This is an updated, and hopefully improved version of my story, and I will try to post more chapters later on. Chapters 1-4 are already updated and I will get to work on chapter 5-6 and hopefully post a new chapter soon.

Prologue
Sunrise. The sun was slowly appearing, fighting its way up from the dark, cold water of the sea that had swallowed it only a few hours earlier. Normally I would sit in the tepid sand, burrow my feet down into it and enjoy this beautiful, warm struggle that started a new day. Not today. Today I was standing upright, gazing out towards the phenomenon I usually enjoyed. Because this day was nothing to celebrate, or honour. This was the day of Panem's annual ritual; The Reaping Day. Just thinking about it made me shiver with fear, with disgust and anger. The reaping was a kind of lottery that the people living in The Capitol loved to watch, where every child from the Districts between the age of 12 and 18, were forced to enter. Each year, another slip of paper with your name on it would be added to the bowl, adding to your chances of being chosen. Two names were drawn; a boy's name and a girl's name, and the grand prize they won was fighting for their lives in the annual Hunger Games.

It's not fair. Not at all.

When the beautiful sun released me from its enchantment, I noticed the cold breeze that slithered up my arms and gave me goose-bumps. I shuddered and wrapped my arms around my torso before turning away from the ocean. This was my favourite beach. It had only a few houses along the coastline. It was just outside the Victors Village, so it wasn't a popular fishing-spot, or a bathing-place for that matter, but it wasn't a private beach. I usually had it all to myself every morning when watching the sunrise, and every evening when watching the sundown. Not even my family knew I came here.

My gaze turned to look down the beach line and I let my thoughts drift away, but a sudden slamming noise gave me a fright. That was the sound of a door. No doubt about it, but who would be out at this hour? Maybe someone who couldn't sleep either, and wanted to watch his last sunrise at home. A person appeared on the doorsteps of the Victors-house closest to me. He was tall, broad shouldered and his hair was messy. Hoping I didn't wake him, I walked down towards the water, and stepped into the lazy waves until they covered my entire feet and ankles. The chill water made goose-bumps spread up my legs as well, but I was used to that. It was rarely warm at this hour. The person stayed on the steps of his house for a while, just looking at me. I tried not to think about it, but only almost succeeded, and he slowly started to saunter down towards me. My eyes were locked at my bare feet that seemed almost ivory against the dark seabed under them.

The boy came even closer, and I could see him through the corner of my eye. Finnick Odair. He was our district's last winner, and had been the male tribute's mentor for years now. Every girl in the Districts and in the Capitol for that matter was ogling him, but he seemed unattainable. Up through the years he had been spotted with a few lovers, but he never took any of them home to 4, or met up with them twice. His hair was in the same colour as the sky above the horizon – a warm bronze – and his eyes was a beautiful sea-green. It was just like the colour of the sea where you found all the coral reeves. He was tall and muscular, his well-trained body was immaculate. He was simply perfect.

He paused by the edge of the water but none of us said anything for a while. When I found the courage to take a short glance at him, I noticed that his gaze was locked on the sunrise.

"It's beautiful. Don't you think?" His voice was dreamy, and I observed him as he stood there. He was close enough for me to reach out and touch him, but I didn't dare. He was a victor after all and my father had always taught me to respect them. They had some sort of power in the Districts even though the Capitol wouldn't admit it, and this victor had been present at my family's business since we were kids.

Every day would come to my family's stand on the market to buy clamps, fish and nets that I made. Some of the other sellers would of course sometimes have better goods than us, and they would often try to tempt him with their brag. Those times he had just shrugged, and walked over to our stand nonetheless.

"It just isn't the same if it's not from my regular place" he had teased once, and even though he was talking to them, the dazzling smile was meant for me.

"Yes." I finally answered. "It is amazing…" I raised my head to look at the burning sky, and then turned to him. His gaze was locked on me now; with his sea-green eyes that smiled to me daily and gave me hope on the bad days. Sea green eyes that could see right into your soul.

"I hope I didn't disturb you Mister Odair, I know it's very early and…" he took another step towards me and I paused. A smile shone down at me, he was much taller.

"You didn't wake me. I was in fact waiting for you." A frown then appeared on his forehead.

"You look cold." His voice went from cheery to grave and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"I usually don't stay here this long… that's all." He didn't stop frowning. I couldn't resist.

"You were waiting for me?" He pulled off his jacket as if he hadn't heard me, and put it lightly around my shoulders. My mouth was barely open, ready to speak before he interrupted me;

"Keep it." I continued anyhow.

"It's just that I stayed longer than I use to, you see I get a little sentimental on the Reaping Day and…" my nervous flow of words stopped.

Why was I telling him this? My brain couldn't come up with an answer and I peered up at him, embarrassed.

"Won't you be cold?" I finally managed to say. He shrugged nonchalantly and smiled once again. He was a very amiable person, even though it was about five o'clock in the morning.

"I'll manage." He looked away for a second.

"You are the one who sits here every morning, and every evening to watch the sun, right?" I chuckled, so that's why he was waiting for me.

"Well, yes…" He looked at me again and grinned.

"That seems like a peaceful routine to have" his words made me relax and his eyes glimmered. My mouth started to overflow again;

"Well, I am surrounded by people all day long, so I…" I had to think for a second to find the right words, but then again, most people probably would if they were in company of someone this beautiful.

"I guess I need some time alone to be only me." The boy in front of me didn't smile anymore; he just looked at me, puzzled. It seemed like he needed some time to put my words together so that it would add up. So, I continued before he could say anything.

"So, I take in total 1 hour out of my 24-hour day, and use it exactly as I want to. It is always here on the beach, but I do what I feel like doing. Just for me; Even if it looks silly when I run around in the shallow water, singing or if I just sit in the sand." He smiled again now, but this smile was different. Friendlier than the playful one he had worn earlier. Out of nowhere he raised his flat hand at me, like people in the Capitol would do a high-five, only in about shoulder-height. This was the District 4 greeting when you had met someone you wanted to become friendly acquaintances, or friends with. Flat palm to flat palm meant friendly acquaintances. I raised mine, pressed it against his and the smile on his face widened.

"Finnick Odair" he said.

"I know." I answered. "Annie Cresta".

"I know," he said entwining his fingers with mine ending the greeting. We smiled at each other.