Chapter 22 guys! I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22! ;) This chapter was kind of rushed... Sorry. :( But 30 reviews! Record breaking for this story! Wow guys!
Buttons301: You will find out soon :)
Mikey Jacquez: Well here it is! Sorry about the cliffie..
TributeAndProud: Sorry... but I hope you like it :)
MiaBelles: I'm glad I'm not hated :) We will see if your fingers crossing paid off. :)
TARDISRose: We will see this chapter :D
axes tridents and snares: Poor Finnick! Well I hope I can still see your reviews :)
TheWomanWhoCodesAndWrites: I was like, "If I was Peeta and had the voice of the Gods, what would I say?" That was the result... I know it happens a lot in India, what happens to Finnick and his sisters. I am trying to raise money for that. We will see what happens with the escape soon :)
Finnick Odair: Omg! Hey, Finnick reviewed my story XD I'll take a sugar cube and day. Sorry about the cliffie. :/
HungerGamesAddict3: Sorry, I know you all wanted the verdict, so this chapter is sort of rushed, but I hope it works. Please enjoy :)
hungergamesgirl999: Well I hope you like what happens :)
PEETASMINE : I'm glad! And he's yours, as long as I can have Finnick ;)
Catching Fireflies: I'm sorry :( Well I wanted Finnick's Youth Minister to help him, but if Finnick didn't go to church, how could he have a Minister, so I put them in as posers...
cursed to curse: I know right! And sorry :(
DramioneForever123: Well I hope you like what happens :)
Alexandra Jackson rocks Hades: Thanks! It would only be on the computer though because in real like I am like... what? Lol oh well :)
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mysparklingbutterfly: I hope you still have some hair... :3
SibunaChika1227: Rawr. Sorry :3
RunnergirlI: Well I hope you like it :)
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MeaganOneDirection: I am very glad you liked it :) It was fun to write :)
peeta and katniss 1: I'm glad you like it! :D
MewWinx96: Last court chapter! I would be concerned if Peeta got a country to jump off a cliff (parody idea alert ;) ) I hope you don't get angry.
hazzadaz: I am glad you liked my cliffie placement :D Here is part three!
Guest: Here you go :)
ExplodingAaron: I'm glad you like! This chapter feels rushed and sloppy to me but you all wanted to see the verdict... Next chapter will be better! Promise! :D
Sarah7821: I'm glad you like it that much! If I ever publish something, I will let you know :)
HP-LotR-SW-HG: I'm glad you liked it! I swear, one of my sisters is a Slytherin, but she refuses to accept it. Oh well. I wouldn't mind Mr. Malfoy either... ;)
Sarah7821: I'm so sorry :(
Sarah7821: Well I am glad you like it :)
Chapter 22- The Court (Part 3)
Katniss
I look at Peeta as he sits down, a small gleam of sweat covering his forehead as if he is nervous. I would be too. I was when I was called up this morning, with Annie and Johanna proceeding and coming after me. We all told our stories to help defend Graceland. They call Finnick and ask him to share his story, but I cannot take my eyes off Peeta. His words were woven together to create a masterpiece as beautiful as his pictures. How could someone that amazing like me?
I sit there in wonder for too long. Finnick has finished his testimony and the jury is deliberating. "Katniss?"
I look to the voice that called me and see Peeta, sitting next to me. "What are you thinking about, Katniss?"
I shrug. "I hope we win. My heart is beating so loud you could probably hear it."
"Yeah, it's really obnoxious." I feel my jaw drop and am about to punch him when I see the playful smirk on his face. I settle for slapping him in the arm. He continues to smile as if nothing happened. "Sorry, Katniss. I was only messing around."
I roll my eyes and he gives me a quick peck on the cheek, causing a crimson blush to spread across my face. "You guys are dating?" I realize my blush is growing deeper as Jo and Gale are both facing us, laughing.
Gale opens his mouth next. "Since when?" He looks out of characterly curious just to see how long Peeta and I have been dating. Of course we have kept it on the down low so only he and I know about it.
"Remember when I fell off that cliff? That is when we started." Johanna opens her mouth to say something when we hear the door of the jury's room open. Twelve people step out, their faces giving nothing away. There is a cough and everyone has their attention to the front.
"We find the defendant," My heart is beating like a hammer in my chest. What if we are guilty? I know what it means. Peeta, Johanna, Annie, Finnick, Gale and I will be sent to completely different home across the country. Wrong. Peeta, Johanna, Finnick, Gale and I will; Annie will be sent back to her mother. At least with Graceland still up we would be able to find a way to prevent her from going back to that witch. I hate the tension built up inside me. Everything is coming down to this one moment and if we don't escape we are doomed. "Not guilty." I hear the words echo in my head. Not guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty.
