-Rachel:
We arrive late in the Capital, I'm told we just had stopped to refuel, but refueling usually doesn't take three hours. I'm sure it's because they don't want me seeing a certain someone. So right away I'm given over to Cinna, who only gets two out his usual five hours he gets to prepare me for tonight's opening ceremonies. Cinna and the prep team get right to work on me.
"So, what's my costume this year?" I ask Cinna as he carefully straitens and then curls my hair. He's helping the prep team to make up for lost time. He leans close to my ear.
"I want to show them what you've become" he tells me gently. I give him a confused look, so he explains further. "I'm going to let them see your scars."
"Oh." Is all I can say.
An hour and a half later I'm alone in the room with Cinna, he hands me a two piece garment. Black, skin tight shorts and a top garment that basically just looks like a sports bra. I put them on and ask how this goes with coal mining, since the costumes must represent the districts main industry. "Watch" he grins and goes over and turns off the lights, he presses a button on a remote and my outfit comes to life. Streaks of red, orange, and yellow fly across the clothing, than one color disappears and another instantly replaces it. I look alive; I look like I'm afire. But what I really notice in the mirror is that every time a new color comes, it gives off light, which reveals another sign of what I've been put through.
Each streak shows a scar, each scar tells a story, each story is of how the Capital punishes us. The audience will just see an abused body, the victors will see someone standing up and not being ashamed of what's been done to them, the Capital will see a rebel. But the overall appearance is the same, it's breathtaking. "Do you like it?" Cinna asks as he looks at me in the mirror.
"It's extraordinary, as always." I tell him.
"Thank you, now let's get you down there, we start in five minutes."
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Ten minutes later I'm standing in my carriage, but tonight, I'm alone. Peeta isn't here for me to hold on too, he's not here to help me. So as I come into view of the citizens of the Capital, I raise my head high and I'm not ashamed of the tears that go down my face. I know when I'm seen, because the whole crowd goes silent. I hear the first gasps as a streak of red highlights a scar that runs down my side. More colors reveal more to these people, more to the Capital citizens. I don't expect what happens next, I don't even know how they got the idea to start it. But first one chants it, than the rest of the crowd joins in.
"Long live Peeta! Long live Peeta!" they chant as one, more tears come from my eyes. I put three fingers to my lips and then extend them to the sky, I extend them to the heavens, I extend them to the boy I loved. Everyone does the same.
I stand stiffly for the rest of the ride until I pass by President Snow's mansion, where he himself is standing outside to watch. I turn and nod gruffly to him, he returns it. But I can tell he's infuriated at how his citizens reacted to me, he's infuriated at my costume. I've shown him and the nation something, I've shown him that all victors or at least me, have power, that we have the power to influence a nation.
When we arrive back to the Training Tower I happily hop out of my chariot, I'm surrounded by the other victors. Johanna has a smug smile on her face as she comes over and slaps me good-naturedly on the back. "Good going kid, great job!" she laughs.
"Thanks, it felt great." I grin. I eagerly accept congratulations from the other victors, than I hear him.
"Rachel!" I haven't heard that voice in months, and it makes my stomach twist in anticipation of seeing his face again. It's Finnick. And I realize something else, the Capital can't punish me for seeing him now, I'll be going in the arena, they can punish me then.
"Finn!" I call out as I push through the other victors, I see him walking briskly over. I'm not that good at self-control, so I run full out to him, I run to him like I did when I was ten. It seems like forever until I reach him and jump into his arms. He holds me off my feet and I wrap my arms around his neck, my legs wrap around his waist, he buries his face in my hair. "Finn" I whisper, he pulls back so I stare into his eyes. "I missed you," I tell him, he puts a finger on my lips.
"Don't talk." He replaces his finger with his lips. Somehow Finnick ends up leaning his back against a wall as he continues to kiss me. Soon though, he holds me, our foreheads together.
"At least I get to see you as much as I want since I'm a tribute." I giggle.
"And when you come out." He tells me.
"I may not win Finn," I grumble as he puts me down so I'm standing on my feet, I've pulled back from him, but my arms are still around his neck.
"You're going to leave me alone?" he whines. I kiss him again.
"Not if I can help it" I promise.
"Good" he starts to kiss me again, I feel his tongue go along my lips, and I let him in. He groans and I manage a little laugh. I only get to make out with Finnick for about thirty seconds before I hear a voice whisper behind us.
