I finished shopping about an hour ago, and now I'm on my way to the beach.
It's the one place I can get away from it all, the one place where nothing is different, but is always changing.
The beach is usually empty, especially during the school year. And when people do go to the beach, they usually hang out at the party places.
There are a few places on the beach that have fire pits, and a large shelter. This is where the teenagers hang out when they come to the beach, a few will take walks, but apparently there is nothing 'interesting' on the open beach.
I don't understand how they think this. The open beach is my favorite place in the whole world, it's the one place I can think clearly without any interruptions. Just listen to the sound of the ocean.
I avoid the open streets, and duck around behind buildings and travel through the alleys.
I leave the wealthier section of the district, and enter the more shady part of town.
You have to be careful here, there's no knowing who you might run into.
Most people will leave me alone. After all, I ruthlessly killed people in the arena, and as far as anyone knows, I will kill outside the arena as well. This is not true of course, in the arena it was self defense, and I was forced to. I duck behind the run down building which serves as a bar, as I hear several footsteps coming my way. It turns out just to be some fishermen returning home after a long day of work. I take a deep breath, and continue to the beach.
"Going somewhere?"
The voice is harsh, and I would recognise it anywhere. It's the voice that has tormented me my entire life, the one that would wake me up in the morning with some jeering comment and a slap.
I turn around and face him.
It's Surf, a six and a half-foot tall eighteen year old that lived in the same community home as I did. His dirty blonde hair is cut close to his head, and his cold blue eyes have the usual wicked glint in them.
He's dressed in some ratty jeans and tank top.
With him are several of his cronies.
I give him a cool smile, and stand with confidence. Shoulders back.
"Actually yes, I was going somewhere. Not that it's any of your business."
He smirks, and swaggers over. He stands in front of me, and although I am tall, he still has five inches on me.
"Oh that's right. You don't talk to us commoners, Cinderella finally got her crown, and her kingdom. Bow down to the royal highness lads."
They all snicker as they bow mockingly.
I just keep smiling.
"I'm glad to see your finally showing some respect. I earned my victory, and you filthy swine should know better than to mess with me."
Surf's face turns bright red, and he grinds his teeth together.
"So, you didn't learn your place earlier did you? Well, looks like we'll have to teach you another lesson!"
He swings his fist at my head, but I saw it coming and ducked. His hand collided with the wall of the bar, and he roars in pain. As I duck, I through a punch in his ribs, knocking the breath from him. He recovers quickly, and brings up his knee, catching me on the jaw. My teeth slam together, and my head hits the wall behind me. I'm still seeing stars, when I feel Surf's next punch hit me in the left temple. I kick out as hard as I can, and my foot comes in contact with his torso, sending him flying back. My vision clears, and I jump on Surf, pinning him to the ground as I start punching him. Blood is running from his nose and his busted lip when he yells to his buddies who have watched the whole time. There's three of them, and they grab my arms and yank me from him. They're not as big as Surf, but there is three of them, and only one of me. My struggles prove useless, and they pin me to the wall. Surf stands up, and spits blood.
"You're going to pay for that you little rat!"
He smears the blood on his face as he tries to wipe it off. Then he walks over to me, and punches me hard in the stomach. I gasp and double over, trying to breathe. I try to kick him, but his buddies keep me pinned to the wall. Surf punches me again in the face, and my nose starts bleeding. He grabs my hair, and slams my head against the wall.
"You see princess, just because you won a little game, doesn't mean that you get to come back here, and act like you're better than us."
I strain against the arms pinning me to the wall, and gasp out a reply.
"Yeah well that 'little game' happens to be hell on earth, and I didn't see you jumping up to volunteer. If it's so easy to win, why didn't you go? Big tough guy like you, shouldn't be a problem. Or maybe you just didn't have the guts, because deep down, you're just a frightened little girl."
He roars with rage, and slams his fist into my jaw. Then he presses his arm against my neck, and applies pressure.
"You shouldn't have said anything, because now I'm going to make sure you'll never say anything again!"
I gasp for air, choking as my oxygen is cut off. Everything starts swirling into blackness, when I hear a shout.
Suddenly Surf steps away, and him and his buddies run off.
I fall to my knees gasping and coughing up blood.
I feel someone grab my arm and help me up.
"Bruce?"
He holds my arm, supporting me.
"I thought that was you. Come on."
He puts my arm over his shoulders, and supports me with his other one. He helps me into the bar, and sits me down at a table in the far corner. He sits down across from me, and calls to the bartender.
