☆°.˙ ▍𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐘𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐘

⎰𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨⎱

          𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 extremely quickly, in Fleur's opinion. The lockdown on District Eight had been lifted a couple days before the reaping to avoid any riots.

          Fleur looked at herself once more in the mirror, memories from her own reaping flashing through her mind. The dress she had worn, the promise Jonah had made her that she would be all right, her name being called, the fear passing through her mind, her brother's name being called as well. The memories caused pain and anger to flash in her eyes.

          Fleur and Ben hugged each other tightly before they left the house. Fleur was escorted by four peacekeepers, two in front of her and two behind her, as Ben went to the center with Cecelia's husband and kids. The peacekeepers led Fleur to a roped off area next to the stage and had her stand next to Cecelia while Woof stood on the other side of the stage.

          The Capitol escort, Octavia, stood in the center of the stage with a huge grin as she looked out at the citizen of District Eight who had hardened expressions of disgust and anger.

          "Welcome to the District Eight reaping for the Third Quarter Quell. Ladies first." Octavia stated in excitement as she clapped her hands together.

          She reached into the bowl that held only two slips of paper, one that had Fleur Astor written on it and the other that had Cecelia Wood on it. Octavia pulled out a slip and walked towards the microphone before slowly opening the slip and reading out the name.

          "Fleur Astor! Come on up, darling." Octavia stated as she turned to Fleur with a huge smile.

          "No!" Ben yelled out as tears began streaming down his face. He attempted to walk up to her but was pulled back by Cecelia's daughter who shook her head and let Ben cry into her chest.

          Fleur slowly walked up the stage with an expressionless face as she tuned out whatever Octavia was saying. Her eyes found Ben's and an apologetic look flashed through her eyes once she saw Ben's tear stricken face.

          She came back to reality once she felt her arms being grabbed and was pulled inside the Justice Building. She mouthed 'I love you' to Ben and saw him mouth 'I love you' back just before the doors closed.

.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

          "Cashmere and Gloss. Brother and sister. District One. They both won back to back Games. Capitol favorites. Lots of sponsors. They will be lethal." Haymitch stated before he switched the screen. "And the other half of the Career Pack, Brutus and Enobaria."

          "What's with her teeth?" Katniss questioned as she looked at Enobaria's sharp teeth.

          "She had them filed into fangs so she could rip people's throats out." Haymitch replied nonchalantly.

          "She's committed, I'll give her that." Peeta stated.

          "Wiress and Beetee. Not fighters, but brilliant. And weird. Real tech savvy. He won his Games by electrocuting six tributes at once." Haymicth stated, causing Katniss to be slightly impressed. "The Morphlings, masters of camouflage. Basically won their Games by hiding until everyone else was dead. Self–medicating ever since, which I applaud. Not a threat." Haymitch stated before changing the screen to District Four.

          "Finnick Odair, right?" Katniss questioned in an unimpressed tone.

          "Yes. He won his Games at fourteen, one of the youngest ever. Extremely humble." Haymitch said in an extremely sarcastic tone.

          "You're kidding." Katniss said in disbelief.

          "Yes. I'm kidding. He's a peacock. A total preener. But he's the Capitol darling. They love him here. Charming, smart, and very skilled in combat, especially in water." Haymitch informed the two teenagers.

          "What about weaknesses?" Peeta questioned.

          "One of them is Mags. She volunteered for Annie. Mags was his mentor and basically raised him. If he's trying to protect her in any way, it exposes him." Haymitch explained.

          "A guy like that has to know she's not going to make it. I bet when it really comes down to it, he won't protect her." Katniss cut in.

          "Well, Katniss, I just hope when she goes, she goes quickly. She's actually a wonderful lady." Haymitch replied causing Katniss to look away from the screen. Haymitch changed the screen to District Eight showing Peeta and Katniss, a young woman who couldn't be any older than twenty–five.

          "And Finnick Odair's second weakness, Fleur Astor. She was the youngest Victor ever at age thirteen. Extremely reclusive and doesn't hang around much of the Victors. I think in about the twelve years she's been a Victor, she's said about ten words to me. The only people she really hangs around with are Finnick, Mags, and Annie. As far as I know, not a fighter. She's a lot like you, Peeta. She was protected by her District partner during her Games. Only took one life during her Games." Haymitch explained causing both Katniss and Peet to exchange glances of confusion.

          "Was that one life her District partner's life?" Katniss guessed only to be even more confused once Haymitch shook his head.

          "District One female who ranked third in Fleur's Games." Haymitch corrected. "Her District partner killed himself to send her home."

          "Why?" Peeta questioned in confusion.

          "Because her District partner was her older brother." Haymitch informed his tributes causing them to become shocked. "Another thing, Fleur and Finnick are extremely close. If you hurt one hair on Fleur Astor's head, Finnick Odair will make sure you pay."

.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

          Fleur looked down at her dress in slight content. She was wearing a long black dress with white wires on the shoulders. It wasn't as bad as last year when they looked like some sort of clown which delighted her.

          Suddenly she felt a pair of hands grab her shoulders and twist her around, making her come face to face with Johanna Mason.

          "Hello, Johanna." Fleur greeted softly.

          "Hello, Fleur. Where's your boyfriend?" Johanna questioned as Fleur took in her appearance, much to her amusement.

          "A tree, again?" Fleur questioned before frowning. "What boyfriend?"

          "Yes, again. And by boyfriend I mean Finnick." Johanna replied.

          "Finnick is not my boyfriend and I have no idea where he is." Fleur replied causing Johanna to roll her eyes.

         "Oh, hush now. Oh, there he is. He's off troubling Girl on Fire." Johanna stated.

          "Well then, I'll have to go and save her. Bye, Johanna." Fleur stated as she walked over to where Katniss and Finnick were standing, the younger girl looking extremely uncomfortable.

          "What about you, Girl on Fire? Any secrets worth my time?" Finnick questioned.

          "I'm an open book. Everybody always seems to know my secrets before I know them myself." Katniss replied.

          "Unfortunately I think that's true." Finnick stated.

          "Oh, Finnick. Stop troubling the poor girl." Fleur remarked.

          Finnick smirked. "Hello, Fleur. Your outfit is quite nice today."

          "You have a nice outfit as well, or should I say lack thereof." Fleur retorted.

          Finnick chuckled before turning back to Katniss. "I'm sorry you had to cancel your wedding. I know how devastating that must be for you." Finnick stated before popping a sugar cube into his mouth. "Have a good day." Both Fleur and Finnick turned to leave as Peeta came toward his chariot.

          "Peeta." Finnick greeted before taking Fleur's hand and walking away from the two tributes from Twelve.

          "Finnick. Fleur." Peeta replied. "What did they want?" Peeta questioned as he turned to Katniss.

          "He wanted to know all my secrets and she just came to control him." Katniss replied. "I can see that they get along very well, I just don't understand how."

          Fleur made her way back to her chariot and climbed on as she gave Woof a small smile which he nodded to. Most of the attention during the parade was given to Districts One, Two, and Twelve along with Finnick. Most of the other Districts were ignored as the Capitol cheered for their favorite pair of lovers. 

.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

          After the parade, both Finnick and Fleur headed up to his living quarters and sat on the couch as they looked out the window. 

          "How's Annie?" Fleur questioned softly, knowing that the green eyed girl had been extremely traumatized since her Games. Seeing her District partner getting beheaded had caused the girl to lose her mental balance.

          "Better than she was before. But if she was in these Games, her mental health would become even worse. All of our PTSD is bad but she has it even worse." Finnick replied. "But I can't lose Mags. I care about her too much. How's Ben?" 

          "I know, Finnick. I know you can't lose her. Ben, is okay. I mean he lost his dad twelve years ago to the Games and now his aunt is thrown back in." Fleur stated as her voice cracked and her eyes filled with tears. 

          Finnick wrapped his arms around Fleur and pulled her close to him as the two sat in silence, just listening to each other's breathing as they looked out the window at the lights of the Capitol.

Johanna is super annoyed at their constant denial and wants to smack some sense into the two of them.