"I think you two should wait till later, or Haymitch is gunna have a heart attack." It's Seeder's voice. I pull away from Finnick to look at her, I see Haymitch in the background, his face is beat red and he's just glancing everywhere, not knowing where to look without watching Finnick and I. I can't help laughing at his awkwardness. I take Finnick's hand and we go over to him and the other victors.
"Ugh, hey Finnick" Haymitch clearly still feels awkward in this, and everyone can tell. Finnick finds this not awkward at all as he wraps his arm around my waist.
"Hi Haymitch." He smiles smugly as Haymitch's eyes lock on his arm around me, at us standing so close together. Finnick catches on steps a little bit away from me, Haymitch nods approvingly. My ear tickles when Finnick whispers to me, "I feel like I'm going through boyfriend inspection here" I burst out laughing.
"Technically you are"
"So, Rachel, you should get to bed, early start tomorrow for training. Meet me for breakfast in the morning." My father instructs.
"Will do daddy-o" I agree, I say my goodnights to everyone else. Finnick turns with me as I turn to leave.
"Where are you going Finnick?" Haymitch asks, Finnick stiffens as he turns around.
"I'm walking her back to her room, ya know, in case someone jumps her or something."
"She can handle herself if that happens." My father points out.
"Ya but say she's jumped by a giant fish and can't handle the smell while I-"
"Fine! Go!"
"Thank you Haymitch" Finnick takes my hand and we continue walking, before we get to the elevator he picks me up off my feet. "Where we going?" Finnick asks me when we're the only ones in our elevator.
"Your room?" I suggest.
"Okay, can you stay all night or-"I cut him off with a kiss.
"I'm sure I can"
When we get to Finnick's room he sets me down on the bed.
"Stay here, real quick I need to get something." He smiles at me. I nod, as I watch him go into the bathroom I start to sing again.
"Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer"
Finnick comes back in and smiles at me, he just stands there, watching and listening to me. I finish the song for him.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
One step closer
One step closer
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more"
Finnick comes over and takes my face in his hands, he kisses me. Than pulls back and takes my hands in his and gazes into my eyes.
"I love you," he tells me
"I know that Finn, and I love you"
"I know, and if we were back in District Four, I'd meet you there. We would've become friends, and eventually I would begin to court you,"
What, what is he telling me? Why is he telling me this?
"I would always be with you, one day I would take your father out fishing, and then during the trip, while we are out on the water, I would ask him if I could marry you. But here, we're different, I met you here, loved you as a sister, which grew into something so much more. And you know your all I think about, and I don't care if Snow or anyone else says we can't or it isn't possible given we're from two different districts. But I want you to be mine; I want to be yours, until we die." Finnick digs in his pocket and pulls out a silver ring.
It's not a normal ring though; the whole thing is pure silver, except for one of the two dolphins. At the top of the ring there are the two dolphins, intertwined, their tails wrapping around each other, one is gold, the other silver like the rest of the sphere. It's beautiful.
"Will you marry me?" Finnick asks as he moves down to one knee. I purse my lips together as a huge grin comes over my face. I can't help but think of Peeta, but he would want this, he wants me to be happy.
"Yes, a trillion times yes." I tell Finnick before I go and wrap my arms around his neck again; he starts to kiss my neck. "Finn, let's go now, get married now, just in case." I want to be his wife as soon as I can. In case I don't make it out of the arena. He pulls back and slips the ring on my finger. Then he takes my hand in his and pulls me up to my feet.
"Okay, follow me." He grins slyly at me, which makes me laugh.
I follow Finnick as we practically run down the hallways. We go to the victor's room to see if anyone is there, we do need a witness for this. There aren't many victor's still here, but we manage to track down Seeder.
"Seeder, could you be a witness, Finn and I are going to get married, now." I ask quickly, I'm lucky Haymitch isn't here, but it would be disastrous if he shows up now.
"Oh I'm so happy for you two! Of course I will!"
With that the three of us go through the Capital streets as Finnick leads on to a marriage building. And with Seeder acting as witness, and one man conducting a simple ceremony. Within an hour of Finnick asking me, I'm his wife. And I'm Rachel Odair.
Yeah! Wow this chapter turned out a lot different than planned; I didn't even plan ahead for Finnick's proposal. Well anyways, next chapter people start to notice the ring that's on her finger, including Haymitch, I doubt he'll like this very much. Oh, I couldn't really describe the ring so here's a like to what it looks like! .com/hi/img/c/0/0/4e/7/AAAADMoLRU0AAAAAAE5_?v=1243298627000