I own nothing
My name is Annie Cresta. I live in district 4. I am 14. My biggest fear is the Hunger Games. I know, I know, we are considered careers because we can use tridents and tie knots and swim. Well I'm not like them. I can barely use a trident. I'm not strong and I hate the idea of killing people. I hate the capital for making us kill people. But that's not why I'm different. I'm sort of an outcast because I'm the only person in district 4 who can't swim. I never bothered to learn when I was in the age where I'm not afraid of anything. Now I know to be afraid and believe me I am. I get in the water and when I try to swim I freak out and kick and splash and I always end up under and my dad has to pull me out. He gave up on teaching me so I don't try anymore and that's why I am afraid with the reaping only days away. I walk to school 2 weeks before the reaping my hands already shaking. I lost my sister to those games. It's not fair. I've only had two reaping so my nerves are still new. My friend Rain runs up to me and hugs me
"You're positively shaking Annie" I nod and keep staring straight ahead. She walks alongside me and we enter the school. As always the girls are all crowded around the desk of Finnick Odair. His name sounds like poison in my head. I detest that boy so full of himself with his charming good looks taking everything he wants just because he can. He looks past the girls and smiles at me as I walk in but I look away. Rain says goodbye to me as I sit at my desk and walks over to gawk at Finnick with the others. Poor naive girls. I think to myself. They can never have him no one can. The day goes on normally. Classes are a blur and I'm bored. As the final bell rings I grab my stuff and start to head out the door but am stopped by a hand on my wrist. I turn around. It's Finnick Odair.
"What?" I ask.
"You're Annie right?" I nod
"You're Finnick right?" I say back sarcastically. He nods.
I was wondering if you'd like to go to the beach with me" he says innocently but I'm shaking my head
"No thank you" he looks genuinely surprised and I run out of the room. The truth is I would go with him but the beach means swimming and that's something I can't do. After I get home I run to my room, drop my stuff and grab my book. Then I run to the park and sit in my alcove in between two trees. I read for a while but then my mind wanders I'm thinking about Finnick and swimming and the names everyone's called me since i was 5 and couldn't swim. It dawns on me how much I don't want to be an outcast anymore. I want to swim...but I can't. I'm taken out of my thoughts by a tap on my shoulder. I turn to find Finnick Odair staring at me funny.
"What?" I ask.
"So this is what you do when you won't hang out with me?" he asks ignoring my question.
"For your information I do this every day." I say then realise that makes me sound lonely. He just laughs.
"Now why would you want to sit here alone when you could be at the beach with ME?" he says striking a pose and I throw a pebble at him hitting him in the forehead.
"Hey!" he says loud enough that people around us turn to stare most sigh at the sight of Finnick but I'm not paying attention. I stand up and brush myself off. I start to head home.
"Hey" he yells catching up to me in a few simple strides and catching my wrist pulling it just hard enough that it turns me to face him.
"Come on Annie why do you hate me so much." I stare at him in disbelief.
"I...I...I don't hate you Finnick"
"Well it seems like it" he mumble looking down.
"I don't hate you" I assure him. He looks up and raises an eyebrow.
"I don't exactly like you ...but I don't hate you" I finish.
"I bet I can fix that." he says and I stifle a laugh.
"Ya good luck with that." I say sarcastically. He just stares at me a gleam in his eye as if he's mesmerized by me.
"What?" I ask feeling self-conscious.
"You're different Annie." I shrug.
"You seem to be the only girl in the district not attracted to me." he says his face betraying his confusion. Once again I shrug. Then I flip my hair over my shoulder.
"Like you said, I'm different." then I turn on my heel and walk off leaving him staring after me and a feeling of pride in my stomach. I don't know why I don't talk to him. But for some reason I always feel the need to leave.
…
That night I have dreams of Finnick Odair. Which is strange. I'm not one of those girls that dream about him and talk about him and obsess over him. But he's there. In my dreams. That strange gleam in his eyes. And then I'm there. And we swim. In my dream I'm actually swimming! And then he's leaning closer and closer and closer! I wake with a start screaming. Oh my god I almost kissed Finnick Odair in my dream. Why? Why was he in my dreams? Whatever the reason I'm going to try and stay away from HIM for a while. Staying away from him proves harder then it seems. Every day he smiles at me from his desk but I avert my gaze and keep my distance. On Friday he comes up to me. I try to hurry out of the class but he grabs my wrist turning me towards him. I glare at him but when I see the hurt look in his eyes I soften.
"What did I do Annie? Why won't you even look at me?" I sigh
"You didn't do anything." he looks confused.
"Then what's wrong." I look up at him
"I have to figure myself out. I've got to go" I say and rush out of the class and out of the school.
Please Review!