Chapter 15

Finnick Odair POV

I'm hanging out with Peeta today, we're just smoking a little behind the bakery after it closed. His parents don't usually come out here after closing, so I don't think we'll get caught.

"Hey," Peeta says when I knock on the bakery front door. "Quick, let's go outside."

"What rush are you in?" I ask.

"If my parents see me down here, they'll wonder where we're going."

We walk outside and he closes the back door behind him quietly. "Did you bring it?" He asks me.

"Of course," I say, taking out the stuff to smoke with. "Someone's eager."

"I just had a stressful day," he says. "I had to do school and then help with the bakery, I could use something to take the edge off."

We light up our joints and start smoking. I totally get it, I just feel bad that he has so much on his plate. I could see how that could take a toll on a person.

"How's working at the bakery with Katniss and Gale?" I ask Peeta as we're smoking.

"It's great to see her more," he says. "But Gale is always there, I feel like he's a helicopter over her."

"He's her best friend," I say. "It makes sense that he's a little protective."

"He's also just annoying," Peeta says. "I think he's into her, but she swears they're just friends."

"Maybe he's scared to confess his feelings to her, like you are."

"Well they're together all the time," he says. "If he was going to do it, he should have by now."

"Do you ever get time alone with her?"

"We did a little bit last time she was working," Peeta says. "But honestly not much."

"Take more weekend shifts," I say. "That might help you talk to her though."

"Maybe," he says. "I really don't want to have to do that, though."

"So guess what?" I ask after a longer pause. Peeta looks over at me. "I'm going to ask out Annie Cresta?"

"Woah, really?" Peeta asks. "Why?"

"She's really cool," I say. "We actually had a good time at the dance, and I want to get to know her better."

"She may not be the type to fool around, you know?"

"I know," I say. "But maybe I want to change things up a bit, find something deeper than that."

"I think that's a great idea," Peeta says. "She does seem really sweet, she's friends with Johanna, Madge and Katniss. But you know the guys woll make fun of you for it, right?"

"Honestly, I don't really care," Finnick says. "I'm already more popular than most of them, and they can say what they want."

"Did you know Cato is dating Clove now?" Peeta asks me.

"Really?" I ask. Peeta nods. "Wow, guess he finally reeled her in."

"Yeah," I say. "It's about time, something's been going on with them for a while."

"I'm really glad you found a decent girl you like," Peeta says after a pause. "I just know it'll be hard because of how differently Annie acts."

"I can handle it," he says. "You know, I'm a much better guy than everyone thinks."

Peeta chuckles. "I know."

"Now if only you can get the same courage with Katniss Everdeen."

"I will," Peeta says. "Give me time."

He's been given so much time, I wish he would just ask her out already. She's clearly oblivious to his feelings, especially with Gale around. It would be best if he just asked her already, he deserves to he happy and he's one of the nicest popular guys.

Katniss Everdeen POV

I'm hanging out with Johanna, Annie and Madge after their cheer practice one day. We haven't really talked much since Homecoming with how busy Gale and I have been starting our new job.

"So how was the dance?" I ask them while we're hanging out in Madge's room.

"It was fun," Johanna says. "We missed you, though."

"You knew I wouldn't show up," I say. "I've never been into that stuff."

"Yeah, yeah, you're no fun," Johanna says. "Which is so lame, even Annie had fun."

"You did?" I ask Annie.

"Yeah," she says. "It was nice I guess."

"It was more than nice," Madge says. "Tell her what happened."

I look over at Annie and see that she's blushing. "What happened?" I ask her.

"Finnick took me to the dance," she says. "I don't think it was a date, though. He just thought if the cheerleaders knew he got along with me, they'd leave me alone."

"Did it work?" I ask.

"I don't know, probably not," Annie says. "I can't see Clove or Glimmer ever being nice for any reason we, but it still meant a lot to me that he tried."

"That is really nice of him," I say. "I wouldn't think he'd offer something like that up."

"Hold on," Johanna says. "You didn't tell them the other part."

"Oh," Annie says, getting nervous. "I kind of have a little crush on Finnick now."

I chuckle. "Yeah," I say. "You and every other girl in Panem."

"That exactly what I said!" Johanna exclaims. Annie appears startled by her sudden exclamation, which Johanna notices. "Sorry."

