AN: I am so sorry. I did not know it was going to take this long to update. My classes are actually really hard and I have not had any challenging classes any of my high school life so this is different. So please don't be mad I tried to type whenever I wasn't doing work and this chapter was hard to type. One more thing hopefully soon I will be uploading a new story soon that I am working on with a great friend of mine, Marie ( from Lindsey and Marie Enterprises), please read it it's going to be really interesting. And let me run this idea by you my APUSH ( Ap U.S history) class is going to do a t-shirt and we have this idea to use Snorg Tees idea, but make it our own. It's a cheat sheet and printed upside down to where you can see it perfectly and put a bow tie on top( you have to know the teacher to understand the bow time=) )He loves it and wants one no matter if we get it approved or not. What do y'all think?
A True Pearl
Disclaimer-I do not own the Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins does.
Thank You to Marie for beta-ing.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed/favored/alerted me and my story. I wish everybody would review; they make me want to type faster. The people who do review thank you so much =)
cookieb123- She is seeing visions it will make sense later. Thanks! =)
all I need 22- Thanks!
me-Thanks for the birthday wish and for reviewing!
hungergamestribute67- Thanks for the birthday wish and for reviewing!
gabysherilovespeeta-Okay you just made me sound really bad haha. I needed a teacher's name and everyone used Mr. Wilson so I wanted to use Pater's. I love that man =P! But dear lord is that class hard at least he wants to celebrate Mardi Gras. We have already decorated Mufassa.
Ch.4 ENJOY!
I awoke with a blinding light hitting me. I looked up to see my dad opening the blinds. Uugghhh... I plopped my head back down on the pillow and pulled the blanket over my eyes. he tugged the blanket off of me trying to make me get out of bed.
"C'mon Annie, time to get up."
I groaned in response and flipped over on my side.
"I'll go get the water bucket if you don't get up."
I went wide-eyed. I knew my dad wasn't joking around. I have already been on the end of one those buckets before.
"No, no, I'm up. I'm up. No need for the water bucket."
My dad smirked at me and then left the room letting me get ready for the day. I got up and stretched. Out of the corner of my eye I saw my slippers in the corner of my room. I rushed to get them to get off this cold floor. When I passed by mirror I stopped. I looked at my neck and saw the necklace was still there. So it did happen. But the dream, I have no idea what that was about. Because believe it, or not I think I would remember getting pregnant.
All of a sudden I heard my clock chime. It was less than an hour and I haven't even began to get ready. I was in a panic.
I started to rush to get ready. After I had my clothes picked out I went to brush my teeth, all the while thinking how happy I was that I took a shower yesterday. After I was done I looked at my clocked and I saw that I had about 15 minutes to get to school. I rushed out the doors saying my goodbyes in the wind.
On my run to school I saw the fisherman getting their things ready for the new season. It was starting to warm up as winter was heading out and Spring was coming in. It's usually a big day where all the boats sail off and we have a little celebration here, to celebrate the fact that we got out of the hard time. Something else also is close to this time, but no one likes to talk about it. The Hunger Games. Even though our district is one of the ones that is most likely to win, just the thought of losing one or two of our friends is heartbreaking, so nobody says anything.
I got to school a few minutes before the bell, so I decided to walk around the school and find my new classrooms since we had new schedule for the new semester. As soon as the bell rang I went to my first block. When I walked in I saw Delaney and Mya immediately. I chose my seat in front of them and asked where Harper was.
"She got switched out of the class for something else is what I hear. She wouldn't tell me anything more though," Delaney told me.
The day went by eventless. It was extremely slow and we didn't even see Harper at lunch. I looked over at Finnick's table to see him making hand gestures, like he was telling a story. He had the whole table laughing.
I sighed 'Looks like some things will never change.'
On our way out of school we say Harper sitting down on one of the benches. We walked over there, but she didn't notice us till we were at her feet.
"Hey Harper." We tried to get her attention, but all she did was look up, meet our eyes, then look right back down.
"What has been going on Harper? We haven't seen you around any." I asked her.
"It's nothing personal. It's just that well... a lot has been going on at home. That's why I had to drop my first block and other stuff. I'm sorry," Harper explained.
"It's okay," we said together. I sat down by Harper to talk to her. "Why didn't you just tell us first?"
"It wasn't-and still isn't-something I like to talk about." She said barely above a whisper.
"Okay, well you know if you need anything we're here." Mya told Harper.
