CHAPTER TWO
I left a few minutes after Finnick disappeared.
I trot up the rickety front steps of the wooden porch that lead to the front door of my home/net and tackle shop that me and my father run. I hang my net on the hook by the front door that has a sign reading 'CLOSED' before entering and letting the overwhelming aroma of fried fish enter my nostrils. Dad is cooking.
"Dad, I'm back!" I call walking into the shop.
No answer.
He's inside the house.
I cross behind the counter and push through the door that leads to our home then into the kitchen.
Dad is there cooking. He observes my wet attire and smirks, shaking his head of blonde curls.
"Went swimming?" he asks.
I nod quickly and he laughs even harder.
"Why don't you go change and you can help me finish supper," he says.
I walk over to the stove where he fries fish in a skillet and give him a quick peck on the cheek before dashing through the kitchen and down the hall to my bedroom. I strip off my damp clothes in exchange for brown tank top, a thread woven knee length, cream colored shirt that features a pattern of holes(usually worn over a bikini, but I know how to wear it casually), khaki shorts and brown gladiator sandals. My hair is almost dry in its loose waves. I look at the picture of my mother. Long auburn hair like mine. Freckles, pearly skin. Big sea green eyes. I like knowing that we look alike.
There's some sharp raps on the back door. Odd.
"Dad! I know I'm closer to the back door but could you get that? I'm not exactly presentable!" I call.
"Yeah! Come watch the fish for me!" he replies.
I exit my bedroom and glance over my shoulder at the backdoor. Three more raps. My dad jogs down the hallway and stops giving me a warm smile then pulling me into an embrace and kissing the top of my head.
"You look more and more like her every day, Annie," he whispers.
Three sharper raps. I pull away and smile at him.
"Get that before they break the door," I grin.
He ruffles my hair and I jog to the kitchen quickly to catch the fish and stay out of sight.
The fish are in good condition. I sear them gently in the skillet and flip them. I try to hear who is at our backdoor, but the sizzling of the fish makes it difficult to hear. I decide to just ask my dad at dinner. We tell each other everything.
"Annie," my dad's voice calls.
I turn my head raising my brows…
No. Way.
FINNICK'S POINT OF VIEW
That girl. That Annie Cresta. She had just blown my mind. My manager babbles about the itinerary on my Receiver and I don't hear any of it. None of it registers. All I hear is Annie's laugh.
I recall sitting in the arena and closing my eyes tightly trying to picture her fingers as she made a net at the seminars she did. I remember trying to recall all the words she had said as she wove the nets for the viewers. Annie Cresta. An Angel of Life.
"Finnick, are you listening?" chirped Vendica in my ear.
"No, sorry," I sigh as I walk into town and start heading for the Hall of Justice.
"I said that dinner is ready. When will you be here?"
"I'm on my way now," I reply, mindlessly.
"Alright, let's not let it get cold. Remember your manners…"
Capitol hosts and manners… I swear…
"Actually, I might be a little late…" I say slowly.
"And why?" she asks.
"I just have to make a quick stop. I won't be long," I lie.
She groans.
"Alright. You have a half hour, Finnick," she scolds.
"I'll be there, Vendica," I reply, hitting the red button on the Receiver.
I walk up to what made me tell her I was going to be late. The town fountain where I played as a boy. Children are not in sight but the fountain rains on. Water spews out of the tips of the statue Siren's fingers into the stone trays she stood on and into the two foot deep fountain littered with wishing coins.
I sit on the edge and sigh, closing my eyes. I have to visit my father before we leave for Capitol. I have to say hi. No matter how comatose and gone he is in the head, I have to see him. I am all he has. I blink away the tears. It's like Mags had said: "Tears. Water. All the same thing. Except one does no good… One of those will get you killed."
That's why I never cried. She had been right. Killing people in the Arena, I never cried. Tears of sadness and lament distract you and get you killed. They don't help you win or make anyone come back to life or make The Games over with sooner.
I finally realize why nobody is outside. I remembered when I was in the Reaping. The night before was spent prepping for the Reaping. A special dinner. A recap of what you were to do if Reaped. Cleaning up and making sure not a hair was out of place if Reaped and shown before Capitol.
