Ashe and Taylor Swift both released albums last month i'm soo happy

I sat down in the living room after dinner with my family. We were all present that night for the mandated update. The card reading for the 3rd Quarter Quell.

I watched President Snow's white-gloved hand pluck out the envelope, open it diligently, and read what was written.

"As a reminder that even the strongest will fall to the Capitol, the tributes of the 75th Hunger Games will be reaped from the existing pool of victors."

I could feel my entire family's eyes on me, but I wasn't sure what they expected from me. I wasn't going to start trying. I wasn't going to have a fit of rage. Even though this news was just as shocking to me, somehow I had seen it coming. It seemed right, because what else would the card say? Who else would Snow try to punish? Who else would he want to make an example out of?

I stood up slowly, then walked to the kitchen. I poured myself a shot of whiskey, my hand shaking, my knuckles white on the neck of the bottle. I downed the first shot, then another, then the bottle slipped out of my hand and rained glass and alcohol across the kitchen. I fell to the ground beside it, my heart burning and eyes stinging from more than just alcohol.

Katniss. Katniss was going back into the arena for the third time

Either Peeta or Haymitch was going back in.

Johanna would be going back in.

Britt or Mags.

Me.

Katniss.

Caspian helped me up off the floor. I sensed my mother entering the room, a disgusted look on her face, then escorting Killian out. Caspian swept up the glass. I wish I could have helped him, but I couldn't make myself move. I could only stare at the carnage, leaning against the kitchen island. Caspian grabbed my hand and gently pulled out a shard of glass that had embedded itself in my palm. I hadn't even registered the pain was there, the cut coated in whiskey. He ran it under cool water and began to bandage it when I pulled away.

"I have to find Katniss," I said.

Caspian pulled my hand back and finished wrapping it. "You need to clear your head. You can go find her tomorrow."

I tugged my arm free of his grip and took a step back. "Cas, I need to talk to her. There's so much I need to say to her before I see her at the Games. Please, just let me go."

"Finnick, please just take a deep breath. Relax," Caspian instructed. "You need to calm down."

I did as he instructed. Before I could speak again, he had me wrapped tightly in his arms. I stumbled, surprised by the sudden weight that just barreled into me. I fell against the counter, but Caspian still didn't let go. I hugged him back. I could feel his tears soaking into my shoulder.
"It's going to be okay," I whispered. "I'll make it out."

He finally let go, and he swiped at his red, puffy eyes. "Please stay," He whispered. "I only have a few months left with you, and I need you to stay. I need as much time with you as I can get."

"I'm making it out of the arena, Caspian," I told him. "I have years left to spend with you."

"I know you, Finnick!" He whisper-shouted. "You aren't coming out. Not if Katniss will be in there with you! Not to mention all of your other friends... you won't come back."

"There's no guarantee I'm even going back," I said.

Caspian rolled his eyes. "I think we both know you are. Snow has been on your back for years now. You're definitely on his list."

I sighed, giving up my argument. "I'll be back in a week," I promised. "I'll spend the rest of my time here, I promise. But I need to check on Katniss."

Caspian nodded, taking a step back. It had been a while since he had gotten that vulnerable with me. Usually I used him as my emotional support human, not the other way around.

He followed me upstairs to my room and watched me pack my bag. Killian and Solomon came in later and each gave me a hug. They also looked like they had been crying. My mother did not say anything.

...

Katniss POV (Since Finnick is not in a state of mind to narrate)

I returned to my room close to three in the morning, after running off into the woods with nothing but a bottle.

Pushing aside the clean, folded laundry that lay on my bed, I collapsed dramatically across the comforter. That's when I noticed the shadow in the corner, sitting in my chair. I shot up, my hand reaching for the knife I kept on my bedside table.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," He said. I stopped, instantly recognizing the voice.

"Finnick? What-"

"I had the greatest idea on my way over." He stood up and made his way over to my bed, where I was still sitting, stumbling on his way. His voice had a distinctive slur.

"Are you drunk?" I asked, standing up to try and catch him before he fell face first into my lamp, which is a lot harder than it seems since I was almost as tipsy.

"Maybe," He said. Then he squinted. "Oh. Yes. Definitely."

"Go to sleep, Finnick. We'll talk in the morning." I pushed my clothes onto the floor and tried to get him to lay down.

"No, you have to listen," He protested, sounding slightly annoyed.

I sighed, exasperated. "What?"

"You're not a very fun drunk," He told me.

"I'm not drunk, I've just had a few drinks. There's a difference." I said, still waiting for him to tell me his amazing idea.

"Well anyway, I had the greatest idea. We're getting married."

I rolled my eyes. "Go to sleep, Finnick." I repeated. "You proposed to me months ago, on national television."

"Noooo," He said, drawing out the O. "We're getting married for real. A real wedding."

I blushed. A real wedding. I had to remind myself he was just drunk, spewing drunken thoughts. But a small, nagging part of my brain reminded me that all drunken actions were a reflection of your true thoughts. Plus he had asked me before, a few years ago, but I thought we were past that. "Sure, Finn. Go to sleep."

I pulled him down on the bed, forcing him to lay down next to me.

"Caspian calls me that sometimes." He muttered.

"Mhm," I said, hoping he would just shut up and let me sleep. While I was really glad he was here, I also knew neither of us were in any stable sort of mind, and we should hold off talking until morning.

"It's odd hearing you say it." He continued.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

That was all he said. I glanced over and saw he had passed out. I sighed and closed my eyes, hoping I would too.

...

Finnick POV

I woke up in a room I didn't recognize, the sun streaming in through the window. I squeezed my eyes shut again. I had a pounding headache. I remembered I had a few shots of whiskey back in District 4, but not anything else. I guess I had too much to drink while on the train.

