A Tale of a Boy and His Flower

The life of a victor

It was the 71st games. I rode the train out to the Capital as usual. New tributes, who ahd both already accepted their deaths. Zach was doing his usual speech as we arrived in the Capital. 

That night I sat in my usual spot. Finnick would always come here and meet me. It was like our secret spot away from the eyes of the capital. I smiled up at Finnick as he sat next to me. Tonight he brought a blanket. 

I snuggled up next to him and he wrapped the blanket around us. 

"Any of your tributes promising?" he asked. I shook my head. 

"They both already accepted their deaths." He sighed. 

"Pretty much the same here." He said, "neither of them want to join the career pack either." 

I laid my head on his shoulder. 

"I can't wait until I can quit mentoring. It's always so sad to meet new kids who could've grown up and lived a good life, be slaughtered." 

"But then you could never see me." He said. I guess I hadn't thought about that part. 

"Well I guess there are perks." I said. "Mostly the food." Finnick chuckled. He leaned down and kissed my fore head. "How's Annie doing?" 

"Not well," he said, "the games really messed her up." I nodded. It was sad knowing she will never be the same again. I mean no one is the same after their games but she will forever be changed. 

I yawned and snuggled up against Finnick's chest. 

"You're tired already?" He asked, amused. 

"It's hard work being a mentor." I said closing my eyes and drifting off into sleep. 

***

I woke again to screaming. I sat up and looked around trying to find out who it was. My eyes landed on the boy sitting right next to me. His head was buried in his hands and he was in a cold sweat. 

"Finnick?" I said softly, taking my hand and rubbing his back. 

"I'm sorry I woke you." He said. 

"It's fine," I said.  "I've woken you up plenty of times." I gently stroke the back of his neck. This always seemed to calm him down. "Do you want to talk about it?" He shook his head. He never wanted to talk about his nightmares. But I understood, I never wanted to talk about mine either. 

"That's fine," I said pulling him into me. He wrapped his arms around my body and laid his head on my chest. "silence doesn't bother me." 

We laid together in silence for what felt like forever. 

"Amaryllis." Finnick said breaking the silence. I hummed in response. "Let's get married." 

It was safe to say I was a bit surprised by the sudden request. 

"Finnick I would love to..but you know we could never get married. The Capital would never allow it."

"Who said we had to tell the Capital." I thought about it for a few minutes. 

"Ok, let's do it." Finnick sat up and looked at me. 

"Really?" I nodded, and he smiled brightly. He leaned down and kissed me. I felt him smile into the kiss. 

These past few years haven't been too bad. Maybe I could live a peaceful life. Maybe I had found the life of a victor. 

***

"Ms.GreenShire. You are needed for a business inquiry." A guard said waiting at the door to escort me. I looked across the room. Finnick, Haymitch and Zach were absent trying to get sponsors for their tributes. Well Zach and Finnick were. Haymitch was most likely buying liquor somewhere. It had been almost two weeks since the games begun and they were coming to an end quickly.