"Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred." Finnick counted just as Haven emerged from the water, gasping for air. "I think that's a new record." The girl responded in between airy breaths. "Not bad. I could do better." He gloated. "Yeah right. I'd like to see you try." Haven said, shoving him backwards into the water.
He emerged only a few seconds later, spitting water out. "Hey! Not fair, that doesn't count." Finnick complained. "Sore loser." The Cleary girl giggled, splashing him in the face.
The Odair boy immediately returned the favor, and within a few seconds it had turned into a full on water war. A war that ended with both of them coughing up water and arguing that they were obviously the winner.
Haven swam out farther, past where her feet could touch the bottom, Finnick soon catching up to her. The blonde floated in place, looking out at the horizon. "Have you ever thought of just making a break for it? Swimming so far away that you're any place but here?" The girl asked. "All the time. But then I remember there's sharks." The boy said with a smirk. "I'll take the sharks over Snow any day." The girl joked, although there was a hint of truth to her words.
The pair swam for a while longer before retreating to the sand. Haven wrapped herself in her towel, Finnick using his to dry his hair, leaving it sticking up in every direction. "You look ridiculous Fin." Haven teased. "Yeah. Ridiculously good looking." He smirked. "Oh shut up." She said, shoving his arm.
Finnick put on a pair of shorts and Haven slipped on her dress before they left the beach, still covered head to toe in sand. The two walked into town, wanting to stop at the market. Haven purchased a whole salmon from a fisherman, and some broccoli and peaches from a produce vendor.
Haven turned around after putting the produce into her bag and noticed Finnick was gone. "Finnick? Where'd you go?" The blonde called out with no response. A few minutes passed and she was about to go looking for him when he strolled around the corner with a small blue bag in his hand.
"Where were you? I was just about to start worrying?" The blonde asked, the irritation clear in her voice. "Relax Hav I'm fine. Just picked up a surprise." He reaches into the bag, pulling out a small cellophane bag filled with peppermint candies, the blonde's favorite. "For you." He smiled, handing the bag to the girl.
"Thanks. Sorry I yelled at you." The blonde laughed, popping one of the candies into her mouth. "What else did you get?" She asked. Finnick didn't say anything, instead reaching into the bag and pulling out a sugar cube, before popping it in his mouth and chewing it obnoxiously slowly.
"I should've known. I think you're 90% sugar at this point." Haven said, rolling her eyes at him. "Must be why I'm so sweet." He responded. "Could you be any more annoying?" The blonde asked. "Yes. Would you like me to be?" The Odair boy smirked, chewing another sugar cube. Haven didn't even glorify his remark with a response, instead she just hit him on the arm.
"This salmon is huge, it'll be too much for just my family, you can stay for dinner if you'd like." The Cleary girl said. "Thought you'd never ask." The boy said jokingly. "We should invite Collin too, he seems to get along well with your sister." He continued, Haven nodding in agreement.
➸
"Pass me that lemon." Haven said, reaching her hand out. "Not so fast. What do you say?" Finnick teased, holding the lemon in his hand. "Pass me that lemon or I'll slice your hand off." The blonde said sarcastically. "Nope. What you say is please." The boy smirked, handing her the lemon.
Haven squeezed the lemon over the salmon, before flipping it in the pan. "Make yourself useful Odair." The blonde remarked, pointing her spatula at him. "Got it Seargant." Finnick said, giving her a little salute, the girl rolling her eyes.
Finnick mixed around the broccoli that was sautéing in the pan, and seasoned it with a variety of spices. "Not bad." Haven smiled.
The food finished cooking a few minutes later; Haven set it on the dining table and called everyone in to eat. Shane and Cecile sat at the heads, Haven between Collin and Finnick, and across from her siblings. "Looks great sweetie." Cecile said from across the table.
The conversation during the meal was lively, it felt like the two outsiders had been part of the family for years. Haven also noticed that Collin barely took his eyes off Ashlyn. She turned to Finnick, and she could tell he noticed the same exact thing. Haven slightly raised her eyebrows, tilting her head in their direction, Finnick nodding back at her.
After dinner, Ashlyn and Sawyer offered to clean the dishes, and Shane and Cecile went upstairs, leaving Haven, Finnick, and Collin in the living room.
"You're so obvious it's painful." Finnick laughed, looking at Collin. "What're you talking about." Collin said, brushing it off. "We're talking about how you were practically about to stick your tongue down my sisters throat." Haven remarked.
"Pfft. That is not true." Collin protested, but his reddening cheeks gave him away. "Yes! I knew it." Haven exclaimed. "You should totally tell her." The blonde continued, Finnick nodding in agreement. "I don't know, what if she says no." Collin questioned. "Please. She'd be crazy." Finnick responded. "Hey, don't call my sister crazy." Haven scolded playfully, lightly hitting his shoulder.
Haven and Finnick both looked at Collin, pleading expressions on their faces. "Alright fine I'll do it. You two are ridiculous." Collin said. The pair burst out laughing, giving each other a high five.
A few minutes later, Collin stood up and walked into the kitchen, Haven and Finnick whisper-cheering him on. The pair watched from the living room window as Collin and Ashlyn walked outside. They watched intently, waiting for something to happen. Finally, Haven and Finnick cheered, right as they saw Collin grab Ashlyn's face, his lips meeting hers.
// author's note
this chapter rly said: domesticity
this was v fun to write. me actually being nice to my characters for once? unheard of. pretty fun tho 10/10 will do again.
me 🤝 giving all my characters relationships bc they deserve some happiness
also having a time and a 1/2 establish fin & hav's friendship/relationship. more to come 🤫
thank you so very much for reading :) feel free to vote & leave some comments (my fav thing ever)
- a <3
finnick & haven watching collin & ashlyn from the window:
me @ finnick & haven: