•Finnick's POV•
I walked back into the room and Brook was getting shrimp out of her hair, still.
"Having trouble there?"
I asked, chuckling.
She turned her head.
"Just a little." She laughed also.
I smiled, walking closer.
"Here, let me help."
I grabbed a strand of her beautiful brown hair and began to pull out the shrimp and rice.
It was kinda funny.
I could see her staring at me in the corner of my eye.
I held onto her hair and looked her in the eye. Our faces were only inches away.
"Hey, guys! Pen-. Oh! Sorry."
I jerked back, pulling some of her hair on accident.
I could tell it didn't hurt her, though.
"No, no. Penia can wait."
Ryder winked at me as Brook still pulled a piece of shrimp out.
"No, no. We tripped and i was helping her get some shrimp and rice out of her hair."
I tried to say seriously, but couldn't help but laugh.
"Ok, well...Penia wanted a meeting."
Brook looked at me before leaving the room.
"What was that?!" Ryder whisper shouted.
"What do you mean?"
"Seriously? You were not just 'pulling shrimp and rice out her hair'. Bro, you looked like you were gonna kiss her."
"Ryder, no." I said, walking out the door.
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•Brook's POV•
Finnick offered to help get the food out of my hair. He walked closer, pulling pieces of shrimp out.
I couldn't help but stare at him.
He caught me, though.
Holding a piece of my hair, he stared into my eyes.
Our faces were so close.
I could kiss him, I thought.
No, no, no! What are you thinking? Don't do that!
Just as our faces got a little closer, not touching yet, Ryder walked in.
"Hey, guys! Pen-. Oh! Sorry!"
Finnick jerked away, yanking my hair. Not hard enough to where it hurt.
"No, no. Penia can wait."
He winked at Finnick but I acted like I couldn't see as I grabbed a piece of shrimp.
"Well, that's all of it." I mumbled.
Looking at Finnick one more time, I paced out the door.
Penia stopped me in the hallway.
"Meeting in a minute. First...
why don't you like Finnick, darling? Every girl falls head over heels for him."
I pulled Penia into my room.
"Don't tell anyone."
Penia modded.
"I've liked him for 3 years.
When I first saw him get reaped, my heart stopped.
I fell in love with him as he played the games.
When he won, I was so happy.
And when the Victory Tour came, he stopped to talk to me. And by talk, I mean talk.
Full on conversation.
"I was surprised I didn't sweat like crazy.
He asked for my name and told me if I ever got reaped, he'd help me out.
And when I found out he was my mentor, I almost freaked.
He asked if I remembered him offering to help me out if I ever had to compete.
I was surprised he remembered. He was taking shrimp out of my hair a minute ago and I thought about kissing him but realized it was probably gonna be a mistake. He probably has a girlfriend, anyway." I sighed.
Penia shook her head.
"No girlfriend.
Surprisingly, he's never had one.
I guess all girls we're too obsessed with his beauty so he never found the right one.
But you, you're not like the others.
Y'all might have a chance.
I mean, I think he likes you."
I couldn't help but smile.
I shrugged.
"We're seventeen now and neither of us had ever had a relationship.
Maybe you're right. He's funny. Sweet. And very gorgeous. With Finnick-."
"Hey, y'all talking about me?"
Finnick stood by the door.
"No." Penia and I said quickly.
"I could've sworn I heard my name."
"I told Penia I thought we should have fish sticks for dinner."
"But we already-."
"For tomorrow. You probably thought I said Finnick instead of fish sticks." I interrupted.
He oddly nodded.
"Anyway...Penia, you said you had a meeting?"
"Ah, Yes! Where's Ryder?"
"Right here!" Ryder said, behind Finnick.
"Good! I...am getting married!"
Penia held out her hand, showing us her ring.
"Penia, is beautiful!" I said.
"To who?" Finnick asked.
"Y'all are going to be shocked...Hayden."
We were shocked.
"Congratulations!" all of us said.
"So...while my wedding is tomorrow, sorry y'all can't come, y'all have to train. I'll have people record it. My honeymoon is in the next three days, so I'll have Effie Trinket, District 12 mentor, mentor y'all."
"And what about the kids from District 12? Who's gonna mentor them?"
"They have 2 mentors. Effie and a drunk, Haymitch Abernathy."
"Ok then."
"I'll tell you what.
Y'all train as hard as y'all can tomorrow, I'll let you have the next week free until the games."
"For real?!" Finnick yelled.
"You're serious?!" I asked.
"Yes!" Ryder shouted.
Penia laughed.
"Yes, But DO NOT make me regret it."
"We'll try."
Ryder exclaimed.
Penia walked out.
"Don't regret it?"
Finnick and I said I'm sync.
"Ha!"
We started laughing.
Ryder rolled his eyes.
"I guess great minds really do think a like." He walked out.