Chapter 21- Together at Last
My nerves start buzzing as soon as I wake up. Today is the day that I finally get to see her again. My heart does that strange thing where it drops to your stomach and tap dances as I take a quick shower.
I put on a simple brown suit and walk to breakfast. When I arrive, only Rockshon is at the table. The last thing I would ever want to do is talk to him. I killed the kid he mentored. Judging by the way his eyebrows are knit together and his eyes are glossed over, he's pretty upset about the event too. Maybe he didn't notice you, just walk back to your room.
"Good morning," he mumbles as I start walking back. Shoot.
"Good morning," I respond over my shoulder.
"Are you not going to have breakfast?" He motions toward the seat in front of him as he raises his eyebrows in my direction.
"I think I'll have it delivered to my room," I say shortly.
"But why? I won't bite."
I hesitate before answering, "I suppose you're right. I missed the Capitol food."
I walk over to the dark wooden table and put a couple pieces of the sugar crusted pork on my plate. I decide to not speak first. If Rockshon wants to talk, then he can talk.
"You had a great win there, Finnick," he starts with a mouth full of bacon.
"Thank you." I wonder if I should complement his mentoring skills, but then decide against it. If he was such a great mentor, Ero would be alive right now.
"And it's not over yet," he says.
"What do you mean?"
Rockshon chuckles, "You're one of their favorites, kid."
As I stare at him with a confused look on my face, he sighs and continues, "The Capitol has a few certain victors that they pay great attention to. Do you remember Gloss, District 1 Victor?" I nod my head and he continues, "The Capitol loved him so, he became their favorite. It isn't a complement though, it becomes a curse…being chosen. And Finnick, you might be the next one."
His words cloud my mind. I remember Gloss. President Snow bought him and sold him. It's disgusting the way he does that just to hypnotize his citizens. But what Rockshon is saying is even worse. I might come next. I might be the new 'bought and sold' victor. Then, I hesitate. I just made Rockshon look like a fool, me beating his tribute. He would say anything to scare me and this might be one of those things. Rockshon is just bluffing. He has to be.
I shrug, trying to mask my thoughts.
It was pure luck that Mags and Asteria interrupted our conversation and headed into the room.
"Oh! The boys are up!" Asteria says as she takes a seat rather close to me.
"What a change," Mags says as she picks up a plate and heads to the long table covered in food to our left.
"Well, the early bird catches the worm, right Asteria?" I say as I inhale the meat on my plate.
She giggles and blushes, "Of course you're right ."
I trap the earlier conversation in the back of my brain. I'm coming home, and Annie deserves every ounce of my thoughts.
…
I can actually smell the salty ocean through the walls of the train as we near home. The scent both calms me and intensifies my nerves. I will be able to hug my mother, shake hands with my father, and entrap Annie into my arms. I hope she is okay with being in them, because I will never let her go again. I smile as I think of her. Then, of course, a dark thought washes through my mind.
I wasn't me in the Games. I wasn't Annie's Finnick, and I am ashamed of it. Will she know that I did it with the intention of coming home? Will she be disgusted of who I turned into? I will obviously explain, but whether or not if she will give me time to do so worries me. She doesn't deserve that person I was in there. She should be disgusted of him. But I am not that person anymore. He was only temporary. She must know that.
My necklace becomes heavy as I see the familiar blue ocean that surrounds District 4. A few leaping dolphins in the distance welcome me home and my heart is instantly warm. I hear the door of my cabin open and turn to see Mags, wearing a deep frown.
"Finnick, we must talk." She takes a seat at the edge of my bed and pats down next to her for me to join.
"Now? Do we have to talk right now?" I know she must bring me dreaded news, but I'm too happy for any of it. Can't she wait?
"Yes now, Finnick. You'll thank me later." I take a seat next to her and wait for her to continue, "It's about Annie."
"What about her?" My heart races as the thought of what might've happened to her settles in.
"You can't be seen in public with her," Mags barely mumbles. She looks to the floor and doesn't dare meet my eyes.
I stand up in frustration, "What do you mean I can't be seen with her in public?! I can do whatever I want! Who says I can't?!"
"Finnick, you must calm down before I tell you anything else." I stop pacing around the room in anger and look to her, "We lied and said that you didn't have a girlfriend Finnick, and cameras will be following your every move. If you are seen with her, and word comes to the people of the Capitol, you will be ruined."
"Do I have to hide it forever?" I ask with a weak voice.
"Just until I say so." Her eyebrows knit and she goes back to staring at the floor. There is something more to the story. She's keeping something from me and I know it.
"Does she know I can't?" I ask after a while.
I cringe when I think of Annie running to me with open arms as soon as I come off the train, and me having to deny her. That wouldn't be fair.
"I'm not sure what she knows Finnick." Mags stands and crushes me in a hug, "Just do what I say Finnick. I haven't misled you, have I?" She whispers in my ear.
I swallow hard, "No you haven't. And I haven't gone against your words have I?"
"No, you haven't. I will invite her over to my house tonight, and you can see her then."
She lets go of me and walks to the door. Just before she is out, she turns and meets my eyes.
"I would start polishing up, honey. We are going to be home in about 10 minutes." And with that, she turns on her feet and is out the door, leaving me to marinate in her words.
Home, a place I used to think was safe. Now I know better. It's just another place President Snow can cage me in and make me feel like a trapped wild animal. I won't let him and his games get to me or Annie.
I comb my hair back and wash my face. Might as well look presentable, Annie deserves at least that.
