Silver is sat on my bed watching me as I pull on my favourite tight fitted sequinned number. It was a long sleeved and slightly see-through around the chest short jumpsuit that Gaia my stylist had designed me. I don't usually like what she makes but this is one I like. I can tell as I paint on my deadly red lips that Silver is worried about me. I guess, being my escort, it's her job but she didn't have worry pointlessly. I then went on to painting on my eye liner. That is something a victor struggles to do since we're all such nervous wrecks! "Johanna are you ok?" Silver whispers as I pull on my killer jewel studded heels. Tonight is the victory party at Snows mansion.
"Fine Silvs. Chill." I sigh heading out my room and walking over to the drinks bar and pouring myself a shot of something blue. Silvers dyed lilac hand clamps down on my arm shaking her head. "No. If you're going to this party then you're not going drunk." She says firmly. I roll my eyes putting down the glass. "Silver. You know I care about you but you're are not my Mom." I snap at her striding across the room almost tripping in my heels.
"Well I'm the closest thing to a mother you have and I care about you!" She retorts which is about just as harsh as a slap in the face. "Let me have that drink before us two fall out." I say and I know she doesn't want that so she passes me the blue liquor. As I stand against the bar, Silver flutters off somewhere. I haven't realised that I've drunk a quarter of the bottle and am sat on the floor when Finnick hurries in the room. I sit up, why is he here? He should be with Channel! That's the main thing Snow is strict on. You cannot let dates down. "Why are you here?" I say blinking heavily. Wow. I wish I hadn't drank all that. He rolls his eyes. "Get up Mason." He sighs in a way that makes me feel as if I've been told off. I smile flirtatiously. "What will you do if I don't?" I grin seductively clutching my hands around his tie and pulling him closer. He grabs my hands pulling me onto my feet. "Get her a coffee!" He calls to an Avox. Silver comes over and I throw her a nasty look. "Did you get him?" I ask her still gripping onto Finnick's forearm. Her hands pull back defensively and I let a growl escape my lips. "You realise how much trouble he could get in for this!" I scream at her smashing the shot glass on the floor.
I look up at Finnick. "I'll drink that in the taxi. We need to leave." I say now getting my bearings. Yes I feel tipsy but it wouldn't be the first time I turned up to the after party at Snow's drunk. I thought he'd tell me no but he doesn't. He just takes my hand grabs my coffee and leaves. Silver follows but doesn't get in the same lift with us because she knows I'm mad at her. When the lift door shuts Finnick pulls me up close to him. "Pull it together Mason. Please for me." He begs me gripping hold of my shoulders. I nod firmly. I cannot get him in anymore trouble. "I don't know what came over me but the idea of seeing Viola made me feel sick." I breath as I bury my face in his chest. He pulls his arms around my bare back and kisses my forehead. "I know but you've just gotta get through this night." He tells me softly.
"What Snow did to Tom though... What he did to Phoebe." I crack keeping my eyes down at the floor.
"It's killing me too but you cannot let Snow see you are hurt. A few more nights." He whispers into my ear brushing his lips across my neck trying to comfort me. The lift door opens and he takes my hand leading me threw the doors and to the taxi waiting. I'm surprised to see that there's no cameras but then again we're late and they'll be filming the glittered up Cashmere on the red carpet. I don't want to see Brutus or Enobaria and I think it'd kill Finnick to see them too. I don't want to see Viola, this years winner either. The way she tore that beautiful girl apart sickens me. I gulp down the coffee beginning to feel a little shaky but I don't let on.
