UNDERDOG | FINNICK ODAIR

Chapter 3

70th Annual Reaping

"Annie Cresta!" Tulle Dives called out the morning of the reaping. "Come on up dear, up, up!" She cooed like Annie was a baby. I felt the world go still. Out of all these people, they had to choose her.

The one person I could genuinely say was my best friend. I locked eyes with Finnick who sat beside her on the stage. "You train Annie. I'll take the boy." I whispered.

"We don't get to choose how mentoring is set up. Last year they asked us to do it separately, the year before they asked Me and Lacey Stephens to do it equally together." He replied.

Lacey was a 50 some year old woman who had won the games before I was even born. "Since you are still a little new they want you to get used to mentoring, but I will do most of it. Don't worry." He said, never taking his eyes off of Annie who was crying.

"Now for the boys. Oh its so exciting, who will it be!" Tulle spun her hand around in the bowl, stirring up the names. She giggled when her hand latched on to one. "OK, this years Hunger Games Boy tribute is... Ford Irving! Congratulations Ford."

Ford stepped forward. He looked around, bewildered. He slowly walked on stage. "Oh he's so excited he's speechless. Congratulations to this years district four tributes! Annie Cresta and Ford Irving. And may the odds ever be in your favor!"

The tributes quickly said good bye to their family's while me and Finnick packed up our suitcases and loaded them on the train.

Annie and Ford met us outside the train cart and we all boarded together. "This is the last look of District four your gonna get for at least a month. Soak it up." I said to the two tributes.

Finnick was talking to Ford when I started noticing the little things. Like how Finnick moved his eyebrows when he talked, or how although Ford was much younger and really nervous and quiet, Finnick persisted in making him feel like a part of the group. He was arrogant, maybe a bit cocky, but he cared.

"So, Ford, how old are you?" I asked once Finnick had stopped talking. "13 and a half." He muttered. "What do you like to do? Are you a fisher?" Annie asked, I was thankful she carried on the conversation.

"Uh... I guess. Well not really, my family owns the bait shop on the west side pier. I like to dig for worms but my sister says its gross so I do it by myself." He said, that was the most he had spoken the whole day.

"Oh you have a sister? What's her name?" I inquired.

"Her name is Fern, she's 12. This was her first reaping." He said.

"Does anybody want to watch the other district reaping's?" Finnick asked grabbing the remote. "We should know who we are up against."

"I do" Annie said positioned herself to face the TV. "Sure," I said. Ford didn't say anything but he nodded so Finnick turned on the TV where Caesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith were hosting the games.

They droned on about how much potential each tribute had and how excited they were. By the end of the show Annie was asleep. Both Ford and I went to bed while Finnick woke up Annie and helped her to her room. Annie's room was next to mine so I could hear some of their conversation.

Annie mostly cried and Finnick said a lot of "I know"s and "I'm sorry". It went quiet for a while so I figured Annie was asleep. Finnick must have gone to bed too.

I laid in the overly comfortable capital bed and listened to the train wheels on the tracks. They clicked and clacked in a rhythmic pattern that almost lulled me to sleep. I heard a irregular change to the song and realized someone was at my door. I got up and flung the door open. I was surprised to see Finnick there.

"The others are asleep. I just wanted to say goodnight." He informed me. "Oh that's good. Good night." I said.

Before he could leave I giggled at the thought that had just crossed my mind. I realized how responsible he was being. He raised an eyebrow. "Whats so funny?" He asked.

"Nothing, its just... I don't know, you're acting like a parent. I feel like we have this little family." I said chuckling at the thought.

"A family? So I'm the dad, you're the mom, Annie and Ford are the kids, and Tulle is the aunt that no one really likes?" He said catching my drift.

"Yeah I guess, but that's kind of mean about Tulle. Its true, but that wasn't nice." I stated, just now realizing that he implied I would be the mom. "I think Annie should be the mom, I don't think I'm a very motherly figure." I said.

"Nah, you'd be a great mom, Cordelia." Finnick said watching for a reaction. I glowered at him and he bit back a laugh.

"This again? I really should have a name for you. What's your middle name?" I asked, folding my arms around my chest, just now remembering that I had a night gown on.

"Don't have one. No one calls me anything but Finnick. Sometimes I will get called idiot but that's as far as it goes." He smirked.

"I'll just have to come up with one."

"How about... Dangerously handsome?"

"No. I don't think that works."

"Hmm, yes it is a bit too forward. Maybe awesomely cool."

"Maybe not. What about moron or wacko? I like those."

"They do have a nice ring to them."

"How about just plain Finn? I like it. You can't change my mind. I dub thee," Finnick bowed down so I could pretend to knight him. I touched each shoulder with my imaginary sword. "Sir Finy. You may rise." I laughed as he did a little curtsy and stood up. "That's perfect. Goodnight Cordelia."

"Goodnight Finn."