"Hey! Mr. Gibbs! Can we get a wet cloth and some whiskey over here?"
A large man with a bald head and an enormous dark brown beard. Stomps over and hands Bruce a bottle of whiskey, and a damp cloth.
"I was wondering where you went Bruce, picking up alley rats now?"
Mr. Gibbs has a booming voice, and he laughs as he pats Bruce on the shoulder.
"Not just any alley rats. This one happens to be a very special one, aren't you?"
Bruce asks me. I lift my head, and look at Mr. Gibbs. He raises his eyebrows shocked.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the famous Finnick Odair. What were you doing lurking around getting beat up in alleys?"
I hold the cloth to my blackening eye as I shrug, and reply with a cheeky smile.
"Oh you know, I need to have some excitement around here. This place seems so safe and peaceful compared to the arena."
He laughs, and slaps me on the back, making me grind my teeth together. The bruises from earlier are still throbbing, and after my recent encounter my whole body aches.
"You're just looking for trouble messing around in the alleys. I don't doubt that a strong healthy lad like yourself can take any one or even two of the knuckle heads around here, especially since you've had training and experience, but they always travel in gangs. You should always carry a weapon of some sort if you're going to keep traveling in the alleys."
I nod my head, and wipe the blood off my face.
"Will do. Thanks for the advice."
He accepts a few gold coins from Bruce, and walks back behind the counter.
Bruce leans back in his chair, and takes a swig from the whiskey bottle.
"Now, what were you really doing back there?"
I sigh, and wince as I shift my position.
"I was on my way to the beach. I take the alleys because there aren't as many 'fans'"
Bruce laughs,
"But there are more haters. Wouldn't you rather be asked for an autograph, than get beat up?"
I shrug.
"I hate all the attention, and I can't stand all those girls throwing themselves at me. It's disgusting."
Bruce raises his eyebrows.
"Really? I would think a boy your age would love that."
I drop the bloody rag on the table.
"Well maybe other boys would, but I just feel sorry for them. All those girls have no self-respect or shame, their whole lives they will spend on chasing boys, but the only ones that will pay them any attention, are the ones that they should look out for."
Bruce nods slowly.
"That's true. You've got a lot of sense for a kid your age."
I grin.
"I know."
Bruce chuckles and shakes his head.
"And a lot of cheek. What you said makes me wonder though."
I frown.
"Wonder about what?"
He sits silent for a moment, then looks at me.
"Maybe the reason you despise those girls so much, is because where they're heading, they'll end up like your mom. unmarried and pregnant, with no one willing to help."
I look up surprised. narrowing my eyes.
"How did you know about that?"
He shrugs and takes another drink of whiskey.
"One hears things. You're a celebrity now, everything about you is public news now."
Ugh. That's awful, I didn't exactly want everyone to know that my mom was no better than a prostitute.
"Here. Drink some of this. It'll help with the pain."
He hands me the whiskey bottle, and I take a drink. It's strong, and burns at first. But then it soothes down to a warmth, and I take another drink.
"Oh. I might as well tell you now, you're invited to come to dinner at the Cresta's tonight."
Bruce stretches, and tilts his chair back on it's back legs.
"Well that's nice. I can't make it though."
I swallow some more whiskey, and set the bottle on the table.
"Got other plans?"
He shrugs.
"Something like that. You better get home and cleaned up if you plan on showing up presentable."
I nod and stand up with a groan.
"Will you be alright getting home?"
I hold my ribs and straighten up.
"Yeah, I should be able to get there without much trouble."
He stands up, and pulls a large knife out of his belt.
"Here, keep this with you just in case you get jumped again."
I slide the knife into my belt.
"Thanks. I'll see you around."
He nods, and sits back down with the whiskey bottle. Staring off into space, lost in thought.
I slowly walk back home, every step is painful, and when I finally make it in my house, every muscle is throbbing.
I don't have time for a shower, so I brush the dirt out of my hair, and put in some gel to keep it manageable. I change into a nice pair of jeans, and a dark grey sweater.
I look in the mirror, and wish that I didn't have a black eye and busted lip. This will only bring up questions.
I grab some pills from the medicine cabinet, and take several to help with the pain.
Then I walk over to the Cresta's.
Their large pale yellow house isn't too far from mine, and I reach it in about twenty minutes.
I knock on the door, and Annie answers it.
"Hey Finn, you're late..."
She trails off when she sees my face. But I just smile, and step inside.
