I Can't Live Without You (Sixth book of the Finnick and Annie series)

Chapter 15: Maggie

Chapter 15: Maggie

"You're sure?" Darius asks.

"Yeah, I'm sure," I tell him.

We hop on the train, I didn't think he would go for some reason. I thought he'd give a big long speech about how much my family needs me but for some reason he didn't. And I left a note for my parents, saying I was okay. It explains that I know that I need to leave, that this is what is best for me.

I'm in a weird place in my life where I need that certainty of things and right now I'm positive that I should do this. I've never been more sure of anything.

The train starts to move as I look out the window. It's bright and early, 6:00 a.m. To be exact. My parents don't wake up until 8:00 a.m. on a normal day. Sometimes they like to sleep in and they don't wake up until ten or something but I'm usually an early riser.

"Are you nervous? Excited?" Darius asks.

I look over at him and smile before picking up his hand. "Happy is the right word."

"Good, I. . . I wasn't sure about this, and even though my parents know, it may be better if yours do, too."

His parents also think my parents know.

I shake my head, "They'll be fine without me, I know it and-"

"Maggie, I know for a fact that they're gonna be shaken up to say the least. We should call them when we get there."

"Yeah but then they'll just drag me back, I left them the note and that should be enough to-"

"Maggie, I would feel better about this if they knew, I'm okay with this but at the same time they're gonna be worried sick."

"I'll think about calling them when we get there,"

"Okay," He says.

"So. . . What're we gonna do first?"

"Well, I found a hotel to stay in and I figured you could get a job in a restaurant. It may work out for you better than you think,"

"What about you?" I ask.

"I brought some art that I wanna sell. Maybe if it pans out I could actually do it for a living."

"Dare, that'd be great. I know that's what makes you happy, and. . . And I hope this works out for us."

"Me too Maggie. I just want you to tell your parents that you're okay and you're just chasing after your dreams,"

"You can't chase what you already have," I mumble.

"What do you mean?" He asks.

"Dare, don't you get it? You're my dream,"

He smiles, "You're my dream too Maggie."

I kiss him, and then I wake up in my bed. At home. . .

"Wait. . ." I look around my room. "No! I wish it was real!"

I put my face in my hands and tears fall out of my eyes, it sucks here. It really does. All I hear is mom and dad fighting one minute, but the next they can't stop being all cuddly. Or I have to deal with going to school where I'm being teased because everyone suspects something with Darius and I. I hate it here. . . I just wanna leave, and in that dream I was so close.

"Maggie," someone knocks on the door. I don't respond. "Maggie its your dad. . ."

"Just a minute," I say and dry my eyes before opening the door and walking back into my bed.

"Someone's tired," he comments.

Yeah, tired of this. . . Of being here.

"You have no idea," I say under my breath.

"Something's been up with you lately kiddo,"

Shocker, next you'll be saying the earth is round.

"Like what? I'm perfectly fine. Are you fine? Maybe it's you," I suggest.

"Maggie," He sighs, "Your mom and I are worried about you."

"Why? What do you think is wrong with me?" I ask.

"Well we talked to Doctor Everdeen about it and she thought that maybe. . . Because of everything going on. . . that, you're um. . ."

"Come on dad, spit it out," I tell him.

"She thinks you're depressed."

"Depressed?" I ask, he nods. I give a sarcastic laugh. "Dad, you wanna see depressed I'll show you the depressed kids at school. You guys worry too much, and I'm-"

"Mags, your mom went through some things in your journal, and she was. . . Worried to say the least."

"Well why on earth would she go through my freaking things anyway?! They're mine for a reason. What did she read?!" I yell.

"She knows you wanna run away, Maggie. We both do, and Darius doesn't know but I'm sure he wouldn't do it which is part of what you apparently want."

"Yeah dad, every girl wants to run away with their boyfriend okay? It's perfectly normal-"

"Not in this situation Maggie. You didn't write those things before the Alexa thing came up. . . Before your mom found out she was pregnant."

"You think this is because of some stupid jealousy? You think I'm that immature! You-"

"Wanting to run away is immature, Maggie!" He yells back. "It's stupid and reckless and dangerous, and-"

"Mom did it and that's how she met you,"

"Her parents shipped her off to give her a better life so that she wouldn't face the reaping, you know this stuff. We've explained it to you,"

"Whatever dad. . . Think what you want of me, that I'm depressed or unhappy or whatever. I just wanna leave to leave. To see new things, meet new people. It's nothing against anyone its just me. So if you could just accept that I'm growing up and I have dreams of my own now, that'd be nice."

"Maggie, this concern of mine and your moms isn't about you growing up its about your behavior lately and it's not healthy."

"Since when did you and mom become psychologists?" I ask.

"Maggie, enough attitude I'm just worried."

"Well stop being worried. Listen dad, I'm almost sixteen years old. I'm not gonna be some little girl you get to keep in your arms forever. It's time you let go of me." I say and walk out of my room, leaving him behind.

Authors Note

What do we think of Maggie wanting to leave District Four? Is this a phase, a side-affect of her current situation with her parents, a chance to rebel, or is she really actually depressed?

Lemme know what ya think, and I'll talk to ya'll next time.

~Swimmy