CHAPTER 24
FOR ALL ETERNITY

DESPITE being in a sporadic state of unconscious, Bex ended up waking just fine. But it seemed the last thing her body wanted to do was fall asleep that night. The fainting granted her no favors. Panic set in during the early hours of the night. Bex curled into her comforter, but couldn't for the life of her fall asleep. Her mind felt like it was running a mile a minute. She couldn't get the jitters out of her system.

As a child, her mother told her to count sheep when she couldn't sleep, but when she tried to attempt that now, she was reminded yet again of all her responsibilities. Bex clutched her ring tight.

She wasn't sure when she exactly fell asleep, but it felt like fainting all over again.

Her eyes were heavy when Iliana burst through her bedroom, waving her hands in the air. Bex was incredibly groggy, bleary-eyed, and still shaking with worry. She was sure she only got two hours of sleep. Iliana ignored the Victor's pained expression, and Bex decided that she couldn't blame her. Today was Iliana's big day, after all. The day she waited for every single year.

"It's interview day!" She exclaimed, hoisting Bex to her feet. "I cannot wait to show you what I have in store!"

Johanna's voice was like a distant ring in her ears: Just play up the smiles and especially, the flirtation in your interview.

Bex smiled towards Iliana, shoving her anxieties to the back of her head, vowing to give them attention another day. Just not now. She couldn't deal with all of this at once. Who knows if she would faint again?

Today, she would do what she was asked. She'd be a doll. Bex had gotten quite good at it over the years. She'd let Iliana dress her in whatever catastrophe she came up with. She'd follow whatever Johanna wanted her to say, no matter how much it made her barf. She'd play up the dramatics. She'd make the flirtation believable.

At this point, her actions reflected in whether she would live or die. If Bex had to pretend to be in love with Finnick to live, then so be it. Her imminent death would be no longer. She didn't want to play the weak card anymore.

She was dressed in a black sweatsuit, similar to what Nico adorned as he exited his room right after her. Then, they were both escorted to the stadium where Caesar's interviews were held. Bex could never get over how massive this place was. It seemed to look bigger every year she visited. The stadium was magnificent, and it would be filled wall-to-wall tonight with Capitol elite, as well as another twelve floors for the stylists and their teams to get ready. Bex's own team arrived promptly, just as other Districts began to pull into the parking lot. The sun moved steadily over the horizon as they walked through the door.

It was hardly noon. The interview wasn't until hours later. Today was going to be dreadfully long.

Bex and Nico were separated as soon as they arrived. They were shoved into two separate rooms on the seventh floor before their team got to work. Bex assumed her male partner would not be in prep for as long as she would. She needed to be flawless from head-to-toe.

Scrubbing her whole body down took longer than she anticipated. The prep team washed off any trace of sweat from the gym, any leftover residue that the Remake Center missed. Her teeth were bleached again and her tan skin was made shiny smooth. Any hair that was not on her head was waxed off. Her brow was plucked to no end. She was in so much pain just to be perfect, but she would not scream. Bex was a doll today. Dolls did not scream. They did as they were told, until their heads were ripped off. That was exactly what she wanted to avoid.

While her nails were painted a glittery gold, the rest of Iliana's team went to work on her hair. If her timing was correct, the interviews were to start in two hours, and Bex was sure they didn't have enough time to finish hair, makeup, and to shove herself into whatever Iliana wanted her to wear. Thankfully, the interviews went in order of Districts. They had a little bit more time, but not enough.

One assistant picked up various sections of Bex's hair and wrapped strands around a curling iron. Her hair was supposed to flow in wavy ringlets. Johanna sat beside the vanity, bored as ever, while watching the assistants work. She arrived after they had finished waxing, mentioning that she "would've been there sooner, but Bex's suffering was too much to handle." Now, she sat next to Iliana, flicking through her tablet and going over whatever special notes she had for this evening. Bex's hands shook slightly with nerves, angering the woman painting her nails.

"I'm so bored right now," Johanna sighed, turning to look at Bex in the mirror. "Can we just go over a few pointers for tonight?"

Bex inhaled a shuddering breath. "I guess so."

"It's nothing too serious," she replied quickly. Bex didn't like the sound of it already. "You just really need to sell being in love with Finnick. It has to be from the moment you two met, like ... love at first sight." Johanna then looked to her black-painted nails. "Gross."

