*I'VE CHANGED THE DATE OF THE REAPING TWICE NOW. HAHA! WELL, I'M CHANGING IT BACK TO THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW INSTEAD OF TOMORROW. THE REASON NO ONE IS OUT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE AVOIDING PEACEKEEPERS*

CHAPTER THREE

*It's IMPERATIVE you read my above notice or NONE OF THIS CHAPTER WILL MAKE SENSE*

DINNER

Finnick and I walk in silence down the street towards the Hall of Justice. I still can't believe this is happening. Dinner with Finnick Odair at the Hall of Justice.

"So-"

I jump, startled by the sudden change in sound.

"I'm sorry. You okay?" he chuckles.

"Mmhm. You just startled me," I reply, pressing a hand to my chest. "What were you going to say?"

"I was going to ask you why you weren't preparing for the Reaping? Or avoiding the Peacekeepers. Most people spend this time in hiding, with their family or cleaning up."

"I mean, I have nothing to hide from Peacekeepers. There's no reason for me to spend my maybe last days in captivity. I already work and live with my dad. I don't really need to catch up on family time like most people. As for cleaning up, I already showered…and if reaped do you really think I have a chance? What's the point in preparing to impress if I don't have a chance?"

He stops walking and so do I a few paces ahead. I turn around and look at him with a puzzled expression.

"You're kidding, right?" he gawks.

I am not kidding. It's easy for triton boy to ask if I am though. I shrug.

"Most of the tributes don't even know how to swim and you swim amazingly fast. Not to mention how tiny you are. You could hide and watch them slaughter each other until it was just you," he says, a smile on his lips and his brows furrowed.

"I mean… I can go back and get ready for the day after tomorrow instead," I say taking a slow step backwards.

"Let's not get carried away. I bet you won't even come close to being reaped," he replies.

He steps forward and we continue towards the Hall of Justice.

"So did you invite anyone else?" I ask.

"Just you," he says putting his hands in his pockets.

I feel my face flush red and am grateful that he doesn't look at me.

"Did you bet on me?" he asks.

"What? During the games?" I laugh.

"Yeah!"

I laugh and shake my head.

"No, I don't have the money to bet…"

He grows quiet and nods once.

"Fair enough."

"But I knew you were going to win, if that counts."

His head snaps in my direction and he grins at me.

"I mean, you were always buying bait and nets and I saw your triton when you and your dad came into my shop. I saw you fish a few times. As soon as they called your name I remember thinking 'victor.' No doubt," I say.

His grin grows soft and warm.

"Thank you…" he says.

I nod as we reach the Hall of Justice. We start up the front steps and I hear voices from within. I halt before the door. Finnick turns to me. He wears a puzzled expression.

"You okay?"

"Who all is in there?" I ask.

"My manager and a few Peacekeepers from Capitol."

I look over at the door then back to Finnick. His eyes are warm and I am suddenly filled with comfort and confidence.

"Let's go. They won't bite. Come on," he smiles gesturing inside.

He opens the door for me and I walk ahead of him. We walk towards the entryway on the right. There's a long table stocked with food. A woman in a fuchsia and purple dress suit and tight skirt stands talking to a peacekeeper. Her hair is tall and violet.

"Hey, Vendica."

The Capitol woman turns towards me. Her long feathery, pink lashes flutter as she sees the District Four girl in the threaded, holy cover up and shorts stand beside Fin.

"Finnick, who is this?" asks Vendica.

"This is Annie Cresta. Her and her father run the local net shop. She's actually the one who taught me to make all those snares," Finnick explains.

She looks at Finnick, her jaw dropped. Then she looks back to me. Her jaw still ajar.

"Hello," I say, shyly.

Vendica snaps her jaw back into place showing off her heart shaped, metallic lips.

"Thank you so much for keeping Finnick around!" she smiles approaching me with a hand extended.

I shake her hand.

"It wasn't all me, I assure you," I smile.

Vendica is clearly surprised that I can speak eloquently.

"Well, we are so happy to have you join us for dinner, Miss Cresta."

Finnick walks around me and takes a seat at the long table.

"Annie, sit beside me," calls Finnick.

I give Vendica a smile and take a seat beside Finnick. Vendica sits across from us. I stare at the food with a puzzled expression. Some of it I have never seen before. This makes it difficult for me to choose what I do and don't want on my plate. Finnick leans closer to me.

"You want my help? I bet I can figure out what you like," he whispers.

"Thank you," I nod.

Finnick scoops a few weird looking things onto my plate but I trust him. I take a bite to find it's absolutely delicious.

"Did I do well?" he asks as he scoops some of the same food he gave me onto his own plate.

"I must say, I'm quite surprised. Finnick has never brought a girl to any of our dinners," Vendica says peering at me over the food displays.

"I have a hard time believing that," I blurt with a smile.

I feel Finnick's gaze on me. Vendica's too.

"I only say that because Finnick is a ladies' man. I would have figured he'd been bringing them left and right," I add.

"Finnick is very selective about who I get to meet," says Vendica pointedly.

