Chapter one
Finnick POV
The sun streamed through the window and onto my face, waking me up to the sound of the seagulls squawking and the waves lapping at the shore. I soon remembered that it was Reaping day, and groaned, shoving my pillow over my face.
After ten minutes of attempting to fall back to sleep, I reluctantly climbed out of bed. I dress in black pants and a simple white button down shirt, just formal enough for the Reaping, but casual enough to stay with my "look".
I grab the bracelet I made off the nightstand and shove it in my pocket as I head down to the beach to meet Annie.
We've been best friends since we were children, Annie and I, and our fathers are best friends also. We learned to swim together, went to school together, grew up together. And after I won the Hunger Games five years ago, Annie was the one who helped put me back together. I'm nineteen, and if I hadn't already won the Games, I would now be safe from them.
Annie, being a year younger, isn't so lucky. Eighteen is the age limit though, and she's made it this far. I can only hope that the odds will be in her favor for one last year.
I see her at our spot, sitting on the cliff that over looks the ocean.
"You're late." She says, as I sit down beside her.
"Give me a break!" I say, chuckling. "It's the Reaping, I think we can all afford to be a little leisurely."
She grins, her green eyes sparkling.
I reach into my pocket and pull out the bracelet. "For good luck." I say, taking her hand and tying the bracelet around her wrist.
"Finn, it's so pretty. Did you make it?" she asks.
I nod, which makes her grin even bigger.
The bracelet is a small, braided thing, made of rope with seashells woven into it.
"Thank you." she kisses my cheek. It's just a friendly gesture, something she's done since we were kids, but it still makes my heart beat quicken. Ever since I was sixteen, President Snow forces me into a unique…"business", meaning I've been with hundreds of women. But none of them can hold a flame to Annie.
"I have to go get ready for the Reaping she says, standing and brushing the sand off of her. "Nice shirt by the way." Then she hurries home.
I slowly walk to the square, having to arrive early because I'm a mentor.
"Finnick!" a voice screeches in delight. I have to suppress the urge to roll my eyes as Dula, the District Four escort hurries towards me. Her hair, eyebrows and lips are all dyed the same shocking electric blue. She wears earrings and necklaces with starfish and seashells, and her skin in almost orange with a fake tan. Dula likes to pretend she's actually from District Four, so her ridiculous outfits are always sea related.
"Hello Dula." I say, putting on my "Capitol voice".
She bats her eyelashes and I almost barf. Mags, my mentor and co-mentor, rolls her eyes. She knows my "situation" with the president, and also my feelings for Annie.
"Looking forward to the Games this year, Finnick?" Dula says in a flirtatious voice, putting her hand on my arm.
"Absolutely!" I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm that she doesn't notice.
"Wonderful!" she beams.
"Dula, we need you over here for pictures." Mags calls.
"Fine." Dula huffs and scurries away.
"Thank you." I mouth to Mags.
"Anytime." She mouths back.
People are beginning to arrive, adults crowding around the square, kids lining up in their designated areas. I soon spot Annie and hurry over to her. She looks stunning in a knee-length sea foam green dress, her dark hair curled around her face as usual. I smile when I see that she's still wearing my bracelet.
"You look beautiful." I whisper into her ear.
She blushes lightly. "You're not too bad yourself. I see Dula couldn't wait to get her hands on you again." She smirks and it's my turn to blush.
"She makes me very uncomfortable." I say, lowering my voice so that I'm not over heard.
"Isn't that part of her job description?" Annie says, cocking her head to the side and furrowing her eyebrows.
I laugh and she grins back at me.
"Please find your stations, the Reaping will begin in three minutes!" Dula says brightly into a microphone.
"Good luck." I say to Annie, kissing her on the cheek before I hurry onto the stage and take my seat beside Mags.
"Welcome, welcome, to the seventieth annual Hunger Games!" Dula says happily, standing at the front of the stage, behind of her microphone.
She goes into a lengthy speech about how wonderful the Games are and how it is such an honor to be here with all of us, blah, blah, blah.
"Now to select the tributes, ladies first!" she walks over to the large glass ball filled with names, reaches in and selects one, making her way back to the microphone.
My heart stops because I can read the name from where I am sitting on stage.
"Annie Cresta!"