Hey, I'm finally back with a new chapter! I'm really sorry for the delay, hope you guys can understand. Unfortunately, my mom has restricted Internet access, meaning from now on I only have Internet until 8pm.( Except Saturdays, when I have Internet until 9pm. ) It's super annoying, but I'll just have to deal with it :( On the bright side, I'm still going to update once a week, don't worry. And this chapter is extra long to make up for the wait!
A special mention goes to the amazing Katie ( Juliet's Shadow! ) She's super nice and very talented, so y'all ought to check her out. ( I personally recommend Graceland, since I absolutely fell in love with the story. ) Plus, she's not only given me a lot of support on my writing, reviewing all of my chapters, but also been plain awesome talking to me through PM. Go read some of her stories and show her some love!
Lastly, I hope you guys like this chapter. Enjoy and review!
P.S. Katie, check your inbox! I sent you a message ages agoooo .
P.P.S. cayt326: I'm really glad you're enjoying the story so far! Thank you heaps for your review x
At somewhere around seven, when Peeta and I are mostly done with unpacking, we're called downstairs to have dinner. Instead of eating in the dining room, though, Finnick waves us out onto the veranda.
There's a table set with steaming plates and glasses of fizzy ocean blue liquid I've never seen before. Upon closer inspection, the food turns out to be slices of some kind of pink fish I vaguely remember as salmon. The fish is laid upon a bed of rice, which is drenched in a creamy white sauce and sprinkled with rosemary.
The smell is so fragrant my mouth starts to water. Johanna actually lets out a little moan as we sit down. "God, you made this?" she asks Finnick, her expression a mixture of disbelief and teasing. "Don't look so surprised," he says, smirking. "But no, as much as I'd like to claim credit, I didn't make this. I couldn't cook anything like this if my life depended on it." Johanna chuckles, and I raise my eyebrows. There's some news about Finnick.
Peeta is studying his plate intently. "I'd like to try making this," he says suddenly. "Maybe I could teach you, Finnick. You, too, Annie, if you'd like." He looks up expectantly. "Why not?" Finnick says eagerly. "You can teach all of us tomorrow morning. We'll go to the beach in the afternoon." And just like that, it's decided, despite Johanna and my vehement protests.
Dinner is delicious. The fish is tender and melts in my mouth almost immediately. Finnick keeps the conversation going with his ridiculous stories, so the rest of us mostly just listen, occasionally dropping a comment. The cool breeze is a welcome companion, keeping us comfortable but not cold.
When the evening finally ends, my spirits are reasonably high. I think it might partially be the blue drink messing with my head, though, since I have a warm feeling in my stomach and an unusual light-headed giddiness. The drink must have alcohol in it. I look around at the others. Peeta's cheeks are flushed red, and he has a pleased look on his face. Finnick's eyes are sparkling in the remaining light of dusk. Annie has on a dreamy smile, and even Johanna looks relaxed and at ease.
Then, because Annie is laughing at something Finnick said, with windblown hair falling in her face and dimpled rosy cheeks, I go ahead and decide whatever the feeling is, this must be happiness.
"That looks good, Annie," Peeta says encouragingly. "Maybe just a few more minutes in the oven." I shove a stray lock of hair out of my face, trying not to let my frustration show. It's must be at least eighty degrees in the kitchen, and we've been stuck here all morning, helping Peeta make lunch. He assigns me with simple tasks like slicing the fish, but I manage to ruin even that by ending up with uneven slices and several pieces on the floor. Back in Twelve, when I cooked for Prim and my mother, no one cared if the food looked good or not. Having food on the table was a miracle in itself.
Annie is the only one doing a decent job. Finnick and Johanna had no more luck than I did. Finnick waits patiently, keeping us entertained with awful jokes, but Johanna has a murderous glint in her eyes. If looks could kill, Peeta would be dead by now. I fight a strange urge to laugh.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, lunch is served, courtesy of Peeta and Annie's joined efforts. We dig in hungrily, shoveling food in our mouths in a manner Effie would certainly disapprove of. No one could care less.
Johanna is the first to stand up. "Let's go," she declares. "I've had enough of the kitchen for a lifetime. I'm ready to dive into that gorgeous ocean you've got here, Finnick." I can't help but grin.
The walk takes about five minutes. One second we're still walking on gravel streets, and the next we're heading towards an enormous strip of golden sand. Beyond that, of course, is the ocean. Shimmering waves lapping at the shore. Salty air and sunshine.
We're running now, bare feet slapping the soft carpet of sand beneath us. Johanna lets out a loud whoop, which is echoed by Finnick. I hear someone giggling, before realizing it's me. I'm giggling?
"Last one in the water has to be dunked!" Finnick yells. He's a few feet ahead of me, his arm around Annie as they run. "Prepare to get your asses wet!" Johanna hollers back in return, flashing an evil grin as she shoves past me. And then I feel a warm hand slip into mine, knowing without looking that it's Peeta. I shiver involuntarily.
This is the first time he's made any physical contact with me which doesn't involve nightmares and sweaty palms. Since the rebellion, anyways. I meet his eyes. The same striking blue. They're calm now, staring right through me with a hint of a smile. "Let's do this," he whispers. The words won't come out of my mouth, so I just nod and give his hand a squeeze, hopefully expressing everything I want to tell him. How much I've missed him. Peeta, the boy with the bread.
I pull him alongside me as we start to put on speed. I have absolutely no intention of being dunked whatsoever. He's still slightly on the slower side due to his leg, but we're definitely gaining on the others. Peeta lets out an uncharacteristic wolf whistle. "We're coming!" he shouts, grinning at me.
