Today was last day of training. I've only been making small talk with Finnick and have mostly been talking to Percy.
Right now the four of us are on the couch waiting for the scores to be read.

District 2 female with a score of ten." Says Ceasar as Magnetas face flashes on the screen.

"District 2 male with another score of 10." Percy's face flashes on the screen.

I notice that Finnicks tributes get and 8 and a 9 respectively, which I'll go congratulate him on later, and that the girl from 7 gets a 2, one of the lowest scores I've ever seen.

"I'm going to go congratulate everyone." I say to Brutus as I head to the front door and put on my leather jacket.

"Alright." He replies from over the couch.

I step into the elevator and press floor 4. I may have forgot to mention that by everyone, I actually meant just Finnick. I walk out of the elevator and knock on the door.

To my dismay, the escort answers the door.

"Hello Miss Jones, may I help you?" She asks politely.

"Uh, yeah was looking for Finnick." I say awkwardly.

"Oh sorry dear he's out right now, can I take a message?" She says remorsefully.

"Can you just tell him that I stopped by?" I ask.

"No problem dear." She says closing the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After not seeing Finnick last night, I have even more questions for him, like why won't he tell me?

All these questions are giving me a headache, and on top of that I have to worry about Percy's interview that's coming up in less than 20 minutes.

I begin to pace back and forth backstage, waiting for Percy to come out of the dressing room.

Just then Percy emerges from the dressing room. He's wearing a blue suit and a white shirt.

"Looking good." I say. Percy spins around to show off his whole suit.

I put my hands on his shoulders and look up into his big blue eyes. "You're gonna do great." I say.

"I know." He replies, looking into my eyes. Percy places his hands on my arms. "You're more nervous than I am." He laughs.

"I know, I know." I say, I probably am worrying too much.

In the hall I hear someone clear their throat, Percy instantly jumps away from me.

"Hello Finnick," Says Percy flatly. He begins to walk down the hallway towards the main back stage area. Finnick watches as Percy passes him.

"Percy." Says Finnick matching his tone. Percy turns back and looks at him questioningly.

Finnick turns to look at me giving me a stern look.

"What?" I spit out. "I didn't do anything wrong."

"No but you were this close to doing something wrong." He says holding up his hand to display "this close".

"Look I don't like him, and even if I did would there be a problem with that?" I reply.

"Oh, so you do like him!" Finnick throws back accusingly.

"No! You didn't hear anything I just said! But even if I did like him why is that such a problem for you?" I yell.

"Because I feel like I need to protect you!" He says angrily.

"Why don't you trust me with him! Who are you to say that when you're sleeping around with everyone in the Capitol!" It all comes out so fast. I didn't mean to say the last part it just came out.

"Who told you?" Asks Finnick, the hurt evident in his voice.

"Cashmere." I reply. "Why didn't you tell me?" I ask carefully.

"I didn't want you to think of me any differently." Says Finnick, his eyes giving away his extreme sadness. "You know how I told you the games never end?" I nod. "President Snow, he makes me do it. He killed my family because of it, and he threatened to kill Mags too. I didn't want you to get wrapped up in all of this too. I thought that maybe if I kept you in the dark I could protect you."

"But now that I know I can help you." I say calmly.

"I know you think I should've told you, but I still worry how this will affect out friendship. There'll be times when I can't be there because I have to protect the ones I love, what's left of them anyways."

"Finnick, if you'd told me about this before I wouldn't have been mad for the times you weren't there, but I know now and nothing can keep me from waiting for you." I say, gosh I'm not usually this gushy but these words just flow out of me naturally.

"I know you'll wait and that's what scares me. What if president Snow knows too? Will he use it against me? Will he use it against you?" He says fearfully.

Realization dawns on me. That's why he wanted to meet me on the roof. That's why we took separate elevators down. "Finnick what ever he does you and I can handle it, together. We're only weak when we're on our own." Wow. Maybe grandmas wisdom is rubbing off on me.

Finnick walks over and pulls me into a hug. "Best friends." He says.

"Best friends." I repeat. After about a minute of silence I speak up. "Finnick why don't you think Snow has come after me yet?"

"I don't know." He says. "And that terrifies me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Percy did great in his interview, killed it actually. I've had sponsors contacting me all morning.

Today is the day the games start, and I'm nervous as hell. The ride to the carrier that will take the kids to the arena is silent. We pull up to the carrier and everyone empties out of the truck. We are the second to arrive, District 4 is already here.

I walk with Percy up to the carrier. As he stands in front of the carrier I can't help my self and throw my self at him to give him a bear hug. "Promise me one thing." I say as I pull away. He nods. "That you'll win."

"Octavia, you have given me the best week of my life but I can't promise anything. You and I have something special, I know you feel it too. But I know that you don't feel like I'm the one, and I can't let you walk away from the one you're meant for for me."

"But-" I interject.

He silences me. "Tavia in case no one told you, best friends don't meet alone on a roof." He says referring to Finnick and I. "You two are made for each other and I would be stupid to get in between that. You may not realize it but I can see the way he looks at you, and how you talk about him. I hope if I come out of this we can all be friends." He says. I'm stunned I have no idea what to say.

"If I don't goodbye Octavia, I will never forget you." Says Percy solemnly. And with that Percy disappears onto the carrier.

"What did he say?" Asks a voice quizzically.

I turn around to see Finnick whose standing a short distance away from me. I'm trying to soak in everything Percy has said. I just run up to Finnick and pull him into a hug. At first he's surprised but he returns the hug.

"What's this all about?" Finnick chuckles.

"I don't ever want to lose you okay?" I say sounding more emotional than rational at this point.

"I'll never let you lose me." He replies.

In this moment I think about what Percy said about soulmates and what Mags said about people creeping up on you. But Finnick Odair falling in love with me? No, way.