I'm sorry guys. I totally could have gotten this chapter out earlier today, but I didn't. I honestly was playing video games and doing makeup. The chapter is out now, though! I hope you guys enjoy it!
Chapter Four
Annie
The next few days go by quickly. There's a week to get me off book and completely ready for the show. I meet Katniss and she helps me learn the lines quickly, telling me the reasons all the lines were there and the reasons they were written the ways they were. Effie helps me learn to sing the songs to the best of my ability. I'm a bit rusty singing wise, but it's not hard for me to get back to singing as well as I did in the last musical I was in. Haymitch works with me and gives me very little pressure. I'm off book faster than I ever thought I could be, and I learn the blocking quickly. It helps that the rest of the cast doesn't get frustrated with me and are patient. They're thankful they found an actress at such last minute notice. I meet my on stage family, Hazelle Hawthorne playing my mother, Gale playing my older brother and Johanna Mason, a strong girl with a sassy attitude to the show, playing my older sister. She's fun to be around and gives me a lot of laughs.
I learn the parallels to Romeo and Juliet quickly. Romeo is easily Finnick's character, his character's brother, played by Peeta, takes over the Benvolio character and a high school senior, Cato, plays the Mercutio equivalent. The Capulets are easy to learn as well. I am the Juliet, Johanna's character being the Nurse and Gale's character being the Tybalt character.
It's Thursday today and the show starts touring on Sunday. There's only a couple of scenes left we need to add me into, and I'm off book, making the process easy. Today fills me with anxious energy. I'll be working with not only Finnick, but an actor named Beetee as well, who plays the Friar equivalent. The scene we're working on today involves Finnick kissing me. I've never been kissed on stage before and I feel nervous. Finnick and I have gotten close over the past few days. It's hard for me to want to bring myself to want to kiss him. I know the kiss means nothing, but it's almost as if I want it to. I ignore the feeling and go along with the directors blocking. Finally the dreaded words are spoken. "Finnick, kiss her."
The kiss feels like it could be real. Is that how all on stage kisses feel? I feel more electricity in this kiss then I've felt from a kiss in a long time. More than I felt from Jack when I made out with him on a dare, or John when I made out with him when he was drunk and I didn't realize, or Tyler, when he was trying to date me, there were several kisses that could have meant something but never did. Last time a kiss actually felt even a small spark was sophomore year of high school. When Finnick pulls away he looks me in the eyes and continues in the scene. I can feel myself blushing and cannot take a smile off of my face. The scene goes smoothy and Haymitch says our natural blocking and chemistry made the scene work really well. We finish adding me into the show by noon and we're allowed to go on break until two, when the rest of the cast is supposed to arrive for a full run through. I'm looking for my wallet and keys in my huge rehearsal bag when Finnick comes up to me. "Wanna grab lunch with me?"
I doubt Peeta and Gale will show up. They were dismissed earlier and were told they didn't have to be back until two. It would probably just be the two of us. I give a small smile. "Um, sure."
A big smile, I see ,grows on Finnick's face. The room has lit up once again. "Great. I'll drive." Finnick leads me out to his car and we sit there. Finnick starts the car and fiddles with the stereo, making it to where his aux cord is in power. "Mind if we practice?"
I shrug. "Sure."
He starts to play the beginning song from the show and starts to drive. "Where are we going?"
He shrugs. "I don't know. What are you in the mood to eat?"
I shrug. "I don't know. We can go anywhere."
Finnick shakes his head. "Don't say that, Annie. That causes a dilemma. We'll be in a cycle of us both offering ideas that get declined. Now pick a place to go."
I giggle and shrug. "Let's just go to the first place we see." It turns out the first place we see is a popular mexican fast food restaurant. We go in and Finnick orders a huge plate including tacos and enchiladas. I order a pair of chicken fajitas burritos.
"Are you not hungry?" Finnick asks.
I look at his plate and it dwarfs my own. I shake my head. "I couldn't possibly eat that much."
Finnick laughs. "Your loss."
We laugh as we eat and enjoy ourselves. Finnick is sweet and gets me a refill when I drink all of my Dr. Pepper. I finish my food before he does and tease him for taking so long. He's charming and talks about subjects that interest both of us, not just him. It's unreal how perfect he is. I want to find out what is wrong with him, no one can be as perfect as he is acting, but I cannot find anything wrong with him. I try to avoid all my flaws, make myself appear more confident than I really am. "Wanna go iceskating?"
"What?" I'm caught off guard. Iceskating? We were talking about what we were doing for Christmas, how we were spending it with our families.
"Do you want to go iceskating with me?"
"Okay. Sounds fun." I want it to be a date, but I don't want to read into the invitation. What if it's not a date? Then I'll be embarrassed for thinking it's one. Finnick looks so excited, though...
"Great! The rink is staying open until two in the morning this week. I'll pick you up at seven?" We get out of rehearsal at five thirty. Just enough time for me to get ready.
"Alright." We finish our meal like nothing happened and go back to rehearsal, like nothing happened. Maybe it wasn't an invitation for a date, but I'm excited none the less.
Finnick
I didn't know I was going to ask Annie on a date when we went out for lunch, but I knew I wanted to ask her out at some time. Earlier today, when we had to kiss, it was like no kiss I've ever had before, on or off stage. I don't know what it was, perhaps the chemistry between us is right, but the kiss felt almost real. I wanted to stop, to tell her how amazing the kiss was, but I didn't want to make things awkward for her in front of the few of us that were there. I'd tell her soon enough. Perhaps if our date goes well the only time we kiss won't be on stage.
Thank you guys so much for reading! To those of you who follow and favorite and review, it really means a lot! I hope you all have a great last few days of school, if you're not out yet.
Question of the Day
What is your favorite holiday?
Love you all loads!
-Juliet
