I take slow, small bites letting the pineapple juice just soak into the fish. It tasted much better that way. My parents aren't a big fan of small talk so we eat dinner in silence except for the humming of the television that was left on in the living room. I don't know what they were reporting on; maybe District 13.
Afterwards, I head upstairs and examine the wedding plans. It seems pretty simple, just a wedding on the beach like every other one around here. I was hoping to have it done by the end of the summer. I get out a piece of blank paper and start writing notes.
I look at my calendar and pick a date, July 27th, which also happens to be the day the Quarter Quell is announced. I wasn't really too worried about that. It would be a special day for them and the country. My mind drifts to the looming Quarter Quell.
Everyone knows that President Snow is out to get Katniss, especially since she was totally not in love with Katniss. I don't think that he has the same plans for Peeta because all of his actions were obviously out of love, unlike Katniss'. I'm almost 99% sure that Katniss offered those berries to get a reaction out of the Capitol, not so that she and Peeta could be in love forever.
The Quarter Quell is probably going to be tough, just so that Katniss could be made fun of and made sure that she is known to have no power. They might do something really cruel and rig the reaping so that her younger sister or some other little twelve years old gets picked. I can't even imagine what will come out of that box, but I do know one thing. It was not written 75 years ago.
I turn my attention back on the wedding. An entire hour has passed and I have only written one thing. I start on a list of guests. I write down my family, Noah's family, Jessica's family, and Daniel's family. I write down Jessica's friends, Daniel, Annie, and me. I invite the mayor. I fold up the paper and make a mental note to take the list to both Noah and Jessica for reviewing.
I then make another mental list of places that I need to go to get everything for the wedding. I need some flowers, some type of cake which Daniel can provide, and outfits for both Noah and Jessica. After that, I check everything in with Annie and she tells me what else we need. Then, we set it all up July 27th and wait for everyone to gather on the south beach. Nope, not hard.
The next day, I wake up way earlier than normal because I can't sleep. Those letters are haunting me and I want to know what they all mean. When I think about it, I really do know what they mean. I'm just running from the facts. Annie's mother is working for the Capitol as some kind of inside source.
It is eating me, consuming my mind as I toss and turn. I think I need to tell someone but I don't know who. I know that I can't tell Annie, not yet anyway. I need to protect her. I guess I could tell Daniel but I don't know if he would understand everything yet. I don't want to ruin this special time for Noah. My parents will just get even more concerned for me. I finally decide on someone to talk to.
I leave later in the day after breakfast so not to disturb her. I go over to her house, only a couple doors down from mine, still in Victor's Village. I don't bother to knock because she just lets people come in.
"Hello, Finnick," Mags says from her position on her bed. I walk over and sit on one of the chairs in the living room.
"Hello, Mags. How are you?" I ask her and she shakes her head.
"Didn't come small talk," She tells me and I insert the missing words. I better get straight to the point. I tell her what I found in the cave, what I told Annie's mom, and the letters. She lets it all soak in for a moment before offering some advice.
"Talk her," She mumbles. I guess I should talk to Annie's mom; that would probably be the best for everyone involved. Her nurse comes into the room and shoos me out because it is time for Mags' therapy.
I walk out of her house even more confused than before. I guess I should talk to Annie's mom but I am scared of the consequences. I walk up to my house and make it halfway up the stairs before telling myself to just go talk to her. I turn myself around and make my way over to Annie's house. It's time to get this thing over with.
Sorry for not updating in a while! The next chapter is the interrogation of Annie's mom and I'm excited! The question for this chapter to get you an extra entry into the contest is:
When did Mags go into the arena and win? Hint: She is around 80 years old according to Katniss.