"Hi Annie. Sorry I'm late, I just couldn't get my hair to look right."
She closes the door. And replies to my remark.
"Oh dear, we couldn't have Finnick Odair over for dinner if his hair wasn't perfect. You are forgiven."
I sigh inwardly. She knows I don't want to talk about it. She leads me into the dinning room, where Mags is already waiting, sitting at the end of the table.
She gives me a quizzical look when she sees my face, but I just give her a small shake of my head. She nods, knowing I'll tell her about it later.
"Hello Finnick, we were wondering when you would show up."
Annie grins, and sits on the right side of the table.
"He couldn't get his hair to cooperate. You can sit across from me Finn."
I sit down as Mags laughs.
"Well we couldn't have that could we?"
Mrs. Cresta walks in from the kitchen, her dark brown hair pulled back with a bandana.
"Finnick! Glad you could make it."
I smile. She's the closest thing I have ever had to a mother.
"Hello Mrs. Cresta."
She gasps and rushes over to me when she sees my face.
"What happened? Are you alright?"
She tilts my chin and examines my face.
"I'm fine really. I just tripped and fell down the stairs."
She looks me in the eye.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
I grin, and pull her hand away from my face.
"I'll be just excellent once I start eating your delicious cooking."
She smiles.
"Oh fine then. Annie, can you help me bring out dinner please?"
She hops up and follows her mom into the kitchen.
"So, you fell down the stairs?"
Mags says with a doubtful expression.
I sigh, and lean back in my chair.
"I'll tell you about it later."
She shrugs.
"Fine. Oh and about what we discussed earlier. I called a few people, and they said in some circumstances it would be allowed to take one person with you on the victory tour as your special guest."
I smile and sit up quickly.
"Really? So I can take Annie?"
Mags laughs at my excitement.
"As long as Rachel is okay with it."
For some reason it's always odd to hear someone call Mrs. Cresta by her first name. But right now I'm too excited to think about it.
Mrs. Cresta and Annie emerge from the kitchen with platters of food. A large roast with vegetables and gravy, served with bread and wine is the meal for the evening. And we take no time in digging in. After the meal, Mrs. Cresta brings out dessert. A berry crumble with coffee to go with it.
As we are eating dessert, I turn to Annie.
"Annie, I feel really bad about missing your thirteenth birthday. So I got your present early."
I reach in my pocket, and pull out what I was shopping for this afternoon. I hand Annie the long wooden box.
"I know you don't like real girlie stuff, but I hope you'll wear this."
She opens the box, and pulls out a simple pearl necklace.
"Oh Finnick...it's beautiful!"
I smile as she puts it on.
"If you look closely, the thirteen pearls in the middle are light pink, where as the others are ivory. I told them to make it as non girlie as possible, and trust me I got some weird looks."
She laughs, and turns to her mom, then to Mags.
"How does it look?"
"It's beautiful."
Her mom says, and Mags laughs.
"And it doesn't look to girlie. It suits you."
She runs over and gives me a hug.
"Thank you, I love it!"
"Well, I have another surprise for your birthday. But I'm going to have to ask your mom first."
Her eyes light up.
"Another surprise? What is it?"
I look at Mrs. Cresta, and back at Annie.
"How would you like to go with me on the victory tour?"
She gasps, and her eyes grow wide.
"You mean like to the capitol? And the other districts?"
I nod.
"We would go to all the districts, then to the capitol. At every district there will be a dinner party, and the capitol will have the biggest party ever."
She looks from me to her mom.
"How long would we be gone?"
"Several weeks."
She looks back at her mom.
"Would I be allowed to go?"
Mrs. Cresta thinks for a minute.
"She would be with you the whole time?"
I nod. She looks at Annie, then smiles.
"You can if you want to."
She runs over and hugs her mom tightly.
"Thank you! I promise I'll behave, and I wont get into any trouble."
Mrs. Cresta laughs, giving me a look.
"It's not you I'm worried about. You'll have to keep and eye on Finnick and make sure he doesn't get in trouble. Keep him acting like a victor."
Annie walks over to me, and crosses her arms.
"You hear that? You've got to behave like a victor."
I laugh, and bow to her.
"Of course my lady."
Annie jumps up and down, and then stops.
"When do we leave?"
"Thursday morning."
She looks back at her mom.
"Are you sure it's okay?"
She nods.
"You deserve to have some fun, especially on your birthday."
Annie gives me another hug.
"You're the best friend ever!"
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