One Foot in Sea, and One on Shore

The tracks bent to the will of the train. Pandora could feel the vibrations of the metal humming in her shoes.

"It's just coming up, right there…"

Vibia was to her side.

Pandora's arm pressed against the glass. It was warm and sunny, a far cry from the snow of the northern Districts.

"…just around this bend."

Her fingertips traced the window as the train curved around a crooked track. Tall grass glistened in the sunshine. Her lips parted in amazement as it came into view. An ocean, so vast and blue that it caused a shiver to travel down her spine. Sun bleached buildings stretched into the sky. All along the coast were fishing wharfs and docks.

"Look at that face," Caradoc observed from his chair, "I don't think I've ever seen Miss Sullivan so speechless."

Her eyes danced around, trying to take in the scenery before her. The tall grass continued to sway in the wind. As she narrowed her eyes she could see that sand, white as snow, anchored the roots of the blades.

The train started to slow as it rolled over the sand dunes, into town.

"How does it feel to see the ocean?"

Her eyes twitched to the owner of the voice. One of the publicity crew had his camera pointed at her face. She hadn't realized she was being filmed. Nervously she peered at Catia and then to Lux, who was nursing a water.

"I—"

A smile formed on the cameraman's face, a smile of encouragement.

"It's beautiful."

Another member of the camera crew started laughing.

Over the past few days of the Victory Tour the camera crew had taken quite a liking to Pandora. From time to time they would tease her, sometimes asking her ad-lib questions for b-role footage. There questions weren't stressed or pushy, they were eased, making her feel more comfortable than she had ever been.

A whisper of a smile warmed her eyes just before she looked away.

"It's almost showtime," Catia suddenly sang, adjusting her tight skirt as she shuffle towards Pandora, "Let's get ready."

Pandora's fingers grabbed at the walls as the team escorted her towards the nearest exit. The train stopped just as she arrived at the door.

"Now, you know the drill. Let the camera crew go first."

When the doors open her eyes lit up. She could smell the ocean. The melody of waves crashing whirled around in her head…and another sound entirely. Her head perked up, for the first time since her Tour she heard the sound of applause.

"They're clapping," she whispered, adjusting the blue dress Caradoc had thrown on her.

Vibia leaned close to her ear, "Of course, why wouldn't they?"

Pandora's brow furrowed. Her body shifted away from Vibia. District 4 was a Career District, Pandora shouldn't have been surprised that applause was waiting for her beyond the train, but it did. After all she had seen Wisty being killed. A rock formed in her gut, this was going to be harder than all the others.

"Smile," She whispered to herself, ignoring the glances she received from Catia and Lucius. Her lips stretched upward.

"Ready!" She heard one of the cameramen shout from the platform.

Vibia pinched Pandora's cheeks and Lucius adjusted her hair.

"Alright, alright!" Caradoc shouted, "Let her go!"

She felt multiple hands push her forward. Brief darkness enveloped her just before she descended the few steps of the train and emerged into the light.

As she stepped onto the platform the crowd's cheers became louder.

Out of habit she raised her hand in a wave, smiling as she noticed that there were several other camera crews waiting along the edge of the gathering.

The warm breeze blew her flowing skirt around her knees.

Her eyes slowly moved from face to face. The sunlight was so strong that it was hard to see anything, only shadows.

One particular shadow stood out in her vision. It was standing on the platform with her, just a couple paces away from her own camera crew.

She squinted her eyes with a grimace and lifted her hand for shade. The shadow quickly turned red for a moment before any distinct features came into view. When form of features finally started taking shape her heart jumped in surprise.

"Welcome to District 4."

His smile was just as she remembered, though much happier than before.

"Finnick?"

She peered to the crowd self-consciously.

The steps he took towards her were confident and firm. He was only a few inches from her when he pulled her into a hug.

Instantly the camera's flashed and the crowd cheered.

"Hello, Pandora."

Her wide eyes blinked in shock. Cautiously she backed out of the hug, trying to hold her smile for the cameras. "What are you—"

"I'm here to welcome you."

