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Coralia Underfell was an amazing swimmer. Growing up in District 4, she didn't have much of a choice. At twelve years old, she was sneaking out at night to go to the sea. She had made a friend with a boy with the greenest eyes she had ever seen, but she never learned his name. That was, until, he was reaped. Finnick was his name. She hated to see him go, but she said nothing. Surprising the whole district, he had been the youngest tribute to ever become a victor - at fourteen years old. After he won, she wasn't able to speak to him that often, only for a few minutes at a time. Finnick was the Capitol's favorite. Charming, smart, beautiful...what wasn't to love? Truth be told, if you asked Finnick, he would tell you she was his only real friend. She didn't care that he was now wealthy, and the talk of Panem. He was still the boy that she would race in the water.
Now, a year later, they were getting ready for the 66th Hunger Games. The reaping was about a week away, and the town was anxious, just as they were every year. Though, some kids thought it was an honor to fight in the games, and they would volunteer themselves.
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I walked out of the schoolhouse, nearly making it before I was stopped by Blaze Keenwood. My dad and his didn't get along for a reason that scared me Blaze always said my father had dirt on them. I knew the horrific truth. He was broad-shouldered with blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Underfell, I'm glad I ran into you." He smirked. She rolled her eyes, trying to shove past him. He blocked her, and she sighed in annoyance. He was much taller than her, and could probably pick her up easily; she wasn't going to be able to push past him.
"It's no secret that you never trained for the games. It would sure be a shame if you got reaped, wouldn't it? I mean, you'd probably die after stepping off the pedestal." He smirked.
"My name is in there just as many times as yours is, and you're the one stupid enough to volunteer even if you're not reaped."
"And, Keenwood, you're eighteen. Act like it, or I'll tell the entire town that you steal from the market every chance you get. Learn some manners." I added. That wasn't the dirt my father had on the family, but it was something I had figured out myself.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. My mother taught me to be a kind, respectable person. Did yours not? Oh...right." He smirked. I was around four when My mother died. Dad had said she had a brain aneurysm.
"You know, just because your daddy drinks to forget your existence doesn't mean you have to be horrible to everyone else. Course, if I were your dad, I'd be drinking, too." I snapped. Normally, I was the quiet one; but a person could only handle so much of Blaze's taunting. My younger sister had been the the one to encourage me stand up for myself. This angered Blaze, and for a second, I thought I might've gone over the line. He lunged for me, causing me to fall to the ground and hit myhead on the pavement.
"Get off of her!" Looking up, I'm shocked to see the victor I used to play with as a kid. Blaze backed off, knowing what Finnick was capable of. He had watched his games. Finnick bent down, offering his hand. My eyes were wide, and I was not moving, so he helped me up.
"Your head is bleeding." He said, lightly touching the wound as I grimaced.
"It's okay. I'm okay." I insisted.
"Let me walk you home. I want make sure you get home to your family safely." He told me, and I smiled. No one had ever been that thoughtful.
"You really don't have to." I told him, but he smirked, grabbing my hand and asking for directions.
***
We were nearing my house, and actually having a nice conversation.
"I think I may have tried to drown you once, when I was like, six. I'm sorry about that." I say, causing the victor to laugh. I was pretty sure it was genuine, as it was more of a giggle.
"I think I'm partially to blame. As I recall, I told you to hold me underwater so I could see how long I could breathe." This caused me to laugh as well. They reached the doorstep, and Finnick knocked. My father opened the door, his eyes wide when he saw the blood running down my head.
"What happened to you?" He asked. He was already stressed because Marina had to stay home from school, sick.
"A boy tried knocked her down. I stepped in before it went any further. I wanted to walk with her to make sure she got home safe." Finnick told my father.
"Thank you, son. It's appreciated."
"Bye, Cora. I'll see you sometime." He smiled, turning to walk away.
"Goodbye, Finnick." I smile, feeling my cheeks heat up.
***
After cleaning the wound with dad's help, my sister smirks at me as we get ready for bed.
"Hmm, why have we never thought of calling you Cora before? It make sense. Maybe we should start calling you that." The almost fourteen year-old laughed.
"No! No..." I say, blushing again.
"Oh, I get it. You just want your boyfriend to call you that."
"Shut up, and go to sleep."
As I tried to sleep, I wondered if it was bad that I sort of hoped Blaze would be reaped and lose. It was a cruel thought, but I was tired of his taunting. I rolled over in my bed, not being able to get comfortable. I thought of Finnick's green eyes, and how his whole face lit up when he smiled or laughed. He was a victor, though, and was always gone. It was a treat when Finnick was around, but I would never stand a chance with him. He was the Capitol's darling. I wanted nothing more than to sit by the crashing waves, but the peacekeepers were doubled because of the nearing reaping day. Instead, I tossed and turned until I finally fell asleep.
As days passed, I ignored Blaze as much as I could, trying not to let his comments get to me. I hadn't seen Finnick since the he walked me home, but I assumed it had something to do with him being a mentor. I went about my days per usual, until, finally, it was reaping day.
