𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙡, 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙊𝙙𝙖𝙞𝙧

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 45: 𝒫𝑒𝓇𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶 𝒫𝑒𝓇𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉 𝑀𝒶𝓃

Finnick stares in awe at Annie's outfit. She looks... like a goddess. A seafoam green, trailing with streaks of white down her legs. Shells and pearls stuck to her skin, a necklace of coral. Her hair tied into a crown. Her tall figure makes her look like the goddess of the sea they learned in their mythological stories. And he's not the only one who notices. Caspian turns red, staring at her. Serena compliments her, and he knows some male tributes are eyeing her. 

       "Finnick?" Serena interrupts his thoughts, and he jumps.

        "Sorry," he coughs. "You two go with Serena to talk with disctricts 1-6. Let me know when you're done there." Serena flashes him a knowing smirk, but he shakes his head, cutting off her thoughts. "It isn't what you think!" He insists. "I just thought it'd be good to make sure it's even." 

        Serena gives a knowing look, but escorts her tributes to the other carriages anyways. He sighs, leaning against the carriage and trying to think of what he will say. 

        He knows. He knows what he wants between them. But he'd rather have her friendship then to talk to her at all. Yes, that's what he'll say. Anything is better than no communication. 

        It happened so quickly, and he hardly realized his tributes were waiting. "Oh, sorry. Let's go to District 7."

        "Is that the one with the youngest winner?" Caspian inquires. Finnick nods, his heart thumping in his chest. He feels each drop of blood in his body circulating. adrenaline throughout his figure. 

         Annie's face dulls for a second, but Finnick is too distracted to notice. "Ahem," Finnick says. The two tributes from District 7 startle from their conversation with each other, and cower in the presence of the District 4 tributes and mentor. "Hello." He motions to his two tributes. "This is Annie Cresta," he looks over at her. "And this is Caspian True." He looks back at the two nervous, trembling children. "They'd like to talk about a potential allyship with you two. You open to talking?" 

        The boy tribute is the first to respond, swallowing to moisten his dry throat. "Y-yea. Sure." 

        "Splendid!" He then turns to his two other tributes. "I'll be talking about something important with Raven. If I'm not done by the time you two are, just continue talking with everyone else." The two of them nod, and now Finnick notices to darkening look in Annie's eyes. 

        Finnick knows she's hiding. Where, he isn't sure. He circles the carriage. No where in sight. He quickly goes to the rest of the carriages, unable to find her. He even goes as far as to asking other tributes and mentors if they've seen her. Star hasn't seen Raven, either. The parade is going to start soon, and time is running out. 

        Through his foggy state and confused thoughts, he manages to think of the elevator the tributes and mentors arrive in. What better hiding place could there be? He saunters in the direction of the elevator. Walking briskly, he ignores confused looks from peacekeepers. The whole time, he manifests her black hair and pale, delicate skin to be standing there. Her toned arms and short figure. Attempting not to make any noise, he very quietly opens the door. And there she is. 

        Finnick leans his head over slightly. "Boo." Raven jumps, her fist in the air, before falling at his sight. "Raven, I think we have some talking to do." 

        Raven turns her head around again, resting it against the wall of the elevator. "I told you that night, we can't" 

        "Forget the almost kiss, our the way I really feel about you. I just want my best friend back." He steps a little closer, noticing the tensing of her shoulders, and her inhale with no exhale.  

        She closes her eyes, shutting out his pleads she so desperately wants to give into. Raven turns around, and without looking into this eyes, tries to walk past him to go back to the floor. Finnick leans his arm against the wall, stopping her. Raven's eyes finally look at him, her eyes conflicted and wandering. "I- I'm sorry." She steps back, as he searches her eyes for an answer. 

        "So... what about what I just said," his voice lined with hope, and his eyes sparkling. 

        Raven smiles, and reaches a hand out to caress his cheek. "Annie looks gorgeous today. Maybe she's the one for you, Finnick." Her heart breaks with each word as she cries through her smile, invisible tears Finnick may never see nor be able to wipe away. "A new woman, perfect for a perfect man."  

        Finnick smiles, though not from amusement or happiness, but pure nervousness. "What? I hardly know Annie." Did she think she was a replacement for Raven in his heart? No. No one can ever replace Raven in Finnick's heart and mind. 

        "You should get to know her, she seems lovely, kind, and beautiful. All the things you deserve. And what if I just say it Finnick- I don't even want to be friends with you. You need to let me go." Her lip quivers, another hopeless smile, and this time the tears become slightly visible. 

        Finnick stills, and he hardly notices when Raven slips away, staring into space.  

Also, for those of you wondering when we will be reaching the whole rebellion story line- that will be act IV after Johanna's games and some other stuff, but likely no more than a few chapters! Honestly i do like this storyline for this original character and i hope u do too :)

Here's the double update in honor of one year since this book started, ty all for being here

Also i cant wait for the next few chapters and the 1st kiss between finnick and raven ;)