A fate worse than death~~A Finnick Odair story~~

27. Keeping that promise

After putting on a pair of pajamas and peeking into her guest room, Elizabeth had made sure that Finnick had indeed overslept. So when she managed to sneak down to the kitchen, she saw nothing else to do but start with breakfast.

She laid out almost everything she could find, jams, cereals, milk, juice, seaweed bread, scrambled eggs and much more. So when she was done she realized how much food there was going to be, so instead of wasting it she ran off and knocked on first Mag's and then Annie's. Both were delighted to make company for breakfast.

So as the four of them sat there around her kitchen table talking about what they were going to do for the day, Elizabeth happened to glance at the terrace behind the windows. But more important, the little silk robe that lay like a wet lump by the swimladder. What made it even more embarrassing was that she had been in the middle of a sentence and had now completely forgotten what she was going to say.
"Elizabeth are you okay?"
"Aha."
Was all she could muster in response. But when the others began to turn their heads confusedly in the direction that stole their friend's focus, she panicked.
"We need to discuss Annie's victory tour, or at least prepare!!"
"Ohh yes!! How could I forget!!"
Mags exclaimed and everyone's focus shifted, much to Elizabeth's relief.

As usual, Mags took over a bit of the conversation, something that neither Finnick nor Elizabeth bothered. After all, Mags was the one with the most experience, so when Mags and Annie chose to continue the conversation outside Elizabeth's house, no one protested. Quite the opposite actually. But a small smile still spread across both Elizabeth's and Finnick's lips as they watched the older and younger women leave, one gesticulating wildly with her hands, and the other nodding.

"Well, I should probably go too." "What why?!"
Elizabeth panicked as she thought she might have offended him in some way, but his smile remained.
"You have a shift at the bakery, and I have things to do."
"What kind of things?"
Now he had piqued her curiosity, but if she thought she'd get an answer, she thought wrong.
"Oh you know, things. But I'll help you with the dishes and we'll go at the same time."

So that's what they did, but when they were about to say goodbye on her stairs, Finnick left her with words she didn't expect to hear.

"Ohh and before I forget, I like your robe."
"What which one?"
She was a little confused, because she had been wearing pajamas all morning, hadn't she?
"The one on your terrace, but I have to admit you look best without it."
Then he just left, leaving Elizabeth speechless, and worst of all, the smile he had on his face made it impossible for her to tell if he was serious or not. Facking asshole.

~~~

"Hello, you must be Sara."
She had stood with her back to me. Her red hair reached her shoulders, she had cut it since my game, and when she turned to face me I met her blue eyes.
"Yes, and you are?"
She easily so happy, so full of life.
"Oh wait, you're Elizabeth!"
Her smile faltered a little, ever so slightly at my name.
"Yes, I just wanted to say hi, we haven't worked together before." "Yeah what's up whit that, I mean haven't you been working here for a few years now?"
"Well yes, well, I asked them not to, put us together I mean."
"Ohhh."
Her smile was almost completely gone now.
"Why?"
"I didn't know how you would react, to me I mean, I didn't want to upset you."
"Why would you do that?"
I bit my lip, we were approaching uncharted territory, but it was now or never.
"Because I'm the reason Jamie died."

Total silence.
Thank God we haven't received any customers yet. But then after what felt like an eternity, she spoke.
"Do you really think so?"
"I mean, well, if it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have--."
"Let me make one thing clear to you." I could see the tears starting to form in Saras' eyes.
"Jamies, Jamie's death wasn't your fault, you were 12 and he chose to protect you. If his parents can forgive so can I, but if I'm being honest…"
Her voice broke a little before she continued.
"If I'm being honest, his courage is one of the reasons I loved him."

Now a tear ran down her cheek, and I felt how close I myselfwas to tears.
"I promised him one thing, before, before he died, he wanted me to tell him one thing.."
"Yes?!"
"He wanted you to know that he loved you more than anything, that he wanted to marry you, you meant everything to him Sara."
It felt like the words might not mean as much to her when they came from me, but when she wrapped her arms around me it was like a weight was lifted from my chest.
"Thank you."

I knew then that she had truly loved him, their love had been great and true, and the capital had ruined it.

"You know, I think he liked you."
She said it in the same breath as she released her grip on me, then wiped away her tears before continuing. "You know, he has a grave. We could go there one day, it might sound stupid, but it helped me."
A small smile began to spread across my lips.
"I'd really like that. Shall we say after the victory tune?"
She just nodded in response and both of us had to wipe away our tears before we could meet our future customers.

So we spend the rest of the day baking, selling and talking. She talked about her life, how she had met and fallen in love with Jamie and how heartbroken she had been when he died. I told a little about mine, but avoided talking about my game.

Then she told me that she had recently become engaged. She had mourned Jamie for many years and Henrik, her fiance's name was Henrik, had comforted her many times and shared memories of their mutual friend.

But then she asked if there was someone special in my life and my cheeks turned bright red.
"So there is a guy!!"
"Well, not directly… I think he just wants to be friends, which is fine, but in the end…"
"Elizabeth, may I give you a piece of advice?"
"Sure."
"Try, find out, if there's one thing I've learned it's that life is too short to wait, trust me on this, if he's the one you'll know."
"Are you sure, think about--."
"No, no time for that, think later, what have you got to lose really."
"Well, well"
"Well?"
"Not that much."
"Exactly go for it!"
"Okay!"
"That's the spirit!"

"Would you be able to distribute the bread left over after the day in the poorer neighborhoods then?"
"Yeah, or wait what? Where are you going?!"
"I'll ask him!!"
"But I didn't mean now--."

But I didn't hear her protest, I was already halfway there. My heart pounded hard in my chest as I ran and I didn't even stop to greet people on the street. I didn't stop until I got to his door and knocked. I gasped for air, but it couldn't be helped.

Then slowly, as if the person inside was afraid of me and what I was doing there, the door slid open.
"Lizzy?"