My Sweet Little Reminder

Reaping Day Part 2

After breakfast,we're to go on our way to the Reaping. But I want to meet with Annie first. We don't really have much time. I realize now we should've arranged to meet earlier in the day. Oh well. I need to see my best friend before this grim holiday of sorts starts.
"Okay y'all,I would walk you there but I need to wait for your father. He still hasn't shown."
Mom looks at the clock after her startling announcement. Dora and I exchange a look.
"Okay." I say,not knowing what to really say.
"See you there." Dora says.
"Yeah." I agree,opening the door which cries out when pushed forward on its hinges. Dad was supposed to fix it.
When my sister and I get out of the house and step out onto the patio, I stop as my sister keeps walking.
"Dora." I say. She stops.
"What?" She looks annoyed. She can be a little irritable on Reaping Day. Guess I can't really blame her.
I stand in a different position and put my hands in my pockets.
"I was going to meet with Annie."
She squints her eyes,eyebrows furrowed. Some hair falls in her face when she tilts her head a little.
"Really? We don't have time Finnick."
"You go on without me,Dorey."
She still stands there,not persuaded.
"Go." I order.
She kicks up some sand before turning her back to me. I watch her walk away. "Don't be late." She calls out over her shoulder.

Annie has made it to the beach behind my house before I have. I see her auburn ringlets blowing in the wind brought on by the sea breeze. She's sitting on a rock by the shore,waiting for me. I start walking towards her,but then I pause for a second to admire her. I can't help but think : What if this is the last time I'll see her?
Annie's wearing a light blue sundress that flows out in the back,flapping in the wind. She keeps on changing her disposition on the boulder,her eyes squinting as she chews on her lip and surveys the beach.
She's worried and searching for me. I should let her know I'm here. Right before I start toward her once more,she turns around, ( still looking for me ) and her eyes find mine in surprise. "Finnick!" Annie yelps in relief. She hops off her seat and scrapes her ankle. She sucks in her breath and bites her lip. "You okay?" I ask once I've hurried over. She nods,throwing her arms around me. I caress the small of her back , which makes her lean into me. "I don't wanna go,and I don't want you to go. But if we don't hurry,we could be late. And you know there's punishment for that." She says. I sigh.
"I really wanted more time with you before this stupid..." I trail off,blowing air out of my nostrils.
She pulls away,looking into my eyes deeply with her emerald ones. I'm still holding onto her even though we've stopped hugging.
"I know." She tells me,running her fingers through my hair. I sigh and look away. She starts to break away from me. "Wait." I tell her,taking hold of her hand and pulling her towards me. She looks at me innocently confused. I start to kiss her.
When the kiss ends,our foreheads are touching. "Finnick." She whispers,her hot peppermint breath hitting my face. She looks like she's about to cry.
"Finnick." She whispers again.
"Shh." I console her,holding her close again. Why are my eyes so leaky? Crap.
"We really have to go." She says with a breathy,quick laugh at the end. She smiles wryly at me. "Right. Okay." I say,looking at the grains of sand we stand on.
. . .
"Finnick,you're practically late! What are you trying to do,kill yourself and the girl?" Dora asks when I get there.
"Oh would you calm down? It's not like they've drawn names yet. They probably wouldn't have even noticed we were gone." I say,brushing her off.
I'm panicking inside. I know what I'm saying is wrong.
"Finnick." She whispers frantically. "Look." She tells me with urgency, grabbing my hand and squeezing it like a lifeline. I look to find the mayor up on stage at the podium,and the two mentors seated nearby. They're already setting up. I suck a breath in.
My sister is shutting her eyes tight as if to wish away reality in a blink.
The next few minutes are too surreal to remember in more than mere snippets.
The announcement,"And the male tribute is...Finnick Odair!" My sister sobbing and refusing to let go of my hand until we're forcefully ripped apart. Annie looking at me with wet eyes and a quivering lip,trying to be strong. My mom finally showing herself , looking lost and disoriented and reaching for me.
The door shuts,resounding an echo through the room,through my body,and through my world.
It's like all the cords,wires,and strings attached to those I love have been cut for an eternity,when I get my first visitor.

A.N.- Who could this visitor possibly be?? Will it be who you'll expect?? When is Finnick going to bring out his sexy side?? What will Annie think of Finnick once he's suddenly acting like a different person?? Will Finnick leaving drive his delusional mother over the edge?? How will Dora cope with being the only sane person in the house??
Find out in the next chapter of
My Sweet Little Reminder
Thanks for reading!! Comments are appreciated:)
Love , Summer