A/N -I'm starting this new story after finishing my Prim/Rory one (if you haven't read it you should check it out). I'm doing some new things with this fanfic

1.) Each chapter will have a minimum of 2,000 words/I will tell you how many words are in each chapter (including the ANs)

2.) I will have the characters talking to the reader a little in italics

*Remember this is just the intro, the actual story part will start in not the next chapter but the chapter after. The next chapter will be Annie's intro, this is Finnick's.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games, or any characters, places etc etc. No copyright infringement intended. And I don't own the cover photo.

Word Count: 2,606

Finnick's Point of View

~Introduction~

"Truth or dare, Finn?" Thom asks with a cocky grin

"Dare." I say nobly. Even though I've already ate crunchy leaves, licked Gale's foot, and put a worm on Mrs. Schratz's wind shield, I'm still ready for any challenge he can come up with. Besides how girly would that make me look if I chose truth?

"Seriously? This is getting boring now. You're doing a truth dude, we need to mix things up a little." Thom whines, Gale rolling his eyes

"Fine but for the record I originally picked dare." I declare proudly

"Yeah whatever, okay I got one. Is it true... that you like lonely Annie?" he asks with a smirk

I can feel my heart. I can feel it pound pound pound against my chest. It's going to break free, its going to hop out of my body, and reveal everything. My face is warm and red. I can already tell without having to look in a mirror. Whenever I hear her name this is how I feel. Annie. How do I answer that? Obviously I can't tell them the truth. They'll look at me differently, be disgusted by me. Just keep it cool, just keep it cool. I have to think of a lie. A simple no? Or an exaggerated no? I don't know what to do and I can feel the heat of my cheeks chew at my lungs, cut off my air. Its too much. I've wasted too much time. Say something, just not the truth.

"Are you stupid? Of course not." I play off. Do you think it worked? I can't look at them instead I have a staring contest with my sleeping bag.

"Okaayyy whatever you saayyy." Gale lengthens his response

"Don't say it like that. You know I don't." I reply fiercely, my eyebrows drawn together

"Then why are you always staring at her in homeroom?" Thom interrogates. Gale cuts me off before I even get a chance to respond.

"Because its the only class he has with her, obviously. He's gotta soak it all in before first period." he says dreamily, resting his head on Thom's shoulder while batting his eyelashes

Well that is true. Home room is the only class I have with her. She's just so beautiful. Everything she does makes my heart swell. Makes me want to run up to her hold her in my arms, and kiss her. Kiss those rosy cheeks. I know I'm only thirteen but I can dream right? My empty fists are now filled. Filled with how angry it makes me that Thom has noticed me watching her. Or am I angry at myself for being so careless, for not noticing myself that Thom was watching me? But I can't open my fists. I can't let them know this rages me. I should change the subject though right?

"I wouldn't be talking Gale I saw you eyeing Johanna today at PE. Soaking it all in as you put it." I snicker, air quoting him. I watch the color in his grey eyes go black. Thom laughs his brains out. The two of them stare at me until Gale responds with

"So what if I like Johanna? At least I'm not afraid to admit that." Thom is quiet after hearing Gale say that. My insides sting while my veins throb with fury. But I realize that the only reason why I'm mad is because he's right. I don't have the guts to admit to them that I have a crush on Annie Cresta.

Without having to be told the three of us snuggle into our blankets. As I pull the zipper open on mine my ears hear Gale and Thom whispering mostly likely about me. Here I am thinking Gale always had my back not taking a whip to it. I remember the first day we met.

It was first grade. Ms. Trinket told us to finish coloring our pictures so I did- almost. I turned my head for one second and the next thing I see is Thom eating my yellow crayon. I couldn't stop crying; that was my only yellow crayon and at the time yellow was my favorite color. Through my water filled eyes an olive skinned, dark haired boy came up to me. He handed me his yellow crayon. He told me I could borrow it. Then he walked away. I didn't know what to think. He changed my whole world just by letting me borrow his yellow crayon. After that I recall asking him to be my best friend, he accepted. Ever since then we were always together. Laughing, racing toy cars, having sleepovers like we are now. Then Thom came into the picture in fourth grade. I'm not saying he ruined our friendship its just he became our friend too. I don't really trust him the way I do Gale though. It's probably because I have known Gale longer.

"At least I'm not afraid to admit that." it echoes throughout my head. Why can't I just tell them? Oh yeah I know why, because everybody at our school thinks Annie is insane but they don't see what I see. I see her beauty, intelligence. So what if she's a little different from all the other girls? Does that mean we have to label her?


"Eighth graders make sure you stay with your chaperones. I don't have time to fill out all the paper work if one of you is missing." Ms. Famstein reminds us.

Today is 'Eighth Grade Step Up Day' which is really just a tour of the high school. Our teachers as well as some of the high school's teachers and students will show us how a normal school day works. They'll explain the bell to bell schedule, lunch, lockers everything. I can't wait to be in high school; I'm so done with middle school. Everything about middle school bothers me. Teachers, students, even the way the school is run, especially the independence. No having to be walked to class, or stay in a straight line. The main reason though is because once I get into high school I think I will finally have the courage to talk to Annie. And hell I'll be freaking sexy by then.

After last Friday Gale and Thom still aren't talking to me they're afraid to even look at me. It only makes it worse that the three of us have the same chaperone therefore are stuck in the same group. With only six people per group its hard to ignore someone or in my case two some ones. I should probably be the bigger person and apologize to both of them. They're my best friends I can't loose them over some stupid fight.

