A/N: Don't worry, this is the only chapter where there is an Author's note.

Anyway, so this is technically my first Finnick/Annie story. So please, tell me if you like it. Is it too long? Too short? I know it moves slow, but this is just the first chapter. It'll get better, I promise.

Also: This: ~~~~~~~~~~~ is a POV change. It'll only change between Annie and Finnick. Got it? Good :)

"Finnick Odair."

Four slips.

Four slips, out of thousands.

Four slips, out of thousands, and they happen to pull mine.

I stand, frozen, and then slowly start to walk up to the stage, lights flashing in my face.

"Move it along, boy." A Peacekeeper taps my back with a gun. Rap, rap.

Move, Finn.

Compose yourself.

I walk up to the stage, looking out at the crowd.

Everything seems to be in slow motion.

The escort looks at me, grinning brightly, like on of my worst nightmares. I've managed to keep a straight face.

"Any volunteers?" The escort chirps, but I barely hear her. Everyone mumbles and looks away.

"Alrighty then! Well, here we have them! Our two tributes for the 65th Hunger Games, Finnick Odair and Sedna Hopper!"

Her high voice is merely a hum in my ears. Sedna is older than me, maybe 16 or 17. She's smirking to my left, and shakes my hand, with a firm grip.

She doesn't look worried at all.

I take a deep breath, realizing what I'm going to have to do.

I flash my best, sparkling grin to the crowd and they go wild. Sedna rolls her eyes, but I hear her huff of complaint, as a Peacekeeper starts to escort us into the Justice Building.

Is this is actually happening?

I sit down in the chair, staring at a tank of foreign, colorful fish on the table near the wall.

I calm my racing heart by naming off the fish, one by one as they swim in the crystal water.

My parents walk in the room. There are glistening tears in my Mother's eyes, and my Father looks like he's trying to stay strong.

"Good luck."

He mutters, looking at the ground, and sparking tears start to run down my Mother's face. The impact hits my full-force when she hugs me, so tight I think I might burst.

She finally pulls away, and looks at me, at a loss for words.

My dad puts his hand on my shoulder. "Stay strong. We love you."

I hear the hint of pain on his last three words, and I nod once, just a slight tilt of my head. He nods too, and sighs. My Mother kisses my cheek, and...

They leave.

Well, that was brief.

Too brief.

My next visitors come in.

Jade, Talon, and Diego.

My best friends.

Jade moves over to sit beside me, her short, straight, light brown hair swaying. We all just kind of look at each other for a moment.

"Wow."

Jade breaks the silence, and she looks like she might cry. Talon groans. "Don't cry. Seriously, you're getting so mushy." His tone is joking, though it sounds forced. His smile is fake.

She punches him in the shoulder, and I have to roll my eyes. Diego, (who's much more of a serious person, and a man of few words) rolls his eyes also, then looks at me, with a sad expression.

Talon looks at me, and he's not smiling anymore. No, he doesn't even look amused, which is quite unusual.

Well, this isan unusual situtation. He looks me straight in the eyes. "Don't die. Seriously."

Usually he would have bursted out laughing, but this time he looks completely serious.

I nod. "I...I know."

Talon moves over so he's standing directly in front of me. "Dude, seriously. I mean it."

He know looks like he might cry also, and he runs his hand through his sandy-blonde hair, like he always does when he's nervous. I nod again, and Jade covers her face with her hands, hiding her tears.

Like she always does.

"Times up." A Peacekeeper nearly pushes them out the door, and I slide back down in my seat, not expecting anyone else.

So, I'm surprised, when the door opens again.

And I'm even more surprised, when I see that the person who opened it, is little Annie Cresta, fragile as glass.

She swallows and bites her lip nervously. ...I don't know if we're actually friends, or if she's just here to wish me well. I've spoken to her a few times. She's kind to everyone, but other than that she mostly keeps to herself.

"I..." She starts, but interupts herself by taking a deep breath.

Annie reaches down and holds my arm in her pale, small hand, slipping a knotted bracelet onto my wrist.

"For a token. Something to remind you of home. Will you wear it?" She looks at me, with her big, sea green eyes, and I nod.

I finally find my voice. "Y-Yes...Thank you."

She shakes her head. "It's nothing."

I'm taking off guard when she hugs me. I swear, she's so unpredictable, it's crazy. Her long, thick, wavy hair falls in my face, dark strands tickling my neck and chin.

"Good...good luck. I hope you win, Finnick. I really do." I slowly hug her back, and sigh. Even though she's a year younger than me, and four inches shorter, she's wise beyond her years. And mine, too.

I feel something drip onto my shirt, and I think she's crying.

Wait...what?

Maybe we are friends.

Or, like I said, she's nice to everyone. Annie pulls away first, putting both of her small hands on my shoulders.

She's paler than most of us, in District Four, and her hair is dark, almost black, her eyes sea-green.

Can you tell I'm trying desperatly to distract myself, from the inevitable?

She bites her lip, and I see the tears in her eyes. "Please, just...come home, okay?"

I nod. "I will."

She nods also, and looks up as a Peacekeeper tells her she has to leave now.

She quickly hugs me one last time, before walking out the door, her hair swishing behind her, reaching almost to her waist.

I sigh again, sitting back down and putting my head in my hands.

I'm doomed.

But maybe not. You can spear fish, with your trident.

A small part of my mind spoke up, and I inwardly rolled my eyes.

People aren't the same.

But you can at least try. Maybe using a spear...

Shut up. It's not that easy. I'm not a monster.

Maybe it is. Maybe you are.

Shut up!

Great, now I'm arguing with myself.

"Come on. You've got to board the train." The Peacekeepers growls, his voice rough, and scratchy. It sends a shiver down my spine, but I nod, standing and following him out.

I take a deep breath, about to set foot on the train. I step on, and walk in. I nearly stop in my tracks. This place is huge! There's a glimmering chandelier dangling from the middle of the ceiling, and there are booth's lining each of the sides of the walls. Golden lined tables are in the middle and an Avox looks at me like I have two heads.

"What?" I say, before I can stop myself. The Avox's eyes widen and she turns away. "Wrong room, boy." The bartender is laughing at me and I feel the heat rise to my cheeks. He points me in the right direction, and still blushing, I enter the right room. "What took you so long?!" Cruz snaps.