❝ sometimes it feels like I've got a war in my mind
i want to get off but i keep riding the ride
i never really notice that i had to decide
to play someone's game or to live my own life ❞
【 cassie abernathy was the younger sister of...
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It was 9:59. The girl waited by the door for Finnick to arrive, unaware if he was to be on time. A minute could not last longer than this one, she thought.
10:00. She gently swung open the door to reveal Finnick's face, his arm against the wall. He smirked, noticing how eager she was to invite him in.
"I hope Haymitch doesn't kill me," he laughs, whispering, as the girl guided him through the room and into where her bedroom was.
"Oh, he probably will," she smiles, sitting on the bed and facing the window.
The district 4 tribute sat down next to the girl, seeming as if it was a replica of the night of her 15th birthday. Not saying a word, Cassie let her eyes wander and saw bruised marks on Finnick's right hand.
"What happened?" She asked alarmingly, picking up his hand.
He let her hold his hand as he sighed, looking forward, not eager to make any eye contact. "I found out you got picked. I freaked out. I punched a hole in the wall."
As Finnick, told the story, she was almost reluctant to tell him that she was grateful enough for him to do that. "You shouldn't have hurt yourself over that."
He ignored her. "What have you been up to since I last saw you. I wanna know all the boring details."
"Well I really just spend time with Haymitch and Gale. The past year I haven't spoken to Peeta and Katniss as much, since of everything that has happened with them. Prim is a doll, she's just like my younger sister. And that's about it."
Finnick looked at the girl and sympathetically smiled. "How is Gale?"
Finnick first met Gale ten years before hand. The victor tour resided in district 12, their twelfth and final stop. At the time, the two young boys were sure of their feelings for Cassie, creating a certain hostility between the two.
"He's good. He's really good actually. He plans on storming the Capitol to get me out alive," she shares, giggling at the thought.
"I'll get you out alive," Finnick ignores, reassuring the girl.
"You know everyone is telling me that, but I really doubt it's the truth."
"We just have to remember who the real enemy is," Finnick tells her, laying down on her bed. Cassie would never forget these words.
Finnick was on the more confident side than most of the other victors. He was charming, no doubt, but possessed a certain softness when it came to being around the girl.
The pair lied there, Finnick spread out on her bed, as Cassie laid next to him, her arms squeezing his torso. Her mind instantly ran to the night just a few days ago where she found comfort in Gale this way. She felt guilty, like she only used them when she was at her most vulnerable time.
Nevertheless, she tried to forget these thoughts. She wanted to focus on training, and on the games. "So you gonna show me how to throw a trident tomorrow?"
Finnick smiles, grabbing the girl closer to him. "Only if you teach me how to slice off someone's head with a machete."
"Sounds like a fair deal," she says, focusing on her allies. She knew that Katniss, Peeta, Finnick, and Mags were a given. She also thought Johanna would be one, since her friendship with Finnick. The girl wanted Wiress and Beetee on her side, knowing how their intellectual brains could be more at use rather than someone who was a skilled knife thrower.
"Finnick how are we supposed to kill each other?" The girl asks solemnly, starting to be more realistic and coming to terms with these facts.
"We'll let them worry about that. All I know is that we have to stick together." Finnick immediately thought of the plan Haymitch had told him. Keep Peeta and Cassidy alive, and get Katniss out. The girl was clueless to these facts, Finnick trying his hardest to keep this one secret from her.
The night soon crept in, Cassie falling asleep shortly after their conversation. Finnick, having not been able to sleep the entire night, still fixated on the sleeping girl, read the clock on the wall. It was 4:57, just a couple of more hours until training begun.
Finnick arose out of bed, trying not to wake the girl. He gently opened the door and crept outside, becoming startled by a figure sitting on the couch, a drink in his hand.
"Hey, Finnick," Haymitch says, his back still turned from him, taking a sip of his drink.
"Haymitch," Finnk greets, walking over to the love of his life's brother, unaware if he would be mad at him spending the night with his sister.
"I know you care about her, Finnick. And I know our mission is to get Katniss out, and save Peeta. But Cassidy needs to be your main priority. I can't lose her."
"Haymitch, you know she'll always be my main priority. If I have to sacrifice myself for her, I will," Finnick comforts, sitting down on the couch with him. "Should we just tell her-"
"No," he interrupts. "It's too risky. Those three can't know anything."
Finnick nods, figuring he'd get back up to finally get some rest. He headed towards the door when Haymitch spoke up once more. "And Finnick?"
"Yes?"
"Remember to stay alive, too. For her," Haymitch smiles, knowing how destroyed his sister would be if she ever lost him.
"I will." Finnick smiled and headed towards the door, knowing that if this plan worked out he could finally spend all the time he wanted with the girl. As the thoughts crossed his mind, he smiled. And he couldn't stop.
