BOMBSHELL - Finnick Odair

6

Ember

I flinched as the magazine slapped against the marble counter top. My head was still throbbing.

The magazine cover was a picture of Finnick.

Wait, no. He was holding someone in his arms.

"Oh, fuck," I said aloud.

He was packing a disheveled me in his arms. Felix let out a laugh, bringing his coffee mug up to reach his lips.

"This is not funny!" Aero scolded him. He returned his attention back to me and placed his manicured hands on both hips. "You're lucky no one noticed your crude behavior last night!"

I reached both hands up to clench my temples. "Do you always have to speak at that volume?" I asked, squinting my eyes.

Felix slid a glass of water across the hotel's kitchen table. "Here, sweetheart. You'll need that."

I greedily gulped the water down until it was empty. To which Aero sighed, "Classy, Ember."

I shrugged in response. That's me.

"Go on," Felix smiled. "Flip through those pages."

My eyes bulged, "There's more?!"

I pulled the magazine closer and read the cover that said; A Brewing Romance?

In smaller letters it read Finnick O'dair and Ember Black seen leaving her Victor Party late last night. More on page 7

I could hear Felix laughing harder as I quickly flipped to page seven. All of the memories came rushing back at once. My stomach turned at the sight of pictures from last night plastered all over the pages.

"I'm going to be sick," I said, throwing a hand over my mouth to keep the contents back. I stood up, almost toppling the barstool over, and ran to the nearest bathroom.

I spilled my guts into the toilet and regretted every decision from last night. Finnick probably hates me right now for interrupting his night. I flushed the toilet and leaned back, wiping my hand across my mouth.

At the sound of rustling coming from the kitchen, I peaked my head out through the crack of the door. "Fuck," I whisper-yelled.

The heads in the room all turned in my direction and I quickly ducked back behind the door, pressing my back up against the wall. Finnick stood in all his golden-boy glory. I looked down at my wrinkly pajamas and unbrushed hair.

Please don't see me, please don't see me, please don't-

"Ember," Finnick started, "I brought something for you."

I slowly leaned out behind the door, still sitting on the cold, bathroom tile. "Um- Finnick," I stumbled out. I halfway crawled into a standing position and brushed my fingers through my hair.

"What brings you here?" I asked, awkwardly placing a hand on my hip. Finnick looked to be holding back a laugh, biting down on his bottom lip.

He held up a small, white bottle, the pills rattling inside as he shook it. "Think you'll need these," he said as he tossed it in my direction.