"Let me look at you." Finnick says just as the taxi pulls us. He dabs under my eye with his spit wetted finger. "Beautiful. Me?" He asks stretching out his arms for me to examine him. I fix his tie slightly from when I tugged on it. "Dazzling." I grin kissing his cheek and climbing out the taxi. I feel overpowered by all the crap that's in my system but I do my most deadly pose to the cameras. As I enter the party various compliments are thrown my way and I smile confidently. Gaia is stood by the food table waving me over. I take a couple of deep breaths and head over. Perhaps some food will do me good. "Hi Gaia." I smile letting her kiss my cheek. She chats to me about how radiant I look and how she knew when she made it that it would be brilliant. I excuse myself after a few minutes walking over to see Blight propped up with Chaff stood by his side. "Hey darling come here." Chaff grins pulling me in and giving me a slobbery kiss. "You ok Jo?" Blight asks me. To say he's a drunk there's a lot of concern behind his voice. "Can I have a word.." I whisper taking his hand. He nods leading me through the party and into the corridor. "I'm so mad." I sigh holding onto the walls with my palms. Blight's deft hands rub my shoulders trying to soothe me. "It's ok just get out there. Pull on that deadly smile, go greet that monster of a girl and go home." He tells me firmly. To say he said it violently enough to frighten the life out of anyone else it's the best piece of advice all night. I nod and enter that party in another light. Seeder comes over fussing over me and I make my best efforts to act interested. Then I see her. The tall over confident unshaken new victor from 2. I walk over with my head held high. Lyme was stood by her side. I don't mind Lyme, she hates the Capitol just as much as all us 'non-careers' do. "Congrats." I say sharply pretending to pick at the food table. "Thank you. Sorry about your tribute.. Tom was it?" She asks. My lip curls under. I turn to face this pathetic girl who only won because Phoebe was in too much of a wreck to fight back. "If you wanna make it through your first year of mentoring next year then you do not mention that boys name? Got it?!" I snap in her face. She flinches slightly at my closeness up in her face. That's when Enorbaria comes over.
"Is there a problem?" She asks me with just the amount as harshness as I gave her little victor. "No problem just putting her in her tracks. Congrats again. Good luck for next year." I put on my best smile and walk away. Blight's hand is held in the air and I high five it with a pleasuring smile. "Bingo." I whisper as I make my way to the dance-floor.
I see Finnick and Channel having some intense argument under their breath over the side of the dance floor and I begin to feel guilty. If I hadn't have been drunk and stupid then Finnick could have got on with his date and gone home but that's out the window now. Our eyes meet as I pretend to be dancing. His eyes are full of sadness so I give him an apologetic look and try to look away but I can't. Then when Channel sees our exchange she slaps his chest and storms away shouting at him. "Go dance with her!" I hear her shout. Finnick grips at his hair roots and stalks off to find a quiet corner. I give it five minutes then go over. At least people won't speculate they'll just think we're having some secret smooch in the corner. Finnick looks dead when I get to him. I take his hands in mine and twiddle his fingers in my own. "One drama queen you got yourself their Odair." I break the silence resting myself on his shoulder. Two loners we are who can only seek love from people buying our attention.
"Ugh.. I'm so past caring Jo, I could have spilt champagne on her dress and not cared." He chuckles rubbing the side of his head. I rub his back sympathetically but really I couldn't sympathise because I don't know! I don't know what it's like to act in love with someone who's paying to have time with you. So I just stay silent. "You wanna talk about it?" I breath into his ear after a few minutes. He just shakes his head but moves closer to me. "Mason if I kiss you will you just kiss me back? Cuz I really need a kiss." He breathes and I know for a fact he's drunk but we both are and he's done a lot for me today so I lean in and attach his lips with mine. We kiss for a few minutes until his lips explore my neck. I laugh for a few seconds then push him away. "What would Miss Creseta think ey?" I remind this drunken boy of all the things he has back home. His eyebrows raise. "That some from of guilt trip Mason?" He asks me. I chuckle leaning in and kissing him again. "No I'm just saying that I don't come under the people you have to kiss category." I whisper but really we're both that drunk that this means nothing to either of us. "I miss her though and your a pretty good substitute." He explains for some reason slightly offending me but I don't let it. "Come on Odair lets get you home." I sigh taking his hands and leading him out the party. So what if we're plastered of the news papers in the morning. Finnick is my friend and I'll make sure he gets to bed if it kills me. When I get him to my bedroom he's practically trying to tear my clothes off but I don't give him the satisfaction. "Look you behave because Silver will be back in a minute and if we're both naked I'm in trouble." I tell him pulling off my heels and flopping onto the bed. "Cuddles?" He results to. I sigh pull of my dress and pull on a big top and climb in the bed next to him. "What's happened to us Finnick?" I sigh as he flicks off the light. "What's happened to the world Jo?" He replies merging into sleep. I sigh. What has happened to the world? Why have we got to a place where people as good hearted as Finnick has to spend his night talking to a woman who's buying the time they share? One reason. President Coriolanus Snow.