"I don't know what I want, Odair. Just order one of the specials. Get something that doesn't have pepperoni, and I'll be fine with it."

The paper menu in front of him would probably have been very useful if the letters weren't swimming in front of him. The descriptions seemed long, and Jo had said that she liked this place, and that should be good enough. But the place on 63rd was cheaper and had pictures on their menu. Plus, he knew what he always got there, so no need to go digging for that menu in his junk drawer. Sometimes, it was just easier to go with the familiar. "How do you feel about Tatius?"

"Damnit, Odair, we're not ordering from there again. Come on, give me the menu. We're going to find something you'll like." She snatched it out of his hands and scanned it. "Get the Surf 'n' Turf? It's got shrimp on it. Here, read the description."

Jo put it about four inches from his face for a few seconds. Nobody would be able to make sense of the menu under these circumstances. "Yeah, sounds good to me." Surf and turf? What the hell was that supposed to mean? "I'll pay if you order."

"You were going to pay anyway."

"I know, but this makes me feel better about it."

"I don't want to talk about what's happening here. Tell me about what's going on at home. How have you and Mags been?"

"It's been about the same. I helped Mags weed the strawberries yesterday. They should be ready by the time you get home. Mags has been talking about making a pie out of them as a welcome home present for you." Finnick lay back on the bed and allowed his eyes to drift shut, letting Annie's words wash over him like a warm, midday wave. If one could say anything for the Capitol, it was that they knew how to do comfort well. "Wait, I wasn't supposed to tell you about that. You'll have to act surprised when you see it."

"I'll be sure to practice my best surprised face." Finnick's immediate response when someone poked him in the side was to bat their hand away. One would think that seven years spent in the Capitol would have taught him better.

Luckily, today there was no great price to pay. Johanna passed him a note, which he glanced at before pushing it aside. She rolled her eyes at him, but she left, so it couldn't be that important. He let go of that side of his world and dove back into Four. The boats were busy this part of year, and with the extra heat, the entire district was starting to reek of rotting fish. That meant it was time to make the final decisions about who would be volunteering. Finnick wondered if he'd get a say this year. In the past, they hadn't let him, saying he was too close to the students to be able to give objective input. By this point, he shouldn't know anyone up for it. They'd be what… three years younger than him? Four?

"When are you coming home, love?"

Coming home was always the best part. "I'm scheduled for ten days from now, but I'm going to see if I can talk my way into them taking me home a day early. My appointments should all be done by two, and there's really no reason for me to stick –"

"Are you crazy? You need to be out of here!" Johanna knocked the phone out of his hand and pulled him up. "Did you not read my note? You have an appointment in ten minutes! Fuck, Odair, you can't be late for this."

He hadn't known one could scurry after their heart had gone still.

"So, Odair, are you stupid or what?"

"Is this a general question, or do you have a specific instance in mind?" His voice shook a little bit, but he could always blame that on the drugs and caffeine.

She watched him carefully, and his hands fumbled around the rope. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. Don't play dumb."

"If I'm stupid, is it playing or just how I am?" He should be able to come up with better comebacks than that. You're slipping, Odair.

Johanna didn't respond to that. She didn't have to.

Even the simplest of knots took effort now. Over, under, tug tight. Loop, loop, pull around, and admire your handiwork for a second. Act like it isn't a big deal, and maybe it won't be.

"You still haven't answered the question."

"I don't have one."

"You went to school, right?"

"Everyone has to."

"Huh." She could keep being stumped. He still was.

A/N: Based on a request for an "Alphabet Soup" (currently Chapter 41) sequel in which Johanna learns about Finnick's disability.