Chapter Two
"Is that really what you're going to wear?" Johanna says in a judgemental tone.
I'm wearing dark jeans that make me look slimmer and a simple pink tank with spaghetti straps. I put on mascara and a light pink lip color as well.
I don't know what to dress for and didn't think about asking Finnick. I get the feeling he isn't going to do anything too fancy.
"Yes this is what I am wearing." I say and put in small silver hoop earrings.
"It's just so plain." Johanna says.
"I'm sure it will be fine. I'm more curious to where he is taking me." I say.
"He would've told you if you asked." Johanna says.
"Yeah, I get the feeling that wouldn't have happened." I say. Finnick seems like the kind of smug person and even if he did tell me the truth I would think he was lying.
"I still don't get why you picked him out for me." I say.
"So he made a bad first impression but that doesn't mean he still isn't a good guy for you." Johanna says.
I nod.
"If he isn't here in exactly ten minutes don't bother opening the door if he shows up." I say.
"Geez if you really didn't want to go out with him you didn't have to agree." Johanna says.
I sigh.
"He probably would've kept bothering me anyway. Besides... "
"You're curious why I picked him for you." She says with a smile.
"Maybe." I mumble.
"Don't worry I'm sure you will see it." Johanna says.
I roll my eyes.
We both hear a knock on the door.
I go to open the door and see Finnick standing there smiling. He's wearing jeans and a t-shirt so I think I dressed perfectly for whatever he has planned for the night.
"I'm early this time." He says with a smile.
"Yes you are." I say and manage a smile.
"Aww look at you two." I hear Johanna say. "Remember Finnick make sure she makes it back home by one." Johanna mocks like a parent.
I roll my eyes.
"Whatever you say Jo." He says with a smile. "We can leave as soon as you are ready Annie." He says.
I grab my purse from the coffee table.
"See you later Johanna." I say and we leave.
"You look nice tonight." Finnick says.
"Thank you." I say. "So where are we going?" I ask.
"Don't worry it's within walking distance." Finnick says with a smile as we walk outside.
It's eight and he said we weren't going out for dinner so I am curious where he is taking me.
We walk downtown and try to make idol small talk which I am terrible at. Johanna told me what his major was, but we end up talking more about what we do when we go downtown. We pass a few of the sculptures that are on campus. The one that looks like a brain is right outside the psychology building.
When we get to the heart of downtown I see him heading towards the 'party' section. It is where most of the bars and clubs are located.
"Finnick I can't go in there." I say confused when he approaches one of the more popular bars.
"Why not? You get banned or something." He asks with a smile.
"No… I'm not 21. My birthday is in a few months." I say.
"Oh." He says.
Not only was his idea of a date a good was a bar but Johanna didn't tell him I wasn't 21 yet.
I sigh.
Johanna is probably wrong about him being the right guy for me.
"Don't worry I know somewhere else we can go." He says with a smile. He loops us back around to a small place. There is a neon sign out front that says "Pool Hall'. I have heard of this place before. It's not technically a bar because you don't have to be 21 to enter. The main attraction is all the pool tables it holds.
Finnick holds the door open for me.
"I didn't know you were so young." He teases.
I sigh
"Probably by only a few months."
"Actually I'm 22." Finnick says.
I nod.
We order drinks. Finnick got a beer and I settled for a Coke.
We walk over to one of the many open pool tables. This place isn't in the 'party' section, but I thought a Friday night would attract more business.
Finnick hands me a stick.
"You know how to play pool, right?" He asks.
I smile.
"I know how to play 8 ball." I say and reach for the rack.
"Good. We should make this more interesting then." Finnick says with a smile.
"I don't like placing bets." I say.
"I didn't mean money. How about for every ball one of us sinks we get to ask a question. It can be anything and we have to answer it." Finnick says with a smile.
"Sounds easy enough." I say with a smile.
"Good." Finnick says and places the rack away.
"The lady should always break." Finnick says with a smile.
"Okay." I say with a smile.
I break and four balls go in. He looks surprised.
"For a bullshit elective I took a billiards class." I say with a smile.
"Our school has a billiards class?" Finnick says surprised.
"Yup. Also a wine tasting class offered in the spring. If I was 21 I totally would've taken it." I say with a smile.
"I'm curious how you would be graded for that." He says.
"Most of it was attendance. For the final we had to write a paper about the history of the sport." Annie says.
Finnick nods
"I believe I get to ask you four questions now." I say with a smile.
"Ask away." He says with a smile. "By the way you're stripes."
I nod.
"Zoology is an interesting major why did you pick it?" I ask
"How do you know my major?" Finnick asks because he didn't tell me.
"Johanna told me. She thought it was fair since you stood me up."
He rolls his eyes.
"Is it only fair that I learn yours then?" He asks with a smile.
"Accounting with a minor in psychology." I say and add more chalk to my stick.
"Interesting choices. So you want to be an accountant and understand your clients mind."
"Something like that." I say with a smile.
The truth is I wanted to minor in psychology because I have anxiety and wanted to figure out how the mind works.
If you were to tell me in high school that I would be setup on a blind date and taken to a place I've never been before I would've thought you were out of your mind. It was really bad in high school even with medication it was bad. I was afraid to go off to college by myself but once I got settled everything else seemed to fall into place.
