𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 | Finnick Odair

𝐱𝐢𝐯. the touch of a hand lit the fuse

Octavia escorted Genevieve down the hall and to the right where the tributes were gathered backstage preparing for their interviews. She was earning a couple of terrified looks from the district six tributes, which probably had something to do with the fact her necklace looked to be made out of real animal fangs, so Genevieve stepped to the side blocking her from their view.

Octavia clasped her absurdly pale hands over Genevieve and looked her straight in the eye.

"You must be fabulous out there my sweet. Even more fabulous than you already are. You have to give them an angle, something to use so you can get sponsors. They will be watching your every move out underneath those lights so you have to be perfect."

"Trust me I will be."

"Good after those fabulous tribute outfits we're sure to be up for Flickerman's top outfits but this will be the cherry on top of the cake." Octavia nodded, seemingly satisfied with Genevieve's confidence and tottered off to her seat, leaving Genevieve to deal with the hostile glares some of the tributes from nine and ten were sending her.

Taking her place in the line she straightened out the non existent creases in her dress and flashed Rex a blinding smile. Seraphina, who was being fussed over by another terrifying looking stylist, sent Genevieve a death glare. This in turn aggravated her prep team who began to lecture her on fine lines and how too much facial movement would crease her brows before interviews.

Marla and Pertan emerged next, distracting Genevieve from the rage bubbling up inside her.

"Hello," Marla cooed, flouncing over in a floor length silver dress that had been embroidered to showcase more of district two's masonry. "Wow your stylist has really out done themselves Genevieve."

"Oh thank you. You two look lovely. Are you wearing matching outfits again?" She wondered if this was some kind of plan cooked up by their mentors to make them look united.

"Where's Caspian?" Pertan asks, clearly disinterested in the dress talk.

Genevieve glanced around to where her stylist was sitting and spotted him having a last minute outfit adjustment.

Pointing him out to Pertan she sidled up towards Rex. Taking advantage of Seraphina's absence she started a conversation with her new ally. "Your district partner doesn't seem to like me very much." She commented innocently.

"Don't take it personally. She doesn't like anyone."

"Really? Did you train with her?" She asked, if Rex had any valuable information on his district partner she was sure to get it out of him.

"Kind of, she tended to stick with the spears. I'm more of a sword person myself ya know."

She nodded politely, trying not to comment too much on her own training. The element of surprise could be very useful in the arena.

"and she didn't really talk that much. We were all really surprised at the interview training. She really knows how to control a crowd."

"Mmh really? She sure looks the part of the perfect capital victor."

"Yeah sure just don't bring up her nose."

Genevieve held back a snort. "Her nose why?"

"It's bigger than she likes and it has a bump in the middle that she absolutely detests. Some girl at the academy brought it up and Seraphina broke her arm in revenge."

"Wow." Now that was information she could definitely use to rile up the district one girl. "So I guess she's very vain then."

"Oh yeah absolutely. She and her stylist were having a screaming match in the corridor earlier. She thinks that her outfit isn't good enough or something. I think she wishes she got the district two stylists; they seem like the best option this year."

Genevieve refrained from commenting that her stylist was much better than district two but she held her tongue so that Rex would keep talking.

"Oh yeah I forgot to wish you congratulations you did really well on your training scores." She clasped her hands together and grinned at Rex who smiled sheepishly and started talking.

"Thanks I think I could have done better though. Can't believe I got beat out by a girl."

Genevieve assumed he was talking about Seraphina and refrained from pointing out that she also scored higher than him.

Just as she was about to ask what Seraphina had done to warrant such a good score the girl in question reappeared and she had to go back to her place in the line lest she risk facing her wrath.

As she made her way back to the line Caspian approached, followed closely by his mentor and Genevieve's constant tormentor Odair.

Finnick approached quickly, pulling her to the side. "When you get up on that stage, you'll do as you're told, don't change anything from what we practised earlier."

"Contrary to what you're suggesting I was actually listening to Haven's advice this morning." She snarled at him.

"I'm not saying you weren't." He stepped forward catching her off guard as she stumbled backwards, her back pressing against the wall. "Your problem is your stubbornness and you have no problem challenging my authority when you don't like what I'm telling you."

"I don't care about your authority. I know what I'm doing." She hissed, lifting her head defiantly and staring into his ocean blue eyes. They were pressed so close together that she could feel his breath on her skin making her chest flutter with an unfamiliar feeling. Looking around Finnick seemed to notice the number of people indirectly watching them and stepped back, giving Genevieve one last knowing glance before giving Caspian the same warning.

She huffed, annoyed, she wasn't a child that needed to be told what to do constantly. Odair was just so infuriating and always seemed to know how to unnerve her with quick gazes and small smiles that made her stomach flip.