Chapter Thirty Eight

Annie opened her eyes when she heard her bedroom door open slowly. She didn't move from where she was curled on her bed with the covers pulled up over her head. It had been two days since she had come home and she had not left the house. It had not taken long for her parents to begin questioning her about what had gone on in The Capitol. Her father had been particularly focused upon Finnick. As it had happened, her father had believed everything he had heard on the television and appeared to be of the opinion that Finnick had forced her into it. He seemed certain that Finnick had concocted the whole idea to further his own popularity with the people in The Capitol.

Annie had denied that as well as the supposed relationship. Her father hadn't heard her though. She might as well have not even spoken. He would talk over her whenever she tried to give her version of things, and he'd cut her off as soon as she began to make any kind of point. In the end she would sit there while he went on and on about what he thought had happened. Her protests meant nothing. She hadn't been allowed to go and see Finnick, either. So, she had stayed at home, in her room, wishing that her parents would try to understand more. Or, listen to her at all.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Annie pretended to be asleep. She didn't feel like talking to her father right now.

"Annie?"

Annie opened her eyes. "Tari?"

"Hey…"

Annie peeked out from under her covers. Seeing her friend standing beside her bed in baggy pants, her messy dark hair looking just as windblown as ever, Annie couldn't resist a smile. A moment later, however, Annie's eyes filled with tears. Without a word, Tari slipped under the covers with her and lay on her side, just looking at Annie.

"Sorry…" Annie sniffed, wiping her eyes.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Tari whispered.

"Not according to everyone else."

"Screw everyone else."

She gave a small laugh and Tari reached out, tucking her hair behind her ear. Annie just looked at her friend, thankful that she hadn't changed. Tari's dark brown eyes were not full of pity or resentment. She did not look judgemental. She was simply her friend. Annie sniffed again.

"What is the matter?" Tari asked softly, "Why are you curled up in here…?"

Annie shook her head, tears welling in her eyes again. "I don't know…" She breathed, "I just…don't want to go out."

"Well, I suppose you've been out for ages. It's probably nice to be home for a while." Tari smiled hopefully at her.

"In some ways." Annie murmured. Tari kept stroking her hair softly.

"Tell me about it…" Her friend suggested.

"It was horrible… and I just kept hoping I could come back… but I didn't really think I would. So, I did what I had to do to try and survive… and I didn't really think I'd have to deal with it afterwards." She looked at her friend, "But now I just keep thinking about it all… and Mum and Dad don't get it. They expect everything to just go back to the way it was before, but it can't." she let out a sob. "It can't."

"Hey," Tari whispered, stroking her hair, "You didn't do anything wrong, Annie."

"Lumina…"

Tari's eyes filled with tears as she looked at her. "Lumina wasn't your responsibility." She told her, "If she lived, you may not have… I prefer this."

Annie nodded, "I know…" She drew a deep breath, "Torsti…"

Tari closed her eyes for a second, before opening them again. "That was so… horrific…"

"He was so nice…" Annie breathed, "He was good, you know? Really good."

"Yeah." Tari whispered, "Everyone thought that he was going to go all the way…"

"I thought so, too." Annie told her.

"But, again," Tari told her, "I prefer this." She took one of Annie's hands, "And so do your parents."

"Dad thinks I'm a whore."

"He does not!" Tari retorted sharply.

"He does."

"Why would you say that?"

"…My interviews."

"Finnick Odair?" Tari asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah…"

"But that was clearly bullshit…"

"You didn't believe it?" Annie asked her.

"Why would I? I know you." Tari replied flatly, "I know you'd never… not with someone you just met…"

"Mmm…"

"And I doubt you'd talk about it in public the way you did…"

"Yeah… I wouldn't…" Annie replied, "But, that didn't actually bother me all that much. What bothered me was that Finn would have to deal with people thinking he'd screw his tribute… because he would be left to have to face it after I was dead."

"Finn?"

She nodded, "Finn."

Tari bit her lip, looking at her. Annie felt her cheeks heat up slightly. "He's my friend." She told the girl, "He's kind and clever…"

"He's a bit of a peacock, isn't he?" Tari laughed.

"No…" Annie shook her head, "He's not at all what people think he is…" she met her friend's eyes, "… and he gets it, Tari."

"Oh…"

"I mean, I know you want to and that you're going to be here for me for whatever I ask, and I love you for that… But, you won't completely understand. It's not your fault and I know you'll do your best… but there's nothing you can do without going into the arena… But he's been there. He knows without me having to explain…"

Tari gave her a small smile, "Then I'm glad." She said, "I'm glad he's your friend."

Annie nodded, "Yeah…I haven't seen him since we got back, though." She frowned, "I thought… I thought maybe he would come and see me."

She watched Tari frown and think about that for a moment. "You don't think…"

"He promised he wasn't just going to abandon me…"

Her friend nodded, "Right… so then there has to be a reason…"

"Yeah, I suppose."

