Katniss's POV
Finnick left two days ago. Now it's December 18th. Christmas is in less than a week.
I sit on the couch in the living room, reading a mystery novel. Lots of women my age read romance novels, but I've never liked those. I don't give a shit about any of that nonsense.
I hear the front door open. "Who's there?" I call. I have no idea, because everyone's already here.
"Me," I recognize Finnick's voice. Apparently, so do Annie and Johanna, because they come in from the kitchen.
Finnick walks into the living room with his suitcase. "What are you doing back?" Johanna asks.
"My dad kicked me out of Christmas," he shrugs.
"Oh, my god," I say. "That's awful! Why?"
"I told them that I was a model," he pushes his suitcase against the wall.
"Finnick, that's awful," Annie covers her mouth and pulls him into a hug. "I'm so sorry!"
"Don't worry about it," Finnick says. "Look, I spent two nights in two different airports. I'm really tired. I'm just going to get some sleep."
He picks up his suitcase and walks upstairs. A few minutes later, Peeta and Gale walk down. "What the sullen looks?" Peeta asks.
"Finnick's dad kicked him out of Christmas," I say.
"That's horrible," Gale frowns and a crease appears between his eyebrows.
"I don't think his father is a very forgiving person," Annie says. We're all upset for Finnick, but Annie seems more upset than the rest of us.
"Annie, why are you so upset?" I ask her. "Is it anything besides the thing with Finnick's family upsetting you?"
"No." It's an obvious lie and we all look at her. "Fine," she taps her foot. "He told me that he was going to tell his parents. I kind of told him that he should, and it would all be fine. I feel . . . responsible."
Johanna actually laughs. "Annie, that's ridiculous," she leans against the couch. "It's not your fault that his parents are old-school."
"I know that," she snaps. "I just . . . still feel like I'm in fault."
"Well, we all know it's stupid," Gale crosses his arms. "So, what's really bothering you?"
"Nothing," she scowls. Scowling is very un-Annie-like. I swear there's something going on with her.
Annie's POV
4 days later
"Push harder," I growl at Gale and Johanna.
"Why is your bed so fucking heavy?" Johanna hisses.
"If I knew, I would tell you," I snap.
"You three getting anywhere?" Finnick asks from the other bed.
"No," Gale says. "You?"
"Not much," Peeta replies.
I sigh and lean against the wall. "This isn't working. Do you think the bed is big enough for both of my parents to sleep on?"
Katniss looks at it and shrugs, "It will be tight, but yes."
"I don't think my brother will want to share a room with my parents, so he can sleep downstairs with Finnick and me."
We hear the doorbell ring and everyone looks at me. "I'll get it," I mutter.
I open the door and smile at the three people standing in front of me. "Mom! Dad! Nathan!" I hug each of them before ushering them inside.
I move their luggage to the foot of the stairs and call to Johanna, Katniss, Peeta, Gale, and Finnick. They come in as a group.
"Mom, Dad, Nathan, these are my roommates- Finnick, Peeta, Jo, Katniss, and Gale." I gesture to each of them as I say their name.
"I like your hair," Nathan says to Johanna.
"I don't like yours," she scowls at him, and gestures to his dreadlocks. "You can't pull off that look."
"I'm not a fan of your attitude," he glares at her.
"I'm not a fan of you in general," she glares right back.
"Bitch," he says and my mother immediately scolds him.
"Nathan, I raised you better than that! That's rude!"
"Yeah, whatever," he frowns and Johanna just laughs and flips him off.
"Jo," I hit her in the arm and she smiles at me.
"Sorry, Annie."
"How do you do that so naturally?" my dad asks her. "If you were Catholic-"
She laughs. "I'm an atheist. If I walked into a church, I'd probably burst into flames. By the way, I've flipped people off since I was ten."
"Dad, Peeta and I are the only ones in this house who're Christian. Everyone else is either agnostic or atheist," I inform him.
