I am the worst! I havent been on ff or have been working on my chapters in like two months! It's just that school started and then like life happened and ughhh. Sorry for such a long wait guys. I don't know how to make it up to any of you guys. I would say spoilers but how many spoilers could there be when this story is the past of my other stories? Not much I can spoil.
ANYWAYS, ENJOY :D
Last time on Freshman Year: At Glimmer's birthday party Annie overhears Glimmer telling Clove she is using Peeta for popularity but Annie fails to hear Glimmer confessing to actually having feelings so Peeta. Annie shares the information with all the other victors. They all agree that Annie will tell Peeta the truth about Glimmer but Johanna takes action anyways. After Glimmer lands the understudy role of Juliet, Johanna threatens Glimmer to end things with Peeta. Oddly enough Glimmer agrees too without any difficulties.
Chapter 28 "Valentine's Day (Part 1)"
Annie's POV
I walk out of my closet and pose in front of the webcam. "How's this?"
"You look cute," Johanna mumbles. "But the camera adds like ten pounds so..."
"Are you calling me fat?"
Johanna laughs. "I was just teasing."
"Okay, but do you like this dress better than the other dress? Or maybe I should wear a skirt? What—"
"Annie!" Johanna shouts so loud I swear my laptop shook. "Everything you tried on was fine. You looked great in everything. Just pick something. What's the big deal anyways?"
"It's mine and Finnick's first valentine," I nearly shout. "It's a huge deal."
"It's also Gale and mine's, but you don't see me going crazy over one day."
I wish she was. Gale has something great planned for her.
"Yeah, but you're not normal."
Jo rolls her eyes. "It's just a day. There is no need to make a big fuss over it."
"Maybe it's just a day to you, but I've been planning this day for me and Finnick for a month now. Can you please just help me pick an outfit?"
"I like that black skirt with the dark green top," She says. "It really brought out your eyes."
I smile and run back into my closet.
"So I heard Glimmer has a date," I shout in hopes that Johanna can still hear me.
"Yeah, I know. I heard that too. I hope Peeta is taking it well." I can hear the guilt in her voice.
Jo told us what happened with her and Glimmer after the understudy auditions. Besides Cash, no one was happy about it. Everyone was arguing about it and I had to step in and remind them it was too late to change anything.
Later that day, Glimmer ended things with Peeta. Needless to say he was heartbroken.
"Jo," I say stepping out of the closet. "Do you still feel bad? It was almost two weeks ago. Don't keep blaming yourself for this."
"Annie, it's my fault Peeta is such a mess. I'm the one who told her to break up with him."
"Glimmer is the one who was using him," I remind her. "The relationship was going to heart break either way. It's better it was sooner than later."
"I guess you're right."
"What are your plans for tonight?" I ask even though I know exactly what Gale has planned. I just need a change of topic.
"Not sure," She says. "Gale made all the plans after I suggested a movie and an order of pizza."
"You are such a romantic."
"I try."
"Well enjoy your day," I say grabbing my coat. "I need to pick up Finn before I'm late. I'll call you later to hear how your date went."
"Have fun!"
I shut my laptop and run downstairs.
I double-check my pockets to make sure I have my keys with me. Since Valentine's Day fell on a Saturday, this year my dad took mom out of town for the weekend. I have the house to myself until Monday. Later in the night, Finn and I will have the house to ourselves. I was too nervous to tell Johanna this, but tonight is a very big day for me. Today I'm going to tell Finnick I love him.
I've always loved Finnick but I loved him the way I loved Johanna or Peeta. Now it's different. It's more than just friendship and attraction. I'm in love with Finnick Odair and have been for a while now. Today is the day I work up enough courage to tell him.
I get to Finnick's place in ten minutes. I may have ran here but that's beside the point. To my surprise, I see Clove at the top of the stairs waiting at the door.
"Annie," Clove practically shouts. "What are you doing here?" She comes running down the stairs towards me. Her heels click against the floor with every step.
I raise my eyebrow because what kind of question is that.
"Umm, it's Valentine's Day. Finnick and I have plans," I say casually. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Cato?"
She nods. "Yeah. I was just dropping off the rewritten scene for Cinna's project. Now I'm just heading over there."
"Cool," I say. "I'm just gonna go see Finn now." I turn back halfway before Clove spins me back towards her.
"What's the rush? It's so early. Why don't we just...get a coffee or something?"
I can't help but gape at her. Clove doesn't even like me—what the hell is going on? This has to be the longest conversation we've ever had.
"It's almost six."
"I should get going. I'll see you and Finn at school." With that, she runs off.
So strange…
I turn around and Finnick is coming down the stairs. He's wearing dark blue dress pants, a light green button down collared shirt, and a tie.
"Am I over dressed?" He asks.
"You look great."
"I always look great but that's not what I asked."
I snort. "Cocky much?"
"Very." He says then leans down to kiss me. "Seriously though, is this okay? I don't even know where you're taking me."
"And you're not gonna find out until we get there."
He laughs. "What are you going to do? Blindfold me?"
I smile as I put out a long black fabric from my pocket. "That's the plan."
"Kinky," he says with a smirk. "I like it."
"Shut up and let me tie it on."
...
I pull the wire of the fence up.
"You need to duck now," I tell Finnick.
"Where the hell are you taking me?!"
"Stop whining! We're almost there. Just duck, please."
