snow fall | finnick odair

chapter eleven

Cassia could tell she was in trouble, Priscilla was angry rambling.

"Honestly! Sneaking off and being found in a very compromising position with none other than Finnick Odair! Do you realise how bad this is!" No she didn't, nothing had happened. This wasn't regency England. Who cares. But, deep down Cassia knew she was held to a higher standard than most. She had to maintain an image of perfection, and sneaking around with Finnick Odair was certainly not perfect. But it felt right. "Miss Snow you are quite reckless sometimes, I'm of quite a mind to tell your grandfather about this" she cast her glance up, that was the one thing she didn't want to happen. If her grandfather found out, who knows what he'd do to Finnick. "However, just this once I shall keep it to myself" she offered Priscilla a smile which was briefly returned before Priscilla turned her head and kept marching forward.

Cassia didn't realise how long they'd spent at the school, she'd assumed it was only a couple of hours but it turned out they'd been there the entire morning and it was now time for lunch with the mayor.

They were served lobster, Cassia wondered if this was how the mayor usually ate or if her visit had sparked a special meal.

"I hear you're quite taken with our own Finnick Odair Miss Snow" she looked up at the mayor and laughed but she knew there was a thick blush coating her cheeks.

"Oh no more than any other teenage girl" Priscilla interjected, Cassia looked down and smiled slightly. 'Except he knows I exist' cassia thought to herself, that was the main difference between her and the others. He knew who she was and had spoken to her many a time.

"Oh I'm certain, he seems to be very popular with young ladies across Panem" the mayor chuckled, Cassia smiled once more,

After the lunch, she was taken to meet the children at the home, they only seemed slightly underfed, she guessed they did receive just enough food to get by.

The children all smiled as they looked up at her, hopeful looks in their eyes. Cassia sat down with them, each child followed her every move.

"Hi, I'm Cassia" she smiled, looking at all of their faces, "and I was wondering if you could tell me about what your life is like, what makes you happy. What makes you sad, all of it" they all nodded hurriedly and began to tell her,

"Hi I'm Jane! I wish there was like more options for food because there's only fish and seaweed! Not really anything else" Cassia nodded, the little girl had dark brown hair and a button nose. She appeared to be about eleven. "But I like living here" she nodded, the statement seemed too perfect. Almost rehearsed.

"Thank you Jane..." she smiled, then the next child spoke up.

"I'm Logan, I'm fourteen. I think living here is good because we're better off than other districts, which is clear by how well we do in the Games" he looked proud, Cassia nodded. Once again it seemed too perfect, too rehearsed. In fact, each story she was told, each answer she was given, seemed entirely rehearsed. Like they were told exactly what to say, and how to say it.

This bothered her as she was walked toward her accommodation for the night, she was staying in one of the empty houses of Victors Village, her dinner with the mayor had been peaceful, Priscilla had gossiped for most of it so she was left to her thoughts.

It continued to bother her as she sat alone in the house, they'd let her have a house to herself, Priscilla next door.

"What's on your mind?" She jumped as she saw Finnick walking in to sit next to her,

"You shouldn't sneak up on people like that" she relaxed and he took a seat next to her, smiling,

"Yeah but it's fun, but seriously, what's bugging you?" He looked genuinely concerned, she sighed and looked into his eyes.