My victory doesn't make my life totally normal. When I arrived at the Capitol, Snow promised that no one would come after me anymore. As long as I didn't cause any more trouble. When I explained to him that trouble found me, he had me escorted out, which I was happy with because that smell almost made me pass out on the floor.
I got back home with another victor, a boy named Wen Hales, who was eighteen. He was pretty strong and won by killing people with a spear. He won't go down in people's memories though.
I decide to straighten out my life on step at a time. This year, I will fix my relationship with Annie. The next year, the job situation. The year after that, I will fix my relationship with the Capitol, for better or worse.
I head over to Annie's house. They have painted it yellow and pink so it looks just like a little candy house. I invite myself in and their house still smells like lemonade. Annie comes down the stairs in a blue sundress.
"Hi." I say. She waves back.
"You want to do anything today?" I ask her. She shrugs. I'm going to take that as a no. I sit next to her on the steps and we just stay there for a while. Her brothers run across the hallway, stomping and shouting. Annie clamps her hands over her ears, like she does when she doesn't like something.
Annie has around five brothers, four alive. I don't know them all that well because they are all younger than me. I wonder what life was like for Annie, her being the oldest of five brothers, and suddenly being drawn into the games. Flora was so young then; and I still have trouble some days believing that she isn't with us anymore.
We just sit there for a while until her mom comes in.
"Hey, sweetie." She says as she hugs Annie. She presses an orange into each of our hands.
"Eat; it's good for you." She leaves, wiping her hands on her apron. Soon, I hear the click of the oven turning on. We peel the oranges and eat.
It goes on like that for a while. Every day, I go over to her house. I have been in rain or shine. I don't have to worry about snow because that doesn't happen. Sometimes, I bring flowers or pineapple to go with the orange.
Around the summertime, we start going down to the beach with our oranges. It feels like we are walking in a painting, hand in hand, the waves crashing onto shore. We never stay long because of her fear of the boats. I also make sure never to go on a day that it could rain. I never want to go into that cave again. It has gotten me into a lot of trouble.
One day, as we walk along the beach, Annie looks at me with the most serious expression.
"When I was in the Games, did you get me out alive?" She asks me. I can answer this in so many ways.
"Not just me. You had to stay alive long enough for me to let you, I had to help you, and Johanna took over during some parts." I tell her. She ponders this for a moment.
"Why did you get me out?"
"I got you out because I loved you." I tell her.
"Didn't you like Kayne, too?" Oh, Kayne.
"Only one person can stay alive. It's the rules." I explain to her. Her face shows multiple emotions and I don't know where she is going with this.
"Finnick, don't pretend that you have never broken a rule in your life. I can see that you have in your eyes." She leans towards me and whispers in my ear.
"Rules are meant for breaking." Then, she runs off back towards home. I run with her and grab her in my arms. We stay there for a while, just watching the boats. When the boats come in to dock, we walk home, hand in hand.
The Victory Tour comes along and I have to leave. I know that the year is getting shorter and my time with Annie. I only have until the reaping.
When fall comes, Annie is almost back. We normally now sit on the porch; watching the common people go by. It is quiet most of the time. She seems more alive and I like it.
I look at the calendar hanging inside Annie's house. Tomorrow is the reaping. I only have today to make my move. Ugh, I sound a lot like Noah now. It doesn't happen that day. I go home sadly and I know that tomorrow, there will be no chickening out.
When I head over, I can hear the shouts of children in the streets. Unlike what I told my mom, I signed up to mentor this year. I don't know who else I am mentoring with but I think Wen might do it, considering it is his first year.
I watch as families head toward the bakery, tugging along their children in fancy clothing. Most people don't make breakfast that morning because they are too nervous and want to give their child the best to eat in case they are picked.
In four, trainers are available. I didn't use one. The custom for volunteering is that if someone that looks strong enough or old enough to win is reaped, no one should volunteer. That is why no one volunteered for me; people believed in me. I wish I knew that then.
I head over to her house, where Annie is shutting the door behind her. All victors must be present, even if they are not going to be mentoring.
"Good morning." She says as she walks down the stairs of her home, to the sidewalk.
"Good morning!" I say. When she gets down to the sidewalk, I kiss her on the lips before I can stop myself. When we withdraw, she smiles.
"We better get to the reaping." I say, taking her hand in mine.
"Yeah. Do you know who else is mentoring?" I am about to say that I don't know until I realize she said who else. Which means that she must be mentoring. With me.
"I am." I tell her. We walk down to the reaping, and this time I am begging for her to bring home a victor. There is no better satisfaction.
This is the last chapter that your reviews count as a chance to enter into the contest! I will be picking the winner randomly. If you win, I will message you so you can name some very important upcoming things. The next chapter will be up as soon as I get the answers. The deadline to review is the 17th.
Happy Valentine's Day! (I didn't mean to publish this lovey chapter today, it just happened!)