Finnick's POV
"Happy birthday," Annie wakes me up by yelling in my ear. "I got you a present!"
I rub my eyes and sit up. "What time is it?" I ask her.
"Two P.M.," she replies. "You slept for a really long time."
"Wow. I've already missed more than half of my twenty-sixth birthday."
"Yeah, well, that's your own fault," she says.
I roll my eyes. "So, what did you get me?"
She walks over to her bed and crouches down to reach under it. "You see, I was shopping with some of my college friends and I saw this T-shirt which immediately made me think of you," she explains. "Remember when I was lifeguarding and you told me that you were the sexiest man in the world?"
"I remember," I say. I neglect to mention that I remember everything regarding Annie with absolute clarity.
She pulls a square-shaped box covered in colorful wrapping paper out from under her bed and hands it to me. I take it from her and quickly unwrap it. Inside is a white T-shirt with black, bold writing on the chest that reads: SEXY AND I KNOW IT.
"Aw," I tease. "I'm so flattered. I didn't realize we had such a close connection. Clearly, we do, or you wouldn't have given me an object of such sentimental value."
She frowns. "You don't like it?"
I laugh. "No, Annie, I love it. It is now the most truthful shirt I own. In fact," I say, pulling the shirt over my bare chest, "I'm going to wear it today."
"You sure? You don't have to if you don't want to . . ."
"Annie," I say, "I really do like the shirt. And I'm honored that you find me sexy."
She blushes deeply. "What I meant was that you find yourself sexy. I never said anything about me."
"So that's the story you're going with?" I question. "Well, at least I'll always know that a part of your brain that tells you who is or isn't sexy holds me in esteem."
Her blush deepens. "Finnick . . ."
"I'm afraid I have no time for love confessions today. After all, it is my birthday," I say.
She throws her hairbrush at me.
Johanna's POV
"So is your dinner casual or formal?" I ask Gale as I open my closet.
"Kind of in between," he replies. "My boss is a casual guy but his wife is over-the-top. I'd go a bit more on the formal side but not too much."
I bite my lip and hold two outfits in front of Gale. "Which one?" I question. He points to the one on the left. "I don't see why the dinner is so early. I mean, who eats at 5:30?" I say as I pull a sheer tank top over my head. I button it up the front. "It's kind of ridiculous."
"Just be polite at the dinner, okay?" he pleads. He checks his watch. "Are you gonna be ready in time?"
I check the time on my phone. "It's only 3:30."
"Yeah, but they live kinda far away," he says. "We'll have to leave at 4:45."
"I'll have time to spare," I tell him.
"You sure?"
"Look! I'm already dressed," I reply as I zip up the side of my short, red skirt. "Now, I just have jewelry, hair, and makeup."
He shrugs and walks out of the room. I stick my head out the door and call down the hall, "Annie! Can I borrow the earrings you were wearing the other day. With the triangles."
"Sure," she shouts back. "I think they're on my dresser."
"I know," I say. "I took them this morning. It just felt more polite to ask."
"Okay."
I fasten them on my ear and put a simple, silver necklace around my neck. In an hour, I've done my makeup and hair and I'm stepping into Gale's car.
"Hey, Haymitch," Gale says to his boss as the door swings open. "This is my girlfriend Johanna, but we all call her Jo."
"Nice to meet you, Jo," he says, shaking my hand. "Come on in."
He ushers us inside and leads us to a dining room. Six people are already there: a blonde with fake boobs, a professional-looking man next to the blonde, a woman with dark brown hair put up in a ponytail, a man who looks like he'd rather be somewhere else, a woman - no, more like girl - with her dirty blonde hair in pigtails, and a short, black man.
Gale acknowledges the blonde, the ponytail woman, and the black man. Gale and I sit down at the table.
In a few minutes, a woman with straight, black hair comes in dragging a tired-looking man behind her. She squeals.
"So, Rita, is this the fiance?" she gestures to the man who appears to be the blonde's date/
She nods. "Yes, Karen. This is my fiance, Karl."
And so the dinner begins.
Katniss's POV
"Well, this place is . . . interesting," I say as I examine my surroundings. Pat brought me to a restaurant - if you could call it that - in the middle of the ghetto. The paint is peeling off the walls and the tables have gum underneath them. The chairs are horribly uncomfortable and wobbly. Most of the staff and customers look as if they're gang members.
I've never been one to complain. I mean, I grew up in areas like this. There were nonstop gunfights and I occasionally had to take care of Prim when my mom went to check everything out. My dad died when he was caught in the crossfire of two different gangs. But this horrible place is not where I like to spend my Saturday nights.
We take a seat at the booth and order our drinks. A woman and man in suits walk up to the counter and briefly speak to the bartender. The bartender takes off running and the two people pull out guns. "LAPD," the man shouts as the woman chases the bartender. "Everyone on the ground!"
He follows the woman into the kitchen and I stare at the exit they just went through. And that's how my night begins.
Annie's POV
"What movie do you want to watch?" I ask Finnick as Peeta hands us both a piece of cake.
Finnick pauses for a moment, thinking, before saying, "Little Miss Sunshine."
I grin. "That's a fantastic choice," I tell him as I search for it.
"I know," he says. "I saw it for the first time when I was sixteen. I don't think I've ever laughed harder."
"I've never seen it," Peeta shares, falling into the recliner.
"You're going to love it," Finnick announces.
He sits next to me on the couch and we start the movie. It takes us all of three minutes to start laughing. About halfway through, Johanna and Gale get back, grab a slice of cake, and join us on the couch. The movie's almost over by the time Katniss walks in, cursing under her breath. Peeta pauses the movie.
"What's the matter, Katniss?" Peeta asks her.
"I just went on the worst date ever," she says as she kicks off her sneakers.
"I'm sure you have nothing on my worst date," Finnick laughs. "My story is traumatizing."
"I don't know, Finnick," Annie says. "Mine's pretty bad too."
"Ditto," Peeta and Gale say simultaneously.
"Trust me, I will win this one," Johanna announces with pride. "You do not want to go up against me."
"Will this go down as the most epic battle of horrible dates in history?" Finnick raises his eyebrows.
"Most definitely."
So, next chapter is going to be all of them telling the story of their worst dates. Please review!