She nodded her head and stood up. She walked a few feet and turned around and gave us a sad smile, then turned and left us alone.
I heaved a sigh and looked up to Delaney and Mya. We had a silent conversation and agreed to walk home separately. I watched as both of them left. I stood up and started on my way home. When I got home I stopped in front of our fence. I wasn't ready to go in yet, because I know once I go in my dad would put me right to work.
I looked towards the beach and saw how inviting it looked. The temperature was just right. It had a nice chill to it and there was a slight breeze going through. The sun was going down and it gave the perfect sight. The time of day was just right to where the water would only nip at my feet. On my walk there I was wondering if Finnick was going to be there. 'Probably not out there,' I thought, It's late, and he said that he would be too busy to come for a little bit. So I took my chance and went.
When I got there I took off my shoes and dug my toes in the sand. There is nothing better than that feeling. I stood there for a little bit with my eyes closed. I was soon startled when I felt the chilly water touch my feet. As the wind wrapped around me like a cocoon, I let my hair cascade down around me. I was alone, just me and the solitude of myself.
All of a sudden I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I didn't turn around the person put their arms around my waste and I felt their hot breathe on my ear. I was about to turn around and punch them in the nose. When I lifted my arm the person chuckled. I knew that chuckle, it was a very familiar and distinct chuckle. I would know it anywhere.
"You planning on hurting me Annie?" Finnick was now full out laughing now.
"No, of course not. You just startled me, that's all."
"Uh huh, yeah right Annie. We all know your secret. We know that deep down inside you, you are dying to get a chance to kill me aren't you?" He smirked at me.
"Oh no!" I mocked gasped. "You found out my dirty little secret Fin," I laughed.
He turned me around so I could look him straight in the eyes.
"So, what are you going to do with me now?" His eyes darkened and he waggled his eyebrows.
"Finnick!" I blushed and swatted his shoulder.
He grabbed his sides and laughed, "I'm sorry, but you should have seen your face," he said while laughing.
"Well if you weren't so dirty minded," I crossed my arms in mock annoyance.
"You're the one that said it not me." I stuck my tongue out at him.
"So what are you doing out here?" I asked him.
"I could ask you the same thing." He raised his eyebrows and looked me straight in the eyes.
"I just came out here to relax. It's been a really long day and this seemed too good of an opportunity to pass up. There is usually a lot of people here when I want to come." He nodded his head.
"So, why are you here?" I asked him again.
"Well, umm... well I..." Heat flooded his cheeks.
"I'm waiting." I started to tap my foot.
"I was headed to the docks to work on the boat and I saw you were walking alone." he took a deep breath. "I just wanted to make sure you got home safe, since it's night time." He stumbled over the last bit.
"Well I got home fine, thanks. So, why didn't you turn around when I got home?"
He shrugged. "I figured we could just talk, we never get to talk at school."
I blew the hair out of my face. "Sorry, but you know how I feel about us being friends right now-well, publically. I still want it to be private."
He shook his head understanding what I meant. "Why do you care though?"
"I don't like the attention, I've told you that before. It would bring a lot of unwanted attention to me," I explained to him.
He stood there for a little with his lips pursed. He then sat down on the beach letting the waves nip at his feet.
"You said that you came here to relax, to get away from school problems. What's wrong?"
I sat right beside him and put my head on his shoulder.
"Well Harper acted really strange today. She hasn't told us anything. What do you think is wrong with her?
"I really can't be sure. I do know that some of the families that rely on fishing have been dropped. Those families are going to have to find a new way to live."
I gave him a stern look. "And how do you know this?" I asked raising my voice a little bit.
He ignored it. He looked at me with one of his eyebrows raised and his lips in a half quirk. "I make it my business to know everyone's business." He leaned in closer and whispered in my ear. "Do you have any secrets, Annie Cresta?"
I blushed, "No, and if I did, I wouldn't tell you." I scratched the back of my neck in a nervous gesture.
He pulled back and gave me a quizzical look.
I sighed. "Finnick, there isn't much about me that people don't already know." I shrugged, "I don't have any secrets."
"Everyone has secrets." He simply replied. I was about to reply to that but he still continued, "It doesn't matter if you have one now or later, but everyone at some point has some secret."
With that it ended out conversation. For a few minutes we just sat there enjoying each other's presence. I laid my head on his shoulder to relax for some time. I closed my eyes listening to the sounds around me.
