die. She may not love him as he loves her but she loves him enough to be devastated when he dies.
Finnick POV-
I know I have to pull myself together not for me but for Annie. Mags and I find Annie and Zale right before the tribute parade. When I get closer to Annie, I can see how beautiful she looks right now. I am not surprised to see her is in blue the colors of the ocean with netting draped down one side. Zale is standing right next to her looking like a Sea God with his trident in his hands. The whole entire time I am walking to her, I have to keep thinking that I cannot touch her. As much as I want to, I know that I cannot touch here especially around all of the other tributes. I do notice the pity in all of the mentor's eyes when they met mine. It feels like no time at all when I know I have to leave. I walk away with Mags. I am not prepared for what is about to happen. We will be hearing the Capitols first impression of Annie for this I am terrified.
Gloss POV-
The parade goes as expected with One, Two and Four being the leaders. Annie got more attention than Finnick would have liked. Especially since, we could hear some of the men talking about if she were to win. I am worried about him, about Cashmere, and like always about Katniss. I hate being in this place with everyone I love. I know that it is likely that we all will have several appointments the next few days. Especially Finnick, Snow will want to prove his point that he is still the one in control. Tonight I want to hold Katniss close to me and not let her go. I don't want to leave her for even a second. There are times like now where I want to know the status of the rebellion; I want to know how much longer we will live this life. Every year I worry about what Snow will do next. I may not have any more family but Katniss does not only do I worry about her family but also I worry about ourselves.
By the time the interviews come around I realize what a blur the last few days have been. As predicted Finnick is usually, gone Snow is running him to the ground he has just enough time to make it to each appointment. Everyday Finnick gets worse and worse he is barely hanging on to a thread at this point. Katniss and I on the other hand have only had one appointment, which surprises everyone. Annie ended up scoring an eight which none of us were surprised about since she can tie knots and make nets. We all worry about what will happen to Finnick once she enters the arena. She will ally with the careers. With Zale's help and the mentors for one and two, she has been allowed to ally with them for the moment. I know that they plan to stay with the careers as long as possible before they decide to split from them. She just needs to convince them she is strong enough. If I was to be honest with everyone, I am not sure how she is going to survive the bloodbath. I don't say my thoughts out loud though.
