Thank you to the reviewer who bit my head off about posting. So here's your next freaking post:)

Chapter 26

I wake up like any other day. I slam the alarm clock off and reach out to the other side of the bed. It's been about three weeks now but it still surprises me that when I reach out, I do not find Prim's sweet, soft body. I claw myself up out of bed.

I stare down at it and frown. The whole house feels empty without her here. I stuff three pillows under the covers and pretend that she only begged me for five more minutes of sleep and was still here. I frown, this is hopeless; I know she's not really here.

I look into my closet and stare at the grey shirt Prim loves to steal from me. I haven't worn it in a long time. I figure that if she ever comes back, it'll be here waiting for her to wear. I turn and put on a plain white shirt.

I walk into the kitchen and start making omelets. I've had this for breakfast every day since she was taken. I make one, then two, then three plates. I put them all out on the table. I stare at the two empty places. If Prim and Thresh, who I am also beginning to miss but not near as much, were to walk through the door, they would have breakfast waiting for them.

I allow a tear to roll down my face. Who am I kidding? They're not coming back. It is inevitable that I will never see my Prim again.

I eat my breakfast and put the other two plates in a container. I open the fridge to put them in but the food I've been saving is starting to pile up and takes up a lot of room. I try to squeeze them in but they topple to the floor. I throw them in and shut the door really fast. This time they stay.

It is a Friday today so I grab my bag and walk to school. Without dropping Thresh off, I get there early. I go to my locker and slowly put in the combination. I long ago stopped worrying about work.

I open the locker, to my surprise there is something inside. It's not a costume though, it's a note. I read it over quickly.

Dear Finnick Odaire:

Please report to the town center at 3:00 sharp. Do not be late. If you are, there will be severe consequences.

Signed:

President Snow III

President Snow III

Three? That means I have to leave school early. I go to the attendance office to get a call slip. The woman behind the desk shakes her head, "Why do you need to leave?"

I frown. It never sounds good to say "Because President Snow wants to meet with me." It especially doesn't sound good when you're me. Everybody here knows I'm associated with the Capitol they just don't know in which way: good or bad. I think it over, "I have somewhere I have to be."

She rolls her eyes, "Go figure. Where do you have to be?"

I think carefully, "Uhhhh, Dentist?"

"I'm not buying it." She turns and continues on with other work.

"Look, I really have to leave early."

She completely ignores me. In anger and frustration I leave and slam the door behind me. It doesn't close at my command. It's one of those doors that close by itself very slowly so I just look like a freak.

The day passes slowly. We're making a chocolate cake in cooking. Out of my loneliness, I add poultry seasoning, just like the good old days. I gag at the taste of it but still eat every single bite.

Lunch pulls around. I don't bring anything to eat or buy food with. I go to an empty table in the cafeteria and sit down. I stare at my ring in bewilderment, what if I really did never see Prim again? I was going to marry her, I mean I never proposed or anything but I always just assumed we'd be together forever.

"Um, excuse me," I look up to see two girls. I had been so focused on my thoughts that I hadn't noticed them walk up. One is barely five foot and wears her hair in a dark, lazy pony tail, still it is obvious that she is very pretty. The other one, slightly taller smiles at me brightly. She is not near as pretty as her friend but there is something very charming about her. She pushes back a blond lock of hair before speaking, "Do you mind if we sit here?"

I nod to them that it's ok and get up to leave them alone. The darker one puts her arm around my shoulder to stop me. Confident little bugger. "No we meant we want to sit with you, not just at the table." She smiles at my stupidity.

"Ok," I say and sit down. The brunette sits at my left and the blond walks around the table to sit at my right.

"Who was the girl you usually sit with, and you know, where'd she go?"

I stare down at my thumbs quietly but the brunette looks at her friend in shock, "Kristina! You can't just ask somebody that!" She turns her attention to me, "I'm so sorry, Kristina, she's, well she is…"

"Rude?" Kristina suggests.

"I was going more along the lines of stupid."

"Well Nahla, I think you're rude," she pauses momentarily, "And stupid, you little good for nothing…"

Her insult trails off as Nahla again apologizes for her friend. "So what electives do you have?"

My mind was still focused on Kristina's question, "Her name is Prim."

I can literally see Kristina's mind racing as she tries to make the connection on where she's heard the name. Nahla catches on much more quickly, "Prim? Like the Prim? The one that they were looking for on the day of the attack?"

I nod sadly.

Kristina grabs my shoulder and pinches it painfully. Her voice is shrill in excitement as she comes to her conclusion, "So that makes you Finnick!"

I flinch at the name, "I prefer Nick."

Nahla shoes her friend's painful grip away from me, "Ok Nick. You guys were dating weren't you?"

I shrug, "We never really broke up."

Kristina looks at me, "What happened that day, where'd she go?"

I look at them sadly, "They sent her back to 12."

Nahla looks at me in sympathy, "Do you miss her."

I pull at my hair, "Like crazy!"

She pats my back comfortingly, "You guys were victor's kids, that's why they were so pissed at you right?"

I take a moment to figure out what I was going to say, "Yeah, we were victors' kids but that isn't why they were so upset with us."

Nahla thinks it over, "Well, if you don't mind me asking, what is?"

I turn my purity ring over and over on my finger, "I don't think I should say."

Nahla looks perfectly content without knowing but Kristina goes crazy, "No, you have to tell us!"

Nahla quiets her friend, "He obviously doesn't want to say so be quiet."

"Nahla, jeez, you are so unbelievably rude!"

She just rolls her eyes and shrugs the insult off. Kristina eyes me over. "It has to do with that huh?" She points her finger to my ring which I was still fingering.

"In a way, but no not really."

"Then what is it?"

Nahla stands to drag Kristina away, "He said he didn't want to say." She pulls her away. She looks over her shoulder and smiles at me, "Bye, I'll see you around ok?"

I nod and once again I am alone. My next class is long and painful. The choir sings of loves lost and it reminds me too much of me. Last period I have science. I grudgingly walk up the steps. I sit down at my desk and look at the clock on the wall. It'll take me ten minutes to get to the town center, I add another five just to be safe. I should leave at 2:45. It is now 2:20.

Halfway through the science lecture I just grab my stuff and walk out. I can hear Mr. Barnes telling me to come back and sit back down. I ignore him and keep walking. This sucks is all I can think. Mr. Barnes was always my favorite teacher, he probably just lost all respect for me and I don't blame him.

I arrive at the town's center. Not knowing what to do, I just stand out in the building's lobby. President Snow comes out of a room and waves me in. He doesn't offer me a chair so I don't sit.

"Do you know why I called you here Finnick?"

I clench my jaw at the name, "No sir, I don't."

"You're here so we can discuss your punishment."

His beady eyes stare at me and I can feel a bead of sweat start to form on my forehead. I pray that he hasn't killed Prim.

Hahahah, cliff-hanger!