Johanna & Finnick: It Didn't End Like That

Chapter 18

Finnick's POV

We arrive at the train station eight minutes before boarding time. I thought our taxi driver was going to make us miss our train. Johanna swore at him and didn't bother to pay. I didn't blame her. He took thirty minutes to get to our house when he was really only a four minute driver away. 

"We made it," we both gasp, running into the train station. The lady at the front desk greets us. The room is filled with plants and old photos of railways and trains. Johanna stares at them, breathing heavily while I show the lady the papers I printed yesterday of our tickets.

"Here you go," she says cheerily, handing us our real tickets. "Boarding is in six minutes. Your station is B3."

"Let's go!" I grab Johanna's hand and we race down the station to our stop. 

"How far is it?" She yells at me through the crowds. I push my way through the crowds at station B1. Each one is huge. It'll take us another minute to reach ours.

"Another minute! Keep running!" I tell her. She nods her head and we sprint through the crowds. People shoot us disapproving looks. I try to ignore them, but I hate disappointing people.

"Let us through!" Johanna screams. People back away, clearing us a path. A sign ahead reads 'Station B3.'

"We made it!" We drop onto our knees, panting. 

"The train isn't even here!" Johanna gasps, giving me a look of disgust. "Please tell me we didn't just do all of that for a train that hasn't arrived yet."

"Sorry." I give her a weak smile and she rolls her eyes. "It least we got a workout in there," I try to make her happier. Whenever Johanna is annoyed with me, it bugs the shit out of me. I hate disappointing her the most out of everyone in the world.

"True," she grins, playfully punching me in the rib cage.

"Hey! I'll get you for that!" I give her an alarming look. Her eyes widen with pretend fear, playing along with our usual game. 

"How? The train's here."

A large, black, shiny train pulls into the station. Steam fills the sky. The whistle blows. We both cover our ears, grinning at each other like idiots. I love seeing Johanna smile. She looks so beautiful. Her whole face lights up and she looks like an angel. Well, she is one, but you get it.

"Boarding at Station B3 for District Seven at 7:55 begins now," the announcer calls out. "We will be beginning our journey in five minutes!"

I grab Johanna's hand and start to furiously push through the crowd. We manage to make it to the front of the line. 

"Ticket sir and ma'am," The ticket man gestures a hand at us.

Johanna rolls her eyes when he calls her ma'am and hands him her ticket. He punches a few dots into it and nods at her to step into the train. She stands by me until mine is checked in. Then we rush into the train.

"Let's find the biggest booth!" She says excitedly, looking like a child. 

"Totally!"

We run through the empty train and find a large booth that has enough room for eight adults. "Check out the couch in here!" Johanna exclaims. She sprawls out, crossing her arms over her stomach, giving a satisfied look at the ceiling. "This place is really fucking fancy. You did good Odair."

"Don't I always?" I say teasingly. She gives me room to sit down on the couch and I take a seat beside her. A TV is in front of us. We choose a movie to watch and get comfortable for the next four hours.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Johanna hops off the train, landing onto her feet excitedly. "Come on Finnick!" She urges. "I can't wait to see what's changed here!"

We arrive on time four hours later. Johanna is overjoyed, acting adorable and thrilled to be back at her home again. It's no problem to act like I'm happy because whenever she is happy, I'm over the moon happy with her.

"We're home, we're home, we're home!" She chants. "We need to go to the lake and forest! That's something we must do. Do you understand?"

"I understand," I agree, laughing nervously. Her excitement is making me feel incredible. I want to kiss and hug her and hold her hand and explore her home with her. But we have to do it the friendship way.

"Good. But we might want to go to the uh..." She looks at me confused, raising an eyebrow. "Where did you book us a place to stay at?"

"Oh! We're staying at a rentable cottage near the forest," I tell her proudly. "It was the best rated one on the market. I thought we deserved the best."

"Wow!" She exclaims. "That sounds great! Thank you!" She looks at me like she's lost in thought, her lips partly open and her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

"Let's go. It's not too far from here." Johanna shakes her head slightly and we start walking out of the station into District Seven.

Tall, pine trees tower over the District. The town itself is surrounded with trees and is very old. It makes it feel like you really are at home. No wonder Johanna loves it so much. The sweet smell of baked goods fill the town streets. It makes my mouth water.

"Want to get something?" It's like Johanna can read my mind.

"You know it," I tell her.

We stop into a small bakery and pick up two chocolate cupcakes and a loaf of warm bread to share later tonight at the cottage. Down the road is the cottage. 

"Don't tell me that's where we're staying," Johanna says like she's mindblown.

"I told you I bought the best one in the District," I teasingly remind her, squeezing her hand. It makes us both freeze a little.

The cottage is made out of painted white planks of wood and dark brown tiles on the roof. It's a small, beautiful cottage surrounded by the forest. Flower beds and green bushes fill the front yard. A white picket fence surrounds the perimeter, keeping everything locked up. It makes us both sigh in awe.

"Let's go inside," I say, hardly able to contain my excitement. I take the key out of my pocket and unlock the door. Johanna pushes the door open and we step inside.

The downstairs has an open floor plan that lights up the whole house with natural light. Everything looks new, but it isn't. The owners must make sure whoever stays here keeps it well. There's flower vases and small plants through the house, giving it a fresh smelling scent to it. The furniture is either made out of leather or wood. Everything looks perfect.

We walk into the kitchen, placing our bags on the counter and putting our food into the fridge and cabinets. 

"We really need to go to the lake," Johanna says. "Come onnnn!" She drawls out her o's.

"Okay, okay!" I grab my wallet and we run out of the cottage.