I wake up the next morning happy that I am back home. As I pack up my things, stopping every so often to look out the window, I make a list of the things that I am happy about. I am happy that I am back home, I am happy that it is my 18th birthday in two weeks and I will be of legal age, I am happy that Annie is here to celebrate it with me. Only one thing about coming back home concerns me: where are Annie and I at this point?
It is of tradition that the victor gets off the train first followed by the mentor. When we pull into the station, I hang back, checking under the beds and in the drawers to make sure that I leave nothing behind. I want to make sure that in case for some reason I am not on the train next year, I don't miss anything. The train driver signals me through the window that I can leave. I happily jump onto the platform of the train station. I watch the train pull away before I start my walk.
I head back home and this year, people actually wave to me and greet me as I pass. Normally, I am given evil glances because I failed to bring their children home. I walk all the way to Victor's Village, where I live with Mags and another girl, Lila who won a while ago. Lila won 10 years before I did, so she is 33 years old. She never helps assist us with mentoring. She gets drunk, a lot, more than I would prefer. I only met her once. I see the movers taking Annie's belongings into their new home. I walk inside of my home and shove the suitcase into the hallway.
My mom comes up and kisses me on the head. My dad pats me on the back. My sister stands off to the side, trying to act annoyed. It isn't working too well and you can tell she is proud. My mom is wearing her apron, meaning she has been baking. My dad must have taken off work today because he isn't wearing his normal work clothes.
"Can I go now? Not trying to be rude but…" I trail off and the end and Mom nods. Normally, they don't let me out until a few weeks after the games when the people have calmed down about losing two children. The first stop I make is Daniel's house. He is sitting on his porch like he always does. Come to think of it, I have never knocked on his door because he is always on the porch. He runs toward me when I come around the corner.
He isn't super rich like the victors or the mayor but isn't from the outside, where they fish for other people's boats.
"Dude, you are like the best thing ever! You brought home a girl and a pretty one too! Oh, my mom baked a pie, you know how she likes to bake pies." We head into his home which always smells like pie. Daniel wasn't kidding when he said his mom liked to bake pies. Every time I come over here, she always has something for me. I am thankful that Daniel sits outside because if he didn't I would be obese.
"Hey, hey, I have dibs!" We laugh and make our way into the kitchen, a place I like to be. His mom is very happy and made me three pies. We take the trays of pie over to Noah's house, where we keep talking about Annie and if I was going out with her or not. We come to the decision that I still am but I should keep it on the safe side in case I'm not.
When we find Noah, he isn't at his home like normal. He is standing outside of the now closed candy shop. He turns around at our shadows, blocking the sunlight.
"What am I going to do? Now they are rich and the store is closed. Real nice!" As much as I know he is kidding, I can tell he is kind of upset that the store is closed.
"Would a pie make up for it?" I hold out one of the pies.
"Yes, yes it would." He takes it from my hands and sits on the windowsill.
"You know, if you are that depressive about it being closed, just reopen it. You are 18 now." Daniel tells him as he passes out the forks.
"I should. I am. As long as my dad will let me. Speaking of 18, you having a party this year, Finnick?" I really don't know if I am. I probably will, considering that people like me this year and I am now officially an adult.
"Sure. Why not?" We dig into the pies. A group of girls walk by, actually waving at me instead of giving me grimacing looks for "killing" their friend.
"Dude, you realize that this is your comeback. You can have any girl you want!" Daniel tells me. This is big coming from Daniel; Noah is usually the one telling me how to get a girlfriend.
"First, you really should stop starting every sentence with dude. Second, I already have a perfectly good girlfriend." We laugh mainly because Daniel really does start every sentence with dude. He sounds like a surfer.
Noah looks at the huge clock in the middle of the town square: 6:00.
"Dude, sorry, I'm sounding like Daniel now, but seriously I have to go, my dad is going to kill me!" He runs off, making a quick stop at the trash can. Daniel leaves too, because he has to buy some fish before heading home. I make my way back into Victor's Village. Annie's outside of her house.
Her house is directly across the street of mine. I change directions and walk over to her house. She is sitting on the porch swing, the wind gently rocking her back and forth. I sit next to her. We swing back and forth for a while, until the sun is almost going to set.
"Tomorrow, you want to come on the crabbing boat?" She says nothing. I lean over and kiss her on the cheek.
"I'm going to take that as a yes."
Please review! This chapter might not be the best, it is mainly a filler. Plus, I love writing about Daniel and Noah. It is so weird how much I love minor characters.