Chapter 13

Annie Cresta POV

Today is the day of the Homecoming dance, and I'm incredibly nervous. Maeve took me thrifting a couple days ago and we got a dress for me to wear. Johanna is going to come over so we can get ready, she'll also drive us there.

Johanna is doing her makeup at my vanity, she's doing a smokey eye. She's wearing a short, tight and low cut black dress with long sleeves. I couldn't ever see myself wearing something like that. I'm not judging her, I actually admire her self confidence. I'd feel way too exposed in a dress like that.

"Thanks for doing my makeup," I say to Johanna. "You know I don't really know how to do that stuff."

"I wish you would've let me do a smokey eye," she says. "It would look good on you with the right shades."

I was able to talk her into just some sparkly gold eyeshadow and pink lips, I thought the smokey eye would be too intense. She wasn't happy about that, but I didn't want to stand out too much and I'm glad she respected that.

"Are you nervous?" Johanna asks me as I'm brushing my hair.

My dress is teal, long-sleeved and scoop-necked. Maeve said it went really well with my hair. I was worried it looked too conservative for Panem dances, which it probably is even though it's only knee-length.

"Yeah," I say. "This is the first time I've ever had anything close to a date in my life, although I don't think he'd consider it as one."

"You never know," Johanna says, shrugging. "Just don't let him get you alone, which he'll probably try to do."

"Is he really expecting that from me?" I ask. I really don't want to be in that situation, especially with how awkward I am.

"He told me he wasn't when he asked tor your number," she says. "I wouldn't have given him your number if he obviously had those intentions."

"Thank you," I say. "I'm definitely not interested in that, I'm not sure I'm even ready for a boyfriend."

"Just see how this goes," Johanna says. "You never know." Johanna's had a lot of boyfriends, at least in my opinion. I'm not judging, it's just way different from me.

Maeve knocks on my door. "Come in," I say. She walks in and smiles at me.

"Aw, Annie you look gorgeous," she says. "I told you that dress would look amazing on you."

I smile shyly. "Thanks," I whisper. "I'm just so nervous."

"I can tell," she says. "You're shaking. It'll be okay, it's just a dance."

I drop my brush and lean down to pick it up, I guess I didn't know how much I was actually shaking.

"This guy is really popular," I say. "He only asked me because some of the cheerleaders were making fun of me and he said going to the dance with him would help."

"Well that's nice of him," Maeve says. "Even if he didn't mean it as a date, just try to have fun. It's your first homecoming dance, just try to enjoy it. You'll regret it if you don't."

"Your sister's right," Johanna says. "Be a bad bitch, I know you can do it."

I chuckle at that, Johanna is funny. I feel like that's easier for her to do, though. She's confident, and she doesn't care what people think. I can't help it, I'm constantly thinking about what other people think of me. It isn't fun, I wish I could be more like Johanna.

Finnick Odair POV

I'm waiting outside the school for Annie and Johanna to show up. I wanted to pick them up, but Annie decided against it. She wanted to be able to leave whenever she wanted without holding me back, which I respect. I just thought picking her up would be the gentlemanly thing to do.

They walk up, and Annie looks really pretty in her dress. She sees me and smiles at me. "Hey," I say. "You look really nice."

"Thanks," she says. There's an awkward pause, she's looking around and fidgeting. "Do we go in? I've never been to one of these before."

"Yeah," I say, smiling and holding out my arm so she can link hers through it. "Let's do it."

We walk in and check in, giving one of the faculty chaperones takes Johanna and Annie's bags. When we walk into the gym, Annie looks surprised by how elaborate the decorations are.

"You okay?" I ask her.

"Yeah," she says. "Just kind of taking it all in, I know it's weird."

"Not at all," I say, smiling. "It's cute. Do you want to go say hi to my friends with me?"

She nods and we walk over to the group. Cato, Clove, Peeta, Marvel and Glimmer are standing in a circle and drinking sodas and water.

"Hey guys," I say. "You probably know Annie. Annie, you've met my friends, right?"

She nods. "Yeah," she says. "A little bit. Hi, guys."

"Really, Finnick?" Clove asks. "This is who you took to Homecoming?" I can see Annie flinch, this is what I was afraid of.

"Yeah," Glimmer says, laughing. "I know it's your goal to bang every girl in Panem, but this is a new low." Annie starts tearing up, but I can tell she doesn't want to mess up her makeup.

"Shut up," I say. "You're a jerk, and it isn't cool anymore. Either of you say one more thing, I'll knock your teeth out. I don't care if you're a girl."

"Hey," Cato says. "Don't talk to her like that."

"I won't if she stops talking to Annie like she has been," I say. He goes quiet, seeing my point and realizing that I'm right. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

The lights dim and a slow song starts playing. "Do you want to dance?" I ask, turning to Annie.

"Sure," she says. "That sounds nice."

We go out to the dance floor and start slow dancing. It's a little awkward because she doesn't really know what to do, but it's cute.

"Thanks for being so nice to me," she says. "I'm still not sure why you're doing it, though."

"I felt bad that you were getting picked on. You don't deserve it, you seem really sweet."

"Thanks," she says. There's a pause. "I'm thinking I'll probably end up quitting the cheer team."

"Why? You really shouldn't let Clove and Glimmer take that away from you."

