I don't own THG and a big thanks to for-prim for being an awesome beta and putting up with my continued mistakes (I'll get this comma thing right one day)
They fell into an easy pattern, though it was marked by a fragility that terrified Finnick. His visits during his lunch hour on Tuesday and Thursday became expected, but he still ended every visit by asking her if he could return. Annie tried her hardest to not become attached, but it seemed to be inevitable. Finnick was too pleased by this new arrangement to dare and push it any further. He always brought her a tea bag, except for one Thursday, when he brought her a bottle of orange juice after Annie said she was getting sick.
"Vitamin C, you know. It's the best way to try and beat a cold before it takes hold of you," he explained sheepishly when she raised her eyebrows at this offering.
He learned that she was twenty-three and a recent college graduate. She had gone to school in the city and then decided to stick around.
"I just figured, I have to start my real life somewhere, might as well be here," she said.
"Not back home?" Finnick asked gently. They hadn't really broached this subject before. He just knew that she was from Mississippi and had come to college with her friend Johanna.
"Oh god no, I didn't see a future for myself there. I mean I know I'm not doing too much here, but I need to at least try and do something before I just give up and go home," she said. Finnick frowned at this, although he could understand. He actually had moved back home to Texas after college with Peeta. Of course he always brushed it away with the excuse that he couldn't turn down the job offer he'd received, but in reality he had jumped at the chance to come back and be near his family and Mags again. Peeta had returned with the intention of taking over the bakery. Annie's voice broke him from his thoughts.
"I mean, no offense. I know you're from here, but honestly there are no opportunities for me back home unless I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher or a nurse," she said sheepishly.
"Well, what do you want to do?" Finnick asked, interested in her answer. She laughed.
"I have no idea!" she answered. This answer was very unexpected. Annie had always struck him as someone who knew exactly what she was doing. Sure sometimes she stared off into the distance and repeated herself, but she always came right back to him.
"But I know I like it here, and I've made a bit of a life for myself here. Plus, Johanna's here," she said. She often spoke of her friend Johanna in ways that only further intrigued Finnick. From what she'd said, Johanna was nothing like Annie.
"Is she your roommate?" Finnick pressed. Annie had never actually spoken about her living situation.
"No, I actually live alone. I think if Johanna and I lived together our friendship would be over," Annie chuckled. "She's so loud and spontaneous. She stays up all night doing God knows what with God knows who, and I stay up all night watching things on my DVR. We're very different, but I love her. We're good for each other. I can calm her down, and she sometimes helps me break out of my comfort zone. She's always been a constant in my life and I'm so glad for it"
Finnick was always surprised when Annie went into details about her life. She was often very closed off regarding her personal life. They usually just discussed books, movies, or different restaurants that they had been to. Finnick had shared about Mags and stories about Peeta's few mishaps in their kitchen, but neither had gone into any deeply personal territory.
"She sounds like something special," Finnick said. Annie frowned at this and Finnick didn't quite know what to make of that. Did she think he was making fun of her friend? Or that he thought Johanna sounded more interesting than Annie? He hoped not - Annie was the most interesting person he had discovered in a long while. He actually hadn't told Peeta about their weekly meetings yet. He didn't want to jinx it. Telling Peeta about it would mean it was something he was excited about. If he was excited about it, he could be disappointed by it.
"So, living by yourself. What's that like?" Finnick asked, attempting to move past the uncomfortable moment. She smiled at him and took another sip of her drink before continuing.
"We're going out," Peeta's voice broke Finnick out of his thoughts. Finnick snapped his head to look at his roommate. Peeta moved into the kitchen and began to pull out two shot glasses and a bottle of whiskey. He filled them both up and immediately tossed one back. Finnick quickly moved to the kitchen, concerned with his roommate's behavior.
"Dude, what's going on?" Finnick asked as Peeta handed him the second shot glass and motioned for him to take it. Finnick reluctantly took the shot, cringing as it burned his throat.
"Remind me to buy us better whiskey," Finnick groaned as he shook his head in an attempt to rid himself of the feeling of the cheap drink moving through his system.
"It's Katniss," Peeta started. "Things were going really well. We've been out five times now but then today I called her and she started saying a bunch of stuff like we were moving too fast and she needed to figure out her feelings for me. I don't know, man. I thought this was it you know? I mean I know it is. This is it for me. I don't know. I just need to get drunk."
Finnick nodded. While he didn't exactly agree with this sentiment, he was willing to do whatever Peeta thought he needed at this moment. Finnick could tell he was heartbroken. He could hardly stop talking about Katniss the past couple of weeks. It was another reason Finnick was hesitant to tell his friend about Annie. Peeta was falling in love and Finnick was what? Getting to know someone over his lunch break?