That's why when I heard the pitter patter of running feet, I looked up. There she was again. Annie. I smiled as I watched her run across the town square. Her hair and clothes drying slightly in the wind she was getting from her impressive speed.
"She could have kicked my ass in the games with those running and swimming skills," I murmur to myself, lying back down.
I stay lying down for ten more minutes and decide to start heading to the Hall of Justice. Then something else catches my eye. A long, fading blue house. A few steps that lead up to a porch with a swing and a table with a hose and black box on it. My eyes go up to the roof. A large sign reads in hand painted letters "CRESTA BATE, TACKLE, AND FISH."
As if pulled by a rope I walk up to the front door. The front door that has a sign reading "CLOSED" on it in black. I'm not giving up that easy. I'm Finnick Odair. No way I could give up THAT easy on seeing Annie again. I go down the front steps and start to head towards the back of the shop/house looking for another door. I reach a backyard that leads to a forest sealed off by brook. There's a picnic table and a tree with a tire swing on it.
I see a back door. This one looks more inviting. Traditional white door contrasting with the dark, but faded blue of the house. A rectangular window with a white curtain over it, blocking my view of the inside.
I walk over to the back door and knock three times, hoping Annie answers and not her father. If I remember correctly, that's all she has. Her mother died when she was young of some sickness.
There's some muffled yelling. I'm not sure if they heard me. I knock again three times.
Nothing.
I see two silhouettes from behind the white curtain. They halt. Are they not sure I'm here? I couldn't blame them. Who comes to the back door to greet someone?
I knock three more times. The smaller of the two silhouettes runs off. A larger one comes to the door. Great. Her dad. The door swings open. His eyes widen at me.
Annie looks nothing like him.
I smile at him. I'm good at impressing parents.
"Good evening, sir," I smile.
"Are you-are you, Finnick Odair?" he half gawks.
I still smile.
"Yes, sir."
"I'm Damon," he says, shaking my hand.
He ruffles his mass of curly blond hair and shakes his head in disillusion.
"Wow, well, what can I do for you, Mr. Odair?" Damon asks.
"Well, Mr. Cresta, I was wondering if Annie was around."
His face falls and his eyes grow worried. My brows draw together in confusion.
"Has Annie…has Annie been…been reaped?" he breathes.
I shake my head.
"No! No!" I laugh.
"Oh, thank God…" sighs Damon.
"I actually was just coming to ask her if she'd like to join me for dinner at the Hall of Justice."
Damon scrutinizes me for a moment then gives a gruff nod stepping inside to let me in.
"Sorry if I frightened you, sir," I say.
"Not at all. Just not used to visitors. Only customers," he says good-naturedly.
We walk into a kitchen. At the stove is a girl. Her long, auburn hair in waves down her back. A fashionable and woven knee length cover up goes over a brown tank top and khaki shorts. Her freckled legs elongated by hiking boots.
"Annie," her dad says.
She looks over her shoulder, still cooking whatever is on the stove. Fish I assume by the smell. Her eyebrows are raised and her jaw drops a little.
"Hey, Annie," I smile with a small wave.
"Finnick," she replies moving the fish from the stove to a heating pad on the counter.
Her father walks past me giving me a quick pat on the shoulder and tending to their dinner…or what was GOING to be there dinner before I decided to steal Annie away.
"Hello," I smile.
"Hey," Annie says with an awkward laugh.
"I wanted to know if you wanted to have dinner with me," I offer.
She looks over at her dad who smiles at her with a shrug. Annie gives me a single nod and walks back to her dad.
"Are you sure?" she asks.
"How many times does Finnick Odair come ask you to dinner? Go."
"But tomorrow is Reaping Day…" she whispers.
"Annie, please. I'll save some pudding cake for you. When you get back you can tell me all about it," he smiles at her.
She gives him a warm smile and pecks him on the cheek.
"See you soon," Damon says.
She gives her dad a quick wave and walks back to me.
"Yeah, let's go," smiles Annie walking towards the front door.
"Goodbye, sir," I say.
He nods to me and watches us leave. Boy was Annie Cresta in store for a treat.