~ [chapter three] ~

Cassia looked at Finnick through eyes of anger and regret. How could he have done this to her?
"Finnick Odair." Psycity's eyes washed over Finnick as she took him in. Yeah. He's a bit young to volunteer. The look on the escorts face confirmed that.

"All right! This years tributes for District Four!" Finnick stuck out his hand to Cassia, but she slapped it away, crossing her arms like a little kid and allowing the peacekeepers to take her back. Finnick had no idea she'd be this angry.

Maybe she doesn't know the real reason he volunteered. Does she still think he wants fame? In Finnick's mind, fame would be great. Double the fortune already in store for him. But really, he knows that if he didn't volunteer, he'd never be able to live with himself.

Of all things, that was not his predicament right now. Cassia was with him when he told his parents that their whining had finally convinced him to stay out of the games for a few more years. They are not going to be happy.

"Kaya!" Finnick's little sister jumped onto his lap and wrapped her long arms around his neck tightly. Following behind her came his parents and older brother Liam who looked at him angrily but proudly. At the age of eighteen, this could have easily been Liam's year to volunteer. Finnick took that from him.

"I can't wait until you come home," she said with a smile.

"Me neither, baby," said Finnick, kissing her forehead. But he just subtly shook his head and his parents slowly backed out of the room, taking that as a sign that he already knew his consequences and he didn't want another reminder. His father forced him off with a firm nod. "I'm sorry, Liam."

"Ahhh.... it's nothing." Liam shoved his hands in his pockets and sat on the decorated limb of the velvety couch, embroidered with designs of delicate waves. The detailed artwork was almost impossible to peel away from. "Oh, and, no matter what you say, I know you didn't volunteer for fame and glory." A firm knocking on the door brought peacekeepers that took Kaya and Liam out of the room, much too quick for Finnick's liking.

Behind the door, Finnick could just make out Liam pulling Kaya away from the door whispering, "come on. Let's go say goodbye to Cassia." What Liam had said stuck to Finnick. The fact that his older brother, of all people, was to suspect the real reason he volunteered. A first look at Finnick, and it wouldn't make sense. Once you got to know him, though, it would be impossible to believe there was any other reason.

After a while, Finnick grew restless and the thought of anyone else coming in was hard to believe. Until the door opened again, revealing Dominic. "Your parents must be ticked," is the first thing he said.

"Oh, well if you mean so annoyed yet understanding that they didn't even say anything, then yes, yes they are." Dominic just shook his head and moved toward the middle of the room. His red plaid shirt suggested uncertainty for today, and Finnick knew Dominic too well for him to get away with it.

Ever since kindergarten, Finnick had counted on Dominic as more of a brother than a sidekick or best friend. Especially since he didn't get along with Cassia. Another thing that's lasted ever since kindergarten.
"You know, you could try making a trident."

"What?"

"Like out of knives and rope and a stick or something." Finnick raised his eyebrows and Dominic bowed to his idea. "It might work." The fact that Dominic was making weapon suggestions put him on edge. He still couldn't believe he was going into the games. It was like a dream come true and an unwanted nightmare all in one.

This had got to be the longest three minutes of Finnick's life, because for what felt like uneven centuries he just sat there listening to Dominic babble on about... well he wasn't paying attention. "You got this," he said as the peacekeepers marched him out the door.

No one else came, and it wasn't long before a pair of Peacekeepers curtly ushered Finnick out the room, and he was standing side by side with a infuriated Cassia.
"Look-"

"Don't try it." Simultaneously, everyone stopped walking and Cassia put her hand up to block anything else. In defense, Finnick surrendered and quickly put his hands up over his head before letting them down to his sides with a glare from Cassia.

"What did you ever do to her?" Psycity's breathy comment trailed down Finnick's neck.

"Everything." A handful of mentors load into a truck that reeked of fish and lacked of breathable air. Relieved he didn't have to join them, Finnick piled into another truck, that seemed nicer, but was undergoing the same condition.

The driver was utterly speechless the whole drive, leaving the conversation to Finnick and Cassia, which Cassia was avoiding at all costs. The drive along the beach was smooth and apprehensive. Finnick's warm body seemed to melt into the fabric of the seats, leaving him sticky and seemingly heartless by the time the truck parked at the train station.

"Now remember. You are representing District Four this year. It is an honor and you need to present a united front." Psycity seemed completely unsusceptible to Cassia and Finnick's predicament. "So, hold hands or something." Psycity wags her finger and Finnick reaches for Cassia's hand.

Slowly, Cassia grabs it back and for a quick second the meet each others eyes. Finnick carries with him a look of solitude and regret, followed with pity that Cassia seems to shove aside. "Look happy."

"That is the only thing I'm not right now." As the group comes up to the train, they are swarmed by the crowd there to greet them and show them off. A much bigger crowd than the one at the reaping.

Raising their combined fist into the air, their togetherness seemed to spark a rising excitement in the crowd, and as the boarded the train, the whistles and cheers got louder and louder until Finnick was barely able to comprehend his own thoughts.

The screeching sound of metal against metal sent the train off with a stumble as Cassia and Finnick struggled to keep their grip on the floor. As Cassia began to pull away from Finnick, he only gripped her hand tighter. He'd already lost everything within moments. He was not about to lose his best friend.

this was a very filler chapter. not the best, but i hope you enjoyed it nonetheless.
yes, i know i didn't include finnick's family in the cast at the beginning, so i will include it here. anyhow- how did you enjoy the story?! i hope y'all include to enjoy it and continue to vote and comment. it means so much to me, so thank you!
also, i'm so sorry this took me so long. i'm going through writers block with this rn, so if you guys have any ideas PM ME OR COMMENT! tysm ily all.

finnick's family
mckenna grace as kaya odair
jacob hopkins as liam odair
megan markle as taya odair (finnick's mother)
prince harry as bert odair (finnick's father)