Dead in the Water | An Odesta Fanfic

Chapter Ten

The interviews were starting in ten minutes and Annie was still in the makeup room, Camilla fussing over every eyelash and the way that her aqua-blue eyeliner curved across her face. Luna stood right behind her, still giving endless advice as to how she ought to hold herself as she walked onto the stage, the proper way to wave at the crowds, and the most charming ways to greet Caesar Flickerman. It became annoying after a while, but it better than nothing, Annie had to admit to herself. She was doing a better job of it than Finnick, at least.

"Just remember to smile," Luna told her. "Keep your head up and remember that protective big sister that you were."

"That I am." Annie corrected her.

"Yes, of course, dear." Luna patted her on the shoulder.

Camilla backed away from Annie at last, adding one last brush of blush over her cheeks before she went. Annie looked up at herself in the mirror and was surprised to find that she rather liked the reflection staring back at her. The outfits for the opening ceremony had been almost grotesque and ridiculously over the top, more like costumes than evening gowns. But this – Annie had never seen herself in makeup and had expected to hate it. Instead, she looked like some sort of sea goddess, her eyes painted in various shades of blue and green with sparkles of glitter shimmering over her face, like droplets of water looked in the sun when a spray of sea water came over the bow of the fishing boat.  Her curls had been left loose and windswept over her shoulders and she wore a sea-green gown made of silk.

Finnick was standing outside. Bay must have talked some sense into him. Although his eyes were red and his face was still sullen, he had changed into a suit and didn't continue the argument when he saw her. He looked her up and down as she stepped out of her dressing room, tailed by Camilla and Luna. "Finally decided to show up to something?" she said, catching him looking at her.

"You look pretty."

"Very funny." Annie replied. Finnick looked somewhat taken aback and a little sad. Annie figured that he wasn't used to that sort of response when giving compliments.

"Okay, when you're out there –"

"I know what to do. Luna and I talked it over while I was getting ready."

"Luna doesn't know –"

"I'll be fine out there." She told him. "They're just going to ask me about Kai. What else would they ask me about? And I can talk about my family all day."

Finnick stared at her for a moment, his eyes narrowed as if he were considering a response. He seemed to decide against it and simply shrugged. "If that's what you want."

"It is."

But Finnick was already turning around to leave. Annie ruffled the fabric of her skirt and went off to stand next to Kai. He was already standing in the wings of the stage, clenching and unclenching his hands like he always did when he was nervous. Annie slid up next to him and held his hand. "Excited?" she asked, giving him a smile.

Kai shook his head. "Not really."

"You'll be great." Annie said. "You've been meeting new people and talking to the other tributes all week. This can't be much different. You're just having a conversation with Caesar."

"Yeah..." Kai still seemed doubtful.

"Besides, you and Bay have been practicing – I'm sure some of his advice had to rub off on you."

"But what about you?" Kai said, suddenly worried. "Finnick hasn't been at the apartment in days."

Annie had been hoping Kai wouldn't be too concerned over Finnick's absence or question what it meant. He didn't need anything else to worry about. "He hardly had to train me at all." She told him confidentially. "I'm just going to talk about you out there. I'm a big sister, bragging about my brother is a talent I was born with."