CHAPTER EIGHT
drunken sailors

ANNIE CRESTA WAS SCHEMING. It was obvious from the way she paced back and forth, though Eleanor paid no attention to the constant movement as she focused on battling Finnick's thumb. Eleanor knew how dangerous the girl could be when she truly put her head to something, but whatever she was thinking must have been diabolical by the way she paced back and forth.

Finnick's emotional support after everything was actually quite helpful, Eleanor realised. Eleanor finally managed to bring herself to confide in Annie, showing all her scars from her games (including her scales). Eleanor felt dirty, but it was nice being vulnerable with her best friend again.

Eventually she began socialising properly with the other victors as well. Viola Rosh was the most elated at this, happily including Eleanor in elaborate family dinners at her place every Saturday.

Getting close to Varun Sels and Cas Vikander was a different story. Varun seemed helplessly locked in an eternal depression filled with needles and whiskey, though he did appreciate the occasional (weekly) basket of chocolate chip muffins Eleanor would bake him.

But Cas was impossible to talk to for both sides. Eleanor found him intimidating and Cas was a naturally quiet person. He watched, instead of spoke, which Eleanor always struggled with. She knew she needed to connect with him somehow, she just didn't know how to right now.

"We need to go out!" Annie proudly announced, a childish grin on her face. She finally caught the attention of both Eleanor and Finnick, who looked up from their precise game of thumb wars. "Did you guys even listen to what i've been saying for the past five minutes?"

Eleanor finally captured Finnick's thumb in a bruising grip. The boy shrieked. "—ow! Nel!" Finnick groaned, finally flailing his head back in defeat. He turned to Annie with a glare, holding his red thumb out with a scowl. "Look what you did!"

Annie huffed, earning a cheer from Eleanor as she proudly gloated her victory against Finnick once again. Annie smiled warmly, her heart tugging as she saw the smile Eleanor exchanged when she looked at Finnick.

At Finnick.

Eleanor proudly laughed. "I'm just better," she turned to Annie with a smile that wasn't the same as the smile Eleanor gave Finnick. "So, you want us to go to the pub?"

Annie sighed in relief, glaring at Finnick with a hint of playfulness. "At least someone listened," The red haired girl shrugged absentmindedly, giving up with Finnick at this point. "Yes, they're holding performances tonight. We can just get a few drinks-"

Finnick cut Annie off. "Annie, me and Nel haven't even turned 18 yet, you're freshly 17." That was true, drinking underage wasn't encouraged, although it wasn't uncommon. But, going into a pub and getting served? Finnick doubted they'd even be allowed, simply because everyone knew how old him and Eleanor were. "What are the chances we will actually get served?"

Eleanor pipped up quickly, with a mischievous tone in her voice. "Well," she nervously played with her fingers, looking down with a small, proud smile. "Mr Ives does help run The Shack and I know for a fact he'll turn a blind eye if it's us." She exchanged a look with any, a glint of excitement in both their eyes. Eleanor and Annie had this thing where they didn't need to talk to understand what the other girl was thinking. The shared mischief in their eyes told Finnick all he needed to know.

Finnick rolled his eyes, a hearty laugh escaping his lips as he shook his head back and forth. "I can already tell this is going to be such a bad idea."

Eleanor awkwardly adjusted the brown tank top to make sure her breasts didn't fall out. She wasn't self conscious, just concerned she'd accidentally flash someone without meaning to. She hadn't properly been to The Shack before, though she knew people who did and people always did say a night at the Shack is a night you forget because of how drunk you end up. Besides her, Annie was dressed in a simple green shirt and some shorts, while Finnick wore a simple white shirt and shorts. The trio quickly entered The Shack, welcomed by a sweet aroma of sweat and alcohol as music strummed in the background.

Eleanor quickly claimed a table, rushing up and ordering three vodka lemonades from Martha (who she immediately spotted). She pulled up a chair besides Finnick, exchanging a laugh with the boy.

"They let you order?"

Eleanor shrugged. "I have my connections," Eleanor grinned as three glasses were brought over to the table by Martha. Martha grinned at the girl, winking as she placed the vodka lemonades in front of the teenagers. She bent down and pressed two kisses on Eleanor's cheeks, pulling the teen into a hug.

"Hello dove," Martha greeted, her wild curly hair barely contained in the bun she placed her hair in. Eleanor grinned at the woman. "How's the cheek?"

