Disclaiming

(Annie's P.O.V)

Here I stand, happily watching my best friend Finnick getting married. No, here I sit, regretting that I came. Regretting I didn't say anything about loving him for a long time before he proposed to Natalie. I feel a tear slowly develop in my eye as the preacher just begins to start the ceremony. "Why, Why didn't I say anything?" I think to myself.

I think of the day Finnnick asked me how I felt about him and Natalie.

"Hey, Annie, I have a question…" "Shoot," I reply. How would you feel if I proposed to Natalie?" he asks. I would hate it. I love you…I don't want you to be with her. "Well, Finnick… that depends. Do you love her?" I ask. "Yeah.. I think I do. Wait, no I do." he replies. My heart breaks in two. We sit there for about 5 minutes in silence. I watch his clear blue eyes roam across the peaceful sea. "You know what Finn? I think I'm okay with it." I say with a fake plastered on my face. I can't believe he didn't see it was fake. "Thanks Annie!" he says…happily. His eyes sparkle now. He's happy. "No problem." I say, regretting what I said.

I wipe tears away from my eyes, regretting everything. I hate my life. Without Finnick, I am nothing. That year he went into the Hunger Games…that was the worst year of my life. I sent almost everyday of those long dragging days crying. I got my Finnick back and now he's in love with… Natalie. It figures, he was always a ladies man. And Natalie, with her perfectly tan skin, long dark flowing hair, perfect face, perfect clothes. Oh, and she's rich.

I was crazy to think that he would love a poor fishing net maker like me. Another thing I wonder is why we had to get married so young. "Speak now or forever hold your peace." These words pull me back into the real world. "I'm sorry, Natalie, I love you but I don't want to lose you to the games. "Maybe when we're older." Finnick says. Thank goodness. "Okay Finnick, I understand. That was something we discussed. We can wait, right?" she says. "Yes."

Well, I still had some time with Finnick, maybe change his mind. I have only two weeks of being with him. The reaping changed all my plans.

"Good afternoon District Four!" says the announcer. I always forget his name. I look in the crowd for Finnick. Even though he's not getting picked, he still stands with the boys his age. "Okay, gentlemen…the luck lad is… Bernard Jory!" he says. Bernard is a small, wimpy looking kid. "Now, for the ladies… Annie Cresta!" he says happily. Tears immediately form in my eyes. I slowly walk up to the stage. "Let's hear it for our D. Four tributes!" he says. It's then I see Finnick breaking through the crowd, running into peacekeepers. They try to restrain him but he's too strong.

I'm in the room waiting for a visitor. It's all quiet when Finnick bursts in, running to me. I stand up as he embraces me tightly. I can't take it at this point. I begin to bawl my eyes out. "I'm so sorry Annie; it's all my f-fault!" Finnick barely manages to get out. "Finnick, it's okay. You must care about me or the Capitol wouldn't have given me a second thought." I say, trying to be comforting. "I'm sorry!" he says. I open my mouth when the peacekeepers come in to drag a thrashing, kicking, screaming Finnick out.

I don't want to get into detail, or even remember the Capitol. But I will talk about the Games. They're horrible. I would sit there and hide, every night hoping no one would find and or kill me. Call me a hopeless romantic, but the only reason I really wanted to get home was to see Finnick again.

I hated seeing the death and carnage. It was horrible…but I became permanently scarred when my partners head was severed right in front of my. It was then, when I was scared, frightened and wanted to go home that I picked up Bernard's sword. I jabbed it directly into the boy's stomach. As soon as I did this, I regretted it. I hated myself. Looking back my life is filled with regrets.

I got home and as soon as I did, I was greeted by a cheerful Finnick. He was glad to have me back. Now, 3 months later I haven't said a word to him. He looked me in the eyes. I looked back. He leaned in, and kissed me. "You don't have to talk, but when you're ready, I'm here." He said. "Hey Finn." I said. That was the best night of my life. No Natalie involved, just me and Finn. Now, 2 years later, we're back at the same place. I can't believe that Finnick doesn't see I love him. I may now be insane, not terrible crazy insane, but mentally. If I even see a knife… yeah.

"Speak now or forever hold your peace." I hear the preacher say. "You may ki-." "I'm sorry!" I say. I stand up and walk right up in front of Finnick. "How could you have been blind all the years.I love you Finnick O'Dair!" I say in a whisper shout and kiss him. Then, I leave. I just leave. I leave everybody in shock, including me.

There are upsides about living in District Four and not knowing how to swim and being in love with a practically married man. A) There are huge bodies of water .B) There are huge cliffs to jump off of. Me, I love Finnick so much that if he's not going to have me no one will.

I walk onto the cliff I am closest to. I'm on the very edge about to jump when…"ANNIE DON'T YOU DARE JUMP!" I hear someone say. I think it's Finnick. I turn around, but I slip and fall. Nope. I don't think it was Finnick. Deep down I know it was.

My name is Annie Cresta. I wish I was dead already. I'm in love with a man named Finnick O'Dair. He doesn't love me.

I hit the water. I'm slowly sinking…sinking…I'm at the bottom. I'm under for about 3 minutes when a pair of strong arms pulls me up. I gasp for air.