Real or not real? (everlark)

6

I stand up slowly, and he smiles his same old quirky, flirtatious smile. His bright green eyes shine as I walk over to him, unable to believe it's true.
"Finnick?" I ask, and my heart skips a beat. How can this be happening?
"Did you miss me, Mockingjay?" He asks before I engulf him in a hug. I try to hold back my tears, for this is a happy, pleasant moment. I breathe in his smell just like I do to Peeta, but instead of smelling like cinnamon and flowers, Finnick smells of the sea.
His arms wrap around me and I expect to feel his strong, sure muscles tightening around me. But instead I find that his arms are much less bulky then before, with a few deep scars. That's when I notice that he himself is skinnier. I pull away, looking into his face. Same smile, same seaweed green eyes, same messy beach hair. His face is the only thing unchanged.
"Whats wrong?" Finnick asks, and his smile quivers and threatens to fall, but he holds it in place. "Are you disappointed to see me?"
"No, no that's not it. I just.... how did you escape?" I ask that question first, rather than the one pounding in my skull, the one that screams what happened to you?
"Im not sure. I was close to death I knew it. But... I don't know exactly what happened, it was all a blur, ya know? But I was struggling and I escaped, and I ran like there was a fire underneath my butt. I found a different exit than the one you guys used, and I ended up being taken care of by some kind old lady." He says, and I nod. But I think back to that memory. I thought I saw him die...
But then I realise, I didnt. I saw the mutt bring it's head back for the death bite, but I turned away before I could see it meet its intended target. I never heard him scream in pain. I never saw the death of Finnick Odair.
"Wow. I'm just glad you're okay." I say. He smiles at me, relieved that everything is fine. I'm about to ask him the question beating at my brain, when a beautiful voice calls out from the hall.
"Finnick!" His eyes brighten at the sound of Annie's voice. He looks at me and Peeta.
"Well... I'll catch you later, girl on fire." He says, and turns and jogs down the hall, but not before giving me one last hug, one last reassurance that everything is okay, that he's real. That he's alive.
I sit down on the bed, unable to process the days events. Finnick is alive? Then, does that mean...
"Katniss?" Peeta's voice rings out, and I look up at his face. "Are you okay?" I nod.
"Im fine. But Peeta, if Finnick is alive, do you think that means that Prim could be too?" I ask, hopeful. Peeta takes my hand sadly.
"No, I don't think it does. I'm sorry Kat." He says, and though my hope diminishes at his words, my heart lifts slightly at the sound of the nickname he has given me. He squeezes my hand at the look of disappointment flashes across my face. I sigh, and wipe away a single tear that drips down my cheek.
"Hey," Peeta says, wiping the tear that follows the first and tilting my chin to look at him. "Dont be sad. Come on, let's go have dinner or something, okay? And we'll be home in the morning." He pulls me to my feet, and I give him a small smile.
"Where are we going?" I ask him. He smiles.
"Thats for me to know and you to find out." He says, and exits our room, leaving to get ready for our dinner date.

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I glare angrily at my suitcase of clothes, annoyed. My hair is frizzy and messy, and I have nothing fancy to wear to our date. I decide to take a shower, and while I'm in there, I can think of what to wear.
After I'm done in the shower, I walk into my bedroom, my slightly wet feet slapping against the wooden floorboards. I open up my closet, and I'm delighted to find just what I had hopped for. More clothes.
I scrunch my nose at the idea of wearing yet another dress, they've never been my favorite. I sigh and grab a light green dress from the closet. I try it on, and though dresses annoy me, this one isn't nearly as bad as I thought.
It goes slightly past my knees and is a light green, and it fades to a darker shade at the botrom. The top has two inch straps that stop right before my shoulders. I smile slightly. It isn't a Cinna dress, but it's better than a lot of the other options. I walk into the bathroom and brush out my now drying hair. This feels odd to me, I've always taken my showers in the morning. But I blow dry my hair, and then I curl it into loose, bouncy curls. I pin part of it back behind my head with a small green flower clip.
I open one of the cupboards, and find row after row of makeup. I scrunch my nose. Makeup. I've never liked it, never worn it except for those days of the games when I had to, and I dont plan on starting now.
I ignore the rows of concealer and decide to add a small bit. Nude lipstick and brown mascara. When I'm finished, I smile at what I look like. I don't look half bad.
I exit my room to find Peeta leaned against the wall, waiting for me. He looks up at me, and he grins at the sight of me.
"Beautiful as always." He takes my arm, and I notice that he has a suit and tie on. I smile in releif, glad I didn't dress up to much.
We walk through the Capitol city, away from our train. The lights of the city sparkle and shine all around us, advertising everything from wrenches to diapers to protein shakes.
Peeta leads us into a small Italian restaurant, and walks up to a man at the front.
"Reservation?" The man asks, and his sleek brown hair sticks up in the front, and his suit and tie are loosely and carelessly done. He must be new here.
"Peeta Mellark." Peeta responds, and the man looks up from the book. He looks like he's about 18, maybe 19. His eyes wander over to me, and his cheeks grow red.
"Um... right this way." He straightens his tie and leads us back to our own private table. He sets down our menus, and opens his small notebook, fumbling nervously. He shoots his gaze at me a few times, and Peeta seems slightly angered with him. I can't imagine why.
"Can I- I mean may I take your drinks?" He asks, scrambling his words. Poor guy. I think. Must be his first day.
"I'll have a coke." I say and Peeta nods in agreement.
"Okay. Two cokes. Coming right up ma'am. I mean- um...." and then he hurries away.
"That poor guy, did you see how nervous he was? Do you think it's his first day?" I ask Peeta, who shakes his head, clearly annoyed.
"No. As soon as I said who I was, he looked up and saw you, and he's had his eye on you ever since." He says angrily, and he grabs a straw from the container and starts to twist it.
"Peeta, maybe he's just nervous because he's serving us. It doesn't have to be me, I mean, Peeta we are well known. We ended a war. I would be nervous too." I say, and he sighs.
"No. It's you." He says. "You've never really noticed what affect you have on people, have you?"
"It doesn't matter. I love you, and only you." I say to him, and he looks up from the straw.
"Really?"
"Really. Now stop torturing that poor straw." I say and pick up my menu.
"We could share a lasagna." Peeta says, and I nod happily. I'm just glad that jealous Peeta is gone.

Hey guys! I'm sorry, I was going to add a picture of what Katniss's dress looked like, but I couldn't find one that truly shows it. Anyways, this isn't kick of a clifdhanher at all, but if you're reading my story whenever I update it, I'd like to thank you for that! If you would please vote on it if you liked it, that would mean the world to me!!
Thanks,
Skyzone