It took me awhile to make friends because I am awkward but I managed to snag a few. My roommate Johanna and I met in the dorms. We both hated our roommates so we hung around with each other in the common rooms.
I had a terrible roommate. She would always bring her boyfriend around and they would screw around with each other with either me in the room or locking me out of the room, my room.
After I came back from Christmas break all of her stuff was gone. I never saw her in the dorm again and don't know if she got kicked out or just decided to go somewhere else. I was relieved to have my own space again.
For the rest of my time in the dorms I made sure to get a single room.
Johanna begged me to live with her junior year. The roommate she had all lined up bailed on her at the last minute. I accepted and have lived with her ever since.
"So I believe you got three questions left." Finnick says.
"You never answered my first question why did you chose zoology?" I ask him again and get ready to take my next shot. I aim for the purple striped 12 ball.
"I like taking care of animals and thought about being a vet but sea animals are what I like best."
"So do you want to work at a zoo after you graduate?" I ask.
"I dunno that wouldn't be a bad job. I'm guessing you want to work in an office cubicle." Finnick says.
"Yeah I wouldn't mind that." I say with a smile.
"So did that count as your second question?" Finnick says with a smile.
"It could." I say.
I take the shot and end up scratching.
Finnick takes the cue ball out of the pocket to setup his shot. He's going for the red 3 ball.
"Then you've got two more." He says.
"You got any siblings?" I ask.
"A younger sister." He says. He makes the shot and smiles.
"Me too." I say. "Are you from around here?" Annie says as Finnick takes his shot. He misses this time.
"Nope. I live in a small town near Charleston."
"West Virginia?" I ask. .
He shakes his head.
"South Carolina." He says.
I nod.
"I take it you're from here then?" He asks.
"Kind of." Annie says and goes to take another shot. "My parents are divorced. Dad moved to North Carolina shortly afterwards. We went to visit him every summer. I loved the weather here. It snows a lot back in Ohio." I say.
"So you're from Ohio." He says.
I nod.
"I mark my Father as my main address so I don't have to pay out of state taxes for school." I say.
"You're smart." He says.
"I believe you can ask me whatever you want now." I say now that I have used all of mine.
He smiles.
"I have two questions so far." He says and takes a shot. "Make that three." He says as he sinks in the green six ball.
"When's your birthday?" He asks.
"What?" Annie asks confused.
"When's your birthday?" He asks again.
"Like I said a few months." I say.
"I meant the exact day." He says with a smile.
"April 10th." I say.
"Good that means I can take you out for your first legal drink on April 10th." He says with a smile.
"Okay." I say with a smile.
Even though I find Finnick a little annoying he is very easy to talk to.
"You still have one question." I say after we have finished the third game.
I won the first game. Finnick won the second. I won the third but only because Finnick scratched on the eight ball.
"I know. I'm saving it for later." He says with a smile.
"Okay." I say a little confused.
We stay until Finnick finishes his drink and then he walks me home.
"Here you are." Finnick says when we are at my apartment building.
"Okay." I say awkwardly. I never know how to deal with the goodbye of a first date.
Is he going to kiss me? Should I kiss him? Do I want him to kiss me?
I wouldn't be outraged if he kissed me, but I don't really want him to. I like him, but if it's a terrible kiss than I probably wouldn't want to see him again.
"Not so fast. This is where I am going to ask my question and remember you have to be honest." He says with a smile.
"Okay?" I say nervously.
"Did you have a nice time tonight?" He asks.
I didn't expect that to be the question. I thought he was just going to ask me out again. I will be a little disappointed if he doesn't.
"Yeah. I had fun and it wasn't just because I've never been to the Pool Hall before." I say.
My cheeks feel hot.
God I hope I am not blushing. I think to myself.
He smiles.
I can't tell if it is a smug smile or an I'm glad with that answer smile. Maybe he is smiling because I'm blushing.
"Do you think Jo made a good match?" He asks.
"Too soon to tell." I say.
"Very forward their Annie are you asking me out?" He says with a smile.
"I wouldn't mind seeing you again." I say. I think I can hear annoyance in my voice.
"Yet you sound so displeased." He says with a smile.
"No, I'm not. I just feel nervous." I say truthfully.
"Don't be. The first date jitters won't be there next time." Finnick says.
"Next time?" I say.
"Yup. Although this time you get to the plan the evening." He says.
I nod.
"Okay."
He kisses me on the cheek making me smile like an idiot.
"Bye Annie." He says and walks away.
"Bye." I say.
I unlock the front door.
"So how was it?" Johanna asks sitting in the corner like a creeper.
"It was nice." I say.
"Are you going to see him again?" Johanna asks.
I nod.
"Yeah. I get to make the plans though." I say and take off my shoes. I sit on the couch and pull a pillow to my chest.
"Did he kiss you?" She asks.
"On the cheek." I say.
"Did you want it on the lips?" She asks.
I shake my head.
"Next time probably if it goes just as well." I say.
Johanna nods.
"Where did he take you?"
"That Pool Hall." I say.
"I bet you kicked his ass in pool." Johanna says with a smile.
"I did win two out of the three games." I say leaving out that I only won the last game by default.
Johanna says.
"See I am a good matchmaker." Johanna says with a smile.
"I'll admit to that after the second date." I tell her.
