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While Blaze and I sat, waiting for Verena to come back with Finnick and Mags, Blaze sat across from me. I dug my nails into my hands, trying to let out my anxiety without showing too much emotion. As Blaze came up with new threats, I didn't even realize I had broke skin. He stopped talking as soon as Verena came back with the victors.
"Coralia, Blaze, this is Mags Flanagan and Finnick Odair. Obviously you've heard of them; you wouldn't be from 4 if you hadn't. They'll be your mentors." Verena explained, sitting down. I wasn't sure how she walked in high heels all day.
"Have any advice?" Blaze asked, looking up to Finnick. He seemed to respect the young victor. Finnick wasn't concentrating on him, however, he was looking at Coralia.
"Cora, your hands are bleeding." Finnick tells me. I relax my hands, and look at them, realizing that he's right. "Oh..." I whispered. I put my hands down to wipe them on my dress, but I could see Verena glaring at me. Instead, Finnick grabbed the first aid kit, and sat down next to me.
"Put your hands flat." I did as he told me. He looked between the two of us before continuing to talk.
"You are going to need food and water. Those are the basics. Depending on the arena, you can find them, but if not, getting sponsors is your best chance. This means you have to get people to like you." He explains, rubbing an ointment on my hands. I nod, thanking him.
"Shouldn't be hard." Blaze shrugged. As much as I hated to admit it, I knew he was right. Everyone liked Blaze. No one knew he bullied me in the schoolyard or slapped me across the face by the shore. To everyone else, he was a heartthrob. I was sure he'd get dozens of sponsors. A year ago, I'd found out what Blaze's father had done. The thought of it sent shivers down my spine, still. The only reason my father hadn't told anybody was because he had threatened Marina and I, and he also didn't have much proof.
"Easier said than done. When you're on Ceaser's show, you're going to act as though this is a privilege. Joke with him, laugh with him, he's pretty easy to entertain Like a cat with a laser pointer." Finnick continued. Mags tapped Finnick on the shoulder, gesturing something.
"Right, weapons and combat. What would you say are your skills?" Finnick asks us. I think for a minute, causing Blaze to chuckle.
"As if Underfell can do anything. She's weak and hopeless. Me? I've trained for this since I was young. I'm good with a spear, a knife, I could probably kill someone with a dull stick." Blaze goes on. I roll my eyes.
Finnick mutters something to Mags and Verena, causing me to get nervous.
"Blaze, why don't you follow Mags. She's going to show you some old footage from the games. It could really help you." Verena suggests, and Blaze leaves with the kind old woman. Finnick's attention is just on me now.
"I'm not letting him decide your strength. You are going to show me that you're just as capable as him, if not better." He tells me. Seeing the unsure look on my face, he sighs.
"I know you're the best swimmer in 4. I've seen it with my own eyes. Do you remember the race the district held for all the kids? You beat them all; it was a good six seconds before the other kid came in second." Finnick recalls.
"You remember that?" I ask; I barely remembered it myself. Finnick chuckles. "I was the kid who came in second." I remember it now, and I remember my father and my uncle being proud of me. "What if the arena doesn't have any water?" I ask. Finnick thinks for a second.
"Is there any weapon you've ever tried?" He asks, and I think of everything I know how to do.
"My father taught me how to use a trident, I-"
"Once we arrive in the Capitol, I'll train you to be perfect with a trident. Until then, there's a compartment in the back of the train for us to spar. Meet me at ten." He says, getting up.
"Finnick, wait." He turns around to look at me. "Why do you care about me that much?" I knew it was the easier to choice to train Blaze - he was more likely to win than me. Why would Finnick waste his time teaching me? Finnick teaching Blaze everything he knew could almost guarantee a District 4 victor. Teaching me could maybe guarantee that I would survive a couple of days.
"Because you're my friend. You always have been. I'm going to get you home to your family, Cora." He smiles and then walks away. I bite my lip, trying to get in the mindset of winning. I look over to Verena, who is fixing her wig.
***
I had met Finnick at ten o'clock that night, and he'd shown me the basics of everything he knew. I'd fallen on my ass multiple times, wanting to give up, but he never let me. So, I would get up, and continue to train with him. We ended up not sleeping that night; we had trained the whole time. By morning time, I wasn't perfect, but I was better. Finnick said I was a quick learner, and that he'd make me unstoppable with a trident.He said I had good natural reflexes; I had just never needed to use them to this extent. He taught me how to roll forwards, how to flip somebody over even if they were bigger than I was. Like I said, I wasn't perfect, but it was the first day, and I was better than I had been the day before. At breakfast, Verena commented about the eyebags that both Finnick and I had, and how worn out I looked. I ate my food before taking a nap, knowing that Finnick would want to train tonight, as well. Then, we would arrive in the Capitol.