"It's not just that," she says. "I don't really enjoy it, it's loud and not really my vibe. I'll probably end up joining the swim team, I've always been good at swimming. My sister has been encouraging me to join the swim team."

"Then that's honestly a good idea," I say. "I'm on the swim team this season, too, so you'll at least know someone."

She smiles at me and we finish our dance. She's really pretty, I'm having a much better time with her than I expected. I didn't think we'd have a bad time, I'm just surprised at how easy she is to talk to. I think we have a good vibe together, I hope she feels the same way.

Peeta Mellark POV

I've been at the dance for a little while, and I'm not having as much fun as I expected to. I was hoping I'd see Katniss here, but I'm honestly not surprised she didn't show up. I'm glad Finnick came with Annie, they're actually cute together. I know it wasn't necessarily an official date, but I see something there. I don't know, maybe it's just me.

The group is laughing about Annie, which I'm ignoring. They eventually get bored with that and change the subject, thank God. "Peeta," Cato says. "Why are you zoning out so much tonight?"

"Oh," I say, coming back to the conversation. "No reason, just a little tired."

"He's upset Katniss didn't show up," Marvel says. "Right?"

"Yeah, why didn't you ask her?" Cato asks me.

"I got too nervous," I say.

"That, and she would've probably brought her boyfriend." Ugh, Marvel's such a wise-ass sometimes.

"She isn't dating Gale," I say. "They're just friends."

"Yeah," Cato says. "We all know sex isn't dating." Everyone in the group starts laughing, he's so gross. I hope Katniss isn't having sex with Gale, I don't think she is. She doesn't really seem into that stuff at all.

"Who's coming to my afterparty tonight?" Glimmer asks. Oh right, I forgot about that. It's probably an excuse for them to get drunk and for Cato to finally nail Clove, if he can get her.

"I probably won't," I say. I really don't feel like going. "Sorry guys, I'm just a little tired."

"Okay, buzzkill," Marvel says. "Finnick is coming, luckily without his annoying date. You should at least stop by for a little bit."

"I'll think about it," I say. "I should really get started on my weekend homework."

"I know you didn't land Katniss this time, but that doesn't mean you have to be a downer for all of us," Cato says. "Just stop by for a little bit, we're not that bad."

"I bet I can find a way to cheer you up," Glimmer says, winking at me.

Ew, she's been into me for a while even though I've told her I don't think of her like that. It would be too weird for me to hook up with someone my best friend has already hooked up with. I know that severely limits my options, but I only really have my eye on one girl anyway.

"I'll think about it," I say. "If I stop by, it'll only be for a little bit."

The guys roll their eyes. I wish my brothers were around still, even though they were assholes sometimes and we did fight. I just felt like I could talk to them, they weren't as gross as my friends are. It would be much easier if Finnick was hanging out in the group right now, but I just feel so different from all the other guys. It sucks to feel that way even though I'm popular.

Johanna Mason POV

Annie and I decide to leave after a couple hours at the dance, I know this was a lot for her to handle. We were invited to Glimmer's afterparty by Finnick, but Annie really didn't want to go so we said no. I don't blame her, I wouldn't have wanted to go if I were here either. I didn't even want to go, myself.

"Did you have fun?" I ask her as we get into my car.

"I did," she smiles. "It actually went way better than I expected."

I smile and start the car, heading back to her place. "I'm glad it wasn't too much for you," I say. "I was a little worried."

"Me too," she responds. "But I'm actually glad I went, Finnick made sure I had a really great time. It was really nice."

We pull up to her place and head inside, I'm sleeping over tonight. A few minutes after we walk into her room, there's a knock at the door.

"Come in," Annie says. Maeve walks in and shuts the door behind her. "Hey, I didn't think you'd still be up."

"You guys weren't gone that long," she says. She sits on the bed and hugs a pillow. "How was the dance?"

"It went well," Annie says. "A couple cheerleaders tried to give me a problem, but Finnick shut them down and they didn't bother me for the rest of the night."

"That's good," Maeve says. "I'm glad you went."

"Me too."

"I just wanted to see how it went," Maeve says. "I'm going to bed."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Maeve," I say. Maeve smiles at me as she leaves the room, shutting the door behind her.

"Johanna?" Annie asks me after Maeve leaves. She's almost whispering, which usually means she has something on her mind.

"Yeah?"

"I think I like Finnick," she says.

I chuckle. "Yeah, you and every othet girl at Panem."

"I know I probably don't even have a remote chance with him, I should probably just forget it. I just wanted to tell you."

I pause, maybe that wasn't a nice thing to say. "Honestly," I say. "With the way he acts around you, you may have a chance. I don't want to get your hopes up, but I've never seen him act this way around a girl."

"Really?"

"Maybe. He might like you too and is just scared to admit it right now because of his reputation."

"I hope so," she says. "He's really cute."

"Just keep texting him," I say. "And keep talking to him at school, just be yourself."

"Should I try to be sexy?"

"No," I say. "Trying hard to be sexy never works. If he likes you, he'll think you're sexy the way you are." Annie smiles, I think she's taking my advice to heart.

I want her to be happy, and I really hope Finnick does like her. It seems like he might, I just don't want Annie to rush into something she isn't fully ready for because she's in high school and she's a cheerleader. I hope she takes care of herself before anything else.