Finnick and Annie are still in the lead, although not by much. We're neck to neck with Johanna now. "You're going down, Mason," I say spontaneously. She rolls her eyes. "Like I couldn't take you," she retorts.
Finnick reaches the water first. Annie slams into him only a second later, gasping as she says something I can't hear. And then Johanna and I reach the edge of the water at what I can only say is the same time. Peeta's a second slower, like Annie.
We're all panting and gulping air. "That was low!" Annie exclaims indignantly between breaths, giving Finnick a dirty look. "What'd you do,huh?" Johanna asks, smirking. Finnick holds out his hands, a look of pure innocence on his face. "Nothing!" he protests. Annie glares at him. "Well, alright. I may or may not have pointed out a nonexistent rainbow," he admits sheepishly. Peeta laughs.
Annie crosses her arms over her chest. "You were just scared I'd beat you, Finn," she declares. "Who, me?" Finnick says, feigning surprise. "Never." Then all of a sudden, he picks her up from behind, his arms encircling her waist as he swings her around in the air. "Put me down!" Annie is trying to sound angry, but she's laughing. Finnick smiles cheekily. "Not unless you say you love me," he pretends to pout.
Johanna looks disgusted. "Oh, please. Cut the mush, lovebirds. Some of us would like to keep lunch down." They ignore her completely. "Alright, I love you!" Annie gasps as she tries to catch her breath between peals of laughter. Finnick sets her down slowly, his arms still wrapped around her waist. "I love you," he whispers huskily, but still loud enough for all of us to hear, even over the sound of the waves.
Then all of a sudden they're making out like it's the end of the world. They're entangled in each other in such an intimate way, and kissing with so much ferocity, that I have to look away. Somehow, I feel like we're intruding on their moment. Peeta looks mildly disgruntled. "That's probably either the hottest or most perverted scene I've ever seen in my life," he mutters.
"Get a room already," Johanna complains, shooting Peeta an approving look. "I'm here to enjoy the ocean, not watch porn." When this gets no response, she grits her teeth. "If you don't restrain yourself, Finnick, then I will, I swear."
I bite my lip to keep from snorting out loud. Finally, Annie steps back a few seconds later, blushing madly. Finnick sticks his tongue out at Johanna. "Party pooper," he says.
Johanna narrows her eyes. "Remember, you asked for this," she replies with a sweet smile, before running at him. She pushes him towards the water in one swift motion, taking him by surprise and successfully drenching him from head to toe.
Finnick looks confused for a second, but regains his composure in a second. "Fight's on!"
By the time we're back at the house, our clothes are soaked through, and my muscles are sore from swimming all afternoon. It's been a long time since I've exercised that much. Swimming in the ocean, it turned out, was completely different from swimming in my father's pond back in Twelve.
The currents are much stronger, and of course, a lot deeper. It's beautiful, though. It's almost as though there's a whole other world beneath the crystal waves. Schools of neon colored tropical fish gliding gracefully, jewel-colored corral reefs and exotic sea creatures I've never seen before. I spent nearly five minutes, I think, gaping over a golden star shaped creature Finnick tells me is called starfish.
There's no question about Finnick and Annie being the best swimmers. The way they moved through the water, they could have been part of the ocean itself. The water fight ended pretty fast once they teamed up against us.
After having dinner at one of the booths near the harbor, we'd headed back. I'm starting to get used to the salty breeze and the gentle lapping sound of the waves. Everything seems almost too good to be true. The cotton candy pink sky before nightfall, the salty fish soup I'm getting addicted to, and most of all, this feeling of complete ease and lightness.
Deep in my mind, though, I'm unsettled. At the overwhelming prospect that I could actually grow accustomed to this. To the happiness which used to be a luxury I could never afford. Because I know Peeta and I will go back to District Twelve eventually. What happens then? Will the Games and the nightmares come crashing back? If Peeta and I somehow manage to grow back together, is it only to tear us apart once more when we return to the hometown built upon ashes and broken dreams? There are too many questions which tug at my heart.
In another part of my mind, there's my mother. Hadn't Finnick mentioned her wanting to see me? I'd never admit it out loud, but I've missed her along with Prim and all the other people I know I'll never see again. I want to ask him, but a part of me is afraid of the answer. So I stay silent about my mother.
A sneeze, of all things, snaps me out of my thoughts with a jolt. Peeta smiles sheepishly. "Sorry. I liked watching you think, you know." We're sitting on the king bed in our room, watching a movie. At least before I spaced out. His comment takes me by surprise, as always. "Huh?"
He grins. "You have this little crease on your forehead when you're lost in thought. It's kind of cute." I remember a time when this type of remark would have made me guilty and uncomfortable. But right now, it just feels nice. The heat is creeping into my cheeks before I can stop it. "Do you think I'm cute?" I blurt out. Immediately, I want to stuff the words back into my mouth. They sound so stupid and shallow, especially coming from me. I know I'm not the kind of person to say these things. It's too late, though.
Peeta looks taken aback at first, but then he smiles, slowly. "I don't think you're cute," he says quietly. My heart almost stops. "You're beautiful, Katniss." My heart is going to explode.
Right then, the door flies open, and Finnick barges in. I can't help feeling a strange twinge of annoyance. Just as I'm about to chide him, though, I finally notice the grim expression on his face. He opens his mouth before either of us can say anything. His voice is tight.
"Plutarch Heavensbee called just now. The Seventy Sixth Hunger Games are taking place."
I know Johanna has a thing with water in the books, by the way. Let's just not dwell on that since I wanted to give them all a fun afternoon, well, before the "real fun" begins. *winks* Please leave me a review on your thoughts so far! Have a good day, guys :)