Falling in Love: Ingrid Michaelson Version.
"Hey Cresta," His voice shot through me like an arrow. I froze. My nerves overwhelmed me. I remember glancing over at the back door of the cottage. There Finnick stood, tall, lanky but more muscular, older, and as handsome as ever, relaxed in my kitchen. Eighteen-year-old Finnick was a sight to see compared to thirteen-year-old Finnick.
I gasped, as if my heart threatened to stop. I ran to him, pushing past chairs and shelves that got in my way. I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his chest, hiding in his grey t-shirt. "Oh Finnick!" I suppressed tears as he pulled me closer.
Finnick laughed, which had been unexpected but very much welcome. "I expected a bigger party, but I guess you and me will do." He said, holding me in a new, unfamiliar, but also welcomed way.
I pushed away, rolling my eyes, "You're a charmer Odair." I laughed, watching him push back his handsome auburn hair. My heart raced and I knew my cheeks were burning with a scarlet red.
He smiled, beaming ear to ear, "As I've been told," He said, telling me to sit. "So you're another year older now?" He asked as he pulled out one of the old wooden chairs that stood beside the kitchen table. I sat down gracefully, letting my skirt fall beside me.
"And I only get older," I said smartly, but with a grin as I kept my eyes locked on him.
Finnick was in an odd mood that day. He was usually grins but today he was ecstatic about something, which was a very different outlook from since I last saw him. He sat down beside me and passed me a little box. "Well, happy seventeenth birthday Annie."
I looked down at the small cardboard box and then back up at him. "What's this?" I asked quietly, slowly reaching for the box and then carefully taking the lid from it. "Wow," I breathed. "This…this is beautiful." Inside was a small gold band twisted up like a knotted rope. It glittered in the setting sun. The gold ring was so small and dainty, I was afraid to take it from the box for fear I lose it. "Finnick, I can't take this. It's too much," I said, terrified to touch the pretty, little ring, afraid that it would simply crumble at my touch. I closed the box and slid it across the table.
Finn caught it and slid it back, "It was just something I thought you might like, and I want you to have it." His smile was genuine and his gaze was soft.
"Thank you Finn," I breathed, staring at the little trinket. All I could do was smile. Finnick grinned, laughing with me. He placed the ring on my finger, made some silly joke that kept me giggling. He watched me with a small smirk, and then escaped from his mind to find me again.
"I've really missed you Annie," He sighed. I grabbed him a small plate of fruits and breads and a cup of tea.
"I've really missed you Finn," I answered, my heart dropping in guilt that I had practically abandoned him in the last year. Finnick still hadn't fully adjusted and that was obvious. He, although suave for the world to see, was absolutely broken in front of me. And I couldn't blame him for it. "What's bothering you?" He fiddled with his mug and then retracted.
I searched his eyes, his movements… he was hiding. "It's just been tougher than I expected…being a victor," He sighed, beautiful eyes wrecked in front of me. "That's stupid, isn't it?" He asked me with a fallen smile.
I watched him sadly, pushing my hand through my hair. "No. We all expect fame and glory." I told him quietly. Secretly, before the actual games had happened I recall being a little jealous of Finnick and the adoration he found in the Capitol.
"There is that…" He said, becoming more distant as we talked.
I reached across the table to graze his hands. "So what's wrong?"
He shook his head, his eyes no longer focused. "It's more than that," He told me quietly. "Do you want to swim?" He asked now refocused, but strangely distracted. His beautiful sea green eyes bore into me with genuine happiness and curiosity. My Finnick was somewhere here. I nodded biting my lip as a soft smile flitted across my lips. Finnick returned the smile with a devilish grin and took my hand.
We ran down to the ocean shore we always visited. It was deserted as it usually was. In the rush, I realized my dress wasn't suitable to swim in, the long white skirt would have been destroyed and my mother would have been furiously angry. I was hesitant, but Finnick only smiled. He peeled off his grey shirt, leaving it in the sand, as well as his shorts. Finnick stood in front of me practically naked all expect his boxer shorts. I laughed, trying not to stare. He smiled, "Do you find this distracting?" He asked me posing ridiculous poses. I giggled knowing that even in the falling sun my crimson blush was noticeable. "Alright, your turn Cresta." He said, lifting his brow at me.
I giggled, and threw my hands up in protest. "No!" I shouted while laughing. I shook my head and tried to hide my face from him so he wouldn't see me redden.
He approached me and took my hands from my face and laughing. "Are you scared?" He chuckled. Finnick let me go and then tauntingly looked back at me while stepping in the ocean's waves.
I frowned and then took his mocking bet. "No!" I swiftly stripped from my dress, leaving me in only my undergarments. I tried not to notice Finnick's smug grin. I tried to ignore my embarrassment and I walked over to the water. It was warmer than it had been all year. The waves were calm for this time of night. He laughed and then began to splash around in the water, sometimes floating but mostly going under the waves. That's where we met. I would sink under water and see him, resting on the sandy floor of the ocean, his wavy auburn locks dancing across his face or above him as he swam towards me. In the privacy of the sea, we would lock hands. When we resurfaced Finnick instinctively grabbed me. He picked me up in his arms and spun me by the waist. We spent the night laughing and playing in the sea as if we were children. We floated in the sea, as if propelled by dreams of how things should have been. When the waves became restless, we did too and our night swim became an adventure. I didn't go home that night. We trekked through patches of forest. We hid in the moonless night, the dark acting as our secret-keeper. He led me by the hand to an old cottage where his family once resided. It was quiet there. It was safe there. It was our hideout when the ocean couldn't be anymore. While we walked, Finnick would turn to look at me and I could see a feeling for me hidden there. But I knew, even if it was the thing I hoped for most, for Finnick to love me back, we wouldn't make it. We were doomed. Because this love was our wine, and it was poisoned. And I couldn't help but drink from the cup.