It takes a surprising and bold kiss from Peeta to snap what just happened into perspective. We won. We get to keep Graceland. We still have our home. I can hear Prim, Rue, Eloise, Daisy and Thea jump up and down squealing; hardly an appropriate thing to do in a court room, but it doesn't matter. We get to keep Graceland.
Effie ushers us out and passes the keys to one of the vans to Finnick, making him a driver, Annie sitting shot gun, Johanna, Gale and Rory sitting on the first bench, Peeta, myself and Prim on the second bench and Eloise, Daisy, Rue and Thea –the only girl on her floor, aged eleven, so she often tags along with the twelve years olds- on the back bench. Effie just motions for us to follow. Finnick calls out to the van. "What celebratory music do we all want to listen to?"
Prim raises her hand. "Oh! Let's listen to Annie's iPod. I love the music on it!"
Finnick laughs. "You'd be the first." Annie looks genuinely offended but Finnick pulls her in for a kiss. "I'm only messing with you. You know I love you and all your crappy music, all seven hundred and seven songs." She slaps his upper arm but the love between them is impossible not to see.
"Annie, do you really have seven hundred and seven songs on your iPod?" I can't help but ask. I'd be impressed if she actually had that many. Even more so if Finnick was close to that number.
Annie blushes and shrugs. "Seven hundred and eight now." She is looking at her toes and giggles.
Finnick looks at her legitimately shocked. "When did you get a new song and what song did you get?"
Everyone is laughing because he knows her iPod as well as she does, if not better. "Drops of Jupiter." She smiles at him. He pulls her in for a kiss and Rory is faking puking while Prim is making googoo eyes at the couple. I personally feel for Rory. I'm tempted to retch too.
Thea yells up from the back. "Why are you kissing her so much because of this song?"
Finnick pulls away from Annie and scratches the back of his head. "This is the song I was listening to when I came to Graceland. It was the song I was listening to when I first met Annie."
The twelve year old girls, and Thea, all swoon, and even I have to admit that is a sweet story. We pull out and follow Effie, listening to Annie's iPod. She put on Drops of Jupiter then put it on shuffle, the second song coming on being The Lucky One by Taylor Swift, one of her more tolerable new songs.
Effie pulls into a building none of have been to before, but we've been eyeing it for a while. It is a joint club for kids and teenagers. It is two buildings connected together where eight year olds through twelve year olds can be in the club while next door thirteen through eighteen year olds can party at a club. Effie must have taken us all here to celebrate. She then goes to our van. "I'll be back at eleven for you guys. I'm going to take Hunter, Louis, Posy and Daliah to Check E Cheese and put them to bed. By that time I'll come back and help take all the kids home. Haymitch is doing some final paper work then Graceland is ours forever."
I smile. This sounds great. I know from the way people talk about this place that it is more than a dance floor. It is pretty much a dance floor, plus arcade, plus coffee shop plus library. It is a perfect place for teens. I smile and let myself give Effie a hug. I never would have done this before and I probably never will again but for once, I feel like I actually have a mother.
Annie
I walk into the club with Finnick, letting myself get caught up with him. Inside, it is perfect. I love how the lights reflect the feeling of happiness perfectly. When we enter the teen room people start applauding and we see everyone we know from Les Miserables here. We party a long time with these people when the DJ finally announces we're having a karaoke night. Of course, Finnick is the first person to go up there. What surprises me is when he takes my hand and pulls me onto the stage with him. "What are we singing?" I smile at him.
He smiles. "You'll see." The DJ starts to play the song and I know it at once. It is one of my favorites. It came out January of my freshman year. My face erupts into a smile and I let myself be taken with Finnick's voice.
"You seem quite nice for a girl with good looks
And I'm the kinda fellow that'll make you feel better when your life gets shook
So give it a chance according to your plans
I bet I'm not number one on your list to kiss, but please understand," He sings the part perfectly and I cannot help but smile as I listen to his voice take over the chords. Before I know it, it is the part for me to sing.
"You seem quite shy, but you're oh so cute
And I'm the kind of girl that would love to be yours if you asked me to
So just take a chance, try to hold my hand
I swear I'd never let go
Just let me know if you'd be my man" People seem to cheer for my voice but I know I'm not as good as the cheering implies. Everyone here knows the story of Graceland by now and the six of us in the Teen Club are like celebrities. I smile at Finnick as he twirls me during some of the chords with no singing.
