ＡＣＴ ＯＮＥ:

ᴀ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱʜɪᴘ

ALEXIS RIBBON RELEASED a deep sigh as she allowed the wind to whip her blonde curls through the air. The familiar smell of the salty air and smelly fish filled her nostrils as she dipped her petite feet into the water. As she swung her feet lightly over the pier's edge, Alexis allowed the sound of waves crashing and the distant market yells to fill her senses.

Hands pushed against Alexis, pulling her out of her dazed state as she felt the sudden rush of water engulfing her delicate figure. Alexis pushed against the water until her head burst above the surface as she began coughing out the ocean water she had inhaled. Glancing up, Alexis sent an irritated glare to the blonde boy standing above her with a smirk on his handsome face. He released a laugh at her expression as she angrily swam back towards the pier.

"Don't just stand there Seaweed Brain," she yelled up to the teenager as she struggled to pull herself back onto the pier only to fall back into the ocean miserably. "Help me out!"

The boy stopped laughing long enough to bend over and grab her small hands, successfully yanking her back onto the pier. Her feet had barely hit the pier when she punched him in the arm as he continued to laugh at her.

"Ouch," he muttered sarcastically, his grin never leaving his face as he rubbed his arm in mock pain.

"My dad is going to kill me," Alexis groaned as she glanced down at her rosy dress which was drenched with the ocean's salty water.

"You'll be fine," the boy shrugged her concerns off, prompting her to glower at him.

"Fine is the furthest thing I'm going to be once my da-" Alexis began, only for the blonde to cut her off as he grabbed her around the waist and hung her over the pier. Alexis struggled against his grip, struggling to make it back onto the pier as she yelled at him, "I swear if you drop me- FINNICK!"

Finnick's chuckle filled Alexis' ears before being cut off by the sound of her plummeting into the water once again. The girl remained submerged for several more seconds before she began kicking her way back up to the surface. When she emerged from the water, she was once again hit by Finnick's laugh.

"Oh, you are so dead," Alexis threatened as she made her way back to the pier and struggled to climb back up. She grunted as she attempted again, only for her weak arms drop her back into the ocean.

"Need some help?" Finnick smirked in amusement as he watched her struggle to get back up.

"Not from you I don't," Alexis grunted as she began pulling herself up once again. Finnick shrugged as he sat down on the ledge of the pier and simply watched in entertainment. 

Alexis had almost made it when her right hand lost its grip and sent her hurtling back into the water. She let out a frustrated sigh as she realized there was no hope for her getting up as she turned her attention back to Finnick, who was pretending to act nonchalant as he enjoyed her torment.

"Okay, fine," Alexis sighed reluctantly as she avoided Finnick's gaze. "Maybe I need a little help."

Alexis rolled her eyes at the smug expression that graced Finnick's face as he bent over and offered his hand for her to take. She frowned as she reached up and grabbed it, however, it quickly turned into a smirk as she pulled his hand down and flipped him over her into the ocean. Her eyes flinched closed as water splashed her face but she the smile remained on her face as she waited for him to emerge.

After several seconds of nothing, Alexis' smile began to fade as she realized Finnick had been underwater for too long. It soon turned into panic when a minute later he still hadn't come back up and she worriedly called out his name.

"Finnick," Alexis called out, her voice laced with panic as she worried for her best friend's safety. "Damnit, Finnick, this better not be another one of your tricks!"

Just when Alexis had truly believed Finnick had really drowned, two hands grabbed her legs and yanked her underwater. When she resurfaced, she was met with a grinning Finnick.

"Damn you," Alexis yelled at him as she angrily splashed water in his face.

Finnick released another laugh as he swam back to the pier, leaving her to angrily swim after him as he climbed back onto the pier with no difficulty. He turned back around, bending down to hold his hand out before lifting her back onto the pier as well. 

Alexis stood up as crossed her arms over her chest angrily as Finnick rolled his eyes at her antics. After several moments of giving each other the side-eye, they couldn't contain themselves any longer as they burst out laughing.

"You should've seen your face."

"You're such an idiot."

The two laughed at each other as they began walking back towards the beach together. Alexis smiled when her feet touched the sand again, the grainy sand running between her toes. Finnick nudged her lightly, catching Alexis' attention as he held out her pinkish shoes that perfectly matched her dress.

Almost as if on cue, a horn blew in the distance, signaling what every kid in District 4 was dreading. Finnick glanced at Alexis worriedly as the color withdrew from her already pale skin, leaving her as white as a ghost. 

"Hey," Finnick tried to bring Alexis out of her panicked state as he stood in front of her, grabbing her two hands and forcing her to look into his sea-green eyes. "You'll be fine. We both will. Just like every other year."

Alexis nodded her head unconvincingly, but both teenagers knew there wasn't much they could do.