"Okay, bud. Let's get you a drink," Finnick stated as he grabbed his jacket and keys. Finnick would not be drinking tonight. He knew his responsibility for the night would be to take care of his friend. Peeta whooped and threw his arm around Finnick as they exited their apartment. They climbed into Finnick's car and Finnick drove them to one of their usual watering holes. It was fairly packed considering it was a Friday night. Peeta headed straight for the bar and ordered a pint of Guinness. Finnick breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wasn't hitting the whiskey hard, although at the rate Peeta was gulping down his beer and signaling for another one, Finnick's relief was short-lived.
"Come on bud, grab your beer and let's find a table," Finnick said as he steered his friend to a nearby empty table. Peeta practically fell into his seat. Finnick sat next to him, waiting for Peeta to speak.
"I just don't understand what she meant by 'too fast.' We only kissed. I kept my hands to myself! She seemed really into me!" Peeta began and threw his head into his hands.
"I'm sorry, man," Finnick reached over and slapped Peeta on the back. He was determined not to bash Katniss. He knew that wouldn't end well, and he just wanted to give his friend his condolences. He was beginning to empathize a bit too much with a girl not being as into him as he was her. Peeta took another long pull from his beer. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked over at Finnick.
"Are you not drinking?" Peeta asked with a confused look painting his face.
"Nah, someone's gotta be the DD!" Finnick responded with a smile on his face. Peeta chuckled, which Finnick took as a good sign, and then stood up.
"Well, in that case, I'm gonna go take a shot," Peeta said as he stood up and headed back to the bar. The smile on Finnick's face faded as he watched his friend walk away from the table. This probably wasn't going to end well. Best-case scenario he would have to pull over while Peeta threw up on the side of the road. Worst-case scenario he would have to pry Peeta's cell phone out of his hand to keep him from drunk dialing Katniss and then pull his car over so Peeta could throw up on the side of the road.
His eyes fell upon a girl with short brown hair making her through the crowd. Finnick thought she looked familiar. She was holding two drink glasses above her head.
"Another! Baaaaaa!" The girl cried. Finnick was shocked. Had she just made a sheep noise? In a bar? What? His eyes followed the girl as she sat down at a table with two other girls. He saw her slide into a seat next to a blonde and a brunette with her back to him.
Wait.
He recognized the back of her head. Jesus, really? He could recognize the back of her head.
Annie.
He strained to hear her voice.
"Jo, I've already had two!" Annie whined.
"Exactly! You've only had two. Now drink!" the girl, who Annie had called Jo replied as she set one of the drinks in her hand in front of Annie and fixed her with a glare that scared even Finnick. I guess that's Johanna.
Finnick watched Annie's hand wrap around the glass and lift it. Johanna threw her head back and laughed, bringing the glass in her own hand to her mouth. He tore his eyes away from the scene and scanned the bar for Peeta. He was filled with a brief panic when he didn't find Peeta immediately. The panic was not quelled when his yes landed on him and he saw Peeta on a barstool speaking to a redhead in a precariously short skirt. Finnick could tell his friend was drunk by the way he was laughing. Peeta threw his head back, but then it fell so far forward that his chin rested on his chest for a second before he would look back up. The redhead was resting her hand of Peeta's arm. Finnick needed to get Peeta out of a situation Finnick knew he was going to regret. Finnick had just stood up and began to cross to the bar when he felt a hand on his shoulder. At first Finnick thought it might just be a patron trying to get by in the crowded bar, but he came to a complete stop when the hand squeezed his shoulder. He turned around and looked down into the brown eyes of Johanna.
"You look really familiar. Darling, have we met before?" she asked him. He hesitated, unsure of how to answer. He took her hand of his shoulder and smiled lightly; he really needed to go get Peeta.
"I don't think so," he answered.
"Well damn, you know how to shut a girl down," she said, but she had a smirk on her face so he knew he hadn't really hurt her feelings. He chuckled.
"No, it's not like that. Not really. It's just I'm here with my friend, he got into a fight with the girl he's dating so he wanted to blow off some steam. I'm trying to look out for him and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid," Finnick explained and pointed Peeta out to Johanna.
"Ahhh, I didn't realize Stupid had red hair and wore a skirt that showed off her hoo-ha," she said, smirk still firmly in place. Finnick laughed at her candor. She stuck her hand out, "Johanna." Finnick shook her hand and responded with his own name. He looked for any signs of recognition, but saw none. He inwardly frowned. He guessed Annie hadn't spoken to her friends about him.
"Let me take care of this," Johanna practically purred as she pushed past Finnick and strode purposefully towards Peeta and the redhead. Finnick watched in awe as she effectively stepped in between the little space remaining between them and threw her arms around Peeta. She turned around and stared the girl down with one of the glares that Finnick was already scared of, having only seen two of them. He heard her over the crowd, she spoke so clearly and confidently.
"You can go now," she said, utterly dominating the other girl. Peeta looked completely dumbstruck. Finnick walked up to them.
"Peeta, I'd like you to meet my new friend Johanna," Finnick said. Peeta threw his head back in laughter.
"Hi, Johanna. I'm Peeta, it's so nice to meet you. Would you like a drink?" Peeta slurred. Johanna laughed at this and turned to Finnick.
