A Tale of a Boy and His Flower

Spring

Spring had finally arrived. As well as the victory tour. Finnick would be arriving today for Annie's victory tour. For once I was glad I was in District 10. The wait had already been killing me. 

"Mary!" Rain said as she stumbled into my door. She has been drinking a lot lately. It was almost worse than Haymitch. It had been over a decade since her games and her sanity was slowly slipping. When I first met her she was spacey but now she is being admitted in and out of physic wards. 

She had stopped calling me Mary a long time ago. But when she drinks like this..it's as if I was twelve years old again. Since she returned from my games her mind had been slipping more and more. Zach figured it was because Jase's death had reminded her of her little brother's death. He had been killed by Snow because she refused one of his orders. I assumed now he wanted her to join business or it was because of how her games had gone. 

"Rain." I said grabbing her arm and steadying her. I made her sit down on the catch and pried the bottle from her hand replacing it with water. "We've been over this. You have to stop drinking. You're going to hurt yourself one day." 

"Mary?" She said looking at me confused. "When did you get there?" I frowned. 

"This is my house Rain." I said, "you came to me." 

"Is that right?" she said looking deep in thought. She shrugged and stood up. "Well better get going! This liquor tastes funny." she said taking a big sip of water. 

"Rain." I said making her stop. "My name is Amaryllis. You have to stop this before you kill yourself." Her attitude changed. 

"You're just like everyone else." she said getting angry and storming out. "You think I've lost my mind!" I followed her out. 

"I don't think your crazy-" 

"Yes you do!" She shouted. "Everyone thinks I'm crazy now, just because I quit acting for them. This is the real me, and if you have a problem with it go complain to Zach! Just like all the rest of them do!" 

"Rain..please.." I said trying to get her to come back inside with me. "You're drunk..you need to lie down." She started to struggle against me. 

"Stop it!" Zach said pulling her off me just as she was about to hit me. "Rain, there's more liquor in my house. Knock yourself out." Rain huffed and stumbled towards his house until she collapsed at his door. 

"She's gotten worse." I said, staring at her limp body. Zach nodded. 

"Let me worry about her." He said, "your boyfriend has arrived." I glanced back Zach. 

"He's not my boyfriend-" He placed a hand on my shoulder. 

"You keep telling yourself that." He said picking up Rain. 

As soon as I saw Rain safe with Zach I ran towards the mandatory gathering. District 10 was huge. It was made of large plains, where live stock roamed. The other half was made up of slaughter and meat factories run by citizens. Because I was a victor I lived close to the main town. 

"Finnick?" I said looking around backstage until I saw the familiar sandy blonde hair. "Finnick!" He heard his name and turned around. He smiled as he saw me, and engulfed me in a hug. 

"I missed you." he said. 

"So did I." he glanced out towards Annie on stage before pulling me into a secluded area. "I heard about Annie. I'm sorry she ended up like that." he nodded and said "me too" 

Annie had suffered severe PTSD after watching her district partner beheaded in the arena. She had gone mad since and had to be watched at all times. 

Finnick took a strand of loose hair and tucked it behind my ear. 

"Happy birthday." he said. "I'm sorry I couldn't be here when it happened." I smiled. I turned seventeen in December. He leaned in and kissed me. 

"What's wrong?" he asked pulling apart. 

"It's nothing." I said, "I'm just glad to see you." He looked at me. This was one of the things I loved about Finnick. He always seemed to know when something was off about me. 

"You can tell me." He said. "Holding it in will only make it more painful." 

"it's my mentor Rain." I said giving in. "She's been drinking more and has even been admitted to physic wards." Finnick listen intently. I felt tears spring to my eyes as I admitted what had been bothering me. "The person I knew and loved..is slipping away..Rain even tried to physically hurt me today..

 I took a deep breath trying to control myself. "she's a different person.. and I'm just afraid the trauma and addiction is going to win and I'll lose a piece of my family again." Finnick pulled me into a hug.   

He didn't offer any words of encouragement because even he knew she was beyond help at this point. Many victors fate ended this way. But his embrace was all I needed to cheer up. 

I soon heard applause and knew Annie had finished her speech. I walked with Finnick to meet her. 

"Annie this is Amaryllis." Finnick said. Annie was fidgeting with her shirt, nervously. "She's very important to me." 

"Hi." I said. She gave a small wave. She was shaking. I looked up at Finnick unsure what to do. Finnick stepped beside her and wrapped his arm around her. She seemed to visibly calm down a bit. 

"It's time!" their district escort said coming in and ushering them out. No, I didn't want Finnick to leave. Annie was escorted away to the train. 

"Finnick!" I said as he boarded the train. He turned around once again. I stepped onto the platform of the train. I ran and gave him one last hug. "I'll be waiting for you." I whispered in his ear. He kissed the side of my face before boarding the train and leaving.