The next day was one of the most important of my life. My stylist, Trilish, was waiting for me the moment I woke up, and no one questioned as to why Finn and I walked out of the same room. There had been talking between us most the night until he finally found a way to get me to sleep. I could tell they all assumed we'd been doing things, but we hadn't. Just talking and eventual, dreamless sleep for me. I clutched Finn's hand as I approached my stylist who gave us a knowing smirk.
"Don't forget you have a job here Odair. Try to keep up appearance." Raviah told him from behind us. Finn cleared his throat.
"Of course. It's just a sign of friendship in District 4." Finnick replied casually. Raviah took him by the neck.
"Don't give me that. I've been to there more than you have. Drop her hand." I swallowed hard. How could I be safe if I wasn't in Finn's hands?
"Can we be alone for second first?"
"You were alone all night. Don't think we haven't figured you two out."
"What do you take me for?" I butted in.
"It's not you darling. It's him. Panem's beloved whore. Aren't you Finny? Just a little toy for the girls of the Capitol. Keep it up and maybe it'll be boys too." He sneered.
"Just one minute, that's all I ask. And I will let go of her."
"Let go of her?"
"I'll drop her hand and her heart." He replied. My chest hurt as my heart pounded. He couldn't be serious, could he? Raviah nodded as he motioned us towards my room once more. Finnick closed the door.
"Finni-" he cut me off with a kiss.
"Shush. Remember how I said my hands keep you safe?"
"Of course."
"Well so will this." He said, as he took off a necklace. It was just a chain with a shell on it. A beautiful shell, with a swirl in it. Orange and green, our district colors. He put it around my neck.
"I will be with you every moment. Just...we're only friends. That's all we can be here. Don't doubt for a second that I love you more than life. There are too many prying eyes here and to many promises I must keep." He told me. He kissed me once more, then we opened the door and I pretended to be weepy.
"Oh what a beautiful necklace!! That will go perfect with your dress Ms. Cresta!" Trilish said loudly. Her face turned to sympathy.
"Don't be upset Annie, he breaks every girls heart." She whispered to me. I was whisked into the makeover center with Finnick and Trilish leading the way. My legs were waxed once more and oil was spread over my body to soften and cleanse my skin. I was in a towel as Trilish led me to the dress.
"Now before you see it, I want you to know Finnick did help, but please don't let that affect your opinion of it." She told me, before opening the closet doors. Of course, this just made me want to see it more and love it more. He must've been planning on giving me the necklace anyway since Trilish said it went well with it.
She opened the door to the small closet made just to hold this dress. The beauty overwhelmed me. It was orange, with gorgeous swirls of green and pink all over it. It swooped out a little at the feet, like a mermaids feet, and was going to be a tad tight everywhere else. A large belt was in the middle, a white one. I couldn't help but let out a little sigh of happiness and smile.
"You like it?" Trilish asked
"I love it!"
She brought in the shoes, which were green and orange heels.
