BOMBSHELL - Finnick Odair

5

Ember

"Young lady!"

Haymitch, Felix, and I erupted into a fit of giggles.

The pair dared me that I wouldn't make a piece of ice from my drink down the backside of a lady's skirt. They lost.

Aero, looking like a yellow-feathered mess, stomped over to our corner table next to the bar. "This party is for you, Ember! Can you not behave for one night?"

I stared up at him hazily, my vision a little blurry. "Oh, great heavens! Are you drunk?" He asked. "Felix!"

Felix held his hands up in surrender at the aggravated man. Suddenly noticing the pairs of wandering eyes, Aero let out an awkward laugh to cover up his annoyance and draw attention away from us.

He sat down on the couch next to me and tried to push me into a more upright position, but I just slouched back over again. He huffed in annoyance before getting up to walk over to the bar, returning with a glass of ice water. "Drink this," he ordered.

I tilted my wobbly head down towards the glass and blew bubbles into the straw. This caused Aero to angrily slam the drink down onto the glass-covered table. "You two, help me get her out of this party unnoticed."

"Her face is plastered all over the city, how do you think we'll manage that princess?" Haymitch asked sarcastically.

My head started to feel heavy and was getting hard to keep upright. It dropped down onto Aero's shoulder who quickly pushed me off of him. "Ugh!" He huffed.

"This is both of your faults! You better think of something and quick. People are starting to notice," Aero whispered the last part.

Haymitch gasped dramatically, "Oh, great heavens!"

Aero scowled back at him.

"Too bad pretty boy isn't here," Felix thought aloud, "he could probably pack her out of here and everyone would just gush about it." He rolled his eyes at the thought.

At the mention of him, I tried to sit up again. "Finnick," I mumbled out.

"Wait," Aero gasped, standing up quickly. "That's a great idea!"

Felix rolled his eyes.

He began walking in a direction, pulling out his cellphone. "I'll go talk to his escort, you guys watch her!"

The sound of Felix and Haymitch talking was tuned out as I tried to focus on what was happening around me at the moment. My mind felt fuzzy and I really just wanted to lie down.

But now I was thinking of him. And the woman he left here with.

Was he really what everyone made him out to be?

I was pulled out of my thoughts at hands on both of my sides, pulling me to my feet. Felix mumbled something in my ear that was hard for me to understand.

He tugged me forward, but my legs refused to work. Instead I started falling face first. I couldn't even bring my hands up to brace for impact before those familiar hands pulled me in.

"I thought I told you," Finnick said, "You need better friends."

At the sound of his voice I leaned in closer to rest my head on his chest. "Don't hurl please."

My feet left the floor and he curled me up in his arms. I leaned in closer, clenching his now wrinkled button-down shirt.

I let my eyes flutter close and we began to move. In my state, I couldn't hear the gasps or whispers as he carried me to the car. The camera shutter I had started to hate was even background noise at this point.

All I could focus on was him. And the smell of her.

"Take her back to the hotel room," Aero ordered. "We'll be in the next car behind you all."

Finnick tugged us both into, I assume, the backseat. My eyes were still closed, focused on trying not to get sick.

I felt his fingers run through my hair that had mostly fallen from the intricate updo my stylists had created earlier.

"You know," he said aloud. "I didn't have near as much fun at my victor party as you did." A ghost of a smile graced my face.

His fingers continued to run through my hair, lulling me to sleep. The only noise throughout the car was music from the driver's stereo.

My breathing had slowed down to a light pace. I was almost fast asleep when I heard Finnick whisper the words.

"Thank you."

The confusion I wanted to confess didn't escape my lips. I was too tired to get it out. But I did manage to peak an eye open.

My last memory from the night was a red-lip stain peeking out from underneath his collar.

Finnick

"Thank you," I whispered as she slept in my arms.

"Thank you for taking me away from her."

I let my fingers run continuously through her tousled hair, something I had wanted to do since the moment I met her.

I still remember her annoyed facial expression transition into a shocked one once she stepped off the train. It was hard to not laugh and play my part that day.

Snow warned me how important it was to distract not only the Capitol, but the districts as well. They were not happy with her. She had inspired some rebellious thoughts throughout Panem.

And because he couldn't kill her, he needed to shape her image. I'm not sure where this path will lead us, but the hot-headed girl was starting to grow on me.

The SUV came to a halt and the driver opened the door for us to get out. I tightened my grip and stepped out, greeted by the flashes from cameras. I covered her face the best that I could and pushed my way through the hotel's doors.

I wiggled a hand loose and pushed the up button to the elevator. The doors opened with a ding and I hit level 24 quickly to prevent anyone from hitching a ride.

Em was fast asleep in my arms and as I looked down a smile slowly creeped onto my face. No. I snapped myself out of it. No way.