𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒕𝒖𝒔; 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒊𝒓

𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚

The whole District Two posse stares at Lilith when she tells them what she did. Ember looks as though she is going to faint. Silas suppresses a chuckle. Julia looks proud, but also scared.

"Why did you decide to do that?" Julia asks.

"I overheard something," Lilith says, trying to choose her words carefully.

"What? What did you hear?" Ember frantically says.

"Just, something that someone does."

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Silas says, trying to calm everyone down.

Ember looks very distraught, but sits down to wait for the scoring. Lilith knows that she probably should have just used her swords, but something came over her. She felt like she needed to make that secret known, even if it is discreet. She hopes Finnick won't be mad at her for doing that.

The Panem Anthem rings throughout the room. Everyone's side conversations stop, and they all turn their attention to the television.

"It is now the time you have all been waiting for," Caesar Flickerman says.

He starts off with District One with Cashmere and Gloss both scoring fairly high.

"Now, from District Two, we have Silas Whitlock with a score of eleven."

"What did you do?" Lilith asks her brother.

"I gave a ten minute speech," Silas replies, clearly satisfied with himself.

"About what?" Lilith says, her eyes wide with shock.

"Just stuff."

"Next, Lilith Monroe, also from District Two, with a score of twelve."

"See Ember, I told you everything would be fine," Silas says.

Ember is just about to turn the television off, when Lilith stops her. Ember gives her a confused look.

"What? I just want to watch," Lilith defends with a high voice.

Ember throws her hands up in defense and puts the remote back down.

Beetee and Wiress score fairly well, but she didn't want to continue watching for them. She wants to see what score Finnick got, and finally she can.

Thankfully, Finnick scores high. She shouldn't be worrying about anyone besides herself and Silas, but she can't help it when it comes to Finnick. She can't stop thinking about him, and she is beginning to come to the conclusion that she cares about him.

As Caesar drones on and on about the rest of the scores, Lilith tunes it out. Her and Silas scored high, that's all that matters. They have a chance at surviving.

Lilith starts listening again when Caesar gets to District Twelve.

"We have Peeta Mellark from District Twelve, with a score of  twelve."

Lilith actually likes Peeta. He's kind, and you can tell his actions come from the heart. He seems like a genuine person, and those are hard to come by in the Capitol.

"Then we have Katniss Everdeen, from District Twelve as well, with a score of twelve. That's all folks-"

Lilith turns the television off. She cannot stand Katniss, though. She wonders what the Girl on Fire did to deserve that score. 

"Now, we just need to prepare for the interviews," Ember says as she claps her hands together.

"Oh, I won't be doing that," Lilith states plainly.

"Well, why not?" Ember raises her voice.

"Because I'm getting tired of this shit!" Lilith yells. She stands and begins walking to her room. "I'll say what I want."

─•~❉᯽❉~•─ ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Later that night, Lilith meets Finnick at the pool. The pair sit on the edge of the pool with their legs dangling in the water.

"I just need a break, Finnick," Lilith says.

"I know what you mean."

There's silence. Just two people enjoying each other's company.

"Finnick," Lilith sighs. He looks at her. "I don't want to kill you."

Finnick gives her a soft smile. "I don't want to kill you, either."

"Well, that's a dilemma," Lilith laughs.

"That it is," He agrees.

"I've been trying to figure out why I like being around you so much," Lilith says after a moment.

"Wait, you like being around me?" Finnick jokes, nudging her shoulder.

"I'm being serious! I've been thinking, if we weren't here, what would happen."

Lilith knows what she would want to happen if they weren't here, but she needs to know if he would want the same thing. She just doesn't want to die in the Games without knowing.

"What do you mean if we weren't here?" Finnick asks.

"You know, if none of this existed. The Districts, the Capitol, the Games, all of it. If we were free." Lilith looks over to Finnick, to see him already looking at her. He has a look in his eyes that she can't quite decipher.

"Sometimes, I think about that too," He mumbles.

"If we weren't here, what would you want to happen?" Lilith asks.

"Honestly?"

"Honestly."

Finnick takes a deep breath. "If we weren't here, I'd want to bring you to Four, and show you the beach. Then, afterwards we'd walk back to our house on the shore. We'd finally be happy."

Lilith's cheeks get warm as Finnick talks. He does want the same thing as her.

"I'd like that," Lilith states with a small smile on her face.

Lilith rests her head on Finnick's shoulder and sighs. Finnick gives her a kiss on the head, then he lays his head on hers.