My eye's fly open as I lie in bed not being able to shake the excitement that is radiating through my body. I get to see my best friend for the first time in almost two months. Sure, moving to South Hampton for my senior year of high school wasn't number one on my list to do for this year. At least I will be starting at the beginning of the school year with my best friend. It also helps my boyfriend lives just a town over.
I get out of bed brush my hair into a high pony tail, pull on a pair of red gym shorts and a black sports bra. I practically sprint down the stairs where I meet my father in the kitchen where my usual morning fruit smoothie is waiting for me on the counter. He is sitting at the kitchen table reading what I am sure is the latest sports headlines from ESPN off of his tablet.
"Morning Dad!" I say happily
"Oh Morning Clove! You're up early, what's your plans for the day?" he says putting down his tablet
"Finn is coming over!" I squeak "He had off of practice today and said he wanted to go throw on the beach for a while this morning. He says some of the scouts from USC are coming to watch him this year and he wants to be extra prepared."
"That's right his father did mention something about that. Well I am glad he is able to come over and you two can spend some time together before school starts. It's good to get the Odair and Calloway team back together even if it's not officially on the field." He says letting out a deep laugh
I check the clock on the wall and notice that Finn will be here in about ten minutes and I still don't know where my sneakers are, packed somewhere in the few boxes that are left unpacked.
"Dad, Finn is going to be here soon and I still need to find my sneakers. Can you answer the door when he comes?" I ask him
All I get in response is the shake of a head as he frantically strokes his finger on his tablet again. He definitely found a new headline that got his interest. I laugh as I grab my smoothie to take with me as I go to venture through the rest of the unpacked boxes.
Box one, picture frames. Nothing. Box two, towels. Still nothing. Box three, sports trophies. Closer, but still nothing. Box four, sneakers. Finally! I grab my sneakers out of the box and slip them on. While I finished tying them I hear the doorbell ring. A wide smile the size of Texas creeps across my face.
"Sir!" I hear Finnicks voice cheerily in the distance
"Finnick Thomas Odair get your ass out of bed now!" I hear my mother screech from down the hall
"Why?" I moan rolling over in bed.
That's when it hits me, Clove! I forgot I was going to meet her today. It's been two months since I've seen my best friend, if I forget to see her today she'll be crushed. I jump out of bed pull on a pair of gym shorts and an old football shirt from last season with the sleeves cut off.
"Coming Mom!" I yell as I hear her starting to stomp down the hallway
Of course I have a half hour before I need to get to Cloves house and can't find my keys. Note to self find a better place to put your keys. Finally, I find them in my practice bag. I grab my aviators and cell phone off my desk and head for the kitchen.
"Good morning my lovely mother!" I say flashing my best smile and kissing her on the cheek.
She rolls her eyes and laughs at my obvious attempt to get on her good side after the lovely wake up call this morning. She motions for me to sit at the counter while she places a plate of eggs and fruit in front of me.
"I was worried Finnick. I didn't know if you were going to remember you were meeting with Clove this morning." She says narrowing her eyes at me while a smirk dances across her lips
"Please Mom! Have a little more faith in your son than that! I would never forget Clove. Plus, we both know if I did I would never see the light of day again!" I finish letting out a chuckle before stuffing my mouth with a few pieces of cantaloupe.
Clove is my best friend. She has been my best friend for as long as I can remember, long enough that she has become like my sister. Or as I like to joke around with her saying she is my baby sister considering I was born a day before her, clearly that makes her the baby. I am very protective of her just like an older brother should be as much as she rolls her eyes at me for being protective of her, I know she finds comfort in knowing that I always have her back.
She can be the best of friend anyone can have, she is trustworthy, sincere, sweet, hysterical, and has a killer focus on anything she puts her mind too. But, getting to know her and getting through her tough outer shell is a battle in itself. If you get her angry or break her trust, forget about it. She will shut you out and not want to talk to you again. Being as close as we are to each other forgetting to meet up with her especially after a big move like she just had would not end pretty for both of us.
"Finnick?" My mom's voice changes to a somber tone
"Yeah, Mom?" I ask cocking an eye brow at her sudden change of mood
"Keep an eye on Clove during the start of school. Introduce her to all of your friends, make the transition easier for her. It's a big year for her just as much as it is for you. Especially after everything that happened she'll need you more now then ever." She says very concerned
"Mom, don't worry! I'll look out for her just like I always have, it's my job," I give her a triumphant smile wiggling my eyebrows "Her and Annie are already starting to become great friends and don't forget she has Ryder, too, which will help a lot"
Realizing the time I say goodbye to my mom, grab my lucky football and climb in my car. The drive to the new Calloway Residence is not that long from my house. I enter the code at the gate that Clove texted me and make my way up the drive way.
I walk up to the door and ring the doorbell a few seconds later I am greeted by her father as he opens the door.
"Sir!" I say confidently holding out my hand to shake his
"Finnick, good to see you again! How many times do I have to tell you we are like family please just call me Ryan," He says letting out chuckle before pulling me into a hug "I talked to your father not to long ago and he said you are looking to go to our old alma mater next year. You'll have no problem getting an offer I am sure. If you have a season like the one you had last year you'll be fine."
"Thank you, Sir-Uh, I mean Ryan- It would mean a lot to be able to play for USC like you and my dad," I say cheerily following him into the grand foyer of their new home "Does Clove now I'm here?"
"Oh I am sure she does." He puts a finger over his lips signaling to be quiet
I can hear the repeated foot steps of none other than Clove bounding down the hallway. Before I know it Clove has launched her self in my arms wrapping her arms tightly around my neck, my arms wrap around her waist and the momentum makes us spin in a circle. She puts her feet down on the floor but still keeps her arms wrapped around my neck.
"Hi Finn! I've missed you!" she says enthusiastically breaking the silence
"Hi CC! I've missed you too!"
I see her roll her eyes at the coveted nickname I still use for her. Some things just aren't going to change Clove I think to myself smiling.
"Come on! Lets get on the beach, I wanna see if you still have that famous Calloway spiral going on." I nudge her in the side and she lets out a giggle
We both say goodbye to her dad grab my football from my car and head to the beach that is in Cloves backyard.
"CC remember the party the end of summer party that I told you about that the football team always hosts?" I ask her
I watch her as she shakes her head in agreement while walking backwards on the sand trying to get good enough distance between the two of us.
"The party is tomorrow night at my house. You should come! I can introduce you to all of my friends."
She narrows her eyes skeptically at me. I know what she's thinking. All the kids in here are stuck up and rude. Well most are. Not my friends are strangely different though.
"Come on." I say practically pleading her "Annie will be there and so will my friend Jackie. She is on the soccer team too, I was telling her about you the other day. She is excited to meet you! Plus, Ryder said he was coming too."
I watched as her signature smile creeped across her face at the mention of her boyfriends name.
"Fine," she says launching the football in a perfect spiral in my direction "I'll be there."
Perfect.
A/N: This is my first AU fic. I hope you like it! Next chapter will be more info about Clove and Finnicks relationship, the origin of Finnicks unique nickname for Clove, and we meet the rest of the lovely teenagers of South Hampton. :) Questions, comments, concerns, suggestions welcome!