↳ CHAPTER THREE:

THE PAST ↵

❝ALL AT ONCE IT LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS

I KNOW IT HURTS BUT KEEP TRYING.

AND WITH YOUR LUCK THIS WON'T BE OVER QUICK.❞

- the past should stay dead

It was hot in District Four, and nothing was unusual about that. It was early morning and few were awake, the only ones awake around the town were the fishermen out at sea, and me.

I was sixteen years old, the most recent Hungers Games had been a month ago, and my district was still in mourning over the loss of our Tributes.

"Hello," a voice called out from behind me.

I spun around, surprised to hear someone sneak up on me. I smiled as I recognised who it was, it was Finnick Odair. The boy who won the 65th Hunger Games at the age of fourteen.

Now, at the age of seventeen, he looked good.

I blushed, noticing the cheeky smile he sent me.

"Hi Finnick," I welcomed shyly, holding my cup of coffee tightly between my hands.

"What's your name?" He asked me, his eyes moving over my jacket and shorts. "I haven't seen you around before."

"I'm Willow," I smiled, sticking my hand out in greeting.

Finnick's surprisingly cold hand grasped mine lightly before he bent down to place a kiss on my knuckles.

I grew red in my face at the sudden chivalrous action, no boy had ever flirted with me before.

"You probably don't know who I am because I'm a grade behind you." I replied to his observation of never meeting me before.

It had confused me greatly on why Finnick had to go back to school after winning the Hunger Games. I could shudder at the thought, knowing that social interactions weren't the best after escaping from that sort of hell.

"Now I know your pretty face, I won't forget it." Finnick winked, and oh my god could my face get any more redder? "What are you doing up so early? Not going to class to catch up on homework, are we?"

I laughed, "no, I like to swim before class starts. Would you want to join me?"

"I would, but I have to go to the doctors," he grimaced jokingly and I lightly smiled. "It was nice meeting you, maybe we can go swimming sometime together?"

"I would like that," I told him, a bright smile on my face. Finnick smiled, turning away with a wave and I waved back.

As he walked away, I didn't forget how his smile immediately faded, and how his eyes grew sad as the haunting of his past crept back.

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Comment here if you're team Peeta or team Gale!

(Personally Team Peeta, like Gale has no place in Katniss' love life lol)