Questions read in her eyes, "Welcome me?"

"On behalf of District 4!" Finnick's voice raised as he pointed to the crowd and smiled. She watched as he nodded to one of the cameras and winked.

"If it isn't Finnick Odair!" Catia had just stepped onto the platform.

Finnick and Catia shook hands.

"Well, let's get you to a car," He peered to Pandora before leading them to a set of steps where a car was glistening in the sun.

She barely had time to register all the photos that were taken as he helped Catia and her into the vehicle and climbed in.

Pandora jerked her head around to see Lux Halstead and Caradoc filling another car.

"What a lovely surprise!" Catia cooed. "The legendary Mr. Odair. To what do we owe this pleasure?"

Pandora's turned back towards her riding companions.

"The Mayor thought it would be nice if another Victor welcomed Miss Sullivan into town."

"Oh," Catia gushed, "What a wonderful idea!"

A series of high-pitched giggles erupted from her.

Pandora arched her eyebrow. It was obvious Catia was trying to flirt with Finnick.

"Isn't that nice, Pandora?"

Her eyes briefly looked to Finnick. It was hard to believe that this confident young man was the same person she had spoken to on the roof. The difference wasn't a bad thing, but puzzling. He was being flirtatious and boyish.

"Of course. Thanks, Mr. Odair," Pandora placed particular emphasis on his name, mocking the tone of his voice.

Another giggle blew past Catia's lips.

"That's a lovely hat, Miss Lawson," Finnick noted, smiling a little as he leaned against the armrest.

"Oh this old thing? It's nothing. And please—I insist you call me Catia."

"Alright, Catia."

"As long as I get to call you Finnick."

"Well, we do have first names for a reason, don't we?" His smile grew.

Catia gingerly cupped her hand over her mouth and femininely laughed.

Pandora's brown eyes twitched between the two of them, "Should I leave you two alone?"

The sarcasm left her lips before she could catch herself. Catia angrily cleared her throat and fanned herself. Finnick's green eyes widened playfully.

"So sorry," Catia breathlessly stammered, "She's a little cranky from the train ride."

"Oh, no. It's fine, completely understandable."

Pandora corner-eyed him before scoffing and turning to the windows.

Her gaze shifted to the ocean. They were riding along the boardwalk. Fishermen were docking with nets filled with fish, lobster, and crab. A few waved to the cars as they passed, others simply continued working.

It wasn't long before they had arrived at the Justice Building. Somehow the crowd had managed to beat them there. Cameras were waiting.

Her teeth chattered against her nails as she stared at the cheering swarm in a trance. All she could think about was Wisty.

"We'll take the back entrance," Finnick quickly said, waving the second car towards a small alleyway behind the building.

It was obvious from the architecture, state of the buildings and demeanor of the people that 4 was a wealthier District. The Mayor was even fat, a detail that surprised Pandora. She had only seen someone of that girth in the Capitol, where food and drinks flowed abundantly.

"Smile, dear," Catia reminded, as Pandora shook his hand and bowed. More cameras flashed.

Before Pandora knew it she was being whisked away towards the steps of the Justice Building.

"Good luck," Finnick said, only confusing her further. In all her time on the Victory Tour she had never gotten use to the rush and bustle. Her eyes briefly shifted to Finnick just before she felt Catia's claws dig into her arm.

She took her seat, trying to keep a smile on her face, something that was becoming increasingly hard. The Mayor's speech was like all the others, it was white noise, barely audible to her. She found herself looking around the crowd, trying to figure out where Wisty's family was or if they even were in attendance.

"And now the Victor of the 68th Games, Pandora Sullivan!"

The crowd applauded.

She heard Catia hiss something in her ear before she stood up and started walking towards the podium.

"Good afternoon," Pandora narrowed her eyes, gazing past the crowd at the ocean.

"I'm so honored to be able to see District 4 in all its beauty."

This statement caused a jovial uproar throughout the crowd.

