"Welcome again, Finnick!" Caesar Flickerman says to the last victor our district's had for three years. Before taking his seat across from the show host, Finnick walked across the stage with a swagger and a flourished sweep of his arms out towards the audience and cameras.
It's the 68th Victory Tour and everyone who's anyone is in Panem, including all surviving victors.
My district's gathered in the square to watch the interview because this is a matter of pride, district pride. We don't win as many Games as District 1 or 2, and our losses for the last three years only highlight this, but we're no District 12 either. The fact that after three years Finnick is still the jewel of Panem gives us more pride in that.
I watch the seventeen year old boy flash his winning smile at the well preserved host, and I can't help but swoon. I'm not alone. Many of the girls around my age are giddy at the sight of him. No one will remember the scrawny boy fishing on the shores of our district like every other boy we know. Those days of being overlooked and just like everyone else have been over for him for years. He's the treasure of Panem, and therefore a treasure in our district all the more.
"Annie!" Ryan calls to me, trying desperately to navigate the crowd of bodies gathered in the square. Saddled with clean-up duty, Ryan couldn't leave the home early with me, and so he has to fight his way through the crowd to make his way to me. It takes him a while, but he finally stands beside me as all eyes are on Finnick Odair during his interview.
It takes me a while to realize that all eyes aren't on our victor. Ryan watches me watching Finnick on the screen, noticing how the victor's once gangly limbs have plumped with muscle, and how he's sporting a smile so seductive and yet innocent that it can steal any heart. Ryan mumbles something I don't quite catch. It doesn't occur to me to ask him what he'd said because my attention pulls toward the screen again to listen to Finnick answer the question, "So, Finnick, why don't you tell us something of what your ideal woman would be."
Finnick tilts his head to the side and purses his lips as though he's thinking hard about the question, but then says with his signature smile, "A kindred spirit." Our victor winks at the camera just before it pans back to Caesar Flickerman, and my heart flutters. I also hear squeals from some of the girls around me.
In response, Caesar rounds his lips and looks as though Finnick had just revealed a secret of some sort.
The interview ends after Caesar says his goodbyes to the audience and the screen fades to black when I finally turn my full attention to my friend standing beside me. He looks sour-faced and I'm not sure why. "What's wrong with you?" I ask him, but he only rolls his eyes in response. I'm still buzzed by Finnick's smiles and wink.
"Finnick Odair is so handsome!" I say. I didn't think it was possible, but the sour look on Ryan's face grows even sourer.
"Finnick Odair is a pompous ass," he tells me and spits to the ground to punctuate his dislike.
"He has every right to be. He's a victor," I defend the boy I've never met. "You're just jealous," I tell him as I fold my arms, and I notice his back stiffen and his eyes widen. "You wish you were a victor," I add for good measure, but that seems to relax him some, but only some.
Ryan stares at me for a long time, and I have to admit that it's making me uncomfortable. I wish I knew what was on his mind, and to answer my silent question, he leans in towards me and presses his lips to mine. It lasts for only a second, but the tingle remains and suddenly I can't remember what I was thinking about before it.
He fidgets while I try to grasp what that kiss means, shyly lifting his head to glance in my direction.
I know what the kiss means: that he wants me to see him that way. The question I have to ask myself is do I?
It takes a while for me to figure out what to say or do next, but when I do, the only way I can think to answer is to slip my hand in his and smile at him. Words he'd said to me years ago come to mind. "You and me?"
He smiles back at me and nods, and I know I've made the right decision.