"Mmm…Do you wanna come to the beach with me this afternoon? We could go for a swim and lay around like we used to…?" Tari smiled at her, "That will make you feel a bit better…."

Annie shook her head before she even realised she'd made the decision. "No, thanks Tari…" she murmured, "I… I think I'll stay here…"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah… Thanks…" She replied, "I… don't want to go out…"

"Why not?"

"Not ready…" She murmured, "People will look at me and… I don't think I can… not yet…"

Tari pet her softly, "It's okay. I understand. Take your time. When you feel ready we will do things…"

"Okay…" Annie smiled gently.

Tari kissed her cheek and got up. "I'll let you get some rest and I'll come and see you tomorrow."

"Thanks." She watched as her friend headed for the bedroom door. Then, as Tari closed the door behind herself, Annie rolled over to face the window. She would much rather stay in bed all comfortable and warm. Nobody was here to look at her or judge her, or even worse, praise her for the things she had done. This was better.

It had been long enough, Finnick had decided. Mags had suggested, rather strongly, that he let Annie have some time alone with her family before he went to see her. It was important, the woman had said, to let her reconnect with the people who loved her and for things to return to normal. Well, as normal as they could be now. So, he had left her alone for two days. Two days was enough. More than enough. He had had enough. As he strode up the narrow street toward the address he had found for Annie, he wondered how she would be when he got there. Would she be happy to see him? He hoped she would.

Looking up at the large house he found himself standing in front of, Finnick realised that he was nervous. He knew that Annie's father didn't exactly like him. This could very likely be an awkward visit.

Walking toward the door, Finnick made himself take several deep breaths before he knocked several times on the door. It was only a few moments before the door opened and he came face to face with Annie's father.

"Hello, Mr. Cresta…" He said, standing slightly straighter.

"Odair."

After a few seconds of silence Finnick twisted his hands together and cleared his throat. "Uh… I wondered if I might be able to see Annie…"

"No."

Finnick blinked, looking at the man. "Uh… No?"

"No." The man repeated, folding his arms and leaning against the door frame.

"Uhm…" Finnick ran a hand through his hair, "I just wanted to check on her… see how she is doing…"

"She's fine. She's resting."

"Oh… So maybe if I could come back later…"

"No."

"Uh…" Finnick blinked, lowering his eyes to the step he was standing on.

"Let me make this abundantly clear." Mr. Cresta said, "Stay away from my daughter."

Finnick looked back up at him quickly. "Seriously?" he asked.

Mr. Cresta simply raised an eyebrow at him. "My daughter has been traumatised enough." The man said, "I think you've done more than enough. She doesn't need any more reminders of the Games, or anything else…" Finnick watched as the man's dark eyes looked him over, "She's been hiding up in her bedroom for the last two days, unwilling to even come and eat with us. The last thing she needs is you."

Finnick stepped back, down a step. "I…"

Mr. Cresta just watched him. Finnick twisted his hands again, not knowing what to say. The man clearly hated him. He had known that, but he had not expected him to stand in the way of Annie being able to see him. He had not even considered the fact that he wouldn't be able to see her. Taking another step back, Finnick just nodded and turned away. He didn't know what to do or say. Picking a fight with the man wasn't going to solve anything. He would go home, at least for now.

"FINNICK?"

Finnick froze, and then turned back around to see Annie push past her father and run down the steps. Upon reaching him, she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "I knew I heard your voice…" She murmured. Finnick wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her carefully. "What took you so long?" She asked, "And, why were you leaving…?" She loosened her hold enough to look at him.

Finnick hesitated, considering his answer. He had not yet worked out what to say before Annie's father had grabbed her by her arm and pulled her back away from him. "Annie, get back inside!"

"What? No!" She cried

"Now!" he snapped.

"Look, I think we need to talk about this…" Finnick began.

"No!" Mr. Cresta rounded on him. "You don't get to touch her ever again. If I so much as see you on my street, I'll kill you myself."

"Dad!"

"Annie, get inside!"

"I don't…" Finnick shook his head, and then looked at Annie, "Didn't you tell him…?"

"I did. He won't listen."

Finnick believed that. He looked at the older man once more. "We made it up." He said, "It was a show!"

"I don't want to hear this rubbish…"

"It's true…" Annie cried.

Finnick stepped forward as her father pushed her inside and followed her in, slamming the door behind them. He stood there silently. He could hear Annie crying, trying to reason with her father who clearly wasn't listening. Finnick's instincts screamed at him to charge in there and help her, but his brain told him that would not be beneficial.

Instead, he went to the window. Looking inside, he saw Annie arguing with her father and gesturing at the door. Her father just shook his head and folded his arms. Annie tugged at her hair before turning and marching away up a hallway and out of Finnick's sight. Stepping back from the window, Finnick bit his lip. She was okay.

Walking back to the street, he thought. He would find another way to see her.