Finnick looks down at his plate cutting some food. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Finnick's lips quirk up in a small smile.

"Well, I'm honored to be here," I reply. "Thank you for having me."

"And such manners!" gapes Vendica.

"She's a nice one, Vendica," Finnick says. "I brought her for a reason."

I can't help but ponder the reasons. One thing was for sure…the gorgeous and famous Finnick Odair didn't bring me out of romantic interest.

FINNICK'S POINT OF VIEW

The reason I brought Annie Cresta? She interested me. Maybe not romantically, but still. I liked her honesty and modesty and kind heart and connection with her father. I genuinely liked this girl. So maybe I wouldn't be making out with her by the end of the night, but at least I made friends with someone who was genuinely interested in who I was and not my looks. At least, that's what she appeared to be interested in.

"So you saved Finnick's life, practically," says Vendica.

I continue to eat, for once I am embarrassed to look at a girl. She and Vendica stare at one another.

"Oh, no. I mean, he just saw me make some nets and used them for snares. I may have helped but I didn't save him. He was smart enough to use my seminars to his advantage," she explains.

"And modest. I could get used to seeing her around more, Finnick," Vendica smiled.

I turn my gaze to Annie who slowly looks at me, chewing her food.

"Me too," I say.

I find it hard to believe I just said that. No way. I never said meaningful things to girls.

"Are you ready for the Reaping the day after tomorrow?" asks Vendica.

"Um…it's like I told Finnick: is anyone ever REALLY ready?" replies Annie.

My eyes shift from Annie to Vendica who stares at her clearly thinking about her point.

"That's a good point, Miss Cresta."

"Thank you," she replies.

"The answer is…yes."

My head snaps up and I look at Annie. I expect to see a look of shock or pain on her face. Instead she is peering interestedly at Vendica.

"Elaborate," Annie urges.

Taken aback by her bluntness, Vendica puts down her fork and sits erectly in her chair.

"Well, those who go to the Academy. They're ready. Very prepared."

Annie puts her fork down and stares at Vendica.

"Well if those who went to the Academy were truly prepared wouldn't they always win? If I recall, Finnick only went three years. He missed two years because he got tired of training. Isn't that right?" Annie asks me.

All I can do is nod. Annie looks back at Vendica who folds her arms.

"They win most of the time," retorts Vendica.

"Actually the Hunger Games Victor ratio is about even when it comes to Trained-winning versus Untrained-winning."

Vendica opens her mouth to reply with a smart answer. Annie raises a finger. My jaw drops slightly. I've never heard Vendica discuss things like this. Topics that are so controversial. I've definitely never heard her argue. She never argues.

"So let me ask you this: how do you PREPARE for your death? You have about a week to accept that you are going to die before you are thrown into the Arena. People who accept death are people who have been dying for months of an illness. They're the only people who have the time and circumstance to accept that their number is up."

Vendica cocks her head to the side. Annie leans back in her chair.

"The Games are designed to give hope and then take it away. It's to remind the Districts that they have a small amount of hope and freedom, but if they misbehave, it can be taken away. Now, people are given a chance to make it out alive and every competitor goes into the Arena doubting that they'll make it out, but still feeling that they have a tiny, tiny, tiny chance of survival. They can say they don't believe in themselves, but in the end, everyone of the Tributes holds onto the shred of hope that they can make it. So, if they have a thought in the back of their mind that they are going to live, does that really make them prepared?"

Vendica squints at Annie. Slightly confused.

"I'm just saying, in order to be prepared, you have to accept that you are going to die. If you are a Career then you have faith you are going t make it…but not all of them do. Therefore, the Careers aren't prepared. Neither are the other tributes who didn't attend the Academy. They aren't prepared for the fight or death. It's our hope that keeps us from being prepared. Doesn't matter what District you're from. You are never prepared for the Hunger Games," Annie finishes.

I smirk and look from Annie to Vendica who is expressionless. My eyes shift back to Annie who wears a satisfied expression as she pauses before going back to her food.

Something creeps into Vendica's eyes. Despair. Anger. Sadness. Her perfect posture softens and she falls back against her chair. Annie looks up. Her big eyes study Vendica.

"I'm sorry if I've offended you. I just-"

"I can't do this…" murmurs Vendica.

I look at her. My eyes widen.

"Vendica?"

"This…this will be my last year as host…" she whispers.

"What? Why?" I ask.

She shakes her head slowly.

"It's all been a lie…"

The Peacekeepers around us tense. They can see Vendica cracking.

"Finnick, I'm so sorry. You and Mags are going to have a new host next year."

I slowly nod at her. I don't blame her. I'd want to quit if I realized that this was all a lie.

"Excuse me," Vendica says rising from the table and leaving.

A Peacekeeper follows her. Annie turns her head towards me and looks int my eyes.

"I'm so sorry," she says softly.

I shake my head and continue eating dinner.

"Don't be. Vendica has been on the verge of cracking for a while."

Annie nods quickly and goes back to her food. Apparently, I know Annie pretty well. Apparently we have a lot in common. I mean, she likes the food I chose for her…apparently.