"TO BE, ATHENA ODAIR..."

--¤☆¤--

Sitting on the bed, I lounge around as I wait for Effie to come to the room and help me get ready. I had eaten a small bowl of soup and cracker's an hour ago, and had stuck to drinking cups of water for now. I was well fed and clean, just like Effie ordered me to be; so that I was fresh and bare, ready for her makeover. Brushing my hair, I hum as old lullaby as I untangle all of the knots in my hair; when I hear a knock at the door.

"It's a big big big day! Come Katniss, Johanna! Carrie, Thalia be careful with the dress will you?!" Effie shouted, entering my room.

Turning to the door, I found the girls dragging themselves in with scowls on their faces as Effie paraded herself around the room. Their hair had been styled much to their displeasure, which I was sure that Johanna was happy to have her head shaved; saving her the struggle that there would be with Effie. They had small specks of glitter and natural color's painted across their eyes, showing off their natural beauty.

"I see that Effie got to the four of you." I said, giggling at the small amounts of make-up applied to the girl's faces.

"I have never been more grateful for not having hair." Johanna said, plopping herself down on the floor.

"I would have been fine without the make-up. But I mean the struggle that came from Carrie. Like, I never knew that Carrie's hair could be such a bitch." Thalia said, placing the dress onto the hook behind the door.

"My hair was not meant to be braided! It's meant to be flowing free curls!" Carrie argues, putting down the veil and heels on the floor.

"NOT THE VEIL!" Effie shouts, picking up the veil from the floor.

"Jesus, Effie! Why don't you damage my other ear." Katniss jokes, making me snicker at the death glare Effie sends her.

"This was gifted to us from Denise from Room 918! It was her Great Grandmother's! Everything Athena will be wearing for the most part, has a story and meaning to it! You have to treat them with respect!" Effie lectures, making Johanna roll her eyes.

"Can me and Thalia go? We gotta make sure that the food and Finnick is ready." Carrie asks, as she and Thalia scoot themselves closer and closer to the door; and out of the 5'4" wrath that is Effie.

"Fine! But you two, Katniss and Johanna are going to help me! Now, someone get me some lotion and strength not to strangle you all!" Effie said, waving the younger girls out.

Watching as they leave, Katniss and Johanna give them longing looks; as the door shuts behind them. Using my hand to hold back my laugh, I watch as Effie starts to rummage through some drawers; until she pulls out a bottle of rose scented lotion. 

"So....what are we gonna do first?" Katniss asks, rocking on the back of her heels awkwardly.

Holding it up in victory, she pops open the cap and takes a whiff of it; she was quite literally smelling the roses. Huffing at what Katniss said, I could see Effie's eye narrow and fill with annoyance. It was going to be a long day.

"That's it! Both of you out!" Effie order's.

---0---

Looking in the mirror, I feel myself choke on my breath as I look at the woman staring back at me. I was dressed in a beautiful mix of grey and silver wedding dress, with a few fixes from Effie. The dress leaves my shoulders mostly uncovered and flows down into a modest jewel semi-sweetheart neckline. 

It's a snug fit which makes the dress look sleek and elegant, and the relaxed fit removes the focus from my breasts; but without making it look sloppy. My arms were covered only halfway down with the sleeves, the loose fit of diamond lace; help put focus on my pale skin that we moisturized with glittery lotion of Effie's.

The dress' waist is broad, but it's a loose fit with a diamond belt wrapped around and tied in the front. Below the waist the dress widens and has multiple layers of both lace and sheer fabric that blend together beautifully. It reaches all the way down to my feet and is the same length all around, except for the long trail that would drag behind me. After I was zipped up, I slipped on some grey heels which only added simplicity and elegance; contrasting with the fanciness of the dress. And to top it all off, I was wearing my gold charm bracelet; gifted to me by Pixie.

My hair was left down with my curls sprung freely, with only two small braids that connect together with a silver clip; that would hold the veil. Effie claimed that I needed to look like what Finnick fell in love with, the side of me that he saw when camera's weren't flashing; the 'natural' side of me. 

Clipped onto my silver hair clip, was a long lace veil that trailed down to the floor; mixing with the long trail of my dress. The only piece of make-up that I had was wearing a very light shade of cherry blossom eye shadow; that tinted my eyes with a faint shimmer.

"I⎯I look.." I stutter out, at a loss for words.

"Beautiful! I know my cousin would be proud of you, Athena!" Effie said, making me tense.

"Cousin?" I ask, praying that she wasn't talking about who I thought it was.

"Pixie, of course! Distant cousin of mine, someone who had an eye out for good in this world! I know that she would be thrilled!" She said, peaking over my shoulder.

"I'm sorry about her." I said, turning to her.

"Don't be. She was fighting for what she saw was right, and what she fought for will help save more innocent people once this war is over! Remember today is about you and Finnick's love for one another! Let's not pull that attention and spotlight off the two of you! Now, Haymitch is outside. Go to him whenever you're ready, honey." She said, patting my shoulder.

Taking a deep breath, I pull away a loose curl and fix the veil; preparing myself for the next few minutes. In less than a few minutes, I was going to be Finnick's wife; we were going to be married. Letting out a breath, I didn't know that I was holding; I grabbed onto the door of the doorknob and turned it. 

Opening the bedroom door, I found Haymitch standing outside of it; messing around with his now much longer hair. Chuckling as he only makes his hair an even bigger mess, he looks up and stares at me in awe; making me shake my head.

"How are you feeling?" He asks, as I walk out of the room and into the hallway.

"Like I can puke at any second." I said, my hands feeling tingling.

"Too bad they took all of the alcohol, I would've offered you a shot of something." He said, making me laugh.

"Thanks, Dad." I said, smiling at the man; I called a close father figure and friend.

"Anytime. Now, shall we?" He jokes, bowing at me.

Nodding my head, I begin to walk down the hall to the town's square; my hands lifting up some of my dress so that I don't trip and ruin Effie's masterpiece. Thinking about what she had said to me earlier, I couldn't keep the smile at bay as I instantly found that both; Effie and Pixie were alike in many ways. 

From the witty banter, to the kind smiles and support. Snapping out of my day dream, I found myself stopping at the closed door's that lead to the town's square. I could already hear the mumbles and quiet whisper's of everyone inside, sending the hairs on my arm up right.

"I guess we're here. Are you ready, kiddo?" Haymitch asks, as I take a shaky breath.

"I am. Thank you for doing this, Haymitch." I said, hooking arms with him.

"Your practically my own daughter at this point. Hey, I want you to know that I am happy for you. After everything you went through, all the shit you had to put up with for years and years. You deserve happiness, Athena." He said, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

+++++

And I am done with the chapter! Stay safe out there guys!

I hope you all are doing okay emotionally and physically in quarantine! I love you all!

I hope that you are enjoying the book so far! A quick reminder to comment below about the story of what you think so far!