"What else?" Bex asked, hands twitching.

"Even though it's love at first sight, you two don't say anything. You kept it quiet," Johanna explained further, "but when you are both faced with being in the Hunger Games yet again – and maybe your untimely deaths – you decide the time is now. You admit your feelings for each other as soon as you meet in the Capitol."

Iliana clasped her hands together. "That sounds so romantic. It must be pretty easy pretending to be in love with that dreamboat, Bex."

Some might say too easy. Bex's stomach was doing somersaults.

"Contain yourself," Johanna muttered, glaring at the stylist. She then turned to face Bex's reflection. "That's your epic love story. Got it?"

Bex narrowed her stare at Johanna. "Why don't you just give me some cue cards and I'll read off those?"

She snickered, "I'm way too lazy to do that." Glancing to her left, Johanna plucked a glass of green champagne from an Avox's tray. She took a sip and looked to Bex once again. "Also remember to give the crowd that flirty smile you used on the guy from the meat market. They'll love it."

The Quarter Quell insignia appeared on the TV projection next to Iliana's vanity. Everyone who wasn't working on Bex turned to face it as the Panem anthem began to play. Iliana clapped when Caesar revealed himself and greeted the crowd, while Johanna rolled her eyes with disgust. She downed the rest of her champagne.

"Almost done," the assistant curling her hair murmured. The other one painting her nails moved her chair to the other side and began to paint the left hand.

Bex's stare flickered to the TV for a moment, watching Caesar giggle towards the audience and play with his lavender-colored hair. "Thank you, thank you," he shouted, bowing before the audience. "Thank you for being here tonight on the eve of the seventy-fifth Hunger Games!"

Her breath hitched. She averted her eyes.

Caesar continued to laugh maniacally. "We have never seen anything like this. And we will never see anything like it again. Because tonight, on this stage, twenty-four of Panem's brightest stars will vie for the ultimate crown. Tonight will be their final opportunity to express their thoughts and our final opportunity to express our love." He sighed into the mic. "And heartbreakingly, to say goodbye to all but one."

The audience groaned along with Johanna, who picked up another glass of champagne. She walked up to the TV, blocking Iliana's view, and muttered, "I wish I could throw this at his face."

Before a fight could break out, the two assistants finished their roles and allowed Bex to stand. When she wasn't looking, Bex realized one of them had braided the sides of her head, placing small, white paper roses between the crevices, as well as down the length of her wavy hair. She admired it in the mirror before turning to Iliana.

The stylist squealed and took out a dress bag from the corner of the room. After urging her to change behind the curtain, Bex took the bag from her hands and was surprised by the weight of it. This couldn't be good.

Iliana had said this dress took her months to come up with, and Bex understood why as she unzipped the bag. It was different from the usual tree outfits she saw every year. Instead, Iliana focused on District Seven's paper industry. The dress was made from a material that looked like paper, but was soft as silk. More paper roses were sewn along the straps of the halter top, while shimmering fabric accented the bodice and skirt. It had a long train with additional paper roses stitched onto the bottom, accompanied by a skirt that flowered like layered paper with thin slits on the sides, revealing Bex's toned legs.

Perhaps, she had judged too quickly.

Iliana had to help her lace up the back as the interviews began on the TV. Bex could hear Cashmere's fake cries from the other end of the room. They clearly had an agenda here. Probably to soften the Capitol up so much that they'll cancel the Games. Bex wondered if the rest of the tributes were going with the same tactic, while she and Finnick were supposed to play star-crossed lovers.

She placed on her gold heels and walked out. They didn't have much time now to finish her makeup, but Iliana assured her that they would be alright. "I want to go with a very pure, natural look to accompany this dress," she explained. "You need not worry."

Iliana lined Bex's eyes with a thin, gold strip before gluing lashes on with flecks of gold at the tips. So much for natural, Bex thought when she looked in the mirror. The rest was quite simple, though. She'd give Iliana that. The stylist carved out Bex's natural, high cheekbones and applied a light blush. She finished with a peach gloss on the mouth, instructing her to smack her lips together. Bex thought it tasted like candy.

As Iliana made last-minute adjustments to her hair, she turned Bex's chair towards the television projection, just in time to catch Beetee's interview. Caesar was commenting on what the Capitol would miss more after these Games: Beetee or his brain, to which the District Three Victor responded, "If the Quarter Quell were written into law by men, certainly it can be ... unwritten."

