AN: I was just reading random Hunger Games FanFics when I noticed there really weren't many about Annie and Finnick… and the ones there are -for the most part- oneshots. So I decided to tell their story! Here it is…

Chapter 1: Friends

Annie, age 10 (Annie and Finnick are the same age BTW)

10 minutes. That's how long it took me to make my first actual friend. Confused? Then let's back up a bit.

"So those are the different types of hooks. Any questions?" my teacher asked. Just then the principal came running in. He motioned for the teacher to come over and listen. He whispered something in her ear and her smile immediately turned into a frown.

"oh… um… Class, listen up." she announced. When she had all of our attention, she began again, "We have some news… uh… fishing boat number ten was… lost… in the storm last night…" It took a while for it to sink in. Fishing Boat Ten. My Dad's boat. He left only yesterday. Now he will never return.

I bolted up in my seat, as did a boy on the opposite side of the room, the one with the muted red hair. It seems we both had the same idea. We ran. I had no idea where I was going. I didn't check to see if the red-head was following me. I just ran. About half way across the school yard, I collapsed. And I cried.

That went on for what seemed like days, but was probably only about a minute or so.

"Your dad?" I heard. Frightened by the voice, I turned around to find the boy, his face red and streaked with tears. I simply nodded.

"Your's too?" He also nodded. We sat there in silence for a while. I don't even know how long. Then he did something unexpected. He threw his arms around me. I didn't even know his name! But I returned the favor. I could feel his tears running down my back, as I soaked his shirt with my own.

He pulled back suddenly and held out his hand. "I'm Finnick," he stated.

"Annie, " I choked out as I grabbed his hand and shook it.

"He was all I had, my dad. My mom died when I was five. I'm an only child. They're going to send me to live with some stranger." I was speechless. I was here feeling sorry for myself, while this poor boy was way worse off than I was. At least I still had my mom. Finnick had nobody. Nothing.

It was my turn to put my arms around him. To comfort him. He needed it way more than I did. "Do you have any friends you could move in with?" I ask. I am curious to find out more about this boy, Finnick. He's like a mystery, and I just can't stand not knowing. Finnick simply shook his head. I raise my eyebrows. "No friends at all?" I ask again.

"Nope. I'm kind of a lone wolf."

"Me too." Now it's his turn to be shocked. "What?"

"Um… I just thought, you know, a girl like you…"

"What do you mean?"

"Nevermind… So uh, do you, um, maybe want to, uh, be lone wolfs, like, together? You know, because there's strength in numbers…"

"You just met me, and you're asking to be friends." It was more of a statement than a question.

"You don't have to. I just thought-"

"Yeah. I'll be your friend Finnick." He smiled. "Under one condition." He looked up, confused. Whoops. It came out a lot more harshly than I intended it to be. I smile and say, "You let my mom and I take you in."

He copied my tone from earlier. "You just met me, and you're asking me to move in with you?" We giggled. "I will."

I hug him again. That all happened in ten minutes. That's how long it took for me to make my first friend. No one came for us, so we decided to take the rest of the day off and get the okay from my mom. She's probably still torn apart by the news about my dad, but she has a good heart. Especially for orphans.

AN: So what do you think? Please review! Next chapter, we'll have a bit of a time warp, so if you wanna give me any ideas, feel free!

Till Next Time,

ITGICAAB