The Capitol Star • A Finnick Odair Story

Fifteen

The bed was cold. Aria shuddered as she wrapped herself carefully with the blanket. The mirror, that had been placed against the wall
parallel of her bed, reflected her thin face. Her skinny fingers traced the scar that ran across her throat. Her chest rose and fell, slow and steady. Her legs fell off the side of the bed, her feet softly touching in the cold metal floor. Her breath hitched as she stood. Aria walked over to the sink in the corner of her room, slowly pushing toothpaste onto the brush and placing it onto her tongue. The minty flavor made her wince as the bristles brushed against her inflamed gums. She spat the white saliva from her mouth and rinsed as she walked to the large metal door that separated her from socialization.

Somebody walked by the room and Aria threw herself against the wall before they could see her. When the coast was clear, she reached for the knob and twisted slightly. A loud creak sounded from the hinges as she pushed the door. Cold air hit her body and she stepped out into the hallway. She breathed heavily as she began to walk slowly down the corridor. She glanced into the windows of fellow rooms as she walked by. Aria stopped abruptly, her eyes caught on a large window of a very secluded room at the end of the hallway. A man with blonde hair sat on his bed, a rope dangling from his palms as his leg bounced. His eyes made their way to the door as he dropped the rope. He stood up quickly and opened his door, standing firmly in the doorway. Aria's air escaped her lungs and everything the capitol placed into her head escaped her.

His hair was longer than before, just dangling above his green eyes that watered ever so slightly. His olive skin was perfected and his white gown touched his ankles.

All those memories seemed to click back into place. All of the bad ones faded and hot tears streamed down her face.

"Aria?" He whispered.

"Finnick." She sighed and they ran towards each other, engulfing one other in an embrace. She sobbed into his shoulder and let her body relax. He cried into her hair, his arms frantically grabbing her tighter to make sure nobody would take her away.

"I'm in so much pain, Finnick." She cried and clung onto him tighter. Her chin rested in the crook of his neck as if a puzzle piece that finally clicked.

"Shh darling I know I know, just breathe. You're safe now." He caressed the back of her head and held her hair in his hands, breathing in her scent. She was doing the same, and strangely enough, he still smelled like the ocean.

Aria pulled away, glancing at his beautiful face before she collided her lips against his. He pulled back with his eyes wider than ever, searching her face for something, anything, before grabbing her face and pulling her back into a soft kiss. Finnick smiled into the kiss, and he cried. Cried tears of joy. They stared at each other, just smiling and crying.

"Aria??" The nurse who had washed her earlier turned into the hallway and walked up to them, "I see you've found each other."

Finnick smiled and the nurse put her hand on Arias shoulder.

"You have a visitor," She mumbled.

Aria tensed and her hand gripped Finnicks harder.

"I'll come with you," Finnick whispered into her ear before Aria nodded, following the nurse. Their feet padded along the metal, making soft sounds as they entered an open room full of people. Long tables covered the room, small televisions against a large pillar in the middle. Aria entered slowly, eyes searching the room. She spotted Katniss sitting at a table for dinner, mashed food in front of her. Next to her sat a tall boy with curly brown hair, strong and muscular. She squinted her eyes just a tad to get a better look at the boy, when he looked up at another sitting across from him. His cheeky smile and green eyes shimmered as the man across him reached over and ruffled his hair. His eyes glanced above the man's hair and made eye contact with Arias. His smile completely dropped and he stood up abruptly, his tray clattering to the floor.