Tear Drops of Saltwater (Finnick and Annie's love story)

|C.3| A Friendship Bargain

𝙰𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚎'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅
(𝖥𝗂𝗇𝗇𝗂𝖼𝗄 𝗂𝗌 12 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖠𝗇𝗇𝗂𝖾 𝗂𝗌 11)

Father used to say jokes are just way people act cruel without thinking they did nothing wrong, but what Finnick Odair tried to do was a joke meant to be cruel. Foolish of me to even consider being friends with someone so close-minded. Finnick was a charmer who was very well known around our school. All the girls thought he was good looking for someone so young. I mean just having us side by side would show that I don't belong. He just wanted to make a fool of me—to toy with the 'loner'. Just because he saved my life doesn't mean I'll give him the satisfaction.

Why did he want to pry at my secrets so bad?

His lame friends Dianna, Delmore, and Amy are gossiping about me as I speak. Dianna and Delmore were okay, but Amy well she was just like Finnick—mean and hungry for popularity. Sometimes, I just wish she was chosen for The Hunger Games, but my mom used to tell me to never wish that upon someone—the games were a very criminal and vicious way to be killed.

+++

Weaving nets were always easy for me. Some people in District 4 were good at making hooks or catching fish, but I was never entirely promising at those things. My father, on the other hand, was good at anything. He could swim like a fish, weave a perfect net, and make a hook out of anything! Father always intended for me to learn all these things—not to be just useful in District 4, but in case I ever got chosen for The Hunger Games. Some kids train with past Victor, but my family never had the luxury of the money to do that.

"Annie, are you almost finished with that net?" Father asked in a professional matter.

"Yes. Do you know who is buying it?" I ask, trying to use the same tone as him.

He goes through a list that he memorized in his head. Even as he thinks his hands work on the fish hook he's making. "Some family with an O."

I fight not to roll my eyes, instead, I try to smile. "Odair?"

He looks up and stops with his fish hook. His eyes blank as he speaks. "Yes."

I sign. "Well, I'll hurry this up and be off to my room."

"You don't want to sell them your net?" He asks.

I'm surprised by him using "your" usually he says 'the' or 'it' when speaking of nets I made. He must be in a better mode today, maybe he made a good sale or something.

I chuckle lightly. "You know I'm no good at getting good pay for it."

"It's all about the learning of it. Your mother was never good at it either." He adds the last part quietly.

"I'll make the sale, don't worry."

His eyes dissolve the sad in them and replace it with his normal stern look. "Fight for the price you want. Remember, even though you worked hard, it doesn't mean they'll buy it for a high price."

I nod. I usually am disappointed with the price I get on my items, but I know it takes time in experience to convince people to pay what I want. I know I will get the hang of it soon.

+++

Father went upstairs while I'm left in the shop. I try to come up with some kind of speech to convince them to buy the net with the price I want.

When a boy with bronze hair and sea-green eyes show up I want to scream. I thought his father would have come, but clearly, I was wrong. I guess I won't be getting a nice price for my net after all.

"I thought your father would have shown up," I confess.

He shrugs. "Well, you're stuck with me."

"Great," I mumble, rolling my eyes.

His face plasters an amused grin which makes me want to throw up. Unbelievable!

"Anyways, what's the price you want for this?" He asks, grabbing and examining the net. "It's actually looking pretty good."

I can sense my face getting hot. Why am I blushing to this fool? Stop it, Annie!

"Thanks, I been weaving since I was a baby," I say professionally. "It took me quite a while so it will cost a fair amount."

He digs through his pocket before slapping some coins on the counter. "Okay, I have this much."

I count the coins and find it's a decent price, but I was hoping to get more.
"I expect for a net this good would cost a bit more," I say.

He rolls his eyes. "I bet I could make nets better than this one."

"Yeah, I bet it would look like a four-year-old made it," I scold. "If you wanted to make your own net, why are you here?"

He looks down at his feet keeping his hands in his pockets. "I wanted to talk to you," he admits. "And my dad says my nets would let all the fish out."

I signed. Why would he want to talk to me?

"Go on I don't have all night."

He looks up. "Well, you're strange—different. And I saw that you don't talk to too many people. You're quite a mystery and I want to become your friend."

I cross my arms. Didn't I make myself clear before? Why does he even want to get to know me so bad, I'm nothing special.

"And like said before I don't want someone to talk to, which means I don't want a friend," I say, fiddling with my hands.

"Annie, I know you're going through a hard time right now. I want to help you. Not just keeping you company, but helping you face something that seems scary to you."

I look up at him. Did he know my fear of water because of my mother's death? Was he really trying to help me? I dismiss my crazy thoughts quickly.

"How about I make you deal," he smiles.

"And what's that?"

"If you become my friend then I will pay any price for your nets. Besides, you owe me for saving your life."

I always felt as if I owed him for saving my life, but I didn't know how to repay him without making a fool out of myself. I never really even considered friends or becoming friends with him, but deep down I believe I do want one... Maybe, this "deal" won't be too bad, I can have a friend, stop owing him, and start getting the pay I want.

I smile too. "Any price?"

"A reasonable one."

I don't know why he wants to be my friend so bad, but this could help get a little more money for father and me. If that means becoming his friend then who cares. Maybe, just maybe—Finnick wasn't too bad.

"Deal."