Cinna:
The girl with the auburn eyes, who wears glasses ten times too large for her face, her smile that could light a room without a single candle; who are you young lady? Why did I not talk to her when I had a chance? She was so normal and obviously was not a Capitol girl; she did not paint her face with outrageous make up and tried to dress up in every single color possible. I had to know more about her, like her name. All I know is that she came in with Finnick Odair and that is about it. I wish I stayed with her when I had the chance.
She has been the only girl that has had a passionate effect on me. All those girls that my father tries to get me to date and to marry. Being nineteen, it has been high time for me to leave the house and to start a family. My father just wants me to marry someone higher up in the Capitol, to keep his reputation. "Only if you make sure that she has power," is what he always says. I did not want to marry those girls; all they were are puppets living off their daddy's money. I just wanted a girl like her, who looked normal and does not care about how she looks.
Oh! Her beauty was mesmerizing. Those auburn eyes sparkled in the moonlight. She was pale and her smile could make anybody swoon for her. She had dimples when she smiled, which most girls in the Capitol do not have. Her black hair was long and curly, and I loved it. Why did father's friends take me away from her? I lost my chance because of them!
"Cinna, come downstairs right now!" my father shouts from behind my bedroom door, "it is time for breakfast!" A groan escapes my lips as I try to pull myself up from the comfort of my bed. I did not want to leave the warm covers or see any daylight; I had a slight hangover from all of my dad's friends. "Get down here now!" he shouts again, even louder from the kitchen.
"I am coming!" I shout on top of my lungs and fall back on top of my yellow covers. I did not want to leave the comfort of my bed; I did not want to leave those dreams of that wonderful night. I give myself five minutes, three to get ready for the day and two to daydream. For the two minutes, I see her face once again. It was such a vivid memory, which was a surprise in itself. For the next three minutes I pull on a pair of khaki pants, a green plaid top, and a olive green sweater and walk out into the hall without my shoes.
"I swear if you are not down here in three seconds, I am coming up!" my father shouts for the last time, but notices that I am in the kitchen right next to the door. He looks down at his breakfast in embarrassment and slowly chews his turkey. I pull a seat next to him, hit a button and my food appears in the middle of the table. I take my plate and slowly start at some eggs.
"You were talking in your sleep last night," my father mentions, looking up to reveal his green eyes that were bright, "who is the girl with the auburn eyes?"
"First off, why were you watching me sleep," I drop my fork and take a sip of orange juice, "secondly, why do you want to know?"
"I was checking up on you, my friends left drunk last night and you were with them. I just want to know, was it a girl from last night?" He replies so calmly, his gaze stays locked on for every second. I feel the heat rush up to my cheeks, he knows now. A smile stretches over my father's lips, "who is she?"
"You know the girl that was escorted by Finnick Odair?" I explain to him, my gaze finally meets his.
"Oh, her?" my father's smile fades, "my competition?"
"What do you mean by 'my competition'?" I question him. Why was she his competition?
"Son, that young lady was Ella Hawthorne. She was the victor from last year's Hunger Games. Any of it coming back to you?" My father starts explaining, taking a sip of his coffee, "now I must get going son, see you tonight." He was out the door before I could say any more. I throw his plate into the middle of the table, along with mine and hit the button once again sending them down for the dishwasher.
Ella Hawthorne? I could not believe that I was so stupid to not remember her face! It was she, now everything was materializing now. She said something about a line, she came in with Finnick, she was the one I saw on the television merely months ago. It was her and I could not believe it. I had to see her again, no matter what my father says.
I pull myself up from the table and rush to get myself out of the apartment. I pull on a pair of shoes and run out into the outside. Maybe I was crazy, but maybe fate will have a wish for us to see each other once again. I just head in a random direction, not knowing where I wanted to go or where to start. I am driven mad by this girl who I only know her looks and hobbies.
"Hey Cinna!" that was a familiar voice, "where are you heading?" I peer around my shoulder, to find the silver wig and silver eyes staring back at me.
"Mazda, I am just wandering around," I turn around and come to a complete stop. I put on a fake smile; really I did not want to talk to him and just wanted to find Ella.
"Why would you do that? Who is he, she, or it?" Mazda stops in front of me and lets his arms fall towards his waist and smiles right back at me, "you know I can read you like a book."
It was like he read my mind, I was looking for someone, "fine, I am looking for a girl that I met at the party last night."
