Finnick and Annie's Story

"Annie come on were gonna be late." He tells me as I rush out of my house headed to school. He is Finnick Odair, my best friend. We have known each other since that time he saved me from drowning to death in the ocean. We were only 6 then. We started to hangout more and became really good friends.

Even though we walk to school together we don't have any classes with each other. He is a year older then me, him being 14 and me 13. Everyone in district 4 is holding there breath ,and being kinder to the ones there weren't so to before because of what is happening this weekend. The reaping. Every year they chose one boy and girl to be a tribute from the ages 12 through 18. Me and Finnick fit that criteria. My heart beats faster just thinking about it. I have made it one year without being chosen, Finnick two. I hope we can both go one more. "Come on Annie we are going to be late." Says Finnick as he pretends to walk off without me.

"Wait Finnick!" I yell at him from behind. Finally he stops and waits for me. He looks at me and gives a big grin. I gingerly smile back. "Annie can I tell you something?" He ask. He almost seems nervous about asking me whatever it is. I don't know why though, we have spent endless hours on the beach asking each other questions; I don't understand why this one would be any different from the others.

" Yes Finn you can tell me anything." I say turning my head to look at him. When his eyes meet mine I almost lose it. Something I haven't told him is that I have the biggest crush on him. I honestly think everyone knows but him.

"You're my best friend . The closest one I have ever had." He looks me in the eyes to. I have to look up of coarse, he might be fourteen but he has height to him. He is about 5'9 already and he told me his mother thinks he is still going to grow taller.

"What about your younger brother Colaris?" I ask. Other then me that is who Finnick spends all his time with. I'm almost shocked that he puts me above him. Colaris is my age and is in every single class I have. At times I feel you could call us brother and sister.

I spend most of my time at Finnicks house because my mother died at birth with me and my father was in a shark attack witch caused him to lose a limb. With only one leg he could take care of me anymore and lives on his own and the peacekeepers put me in a care home. He use to visit me whenever he could but it got less and less until it was only the day before the reaping and my birthday witch he forgot this year. It is today.

"Yeah he would be my second but I really think you're my closest friend, Annie." He says then stops in his tracks. " I almost forgot! Today is your birthday! Happy birthday Annie!" He says pulling me into a tight embrace. His touch is warm. I can't say it's gentale because its not. It is filled with force because of his excitement.

"Thanks Finnick." I say with a smile once he lets go. He digs through his backpack for something, then plucks out a small box with a bow on it. "This is for you." He says handing it to me.

I open my mouth to say you shouldn't have but he holds up a hand to stop me then makes another gesture for me to open it. I go and rip the tape off ever so slightly not to tear any of the paper, I like saving wrapping paper, it reminds me of when I got the present instead of remembering how it went with the actual present itself so its free to make new memories with. After I'm done with the paper I fold it and put it in a pocket on my backpack and start to open the small box that it was wrapped.

I let out a small gasp in the beauty of what is inside. It is a bracelet mad of twine and has pieces of bright and dull and in between shades of yellow, green, and blues strung onto it. I look up at Finnick with an even larger grin on his face then before. "You like it?" He ask me. I just nod my head. I carefully take it out of the box and place it on my wrist and hold it out for him to see. "I love it ."I say softly," Were did you get it?"

"Well it actually took me a while to make it. Finding sea glass isn't easy you know." He says ,his smile growing even larger.

The rest of the week went by nicely. Everyone was kind, well almost everyone. I did get punched in the nose by a girl a year older then me saying that I should stop hanging out with Finnick so she could have him. I didn't listen so I got punched. Finnick took me to the nurse because we normally eat lunch together because we have the same lunch time. But other then that my week went great.

Today is the day of the reaping. I woke up extra early so I could go swimming. I'm only dressed in my bright orange bikini. I dive in head first feeling the saltiness of the water sting my eyes. I don't mind. Even with my eyes red I will look nicer then the other home children because of the help Mrs. Odair gives me. She gives me hair cuts and lets me borrow some of her clothes fro when she was younger.

I jump out of the water and sit up on the dock letting my feet dangle into the water, even though they hardly touch the water. The warmness feels good on my skin. I run a hand through my long brown hair, it's all tangled from the swim I just have.

I jump when I feel Finnick next to me in his reaping clothes playing with my hair. "My mom wanted me to find you." He says. I wonder what she wanted? I wonder what time it is and how long I have been swimming for?

" You do know it is 2 hours till the reaping?" He ask answering my question. I need to dry my hair and get ready for the reaping. I don't understand why people dress up to be picked to be sent to there deaths.

" I'll stop by your house on the way to the children's house." I tell him standing up. I realize what I'm wearing and I put a hand up over my chest. I wasn't planning on anyone seeing me like this. I turn around and grab my stuff almost running away. "BYE!" I hear him shout of after me as I run to his house.

Once I get there his mother is at the door to great me. " I have something for you." She tells me with a soft smile on her face. I had always wondered what my mother was like , I had imagined that she was something like Finnick's. She leads me to her room and holds out a blue dress that wouldn't go past the knees and is flowy. On the bottom it has tiny white sea shells sewn into it. I let out a small gasp. I put out my hand and rub the smooth fabric between my fingers.

" It's beautiful, are you going to wear it?" I ask. She lets out a small laugh, but then looks back at me with love in her eyes. I think this is the something that was for me. I would love that. "No Annie it's for you. I would like you to wear it for the reaping. I will help you with your hair to." She says filling my heart with joy. I can't believe she is letting me wear this dress.

Once I am dressed in the dress and my hair done all up in curls I leave her house just making it in time to have a few more minutes before the reaping. I look for Finnick in his age group on the boys side. He sees me as well and gives me a sad smile , I return it. I hate that one kid will have to go into that horrible arena and have to fight other kids from other districts. I feel sadness for the ones who will be reaped and to my hope I don't know them so it will be less painful when I see them die.

Our plump district escort is on stage and clears his throat. He says his speech just as every year. He continues one with saying " Lets do ladies first shall we?" He ask, and I hope not wanting an answer because he is met with a crowd so quite you could hear a pin drop. " Wisteria Langen!" He says with excitement in his voice. A very tall girl emerges from the18 year old section and slowly but confidently walks up to the stage. I don't want to see it so I focus on the smell of the ocean: salt, fish, fresh, warm, sent of tropical flowers, coconuts. This only let me escape for a few seconds as he heads for the boys bowl.

He digs around for what seems for forever, then he speaks loudly but I don't want to hear. I cant hear it anymore to see more children die. I put my hands over my ears until I see who got called walking up on stage.

Finnnick.

I almost let a scream escape my lips but catch myself. This cant be happening. Only it has to if it wasn't we wouldn't be living in this world were children , friends die in the games.