Her lips hesitated, "Before I got here, I found myself wondering what I was going to say when I stood in front of you…"

Her mouth was suddenly dry. The bouquet of flowers she was cradling felt heavy

Wisty, she kept repeating in her head, Wisty.

"The day I—"

Tears were burning at the back of her throat.

"I didn't get a chance to meet the male Tribute of District 4, but I did have the good fortune to meet Wisty."

Silence fell.

That was when she saw a man and woman near the front of the crowd. They were married, or so it seemed. The man was burnt from the sun and the woman wore a pained expression. It was them: Wisty's parents. Pandora didn't need it to be said for her to know. She just knew. Her eyes sadly stayed on them.

"She was a kind girl, and I'm sorry that I couldn't—" her words stopped short as a gasp shudder out of her lungs. The microphone shrilly squeaked. "I couldn't save her."

Her heartbeat was beating so strong that she was sure everyone in the crowd could hear it. The heightened awareness of eyes on her only made it worse, but she made sure to keep the fear at bay.

"In District 7 we have a saying: we only part to meet again. And I like to think that somewhere—" her eyes dropped, "somewhere, beyond all this, Wisty is waiting for our next meeting."

A single tear fell down Pandora's cheek. Suddenly she knew what she needed to do. There was no way for her to make any of this right, but to never acknowledge would be wrong. Her fingers moved to brush the tear away as she lifted her eyes to the parents and backed away from the microphone.

The crowd buzzed as she sprinted down the steps. Her eyes lifted to Wisty's parents and her arm stretched the bouquet of flowers out.

"I hope you'll accept this as an offering of my condolences."

For a brief moment the woman stared, shocked, at Pandora.

"I am so sorry," Pandora whispered, blinking the mist out of her eyes.

It was the father that took the bouquet, smiling a sad smile at her before he nodded.

Cameras flashed and a cameraman she didn't recognized hustled to film what was happening.

Pandora sniffed away the tears as she climbed the steps and walked towards the microphone once more. She didn't speak again until she was sure the sting of tears was gone.

"Thank you, District 4," she simply whispered, waving as soon as the applause sounded, applause that continued until Pandora had disappeared into the Justice Building.

Instantly her entourage began clucking.

"Well that was a show stopper," Vibia said with doubt in her voice, "I've never seen any Victor do that."

"As if you hadn't won the hearts and minds of all of Panem!" Catia exclaimed, "That was fabulous."

Caradoc was the only person not smiling, his eyes narrowed as Pandora looked at him, "Be careful, dear Miss Sullivan. We wouldn't want to get too carried away—would we?"

Catia instinctively backed away, widening her eyes at Vibia before she shook her head, "It was fine, Caradoc. She was only being polite."

It was the first time Catia had stood up for Pandora.

"There's a fine line between politeness and stupidity."

Pandora's lips parted. There was a menacing tone in his words.

She knew she had overstepped her bounds. For all the time she had spent with Caradoc before the arena and after, she was afraid of him. Afraid because she knew that he had close ties to President Snow. He wasn't as harmless as the rest of her entourage. Catia may be aggravating, Vibia and Lucius condescending and vain, but Caradoc was a question mark. At one point in time, Pandora was sure he was a spy, keeping tabs on her. Standing in front him at this moment, her suspicions were only further aroused.

"Of course not, Caradoc," she quickly replied.

"That'a girl."

The condescension of his words made her feel sick. Even after he broke a smile, she was wary of speaking.

After the crowd had dispersed and the team had cooled down, a small feast was given in honor of the Victory Tour. Seafood, green and salty fish-shaped rolls, and seaweed cubes waited on trays and baskets.

It was a modest feast, but it was enough to make Pandora's head hurt.

Occasionally she would look up from her plate of food to see Finnick staring at her.

"If I'd of known you were going to give away those flowers, I would have gotten you more!" the Mayor laughed as he scarfed down a plate full of fish.

"What's the matter?! Aren't you hungry!?" He practically shouted, laughing as he jabbed her.

"I—it's delicious, it's just so much."

"You don't each much in District 7?"

