Disclaimer: Annie Cresta and Finnick Odair belong to Suzanne Collins.

EDIT: Hey guys, I'm not allowed to post song lyrics apparently, so if you want, you can go to my profile and there'll be a link to direct you to a document where I'll type up the chapter name and the lyrics below. Or you can go to my AO3 account (AsTheLastPetalFalls) and search up the story there, because it's posted up there as well. I just thought that you would like to know the lyrics because they fit into the story perfectly, and it was my inspiration for the story

Part One

Finnick always thought of the good-old days when he stood on various sidewalks with his guitar and busked. That was approximately five years ago.

Now, he was the washed up lead singer of a once popular band, The Tributes; just walking the streets of the small town of Aurora, New York, reminiscing about his busking days. He often wondered what would've happened if he wasn't discovered by his old manager, Coriolanus Snow, busking in front of a coffee shop in Manhattan. Perhaps he would still be busking, or he would have a "proper job" and have a family. Maybe he wouldn't have an alcohol problem, or a STD. Finnick was pretty wild when he was popular. He was always on the front page of tabloids, partying, getting high, or having sex. That was one factor in the downfall of The Tributes.

He sighed to himself as a cold wind washed over him, causing him to shiver and break out of his thoughts. I should go to a local cafe and get a coffee or something, he thought.

Slowly, Finnick trudged to the cafe District Four, one he frequently visited when he was younger, and stopped as he heard a melodic voice of a girl. She had wavy brown hair and beautiful bright sea-green eyes filled with emotions. The girl was bundled up in a white toque, a grey pea coat, worn jeans, and brown combat boots. She was sitting behind a portable keyboard, playing a haunting tune that immediately caught Finnick's attention.

As she sang, the emotion in her voice entrapped Finnick and refused to let him go.

Finnick thought of ways to improve the song. Maybe adding a violin in some places would make it sound even more perfect and enhance the emotion even more, he mused.

Tears were starting to fall down the girl's cheeks, which were rosy from the cold temperature. Finnick's heart wrenched for a reason he couldn't put his finger on.

The song came to its conclusion and Finnick applauded her, a grin on his face. The girl's head looked up from her piano and stared at him, eyes wide, obviously shocked. Finnick knew from personal experience that busking in Aurora was rather hard if you wanted to actually receive public recognition and money, but it was easy if you were doing it for fun. Usually, everyone was either at work or at home and didn't have time to listen to buskers. So when a busker got applause, it was always a shocking moment.

"Hello," Finnick said to her, walking towards her with a smile on his face. "I would like to say that you are...extremely talented." The girl still stared at him with those wide sea-green eyes and smiled.

"Thank you," she replied, almost shyly.

"Seriously, I have...no words," Finnick said, letting out a breath after he said that. They had lapsed into an awkward silence after that. He could do nothing but watch as the girl started packing up her things to get ready to leave. Panic filled Finnick, and he found himself wanting to talk to the girl more.

"Do you need help with that?" he asked her. She looked back up at him again and smiled.

"Sure."

Finnick knew that she was just being polite, but he was just glad that she was humoring him. He started lifting up the keyboard as the girl brought out a case for it.

"So...what's your name?" he asked her, and then cringed inwardly on how awkward he sounded. What had happened to the "cool" Finnick? The lead singer of The Tributes Finnick? Where had all his confidence and sexiness gone?

"Annie," she replied. "Annie Cresta."

"Nice to meet you, Annie Cresta," he said. "I'm Finnick Odair." He waited for a reaction and/or recognition, but there was none.

"Nice to meet you, Finnick Odair," was all she said. He was shocked and yet relieved. Yes, he wanted to be recognized of as a singer of a successful band, but he did not want to be recognized by what he had done while he was the singer of a successful band.

"Thank you again," Annie said, breaking him out of his thoughts. He blinked and saw that she was all packed up and ready to leave. "Like, I said before, it was nice meeting you, Finnick. Goodbye." She was about to turn around, but he stopped her.

"Wait!"

She turned back around, confused.

"Yes?"

"Do you...I mean, would you like to have a coffee with me?" Finnick asked, pointing to District Four.

She looked conflicted, and rightfully so. If a random stranger had asked Finnick for a coffee after less than three minutes of conversation, Finnick would be pretty hesitant as well.

"Sure."

Finnick was pretty sure that he looked like an idiot with the goofy smile that erupted on his face.

A/N: Hi! This is my first Hunger Games fanfiction! Yay! I'm a HUGE Odesta shipper, and I guess I'm writing this in honor of "Mockingjay: Part One", which I am seeing on Friday and I'm so excited! This fic is inspired by the song "Falling Slowly" from the movie "Once", and the song Annie sings is called "The Hill", also from "Once". Just a note that is going to be a rather short fic and it's going to go forward in time a little bit. Also, please don't flame, and I'm sorry for any grammar/spelling mistakes that I've made.

PLEASE REVIEW/FAVOURITE/FOLLOW! IT WILL ENCOURAGE ME TO WRITE FASTER!

~AsTheLastPetalFalls