Chapter One
"I'm supposed to be studying English not china patterns." I say to my fiancé Finnick. As he is looking online at possible place settings for our wedding.
We've been engaged for almost four months and we haven't gotten very far on planning but that is for many reasons. The first few months we were engaged Finnick was in Australia for an internship. We are also still in school. Finnick is going for his masters and I have one more year for my bachelors. I want to finish school before I walk down an aisle. Finnick knows this as well and he's alright with it. So I haven't even thought about planning the wedding yet, even though Finnick has boughten it up multiple times.
All we have figured out is that we want to get married on a beach in spring or summer.
Finnick smiles.
"I'll study the china patterns while you go type your paper or something." Finnick says and I smile. "When are you picking out the dress anyways?" He asks.
"When we know the actual date." I say and open my laptop. I'm not all that excited about picking out the dress yet. I'm not a dress wearing girl and you can best believe I won't be paying thousands of dollars for a dress I will only wear for one day.
"I thought you just wanted to get married at the beach." Finnick says with a smile.
"I do." I say. I never considered where I would get married until now.
I knew we wouldn't be married in a church. Finnick and I aren't very religious we could've gone for the decor but that somehow felt wrong. A beach is nice besides, Finnick and I both like sand between our toes. "But which beach and where have not been chosen yet." I say and click on my file. "Unless you really want Lake Erie, so we can get married with the smell of dead fish and pollution in the air." I say and he smiles.
I start typing profusely. I'm a little behind on my study schedule. Although my schedule gives me a slight cushion. So if I'm running late I'm technically 'on time'.
"Can't we just hire someone to do all this for us?" Finnick asks.
I look up at him to see if he is serious. I think it is half serious and half I'm kidding. Finnick and I can't really afford that. Finnick has to repay his student loans. He is currently going for his masters degree. However this program is paying for his courses as long he can keep a 2.5 or above. I'm still going for my undergraduate degree. It's my senior year and I'm excited because I might have something set up for New York after I graduate.
"That costs too much money. We are paying for most of this ourselves." I say.
My Mom doesn't have enough money to help us and neither does Finnick's. Besides, since this is our wedding we should be paying for it ourself.
My Dad has been calling me nonstop probably because I haven't told him Finnick and I are engaged. My Dad and I have an interesting relationship.
I almost got beaten to death last year by some psychopath/Finnick's abusive father. I went to my Dad to ask for help. But he said he would only help me if I broke up with Finnick. He blamed Finnick for me almost getting beaten to death. Although when I was in the hospital my Dad never visited me.
Finnick and I did break up for a month but that was for different reasons. When my Dad got wind of it, he said he would help me now because Finnick was out of the picture. I didn't really need his help anymore and I was insulted by what he had done.
I'm starting to phase my Dad out of my life. It is easier than I thought it would be. Then again, we were never very close. He cared more about his job than his family. The situation got worse when my parents got there divorce. He was just so cold. I know he tried at times. But when you turn your daughter away in a time of need it is unforgivable.
"True. What about the after party?" Finnick asks.
"We need to pick a spot first." I say.
"Right." Finnick says. "But-" He starts
"Finnick, if you don't stop I'll go to the library." I say gently. "This paper is worth almost thirty percent of my grade."
"Aren't girls supposed to be all about the wedding plans as soon as they get that ring on their finger." He teases.
"Not this one." I say and stand up. "We could always just go to city hall." I say. It would be cheaper but I think almost every girl wants to get married in a nice dress in front of their friends and family.
"No. My Nana wants to see me get married. She says it's more fun that way."
"Well that I won't disagree with." I smile and go over to kiss him. "I need to tutor." I work at the tutoring center at school to make some money. I have a full ride to school but I do have expenses I need to pay for. Besides, since I am helping people it does make me feel good.
"Will you be home for dinner?" I ask. Finnick and I don't live together yet. He still has a lease with his roommate Peeta. Peeta offered to let him out of the lease but since Finnick is an 'honorable man' he said he would stay until the lease is up. It doesn't really matter. I practically lived with Finnick last year because I got beaten and almost murdered outside my apartment. I didn't feel comfortable staying there so Finnick let me stay with him. It was nice besides, Finnick and I stay over at each other's places all the time. I know what it will be like to live with him when we get married.
"Probably not, but call me. Okay?" He says.
"Okay." I say and lean in to kiss him. His lips touch mine. "Remember to lock up." I say. I gave Finnick a set of keys and I have one for his place as well.
"I will don't worry." He says with a smile.
"I always worry." I say. I don't need to add especially after the 'incident'. That's what Finnick and I call my beating outside my old apartment. "And stop worrying about our wedding. It will be fine." I say.
"Again most girls would be more excited about this." He says.
Now that it's been a few months the initial excitement has worn off. Don't get me wrong, I'm still excited but, I'm not showing off my ring obnoxiously anymore.
I set my stuff down and sit on his lap.
"I am excited Finnick." I kiss his cheek. "But it's going to be hard to plan the wedding and go to school at the same time. Remember I said I wanted to get married after I finished school."
"I know, and I know you're excited." He kisses my cheek and I smile.
"I am." I whisper.
"I'm going to give you homework then." He says with a smirk.
"What?" I ask with a smile.
"Start with the people you want there."
"A guest list?" I smile.
"No." I raise my eyebrows. "Well yes." He kisses my cheek. "Just invite the people we absolutely need to be there." He says and I smile. "Then we can make a separate list of people we know we will give good gifts and money."
I laugh.
"Okay." I say and kiss him.
"Okay." He says.
"I already know who I will write down first." I say with a smile.
"Your Mom?" Finnick asks and I shake my head.
"You." I whisper and kiss him.
"Well I do need to be there." He says with a smile.
