FAILURE TO COMPLY ┃ f. odair

2.14 the rebirth of love

"I'm glad to hear you're settled in at Victor's Village, Calypso," Dr Melville said. They were back here. After another three days, she returned to the psychiatrist's office with surprisingly good news. Every evening, Calypso had been dining with Mags, Finnick and Annie. Every morning, Mags brought a fresh hot chocolate to her porch. Throughout the days, she and Finnick went to the beach or out on his boat or stayed in each other's houses. This, she thought, was the closest she would ever get to peace. Not some illusion she was settling for. Real peace.

"I like being around people my own age, I think," she commented. "I love my dad and Aunt Millie, but they've been there my whole lives, watching me grow up. They coddle me in a way that Mags, Annie and Finnick don't. I love my family and I love living with them, but it's nice to see fresh faces."

"Friends," Dr Melville corrected with a satisfied smile and assured nod. "Everyone needs them, even those that deny the fact. Do you have any back home in five?"

"I never had the chance," she replied honestly. "My dad was paranoid my whole life about me being put in the games or about the Capitol doing something to me. Turns out he was right to be, but him telling me to be strong all the time kind of made me standoffish. I've never been great at making or keeping friends. And the friends that I do have outside the district... Well, it's not like Snow would let me come and go whenever I want."

Boy, was she talkative today. Calypso felt like she had a billion and one things to get off her chest that no one she had ever heard. While she loved her family and was glad for their love and protection, the guilt of speaking about them in such ways was always quickly dismissed by Melville, who said again and again that any and all feelings were valid so long as she understood and processed them correctly.

"But you could call them," the doctor suggested. "You told me the other day you and Finnick like exchanging letters. I wonder if it's worth you doing the same with others. Your fellow victors are only a phone call away.

-

Calypso hated how right everyone was all the time. Finnick had said it. Dr Melville had said it. Now, she was doing it. The phone in Finnick's house rang once, twice, then three times. She tapped her foot impatiently against the tiled kitchen floor, and when the fourth ring came, she hung up the phone.

"Hel-" the voice on the other end barely managed. Calypso silently cursed herself for being such a coward. Leaning back in the dining chair, she brought her knee up to her chest and leaned her chin on it: Finnick moved from his spot by the counter to stand behind her.

"No answer?" he asked. She shook her head. "Liar."

Reaching for the cordless phone, he redialled the number. This time, there was only one ring before Calypso could hear a muffled voice on the other end, sounding a little irritated about being hung up on the first time.

"Hey, Johanna," he greeted his friend. Calypso rolled her eyes at the obvious mockery in his voice. "Sorry, I'm having trouble with the connection on my end. She's called Calypso, and she's incredibly socially awkward. Care for a chat? I think she needs the enrichment."

"Asshole," she sneered, grabbing the phone from him. Finnick laughed, his hands defaulting to her soft hair as she picked up the call herself. "Hi Johanna, it's Calypso."

"As the asshole just said," Johanna replied amusedly. "Since when were you guys hanging out in Four? If I knew we were allowed to cross districts now, I would've appreciated an invite."

"Well, it's more complicated than that..." she sighed. Behind her, Finnick brushed his fingers through her hair, gently scratching her scalp comfortingly as he went. "I kind of went a little crazy and now I'm here seeing this top-of-the-bunch therapist. I didn't call to tell you about my situation though. I wanted to see how you were doing."