"He's precious! Where can I get one?" she laughed. Peeta's eyes lost their brightness.
"Well, at least someone wants me," Peeta muttered. Johanna turned back in surprise.
"No, where did my happy boy go?" she asked as she looked at Finnick, who sighed. The bad part of the evening was coming. Johanna noticed this and took pity on the man who was just trying to be a good friend. Johanna placed her hands on Peeta's shoulders.
"Hey, look at me," she said softly. Peeta did, and she continued. "This is what we're going to do. You're gonna buy me a drink and then we're going to go sit at my table over there and you are going to tell me the whole story, okay?" Johanna said as she helped Peeta to his feet. She looked back at Finnick.
"Get me a 7&7. Put it on his tab and bring it over to the table in the corner. I'm gonna take care of this for now," she said as she led Peeta away. Finnick was relieved for a moment that it seemed his friend might not be headed to a dark place before it hit him.
Annie's at her table.
Shit. He didn't want her to see him here. He didn't think they were quite ready for interactions outside of the bookstore yet. At least he didn't think they were. Right now they were in a little bubble that Finnick was positively terrified of bursting.
He quickly got the drink order filled and began to make his way to the table. Maybe Annie had left. Maybe he could just set the drink down and then leave and she wouldn't even notice him. Maybe she was talking to someone else. His blood stopped cold at the idea of Annie with another guy, but he kept walking. He got within earshot of the table where Johanna was making introductions. Annie and the blonde at the table smiled at Peeta. Johanna looked Finnick's way and waved her hand.
"Are you gonna stand there all night or are you gonna bring me my drink?" Johanna shouted at him, much louder than she needed to. The entire table turned to look at him and he couldn't focus on anyone but Annie. He saw her eyes widen as she took him in. Johanna watched her friend's reaction with interest.
"I know, he's pretty right? I found myself a couple of lookers," Johanna said. Annie finally broke her eye contact and turned in her seat. She grabbed her purse and stood up.
"I need to go." Annie said with more force than he had heard from her yet as she pushed past Finnick and headed to the entrance of the bar.
"What? Annie, what are you talking about?" Johanna shouted after her, gobsmacked by her friend's behavior. Finnick turned to Johanna and thrust her drink into her hand.
"Can you take care of him?" he asked, nodding to Peeta, who was engrossed in telling a story to the blonde girl at the table – the blonde looked torn between his tale and the drama playing out before her eyes.
"What?" Johanna asked incredulously.
"I'll be back I promise, I just need to take care of something. Can you watch him until I get back? Look, he has my number in his phone if you need me," Finnick explained. He wasn't going to take no for an answer. He needed to talk to Annie. He practically ran out of the bar and found her standing near the curb trying to hail a cab. He walked up next to her.
"Care to explain what that was about?" he asked. She whipped her head around and locked her eyes on his. She shook her head and took a few steps away from him and continued her search for an empty cab.
"Please let me drive you home," Finnick blurted out. She just shook her head again.
"Please. At least let me save you a few bucks," he practically begged. When Annie looked at him again, she had tears in her eyes.
"I don't want you to drive me home. I don't want you to know where I live. I don't want you to know anything more about me. I hate that you know where I work. That you know where I'm from. That you now know my best friend. That you met me at all," Annie spoke as the tears began to fall.
Her words chilled Finnick to the bone. She voiced his biggest fear. That he was the only one in this thing. She spotted a cab and before Finnick could stop her she darted out into the street and flung herself into the backseat. Finnick was in shock from her words that struck him like poisonous darts. He felt wetness flow down his cheeks and for a moment he wondered when it had started to rain. He held his hand out and felt nothing. It was then he realized he was crying. He wiped his eyes and headed back inside. He saw Johanna eyeing him curiously as he approached the table.
"Where's Annie?" she asked knowingly.
"She took a cab home. Peeta, it's time to go," Finnick said, his voice devoid of any emotion. Johanna stood up to help Peeta as he got up from the table.
"It was so nice to meet y'all. Johanna, Madge, you are lovely girls who deserve all the happiness in the world," Peeta slurred as the blonde giggled and Johanna rolled her eyes. Johanna thrust a piece of paper into Finnick's pocket. Finnick was completely unprepared for the contact.
"Darling, don't worry I'm just giving you my number," Johanna explained. Finnick raised his eyebrows at this.
"No funny business. Just if you want to talk," Johanna's voice spoke volumes as she emphasized talk. Clearly she thought he had some explaining to do based on Annie's reaction tonight, and he figured Annie wouldn't give Johanna the explanation she was craving.
"Okay," Finnick replied and nodded at her. "I'll give you a call." He threw his arm around Peeta's shoulders.
"Let's get you home buddy. You seem tired," Finnick said. Peeta nodded and his chin came to a resting point on his chest.
"Those girls were nice, but they weren't as pretty as Katniss. Or as quiet as Katniss. Or as-" Peeta continued to blabber. Finnick sighed. It was going to be a long drive home.