The Princess of Panem | Finnick Odair x oc

II

I close the door shut and immediately cover my mouth with my hands to muffle the scream that escapes my lips. Utter disbelief, anger, and disgust fill my thoughts. Tears fill my eyes. I can't believe it at first. All those stories he had told me all those years. The lies he had told me, straight to my face, manipulating me. How he made all those people suffer, for a supposed crime that happened when they weren't even born yet. Children, he lets fucking children fight to their death. He transformed a massacre into a spectacle.

My grandfather is a manipulative psychopath.

12 hours earlier:

The academy is in the heart of the city, a beautiful building with a grand staircase leading into the capitols heart of education. Students in red uniforms come from all sides, rushing in. And I am one of them.

I feel people staring at me. Grandfather has kept me out of the media as much as possible, but everyone still knows who I am. There are rumors he wants to abolish the democratic voting for a new president to keep the power in our family and make me his successor. I've never asked him about it. As much as I love him, he is not the typical grandfather. He's more of a mentor to me, a role model, showing me what's valuable and what's not. Showing me how to rebuild a country from its ashes and let it rise like a phoenix. Because that is exactly what he did.

I follow the others as we gather together in Heavensbee Hall and sit down next to some girls and a few guys.

"Are you new here? Joining for the last year. How odd. Please tell me you are not one of those outsider kids whose parents bought themselves into the capitol, like the Plinths"

"That is not..." I begin, too startled to speak.

"That is Ophelia Snow, you idiot." the girl right next to the guy interrupts and rolls her eyes.

"Cressida Dovecote," she says and reaches to shake my hand. She has sharp, symmetrical facial features with high cheekbones and a strong jawline. Her almond-shaped eyes are dark and cold. She is gorgeous. In an intimidating way.

"Our families have a long history of friendship and loyalty towards each other." she continues.
"I am sure your grandfather will be pleased when he learns you have already made friends with two of the most powerful families of the capitol."

I hesitate before shaking her hand. Friends? I don't even know you. This is not what I hoped for but it's only the first day and there will be plenty of opportunities to meet other people as well.

The dark haired boy shoots her a short look that I cant really decipher before focusing on the small pen he's twisting in his hands again.  

"And this is Maximinius Ravenstill..."

"Please don't call me that. Max. Everyone just calls me Max. It also takes about one second less to say it."

I chuckle.

"You are stupid. Your name is legendary." Cressida exclaims before turning to me to explain: "His great-great-grandfather was President Maximinius Ravenstill. He's named after him to carry on the legacy."