His eyes brighten and he starts asking questions, "Who is she? We have to find her? What does she look like?" This was the issue with Mazda; he always was trying to hook me up with her Capitol girlfriends. However, he has been my friend since we both were in diapers, so I better listen to him.
"She is Ella Hawthorne," I gulp, "you know last year's victor."
Mazda was literally shaking with excitement by now, "oh my gosh! I even saw her earlier! Come on Cinna, I will show you where she is!"
"Well lets go," he grabs onto my hand and starts dragging me through the streets of the Capitol. I pass by many unique people, who say hello to me and my friend. Some ask if he was kidnapping me. I was quickly being dragged through different intersections, and finally making a stop in front of the training center. "Okay, why are we here?" I ask him, pulling my hand away from.
"All of the victors should be leaving in about ten minutes," Mazda cannot hold in much of his excitement, "then you can see Ella." He sits down on a bench next to the front door. I just join and people watch. I see a family with a newborn son. The father seems to treat his wife with complete respect and honor. The wife enjoys the extra attention and turns it back to her baby in her arms. They seemed so perfect; by why did they seem so far?
Mazda starts to shake my shoulder, "Cinna! They are coming out!" My gaze goes from the family and goes to the group leaving the Training Center. I spot mostly older victors like Beetee and Haymitch. They must be trying to get their tributes out there. I finally spot Finnick with Mags, but no Ella.
"Hey Finn!" I shout, pulling out of the seat and chasing after him.
He stops and turns around, flashing his pearly whites, "hey Cinna."
"Finnick, I need to talk to you about last night. Okay, the girl that you escorted into the party, well…" I start to trail off, to find Ella arm and arm with another man, Seneca Crane to be exact, "I like her, I can not get her off my mind. Please tell me she is not dating Seneca Crane."
Finnick glances at Seneca and Ella, "no she is not. Lets go get some lunch, I will explain what is happening to her, see you later Mags." I say a quick goodbye to Mazda before following Finnick through the busy streets of the Capitol. He dodges people with such grace and poise, I run into about everybody that walks in my direction. "I know a great café that is up ahead, we will get lunch there," he turns back and reassures me that I will get through this quickly.
When we first arrive I just stare out at the small café. It had multiple colors; it had a pink and blue over cover. There was an outdoor seating area with screens for people to watch the Hunger Games. People were sitting outside discussing about the tributes this year. Many were still talking about last year's games and victor. Finnick and me head inside and grab a seat in the outdoor patio. We both sit across from each other and order some waters.
"Okay, just listen to me," Finnick demands of me, "will you do that?"
His body language is stiff, but I finally answer, "yes, Finnick, I do think Ella is beautiful."
"Doesn't everybody," Finnick replies to my comment, then starts explaining to me, "The first thing after Ella won her games last year, I was called into Snow's rose garden. I was not alone, three of Ella's sponsors and Seneca had all been called as well. I sat in front of Snow; he is so sinister that I could not even look at him. The others sat in a circle around him. Her sponsors decided to talk about how they loved Ella and her beauty. Snow was only thinking a profit for himself. He declared that she would suffer the same fate that I had, being forced into prostitution, but this time for his own wallet.
"Weeks later I demanded to talk to Snow about this issue. We both were at each other's throats until we both came to a single conclusion. Ella could get out of pleasing the citizens of the Capitol under one condition: if she were to have a baby. The man who would help her conceive this child would be the one she would marry and to live out the rest of her days in the Capitol. Snow was very diabolical in thinking, but we both set the standards. When she first arrived, I took her to this party hoping that she would meet a nice and promising young man. Cinna there is one thing that I need to tell you, she has the same feelings for you. I fear though you might have some competition."
I just peer down at the place mat, "what do you mean, she likes me? Who is my competition?"
"Oh, you two are just alike; both are in denial about something. Anyways, she does have the same feelings, I could hear it in her sleep, hey she even was talking about you when you left after the party!" Finnick explains, "Anyways, Seneca is your competition. He is working to have a child with her. You better get straight on it if you actually want to be with her."
"I have to have a child with her?" I ask him, "okay, but when will she be free. I just need to talk to her first."
Finnick stirs his water, "unfortunately Seneca has her for the three days until the tributes go into the arena. Cecelia said she would take her place as the mentor for the female as long as she could find someone. You have then. Okay, know what forget the food, I must get going to get my tribute out there. Goodbye Cinna."
Finnick leaves and tries to find Mags, I just sit the table. How was I going to do this? How was I going to skip more than a couple of steps with Ella? Only thing that I knew, I could not let Seneca win.