"Come on," Finnick nudged as he released one of her hands and they began walking side by side towards the Justice Building, a dripping wet trial following behind them.

They walked towards the Justice Building at a fast pace, knowing the consequences that would fall upon them if they were late. Other families heading to the same location soon appeared when they reached town, several crying and holding each other tight. Alexis swallowed the bile rising in her throat as she forced her feet to continue walking to keep up with Finnick's long strides.

When the building came into view, however, Alexis gripped Finnick's hand tighter as she came to a full stop in the middle of the street. Finnick was quick to react, pulling her off the street to a secluded ally behind the baker's shop as her breaths became short and heavy. Her vision became blurred as Finnick reached up to hold her face and whispered reassurances her way, but she was too panicked to hear what he was saying. 

Ringing filled her ears as she yanked her head away from Finnick, barely turning around when she leaned over and hurled all over the gravel. Soft hands rubbed her back and pulled back her hair as she threw up her breakfast from that morning. When there was nothing left to hurl, she wiped the liquid from her the corners of her mouth and slumped against the brick wall. 

"Lexi, we need to go," Finnick's voice was soft and regretful but Alexis understood the urgency of his words. If they were late, even by a few minutes, there would be major consequences.

Her head rolled to the side to meet his worried sea-green eyes as he waited for her to respond. Alexis slowly nodded as she pushed herself off the wall and allowed Finnick to lead them back to the street, which was mostly empty save for the few latecomers.

Alexis gripped Finnick's hand tightly as they reached the check-in line, which was shorter due to them being so late. Her heart quickened as the peacekeepers came into view as they took other children's blood but the feeling of Finnick's hand in hers and his soothing words brought her back to reality. 

"Lexi, look at me," Finnick forced her eyes to look away from everything causing her to panic as she met his sea-green eyes. "Everything is going to be alright. I'll meet you at the pier afterward, okay?"

Although they both knew Finnick couldn't promise anything of the sort, Alexis nodded her head as she allowed his lie to slide. She ignored the shaking in her hands as she reached forward and wrapped her arms around Finnick, breathing in his scent of seashells and salty water. Alexis held on, enjoying what could possibly be their last moment together, as Finnick kept his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder.

When it was finally their turn, Alexis reluctantly stepped away from Finnick, immediately missing his warm embrace as she was forced to hold her hand out for the peacekeeper to prick her finger for blood. She winced as the needle poked through her skin before her finger was pressed against one of many papers stacked on the table. Her baby blue eyes watched the peacekeeper scan her fingerprint before quickly waving her through. 

Alexis glanced over her shoulder as she made her way to the girl's section, barely catching a glimpse of Finnick's reassuring smile before he disappeared behind the many other kids. She forced her eyes forward as she made her way to the back, where all the other thirteen-year-old girls stood every year for the Reaping. 

Alexis stood among the other girls, twiddling with her fingers as she waited for the agonizing torture to be over. It wasn't until several minutes had passed that Jinna, the escort for District 4, emerged from the Justice Building, immediately followed by Alexis' father. 

It wasn't until she saw the familiar, blonde man that Alexis realized that she was still soaking wet from her encounter with Finnick. Panicking at what her father would say if he saw her, Alexis began squeezing her hair to dry faster, although she knew it was fruitless. Her father was the mayor who would eventually find everything out just like he always did. 

Alexis jumped as Jinna tapped the microphone, emitting a loud screech before returning to normal as the escort with wild, purple hair released a small giggle.

"Welcome, welcome!" Jinna greeted cheerfully into the microphone, sending chills down Alexis' back. Most nights Alexis would have nightmares of the Capital woman calling out her name at the Reaping but she could always reassure herself it was just a dream. Having Jinna there in person wasn't something Alexis could brush off as easily. "Now, before we begin, we have a very special video brought to you all the way from the Capitol."

The words were the same ones Jinna always said on the Reaping day, obviously scripted by the Capitol for every district, but it never failed to tie Alexis' stomach up in knots as she spoke with an uncanny grin on her unnaturally colored face. Alexis didn't bother watching the video, already knowing it by heart since she was a little girl, as her eyes glanced over to the fourteen-year-old boys' section where she knew Finnick was.

Her eyes caught his sandy, blonde hair before snapping down to meet his eyes, which were already on her as his expression was filled with concern for her. 

'It's okay,' he mouthed to her, although it didn't stop the fear rushing through her veins. Alexis was too frozen to even nod her head to go along with his lie as the video ended and Jinna stepped back up to the mic. 

"Oh, I just love that," Jinna sighed as Alexis' eyes snapped up to look at her with a horror-stricken face. "As usual, ladies first."

