Finnick Rinus Odair was the complete description of a heartbreaker. With his tall, firm build, pearly white teeth, and unkempt bronze locks, the boy of only fourteen was something of a total wonder, the type of guy that had girls tripping over their feet to chase after him, longing for a chance with the handsome boy.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENgSTSSBRp
And, of course, he would toy with them, throw a wink one way, a winning grin the other way, and stroll past the practically drooling girls, acting as if he knew exactly what his impression was on everyone else and would sport it proudly on his chest.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFNG6SPati
But this wasn't all he was, a boy with no other significance but his popularity; no, he wasn't that shallow. He wouldn't stoop low enough to depend entirely on his good looks to bear his image; after all, how could you put your entire faith in something that could eventually fade away?
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlMqbq7vIA
He had charisma, of course, he did; but squashed down deep below was a side to him, filled with cheesy, sometimes horrendous stabs at comedy; a resolve that narrowed his eyes, grit his teeth, and handed him a strength to tolerate things that he hardly thought he could endure; a passion (for things such as swimming, fishing, and practicing with the used old trident he trained with day-to-day) that allowed him to block out just about everything else in the world other than what he was concentrating on. And lastly, though unexpected due to his reputation, a militant loyalty and sense of vigilance over the few people he honestly cared for in his life.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKlm3EeupK
He lived in a little house down just a mile from the coast, with fairly stable log walls and a broken-down picket fence that enclosed roughly half of the meager lawn included in their property. There was just enough living space for his parents, twin sister, and himself, making the tiny bungalow borderline uncomfortably cramped.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EfVLOpmvO
Now, there were only a few people that Finnick actually cared for, among them being both of his parents, sister, Carolina, who doubled as a best friend, and Annie Marie Cresta, the introverted girl who lived down the street, and in the eyes of hotshot, Finnick Odair, was the most gorgeous girl in the entire nation of Panem. With her long flowy chestnut hair, deep green eyes, and lovable yet reserved nature, she was a portrait of utmost beauty, which is something that Finnick had always noticed, even if it was just in passing. Did he ever consider that he'd end up with the feelings he had for her? No. She had managed to gradually and cryptically creep up on him, edge into his life and ultimately his heart before he even seemed to catch what she was doing.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGvtoP7wIF
The morning of his third reaping dawned cloudless and warm, an excellent day for swimming in the crystal clear water of the local beaches and just being outdoors overall if it weren't for the dreaded events that would soon take place. So Finnick made it a point to go down and take a stroll down the shore, grains of sand clinging to his skin as he gathered his thoughts, before returning to his house, eating a sparse breakfast and dressing in fairly nice clothing before beginning the trek with his sister to the town square, to the justice building where the reaping would commence at ten o'clock sharp.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUUji1Jit2
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rYTlNjZHY
He moved through the motions, barely having time to wish his sister good luck before being swept into a mass of children, and ushered to the proper location, left to wait in unease. He listened to the typical spiel about the uprising and a renewed nation climbing from the ashes; all of the propaganda the capitol fed to the blameless district children, who knew no better than to believe them.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHu62Jpl5e
The capitol escort, bedecked with jewelry of all various proportions and a wide insane grin, reached a lace glove into the sea of carefully printed names and drew one for the female and one for the male.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEChLZMfUdl
She cleared her throat before reading out in a clear flowery voice,
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc1IIfHyDM
"The lucky male and female tributes for this year's extravagant hunger games festivities are Kailani Abner and Finnick Odair!"
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0SfRgQoG2
It was at that moment that Finnick Odair truly felt fear for the first time. The type of fear that contorts your stomach in knots makes sweat collect at the palms of your hands and fades out the world around you.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i8ceC9hVW
"Come up, you two! I won't bite!"
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KA5N7T3Zp
He positioned one foot in front of the other, forcing a slight smirk on his face and mounting the steps to the concrete dais as a short blonde girl materialized opposite of him, anxiety carved upon her suntanned features.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCWwkN0IHl
"District four, I deliver to you this year's tributes! May they bring you pride and victory!"
