Embers of Hope: The 69th Hunger Games

Chapter Nine

"Well done! Well done! My dears!" Maddox, their lovely, terribly annoying escort, rushed towards them too soon since they had last seen him.

The prep team also hurried towards them, pulling them down from the chariot, and taking the capes, jewelry, and pearls out of her hair and off her body.

The main garment was left, but the rest were not hers anymore.

Vexen approached Ray enthusiastically, grabbing his hand and leading him off to the side, chanting his approval. Ray shot Brooke a look that screamed help me.

Azari kept her distance but nodded in approval.

Brooke grinned but swiveled her head, looking for two people in particular. Soon enough, she saw them, Mags and Finnick, talking to other mentors across the room.

Brooke felt a giddy excitement as she gazed at Finnick, eager to hear his feedback and applause for Brooke and Ray's eventful show. She knew the excitement was in the wrong place at the wrong time, she should be more concerned about the envious looks being sent in District Four's direction from the careers and some other tributes. She should have been considering her and Ray's next moves and figuring out how they would continue to amaze the Capitol, avoiding the huge target that was most definitely placed on both their backs (Brooke would not be resolving that by allying with the bloodthirsty careers). However, none of those rational thoughts stuck for long as she watched Finnick and Mags bid farewell to their friends and approach her.

Finnick had changed into a very handsome outfit from the cozy one he had been wearing for the Reaping, the buttoned shirt was unbuttoned enough to show more than exactly necessary. Brooke found it slightly shameful that she didn't mind. She also couldn't believe that the Reaping had been simply hours ago, it felt like ages, and she realized how exhausted she was with a startling plunge in her adrenaline.

"Hey, sweetheart, you were awesome out there," Finnick praised as he approached her, Mags at his side. He fiddled with the cuff of his sleeve, looking at her with his head tilted and chin raised, that same flirtatious confidence that got her every time.

Brooke smiled back but fought off a sudden yawn. She was exhausted, her head kind of felt like she'd run into a concrete wall.

"Whoa there sunshine, you okay?" Finnick placed his hands on either side of her upper arms, steadying her. Brooke's skin tingled from the warmth of his hands.

She looked up at him, sea-green eyes meeting golden brown. She could see the dotted freckles across his nose, his messy blonde hair falling in his face.

"I-I'm good," she blushed at their proximity and pulled away. "Just tired."

Finnick didn't seem to notice, for once. "That's fair, long day for you and Ray," at the mention of her friend he looked up and spotted the boy being accosted by Vexen. He smiled in sympathy. "Oof, better go save the man."

Brooke laughed a little, Finnick looked back at her and smiled, a real genuine one, not one of his cocky grins. "You did look beautiful out there, Brooke."

Brooke appreciated the compliment, but- "But were we good out there? Good enough for the sponsors, and the game and all?"

Finnick's smile dwindled slightly, he looked melancholic for no more than a second before retaining his proud expression, "You were perfect the Capitol will definitely support you, but-"

"But the tributes will be out for me, right?" She looked around and saw District One and Two mingling with each other, they caught her looking and Jade made an almost snarling sneer at her. She looked away and back up at Finnick, she watched as his tongue flicked out and he winked over at them. Jade and the other girl Gem blushed, with Gem giggling and whispering to her District partner, Velvet, who looked over at them and gave a cruel smirk in Brooke's direction.