By the North Star | An Odesta Fanfic

Chapter Eleven

After so many disappointing mornings and failed attempts at joining Finnick out on the fishing boat, anyone else might have given up. But not Annie. Even if she expected nothing different, even if she was starting to lose all hope that things would return to the way they used to be, she still woke up every morning and tried again. She was a Cresta, after all, and everyone knew that Crestas were stubborn.

So, when the sun was starting to rise on the horizon and light was just beginning to peek through her curtains in the morning, Annie got herself out of bed once again. She went to the closet and pulled on a sweater – her own. She had returned Finnick's to him weeks ago, just like he'd asked – and pulled her hair back out of her face. She opened the curtains and made her bed, arranging the pillows carefully as if nothing else mattered more in the world. But her mind was far from there.

Finnick had come by for dinner the night before, but he had carefully avoided all mention of fishing. He had laughed, he had smiled, and he even teased Annie endlessly when she mispronounced a word and refused to let her forget it. He brought flowers for Mags and even washed the dishes when she asked. He was the picture-perfect house guest and still Annie's best friend.

But nothing more.

Annie crept through the hallway and down the stairs, careful not to wake Mags. She made her way down the stairs, avoiding the two steps that always creaked, and slipped into the kitchen. Mags had set out some lunch for her the night before, just as she always did. Annie filled a bag with the food and took a few extra snacks from the cupboard for Finnick. He always had a habit of forgetting to bring meals.

But Annie had hardly even stepped off of the porch before she knew it was all in vain. She could see Finnick's house from there, with its dark windows, empty porch, and tightly shut front door. The place was quiet and abandoned.

Finnick had already left.

Annie sank down onto the front steps, burying her face in her hands. Would she ever catch up to him? Was it going to be like this forever, always chasing after Finnick, trying to remind him that he wasn't alone? She wasn't sure how much longer she could go on like this.

And how much longer would Finnick carry on this way? He wasn't even giving her a chance to show him how much she really cared. Annie wanted to be there for him, but he was pushing her away before she could get close enough to try. Did he think she was just going to give up on him? To stop caring and throw him away the same way all of his clients did?

No.

Not today.

Annie stood back up. If Finnick thought that she was just as flighty as one of his Capitol lovers, he was in for a surprise.

"Too bad, Odair," she muttered under her breath. "Not everyone in your life is going to give up on you that easily."

She threw her bag over her shoulder and grabbed the rest of her equipment off of the porch, her eyes narrowing with determination as she set off towards the docks.

It was early morning, the busiest time of day in District 4. Annie hurried down the hill and fell into step beside the rows of men and women making their way down to the sea. No one seemed to notice that she was there, still making casual conversation with their neighbors as they walked. For a moment, Annie let herself slip away from all the worry and pretend that she was just like all the rest of them: just another fisherman heading out for a day on the sea.

She was still at the other end of the docks when she caught sight of the mast of Finnick's boat. It swayed back and forth in the distance, moving with the waves of the sea. Annie picked up her pace, moving as quickly as all of the gear in her arms would allow her. The boat was still there. She hadn't missed him yet. She broke away from the rest of the crowd, hurrying to the edge of the pier where Finnick's boat was docked.