"I'm sure if we had the means to, we would…"

A sharp stab from her other side reminded Pandora that Lux Halstead was sitting to her left. It was a warning to shut up, which she swiftly did. That was the way Lux had communicated throughout the Tour, looks and nudges. The morphine was so thick in his blood that it was all he could manage to do.

"Pruvi! Get me another wine!" the Mayor ordered, thankfully it seemed that in his drunken stupor he hadn't heard Pandora.

As time past and the trays and baskets emptied Pandora tried to smile and keep up conversation but it was quickly becoming exhausting.

"Please—excuse me," she finally managed to say, weaving her way through the crowd so fast that the cameras couldn't find her.

She peered back, carefully making sure she wasn't being followed, before she sprint through the doorway and down a hall. Her hands pressed on the door violently, letting it swing open as she leapt outside.

A loud gasp echoed from her and her body slouched on the wall.

It was evening. The moon hung over the ocean, sending silver and dim blue light onto the coast. Although the temperature had dropped a little, the day's warmth was still rising off the cobblestone road.

"You're missing the party."

She spun around, stunned. Finnick was leaning against the doorframe. A smile was on his face.

"I needed fresh air."

He let the door close and took a step forward, "I think I know what you mean."

"Don't let me keep you, I'm sure you and Catia have a lot to talk about."

Finnick smiled in amusement, "Like hats?"

Pandora laughed dully, "Yes, like hats."

"I think I'd rather talk to you."

"You're quite the charmer, aren't you?"

His eyebrows rose as he looked at her, "Look whose talking. I've been watching you woo all of Panem from day one."

"That's the name of the game, isn't it? We—"

"Pretend?"

Her eyes dropped, "Yes."

"It gets easier, as time goes on."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

Finnick swayed close to her, nudging her softly before speaking: "Pandora?"

She peered at him.

"Would you like to walk with me?"

Pandora wanted to say no, but somehow she nodded, letting him lead the way.

They were walking towards the beach. The noise of the feast disappeared as they descended the dunes. It was colder near the water, the breeze from the sea nipped at her nose and cheeks.

"It's so beautiful," she said after a time.

"Yes, it is," he agreed.

Pandora eyes lowered to the waves lapping on the sand, "The only time I've seen the ocean is in the arena. That one wasn't like this. It was black and cold."

A morbid chill spread through her body at the remembrance.

They didn't speak for a few heartbeats. Only the music of the ocean filled their walk.

"I've thought about you—from time to time, you know?" Finnick whispered finally, "…My friend."

She looked at his side profile in surprise. Was that what they were? He had consoled her that night on the rooftop, but it never occurred to her that she might be a friend to him.

"Friend," She repeated, "I don't have any friends, not anymore."

He shrugged subtly, "You have me, if you want."

Uncomfortably she crossed her arms and leaned away without reply.

"That was very honorable, what you did for Wisty's parents."

"I did it for myself," She lied, shaking her head as she glanced at the evening sea.

"You and I both know that's not true."

Her brow furrowed, "No—" she admitted with surprise, "It's not."

She tried to hold back but what came next just spilled out: "I just, I can't hurt anyone else, I don't know if I'll make it if I keep truly hurting the people in my life. Somehow I need to make it right."

Finnick peered at her and smirked, "I admire you."

"Admire?!"

"Your strong, maybe you don't realize that, but you are."

Her feet froze, "What makes you think I'm the least bit strong?"

"Pandora—nearly a year ago you were thrown into the arena, you watched people die, you even killed people yourself…"

"I'm still not seeing how—"

"And through all that you're able to stand in front of the cameras and crowds and smile. That's strength, no matter how small."

She blinked her eyes to the sand, "So what about you?"

"Me?"

"You said it yourself on the roof, we've been through the same thing. You know what it's like, but we don't—we don't even know each other."

Finnick's smile was unnoticeable as he crossed his arms and nodded, "You're right."

"And yet, you—you come to get me at the station, you ask me to walk with you. I don't understand. You offer friendship to me when I've done nothing to deserve it."

"When I first met you—you remember when that was?"