The square remained silent as Jinna's heels clicked across the stage until she reached the bowl filled with all the girl's slips. Alexis closed her eyes, crossing her fingers at her side and praying to whatever god was listening as Jinna made her way back to the mic. She thought about Finnick and how they would soon be back at the pier again like it had never happened. 

"Mariella Sallow," Jinna's voice prompted Alexis to snap her eyes open again as she felt relief fill her entire being. Guilt soon followed after but was short-lived as Alexis realized she was safe for another year.

Alexis watched as the girl's near the front shuffled until an older brunette emerged with wide eyes and tears spilling down her cheeks. Mariella slowly made her way to the front, where the peacekeepers led her the rest of the way until she was standing beside Jinna. Her gaze remained glued to the ground as she avoided all the pity stares from the rest of her District and the Captial woman beside her grinned into the microphone.

"Wonderful!" Jinna exclaimed as everyone glared at her obliviousness to the situation. "Now, onto the boys."

Alexis felt herself relax as Jinna picked a slip out of the bowl, knowing she was safe for another year before she had to worry again. It didn't mean she was happy as she watched Jinna open the slip of paper, taking her time to read over the name and even taking a deep, dramatic breath before calling out the boy tribute's name.

"Finnick Odair," Jinna's words echoed across the square until they reached Alexis' ears in the back and the blood drained from her face until she was white as snow. Her mouth ran dry as her eyes snapped over to Finnick, whose face had fallen in disbelief as the boys around him moved like he had the plague. 

She watched, horror-stricken, as he made his way to the center aisle where peacekeepers were waiting to lead him to his death. Her feet moved on their own accord as she shoved past the girls around her until she reached the center aisle.

"FINNICK!" Alexis screamed, catching the attention of her entire district but she didn't care as two peacekeepers stepped forward to keep her back. She didn't even notice the tears streaming down her face as she struggled against their grip until someone grabbed her, lifting her over their shoulder as she sobbed and hit them repeatably as they led her away.

"Let me go!" Alexis sobbed as the boy let her down when they were far enough away from the square.

"Alexis, stop it," the boy ordered, grabbing her wrists when she went to hit him again. He kept his grip on her wrists as she continued sobbing until she couldn't breathe anymore.

When the boy was sure she was back in control, he released his hold on her wrists prompting them to fall limp at Alexis' side. When she had collected herself, at least as much as she was going to, she glanced up to meet the warm, chocolate eyes that watched over her with concern.

"Rael?" Alexis sniffled as she recognized the boy from school.

"Yeah," Rael answered with a soft smile as the girl recognized him. "I didn't realize you knew who I was."

Alexis shrugged unsure how to answer the boy.

"Do you want to go say goodbye?" Rael asked hesitantly, unsure how to broach the subject without making Alexis too upset.

Alexis' eyes glassed over as reality smashed back into her mind, reminding her of the current predicament her best friend was facing. She nodded her head, knowing words would fail her if she tried to speak. She was grateful for Rael as he led her back to the Justice Building, where Finnick was currently being held. Alexis tried to ignore all the stares from everyone as they made their way inside where it was filled with peacekeepers.

Knowing the building inside and out since she was a little girl, Alexis began making her way to the boy tribute's room when she was stopped by a peacekeeper.

"Finnick Odair isn't taking any visitors," the peacekeeper's robotic voice shot through his empty mask as he blocked Alexis' path to Finnick.

"What?" Alexis was taken aback by his words as it took her several seconds to process them. "That's ridiculous. I'm his best friend."

"Finnick Odair isn't taking any visitors," the peacekeeper repeated more forcefully. "Now leave."

"Finnick would never- he wouldn't..." Alexis trailed off as she glanced over at Rael, who quickly tried to hide his look of pity at the heartbroken girl.

"Alexis..." Rael mumbled as she turned around and began running through the maze hallways, Rael chasing after her until she reached a dead end.

It was silent in the hallway, everyone in the front of the building, and the only sound that filled the air was the two teenager's heavy breathing. Rael reached forward to comfort the girl, who was filled with an immense amount of sadness and rage as she glared at the wall ahead of her. Rael flinched back when Alexis suddenly grabbed a vase from the table beside her and smashed it against the concrete flooring, pieces flying across the hallway.

It didn't stop there as Alexis grabbed the edge of the table and threw it sideways, one of the legs splintering and pointing at an odd angle. She smashed and ruined everything she could get her hands on in her vicinity: paintings, vases, and so forth. When there was nothing left to take out her anger at, the sobbing began as Alexis fell limp to the floor. Soft arms wrapped around the girl as Rael tried to comfort the uncontrollably sobbing girl as much as he could, although he knew he was in way too much over his head.

"Why would he do this to me," Alexis sobbed to Rael, who wasn't quite sure what to say to the girl. "He promised me this wouldn't happen... he promised..."