Chapter 3- The Week of the Inspector
This week is going to be a long one. Everything has to be perfect for the inspector from the Capitol. Capitol people usually need perfection to be pleased because they are used to being surrounded by it. So we have to take my little shack of a store into pure perfection. That means no loose boards, no rust, no peeling paint, and especially no fishy smell…even though we live in District 4. But trust me, if that inspector smelled a hint of imperfection, I would be gone in a minute. I am really going to need Finnick to rescue me again.
Today is the start of the week and I could hear the clock ticking. It is also the start of Finnick's temporary job here, and I'm going to make him work. Before he comes in though, I need to tell my father everything.
Our house is in the back of the store. It's not much of a house though, since the store takes up most of it. It is about 3 rooms: my father and I's bedroom, the kitchen, and the bathroom. Fortunately, we can afford indoor plumbing unlike most citizens in Panem.
I hate waking up father at an hour like this since he isn't in the best condition but, I didn't have a chance to tell him anything last night.
"Father?" I peak my head through the door to our room and his snoring immediately seizes.
"Goodmorning my little sea biscuit," says father with a warm voice. His wheelchair that he got from the mayor sits unused in the corner of the room. My father is too prideful of a man to use it as frequently as he should.
"I'm sorry I have to wake you but, a lot has happened." I explain everything and try not to blush when Finnick's name comes up. The strangest thing is father doesn't seem worried.
"Finnick Odair? Oh! That's Luben's boy! What a great man he is! Don't worry honey. If I know Luben Odair, I know he raised his boy right. That Finnick will be as loyal as a dog. You should invite him and his father over to dinner. You know I used to fish with ?"
"So you aren't worried about the inspector?"
"Trust me sea biscuit, people from the Capitol dread coming to the districts just as much as we dread them coming here. That inspector will quickly pass you and leave as quick as a hiccup." And with that, father continues on with stories about the glory days of fishing with .
In the middle of a scary story about a hungry shark, I hear Finnick walk through the door and yell, "Boss? I'm here for my first day of work!"
Father winks at me and I blush like a tomato. I leave the musty room and run to the front of the store.
"My father wants you and your father to come for dinner," I begin.
"Sure! So where do I start ?" Finnick says with a quick glance around the store.
"Are you much of a handyman?"
"Yeah, my father taught me a few things."
"Well, if you could fix the loose board on the stairs, the leak in the roof, and the railings on the porch, it would be a great start," I lightly demand him. I hope that isn't too much.
"Yes ma'm!"
And with that, we start a trend. I work the store and the prices, and he fixes hanging knobs and loose floorboards. We make a great team, he and I. In the first 2 days, the awkward wall between us slowly dissolves. He calls me Annie instead of Boss or . His father, my father, and him talk fish and politics while I escape to my room and knot various knots until my fingers bleed. The store is really coming to be the brand new sparkler it was when it first started 10 years ago. Mainly thanks to Finnick.
The prices are killing my customers though, like I had predicted. Their faces sink when I tell them the new price for bait or the new price for my nets. Some leave empty handed or give me the last of their week's income. It kills me to take it from them. For a few close customers, I give them the old prices because I can't stand to lose their loyalty. I hate the Capitol with a passion and have ever since I blamed them for what happened to my mother. This occurrence is just fuel to the flames.
Tonight is Saturday night and with only 1 full day left, Finnick and I are vibrating with nerves. The store is closed but,I ask Finnick to stay for 2 more hours and he agrees. We have to clean through the cabinets because I know for a fact that if the inspector sees the clutter, we will be hanging on thread.
"Do we need this?" Finnick holds up an old locket.
"That's my mothers! I thought I had lost it!" I quickly grabbed the locket and crammed it into my pocket.
"Where is your mother?" Finnick asks while sorting.
I could answer with the truth. I could tell him all about my mother but, if I did it would probably lead to the fact that I am terrified of water because it is my mom's murderer. And being afraid of water in District 4 makes you a freak, especially when you haven't even dipped a toe into it. Then it would lead to my teeth shattering nightmares. The last few days have been so sweet, Finnick coating it in sugar, I wouldn't want to ruin it…or us.
"She died in childbirth" I say with an immediate wave of guilt. I shouldn't lie to Finnick. I trust him with my life. It is just a bad topic.
"Oh. I'm sorry Annie." His brows knit in concern and his eyes find mine when he looks up. The look on his face and his belief of my lie make a lump in my throat that I cannot exactly swallow. His eyes are so sincere. How could I have lied to them?
"Don't worry about it Finnick," I say with a quick shrug and a turn to the cabinets once more.
"Woah! What's this thing?!"
He pulls out an old music player with cobwebs and dust decorated all over it. Memories flood my mind as I flashback to sneaking down the hallway in my pajamas when the music started. I loved watching the couple dance all night long. The love in their eyes made the horrible world around me turn to mist. The way they danced all around the room made it look like my princess books have come to life. Sometimes, that dream relieves me from my constant nightmare.
"My parents used to dance to it all around the room. My father used to tell me stories about it,"
"Does it still work?" Finnick is instantly turning buttons and screwing in screws.
"I don't think so Finnick," I tell him with a slight giggle.
Finnick looks at me with an arched eyebrow as he pushes a button and the music quickly floods the room again. I laugh and applaud. What happens next is the biggest surprise he ever gave me. He holds out his hand and I hesitantly grab it as he puts his other hand on my waist. I then I put my other hand on his shoulder finally figuring out what he intends to do. Then he grins and leads me around the room to the rhythm of the music. It felt like a piece of art sprinkled with turns and shifts. I don't know how long we danced together. All I knew was that I was looking into his eyes the whole time and he into mine. The world around us literally dissolved as my focus came directly onto him. Then I heard the music slowly come to an end and Finnick slowed to halt and released me. He gingerly lifted his hand to touch my cheek. His eyes look quizzical, like he was figuring something out. Suddenly, it was like someone turned off a button. His eyes became normal and his hand snapped back to his side.
"I should probably go," Finnick said with a tone in his voice that suggested that he was still trying to figure something out. And with a slight turn of his heel, my prince was gone.
The place where he touched my cheek feels like the sun had kissed it.
Now, I myself am trying to figure out something too.