Nightmares And Seashells

chapter thirteen

The day before the reaping had come.

In what Avery felt like was a blink of the eye, and with it the anniversary of Lillian and Caspian Odairs deaths.

Thst morning Avery instead of throwing a seashell into the ocean. Wishing to be spared another year, she spend it at Caspians grave wishing he could come back.

"When you weren't at the beach I thought I might find you here." Finnicks voice brought her back to reality.

She watched as he walked up and placed a shell on the grave next to her own.

"I wish he could be here making his own wish. But at least I'll never have to see him thrown into the games." He said walking over to his moms grave next and placing wildflowers next to it.

She gives him a sad smile placing a kiss to her fingers before placing them on the carved C. Then standing up and grabbing his hand.

"Come on Fin, we have to do the shopping for Mags before dinner... And I want to swim."

After swimming back and forth, racing each other to Marshall's boat dock and back for nearly three hours. Finnick and Avery finally made their way to land.

"So Fin, I know we haven't done it in a year. But will you sleep with me on the den floor tonight?" She asked looking at her hands as she wrung the salt water out of her extremely long red hair.

She looked up when Finnick laughed at the her, shaking his own hair like a dog and splattering her with water.

"Aves half the time you bring me tea and fall asleep with me in my room anyway. Of course I'll sleep in the den with you. The only difference will be my old bones will creak tomorrow." Finnick joked while grabbing his white button up that had Mags' grocery list in the pocket.

They both knew that wasn't the only difference but Avery sent him a smile none the less.

"You're Sixteen Finnick, not sixty! Old bones my left ass cheek." Avery replied pushing him out of the way as they made it to the stairs back to victors village.

While they walked through the market, finnick kept trying to crack jokes, he was doing it as a distraction for Avery about what the day meant. But also as a distraction for himself.

When they walked in they could both smell something sweet in the air. Walking to the kitchen. They saw Mags pulling out cupcakes from the oven. Both teens froze mid laugh.

"Ahh you kids are just in time." she said pulling two of the cakes aside.

"In time for what mags?" Avery asked as she set her bags down taking Finnick's as well. The boy still stood frozen staring at the cupcakes.

Mags walked over to him pulling his hand up and putting the plated two in his hand.

"Fin my boy I know, they're not as nice.. but I was hoping you'd help an old lady deliver these." She said patting his cheek as he finally looked up at the old woman.

Avery hadn't honestly noticed how deep his voice had gotten until she heard it crack responding to her.

"Yeah.. uh yeah Mags I can do that."

"Wonderful. Little Dove would you mind starting in on dinner while we go?" She asked moving to the hall to grab a coat.

Avery was about to tell her yes when Finnick's loud voice cut her off.

"No!"

Both women turned to look at him, in shock at the outburst.

"Sorry. I'm sorry.. um the last time I delivered cupcakes uh.. Avery can you just come with, please?" He said tears still in his eyes as he looked at her.