Eleanor grinned at the woman in front of her. "Healing beautifully," she absentmindedly placed a hand on her cheek, not even flinching at the slight sting still evident. She changed the conversation quickly, inadvertently looking away from Finnick's lingering stare. "How's Ellie?"

"A devil in angel's skin," Martha snickered, shaking her head back and forth to herself with the sort of smile only mothers could have when talking on how devilish their children are. "You can tell she's Matthias' daughter through and through." Martha's accent hung thick as Matthias' name left her lips, a love sick accent tinging her words. It was pleasant, a warm reminder that all is not hopeless. Some things are as simple as a woman who loved her husband and daughter. Martha waved at Finnick and Annie, who both quickly took a hold of their beverages. She winked at the teenagers. "You need drinks anytime, I'll be by the bar."

Eleanor nodded, waving Martha off as she turned to Finnick and Annie with a sly grin. "Told you guys, I have connections everywhere."

Annie exasperatedly exhaled. "Ele, I adore you and your connections." She took a swig of the vodka lemonade, cringing slightly at how strong the drink was. Annie shrugged, quickly taking another swig.

Finnick shrugged as well, taking a quick swig of his own. He didn't cringe like Annie, although it was obvious the drink was slightly too strong for his taste. Though back in the Capitol he had a fair few tastes of the strongest liquors they had.

Eleanor curiously watched him, taking a swig out of her glass. She was unbothered simply because of the fact she's drank before, but never in the Capitol. Sometimes, she'd have a few swigs of vodka at the weddings she had gone to. Everyone turned a blind eye, even when it's a thirteen year old smuggling a bottle of vodka. Though Finnick had never drank with her, making her eyebrows furrow together. Since when was he used to alcohol like this? "You alright?"

Finnick nodded. "Yeah, it's just-" He cringed slightly at the sounds of people cheering wildly. He repressed the urge to flinch. "Loud."

Eleanor laughed. "Amazing, isn't it?"

He was practically forced to watch the band performing, who concluded yet another song. The woman singing was a dirty blonde haired teen, who looked around the same age as them. She grabbed onto the microphone, speaking into it softly. "Wow we have such an audience don't we?" She turned back to her bandmates, two boys and a girl. They all had similar faces - a family band perhaps? Finnick wasn't entirely sure.  They nodded, holding their instruments in their grip. "Well we ought to give them a treat, aren't we?" The girl laughed, earning cheers from the audience. "Now, now, why don't we play a classic? From old times, ay?"

The men and women in the bar raised their glasses in a loud cheer, the teenagers joining them with a laugh. As the beat began, Annie giggled as she watched Eleanor chug down her drink in one gulp. The brunette gave a laugh. The song itself Finnick did not know, though the upbeat nature of the song made her grin. He watched as people were pulled up onto the clearing of the floor, swaying around to the beat of the music. It was contagious, and soon Finnick watched as Eleanor found herself dancing alongside so many others.

The buzz of the alcohol practically numbed Eleanor to any of the nerves she would have felt dancing in public. She twirled around, her skirt flaring outwards before falling back into the silhouette of Eleanor's frame.

From afar, Finnick watched. His eyes fixed on Eleanor, who practically shone on the dance floor as she was spun around. Her ruffled green skirt flared out once again as she was spun, her lips curved upwards in a strong smile. Her feet stomped on the ground to the rhythm of the song, her hands lifting her skirt up in an almost tantalising way. Her face was positively lit up, gleaming with innocence Finnick thought she had lost. Finnick almost resisted when Eleanor grabbed onto him, pulling him onto the dance floor with a rough tug. His eyes softened at her girlish laugh, as her cheeks became more round as she grinned. Finnick twirled her around, though he relied completely on her for the beat of the music.

All he could truly focus on was the beauty of her smile. His eyes lingered on her lips, the buzz of the alcohol clouding his mind. He didn't even realise when their lips had kissed, the room becoming a simple swirl of blurry music and faces. For the first time, Finnick had control. His lips moved with Eleanor's, her rosey tinted lips perfectly fitted with his own. The taste of their alcohol was powerful, mixed with the tinge of sweat that practically heated up the entire room.

He could get lost in the taste of Eleanor Eves forever.

FINNANOR KISS OHMYGOD AHHHHH FINALLY

i love them

my parents