That Fine Line

Chapter 7 - The Alliance

For the next two days in the underground Training Center, I focused on relearning the survival skills I'd learned my first time in the Games. Once I'd killed Finnick, I wasn't about to die of starvation or thirst. I'd at least try to put up a fight. But in order to do that, I should at least know how to sustain myself first. Thank goodness I was a fast learner, or rather a fast re-learner.

I was still figuring out the whole combat part of my plan. Back when I'd lived at the Capitol for the first sixteen years of my life, my father had put me through self-defense classes. Can't rely on Peacekeepers all the time, that's what he'd said. Though I wasn't the top student, I wouldn't say I did terribly either. Unfortunately, weapons were allowed to be in use, and I never learned how to use them.

While I was busy starting fires and setting up traps, Finnick was, of course, "making new friends". Or maybe they weren't new. Who knows. He'd gotten even more friendlier with Katniss as shown by his trident-wielding lessons for her and her archery lessons in return.

The more I watched them, the more the sickening feeling in my stomach expanded. I didn't know why it was happening at first, but once I'd figured out the source of my discomfort, I grew even more confused. Why was I disgusted with what Finnick did on a daily basis? Courting every woman within a five-mile radius? How could him flirting with another tribute make me feel worse than I did when I'd found out he'd sold my father out to the authorities?

At one point, I couldn't take seeing them anymore. He was leaning so close behind her, and it reminded me of when he'd covered me from behind and put his head on my shoulder during the Opening Ceremony. For some reason, I felt betrayed. I stormed out of the Center.

I'd just grabbed some ice-cream from the fridge when he entered the living room. I couldn't restrain myself from rolling my eyes as I grabbed a spoon and headed towards my bedroom to avoid him.

"Y/N," he called as he walked briskly over to catch me at the door. "Are you okay?"

I stopped. "You know what, I'm not okay."

He stood there speechless, not knowing what to say to that, as he'd probably expected me to just brush his rhetorical question off like I'd done so many times before. I glared at him defiantly.

"Every day, you've been doing nothing but flirting with some random tribute whom we're supposed to be getting rid of in that arena. What are you trying to do? Charm her into submission? That doesn't work in there, Finnick. She's not one of those shallow Capitol customers that immediately fold when you look ever-so-slightly in their direction. She is going to kill us."

I changed my irritated expression to one of feigned hurt. "You promised me that you were going to stay with me, didn't you? Are you planning on leaving me to work with her? Because she can shoot pointy sticks? Can you live on, knowing that you left me to die?"

In all honesty, I didn't know what I was even talking about. I was spouting horseshit. Anything to pretend like I was attached to this man and needed his protection. I needed him close by my side, so I could get rid of him easily. Things would be a lot more difficult if he decided to ally with Katniss instead.

"Is that what you think I'm trying to do?" He shook his head, smiling to himself, as if I'd just relayed a funny joke.

"Do you remember what I said, about the hair clip I gave you?"

I furrowed my brow, trying to remember whatever pick-up lines he was referring to. "Um, to keep it with me forever?"

"No, about how it symbolizes our alliance." He hesitated. "I was planning on telling you later, but I might as well just tell you now."

I suppressed another eyeball roll at how dramatic he was being just to cover up his flirtatious venture.

He took a deep breath, and lowered his voice: "A rebel organization has recruited me, along with several other allied tributes, to retrieve Katniss Everdeen from the Quarter Quell arena to transport her to their headquarters outside of Panem..."

"...and you are part of that alliance."