Also I think its about time to admit my feelings for Annie. Gale's right, if I like someone the way I do Annie I should be able to tell them. This is going to be hard. Should I tell them separately or together? No, I don't think I can bear saying everything a second time. To my left there they are. Their heads bowed, talking in whispers again hoping I don't hear. While they aren't looking I casually walk behind them. Hopefully nobody will see me pull them by the back of their shirt collars. I drag them to a baron corner. Once I release their shirt collars they give me dirty looks. Before they can complain about what I just did I start,

"I'm sorry. I know its stupid of me not to be able to admit to you both that I... that I like Annie. I really like Annie. You were right Gale. You two are my best friends. I don't want to loose you guys because of some stupid disagreement." I say without even thinking. I receive two very relieved looks. My heart aches just after saying her name. Oh no I already feel the warmth in my cheeks spread like wild fire.

"I'm sorry too dude. It was wrong of me to just come out and say something like. I should have respected that you want to keep something like that personal no matter how close we are." Gale says warmly

"Yeah sorry, Finn. I guess laughing didn't really help lighten up the situation." Thom says calmly but still has a some difficulty looking me in the eye.

"It's okay you guys don't have to apologize to me you know. I was the one being a jerk." I reassure. Gale comes to my side. He gives me a light playful punch on my shoulder. I give him a grin.

"So you like An-

Just before he's about to say Annie, silky dark hair catches my eye. Not just any silky dark brown hair Annie's silky hair. She stands in front of the three us sticking out like sore thumbs in this baron corner. I don't know what to think. Did she hear us? How long has she been there? She couldn't have been here long could she? Why is she even here? Not that its a bad thing though... Is she going to confess that she undyingly loves me too? Get your head together Finn of course she isn't going to say anything like that. I can feel my heart again. Just hearing her name gets me going, but this is completely different she's looking at me now. This time my heart is thumping thumping thumping like it has a hammer and is planning to escape. Like it can see Annie too and yearns for her. My face is doing the opposite, its numb. I can't feel anything. Time has stopped, air is gone, my blood has stopped flowing. Play it cool Finn.

I take a glance at Annie, lifting my eyes. From my view it looks like her eyes are closed but she's just looking at the ground. Her gorgeous hair splayed a few inches below her shoulders. Her cheeks are the opposite of mine. I can see how flushed they are but she's trying very hard to keep it under control. Fortunately in my case she's losing. Those flushed cheeks of her's only make her look more adorable. I can't help it when the corners of my mouth tug into so wide of a smile that Gale and Thom must think I'm high. When I look at them they don't seem to care. They look at Annie like she's just any other class mate of ours. Before she says anything she drags a shaky hand to her hair, tugging it behind her right ear. So badly do I want to undo what she just did with my bare hands. To feel how soft her hair really must be.

"Ms. Famstein says she wants the three of you to- to stay with the group..." her lovely voice says unsteadily

Do I say something? If I do I can't say anything stupid. Put yourself together Finn she probably feels uncomfortable because of the look on your face. Trying not to bring attention to myself I lightly shake my head as if that could wipe the grin off my face.

"Ohhh- kaay... tell tell tell her we'll be left- right- back." I hate myself. I hate myself so much now.

My two best friends can't seem to hold their laughs in. They snort, cover their mouths' with their hands. First I say 'okay' in probably the most inappropriate way possible. Then I stutter which is something I've never done before. And then I say left, the complete opposite of right. She must think I have a learning disability or something. Annie slowly turns her back and walks to the group again. I can only imagine the things Gale and Thom are dying to say to me.

"Tell tell tell left no right no left wait right!" Gale mimics with crazy eyes and floppy arms

"Oh Finn! Catch me in your arms, you're... you're..." Thom says in the most cliché female romance voice I've ever heard

"Yes my love?" Gale responds after 'romantically' catching a dropping Thom in his arms

"You're eyes are so- dreamy..." he says breathfully.

I laugh loudly and freely as I watch Thom wipe the back of his hand over his forehead; as if he were going to pass out. I really hope Annie didn't hear any of this. She probably didn't she's back with the group again. We should get moving before Ms. Famstein walks over here herself.

"Let's just get back to the group." I tell them smiling because I know they're only teasing me

Once we get back to our teacher the three of us receive the death glare from Ms. Famstein. Annie is walking in front of me. She is so close that I want to reach out and touch her hair. I have to stop looking at the back of her head so that my hands could cooperate. What would she think if I just randomly starting combing my fingers through her hair? I know I'd be confused. The rest of the tour went as expected. Look in this classroom, get an instructional lecture from the teacher, move on. What the teachers were saying was helpful but they keep telling us the same things. So it was hard for me to keep my eyes open by noon. When we got off the bus back to the middle school it was time for dismissal. I went to my locker, got my backpack, made my way out the door and walked home.

As I walk home all I can think about is Annie talked to me. Well not me specifically but still its something right? And I think she may have even stolen a glance at me. I can feel the fireworks in my head. They pop pop pop everywhere. More importantly, that's the only thing I've ever said to her.

Did you like it? Can you tell me how my past/present tense was? I know I have trouble with that so your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Next chapter is Annie's. And remember these intros are from when they are younger. The actual story takes place when they're in high school (junior/senior year I haven't decided yet).

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