"Come on" Madge says. "He at least likes her enough to take her to Homecoming. Maybe there could be something there."

"I just don't want her to get her hopes up," Johanna says. "Especially when she has so much competition."

"I don't think I would let anything happen between us anyway," Annie says, looking disappointed. "Not even if we both wanted it."

"Why not?" I ask her.

"Because there'd be so much pressure and competition with all the other popular girls at school," she says. "It would be a lot for me to handle."

"I get that," Madge says. "Don't listen to Johanna, she's just bullshitting as usual." Johanna rolls her eyes and playfully shoves Madge.

"Plus, you know anyone that I date would just dump me when they see the severity of my mental health issues," Annie says. "I can't imagine someone like Finnick would last long."

"Why not?" I ask.

"I definitely don't fit the image he's used to," Annie says. "Plus, I wouldn't want to have sex. So really, it wouldn't make any sense."

"You're going to have to do it sometime," Johanna says. "Finnick would be one of your better options."

"I don't want to do it right now," Annie says. "And I don't think he'd want to wait."

"Come on Johanna," Madge says. "Stop it, you're just making her uncomfortable."

"I'm sorry," Johanna says. "I'm just going over your options. But Madge is right, you shouldn't do it when you aren't ready and Finnick definitely wouldn't wait."

This is exactly why I'm not dating in high school, everyone is so hyperfocused on who's having sex with who. I think that's really personal, and I don't need my hypothetical relationship to be scrutinized by everyone I know.

I'm not even sure when I'll date after high school, I'd have to meet the right person. It just seems like a huge waste of time, and I don't want to have kids so I really don't see the point in being in a relationship.

Annie Cresta POV

I know Johanna is right, but it still hurts that she truly believes Finnick would want sex immediately if we dated. I'm sure it's true, but I'm starting to think he's actually a good guy. I should probably just forget it, since it'll most likely lead to me getting hurt.

When I get home, I'm in my room feeling down again. I hate how anxious I get, and it doesn't surprise me that no one wants to deal with it. I eventually hear a knock at my door.

"Annie?" Maeve asks me. "Do you want to hang out? I'm done with my homework."

"Not right now," I say. "Sorry, I've been feeling kind of down."

"That's okay," she says. "Have a good night."

"You too."

I hear her walk away from the door. Maeve has always been very understanding of my mental health issues, but I still feel bad for turning her away. I know she gets it, but I feel like eventually I push everyone away to the point where they don't come back.

I hear my phone ring and see that it's Finnick. That's weird, I'm not sure why he'd be calling me at this point. "Hello?" I say after I pick up the phone.

"Annie?" He says. "Is this a bad time? Sorry, I know it's getting late."

"No, not at all," I say, even though I just told Maeve I've been feeling down. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good," he says. "How has your week been so far?"

"It's been okay," I say. "As much as it can be."

"Oh, well that's cool," he says. "Listen, I was calling to ask you something."

"What is it?" I'm so nervous, I literally can't think of what it might be.

"I was wondering if maybe," he says. He's clearly nervous, which is really weird that he would ever be nervous talking to me. "Maybe you wanted to go out sometime."

I pause, I'm not sure I heard that right. "Reall?" I ask. "Are you sure?"

"Why would I be asking if I wasn't sure?"

"Well, the popular girls don't like me. The guys might make fun of you, I thought you'd be more concerned about that."

"Well, I like you," he says. "Shouldn't that be all that matters?"

"Yeah," I say, smiling. "I just, guess I find that hard to believe."

"Well, I like you," he says. "I had a great time with you at the dance, you're really sweet. It's so nice to find someone who's down to earth and a genuine person. I feel like I don't find that much these days."

"That's so sweet," I say. "Thank you."

"So do you want to go out with me or not?" He asks it in a nice way.

"Yeah," I say. "I think I'd like that."

"Cool," he says. "See you at school tomorrow, we'll talk then."

"Bye, Finnick."

"Bye."

We hang up, and I have this huge smile plastered on my face. He's actually really sweet, and I do want to go out with him. I almost said no because I don't think we'd make that much sense together and I'm worried about how this might affect him socially, but maybe he's right. I like him and he likes me, that's all that should matter.