The door squeaked open, and Katniss entered, carrying a mug of coffee. She rolled her eyes when she saw me in my pained state.

"Welcome to District 12, idiot," She said quietly, mindful of my headache I slowly sat up and accepted the coffee.

"Was I drunk?"

She snorted. "You were absolutely hammered." She picked up her own mug from the bedside table and snuggled up next to me. "Of course, I don't have much room to talk. I wasn't nearly as drunk as you, but I still had far too much."

I smiled, then instantly regretted it as the pain between my eyes worsened.

"How much do you remember from last night?" She asked me.

I shook my head. "I just remembered the announcement, then I decided I needed to find you. I guess I had a lot to drink on the train, because I don't even remember arriving in District 12."

"Oh," she said. There was clearly something else bothering her.

"Are you alright?"

She shrugged. "I think the announcement was a bit of a shock to us all but I just-"

I covered her hand with my own. I noticed she was wearing her ring. "I didn't mean the announcement. I meant in general."

"I guess," She said.

I lifted her left hand, examining that God-awful ring. "Take that off," I said, a small smile on my face.

She frowned. "Why?"

I realized that it must sound like I was breaking off our engagement. Instead of answering, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a much smaller, more elegant ring.

"I found this one in District 4," I told her. She took off her ring. "Katniss, I know we don't have much time left, and I know our Capitol wedding isn't going to happen, but I wanted you to have this ring anyway."

"Why?" she whispered, staring at me with large, unreadable eyes.

"I know we've had a lot of conflict over this, but I still want to get married. I was going to ask you anyway, even before the Quarter Quell announcement, but I want to have a small, private ceremony, where we can do whatever we want and it can mean something to us. I know I probably will only be around for a few more months... I want to spend every moment of those precious few months with you."

"You aren't dying in the Hunger Games, Finnick." Katniss told me, rolling her eyes.

"Well neither are you." I shot back, getting sick of her hero complex. She was cranky when she was hung over.

"Please, Finnick, we both know I'm more stubborn than you. If I want to die, I'm going to." She argued. I groaned. She was really going to turn my marriage proposal into an argument.

"And we both know I'm more accident prone than you. I'm more likely to die, and if that means you might make it out of that arena then-"

"Shut up, Finnick. You aren't dying." She shouted over me.

"Are we getting married or not?" I yelled, frustrated. That really only hurt my head more.

"Of course we are! I just-" before she could finish, my lips were already on hers. She let out a surprised Mph! But kissed me back with more desperation than I had anticipated.

When I pulled away, she was gasping for air. "When are we going?" I asked as she brushed a hand across her mouth, feeling her slightly swollen lips.

"You mean today? You want to get married today?" She asked, astonished.

"Why not?"

She grinned. "Give me some time, Finnick. Let me talk to my family about it?"

"Tomorrow then?" I asked, feeling a bit childish.

She laughed. "Fine. Tomorrow."

I leaned back against the pillows. "Who are you inviting?"

"Prim, obviously," She said. "Peeta, too."

"Haymitch?" I suggested. She nodded. "What about your mom?"

Katniss hesitated.

"You don't have to," I told her, holding her hand again.

"I want to, but I don't think she will come anyway."

"Mhm," I hummed. "Sorry."

"It's alright. I'm sure you feel the same way. Would you invite your mom if you could?"

I shook my head. "Maybe if you asked me last year, I would say yes, but I've lived with this woman for just a few months and I'm already debating buying her her own house just so I don't have to deal with her."

"Why haven't you?"

"She would take my brothers with her. I like having them around."

"Oh," Katniss said.

I gently fingered her hair. "This is getting long," I muttered.

Katniss leaned back "I'll probably cut it before I get into the arena. I don't want it getting in the way."

"Who do you think is going back in?" I asked. "Obviously, Snow will be hand-picking his least favorite victors, but who specifically?"

"Me," She began. "Johanna, too."

"That's a given. What about when there's more than one available tribute to be reaped?"

"Haymitch, definitely," Katniss said, her smile disappearing. "Peeta is on decent terms with the president, and Haymitch is not."

"Zahra has been bothering Snow for a few years now, too." I pointed out.

"How much are you willing to bet that District 2 will have volunteers?" She asked sarcastically.

I snorted. "They're just mindless drones. I don't know why they haven't realized that the Hunger Games is all just propaganda. It's just to keep Snow on top."

"Who else?"

"Britt and me." I said.

"No," Katniss said, annoyance clear in her voice. "You aren't going back in the arena, and neither is Britt."

"Who would you rather be tributes from District 4? Mags? There aren't that many options anymore, Katniss," I argued.

"Finnick, please promise me you won't volunteer." Katniss sat up again, turning around to face me directly.

"Why would I?" I asked, keeping my eyes focused on hers. I chewed the inside of my cheek, then stopped quickly. Katniss knew what my tells were.

"I don't know, to try and protect me or something. Peeta had the same idea."

"Katniss-" I began, then cut myself off. I took a deep breath. "Katniss, I need you to make it out of that arena. Forgive me if I want to save your life."

"Finnick, listen to me," She insisted. "As of right now, I intend to come out of that arena alive. All the people going in... I don't think I would be able to kill them in cold blood like I've done in the past, but if they attacked me, I could defend myself. If they die, I'll be upset, but I will be able to move on. But if you, Britt, Peeta... if any of you went into the arena with me I would never be the same if you died."

I cupped her face. "Katniss... I need you out of the arena." I said again. She began to protest. "I won't volunteer," I promised. "I won't volunteer, but I'm still going to protect you from outside the arena, if necessary. I have enough influence in the Capitol to get you whatever you need. Just name it, and I'll get it to you."

"Thank you," She whispered, her eyes watering.

I kissed her softly, trying to decide if I was being honest or not.