- F A L L E N -

8

I spent my last few hours in the training center alone, I even threw knives during lunch, not wanting to be around Finnick, knowing I'd feel guilty if I continued to ignore him, but not wanting to reconcile either.
I felt like an outcasted schoolgirl. The only person that spoke to me was Gloss, talking and making jokes while he towered over me, trying to intimidate or flirt, I could not tell.

I left the tribute center around dusk, feeling dull and exhausted. I quickly slipped back to my room to shower and change, avoiding any and all of my staff, not in the mood for another charade of "the importance of the games blah blah blah". In the shower, finally feeling myself un-tensing from the day, I realized how tired I was. My stomach felt empty and dry, and my eyelids almost fell shut with heaviness, but I skipped dinner and sleep, retreating to the roof instead.
It was a beautiful spot, wherever I went when I needed to breathe, desolate and peaceful in the midst of the city. 

The roof was a spread out space, but not inordinately large, and the structure was made of a dull, silver looking metal. As you exited the stairwell, the natural area you gravitated to was the area on the right, overlooking the sunset and tall buildings. There was a rustic ledge that encircled the floor, not too short that you felt like you could trip and fall onto the pavement, but not too tall that you couldn't see out onto the other side of the city.

After reading my book for about an hour, back curled up against the ledge, it started to get dark, and I decided to watch the sun go down. It'd probably be my last sunset, and I wanted to savor it. A few minutes later the sky started to grow pinkish, and the air started to turn breezy and wistful.

"It's beautiful isn't it" I heard a voice say from behind me, I turned my head around to find Finnick, in a black button down shirt, closing the door to the roofs entrance.

I turned my head back around and payed attention to the breeze as Finnicks footsteps followed until they matched my position, right at the edge, standing above the city. He rested his elbows on the ledge and watched the rest of the sun go down with me in silence. 

A few minutes into dark, as we both stood close to each other, looking out at the world, Finnick shifted his body around until he was only a breath away from my body, staring at me, staring out at the city sky.

I sighed as he watched me with careful eyes. "Why do you do it Finnick?" I asked quietly, my words gliding out into the air, mixing in with the wind.

I felt him pause, and he took my hand and turned me around so that I was facing him, looking into his eyes. They didn't look the same as Id seen them in the training center, they looked glossed-over and dim. He and breathed out into the air,"I don't know Y/n", he whispered, "It's the only thing I've ever done".

I half-smiled and moved a piece of hair over his face. "Probably, but it doesn't have to be the only thing you'll ever be".

His eyes dropped to the floor, "I don't want it to". He said, pulling my hands up around his shoulders. "I just... I don't know how to be anyone else".

I smiled, ",I don't want you to", I said, my hands now fully rested around his stomach.

"Well, it's not who I want it to be".

"Ok, good".

"Good", he smiled, pulling me closer.

And for that moment my life was perfect: the wind blowing lightly in my hair, Finnicks arms holding my back, nothing but the each other and the sky to see.

"I love you", I said, nuzzling my head farther into his chest, his sweet scent washing over me. I closed my eyes tiredly, a relaxed smile coming onto my face. I breathed deeply into his stomach, as his black buttons slightly rubbed against my cheek.

"Ya, I suppose you're alright", he responded.

"Finnick!" I chuckled.

"I love you too".

"Good".

"Good".

We stood this way for a few minutes, savoring the moments with ease.

"Finnick?"

"Mhmm" He murmured, stroking the nape of my neck, my arms engulfing his torso.

"I'm so hungry."

I heard him laugh from up above, "Ya, I am too".

"Will you go get dinner with me?"rh

"I guess", he said sarcastically, shifting away before grabbing my hand to walk out.

"Wait Finnick," I said as we started descending down the stairs, "We should probably invite Portia".

He laughed and nudged my shoulder with his. "You're a piece of work you know that?"

"Well, it's just, she's probably expecting an invite and I wouldn't want her-"

Suddenly, I felt myself pushed up against a wall, Finnick's hands wrapped around my face as he threw his lips into mine. He started kissing me quickly, hungrily, then slowly and gently. I kissed him back, fighting the urge to smile. My arms rested over his shoulders while my fingers dangled on his back. After about a minute in, Finnick started to move his hand onto my hip, his fingertips tracing up my stomach.

I pulled back an inch, "Finnick!" I said half kidding, half kissing, "Not in-front of the book!"

Finnick pulled his lips apart from mine and rolled his eyes jokingly, "Well who's the tease now?"