The drive to the palace seemed longer than it was going to be, so Scarlet decided to break the silence.

"What exactly is your business with our great president?" Scarlet asked, looking at me.

"Great is debatable, but I'm certain you know what my business with the president is." I said, looking out my window.

"Just being a victor can't be all of it. And a young one at that." she said.

"I could ask you the same thing. How does a high-class woman like you fall in with the president, let alone a man like Doc?" I asked.

"There isn't enough time in a day, let alone week, month, or year to explain that story." she said.

"Maybe not, seeing as how we're both in the service of President Snow." I said.

"That's a story for another time." Scarlet said, and then looked out the windshield.

"Fine, keep your secrets." I said, looking momentarily at Scarlet but then I went to looking out my window again.

I didn't see it, but Scarlet looked back at me and there was mixture of pain and longing in her eyes. Scarlet wanted to say something but knew better than to say it.

"We're here ma'am." the driver said.

"Ah, thank you." Scarlet said.

Scarlet's mannerisms are different from the rest of the Capitol citizens, the air of politeness that she gives off is not one of arrogance, but of true kindness. I have much to think about while I'm working here in the Capitol.

As the car pulls to a stop, I open the door and get out. I wait for Scarlet to scooch over to the door and then offer my hand in an attempt to help her get out of the car.

"Thank you." Scarlet said, cheerfully.

"Your welcome." I said and shut the door as Scarlet walks towards the palace.

I fall in step behind Scarlet as the car drives away, but another car was pulling up as the first car was leaving the driveway. I look at Scarlet, and I get a view of her from behind, and I think about what one of my poems is going to be about.

"Ms. Rosewind, the president will meet you in his office. Mr. Odair if you will follow me, your presence is required on the lawn." the butler said when we entered the palace.

"Later." I said and followed the butler.

"Tootles." Scarlet said, as she went to wherever the office is.

It was a good fifteen-minute walk to the lawn. I'm pretty certain I could have gotten to the lawn myself, but I just go along with the plan. As I leave the palace and step out onto the lawn, I realize why I had to follow the butler: Snow was out on the lawn shooting clay discs. Not a very good shot, but I have no intention of telling him that.

"Finnick dear boy. Did you learn anything today?" Snow asked, as he handed the gun to the man and walked his way over to me.

"Yeah, I ran into a man named Doc." I said.

"Who?" he asked.

"You know Doc, the man who runs a clinic on the outskirts of the market. You might know him as Rantipol." I said.

"Ah yes, Rantipol. I forgot his name, let alone his nickname being Doc. Good your first trip to the Capitol is over, and I have to say it happened in record time as well. Three hours, very good." Snow said, and then walked back to the palace.

"Do I need to know anything else, or can I get a lift back 4?" I asked.

"I'll come calling in the near future. You just be ready." Snow said, stopping for a moment.

Snow waved that Capitol wave, and then continued walking back into the palace. Behind me, a hovercraft appeared out of nowhere. As soon as the hatch opened, I jumped onto the plane. The hatch raised back into place, and then shot off in the direction of home.

By the time I arrived in Four, the sun was setting. I was dropped off at the train station, but I had to walk back to the village.

That's a jerk move. I thought.

I got back to my house and entered to smell a wonderful aroma coming from the kitchen. I figured it was Mags, but I wasn't expecting to see my mother and father as well.

"What happened?" Mags said, as I entered the kitchen

"Snow introduced me to the man I was going to be working when I was in the field." I said.

The meal was a standard for the district: fish, some bread, a few vegetable dishes, and water.

"You smell funny." my mom said.

"I was literally pulled from my bed this afternoon. Didn't have a chance to shower." I said.

"Sounds like you are going to be busy in the coming years." Mags said

"You have no idea." I said.

Then we ate dinner in relative silence, with minor conversation here and there. Dad said that his business is booming. It's kind of a joke that his business really took off after I stop working there, but I guess it's for the best. If the people were afraid to do business with a man who had a crowned victor working at his establishment it could cause people to avoid working with him, but that doesn't make any sense. It doesn't matter because my father had to secure another building just to keep up with the orders.

After my parents left, I asked Mags a very pointed question.

"Mags." I said, as we walked into the kitchen with the dirty dishes.

Yes." Mags said.

"Have you heard of a man named Rantipol?" I asked.

"That name does not ring a bell." she said.

"He goes by the nickname Doc, but that is the man who I'm going to be working with." I said.

"Next time I'm in the Capitol I'll look into it." she said.

"That's good because I'll busy dancing to Snow's drum while I'm there." I said.

"Good night Finnick, I'll see you in the morning." Mags said.

"Good night, Mags." I said.

Mags patted my arm, and then left. I washed dishes, and then went to take a shower. I crawl into bed at ten o'clock and stay asleep entire night.

Come morning, I get out of bed and get breakfast. After breakfast I head up to the study and look for a notebook and a pencil. I think of a few poems that I should write, and I remember the few that I used a few days ago. I wrote them down, realizing that I had more than ten before I got to the ones that I wanted to write. I want to discreetly write about Scarlet, and the picturesque beauty that she embodies.

After few takes, I get the perfect poem that captures the essences that is Scarlet, and then I think of how she is—without bothering with the appearances—visiting Doc. I write a poem about Doc and the man that he portrays.

The doorbell rings, and I look at the clock. I see that it's twelve o'clock and I had been working on the poems for about two hours or more. So, I shut the book, and make my way downstairs. I open the door to see Chrysan standing there.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Come on, we'll all going to the beach." Chrysan said.