Pandora creased her brow as she thought back. It was a memory that had never stuck out in her mind, but once he asked she recalled it immediately, "After the opening ceremonies."

"Yes, I met you and we spoke, but only briefly and I thought, poor girl whose going to die."

"How heartwarming."

He ignored her sarcasm, "I thought that because it was inevitable. Your death was inevitable. I'm barely a man and yet, I've experienced death so much that it's all I see when I meet a new Tribute."

He was staring at the ocean now.

"I don't understand, Finnick."

His eyes lifted to the moon as a smile, so warm and unshielded that it threw Pandora off, swept across his face. "I felt dead—I was only 14 when I won—it changed me. It always changes you to experience something like we have, but to experience it when you're 14…I felt lifeless and blind. And out of all the people to remind me, it was you, it was your fight, your strength. You were a complete stranger."

He had to turn his face away, but his stance remained confident.

"You reminded me to live, Pandora."

The wind blew wisps of her hair around her face as she speechlessly stared at him. "Finnick—I don't know what to say."

"I wanted to apologize. Before your games I told you that for your sake I hope you die. I shouldn't have said that. I was wrong and angry."

Pandora tried to steady her breath. "The more days that go by, the more I think you were right."

"Don't be a fool, Pandora. I'm rarely ever right."

"Sometimes I can't help but be a fool."

When her eyes met his she noticed the faint sparkle that lingered in his green iris. "Well at least you're honest."

A boyish grin stretched across his face, a grin that she quickly reciprocated.

The wind blew past them. Silence filled the darkness of the beach. She could see stars starting to shimmer overhead.

"You know..." his words were sudden, "I think I feel like a swim."

"A swim?!"

Her eyes widened as he pulled his shirt off and started running towards the water.

"Wait!" She shouted, furrowing her brow, "What are you doing?!"

He whirled around and splashed through the waves, "You coming or not, Sullivan!?"

Her eyes twitched from left to right, "I—my dress—I can't!"

"There's a thousand dresses where that came from, don't be a wimp!"

She wiggled her toes in thought.

"Finnick, I can't!"

Her teeth raked against her lip as she slipped off her shoes.

"Your loss then!"

Her eyes narrowed as a smile formed on her lips. She broke into a run before she even realized that her feet were even moving. The sand caressed her toes and heels. Her dress flew around her legs.

She was almost to Finnick when she jumped into the air and pounced into the salty ocean. The water was warm.

His tenor laugh echoed across the beach as they splashed water at each other.

The moonlight showered them with silver rays.

The hem and skirt of her dress was practically soaked but she barely noticed. She was too busy taunting him, her footsteps were light and free.

It wasn't until she heard a familiar voice that she stopped to take a breath.

"PANDORA!"

Loose strands blew across her face as she stumbled around to see Catia at the top of the dunes looking down at them.

"What do you think you're doing!?"

Her eyes widened, suddenly she remembered where she was and why. Instantly the smile disappeared from her face.

"Catia—I—" she yelped as a waves crashed against her ankles and pushed her forward.

Finnick was walking close behind.

"I was just talking."

"I see that," Catia had made her down the dunes and was intrusively eyeing both of them, "We need to leave."

Pandora brushed the hair away from her face, "Of course."

"Mr. Odair," She whispered, bowing her head with smile before she grabbed Pandora's wrist.

Pandora looked back at Finnick and parted her lips.

That warm grin appeared again. His hands swiftly wiped the salt water away from his eyes.

"Goodbye," she whispered.

He gazed back at her.

"We only part to meet again," his words melded with the sound of waves.

It took her off guard, but somehow she managed a smile. The first weightless smile she had felt in a long time.

"Pandora—C'mon! We're on a schedule!"

Even after Catia had pulled her up the dunes and towards the car, Pandora found herself looking back, back on the ocean. It had meant more to her than she would have ever believed. That single moment of solace, that drop of time reminded her that all was not lost.

Her eyes turned to the south, where District 4 was quickly disappearing. A low sigh whistled past her lips. A whisper stirred inside her, the subtle breathe of life.