"Yes you do." I say and my phone alarm goes off signaling I need to leave for my tutoring job. "I really gotta go Finnick." I say and stand up.
"I love you." He says.
"Love you too. Bye." I say and walk out the door.
When I walk back into my apartment my see the light in my living room is still on.
"Finnick?" I say confused.
"No." I hear and am confused by how he got in here. "What are you doing here Dad?" I ask as I see him in my living room.
"I wanted to see you. I heard you got engaged."
"Was it Mom or Ella?" I ask. Ella is my younger sister who I am very close with. However, she is still on good terms with our Dad. Not great but she still speaks with him on a regular basis
"It doesn't matter. I've been saving up for you and Ella for your wedding day." He holds out a card. "This is yours." He says.
"I can't-" I start
"I started this when you were three Annie. I have one for Ella too. And If you didn't get married you would be set for a while." He is still holding out the card.
I sigh and take it from him.
"That's the account number. There should be at least fifty."
"Fifty what?" I ask.
"Grand. You might actually have more." He says.
"What?" I ask confused. I can believe he has that much money in there. My Dad is rolling around in money. He works for an esteemed law firm and is a corporate member.
"This was your wedding fund that I started when you were a toddler. It's now yours to use as you wish."
"No." I say.
"Annie be realistic, I know you. And I know you're not going to use it on a wedding. You're smart enough to know that Finnick's student loans debts will now also effect you. You can use the money I'm giving you to pay off the school debts or other debts either of you have."
"I can't. I won't take your bribe." I say.
"It isn't a bribe Annie. I was going to give this to you anyways. Just think of it as a gift." He says.
"I don't trust you." I say.
"I don't doubt it. For what happened and my obvious distain for Finnick. But, I cannot just not give this to you. It isn't ethical."
"Don't expect an invite to my wedding because of this."
"I wasn't expecting one when you didn't tell me about your engagement." He says and stands up. "I like this place better. At least I know you won't get beaten to death." He says and walks towards the door.
I want to yell at him or say something because the reason I was in a crap hole apartment last year was because he couldn't afford to give me a few extra bucks. Now he's giving me a bank account with fifth plus grand to just spend on my wedding.
I can feel myself shaking with rage. I'm about to say something when I hear the door close.
I tap my pen against my kitchen table as I look at my 'absolute' guest list. So far I have my Mom, brother, sister, Grandad, Aunt Ben and Uncle Sue, Finnick's Mom (and his other family members) Johanna, and Peeta.
At the bottoms of the page I have written Mimi, Pop Pop, and Dad. They all have question marks next to their names because I'm not so sure I want to invite them. Mimi is my slightly racist, sexist, and homophobic Grandma but, the only reason she is on the list is because I do want Pop Pop there. Since he is Mimi's wife she will obviously be there. Dad is obvious. Even though I don't want him to be there he did give me all this money and he is my Dad.
I expected my 'need to be there' list be longer but I guess I like simplicity. Plus this would be super cheap. Although you really can't forget anyone besides, there's still the list we need to make of our rich/ generous relatives.
"Did you do your homework?" Finnick teases.
"I did and I have a question." I say.
"What?" He asks with his goofy smile.
"Do you think I should invite my Dad?" I ask. I haven't told Finnick about this account with lots of money in it. I want to hear his opinion first.
"I dunno. You said you didn't want to see him because of what happened last year. You said you felt betrayed and that he did you wrong." Finnick says gently.
"If you were me would you invite him?" I ask.
Finnick sighs.
"Probably." He says softly. "I mean you only get married once." He says. "Hopefully." He adds with a smile.
"We're going to stay together." I smile and kiss him. "Seriously you would invite him?" I ask.
"It's a slippery slope Annie. This could define your relationship for the future."
I nod. I know he's right.
"He gave us money." I say.
Finnick raises his eyebrows.
"Like a bribe?" He asks.
"He said he started a wedding fund for myself and Ella since we were little kids. So he gave it to me. Although he said I could use it for whatever I wanted."
"How much?" Finnick asks.
"A lot." I say.
Finnick raises his eyebrows wanting a better answer.
"There's enough to pay off all your student loans and still have some leftover." I say.
"That's a lot of money Annie. I think he deserves an invite then." He says.
"Yes but, that's what he wanted all along." I say.
"We can invite him." He says carefully "But that doesn't mean he has to be part of the wedding party."
"You're saying he doesn't have to walk me down the aisle?" I say.
Finnick nods.
"I mean, you can invite him but that doesn't mean he is part of the wedding. After all, we will probably have to invite some relatives we've never heard of until now." He says.
"I guess." I say.
"Let's not think of that now. Like you said we have time."
"Yes we do." I smile and kiss him.
The last couple of days have been interesting. I can't stop thinking about my Dad. I know I don't really need to worry about the guest list yet but it is eating away at me.
I sigh and go check the mail. I haven't in a couple of days and know it is probably piling up. I don't usually get a lot of mail but recently I have been receiving congratulation cards because of the engagement.
When I go back upstairs I rifle through it. It's my electric bill, grocery coupons, and a small card.
The card wouldn't be strange if it didn't have a return address or my address. On the envelope it just only says Annie Cresta. Maybe someone just knew where I lived and gave it to me.
I open the letter and see it is a small card. It's made from a piece of paper. It has a flower drawing on the front.
This must be another congratulations card.
When I open the card I see I am correct.
The word Congratulations is in the middle and written in very precise penmanship.
I look down and see who it is from and feel my heartbeat in my ears. I start to break out in a cold sweat. I feel numb. I barely notice when the piece of patter slips from my fingers and falls to the floor.
The card is from John Kirk Odair. The card is from Finnick's father. The card is from the man who almost beat me to death.