CHAPTER FIVE

HONEST ANNIE CRESTA

After a long lunch where I discussed what I'd been up to and what they'd been up to, two o clock rolled around.

"Well, you go invite the Crestas over for dinner, Fin. Tell them six o' clock," my mom orders.

I help her start the dishes and my dad walks me to the from door once I finish.

"Finnick, remember that loving someone require commitment…" dad says.

I smirk at him and place my hand on the doorknob.

"Dad, I am not going to nor am I in love with Annie Cresta."

He pats my back with a nod as I exit.

"Not yet," he replies.

The has been shut before I can respond. It doesn't matter though. After all, I know that my attraction to Annie is purely circumstantial. Physical at most. She's only pretty. Right?

I walk through the village. People whisper when they see me. Some girls scream. I'm not phased. I'm used to that reaction.

I finally reach the Crestas place. I walk up the steps and enter taking a place in the long line. I hear the good natured laugh of Damon Cresta as he assists the customers ahead of me. A few times I hear him scale and debone. I walk around the line. Two of the customers start to tell me not to cut but save their breath when they see it's me. I walk over to the counter where Annie is scaling fish. Her father's eyes dart in my direction. He smiles and I offer a courteous nod.

"Annie?" her dad smiles handing a customer their change.

"Mmhm?" Annie replies continuing to work on the fish.

I can't help but smile. Here I am three inches in front of her and she's not even acknowledging my presence.

"Annie, you have a customer…" Damon snickers as the next customer approaches him.

Annie sighs and brushes some hair from her face. Her side bangs falling in her eyes as she continues to debone a customer's fish.

"Hi, I'll be right with you…" she trails off as she looks up and sees it's me.

Her face splits into a wide grin and she laughs softly.

"What are you doing here? I thought I wasn't going to see you for a year…"

I shrug and find myself doing something very out of character.

Being nervous.

I'm never nervous. Especially around girls. But something about Annie makes my ears get hot and my heart beat outside my chest. My fingers itch to stroke her long, wavy auburn hair that contrasts with her pearly, freckled skin. Why? Why though? It's not like I'm in love with her. She's pretty ordinary looking. Well…except for the skin and I've never seen such huge eyes.

"My parents and I wanted to invite you and your father over for dinner tonight. What do you say?" I ask.

Annie's eyes leave mine and flicker to her fathers. He looks from me to her and gives a brisk nod. Annie smiles at me and nods too.

"Sure. We'd love to."

My heart pounds even faster and I take a deep breath to settle my stomach.

"Great. I'll see you around six thirty."

And with that I take off, the pleasant aroma of victory tickling my nostrils. The tingling of Annie's lingering gaze on my neck. Never in my life have I craved someone's attention and presence so much. This wasn't love though. Annie Cresta and I would never be in love. The widower net maker's daughter in love with the Hunger Games Victor? The notorious ladies' man? As if. Best friends though.

THAT was possible. Right?

ANNIE'S POINT OF VIEW

At 6:15 I was dressed in a blue eyelet lace top and my best shorts. My hair was combed into its graceful waves and I had on my favorite brown leather sandals.

"Dad, you ready?" I ask walking into his study.

To my surprise he isn't even dressed. He's still in his work clothes, pinching the bridge of his nose as he counts money.

"Annie, I can't go. I have too much work to catch up on," he sighs.

"Dad! They invited us! It'll be weird if just I show up!" I whine.

"Why?"

"Because they'll think I told you not to come. It'll look like I'm interested in Finnick!" I hiss.

My dad looks up at me with a smirk.

"You aren't?"

My mouth opens and closes. I most certainly am not. I set my jaw and my dad's smirk widens.

"Thought so…" he murmurs.

I turn on my heel and storm into the kitchen cursing under my breath. My dad's laughter echoes in the background.

I pick up the tray of brownies I baked an hour ago and step out the door, gasping at what lies before me.

Finnick Odair waits at the bottom of the porch steps. His hands lazily in his pockets. His hair in a casual state of disarray. My brows furrow.

Why is he here?

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

He's not interested in me. Is he?

"My mom said I should walk you over. In case you didn't know the way."

Of course. He's only here because of his mom encouraging him to have manners. Nice.

I lope down the stairs, brownies in hand and we start towards his place in awkward silence. This is becoming a habit when we walk together. My eyes drift in his direction only to see him studying me intently. I smile a little and to my surprise he flushes red.

"You okay?" I ask.

He nods and releases an anxious laugh.

"Tomorrow's the big day…"

Of course. It's not me that's making him anxious. It's tomorrow. The Reaping. The day he gets to see the kids he'll lead to their death.

"You nervous?" I ask.

"Don't tell anybody…but…yes…"

I nod and we watch as numerous citizens shut themselves in their homes and look out their windows as Finnick and I walk down the road together. The net-maker's daughter and the Hunger Games Victor/Ladies' Man. We turn the corner into Victor's Village.

"What do you have their?" asks Finnick.

"Oh, they're brownies. Homemade, actually…" I say raising my chin a fraction.

He chuckles and bends his head over to the tray of brownies, taking a big whiff as he continues to lead me towards their home.

"Those smell incredible," he remarks.

I feel my face get hot. I'm a little embarrassed for sure. In a good way. The famous Finnick Odair is complimenting my cooking! We walk up to a large house, with warm lighting coming from inside. I hear loud laughing coming from within. We walk into the house.

"Mom! Dad! I'm here! So is Annie!" he calls out as we walk into a kitchen that smells of beef and vegetables.

His mom is a tiny woman with light hair, his dad taller and toned. He looks a lot like Finnick.