The cheers of my homecoming sink through the walls of the train and make my heart roll around in my chest. I rush to the main room and look out the window. There is my house, my friends, my family. A bright beaming smile sinks through to my face and I wave rapidly to everyone. I don't wink nor give my signature smile, I respect these people too much.
"Ready to go out there?" Asteria asks as she lands a hand at the middle of my back.
My head snaps to her and I nod, "More than I'll ever be."
She leads me out to the doors and they burst open, sweeping the familiar humid air through my clothes. Cameras are everywhere, like Mags has said. I don't even have a chance to wave before my mother runs up and engulfs me into a hug.
"Oh Finnick! We have missed you so much." She mumbles from in between our embrace. I blush.
"You can't even imagine how much I've missed you," I say honestly. She laughs and lets me go.
I face my father and he smiles, "That goes for both of us, boy." And, to my surprise, he pulls me in for a hug too.
The rest of the night was a blur. The mayor acted like he knew me all his life and gave a speech to District 4. Food was delivered to all of the people in the district because of my victory, and I had never been more proud of myself before. I posed for many pictures, and gave a speech of my own that got much applause. My family, Mags, Asteria and I crowded into the Mayor's house for a special dinner in honor of my arrival. Outside, a festival was brewing. There were streamers along the buildings and everything. All I wanted to do was go out there and find Annie, but I had to wait until after this amazingly boring feast.
Past victors of District 4 congratulated me and I smiled and thanked them humbly. My mother and Father practically inhaled all of supper. I suppose they have never tasted anything like Capitol food before. I'm glad they enjoyed themselves.
Walking to my new house in the Victor's Village, I strained my neck to catch a glance of that beautiful brown hair and green eyes. To my astonishment, I couldn't find my Annie anywhere. Maybe she understands the predicament I'm in or maybe Mags got a chance to tell her. My heart sinks.
Or maybe she gave up on me.
My heart plummets to the pit of my stomach, and my chest starts hurting. It's possible. I knew it. I don't know why I fooled myself for so long.
"You'll love living here," Percival, one of the older Victors of District 4 interrupts my thoughts.
"I will?" I ask in response.
"Oh yeah, it's great living here. You get free food!" He says gesturing to the houses around us. One of his arms is missing a hand, but it doesn't stop him from doing anything.
"Oh yeah, I heard that. Is it true?" I say with my thoughts all clouded.
"They refill your pantry every month. It's amazing!" I have to laugh at his enthusiasm.
"Well, good. I love Capitol food."
He laughs, "Who doesn't?!"
He leads me into my hollow new house, and I hate every minute of it. I hate how we get to bathe in overly obnoxious riches while the rest of our district is starving. It's not fair. Though, I can't find a time where Panem was ever fair.
"Ready to come to my house, Finnick?" Mags whispers as I finish touring the rooms.
My heart races as I translate what she's saying: time to see Annie.
I nod my head as Mags and I say goodbye to everybody. Luckily, Mags' house ended up next to mine. She slowly opens the door and I can smell the fire going.
"Mags is that you?" I hear a familiar voice ask from inside.
"Finnick and I, yes sweetheart." Mags answers from behind me. I can't form words.
"Finnick?" She asks. She peeks her eyes from around the stairway.
I run towards her and pick her up in my arms. She laughs and takes my face in her hands and kisses me. My heart steadies, and for the first time in three weeks, I'm at peace.
"I missed you." She says in between our hug.
"You have no idea, Annie." I whisper as I kiss her cheek.
And for the rest of the night, we are enveloped in each other's arms. We sit next to the warm fire and just take in the beauty of the moment. We are together. Nobody can take this moment from us and nobody will. I did this all for her. Right now, I am her Finnick. I am not Mags' Finnick, I am not the Capitol's Finnick, and I am certainly not President Snow's Finnick. I am all Annie's.
"Finnick, I love you." She says as she looks up at me.
"Annie Cresta, I love you with every ounce of my being and that will never change." I say honestly. She smiles and pecks me lightly across the lips. I stroke a strand of hair out of her eyes and look deep into them. These are the eyes I've been fighting for, these are the eyes I will never stop fighting for. These are the eyes I have fallen in love with.
"I knew that we couldn't have been seen in public together," she whispers and looks down at the ground.
"How?" I say and tilt her head up so that her eyes meet mine.
"Finnick, I'm a lot smarter than you think I am." She says with a smile.
"No, I knew you were smart, just sometimes you know how to surprise me with it." I say as I trace little designs on her cheek.
"What are we going to do now?" She asks as she looks deep into my eyes.
"Try to forget, I guess. Make all of this a distant memory. Never give up on each other." I say as I knit my eyebrows together.
"I never gave up on you, Finnick." She says as she catches my gaze.
I smile, "I never doubted you."
Mags bake us some fresh cookies and between our full stomachs and the warmth of the fire, Annie falls asleep in my arms. I smile and pick her up, bringing her to her old room. Just in case nightmares come tonight, I shuffle my feet under the covers with her.
The future for us may not be so bright, but right now, this moment is blinding me.
N/A: Hey guys! So, I have one more dramatic chapter! Thank you guys so much for all of your reviews! Please send me your feedback, What did you think of this one? Oh! And Character Credits to Kate2623 for making up Percival! He was a great addition. Let me know what you thought of this one, and come back next weekend for Chapter 22! And then on to book 3...
~LOVE FOR FOREVER
Finnick and Annie Forever