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzjEwxiPa2
The escort placed a hand to the back of each tribute and guided them through the entranceway into the internal portion of the building, leaving Finnick with just enough time to glance over his shoulder and find his sisters displeased face in the mob.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH565VPNbK
He was thrust into a chamber filled with decorative furniture and was instructed to wait for his loved ones to come to say their goodbyes.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmYkpJnDlG
The first to arrive were his parents, within mere seconds of his own arrival into the room. His mother surrounded him in her arms, tears in her eyes and lacing the words clinging to her throat as she tried to describe to him how much she loved him and was proud of the young man he had been raised up to be. His father slapped his back and gave him a brief hug, as well as a speech on things like how to locate food, intimidate his fellow tributes and ultimately come home a victor and not in a plank box.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEGE74bnFm
The second they escaped the room, leaving him with words he hoped he wouldn't forget, Carolina scrambled through the door, slamming it behind her and striding directly into the arms of her brother.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYco8us2AN7
"It'll be ok," he whispered in the shell of her ear, the feel of her frantic breathing against his chest making the entire experience feel so terrifyingly real.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWts2nSvAKV
"But what if you don't come home?" She glanced up, her eyes identical to his, staring directly at him, brimming with emotion and tears that threatened to spill over onto her cheeks. "Finnick, it'd be like a piece of me getting ripped away..."
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAmur4MsYV
"But I am going to come home, Carolina; I'll fight like hell in that arena to come back to you. I promise. And you know that I don't break my promises."
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnam1F5OSa2
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulul0qVeUV
She nodded, a single teardrop dribbling down her flushed face as he tugged her back into a tight hug and told her he loved her, holding her close until the peacekeepers came to drag her away.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JnuTcUSZ2
A hush filled the room, drowning Finnick in the din of his thoughts, of all the things stuffing his brain involving his present circumstance.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtElIAcGgyK
The door slowly creaked open, displaying the face of the brunette girl that Finnick had grown so strangely fond of.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSwpVV51MJ
"Finn..." Her voice came out in an unsteady whisper, her eyes taking in the picture of the boy before her. "Finn...I need to tell you something and I...I just know I won't forgive myself if I don't tell you...but...but I really like you as more than a friend, and I just needed you to know..."
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFBNNktTCa
Finnick stood and took a few short steps forward so that he was parallel to the babbling girl. He tilted up her chin, taking notice of her sudden silence and the way her breath abruptly seized in her throat as he leaned in and snagged her lips in a soft kiss, the first of what would, with time, turn into many.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRW01Pcop3
When she pulled away, her emerald eyes tacking his with an expression brimming with emotion, he patted some of her hair from her face, trying to camouflage the sentiment working its way from his heart.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdDUvgT8bR
"Will you take this?" Annie whispered, voice trembling slightly as she shoved a cowrie shell dangling from a thin rope into his palm. "You know, as a token?"
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6wIq5a7I5
"Yeah," Finnick closed the object in his fist, nodding his head and swallowing back the emotion in his voice. "I will."
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDU5Uq2Epsk
"Thank you, Finnick,"
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWExeRA6Zqn
The door unlocked, a peacekeeper materializing in the opening.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLJ05ydOTx
"Time's up,"
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKV8YkPzLh
Annie encased her arms around his neck, giving him a peck on the cheek before the peacekeeper seized her arm and began to rip her away from him.
"I'll come back to you, Annie," Finnick swore, squeezing her hand.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEs3N3BFhB
A single tear dripped down her cheek as she was tugged into the doorframe.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMah2X2XWN
"Goodbye, Finnick," she called, just as the door was slammed.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfOFBq283t
It was in that moment, as his whole world seemed to come crashing down, that Finnick Odair vowed to himself that he would never forgive the capitol for doing this to him, to anyone. Someday he would retaliate, expose every confidential secret of the capitol for himself, his heartbroken family, all the innocent children of Panem, and the girl who stole his heart.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDLEEdWItB
He stared down at the rope in his hand and thought of the girl that gave it to him. That was all he needed to harden his resolve.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBBfzAZyVG
He glanced up, glaring at nothing in particular, and clenched the token in his fist.
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvAYYE8Frh
"Let the hunger games begin, Snow. Let them begin."
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTaXCD42zM
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8hOt93yKK
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjmW1O3gG0
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9NxV1B9Vx
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnULol8qy0c
