When I open my eyes, the first thing I notice is the way the bed feels. Too soft. It's been at least a year since I've slept in a bed this soft. And the light-colored walls are too bright, especially with the sun shining through the open window.
As I turn around to lie on my back, I also notice the odd feeling in my stomach. Something is not right and I haven't figured out what yet. Yes, I'm sleeping in a different room, in a new house in District…4.
District 4! I leap out of my bed and run for the toilet with my hand covering my mouth. I figured it out. The sound was wrong. The familiar sound of wind whistling through the leaves is definitely not the same as the sound of waves crashing against the rocks covering the beach in front of my house. Why did Annie choose this house for me? I don't really plan on vomiting every morning just because I can't stand the sound of water. Annie knows there are too many memories linked to it so why?
I brush my teeth and, mad as I am, march to Finnick and Annie's home which is – very conveniently – right next to mine. I don't bother putting on shoes or even putting on some decent clothes. Luckily, there's no one roaming the streets to comment on the large shirt I use as pajamas. And it's not like I have that many clothes to wear, and since the sun shines every day in District 4 I might as well live my life naked.
"What the hell were you thinking?" I yell as I barge into their kitchen where the two of them are just about to start their breakfast.
"Good morning to you too, sunshine," Finnick comments, putting a spoonful of cereal in his mouth.
"It would have been a good morning if I didn't just –"
Finnick holds up his hand to silence me. "Stop right there. I know you are about to say something nasty and I'm eating my breakfast. So don't. Oh, you want some?"
Finnick stands up and puts an extra plate on the table, not bothering to wait for my answer.
"No, I don't want some. What I do want is –"
"You still haven't said good morning. You do realize that, right?" He pauses for a second, his eyebrows raised. "We found you a house next to ours in case you need anything, and we just offered you breakfast. The least you could do is be a little nicer."
"I would be nicer if I didn't live in freaking Atlantis!"
"What?" Finnick asks, eyebrows in a confused knot.
I point to the window. "Water?"
Annie covers her mouth with her hand in realization. "I'm so sorry, Johanna! I never thought about that."
"Pretty weird that you didn't think about that since you were right there," I mutter, not really wanting to be rude to Annie but still…
"Okay, just calm down, have a little breakfast with us and then we'll work on that," Finnick says, his hands in the air as to break up a fight. "Besides, you should learn to get used to the sea. After all, you were the one who chose to live here. No one forced you to."
"I want to get used to it but it'll take time! You can't expect me to be a morning sea goddess on my first day! And I don't want breakfast," I say in disgust, watching the abundance of food on the table while trying to keep my insides down my throat. "I'm already nauseous as it is, thank you very much."
And without a single glance I turn around and leave. I don't know where I'm headed since I don't really feel like going back home where I'm just reminded of my loneliness, and I don't want to go anywhere near the stupid ocean. I want trees, lots of trees.
"Hey," I stop a man in his tracks and ignore the look he throws me for my attire, "is there a forest somewhere around?"
"Excuse me?" he says, clearly confused by my question.
"A forest? Trees? Ugh, never mind," I eventually say when the man keeps the confused look on his face.
"If you're looking for woods then you're in the wrong district," I hear a voice say behind me.
I turn around to see Finnick's big, blond friend Tyree hopping off a truck that smells like fish.
"Thanks for making my day just a tad bit brighter with that information. I really needed that," I reply sarcastically.
He starts to unload the truck, putting large bags of fish next to it. "Just take a train to a district with woods, I hear you can do that now," he says, the effort of talking and lifting heavy bags at the same time making him pant a little.
I wave his offer away. "No, I can't leave district 4."
"Right," he nods, "you're banished from the rest of Panem."
"Banished," I mutter.
"Well, it's the truth. No use trying to make it look better than it is."
And even though this day might be the most awful 'first day' anywhere ever, what Tyree just said resembles me so much it brings a smile to my face.
"Now look at you," Tyree laughs, "if you were wearing something other than that you could've looked like a princess with that smile."
"Is that your idea of flirting?"
His smile falters a little but doesn't disappear completely when he answers. "I don't do flirting. Not anymore."
I fully realize I shouldn't push it but I'm in my pajamas looking for a forest that doesn't exist in this overly bright hellhole and I'm alone so I ask him anyway.
"What happened, Prince Charming, got dumped right before the ball?"
He drops one of the bags in front of a garage before he looks at me.
"No, I just grew out of it, I guess."
I smirk. "No one grows out of flirting. The flirting may change but it doesn't disappear."
"Maybe not for you but I don't see the point in it."
"So you did get dumped before the ball? She must've been a true princess, if you're still pining after-"
"Didn't you have a tree to climb?" he suddenly interrupts me.
I manage to keep the shock from my face, nod instead and try to walk away without turning back to hit him. I was just teasing him, nothing big! Choosing district 4 might just have been the worst decision of my life, and coming from me that can count for something.