When I arrive on Diamond Avenue, I can't help but think about Finnick and I. What was 'Finnick and I' we've never officially been a couple but there has always been something between us. But then he has Annie. And even though he is dead, I have Jack. I can't even define my own feelings for Mr Odair because I honestly don't know. I know that I would go to the end of the earth to protect him and until today I thought he'd do the same for me. But now I'm not sure. Now that I'm on the way to a 'date' that he practically encouraged me to go on, I don't know. I walk into the restaurant with as much sass and confidence as I can manage since that was Finnick's last piece of advice to me.
I know Plutarch. Not very well but I do for a fact know that he is the next game maker under Secrene Crane. He's a plump and flabby man, nothing like your usual Capitol affected person. In fact, I can't help wonder if he's had less work done than me. He stands up gentlemanly reaching out for my hand. I allow him to kiss it. The last person who kissed my hand was Cinna at the parade when we finally became acquainted. I can't help think about how much more charming Cinna's Lips were on my fingertips compared to Plutarch.
"Ah Miss Mason. You look ravishing." He smiles pushing in my chair. I smile curtly making a small smirk suppress over his lips.
"Snow had said you might be difficult." He whispers quietly. My body tenses. Of course Snow would think that. "And he's right." I reply.
"May I ask why?" His voice is so quiet it is almost lost in the atmosphere. I come in a little closer. "Snow has nobody to use against me." I breathe. He looks in more depth at me.
"Is that right..." He ponders off then he adds. "But I said 'Joanna won't be difficult'." He enlightens me.
"Is that right?" I say my voice tight. A small drip of sweat is forming at his hairline ready to fall. "Hmm. Drink?" He ask me. I nod ordering a white wine hoping it will calm my nerves. "And why would you want to spend your evening with me?" I ask as I pull the glass from my lips
and set it down on the table. "You're an intriguing character." He smiles.
"And that I am..." I trail off dotting my lips with my napkin.
"Lets say we skip dinner and head back to mine..." He trails off. I swallow deeply. I guess I couldn't trust Finnick after all. I don't know what to do. I don't know whether to get the hell out of here or to keep my reputation in tacked by acting tough.
"It'd be my pleasure." I reply icily following him to his car.
His apartment is just like any other Capitol persons except its just a bit more snazzy. I'm beginning to get a little choked up when he requests I undress in the bathroom and come to join him.
As I step over with cautious feet and slip off my dress I decide one thing. Finnick is now dead to me. He's letting me go through this and I cannot possibly forgive him. I haven't had anyone touch me in such a way since Jack. I am not like him.
When I slip under the silk covers to join him, I'm shocked to find he is still fully dressed.
"This isn't what you thought tonight was Johanna. I've actually brought you here to discuss a few things." He breaths in my ear. I give him a look of confusion.
"See my apartment is bugged and I needed this to look...normal." He keeps talking but I have no idea that he's going on about.
"Things have to change you see..." He trails off. "Panem can't stay like this." He adds.
"You see Johanna. Snow's empire is fragile. Fragile enough to be broken."
I'm confused.
"And why would you want that to be broken?" I ask totally confused.
"Because I am not quite who I seem Johanna. I am on the side you can trust." He smiles.
"And which side is that?" I whisper quietly.
"The side who plans to break Snow's control, set the districts free and punish him." Plutarch tells me.
"A rebellion?" I ask in astonishment. There's a hint of excitement in his voice when he replies: "exactly."
"I don't understand your a games-maker!" I burst. This man doesn't want to help us! He's practically designed ways of killing us!
"I'm in it to gain knowledge Johanna." He informs me. Right. So he's smart too.
"And you need me for all this why? For all you know I could march down to Snow and have you all killed in seconds!" I hiss at him. There's a slight rumbled chuckle of his chest.
"But I know you won't. You hate him. More than most that's why you and Finnick are on side." He explains to me. I'm sent back a few steps. So Finnick did know. He knew I'd be safe.
"So what do you want me to do?!" I ask him wanting to know more but I know I won't get much out of him.
"You'll be set missions. They'll come to you be patient. Don't be difficult Johanna. Being cooperative could preserve lives." He tells me. There's a hint to his voice that makes him hard to trust. I nod. "Johanna this'll all be worth it. You'll finally get that sweet revenge." He smiles as I peel back the covers. I grin.
