As the girl from District Four, I am the eighth in line to be judged. Davis doesn't speak beside me, and really, I don't mind the silence. I'm going through all the different rope tying possibilities in my head as I wait. Should I make a fishhook? What about a hoop? Or perhaps a deadly trap?
I think about the conversation with him earlier, about being allies just so I could go back to my mother. To Finnick.
Did I...really like Finnick?
After listening to his story, I now know that there's a reason why he's acting the way he does. And I admit, I don't hate him anymore. Besides, I respect his wishes, too, and he clearly doesn't want Davis to suffer what he had gone through. If anyone from District Four is to win, it is better that it's me. Why has the Games become so complicated all of a sudden?
Davis had told me that Finnick would never see Davis as his brother if Davis won. Would he not see me as the innocent and helpless girl if I won? There's no doubt I'll have to kill in the arena, no matter how much I don't want to kill. Even the thought of killing terrifies me. Oh, why did I have to go to the beach that morning? If I hadn't, I would never have exchanged words with Finnick, and I wouldn't have been picked as a tribute.
Davis is called, and he goes into the training room with a last glance in my direction. I give him a thumbs up.
A little over fifteen minutes later, I'm called. I take a deep breath before I enter the training room.
The stations are all there, just like during training, except there aren't any tributes in the room besides me. I make a face as I see the Gamemakers focusing on their dinner instead of me. I instinctively head to the rope tying station, and pick the sturdiest piece of rope in the pile. None of the Gamemakers are paying any attention.
Well, that's nice. So I'm showing off my skills to someone who's not even doing their job?
I know what I'm doing for the Gamemakers now.
I take the piece of rope and tie the top section into a hoop.
Pleased by my handiwork, I spin it a couple of times over my head before I lunge it in the general direction of the Gamemakers. I had hoped for the rope to catch one of the Gamemakers, but unfortunately, it missed by quiet a few feet.
I feel very irritated.
My time still isn't over yet, so I make a trap with another piece of rope. I drag a practice dummy right into the center of the room, and pull the rope tight. It gets caught around the dummy's neck.
Had it been a real person, there was no chance they would've survived.
I see a few of the Gamemakers nodding, and one of them announces, "You are dismissed."
At last.
As soon as I enter the sitting room, Finnick rises to greet me. Davis is already there, and so are our stylists and Locketta. Sandra beams at me, but I'm not in the mood to return a smile. I nod to her instead.
"How'd it go?" Finnick demands.
"It went...fine," I say, because I didn't know how else to answer him. I couldn't tell him that it went great, since none of the Gamemakers really paid attention to me. "I made a rope trap and trapped a dummy with it." I leave out my failed attempt at catching a Gamemaker.
Relieved, Finnick plops back down on the couch.
There's an empty spot beside him, and a part of me desperately want to walk over and join him.
It just had to be Davis who notices my dilemma (there's an empty space beside him, too), and he smirks at me before he shifts closer to Mags.
A groan escapes my lips as I realize that there's nowhere left, with the exception of the seat next to Finnick, and I reluctantly sit down next to him. The space is closer than I expected, and I feel his arm brush my own. The contact sends shivers up my spine.
"Why don't we have dinner here, since we're all here, anyway?" Finnick suggests.
Locketta purses her lips. "That ruins the schedule, you know," she tuts.
"I think that's a great idea," Davis interjects. Mags nods her assent. I sigh, giving in, and it's not long before a few of the Avox bring us dinner. I'm too worried about my training score to eat.
Sandra leans across the tea table. "I can't wait for you to put on your interview dress!" she comments, "I have a feeling it'll look good on you."
"I can't wait for the interview," I say sarcastically, and then I change the topic because it's bad enough anticipating the scores. "Davis, how was your session with the Gamemakers?"
I do my best to avoid talking to Finnick. Sitting next to him is enough, and I'm afraid I'll say something stupid and embarrass myself.
"It went well, I guess," he answers with a shrug. "I did some knife throwing and trident practice."
"I'm probably going to get a one," I lament. "Then I won't get any sponsors in the arena."
Finnick casually puts an arm around me, and I wince at his touch. "Oh, I'm sure you deserve more than a one, Annie," he says.
"Besides," Davis adds, "We're going to be allies, remember? No doubt I'll have sponsors. Enough for both of us!"
"And never underestimate your mentor's charm," Finnick mutters under his breath, so quietly that I know he's saying it only to me, "I'll get every girl in the Capitol to fall for me if that's what it takes to help you survive."
I don't know how to reply to that, so I don't say anything at all. If I tell him not to risk it for me, he'll just stubbornly ignore me. If I tell him that I'm sorry, he'll just wave off the apology.
But, deep down, I have a feeling that even someone like me, who swear never to fall for Finnick's charm, has lost the battle.
"Annie, will you ever get out of the habit of not eating when you're stressed?" Finnick asks, frowning at my untouched plate.
"Never," I whisper.
He shakes his head, and takes my right hand in his own. "Well, you don't want me to feed you, so this'll have to do," he grunts, and begins forcing me to eat, his hand controlling mine. I try protesting, but he's too strong.
"Why did I have to fall for someone like him?" I grumble. I guess he really is irresistible, after all.
"Did you say something?" Finnick asks, inhaling sharply.
I quickly stuff a mouthful of food into my mouth so I won't have to answer.
"Annie, Annie," Finnick says, watching me carefully. "There's...something about you that I just don't get."
I swallow my mouthful and say, "Have fun figuring out what it is, then."
"Oh, I will figure it out," Finnick promises. "Even if it takes me forever to do so."
"Forever is a long time, isn't it?" I remark, suddenly very aware of his hand on top of mine.
He smiles seductively. "Fancy telling me your secrets, little mermaid?"
I yank my hand out of his. "No thanks! Besides, I'm not one of your hopeless Capitol fangirls."
"Time for the scores!" Locketta trills, interrupting Finnick as he opens his mouth to reply. Just my luck. She switches on the television, and we all scoot closer to the screen. I push my plate away, dinner forgotten.
The Careers from the first three districts all get in the nine to eleven range. No surprise there.
Davis gets a ten, and Finnick whistles in celebration.
Then the screen's flashing my picture.
I stare at the number on the screen, and I can't stop myself from saying it out loud.
"I...got a five?"
Disclaimer: The Hunger Games belongs to the amazing Suzanne Collins.
Some interaction between Finnick and Annie in this chapter.
Holy Panem. 15 reviews last chapter? You. Are. All. Amazing. Press that wonderful button?