Allied Hearts - Finnick Odair

Chapter 7.

Callissa practically galloped over to where a group of girls were huddled, looking over her shoulder every couple of seconds to make sure I was still following closely behind.

Excited girls of all ages began to rapidly fire questions as soon as I approached.

'What's going on with you and Finnick?'
'Is Finnick your boyfriend?'
'Did you know Finnick before?'
'Do you love Finnick?'

Finnick Finnick Finnick.
Good job he's not here or his head would be inflating like a balloon. The interview I was receiving was overwhelming, a thick, and awkward silence filling the empty air.

I gazed over at Finnick, he was back with his trident, giving me a small smile. It was always nice to watch.

'Look at her staring, she definitely likes him!' I really do have to stop staring, it's getting weird.

They reminded me of school girls, it was nice to see though, them having something to take their mind off the reality that they face. Even if it is to glory in my humiliation.

Trying to change the subject I began to question them individually about which district they're from, what was their dominant skill and what they've been learning at training. Anything really to keep them off the topic of a certain boy.

Eventually the group began to break off and once again me and Callissa were left alone, which I was very grateful of. She really was a nice girl, I was certain in an alternative situation we would of made good friends.

Come to think of it I don't actually have any friends, how sad. Everyone must think I'm such a loner. I've never really thought of it before, but everyone in Capitol is the same. Even the children my age,
and they are not who I want to even associate with, never mind be friends with.

It must be why I've loved these two days, finally some normal people to talk to, ones that aren't dressed in the most ridiculous costumes, or speaking in a fancy voice. Just normal people, I never want to go back.

I was snapped out of my depressing trance by a sharp jab in the stomach.

'STAB! You'd be dead' Her finger made contact with my side again. 'STAB! You're double dead now. Good job it's me and not you.'

Calissa was joking but I could see an almost envious glaze over her hazel eyes. 'I've been practicing my knife skills in case you hadn't noticed, shall I show you?'

Receiving a nod from me she began to throw knifes in all directions.

'Turn away from me then! I don't want to be hit for real.'

'I'm not gonna stab you, I've got really good.'

My eyebrows were raised at her statement, she'd go to throw the knife one way and it would end up in the opposite direction. Sadness weighed down my heart watching her, I knew she didn't have a chance of winning. She was hopeless at the violent stuff, I'm hoping that she can keep herself alive with the practical stuff her dad has taught her.

'Stop throwing them things before you kill her' Finnick muttered as he walked past to go to a different station. Callissa was just about to protest to the accusation once again when one of her knives came flying right at my face.

It was almost like the next seconds were in slow motion. Finnick's arm swung up and like an expert he grabbed the handle to the knife which was millimetres away from between my eyes. We all stood in silence, all of us in shock. I was too scared to even breathe in that very second.

Finnick broke the quiet air, bursting into a massive rant to Callissa about 'how she really ought to be more careful', and 'if she can't actually use a knife what was she doing throwing them?'

'Teach her Fin, please!' I searched his eyes for an answer that I didn't receive. Callissa waited in anticipation but he never spoke a word.

'Erm hello? Did you hear her Finnick?'
Did I mention Callie has a bit of a mouth on her? I gave her a stern look and hoped she took it as a warning that her sarcasm wasn't helping right now.

'Why would I do that? When we're in that arena it's every man for themselves, so there's no point.'

'We're not in the arena right now. And it would mean a lot to me, you know she needs the help to stay alive.' I carried on my pleas with him.

Slowly he approached me, leaning up to my ear and whispering 'For you.' His hot breath tickled my ear and sent a shiver down my spine. I clasped his hand and gave him a thankful squeeze.

'Right come on then Callissa' he huffed motioning for her to follow him to the weapons station.

With them two gone I took this chance to watch the others from a distance. There was a boy on some sort of machine, if I squinted my eyes I could see that he was memorising what food was safe to eat in the wild.

To my left I could see two girls practising combat, one was clearly better than the other knocking her over every chance she got. I admired the weaker girls perseverance however, as each time she was knocked down she got straight back up, ready to fight again.

The camouflage station had been deserted all day since mine and Finnick's antics earlier. It was too messy to even approach right now, puddles of paint covered the marble floor surrounding it.

Lastly I observed the Careers, it was obvious they had been practising their whole lives for this moment. Currently they were fighting each other with swords, ducking and diving each other's jives. Not one of them made a wrong move, they had perfected the whole routine.

Nervousness returned as I watched them, how are amateurs meant to stand a chance against professionals? I've noticed how the Careers have stayed together these whole three days, and I gathered that's the way they'll stay in the games, like every year. Rarely did they turn on each other until they had to at the end.

Growing bored of watching the group I made my way back to Callissa and Finnick, her skills had improved greatly even in the little time I had been away. Giving Finnick a grateful smile I said my goodbyes, the day was drawing to a close. Time for the chaos to begin.

'I'll see you at the parade then' He told me returning my smile.

The parade was the last day before the Games begin, the tributes spend all day getting dolled up by their stylists and ride around in a carriage, usually one that represented their own district. My father always gave a boring speech which the Capitol seemed to love, and then the tributes go on Ceaser's television show one by one. And that would be the last time we would see 23 of them out of the arena.