"I'll grab my gear." I said.

I grab a pair of swim trunks and get changed. I grab a towel and make my way to the door.

"Food wont be necessary. We usually have a picnic while we're there." Chrysan said.

"All right, let's go." I said.

Of the nine that were there, four of them were older than Mags, so we walked a snail's pace as we made our way to the beach. As we're walking, I take this moment to take in the scenery. I hear the bell ringing which signify a recess break. I look at the sea of children pour out of the building. None of them jump out at me, but there was one girl that I saw that gets my attention. I remember seeing her in the thirteen-year-old section for the girls, and her appearance is relatively attractive. That's being modest, but true.

I wonder if she were to be reaped would I be her mentor? I thought.

I turn to Mags and ask. "Mags, how old do you have to be to be a mentor?"

"Eighteen." A man named Cinder answered, and then went back to his conversation.

"Why, did you want to be a mentor?" Mags asked.

"By that time, I will be in the service of the Capitol citizens." I said.

"Oof, you have my condolences." Mags said.

Whatever. I thought.

I walk in relative silence for the rest of the trip. I think about that girl who I saw, and I think if something stood out to me. And I'm beginning to think that she might have been looking at me. I scared to death to think that she was looking at me, but I decide to turn and look back at her. To my surprise she was looking at me. We both locked eyes, and then I turned away to see that we were approaching the beach.

I see there are people from the district here also enjoying the nice day, which is something I never expected. I guess it's to be expected when our district is meeting expectations, so we get little luxuries like this. I spend most of the time swimming or working on knots that I learn in the Capitol. Two hours after we got to the beach, we ate the "picnic," which was a mixture of District 4 dishes and dishes that we ate while in the Capitol. The Capitol dishes were good ones at that.

I spent the rest of the time working on my knots.

"You all right there?" Mags asked.

"Why?" I asked, still working on my knots.

"You've spent that last hour working on that piece of rope." she said.

"Just keeping my skills sharp." I said.

"If you say so." Mags said and went back to her other conversation.

Abut an hour later, I heard the bell sounding at the end of the school day. A few moments later, groups of families start to show up and enjoy the day. Before the beach could fill up, we packed up our gear and went back to the village. As we were leaving, I saw that girl again. We made eye contact as we passed but broke it when the girl's mother spoke to her. I remember that I had a memory book from school last year.

I get back to my house, the first thing I do is get a shower and wash the sunscreen off and any other junk that my skin absorbed while at the beach. I take my time because I have nothing else going on for the rest of the day. I think I might write a few more poems besides looking at the memory book.

I think of two poems: one about life in the district, and then one about children playing. I look through the books that I brought with me, and then I found it by my bed. I opened it to the section of the behind me. I didn't even have to look long because I found her picture.

"Annie Cresta. It would be cool to be her mentor, but I know for certain that isn't going to happen." I said.

I head back to the study and write three more poems. After the poems were written, and I was satisfied with them, I picked up the phone and called Jade to see what needs to be done to get this book to the Capitol and start the publishing process.

"Hello." Jade answered the phone.

"Hello Jade, it's Finnick." I said.

"Hello Finnick. How can I help you?" she asked.

"I finished writing the poems." I said.

"Really?" she asked.

"Yes, I did. I was wondering what I should. How I should get the notebook to the Capitol to get it published." I said.

"How many poems did you write?" she asked.

"Anywhere between twenty and thirty, maybe." I said.

"That's awesome! Well, I heard a supply should be making its way district within the next day or two. You could put the book in an official packaging and then tell the workers it needs to be delivered to me." she said.

"I'll work on that." I said.

"I can't wait to read the poems that you have written!" Jade said, and then hung the phone up.

"I can't wait to get them to you." I said, and then hung up the phone.

I head into my study and look for a something to put the notebook in. It took me all of twenty minutes to find box with the Capitol seal on it. Probably not what I should be using this for, but who cares. Snow may even applaud me for doing this. I write Jade's name on it and then head downstairs. I place the package on the table by the door, and head into the kitchen. I get a light snack, and then sit out on the porch.

At dinner time, we all head over to Cinder's house for a meal. Cinder made a potluck of many dishes and drinks. I fill one plate and sit down to listen to the adults talk. I grab a glass of water and continue to listen to the adults talk.

"Learning anything of value?" Mags asked, sitting down next to me.

"Not really. Nothing of substance is being discussed." I said.

"You won't find anything of substance from them. It's mostly going to be stories of time in the arena, or times they spent in the Capitol. Do you expect to learn anything?" she asked.

"No. Just taking in my surroundings." I said.

"You should try the bowl next to Cinder. It may be useful to you later." Mags said.

"I shall." I said, and then got up to go get a serving.

I take two scoops of what the dish is and take my seat next to Mags. We listen to the group talk about everything and anything. Amazingly enough no one is interested in asking me questions. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. If I'm being honest, it proves Snow's theory correct to an extent; to be seen, but not seen. We'll see how that holds up when I get to the Capitol.

At sundown the party starts to wind down and everybody goes their own way. I head back to my house and relax on the porch for an hour before going in and heading to bed. I roll around in bed for an hour or two and then I drift off to sleep.

I wake up in the morning, and then head to get a shower. After, I get out of the shower I put on fresh clothes. I head downstairs to see that the front door is unlocked. I know for a certain that I locked it when I came in last night. I head to the living room and try to get a fireplace poker. After I grab the poker, I turn around just in time to see a knife come flying at my head.