A fate worse than death~~A Finnick Odair story~~

45. Fireball

The dinner with the 12s went well. Or as good as you could hope for when I couldn't breathe, or eat.
To my surprise, I had fitted into the dress, but it came with conditions.
Air was a no go and so was eating, not to mention that it had definitely become shorter than to my knees.

But I couldn't help not wearing it. After all, Evernis had taken time out of his everyday life to meet me. She'd come all the way from the capital for me, so when she asked if she'd help me pick out something to wear, I couldn't just say no, and when she finally found something she thought made me look pretty I couldn't just refuse. She had put time and thought into me, the least I could do was put on the cursed dress, and with that take the consequences.

But no one seemed to notice my suffering, no one except Finnick that is. He'd given me a puzzled look when I wasn't eating, but when I'd aimed my gaze at the dress he'd understood, and had gently tried to start a conversation with Katniss and Peeta.

So here we were, Annie, Mags and Haymitch laughing at something I hadn't listened to, Effie Trinket and Evernis, well I wasn't really sure what they were talking about either, but for now, I think it was whoever had the best victors, for all the districts that is. Finnick and Peeta had been lost in deep conversation, I had understood icing and fishing, whatever they had in common, which left me and Katniss, sitting across from each other, staring into a nothingness in complete silence.

I sat there for what felt like several hours and just stared, before, with a slight sigh and a smile, I asked the table to please excuse me. I didn't wait for an answer before I elegantly got up, stepped away from the table and out to the stairs.

Not long after that I was joined by a certain Miss Katniss Everdeen,
dough we didn't speak a word. Not until Haymitch joined us, and with him, our space halfend.

"Now darlings, I have three questions!!"
You could tell he was drunk, but both me and Katniss gave him a look at our new nickname.
"Haymitch I--."
"Shhhh sweetieheart you'll have your turn but my first question is for our lovely Elizabeth!!"

To my surprise, Kattniss closed her mouth again, I didn't think she would give in so easily, but maybe she also wanted to hear Haymitchs question.
"Why, pretty Elizabeth."
He paused as he took a sipp out of his flask.
"Why do you always end up out on the stairs?!"
He had slurred a bit, but I could clearly make out the words. So to everyone's surprise, including my own, I started laughing.
"Did it never occur to you Haymitch Abernathy that I might be trying to escape your captivating beauty before I get lost in it!!"
"Yes many times, but--."
He was interrupted by little giggles, little giggles coming from, from Katniss!!

"Oh my god Elizabeth you broke her!!"
And then I too started to giggle, and as if on cue we both burst out laughing at the same time.

"What, you didn't think I could laugh?!!"
Katniss asked Haymitch, sounding almost a little irritated, as if such stupid things had never crossed to her before.
"No really Miss Everdeen I took you for incapeble!!"
"Ohh Haymitch, maybe you're just boring!!"
The words had just flowed out of my mouth before I could stop them, because stop them I tried.
As soon as they were said I bit my tongue and threw my hands over my mouth

"Ohh, Haymitch I--."
"You're absolutely right!!"
Katniss interrupted me and Haymitch's head turned towards her. "Ohh like you're a ray of sunshine yourself!!"
"I might have been if you'd only shine a little!!"
"Ohh so it's my fault!! I have you know Elizabeth loves me don't you darling!!"
"Well....Uhhhh."
Shit.
"I think we should invite Miss Everdeen into our little tradition instead, don't you agree Haymitch?" Kattniss looked at me questioningly and Haymitch muttered something. "Haymitch!!"
"Okay okay jeez!!"
"Wonderfull!!"
"Uhh if I may interrupt, what kind of tradition is it exactly?!"

"Well…."
"We'll make up nicknames for the victors! Now she knows, now you can go in to Effie and talk wedding dresses and leave me and Elizabeth to it!"
"Haymitch!!"
He wasn't kind to her, and Katniss looked quite frankly disgusted by the idea, like it was the worst thing she could think of, and I understood her.

So before she could turn to leave I exclaimed.
"Haymitch is Barwagon!!"
She stopped her attempt to leave and turned to face me, but so did Haymitch.
"He is?"
"I am?"
"Well, I didn't officially tell you but--." "It suits him."
She gave Haymitch a look that he emidiatly returned.
"What's yours?"
I barely had time to open my mouth before Haymitch answered for me. "She's the witch, although I think now that Finnick's little nickname would have suited her better."

"And what is his?"
"Peacock."
I sat quietly, just enjoying the moment, until Haymitch had to pull me back again.
"Haymitch!!"
"Katniss!! Besides, it was her idea!!" He pointed at me and now it was my turn again.
"I have one for you, but we need one for your little friend as well."
"Peeta seriously??"
"What?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
I looked at her blankly before she shook her head and said.
"He's Bread boy."
"Okay, okay that work."

Haymitch nodded in agreement, muttering something under his breath about us being alike, but I let it go, instead letting myself bask in the fact that Katniss understood so easily.
"I said it was a good idea to bring her in on the fun!!"

"Yeah yeah, she's smart--."
"But what's mine!!"
It was probably the first and only time I would see Katniss Everdeen curious, so I took a few more seconds to absorb the moment, taking perhaps the only chance I would ever get to tease her a little, if only a little.
"Isn't that obvious?"
I really couldn't stop myself, just had to.
"The girl on fire?"
"No no not the name of the capital!!" Haymitch sounded almost horrified at her guess.

"Ohh no, you're Fireball."
"Am not!!!"
"Ohh you sooooo are!!!!"
Haymitch was delighted by my nickname, but safe to say Katniss didn't take it as well.

"Then, then I'm going to call you Seaweed!!"
"Nopp doesn't work like that, she already has one!!"
It was Haymitch who, with a smile, stifled Katniss' attempts to embarrass me as much as I embarrass her, and it was also Haymitch who left us alone on the stairs again, claiming he needed to fill up his flask. Honestly, I just thought he wanted out of the resulting silence, but I didn't stop him.

So we stood there in silence, at least until curiosity got the better of us both.
"So you mean you named Haymitch Barwagon??"
A bright red color covered my cheeks as I smiled and nodded, not knowing if I was happy or embarrassed.
"Do you want to know the others too??"
"Obviusly."
"Alright so we'll start with District One."

Dear diary.
Sometimes I wonder if it's part of a girl's nature to be curious.

Especially since it's only amplified when you get together with another.

I guess we'll never know.