Annie
Training went by in a fast blur. I improved on my knife skills, and I successfully made a fire without anyone's help. But being a Career (a sucky one that is, but at least I was a Career), I probably wouldn't need it. Considering Career's pretty much make the Cornucopia their territory. Hopefully there would be supplies, or else maybe they'd do what they did a few years ago and dispersed items around the arena. A tiny boy won that year because he was fast and hoarded all the supplies. If or when the Careers broke up I wanted to be able to take care of myself. If I was going to die. I would die fighting. Not freezing to death or starvation.
Littler tributes cowered at us. Which made me sad, I wanted to go over and comfort them, and tell them that it would be okay. But it wasn't. We were in the Hunger Games. Twenty-three of use would have to die for someone to win.
Maxem had been trying to help me use another weapon besides a knife. "Knifes are too small." He lowered his voice "What if someone like Lilac rushed towards you huh?"
I thought about the situation. "Well then I would most likely be dead." Maxem looked shocked. Why would he be? I could never last that long in a fight. Let alone a fight with Lilac in it.
Max put his hands on his shoulders "I will be there to help you."
How badly I wanted to agree, but I had to stay strong. "Max you have to look after yourself."
He nodded and said gravely "I know. But I will protect you for as long as I could."
I almost rolled my eyes, I could protect myself too. But could Maxem see it?
.
.
.
.
Dinner that night, to put it the best way I could was… awkward. Mags was there, Max, Justine, Brigum, and Flurista were also there. But Finnick was nowhere to be seen. The Capitol people at the table were talking, but without Finnick the table didn't seem as cheery. Maybe the realization hit Max too. Tomorrow was also the training session. I had no idea what I was doing. Maxem couldn't even help me there. I knew I needed at least a seven or an eight to stay in the pack. The seven was pushing it. The Capitol only seemed to care about the ferocity, and lethality of the tributes. If you're fast, good at making fires, or even great at picking out edible plants you'd still be screwed. How would I show my improvement with hand-to-hand combat? There wouldn't be a trainer there. I guess I could wrestle a dummy, but would they laugh? Would I even me able to take one down? They seemed pretty heavy.
Later that night I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned, but the enormous bed didn't seem appealing or inviting. I decided to get up and go for a walk.
I wanted to leave, to run away and never look back, but that was impossible. Especially in the Capitol. My footsteps echoed in the hallways, and I was surprised I didn't wake anybody up.
Finnick didn't come back after dinner. I didn't want to ask Mags, considering she knew about me and Finnick 'sleeping' together. I hoped she didn't think I actually slept with him. He was strictly my cuddle buddy. But that sounded weird. He was my protector? Yea. That worked. He kept away my nightmares.
I sat on the couch and dozed off…
And was awoken by the sound of a door closing. I peeked up from the couch. It was Finnick. He didn't appear to be drunk this time. It was weird. We only seemed to actually talk to each other at night. Was I waiting for him? Perhaps…
"Waiting up for me?" Finnick asked as he walked in and sat beside me, it was almost like he was reading my mind.
"No." I set my chin in place, and try not to show how bad my lying skills were. I think he could tell the word came out too fast. I tried to change the subject "Where do you go when you're in the Capitol?"
"Parties. Trying to get sponsors, you know? That kind of stuff."
I almost believed him, just something in his voice betrayed him. His voice wavered and he sound almost… vulnerable. "I… I don't believe you."
Finnick shot me a very icy look. But before he could say anything nasty that could possible make me cry, I said quietly "You leave… you leave a lot. You go to the Capitol don't you?"
What did he do truly do? People say he just has strings of lovers that he goes around and pretends to love them and showers them with adoration. But I didn't believe any of the rumours. I wanted to hear it from the victor himself.
He got up and said harshly, "How 'bout I make you a deal Annie. If you actually win the Games I'll tell you."
His words stung like pin pricks and needles, and as soon after I heard his door slam I sprinted into my room.
The whole day I stayed in my room, sleeping, walking around in circles, and ordering food. The last one made me feel guilty. The food her was so lavish, it could feed any District. But yet it was all for me, and I didn't even eat all of it.
I tried to recall last night's events. Did Finnick I had no chance whatsoever? On the train ride here he seemed entirely pissed, when I said I couldn't do it, but he seems to think I can't either.
A knock on the door interrupted my sulking.
It was Maxem, wearing his training uniform. "Come on. It's time to go into our session."
Uh don't get me wrong I love Fannie, but boy does it take some work! For some reason I had writers block for this chapter. Sorry if it seems rushed. But I have so much more stuff planned after the Games that I'm very excited about. I don't know how other Fanfiction authors write, but I write as I go along. So what I'm planning on doing is writing ahead, so you won't have to wait any longer and updates will be more timed/frequent hopefully. I also should warn you on like July 16th-July 24th (I think ha, I don't even know the dates for my own vacation :D) I will be on vacation, so I might not have any internet connection.