Soon I felt Finnick's fingers nudging me awake.
"What's wrong, Fin?" I asked sleepily.
"I hear some voices coming our way. And it sounds like Peacekeepers. Annie, you know we are not suppose to be out this late."
I jolted awake. I have heard what Peacekeepers do to those who violate the rules. "What are we going to do Fin?" I asked, frightened.
He put his fingers on my lips, shushing me. He looked at me stern in the eyes, "Follow me, and don't make a noise till I say it's safe, okay?" I nodded my head in response.
We quickly and swiftly ran down the beach and out of sight.
After about a minute or so we walked up a sand hill, thinking that we got them off our trail. We walked through the allies and stopped at a halfway point between our homes.
We turned towards each other and said our goodbyes. We started to run in the opposite directions ready to head home.
"ANNIE!" I turned around and saw Finnick running to me.
I stopped and waited for him, out of breath. "Yeah?" I asked panting.
His breathing was rough and he looked a little frantic. He searched my face as if looking for something. "I won't be able to come tomorrow, Annie."
I nodded my head then looked down. I was upset, I really enjoyed our times together. I won't tell him that. He grabbed my chin gently and made me look in the eyes. He leaned his head down and captured my lips. We broke apart trying to catch our breaths. He kissed me on the forehead. "Goodnight, Annie," he whispered, then went back in his direction.
I stood there for a little bit, touching my lips trying to understand what just happened. I never planned for any of this to happen. I then heard shouting coming from an ally not too far from here. I didn't waste any more time, I ran as fast as I could to my house.
When I got home all the lights were off. So, I went in through the back and the porch light was on. 'Thank you.' Once I got in nobody was awake all I heard was snoring. Another great thing, I wasn't in the mood for explaining right now.
I quietly crept up the stairs. I winced every time I heard each step creak. I would stop and listen to make sure I could still hear them snoring to make sure I didn't wake them up. I got scared when I heard my dad's snoring stop. I stopped in my tracks, scared I would be caught. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding when he started snoring again. I crept by their room when I finally got up the stairs and a silent smile lit my face. My mom was getting better with each day. Her and my dad were sleeping together again. It was a winter miracle.
I got to my room and plopped on my bed and laid down for just a second. I still couldn't believe what happened today. Maybe I should stop being so uptight with Finnick and let us be friends in public. But, with how he is acting I think that's not all he wants.
'Grr...' My life was not complicated at all before he came back into it. It was actually quite simple: live. Nothing more, nothing less.
'Oh how would he love this. Me beating myself up about this.' I laughed silently to myself.
I made myself to get back up to get a shower. I was dirty from head to toe and there was no getting around that one. I got in the shower and turned the heat all the way on. I immersed in it, letting the steam wrap around me in a comforting cocoon. When I was done I got out and turned the small fan on and opened the window a little to let the steam out, so I could see. I got a rag and wiped a small portion of the mirror so I could see myself. I took a deep breath and looked at myself. There was no physical change, no that much you could see. But what did change was the person on the inside. It was a much deeper change. I was beginning to accept myself more. I small smile crept onto my face. It seems that things were getting better for me. My mom was still sick, but she is now able to walk around on her own. We don't have to watch her every second now at least. I was more focused, which made my friends happier because they thought they were losing me and-whether I liked it or not-I could thank Finnick for it. I'm not sure about the part about my mom, but it just seems like ever since he came around my problems haven't been as bad.
Then I thought about Harper. Harper...if what Finnick says is true, I can't imagine what she is going through, her family relies on fishing. Things must be getting bad here and they are trying to cover it up. I'll have to ask Finnick about that.
I finished drying up and left to put on my Pjs. I walked over to my dresses and took over my jewelry. I cradled the necklace that Finnick got me and studied it. It was so beautiful and special and just for me. A huge smile lit my face. I carefully laid it down and walked over to my bed and went to sleep and for the first time in a long time I didn't have a dream.
Ha, I bet y'all didn't see that coming! I know, me not putting in a dream is weird. I will try not to wait as long to post the next chapter, it should come easier. The next chapter will be longer too. Just remember to look for Destiny and Decisions , coming your way soon.
PLEASE REVIEW, I want to have at least 20 reviews. That isn't too hard now is it? I didn't get as much as I wanted to have last time and it took forever to update. Hmm... So please update, it helps to motivate me! =)