"Thats all I've ever wanted- to be free from them in the end." I smile as I climb up from the bed.
When I return to the training centre, I have no idea as to whether to be mad at Finnick or thankful that he made me go. I decide that seeing him will make that decision for me. I take off my heels and run to the elevator pressing the number 7. Cashmere's hand clamps in the door before it can shut making me exhale deeply. "Ah Joanna." She says looking me up and down trying to come up with something to slate. "You know just because your wearing a pretty dress, your hairs still noticeable." She remarks after a few seconds of debating. I throw my head back in fits of laughter.
"Halilugah! I thought for a moment you were stuck for ideas." I laugh steeping out of the doorway.
When I get district 7's suite Finnick is sat waiting at the dining table.
"I hate you Odiar." I mutter as I drop my shoes on the floor and walk over to the table. He's smiling ever so slightly.
"You honestly think I'd have let you..." He begins to stay but I place my fingers over his lips still frightened about our conservation being tapped into.
"Good evening then?" He smiles yanking me in to his chest by the waist.
"Not bad... Not bad. Got a few glasses of white outa him." I chuckle as he pulls me closer to his lips. I can taste his words as he speaks them. "You need a shower Mason." He breathes seductively. I shudder slightly. "What would Annie say?" I whisper back my lips brushing against his as I talk. So you could kinda say them conditions went out the window already.
"I'm going to ignore that blatant attempt to stir up guilt on my part and request you get in that shower." He whispers taking my hand and toeing me into the bathroom. He flicks on the shower and hammers his fingers down on all the random settings as I strip down. Nakedness was never problem between Finnick and I until Annie came into the equation. Not that Finnick particularly cared or thought anything of seeing me naked but I did. I pictured myself as Annie and what I would think if my boyfriend left to the Capitol having to sleep with women. Ever since that, I told him I didn't want to see him naked again. I turn around just as my bra drops onto the ground to see him stood there stark naked too.
"Finnick." I whine but he shoves me into the shower pulling me under the water. I do my best not to look.
He begins washing his own hair and despite the fact I let know one, not even him, touch my hair he still offers to wash it. He presses the random shampoo button and a smell so sickly seeps out. Roses. Immediately I shove open the shower door clinging onto the glass. "Johanna. It's gone. I'm sorry." He apologises rinsing his hand and squirting out a fruity scent to overpower the smell. I can still smell it but I don't want to upset him so I get back in. I wash my own hair but I do allow him to rub my shoulders. But that's when his lips pull close to my ear.
"As much as I enjoy showering with you, I actually brought you in here to ask about tonight." He whispers. Ah so his brainiac plan was to fool whoever the hells watching us right now into thinking we're having a romantic shower when really we're talking rebel stuff. I'm pretty sure the water is loud enough to drowned us out so I don't hesitate to reply. "Lets just say I'm in the know. But I'm more interested with how you know and what you know?" I ask him as he rinses his ash blonde hair. He lowers his gaze on me making me feel slightly uncomfortable but not self conscious.
"Lets just say I spent last night with Fulvia his assistant and I can assure you I know nothing more than you." He promises me. I nod.
"So we just wait for further instructions?" I ask him. He nods in reply hopping out of the shower and chucking me a towel. I catch it in my fingers dabbing myself dry then pulling on my robe. As we walk into the main room, he trails behind just in his boxers. "Can't leave you two alone for a minute without you ripping each others clothes off." Blight remarks from the sofa as Finnick begins to pull his shirt on. It's about midnight so I can only imagine the bars closed so he's come up here. "In my defence I wanted to shower alone." I am quick to defend myself. Finnick's smirking as he buttons up his trousers and pulls his fingers through his hair. He comes over to the couch hovering over me. "Gotta go. Later Jo." He reveals to me pecking a quick kiss on my lips.
"Use me and abuse me then." I mutter as he jogs out the door. Blights chuckling to himself as he pours himself a glass of brandy.
"You gonna tell me where you've been Mason?" He asks me as I lye down on the sofa. His eyes are bloodshot but the way he's speaking doesn't sound drunk. It sounds serious. "Can't boss." I say sleepily nestling me head in the cushions. "Worried about you Jo." He murmurs as I feel myself dropping off to sleep.
"Don't be Blight. I won't do anything stupid." I promise as I drop Into unconsciousness.