"I really want to come out and tell you
Oh darling I love you so." He nuzzles my nose with his as he finishes his last line of the song and I start mine.
"If you'd ask me for my heart, there's no way that I'll say no." He twirls me as we dance letting our voices slightly crack as we sing and dance, but not one seems to mind. We're having fun, as all of them are.
"Oh darling, just take a chance please,"
"So we can stay together until hell starts to freeze." We did that part in perfect sync. Since it is only karaoke, we don't get to do the whole song, but Finnick pulls me in and kisses me in front of everyone, getting us applause and cheers. I don't mind. I'd always kiss Finnick.
Eventually we must separate, though. As sad as the thought makes me, and eventually, the perfect night must come an end.
I get into the van, sitting shotgun next to Finnick, others filling up the spots in the back seat. I start to DJ, putting Love Song by Sara Bareilles on. I only sing the chorus of the song; mostly because that is the only part I know well enough to sing, but Finnick looks at me lovingly anyway. "What?"
His smile grows bigger. "When we get upstairs I'm going to reveal to you in detail how we are escaping your mother."
I nod and smile. The idea he has come up with is a dream come true if it works out. We walk up the stairs of Graceland and turn on the TV. Since it is Thursday, a new episode of Graceland comes on and since it shares the same name as our home, we were all taken by the show. Johanna turns to Gale towards the beginning of the show, when Abby is getting angry at Mike because she thinks he is seeing another girl. "You aren't cheating on me, are you handsome?"
He shakes his head and leans down to kiss her. "Of course not, beautiful. There aren't any guns in my bedroom either." Johanna smirks and they keep kissing. I start to freak out when Bello cut off the guys hand, and Mike had to torture to guy even more to help him live. I'm freaking but Finnick holds me in his arms and kisses me to keep me sane.
By the end of the episode I am screaming, flipping off the television, and acting very Johanna like, much to everyone's shock and amusement. "Is he a double or a triple agent or just a jerk?" I am screaming.
Eventually Finnick is able to tear me away from the television and into his bedroom, where I know I will probably stay the night, just so I can be comfortable in his arms. "Annie, I found a show we're able to audition for."
I smile and let him look at him with curiosity. "What is it, Finnick and when do we leave?"
He kisses my forehead. "We leave after we finish performing Les Miserables, if we get the parts. I'm sure we will."
I shrug. "I'm sure you will. I'll just go along for the ride if I don't. What show is it?"
"Brace yourself." He is grinning ear to ear, so I know it is good. "We are almost guaranteed parts for a traveling show for The Addams Family Musical." I gasp. It is one of my favorite shows and dream roles is Wednesday Addams. I'm sure to audition for that part while Finnick will be sure to audition for Lucas, he boyfriend. I cannot keep my lips off his. "Am I the best boyfriend ever?"
I shake my head. "You're way more than that." I pause, letting myself think of what he is. "Finnick, you are perfect and have kept me sane. I- I really truly love you."
Finnick kisses me more and pulls away. "Annie, I love you more than you could ever imagine." We stay like that all evening, until around twelve we fall asleep.
Thanks to: MeaganOneDirection, MiaBelles, Mikey Jacquez, Natura Nature, SecretsandSugarCubes, SibunaChika1227, StarBright18, StayAlways, axes tridents and snares, cursed to curse, Catching Fireflies, TARDISRose, Alexandra Jackson rocks Hades, Kyranoel, Fire Kitty 12, MewWinx96, babymcflurry, ThaliaFairbain, cutegirlems, Y.O.L.O So do it right, lole12312, Cinna's Bird, MahoganyMagic12, Random person in wonderland, RiderArya103, SparksFly'SkyHigh, Addicted2-Your-Story, AnotherDawnLikeOurFlag, TurtleThompson, messygreenroom, PerfectionIsFlawed, come burn with me, hyllia14, Lizzie6410, Steven Garrett, Kirihito Mai, RunnergirlI, hungergamesgirl999, UntilTheCannonSounds, Yasie, Purplespartan, HungerGamesAddict3, Amitytribute, DomiHearts1497, likelife, sarah. , ExplodingAaron, gomez-girl, 1DandBobsyouruncle, Wolfie-V, nolengthoftime98, Naanal, eadricson, kittybelltheory, smileywiley, Peetagorean Theoerem Is Here, DaughterFromApollo, RedandCalico, Justseeingyou, dogpawz, DramioneForever123, .Love0103, neverendingme, Laura2810, tris divergent x, BethWolf, LOS2005, qkelly820, Aztec Moustache and hazzadaz for adding this to their favorites! You are amazing!
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-Juliet