Bex flinched at his comment. So everyone was using a similar tactic.

Johanna nodded towards the projection. "They're all playing the angry card," she muttered, looking at Bex over her shoulder. "You should too. The star-crossed lovers plot is a good strategy to gain sympathy and stop the Games."

Caesar released an awkward laugh as Beetee exited the stage.

Iliana tsked behind her head. Bex asked, "You don't really think they would stop the Games, right?"

"Maybe," Johanna shrugged, "if the Capitol citizens revolted. But one of these tributes would have to make them really mad or tug at their heartstrings."

"Well, I don't know anyone who could do that –"

"SHH!"

The room fell into a hush as Finnick Odair entered the stage. The crowd went wild, and Johanna couldn't stop herself from grinning. She tried to hide it with her hand, but Bex could still see. Iliana finished with her hair as Caesar introduced Finnick, and Bex struggled to get up and walk towards the TV. Once she was standing on Johanna's right, her arms crossed.

She watched him giggle along with Caesar, entertaining his jokes and interacting with the vibrant crowd. They really loved him here in the Capitol, and it was pretty obvious why. He was so charismatic and amusing. She could deny it all she wanted, but Bex knew deep inside of her that he had successfully charmed her as well. And for once – as she stared into his sea-green irises on the TV – she realized she didn't care. She'd do anything to look at him for an entire day.

A knock resonated on the door and Phoenix walked in. "It's almost showtime. Nico is ready. How about our Flower Girl –"

Johanna shushed again, and they all turned back to the TV.

"So Finnick," Caesar exclaimed, "I understand that you have a message for somebody out there. A special somebody." He chuckled, and Finnick smirked towards the crowd. "Can you explain more?"

Shoving the mic in his direction, Finnick replied, "This might be news to everybody, but I've recently – well –" He exhaled softly. "– Fallen in love behind the scenes."

The crowd screamed dramatically. Caesar's mouth dropped. "Wait, with who?"

"She's a Victor you all know and love. I've loved her since I first laid eyes on her, and with the timing we've been presented here, we admitted to each other how we really felt." The look he gave the audience was captivating. "It's Bex Nassar from District Seven. Your Flower Girl."

Again, the crowd went into hysterics. Finnick made eye contact with the camera, his eyes softening. Bex was completely fixated and took a step towards the projection.

"My love, you have my heart for all eternity. If I die in these Games, it will be protecting you, and my last thought will be of your lips."

Everyone in the room was silent. Bex was completely speechless. Her mouth hung open, waiting for words to come out. She looked around the room, taking in Johanna's satisfied grin, and then Phoenix's wide eyes. Even the styling assistants held a hand to their chests in awe.

Iliana whipped out her fan and waved it in front of her face. "Boy," she huffed, "he is good."

"It's all in the notes," Johanna sneered, tapping her temple.

Bex blinked twice, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. "How am I going to top that?"

Phoenix walked over and placed a hand on her bare shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze. "You have to," he replied as Iliana held open the door. Bex looked to her in terror. "You're on soon and we have to go to the bottom floor."

She released a nervous whimper before allowing her team to escort her out. Iliana and her assistants wished her good luck, but Bex could barely hear anything from the pounding in her ears. She followed Johanna and Phoenix to where Nico waited by the elevator. He was dressed similarly to herself: a pure white suit made from the same paper-like texture. A small paper rose was pinned to his lapel. As the doors opened and the group boarded the elevator, Bex felt her insides twist together, creating a kaleidoscope inside of her stomach. Just thinking about how she would top Finnick's interview was making her feel queasy.

Bex was a good liar. But there always came a time when your web of lies became so huge that the mere thought of it starts to make you sick.

A more frightening thought entered her mind: what if she wouldn't be lying at all? It had once been so easy to dream about him, to be consumed by him. She remembered the soft caress of his lips against her own, and wanting to feel that again suddenly seemed much more terrifying than lying in the first place.

Her stomach turned.

Nico went up to her ear as the doors opened and revealed the side stage. "You look great," he whispered, noticing the wash of panic on her face.

Bex swallowed hard and sent him a fake smile. "You too, Nico."

