Burning Desires

Chapter 7

"I heard about your great performance at the tridents" Finnick says to me at dinner time "Plutarch told me all about it. He said that a small group of tributes had gathered to watch you"

Pearl nods her head furiously. "Everyone who saw was very impressed"

"But, on the other hand, that crushed your plan to lay low" Finnick says disappointedly.

"Oh, Finnick, come on!" I said to him "I didn't even know I could to that with a trident! To be honest, I've only used one twice before in my life!"

"I find that very hard to believe" Finnick says, looking at me intensely "The way Plutarch described your performance, you seem very trained in how to use a trident"

"He really hasn't used it that often!" Pearl says "We always go fishing together. He's only used it to get some sharks to stop eating all of our catch"

"Sharks?" Finnick says "Those rarely come in our fishing waters"

"Exactly" Pearl says "See my point?"

Finnick sighs. "Okay. I'm sorry for getting angry with you Cory. But, from now on, lay low. And that's an order"

I nod. "I will. I was planning on just doing survival skills tomorrow anyways"

Finnick nods in approval. "Good, good" he says, taking a spoonful of his soup.

Mags taps on Finnick's shoulder and mutters something unintelligible into his ear. Finnicks face lights up. "Oh, yes, I almost forgot!" he says.

"What is it?" Pearl asks.

"Well, as you know, tomorrow after lunch, each tribute will have a half hour with their mentor to practice in the Training room one on one. But, to your luck, I have got permission to take you both for an hour"

Pearl smiles widely. "How did you manage that?" she asks him curiously.

"I know people" he says with a wink.

We all laugh. "Also, Xia, Cory's stylist, is coming over for dinner tomorrow. She wants to talk to you and Pearl about what to do with the interview. Because, god knows I am the last person to ask about how to act in public"

We all laugh again. "Why isn't Ferron coming?" I ask, which makes Pearl give me a nasty look.

"Well, after the incident after the Tribute Parade, he has asked to be removed from Pearl's style team"

"What!?" Pearl exclaims.

"Yes. He left and is now working for one of the District 1 tributes. Their stylist mysteriously went missing yesterday" Finnick explains.

"So, who will be styling me then?" Pearl asks.

"Well, they couldn't find a replacement. All available stylists are taken due to the sheer amount of tributes this year" Finnick says "So, Xia has agreed to take on both of you as your stylists"

"Oh" Pearl says, relaxing back into her seat "That's good. I like her alot"

"Good, cause she likes you too" Finnick says.

Dinner goes by quickly. We discuss everything we practiced today during training. Pearl manages to keep herself from mentioning Erik as an object of my affections, rather saying that she and I would like to ally with him. "That's totally fine with me" Finnick says "He is a great young man. His mentor told me so. But, when the time comes, he can't continue. My goal is to get you two out of that arena, not him"

Pearl and I nod solemnly. We both know that none of us want to kill him. Finnick peers over at the digital clock on the wall nearby. "Well guys, it's getting late, and you guys need your rest. I'll see you two tomorrow morning"