So so so so soooooooo sorry for the terribly long wait! I feel absolutely horrible! I'm trying to update as many stories as I can today, and this is the second. The Easter Bunny brought me an egg filled with un-writer's block, so I've been in the mood to write all day! I'm so sorry for the long wait and I hope you enjoy the chapter, especially the twist at the end!
ImaginationStation00: I'm very glad you are enjoying the story! :D Annie calling Finnick Finny? I've never done that but I'm going to try and make it happen!
SugarCakes123: I'm very glad you liked it! The cousin thing was not inspired by the Gale thing, actually, but in the original version of this story they became younger siblings. I decided that was unrealistic and made them cousins :)
Rice: I'm very glad you think so! The first version of this story was completely different and totally cheesy, completely unrealistic. I'm glad you like it!
Bob bo: I'm very glad you like it! It is a ton of fun to write!
ILoveCandy11: Next chapter, check!
Chapter 5- The Victor's Tour
Katniss
The District was quiet the next few months. Finnick left the salty beaches once or twice a month to visit clients and left Gale and I, as well as Mags, to look after Annie. When the Victory Tour finally comes around the District is in chaos. People that work various odd jobs are being paid in pennies to hang up decorations and set up platforms in the center of the district. Finnick, Annie and the other victors have meetings with the mayor to determine a proper celebration. It was determined there would be a huge celebration in the middle of the district where all the citizens of the district would be invited, then a dinner with all the victors, their families, the mayor and other important persons of the district would be invited, at Finnick's house. The food would be traditional District 4 food: fish with some sort of sauce, crab with mini bowls of butter to dunk the meat in, several different types of alcoholic tropical drinks and lots of rum. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be at the alcohol the entire night. This bastard killed Prim. My little sister. She is gone because of him.
I sit on the dock outside Finnick's house as everyone helps set up the decorations inside the house. At least half of the district must be over. I don't want to look at their smiling faces. Two of their own died? Do they not fell any grief? I was so absorbed in my thoughts and bitterness that I didn't hear the sound of footsteps walking down the dock. I feel a light tap on my shoulder and turn to see Annie looking at me with concern. "May I sit here?"
I shrug. "It's not my dock. Do what you want." She sits down beside me and dangles her feet into the water, the salty waves washing onto our feet.
"I hate this time of year," she says suddenly. This perks my interest, in a way. I thought victors would enjoy meeting other victors, people who had been in their situation. "It used to be my favorite time of year. The entire District would gather in one area just to celebrate. The singing and dancing that filled the Town Center would be beautiful. It was easy to forget that the reapings were held at the same place." She bends over and sticks her hand in the water and wipes it over her forehead. "It was nice, until I became a victor. When Finnick was a victor and I was still a common citizen, not a celebrity, he would make sure to sneak me away for an hour, lying to the other victors and the mayor, saying that he was going to go get some food. Sometimes he did get food, but usually we went to the outskirts of the party and danced there, or we went to the beach and splashed in the waves because there was no one there to see us. The year I was sixteen and Finnick was seventeen, he stole me away for our first kiss. It was on the beach. I never thought it could be a bad day."
The way she speaks, it sounds like this was a fairytale. A story that was just going to end with 'they lived happily ever after' but we live in Panem. There are no happily ever afters. "What happened?"
She looks at the water. "The games happened. As soon as I was declared victor Finnick and I couldn't be together. We had no choice in the matter. It would be suspicious if both of us disappeared at the party. The year I won was the first year District 4 had had a victor since Finnick. When our District wins the parties are the best. We have Capitol money and District 4 traditions. Apparently, though he denies it every time I ask, Finnick demanded to plan the party. I don't doubt it for a second. There were seashells lining the town center and the centerpieces at the tables were live coral reefs in tanks with little tropical fish swimming inside. He reserved the most colorful coral and most colorful fish for my table, where he got to sit next to me, seeing as he was my mentor. We never got to sneak out though. That was the last of of the parties I enjoyed. The next year I was forced to sit without Finnick, seeing that some Capitol lady was on his arm. I can never recall if he had women on his arm before that. I doubt I noticed if he did. Mags made sure she was always by my side, seeing as I still would go into mental breakdowns and have panic attacks with no warning. My attacks seem to get worse when this time of years comes by anyway." She stops talking and looks at the ocean. "Do you want to go snorkeling?" she asks suddenly.
"Wait, what?" Snorkeling? Is that even a real word?
She smiles and nods. "Yes! Of course you've never done it before, but I love it! We go swimming in the ocean with face masks and snorkles on and go swim at the coral reefs. I've seen some pretty awesome stuff... sea turtles, angel fish, tiger sharks, but you have to be careful with sharks. They can kill. It's my favorite activity. That was my job before I became a victor. My family would open up a snorkeling company for traveling tourists in addition to our fishing business. I was in charge of taking the tourists to the reef. When he was twelve and I was eleven and he dodged his first reaping he would start coming to the reefs with me. I haven't been in weeks. Come on!"
It looked like I had no choice. Before I knew what happened, I'm in a swimsuit, wearing a snorkel and a mask. Annie took off into the water so fast I hardly had time to process what had happened, but I soon followed her into the warm ocean waves. We swam for twenty minutes or so when we came upon the reef. Bright colorful corals filled my sight with equally bright fish swimming by the comforting coral. While we swam we picked up a school of striped fish that seemed to follow us, but when I reached out to touch them, they swam just out of reaching distance. It was easy to forget about Panem when I was swimming out here. It was hard to believe that underneath the bright teal surface was a world of so much color.
Eventually Annie and I had to swim back so we could shower and attend the party in Cato's honor. I was still dreading the party, but I felt better.
Rebellion Member
It was easy to sneak around and find information at parties, especially ones as large and lavish as District 4. People grew careless as they drank watered down rum and dined on delicacies only offered this time of year. The outer District never have parties this grand. Only Districts 1, 2 and 4 get to have fun at the Victor's Tour. I wish I could enjoy the party, have some rum and forget all my worries, even of only for a moment, but I have a job. I have to find Finnick Odair. It would be difficult to find him at a large party like this, but easy to slip away without questioning, especially in what I am currently wearing. Plutarch, you better appreciate this.
I twirl the long aqua wig I'm wearing around my finger and let out my bubbliest laugh when I spot him. He sees me approach him and recoils, only for a moment and then walks over to me. "Finnick Odair," I giggle, "can I have the pleasure of your company?"
He smiles his most charming smile and walks me to a private inn. As soon as we get in there, he starts to strip. I can stop with the bubbles. "Woah, hold it! I'm not here to see you naked."
He looks at me with his green eyes and goes over to my hair, feeling it in his fingers. After a moment he rips it off. "Johanna!"
"Shh!" I say. "I'm not supposed to be here. Plutarch snuck me onto this train and I'm having to sneak back onto another train tonight to get back to District 7."
Finnick nods. "What's up, Jo?"
I look around and lower my voice. "There is information about the rebellion I need to tell you about."
Johanna! Oh my gosh I love her so much and was incredibly excited to add her into this! Well, in the original story, there were only six chapters, but this one is looking like it might be seven or eight chapters. Thanks so much to my 15 faves and 13 follows! It means a ton to me! Please leave a review and tell me what you think. Answer this question in the review! 'What would Johanna's Capitol Stripper name be?' (like the alias her character would have had as her wigged counterpart) and the one I think is the best will be featured in the next chapter!