Phoenix informed the tributes that he and Johanna were going to their seats. "Look for us in the crowd if you choke up," he said. "But please, don't choke." Bex tried to hide the horror on her face, the sickness in her stomach, but it was still very apparent. Phoenix hugged her tightly before leaving them to their own devices.

She just needed to go along with Johanna's story and make it believable. That was easier said than done, though. Bex couldn't help but fidget with her mother's ring as she walked with Nico to the side stage. The male from District Six was just finishing up his interview. Neither he nor his tribute partner spoke a whole lot, so their time with Caesar ended pretty quickly.

Bex lifted her head and almost body slammed into someone else. Her hands recognized the freckled, broad chest as they collided with it. Bex stopped short, glaring up at the person who had so conveniently walked in her way. Nico rolled his eyes and moved around them, heading for the side stage.

Finnick smirked down at her. "So I guess we're in love now."

She shrugged and crossed her arms. "I guess we are."

"I know it won't be so hard for you to love me but ..." He chuckled. "Make it believable."

Bex tensed up. Her back went straight. The Finnick who visited her back home was gone, replaced by the mask he put up for the public. She knew she was a hypocrite for disliking this side of him, because Bex, too, had to play the same role tonight. She had to be a dressed-up doll and put on her mask for the world to see. But she just missed who he really was. She missed the lazy smiles and warm eyes. She missed the guy who almost kissed her in the doorframe of her bedroom.

They had a game to play now. She could reminisce all she wanted, but that didn't change the fact that he couldn't be the real Finnick here. Not in the Capitol, not even in the arena. It was time to be ruthless killers again.

Bex sent him a fake smile. "Don't try so hard next time, my love." She brushed up against his shoulder, eyes narrowing. "Tone it down."

Finding Nico amongst the crowd of stylists and production crew, Bex headed in his direction before someone latched a hand on her arm. She looked away, realizing that a production assistant was yanking her towards another stage entrance. "Hey!" She exclaimed as he dragged her. "I'm supposed to be over there."

Caesar's booming voice echoed on stage: "Ladies and gentlemen, you know as the Flower Girl ..."

The assistant shouted back at her, "No, you're coming from the center of the stage!"

She was suddenly thrown towards the middle stage entrance, right in front of a big, red X on the floor. The doors slid open. Bex was caught off guard, blinded by the harsh lights piercing her eyes.

"Coming all the way from District Seven," Caesar introduced, "Bex Nassar!"

Music thudded in her ears. Bex blinked rapidly from the lights, but still managed to shuffle forward and onto the stage. She pulled up her dress, showing offer her sparkly, open-toed shoes. Her heels clicked loudly and she was so afraid of falling. She kept her head up, though, pretending as if she weren't dying on the inside.

Bex sent a bright grin towards the crowd. They roared with excitement.

She took Caesar's hand and curtsied for them. Her mask was incredibly believable. She couldn't believe her fake smiles still continued to fool the Capitol citizens to this day.

"Look at her!" Caesar exclaimed, gesturing to her dress. Bex pretended to look humble. "Are those the same roses from your chariot this year?"

"Yes, of course." She flipped a piece of dark hair over her shoulder, revealing more of the roses woven into her braids. "Thankfully, these ones won't take me by surprise and move on my head."

Caesar chuckled, "You're always so witty. You know how much we love you in the Capitol, and apparently, also one of your competitors." His voice dropped low. "Is what Finnick said really true?"

Lifting her head the slightest bit, Bex noticed all the tributes standing together at the top level of the stage. Her eyes met Finnick's. He sent her a tense smile.

Bex glanced back at Caesar, who was waiting impatiently, pushing the mic more into her face. She sighed dreamily. "Yes, it's all true. In moments like these, it's very important to take control and admit something you've kept hidden for years." She made eye contact with the audience. "Lucky for me, Finnick felt the same."

She could practically hear Finnick snickering at her acting.

"I love it! I love it!" Caesar shouted, jumping in place. "And I can't wait to see you two fight side-by-side in the Games."

"I will be protecting him just as much as he'll be protecting for me. He's my rock, and I'm happy ..." She trailed off, scanning the audience. In the fifth row, she found her team. Johanna mouthed a set of words for her, and Bex exhaled, turning to Caesar with a blush creeping to her cheeks. "I'm happy to be in these Games beside him. If only we could've had more time together. I just want more and more time."

