Pearl Heart {Finnick Odair}

Chapter 10

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Amelia stood beside Beetee and Wiress, giving a small nod of acknowledgement, receiving one back from Beetee. Wiress seemed to be in her own little world, not seemingly aware of the chaos around them.

Amelia felt a hand wrap around her waist, startling her. She settled when she saw that it was Finnick. She assessed his outfit, pleased to see it was semi-full coverage and comfortable.

"Hello darling," He admired his lover, she was beautiful. "Breath-taking as usual, though I see Cosmos is trying something new?"

"Thank you," she smiled, always feeling warm with his compliments. "Apparently twelve's designer asked him not to do white." Finnick hummed in thought.

"I guess we'll have to wait and see why." He leaned back on the wall behind him, looking completely content.

"You look handsome." Amelia supplied after a moment, looking into his eyes. Finnick smiles when he sees the hidden meaning, he looks comfortable, not bare and exposed for the world to see.

"Thank you darling."

Minutes roll by with the couple watching the interviews on one of the many TV's littered backstage. It wasn't long until it was Finnick's turn to go. Before he was rushed off to the stage, he leaned to whisper in Amelia's ear.

"Listen to my words." Before winking and walking off.

Amelia turned away when he was out of sight, turning towards the TV once more. When Finnick was introduced, he walked out as if he owned the stage, greeting the audience.

Caesar greeted him, asking the usual questions. What was his feelings on the game? -which was answered with edited feelings-, what was to be expected? and about his score. Then came the last question...

"Finnick!" Caesar started, "I understand that you have a message...for someone out there, a special someone," he chuckled, his question causing many in the crowd to scream, "Can we hear it?"

The camera zoomed to Finnick's face, his eyes felt as if they were staring through the screen, into hers.

"My love, you have my heart... for all eternity, and uh if..." he paused, eyes slightly watery, "If I die in that arena, my last thoughts... will be of your lips." Amelia had to blink away the stinging in her eyes, she loved the man more than words could describe.

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Finnick's turn was about to end when she was ushered to the stage entrance. Amelia braced herself to face the crowd, feeling the familiar weight in her chest and the sinking pressure in her stomach. She knew that she would be fine, she has been in this position before, but that didn't stop the dread that clung to her.

A stagehand hurried to her, informing Amelia she had 30 seconds, this did nothing to help the poor women. Amelia forced herself to stand straight and breath calmly as she was counted down to enter.

Amelia heard Caesar introduce her from the stage.

"You all know her! You all love her! She is the Pearl of the Capitol and of our hearts!" This caused a wave of scream and applause from the crowd,".... Amelia Tompkins! The girl with the Pearl heart!" If the crowd wasn't loud before they were deafening now.

Amelia was waved on stage, she focused all of her attention on not tripping over in her heels as she walked to the outstretched hand of Caesar. The crowd made their praises and approvals of her dress known.

"Look at her! She is stunning isn't she!?" The man asked the crowd, "Your stylist truly knows how to complement your beauty, doesn't he folks!?" He gave off a laugh. The audience soon settled down enough for Caesar to start his questions.

"Now Amelia...Finnick Odair was your mentor in your games, was he not?" Caesar questioned, moving the microphone to her.

"Yes, he was," Amelia answered, not sure of where he was leading with these questions.

"I'm sure that with him as your mentor, and now as your fellow Tribute, there has been a chance of a... bond forming... wouldn't you say?" It clicked for Amelia; Caesar was questioning if it was her who Finnick was reciting the poem to.

The couple had agreed beforehand to not outright say they were together, it was best to play their hands right. With Finnick not saying who the poem was for, it increased their chances with sponsors, who would think it was them who he was in love with.

Amelia looked up to the screen that was now showing Finnick, who was standing behind her with the other tributes.

"Yes, Finnick has helped me in so many ways and there are no words to describe just how thankful I am to him and what he has done for me, "Amelia look away from the screen to Caesar, "All the Victors in four are close, and no matter what, we would always be there for each other. We are a family." Amelia smiles at Mag in the front row and then to the camera, knowing Anne was watching from home.

"That is sweet, isn't it sweet!?" He turned to the audience, who very much agreed. Caesar let out his signature laugh and turned back to Amelia.

"Now in your Game, you showed your talent of blending in and traps, do you think we will be seeing that again?" The show man continued the questioning, wanting to keep the ball rolling before time was up.

Amelia stopped for a moment, thinking of an answer. She herself didn't know, she was lucky that the arena played in her favor and the 'trap' that she haphazardly put together actually worked. She turned to look sadly at Ceasar, causing for a split second of confusion to flash his eyes before he masked it.

"No... I don't think there will be a chance of it happening again.... It was a miracle that I had won my Game," she looked away to the mass of people before her," I don't think I will have such luck again." This caused a wave of murmurs of confusion over the audience.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked.

"I know my chances, and I've come to terms with it.... I-I won't be coming out of that arena... alive." This caused an outrage, people demanding what she meant by that. Caesar looked at the woman he considered a friend, seeing just how sure she was when she said that.

"Surely... you couldn't mean that?" His question silenced the chaos, everyone sat on the edge of their seat.

Surely this woman that stood up on stage, this woman that each and every one under this roof loved and adored... could mean the things she had said. This woman, the darling of the Capitol. With the thrill of the Games consuming their minds no one had even given a REAL thought that by the end of the week, there would be one of their Champions left, and while Amelia wasn't known for her amazing skills at killing and entertaining personality, she was still beloved and even worshiped. There was just something about her that drawn everyone in, she didn't have the blood thirst that others had or the insanity, she was calm and caring, sweet and kind, everything that others weren't.

"I do... I know I will die." Unlike the female from one, a real tear slid down her cheek," I wanted to thank you, Caesar in the chance I never get to. You helped me, even if you didn't know that you did. All these years, having our little tea party's...might not have been all that big of a deal to you, but they helped me." This caused the man's eyes to glaze. Amelia turned away from him once more," I wanted to thank everyone for everything they have done for me.... there are so many things I haven't done, so many things that I want to explore and discover.... Thank you to all that have ever supported me."

She thought of herself, she had changed in the last couple of days, she was becoming the person she once was but now she had someone beside her, who was her everything, she didn't have much left in her life, but she had him, but soon she might not even have that.

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(Update 20.Jan.23)
-1358 words-