"What is he wearing?" Taiya gasped as she watched Finnick's tribute parade chariot appear on the screen.
"You know they don't get to pick their outfits," Theo mumbled.
"Yeah, but he's wearing makeup," Taiya giggled giving him a small smile.
"Blue makeup," Theo's mom spoke up from the next couch.
"He looks pretty," Theo's cousin swooned from the floor.
"Annie," Taiya scoffed with a laugh.
"District 4!" Caesar Flickerman announced, "fishing, my favourite," he laughed. "And here Claudius we have our youngest tribute this year. The male tribute, Mr Finnick Odair at only 14."
"He certainly seems popular," Claudius laughed with Caesar as the crowd microphones picked up on the crowd cheering Finnick's name.
"Why are they cheering him so much?" Taiya asked, looking over at Theo.
"Look at his face," Theo pointed out. "He's charming them."
Taiya frowned as she turned to look back at the screen, "why?" she asked as she watched him blow kisses to the crowd.
"He'll get more sponsors if they like him. It's a smart move," Theo answered.
"Right," Taiya mumbled as the parade came to an end.
"Would you like to stay for dinner Taiya?" Theo's mother offered.
"Um, no thanks. I don't really feel well," she mumbled standing up. "I should probably get home before my parents get worried."
"Of course, another time," she smiled.
"Come on," Theo said standing up and placing his hand on her back. "I'll walk you."
"Thanks, Mrs Cresta, bye Annie," she farewelled them as she left the Cresta household.
It had been a few days since the tribute parade and Taiya was sitting on her couch at home with Theo and her parents, rocking backwards and forwards as they waited for the tributes scores to be announced.
"Geez would you stop Taiya," Theo laughed and he placed his hands on her shoulders to keep her still. "You're making me nervous."
"He'll get a good score sweetie. You've seen him train. He'll have impressed the game makers, don't worry," her father assured.
"A kid that arrogant is bound to get a good score," her mom grumbled.
"Azalea, please," Caspian sighed, rubbing his eyes in frustration. Azalea turned to argue but stopped when Caspian pointed over to Taiya. Azalea looked over at her daughter, who was the very picture of a nervous wreck and sighed before leaning back in her seat. Tonight was not the night for a fight.
"From District 1," Caeser Flickerman spoke as they began to go through the scores, "Hero, with a score of 9."
"That's a good score," Taiya whimpered.
"Finnick will get a good score too," Theo reassured as he squeezed her shoulder.
"From District 4," Caeser said after some time, drawing Taiya's attention back to the screen as she leant forward as far as she could without falling off the couch. "Finnick Odair with a score of 9." Taiya immediately let out a sigh of relief and dropped her head onto her knees. The only score higher than a 9 had been the boy from two who scored a 10. "Halle Mildstar, with a score of 6."
"He can do this," Theo breathed. "He can do this," he laughed as he grabbed Taiya and pulled her in for a hug as she let out a sob.
"Interviews are on Monday night," Caspian spoke up and Taiya pulled away from Theo. "He'll win everyone over even more when he speaks." Taiya tilted her head confused and Caspian smiled, "come on sweetie, you know he can win over a crowd. If he could get you to forgive him for knocking you into the ocean when you two first met he can certainly convince a Capitol crowd to sponsor him. He's a good looking young boy as well, they love that."
"I hope you're right," Taiya said, allowing a smile to come across her face for the first time in days. He could win this.
"He's up next," Theo nudged Taiya, dragging her out of her thoughts as she watched Halle wave at the crowd. "Get ready to watch Finnick use his charm," Theo said shooting her a small smile.
"Now ladies and gentlemen," Caeser yelled. "I now have the absolute pleasure of announcing our next guest, from District 4, the youngest tribute this year, please welcome Finnick Odair!"
Finnick then came on screen as he smiled and waved to the Capitol crowd. Upon seeing his face Taiya let out a small gasp. He looked so like himself and yet so different. He was using the same smile he'd use when he was in trouble at school, the one that would charm the teachers into letting him off with a warning. "Good evening Caeser," Finnick smiled as he walked forward to shake the host's hand. As soon as he spoke Taiya reached out and took Theo's hand. She hadn't heard his voice in a week.
"Tell me Finnick, how are you finding the Capitol?" Caeser asked as they sat down.
"If I'm honest," Finnick smirked as he looked at the crowd, "remarkable. It's so different from home. At home, we've just got beaches everywhere, but here it's architecture. It's a marvellous sight."
Caeser laughed, throwing his head back, "so kind! So Finnick, tell me about your family back home."
"Well I'm an only child, so it's always just been my parents and me."
"How about friends? I bet you've got plenty."
"Yeah, I get on well with basically everyone back home. But I've got two best friends who are pretty much family," he said, his smile faltering slightly.
"Now, I have heard some gossip floating around Finnick, that you've got a girlfriend back in home in District 4."
"I'll have to deny that unfortunately, Caeser," Finnick laughed. "I must say I'm just so taken with the lovely people of the Capitol I don't think there's room for anyone else in my heart right now."
"Well there's plenty of time for that anyway, you are only 14 after all," Caeser laughed. "With a handsome face like that, I'm sure the ladies will be all over you in the years to come."
"You're absolutely right. There will be plenty of time for that because I'll let you in on a little secret Caeser," Finnick said leaning forward, drawing the crowd in. "I'm going to make it out of that arena," he smirked.
"I love it!" Caeser cheered. "Ladies and Gentlemen," he said standing up, grabbing Finnick's hand and raising it into the air with the crowd cheering, "the charming Finnick Odair!"
"He did well. Right?" Taiya asked, turning to Theo's mother.
"Excellent," she nodded. "Look at the crowd. They love him."
"They're blowing him kisses," Taiya gasped as she noticed the crowd going crazy as Finnick walked off stage.
"He did fantastically," Theo's dad laughed. "He'll get plenty of sponsors, you don't need to worry Taiya. Come on, eat your dinner," he said pointing to her plate that she'd set aside. "I'm sure Finnick would hate to come home and see you looking malnourished."
Taiya smiled slightly as she pulled the plate towards her and picked at the fish on the plate. "If he makes it to the final 8 they'll come and interview us, especially now that he mentioned us on tv," Theo told her and she froze. "What?" he asked.
Taiya's breath became ragged and she quickly stood up. "You said if," she breathed as her eyes filled with tears. "If. Like it's unlikely."
"Taiya… I didn't mean it like that."
"Then how'd you mean it?" she asked as tears began to fall. "You told me he could win and now you're saying IF he makes it to the final 8?"
"Taiya…"
"I have to go," Taiya said quickly, she was about to breakdown and she couldn't bring herself to do that in someone else's home. "Thank you, Mr and Mrs Cresta for having me."
"Do you want me to walk you?" Theo asked as she quickly left the room.
"I'll be fine," she yelled back before quickly taking off in a sprint out of the house and towards her home. After 5 minutes of running, she'd made it to her part of the town and threw open the door to her house, quickly shutting it as she slid down it as the tears began flowing freely and sobs wracked her body.
"Taiya?" Caspian asked as he quickly ran out of the living room to see his daughter in a blubbering mess on the ground. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked as he knelt in front of her. "His interview was great, it's ok," he said as he pulled her towards him.
Taiya could barely speak through the sobs but managed to get out, "I need Finnick dad. I need him."
"I know, I know," he said trying to calm her down as he moved to lean against the door next to her so she could cry into his shoulder. Feeling another presence, Taiya looked up from her father's shoulder to see her mother standing in the doorway looking at her with sorrow. The moment Taiya met her mother's eye though, she turned around and walked away.