Life Through Sea Green Eyes - A Hunger Games Fanfiction

Part 2: Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not own or claim ownership to any content related to or included in the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I write this story purely for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of others, with no intent for making money.

Life Through Sea Green Eyes

Part Two: Decadent Delirium

Chapter Two

          Over the next few months, I gradually start to regain a semblance of my former self. Mags, a sweet old lady who mentored me during the Games and is now as good as family, pulls father aside for a long chat during one of her visits, and the next thing I know father is telling me that I have to go back to school.

          The thought is humorous to me, because after seeing me murder five children on national television, I doubt any of my future school mates will want to get within fifty feet of me.        Well, maybe the girls would, but I’ve noticed that girls often do unwise things when there’s a cute guy involved. But father insists, pointing out that I do nothing with my time anyway, so why not do the same thing except in a classroom? So I dig out my blue and white uniform from the back of my closet, grab a pencil and notebook, and go to school.

          Before the Games, father, Natare and I lived in a little cottage at the northern end of District 4. When I won, we moved into Victor’s Village, which is a housing complex located in the largest town of the district, which also features the Justice building. It’s a half hour walk south of my home village. I consider enrolling back in my old school, so I can be with my friends, but I haven’t seen them in several months and, quite frankly, I don’t think they would recognize the person I’ve become. They would probably also pester me with questions about the arena, and I devote most of my waking hours to trying to forget it ever happened.

I head down to the local schoolhouse – a two story brick building by the seashore – and go to register at the main office. The secretary doesn’t notice me, as she’s reading a piece of paper in a bored but concentrated way, so I walk up to her and clear my throat pointedly. Her reaction is priceless.

          “You... you’re Finnick Odair!” she gasps, hands flying to her mouth. Her eyes get really big as she stares into my own, like she’s in some kind of a trance. This goes on for three full minutes, until I tire of my game and clear my throat again.

          “I’d like to register for class, if it isn’t too much trouble,” I say, smirking slightly. It feels good to smile, even if it happens to be at someone else’s expense.

          Then the secretary is out of her chair and hugging me so tightly I think she might have cracked one of my ribs. “You poor dear,” she gushes. “All those horrible things they made you do in the arena... and yet here you are, putting on a brave face like you’re just another normal boy!”

          I prefer the days when women would fawn over me because of my incredible good looks. That was something I understood, and could take advantage of if necessary. But this... I’m sure the girls my age are still thinking of jumping my bones, but now it’s tinged with pity, and pity I don’t know how to deal with.

          “Honestly, I just want to register,” I tell her, and when she doesn’t let go I use some of those muscles that kept me alive in the arena to push her off me.

          She tilts her head to the side, apparently considering something of great importance. “You know,” she says, “I have a daughter your age. Serenity. She’s very sweet, kind-hearted, and quite pretty. Maybe you’d like to—”