Okay, so I haven't been updating as frequently since I've been working uber long hours- however, here it is! The next little installment of my humble fanfic!

Thanks again to my lovely reviewers!

Without further adieu…

I poke at the half eaten steak in my plate and I think to myself that I should have heeded Pandora McCaffertys warning to pace myself and save space. How could one person possibly consume so much in one sitting?

I look to my left and clearly Aiden Caldwell can, because he's scraping the last of the mashed potatoes and gravy from his plate and eying what's left in mine. There's been very little conversation besides the loud sound of Aiden chewing between moans and Pandora exulting the joys we'll experience in the Capitol. Finnick and Mags eat well, but slowly, eying Aiden and I all the time.

"Not enjoying your steak dear?" Pandora asks when I hand my plate to Aiden "did the antiemetic I gave you not work?"

"No, I'm fine, and the food is…." I struggle to find a word that works. This is the first time I've tried beef. The dense, grainy texture and savory taste is like nothing I've ever tried before, and I do love it. "Fan-tastic. I'm just not used to so much all at once"

"Well if you think that's good, well-"

"just you wait" Finnick interrupts, mimicking Pandoras Capitol accent, then glances at Mags and winks. I have to supress a laugh- Mags doesn't bother

"See?" Dora says with a huge grin "Finnick knows exactly what I mean. You spend a lot of time in the Capitol, don't you Finnick?"

"I do" he answers curtly, getting up and making his way to the beverage cart. "A Victors job is never done"

"They want him at all the parties" she leans in and tells me, as if it's invaluable information to have, and I guess in its way it is. It means he knows people. That people like her admire him.

Aiden catches on fast "Speaking of- you're my mentor, right?" he asks Finnick "I mean, makes sense " he says to me. I don't disagree but I say nothing.

Finnick opens his mouth but its Mags who speaks up first "No. I'll mentor you Aiden"

Aidens' mouth hangs open for a moment, and though Finnick looks confused he goes with it. "That's right Aiden, you get the advantage of enjoying the same mentor I did when I won." He looks at me a moment, as if in assessment, and then with a note of sadness he adds "I've never mentored a victor before"

This information seems to satisfy Aiden, who chews thoughtfully once, twice, three times and then grunts in agreement as he stuffs another forkful of food into his gullet.

"Unless of course you'd like to be mentored together?" Finnick asks

Aiden looks to me. I consider this. Though it would be good to know more about my district partner, I already know he's strong and skilled in ways I can't imagine from his time on the open sea. I know already he's someone to avoid, and that's enough for me.

"Separate" I answer, and Aiden nods. This satisfies him, too. I can't help but feel slightly offended- am I so non-threatening that he doesn't even want to bother to find out my weaknesses? Or maybe it's that he wants to keep his weaknesses a secret, where mine are so glaringly obvious they require neither time nor observation to detect.

"Good" Mags says, eying Aiden "I think that would be best"

"Ooh!" Pandora squeals, noting the clock "the re-runs of the reaping are about to start!"

Aiden gets up immediately, still chewing his last bite. He's eager to assess the competition. Me? No so much. I can feel a knot beginning to grow in my belly. I don't want to see their faces, I'll see them soon enough in the Capitol.

I watch as everyone gets up to go, and I can't seem to master my own legs. "Can I watch in my room?" I ask, hoping I can skip out on it altogether.

Pandora cocks an eyebrow at me "You have to watch, Annie. It's mandatory"

"I know" I answer "I just wanted-"

"Finnick will join you." Mags says, then turns to Aiden "this is good. We can talk strategy while we watch". I suddenly wish she were my mentor- it would be so much easier to discuss my defects and fears with Mags then it will be with Finnick.

She couldn't have looked more fragile, sitting at the table with horror resonating in her eyes. When she asked to watch alone, I wanted to let her. I knew she intended to skip it- and it was hard to know I couldn't let her. Nursing ignorance of her competition, even if only for a night, was a luxury she can't afford and I can't provide. Not if I want to keep her alive.

I followe her wavering steps down the hallway to her room and watch as she heads straight for the head of the bed, sitting cross legged and looking up at me expectantly. I pull an armchair from the corner and sit, trying to avoid eye contact. I don't want her to see the shame I'm feeling- shame for the thoughts I'd had watching her before the reaping, shame for having to teach such a sweet girl the ways of deception and dehumanisation, shame for halfway wishing she goes as quickly and painlessly as possible.

I was being truthful before, when I said I had never mentored a victor. Mags maintain that for a couple of them, it was because I wasn't trying. I didn't tell her- but she knew, and she wasn't wrong. Mags is like my mother, and she tried so hard to rally support for me in the arena- it was as much her victory as it was mine- and I love her for loving me enough to have done it- but mostly, I wish she hadn't.

During the last games, the advisor for eight had requested a dinner with me. I could have accepted. I could have climbed into her bed like she wanted me to- I could have really tilted the odds in my tribute Avin's favor with a Sponsor that wealthy. She'd contributed a small fortune to the Trident that saved me in my games. But I declined her offer, using a prior engagement as an excuse. I had dinner with a sponsor instead, and though I did get a good sum, it was nothing to what I could have gotten, and even more- it was wasted.

The boy died while we were having our entrée; my tribute was allied with a sweet-seeming girl from 6 who got an extremely expensive gift from a sponsor; gasoline. The girl took it as a sign the boy was going to turn on her and she doused him in it while he was still stooped over the fire he'd build for their dinner.

For a moment I had been furious, but the fury vanished as soon as it had come; A waiter was extending a cordless phone at me.

It was Coriolanus Snow.

"Now that that's over- I've got someone I'd like for you to visit." He hissed, smooth as a snake "There will be a car outside in five minutes." He tells me.

"Oh! and Finnick?"

"Sir?"

"Be charming for me."

I shudder involuntarily and Annie gives me a funny look, like she concerned.

"You back?" she asks with a tilted grin "where'd you go just then, Mr. Odair?"

"Finnick." I answer her

"well Finnick, you look like you could use this" she's not on the bed anymore, she's in front of me, handing me my drink. Had I brought it in with me? I swallow a mouthful of the bitter wine and look up at her.

"Now how about a distraction, huh ?" There's humor and comfort in her voice and it pulls me up short. "How do we turn on this thing?"

As she says the words the screen comes to life, and the anthem begins to play.

"Welcome to the 70th Annual Hunger Games!"