Author's Note: Over 40 followers! That's incredible! I can't stop saying thank you, but I just appreciate it so much. I tried to make Finnick have more opportunities to express the way he feels in situations. I don't really want to do a Finnick P.O.V. because I want to stay focused on Kathleen and have what Finnick thinks be up to your imagination. I like seeing all the ways you each interpret the story. One person was spot on with their comment and I was shocked to see someone who saw what I see when I look at and read my story.
Finnick never showed up when his time ran out. Instead, I had another nightmare. Instead, I screamed myself awake again. Instead, I longed for some sort of safety all night long. I spent all night hugging my knees with my eyes shut, whispering to myself about how everything was fine. The only difference from yesterday was that a hologram of the news flashed on across the room from me, and when I say news I mean Caeser's gossip show.
"Exciting news in the capital," Caeser chirped with excitement, his white teeth glimmering from the bright lights that shone on him, "Love is in the air."
"Love?" His co-host asked.
"Not just any love," he smiled, "It just so happens that two victors have been dating in secret!"
The costar gasped and let her smile shine on her purple tinted skin, "Two victors? Do tell more!"
"That's right! Finnick Odair and Kathleen Rose have been secretly seeing each other. In this clip you can see the two slow dancing together," Caeser motioned to the video behind him, "Not only that, it is said that there have been multiple times where Finnick has stayed the night in Kathleen's room."
"Well, congratulations to the newly formed couple. I guess this means our beloved Finnick is officially off the market," the woman spoke into the camera filming her.
"Yes, indeed. Our question to you: how do you feel about the new couple?" Caeser asked the audience watching before signing off, followed by the hologram to disappear back into the silver box.
The information I learned caused my head to spin. I ran my fingers through my hair, pulling at the roots slightly. Why is this happening? I already knew it was my loud mouth neighbor I saw in the breakfast hall yesterday that must have told the press. There was no one I could trust, and that was all I wanted.
"Katie," Finnick yelled while banging his fist against my door. He was the last person I wanted to see, yet somehow he was the only person who came to see me.
I subconsciously unlocked the door and let Finnick in, closing it after he walked in the room. As soon as he walked in my room he paced back and forth across the floor. After a few laps he finally stopped pacing and looked at me.
"I'm sorry," Finnick said before wrapping his arms around me. The feeling was so gentle and caring that I could have melted in his embrace. My arms clung onto his shirt as my head burried itself into his chest. "Are you okay?" He asked, only receiving a nod from me. This all seemed over dramatic for a rumor, but that is not all it was. This was Finnick showing me that I had someone to trust. Someone to help me make it through the day.
"What are we going to do?" I asked, my sinuses were clogged from the tears I was holding back. The emotional state I was in has always been rare for me, but ever since the games I can not control my emotions.
"We don't need to worry about that right now. Tell me about the conversation in the breakfast hall. Why were you screaming for me during the night where I had to leave you alone?" His chin rested on top of my head and his hand rubbed my back. Everything he was doing was slowly calming me down. My rapid heart beat started beating with a steady rhythm while I started taking slow, deep breaths.
"It was nothing. I just had a nightmare." My voice was muffled by his chest, but he could still understand every word.
"You called out for me during a nightmare?" He pulled back from the embrace to look at me with a puzzled face, "What was it about?"
"He killed me," I breathed without explanation. However, I never needed to explain because Finnick knew exactly what I was talking about. The last person I killed to win the hunger games is the one person that haunts me in my dreams. I can only imagine if Finnick has these nightmares still, wondering if they will ever go away.
"I have good news," Finnick changes the current topic, "You might be free from becoming the capital's puppets."
"How?" I asked.
"Katie," He looks down at me, "will you be my girlfriend?"
My eyes widened with shock, "What?" I pushed back so our bodies were no longer near each other.
Finnick laughed, "I'm talking about for the cameras. If the capital thinks we are taken, then those who support our relationship will no longer want our services." He checks to make sure I understand what he is saying, "Besides, there is nothing the capital loves more than a sappy love story," he laughed at how childish the idea was.
"I don't know about this, Finnick," my brain was swirling with fear and anxiety. The thought of being lovey dovey, and affectionate with someone could make my stomach churn in a matter of seconds.
"Think about it. You won't have to sleep with strangers. You won't even have to sleep with me, unless you want to," he winks at me before continuing, "We can both be free from the capital. All you have to do is let me make everyone believe we are a real couple."
I groan, "I just don't want you to touch me and kiss me."
"It's either strangers from the capital or me. Pick one." His stare turned stern as he awaited my answer.
My lungs gasped for air, trying to stall before finally answering him. I leaned against my bed post, looking at the floor, "You."
Finnick smiles; he has been praying for freedom ever since he had turned eighteen, "I guess it's official then. There's just one more thing." His index finger pointed to the ceiling as he made his way over towards me.
"What now?" I grumbled from frustration. Before I could further protest, my lips were covered with his. This was different than the last time he kissed me. It was short, yet it lingered on my lips when he pulled away. The feeling of his lips for a slight moment made me crave more, as he had planned it. I could not express that urge, though. The only thing I could do was restrain myself and scold his smiling face.
"We had to seal it with a kiss," he purred in my ear.
I rolled my eyes at him, turning to lay on my bed, but only to be stopped be Finnick's hand gripping onto my wrist, "What are you doing? We have to flaunt our relationship to the public." His hand dragged me out of my room and towards the lunch hall. Before we walked in he made sure to entwine our fingers together.
Gasps erupted from all over the room as we walked in the lunch hall hand in hand. For all they knew the news could have been a rumor, but the sight of us confirmed it was true. Some women sighed, for they would never be able to have Finnick for themselves. Other women squealed; they practically live off of other people's lives.
"Finnick," I panicked, unable to handle all the attention on us. I turned to look up at him causing the crowd to awe, they were completely buying this.
"What is it, baby?" He asked while earning some swoons from the girls.
There was even a girl who screamed, "He called her baby!"
Finnick's question hung in the air. I could not answer it, though, because I did not say his name for any reason. His name is more of a safe word for me, rather than a call for his help. All I really needed to know was that he was there and he was going to help me get through this. In the midst of my thoughts Finnick's hand squeezed mine a little tighter, as if he could read my thoughts. The act made the tension in my muscles loosen and helped my head clear.
I was placed at a table, waiting for Finnick to get our meals. After our grand entrance I could barely feel my legs; there is no way I would be able to do all that walking and standing. The thought of it all exhausted me. My eyelids were falling shut each waking minute. It has been two restless nights, and now I have to have energy so that I can act like I actually want to be with Finnick. It was only noon and I already could tell that I was going to pass out as soon as I got back to my room.