Becoming Adamant [#1]

Chapter 33 - The Boy With The Sugar Cube

The ceremony is nice… I mean, I’m not the sentimental type at all, but even for someone like me, the ceremony has been nice. I’ve been standing next to Mags and Finnick through the entire ceremony. I haven’t managed to make out any other names in the crowd, and honestly, I’m not that interested in doing it either. During the ceremony, Dess asks me if I want to say a few words, but I shake my head. I’ve got nothing to say…nothing that Blight hasn’t already heard. And I don’t cry a single tear during the ceremony. Those were his last words before he passed away, and I’m gonna keep that promise as well as I can.

After the ceremony is over, most of the victors leave without as much as a ‘how do you do’. Well, I don’t mind. I already see they’re a bunch of losers anyway…except for Mags…and maybe even Finnick. It’s just the three of us left now. “I’m gonna head down to town.” He then says as he takes off and leaves me standing there with Mags. “You have not coped…” She says next to me. I guess she’s old and wise because I’m sure she didn’t hear me with Finnick earlier.

“Blight didn’t want me to cry for him…in fact that’s the last thing he ever said to me.” I let out as I turn my head towards her. She turns herself towards me. “He’d want you to be you…like the one you were when he was your mentor. I can remember him so frustrated during the Games…” She said with a smile on her face, reminiscing. “He told me you were the toughest one he’d ever had to handle.” She then adds moments later. “All I can tell you is that the frustration went both ways…he woke me up, scaring me to death, making me land on the floor on a couple of occasions…and that was just to get me cranky.” I say, actually finding myself smiling about it. “It was who he was…many people liked him for the man he was. That’s why so many of us came to say goodbye.” She then says.

Imagine that: people liked Blight. If he could only be alive to hear this…if he was, he’d have years and years with me mentoring tributes. Oh I would so get back at him for all that crappy stuff that he pulled on me. No matter those things though, and the fact that he didn’t save Talon, which I understand now, he’s helped me through a lot of this already. He’s given me the tools and I guess he knew Mags would see them and help me utilize them. “I’m sure you will find your way, dear…” Mags says. “Considering he was so insistent that I’d win, even though he knew he was going to die really soon, he must’ve had that idea.” I let out. She just smiles gently at me. “You will…if there was one thing Blight knew certain, it was that you would be just fine.”

I walk with her out of the cemetery. I really can’t stand to be there, and being in Mags’ company kinda helps. I follow her back to the train station where we find Finnick, waiting for the train to take him home…or the Capitol, either one. Mags take a seat on a bench somewhere because of the long walk. I on the other hand see how Finnick is looking out in the air, thoughtful at that actually. I make my way over to him. “So when’s the train coming?” I then ask him.

And note this because I’m not interested in a conversation, I’m just trying to be a good host here. Note: trying. Finnick doesn’t make it easy for me. “It’s supposed to be here any minute, Feisty.” I sigh at the use of that name again. I guess I should pinpoint to the ‘lady’s man’ over here that I’m not using that name anymore! God, I already think I hate him. I guess he actually notices my irritated body-language. “And I who was going to try and be a good host here…” I let put with a sigh crossing my arms. I look in the direction where the train’s supposed to come. Still, nothing… “That doesn’t sound like you if I’m perfectly honest.” I hear him say rather smug. “Oh, is that so?” I then ask him challenging as I turn around to face him. “Doesn’t sound like you to be nice…I mean, with your attitude and all.” Finnick lets out with a smile at me.

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. It must be a dream come true to have last year’s Victor, Mr. Finnick Odair, all over your business with his gorgeous smile and blonde hair and blue eyes…well, not that I’ve noticed anyways. Simple observation that’s all…what I’m trying to point out is the fact that I’m not flattered, not one bit. He’s just a boy as far as I know. Before I get to think anything else, something peculiar happens. “I know the ceremony wasn’t really the time for it so I thought I’d save one for now…sugar cube?” That’s the most random thing I’ve ever been offered I think as I stare at the little white cube in front of my face.

“You’re offering me a sugar cube…why on earth, a sugar cube?” I then ask him after a few seconds of silence from my part. He’s just holding it in front of me, smiling. “Why not a sugar cube?” He then asks me back. “It’s just…you’re the fabulous Finnick Odair! You could offer me anything on God’s green earth…you can get whatever you want to offer a girl, or a woman…so why offer me a sugar cube?” I then ask, feeling quite reasonable, but at the same time I can see something change in the way Finnick looks at me. He drops the sugar cube back into his palm and looks back on the tracks. I’ve hit a soft spot that’s for sure. I’d apologize for hurting him…if I even knew how to do that. I guess Finnick knows me well enough not to expect it from me.

“Well, Blight always said you were quite direct.” He then says after an awkward moment of silence. “I understand the nickname ‘feisty’ too…” Finnick then lets out as if he knows that the name bugs me. Well, he stepped over my line first, so I guess I can justify it like that, but I still feel like crap. “I know I hit a soft-spot, Odair. Just know that every time you call me ‘feisty’, you’re hitting one of mine.” I let out as I see the train come in the far distance. It must be destined for 4, or Capitol. I don’t really care. I’m not the one boarding it.

I’ll probably come to learn in the future that Finnick and Mags will be the closest friends that I’ll have among the victors. Perhaps even closer to Finnick considering he’s more my age and he’s the newest one before me. He knows how to deal with it I guess. “I’ll stop hitting your soft-spot, if you stop messing with mine.” I then let out. That’s the closest thing I come to an apology, but I guess he’s taking it because I catch him scribble something down on a piece of paper and then hands it to me. “I think that’s a fair thing, Mason.” He starts. “Here’s my number…the one on the bottom is Mags’ number. I guess you’re gonna want to talk a lot so…she’s a good listener.” I look at the numbers as he boards the train with Mags. I smile lightly at him as he stands by the window and wave goodbye as the train leaves.

Hm, the boy with the sugar cube…well, there’s no way I’m gonna be able to forget him. The boy with the golden hair, blue eyes…the boy who conquers women’s hearts in the Capitol. I can’t say he’s captured mine…probably because he stepped over the line with me in the beginning, and I managed to step over his. The only thing he’s managed to do with me is gain my curiosity. There’s something about him…something way deeper than his Capitol-shallow appearance that he has to wear 24/7. I guess this is how he keeps his loved ones alive.

God, I hope I don’t ever have to do it like that!

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I'll bet you were waiting for the introduction to our famous boy with the cube ;)