BOMBSHELL - Finnick Odair

21

Ember

"They're better fresh."

The sound of his voice pulls me out of the deep slumber I had succumbed to.

Just the sight of him, sitting on the sand, cracking open shellfish, makes my cheeks tinge a hot pink.

I can't believe I told him I loved him last night.

It was simply out of pure instinct. Something I always knew, but never said aloud. At least not to his face.

Subconsciously, I must've been scratching at my skin.

"You know, if you scratch you'll bring on infection."

Katniss, who was scratching at her arms too, says sarcastically, "That's what I've heard."

I glanced down at my finger nails that are caked with dry blood. If only Aero could see me now.

He's probably throwing a hissy fit so loud, that if I listened hard enough, I could hear him from here.

The itching sensation doesn't ease up. I groan in annoyance as I squirm, trying not to scratch at my fog induced wounds.

"Hey, Haymitch!" Katniss snaps. "If you're not too drunk, we could use a little something for our skin."

I let out a laugh as I add on, "Yeah, Felix! Put down the scotch!"

It's almost humorous how fast the parachute floats down.

Katniss angrily grumbles out an, "About time."

This new found attitude of hers has me liking the girl on fire a little more so. She almost reminds me of Haymitch.

But this thought alone makes my heart ache.

What I wouldn't give to see Felix and him right about now.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts at the stench of the ointment. I can't stop myself from turning my head away from the tube to audibly gag.

This doesn't stop Katniss though as she starts to rub it in, staining her skin a gray-green shade.

"It's like you're decomposing," Finnick says.

She passes the tube to us and despite the smell and appearance, we begin to treat our own skin too.

"Poor Finnick and Ember. Is this the first time in your lives you haven't looked pretty?" She says.

"It must be. The sensation's completely new. How have you managed it all these years?" He spits back immediately.

A hint of a smile lights up her face as she says, "Just avoid mirrors. You'll forget about it."

"Not if I keep looking at you two," I say.

We continue rubbing in the ointment, even taking turns applying the medicine in the hard to reach places.

Katniss wipes her hands on her wetsuit. "I'm going to wake Peeta."

"No wait," Finnick says. "Let's do it together. Put our faces right in front of his."