Caesar held a hand over his heart. "Absolutely breathtaking. I can just feel the love tonight. How about you, folks?"

The crowd erupted in applause. Bex beamed towards them, and then subtly glanced up again. She saw Finnick mouthing the words, Well played.

When the clapping died down, Caesar turned to her sharply. His voice lowered once again. "I have one more question for you." He paused, inching closer to her. Bex twirled the ring on her finger. "It's about the Reaping. We were all very surprised, I think, when you volunteered for Johanna Mason. Can I ask why you did this?"

Bex's mouth went dry. She hadn't anticipated a question like this.

"Johanna has become like a sister to me," she replied honestly, nothing holding her back. "I did not want to subject her –"

The words went dead on her tongue. Bex looked back at the audience, finding Johanna's dark eyes. She wasn't mouthing anything for her to say. She was waiting on the edge of her seat, like the rest of the crowd, clutching their pearls and hands covering their mouths.

Bex spoke to President Snow this time, imagining him in the very center of the audience. "I wanted ... I wanted to go back. For Johanna and the Capitol. I'm loyal to all of you, who have given me so much."

She pictured Snow sneering back at her. With a heavy exhale, she could only hope that would be enough to keep her brother safe.

"Beautifully said," Caesar hummed, gaining her attention. Bex bowed her head. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Flower Girl, Bex Nassar!"

She curtsied one last time, allowing Caesar to grab her hand and hold it up in the air. Her stomach felt like it was doing flip flops and bile rose in her throat. A production assistant waved her over to the side stage, and when she grabbed his hand, he instructed her where she would be standing with the other tributes. Bex heard Nico's name being called as her vision blurred.

Squeezing the assistant's hand, she whispered, "I'm going to be sick."

He looked at her bug-eyed. Bex slumped against a black wall and held a hand to her mouth. "Can someone get me a bucket?" She asked harshly, glaring at the assistant.

He ran away quickly. Bex held her head in her hands, trying to drone out the pounding in her temples. Nausea swirled in her stomach, crawling up her throat.

She had told them she volunteered for the Capitol, that she was loyal to the very end. The lie had tasted like acid on her tongue. It felt like a bug at stung her, and her whole mouth throbbed from just the memory of the lie.

It had become too much then – the lying, the sucking up, the pleading for forgiveness. She wanted to be free.

An Avox eventually handed her bucket, which she dunked her hand into, heaving every now and then. Nothing came up, even if she felt something inch up the base of her throat, even if the nausea was overwhelming. Bex sat there against the wall, gagging, throughout the rest of the interviews.

Nico must be looking ridiculous out there, standing all alone.

She didn't know how long she'd been sitting there, but Bex finally stood at the thought of Nico. She needed to pull herself together for him. It would make them both look better in the end. All that mattered for the rest of their short lives was survival and sponsors.

Upon getting to her feet, Bex tried to her find her way back to the stage, but halted when she saw a group of the production crew huddled around a tiny TV. She walked closer to the projection. Peeta Mellark was being interviewed. She had been sitting so long that they had finally reached District Twelve in the lineup.

"But Peeta," Caesar said to him, tone growing dark, "the wedding, the marriage, never to be?"

Peeta replied confidently. "Well, actually, we got married. In secret. We ... we want our love to be eternal."

The crew before her awed. Bex arched a brow, sensing a plan unfolding.

"Of course," Caesar agreed.

"You know, Katniss and I ..." Peeta sighed. "We've been luckier than most. And I wouldn't have any regrets at all if ... if it weren't ..."

He suddenly got choked up. Caesar's brows crossed, matching Bex's expression. The crowd was gripping their seats. Peeta was about to set off a bomb.

Caesar asked, "If it weren't for what?"

Peeta's mouth wobbled, but Bex could see a hint of a smile.

"If it weren't for the baby," he finished.

The audience shrieked. Their gasps were louder than ever before. "CALL OFF THE GAMES!" They shouted, getting to their feet. One side of Peeta's mouth curled. Even Bex was impressed.

That was when the whole stage went dark.

━━━━━━

A/N: I did NOT expect this chapter to be over 4000 words long, but we had a lot to unpack here. the star-crossed lovers plot is on, which means we're getting more finnick and bex moments soon. we'll also be getting bex's final interaction with a certain avox and then, finally, the arena! 🥳