"Annie brought some brownies. Homemade," Finnick says.

He takes the brownies from my hands and puts them on the counter beside the pot of food. His mom walks over to me and stands on her tiptoes, wrapping her tiny arms around my neck.

"So nice to meet you, Annie. You and your dad's fish and tackle are the best in the District," his dad says.

"I'm Reese and this is my wife, Leila," Finnick's dad says, shaking my hand.

"I hope you like stew and yeast rolls."

"Oh, yeah. That's perfect," I smile at Finnick's mom.

We all sit down at the table, each of us with a bowl of stew and roll and small glass of red wine.

"So, Annie, what's the plan?" asks Reese.

I look up from my bowl and decide to give an honest answer.

"Probably take over the net shop when it's just me. Work with my dad until then," I shrug.

Reese nods and looks at Finnick who wears a small smile.

"Is that what you WANT?" Leila questions.

I bite my lip. Honestly? Nope. What have I got to lose. These aren't my future in laws. Me and Finnick have no future after tonight.

"Nope. I'd much rather teach."

"Oh, really? Teach what?"

I look at Finnick's dad and smile.

"I'm really good with kids. I'd like to teach the younger kids."

"Why not go for it?" Leila says.

I look up from my bowl to see all eyes on me. I laugh awkwardly and stroke my chin gently.

"Well, who would run the net shop? It's been going on for over six decades. I can't be the one to let it end. Maybe one day though. I never rule out any possibility. I'll just have to wait until I can pass it on to somebody."

Reese and Leila exchange glances and their eyes flicker to Finnick, as do mine. He's staring at me intently, a small smile playing on his lips. I meet his gaze and cock my head to the side. Why is Finnick Odair staring at me?

FINNICK'S POINT OF VIEW

Amazing. Never have I met a girl so pure. A teacher? Not a famous member of Capitol? I can tell she is telling the truth by the look in her eyes. Those big blue eyes that are sparkling with desire. I can't help but smile. Her gaze shifts to mine, following my parent's. She cocks her head to the side, her messy bun wobbling on the back of her head. The wavy tendrils framing her face slightly bounce a little. Her big eyes are curious. She wonders why I'm staring.

"What?" she smiles slightly.

She's seriously asking me why? That's pretty astounding. Pretty bold. She's asking me: what? Well, if she can be honest, so can I.

"That's just a great answer. Not a very common one either. I'm impressed," I say.

Annie smiles and turns red. My parents exchange small smiles. I'm a little embarrassed. A common feeling around Annie.

After dinner and dessert, Annie helps my mom wash the dishes. My dad and I clean the table. We hear laughter come from the kitchen.

"Annie is very nice," my dad remarks.

"You think so?" I ask wiping the table once more.

"Funny too. That's what I gather from your mother's hysterical laughter," chuckles dad.

I smile to myself and raise up, leaning on the chair beside me as my dad blows out the candles on the table.

"What are you so afraid of?" he asks raising a brow.

My brows furrowed and lips purse at him. He smirks.

"Who said I was afraid?"

"Nobody. But it's in your eyes…"

I sit in a chair and my dad sits beside me.

"She doesn't want to be with me, dad. She knows she may lose me. That she'll probably lose me. That I'll be gone constantly. Unless she suddenly became a Hunger Game Victor, she has no chance of being with me," I groan.

I can't believe what I've just said. I've basically just admitted that I wanted to be with Annie. No, that can't be true. I've known her my whole life but technically only two days.

"Not that I want to be with her like that. I'd love to be her friend…" I stammer.

My dad shrugs and nods at me once. I fold my arms and exchange a long glance of secrecy with my dad. Where my eyes confess that I'm torn but my smirk says I'm not affected.

"Hey, it's a little sexist that me and the lovely Mrs. Leila are doing all the dishes!" Annie calls from the kitchen.

Me and my father smile.

"Come on, let's go help," my dad says, standing.

I stand and follow him into the kitchen only to see the dishes are all done and Annie and my mother are munching on brownies.

"Annie, these are scrumptious," my mom says.

"Thank you. It's actually a recipe of my mother's."

Me, my mother and father all look at one another then hear Annie laugh softly. Our eyes snap in her direction.

"Honestly, don't feel bad for me. I'm fine. You can't miss what you never had," Annie says meekly.

A long silence occurs before I finally speak up.

"You've got to be one of the most exceptional people that I've ever met," I mumble.

Annie looks up from her feet to me, her brows furrowed ever so slightly. Her lips barely parted. I bite my lip, instantly regretting what I've just said. Annie swallows and offers a forced smile to my mother and father.

"I'd best be going," she says.

I sigh in defeat.

"Annie, what about your brownie tray?" my mom calls.

But Annie is already at the front door.

"Oh, keep it!" she calls.

The door shuts and I lean against the counter, folding my arms in angst. I feel my parents' eyes on me.

"What?" I snap looking up at them.

My mom frowns and looks at my father. He frowns back at her.

"That's a good girl. You're letting her get away," my mom mumbles.

My eyes narrow and I groan in defeat.

"You're an idiot, Finnick. An idiot if you are going to let her get away. You dummy. You're being a dummy," my mother adds.

My dad gapes at her and then looks at me. He nods at me and shrugs, agreeing with my mother.

"I've known her on a personal level for two days! Of course I'm letting her get away! I don't even know her!" I groan.

But they're right. Sometimes you can know this soon that you love someone. But I don't know if I love her. If you love someone, you know. I don't.

"Why don't you go get her?" my dad suggests.

And with that, I storm out the back door to take a walk on the beach. Alone.