To Save a Girl- A Hunger Games Fanfiction

Chapter 4

Finnick stared at me from across the dining room table.

 "You are insane." He said and I nodded,

 "I know." 

"Thank you."

 "Ya" I muttered. 

My body was numb and this all felt like a bad dream, maybe Devin would be coming in to wake me up soon. 

"So," Finnick said, "I'm your mentor, Rock asked to be mentored separately so he's with Ash." Ash Burton, she won the 59, no 60th games.

 "Okay," I reply. 

"So it's just you and me, I'm here trying to keep you alive but you have to try too." He said and I shook my head

 "Okay" 

He slammed his fist down on the table and my head snapped up. 

"Alright, Beatty. You have to try to do something other than mutter, I am not going to watch you go out there and volunteer for my sister just to die. Okay!"

 "Okay, Finnick" I snapped and he sat down. 

"Look Sage, I'm sorr..."

It was my turn to snap. 

"Don't apologize for telling me to pull my head out and stop moping. Okay! So, if you don't want to see me die, how do I live?" 

His green eyes met mine and he studied me. 

"The first thing is going to be the tribute parade, but before that you go to the remake center. You are going to hate those people, but don't resist because they will sabotage you faster than President Snow."

 I nodded and motioned for him to continue.

 "When you meet your stylist, be nice to him or her. Like I said they can make or break you. When you get done there I'll meet you at the chariots." 

"What about the actual games?" I asked, "When are you going to tell me what to do when a crazy District 1 kid is coming at my throat with a knife?"

 "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it." He said, "We have to know who you're up against first. Now go get some sleep before the reapings come on. You are going to need it."

He gave me a small smile,

 "And, Beatty. You won't make very many friends in the Capitol by shoving dead fish down their backs."

 I snickered and pointed at him, 

"Duly noted" I said as I slunk off to my small room in the back of the train.

About three hours into my nap someone came and banged on my door.

 "Sage! They are broadcasting the reapings in 20 minutes hun, you might want to come watch." judging by the softer tone, the voice came from Ash.

 I drug myself across the bed and to the closet on the far side of the room. I had showered earlier but I couldn't figure out how to work the stupid thing so I just took a really quick one, because as soon as I figured how to turn it on it was freezing. I opened the closet to reveal a long sleeve blue shirt and dark pants and soft boots. I assumed that this is what they wanted me to wear so I changed out of my reaping outfit and into it. I held onto my boots though. Maybe they could be my district token so I set them on the bed before I left. I closed my door quietly and tiptoed down the hallway to the dining room where there was a huge meal set out for us. My mouth started to water at the sight of what I could only assume was Prime Rib which I had only had once when Mrs. Odair had made it for Percy's 16 birthday. I pulled out a chair next to Rock and across from Finnick who smiled at my wide eyed expression. 

"It's a lot of food, eh?" he asked and I nodded and I felt some of the weight leaving my shoulders as I sat down only to have it return ten fold when Lilly came in and switched on the TV. 

The Reaping was on Live, and we could eat while we watched. What lovely dinner entertainment. The two from District 1 were both big and strong, but the girl was what my mother would call a "looker," with long blonde hair, her name threw me off though. Mint. 

"Did they just say that her name was Mint?" I asked and Finnick nodded. 

I rolled my eyes before getting a look from Lilly. The District 2 kids were about the same except this time the boy was more attractive than the girl who was huge, and I mean HUGE. She had to be 6 foot and was pure muscle. 

"That's someone you should be afraid of." Finnick commented and Rock rolled his eyes. 

"Not really," he said "I could take her."

 I scoffed.

 "You have a reality check coming buddy if you think you can take her." 

He shot me a nasty glare and Lilly gasped 

"Sage! That was impolite! Apologize."

 I chewed on the inside of my mouth while I formulated the nicest way to say what I wanted to say. 

"With all due respect Miss Lilly, The Rock and I do not have to be on good terms, as you may remember we are being sent into an arena to kill each other. So, no I will not be apologizing to him." 

That shut her up and Finnick shook his head. Our little dispute had made us miss District 3 but Finnick assured me later that they weren't a threat. Then we came on, It showed Lilly drawing Aly, then me volunteering. I looked like a Career up until I made the comment about saving Aly. I should have gone with it. Then Percy and Rock. Then they moved on to 5. They all started to blur together after that, no one really stood out besides the girl from District 12, which was a first. She had this hard look in her eyes, a look of determination that you didn't normally see from the lower districts. Finnick commented on her 

"She's going to be tough. If Haymitch can keep her alive."

 I looked over to see that he had taken notes on every tribute from their name and whether or not they volunteered to how old they were. There were two 12 year olds this year, a girl from 8 named Drama and a little tiny boy from 9 named Chip. I felt bad, I didn't want to kill a little kid. They reminded me too much of Cedar and Aly. As soon as Ceaser and Claudius signed off Lilly turned off the TV. 

"Well kids that's it. Finish eating and then go to bed. We will pull into the Capitol bright and early, and I want you two to look your best."

 She looked me up and down before commenting "And put some makeup dear, you could sure use it."

Then she clicked away. I looked at Finnick and he looked at me,

 "Well then, I think I made her mad didn't I?" I said and he nodded.

 "She won't do much, she just hates it when I pay more attention to the female tribute than her." he said matter of factly, 

"Are you serious?" I said and he nodded and leaned over to whisper in my ear

 "Let me tell you something about the Capitol Sage, they will see you as an object. It's bad for the male victors but it's worse for the females. The women of the Capitol, they are going to be all lovey at first but when their husbands start paying for you they will start to hate you. So I suggest that you get on their good side while you can and try to stay alive."

 I felt the blood drain out of my face and I nodded and took a big bite of cold meat. Maybe if I kept trying to shake myself awake I would wake up and this would all be over. Finnick studied my face,

 "Go to bed Sage."

 I didn't fight him but his words rang in my head, As soon as their husbands start paying for you. I didn't want to think about that, but I felt like that was Finnick's way of telling me that I was in for the long run. But I still had to win, I had to stay alive for my family. I had to see them again. I had to see Percy again. If that was the only reason that I would win so be it. 

Hey guys, stuff is going to start getting real pretty soon, I hope you like this chapter! I really stink at author's notes but you know, (shrugs). Stay safe and I do not own the Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins does. 

❤Buckaroobelle