"Oh. I didn't mean any offense. I'm sorry if I offended anyone," my dad says.
"We don't get offended easily," Finnick leans against the wall.
"I don't think we've properly introduced ourselves," my mom changes the subject. "I'm Beatrice, and this is my husband, Ron. We're so thankful that you're letting us stay with you."
"Gladly," Peeta sits on the couch. "You're always welcome here."
"Thank you," Mom says with a smile. "Now, is there a place where we can put our bags?"
"Yeah, you can sleep in our room," I gesture to Finnick and myself. "We'll bring your bags up there. Nathan, you'll have to sleep on the couch."
I grab Mom's suitcase and Finnick picks up Dad's. We carry them upstairs and place them on the bed we aren't using.
"Your parents seem nice," Finnick tells me. "I don't like your brother though."
"Most people don't," I say. "I don't take it personal."
We go back downstairs and I say, "Do you guys want to go to dinner? I'm getting hungry."
Everyone nods and we head out the door.
Johanna's POV
The hostess brings us to our table and I slide in the booth next to Gale. To my dismay, Nathan sits next to me.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" Our waitress asks us.
"Water," I say.
I look down at my phone and check my messages. Nothing important.
I feel the presence of something on my knee and look at it. I see Nathan's hand, but Gale quickly swats it away. I glare at both of them. Nathan with a look that reads: Touch me again and I swear I'll kill you- and Gale with a look that says: What the hell? I can take care of myself! He just shakes his head at me.
Nathan's hand appears again and I scowl. I'm starting to notice how often I scowl. Nathan's hand moves a few inches upward and I gasp.
"Jo? What's wrong?" Annie studies me carefully.
"Nothing. I'm just surprised that they don't have any vegetarian meals." I put on a smile but she sees right through it. Her eyes slide over to Nathan.
"Nathan! I need to talk to you," she gets up and drags Nathan to the hallway, angrily.
"What was that about?" Katniss asks.
"Nothing," Gale lies for me. He grabs my arm and pulls me to the hallway that Annie and Nathan aren't in.
"What the hell was that?" he growls.
"What did it look like?" I growl right back.
"It looked like sexual harassment," he crosses his arms.
"What if it was? Why do you care!?"
"I don't." His body language gives him away.
"You're lying," I cross my arms over my chest.
"Fine. I care because it's not okay. You can't let that happen to you," he says.
"I don't believe that's your reason," I frown at him.
"Fine. This is my reason!" He cups my face in his hands and kisses me.
Peeta's POV
"So . . ." Finnick starts. "You're from New Orleans, right?"
"Yes," Ron says. "We live right next to the French Quarter."
"Cool . . ." Finnick says awkwardly. We sit there in silence.
"I'm going to go see what everyone is doing," I get up and walk to the hallway Annie and Nathan went to. I see the two of them arguing.
"This is just like in high school," Annie hisses. "You always go after my friends and all you want is . . . that! It ruins my friendships!"
"Friend!? Annie, you've known her for two weeks-" she cuts him off.
"You've known her for two hours," Annie counters.
"It takes a lot shorter of a time to figure out someone's a sexy slut than it does to figure out if they can be a friend," he growls. "Annie, you've always thought the best about people! It's the worst thing about you!"
"Well, you've always thought the worst of people," Annie argues. "You hate each other! I saw you earlier! Everyone saw you! And she's not a slut! She's in a serious relationship!"
"With who?"
"You haven't met him."
"Sorry to interrupt," I say nervously, "But I kind of left Finnick and Katniss at the most awkward table ever, and I'm starting to feel bad about it." I smile at the pair of them. "So, can we go get Gale and Johanna, and go back to the table?"
"Yeah, sure," Annie crosses her arms and follows me.
We turn down the other hallway and immediately see Johanna and Gale sticking their tongues down each other's throats.
Nathan nudges Annie with his elbow. "What were you saying about that relationship?"
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