I hear Finnick laugh as he ducks under the wire. I roll my eyes and follow him under.
"How long do I have to keep this blindfold on?"
"I thought you liked the blindfold. Did it lose its kink?" I ask teasingly.
I take Finn's hand and lead him through the woods.
After a few minutes of walking through the trees, we arrive to the small meadow Gale showed me. The fishing rods that Gale promised me he'd leave by the pond are sitting on top of a log along with a picnic basket. I never asked for a picnic basket.
"We're here!" I shout excitingly.
"Great! Now get this blindfold off."
"Alright, Mr. Impatient. Gosh."
My hands shake nervously as I untie the blindfold. I was having a hard time thinking of the perfect date for Finnick and me. I put a lot of thought into this day and I hope Finn will appreciate this.
With one pull, the blindfold is tugged off.
"Fishing?" Finnick asks in shock. "For our first Valentine's Day?"
I bite my lip. "I thought it was a really good idea. I mean, I know you don't like fish but you still eat fish for some strange reason so maybe you'd like to catch your own to eat. Plus I was half expecting some disaster because it would happen to me and in this case at least I know how to swim."
Finnick smiles. "This is great, Annie."
"Really?"
"Of course! Such a sweet idea." He kisses my forehead. "Now let's see how many more fish I'll catch than you." Finnick grabs the rods and hands me one.
…
"Ha!"
"Shut up, Finnick! You got lucky!"
"Lucky my ass, Annie. I caught four fishes and you caught how many? Zero."
"Eat your potatoes and hush up."
He laughs and continues to eat. After about an hour of fishing I gave up on trying to beat Finnick. Every fish that tugged on my line got away from me. There must have be a dozen fish that I couldn't reel in fast enough.
"These are some really good potatoes, Ann," Finnick mumbles between bites. "Did you make this?"
"No, Peeta did."
"That makes more sense."
"Hey! I can cook."
"Without any help from Peeta?"
My response is throwing a carrot from the salad at him. "At least I can dance without stepping on my partner's feet."
"I've actually gotten better."
"Really?"
"Don't be so surprised. Now I'm offended."
I laugh. "Sorry. It's just you were pretty bad the last time we danced together."
Finnick sets the plate of potatoes down and jumps up on his feet. "Let me show you know much better I am now."
He takes my hand and lifts me to my feet.
"There's no music," I remind him.
"That won't stand in my way."
Finnick twirls me a few times before letting me face him. I rest my hands on his shoulders and his hands are on my waist. I can easily follow his steps.
"Wow," I say. "It's been three seconds and you haven't stepped on me yet. I'm impressed."
He smiles. "So where are we going after this?"
"Well, my parents aren't home so I though we can go back to my place until your curfew."
"Sounds good."
The moment our lips touch, Finnick's pocket starts to ring.
I pull away and rest my head on his shoulder.
"I'm gonna kill whoever this is. I swear—"
"Answer it," I say kissing his cheek. "I have no curfew. We have all night."
Finnick pulls out his cell and Gloss' name flashes on the screen.
"Why is Gloss calling me?" Finnick asks shocked. "I thought he was keeping Peeta company today." He answers it on speakerphone.
"Make it quick, Gloss. Annie and I were kind of busy," Finnick says.
"Keep it in your pants, Odair. We've got a problem."
Finnick snorts.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Peeta knows."
"About Johanna?" Finnick asks. "That she broke him and Glimmer up?"
"What else, dumbass?"
"Is he okay?" I ask.
"He is pissed. He stormed off after screaming his head off to me. I never knew Peeta could get so angry."
"How'd he find out?"
"Well…Clove stopped by—"
"Why would she tell him?!" I exclaim. "It's not like Glimmer is moping around. She just had to tell him and for what? Just to mess with us?"
"It wasn't like that, Annie."
"Clove did seem bitter when she stopped by my house," Finnick says. "Well, more bitter than usual."
"I didn't call you guys to hear you trash Clove. It wasn't her fault," Gloss almost shouts.
Why does he care so much?
"Why so defensive, Gloss?" I ask curious. "This is Clove after all."
"Annie," Finnick says warningly. "Let's just focus on Peeta right now. He's probably really upset with us."
"Just warn Jo, guys. I can't get a hold of her." With that the line dies.
"We have to tell Johanna."
"No, we are going to ruin her date with Gale."
"But she doesn't care about this day anyways."
"But Gale does," I say closing his phone shut. "And so do I. Can't we just wait to talk to her tomorrow? Tonight should be about us."
"Annie, Johanna and Peeta are our friends. We can have a date any day but the longer we wait to talk to Peeta, the more upset he'll be."
I know Finnick is right. Although this will put my plans on hold, I can't be selfish. Our friend needs us.
I stand up, then I take Finnick's hand and help him up.
"We don't need to call. I know exactly where Gale took Johanna."
Gale wanted something really special for Johanna. Even though she doesn't care, Gale still wanted to surprise her. So Gale asked me for help and I had the perfect idea. A picnic in the woods under the stars with a campfire, like the one we had when they shared their first kiss. I'm not much of a cook but I helped Gale prepare food for their picnic last night. He was so excited for today, it was adorable. Now it's time for Finn and I to go ruin it.
Some Clato ness is up next! :D
Please Review!
Thank you to my new beta reader: Chocovian (aka S)
