My dad throws me a net. I catch it and my fingers get tangled in the rough twine. "Get in the water and fish! You don't want us to starve, do you?" I know he realizes I don't know how to use a net, I only make them. He walks back home, probably to drink more. I wade into the warm knee-high water, toss the net out and let it sink. I am only going by what I see my dad do, and I haven't seen him fish in forever, so I am making it up as I go. I pull it quickly towards me and look hopefully into it. My heart sinks. There is nothing there. I sink down into the water and close my eyes. Ripples spread out all around me, making slight waves. Eventually, the water settles and a feeling of peace fills me up. I might as well get some rest before Dad comes back, yells at me, and takes me home, only for me to receive another round of bruises.
I am woken up by the slight rippling of water. I sit up abruptly, afraid it is my father. I slowly turn and see it is Finnick Odair, the newest victor of the Hunger Games. He has a smirk on his face that all new victors have. A smirk that says I am better, stronger, and smarter than you because I won the Hunger Games.
"Looks like you didn't catch anything. Need help?" I sit there, probably staring at him like some mentally challenged person. I shake my head quickly and get up.
"Um, sure. But we should probably hurry; my father is going to be coming back soon. He wants me to learn by myself."
"Well, then give me that net. I can catch anything." He takes the net and throws it out and lets it sit for a while. He motions for me to sit down next to him. I do and he begins to talk.
"Why are you so scared of your dad? When you mentioned him, you looked terrified. Why?"
I sigh. "It's complicated. He drinks all the time, so we don't have any money. And when he is drunk, he gets…violent." I pull off my shirt, revealing my green bikini and bruised shoulders, back, and stomach. Finnick's eyebrows shoot up and he scoots closer, examining the bruises.
"You shouldn't let him do this to you. You need to stand up for yourself." He picks his hand out of the water and slowly moves it towards the purple bruises. I flinch and he looks at me. "Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you." I nod and he moves his hand closer. He touches the biggest bruise with the gentlest touch. "Seriously. This is bad. You need to get out of there as soon as possible. Or at least tell the authorities. He needs to be locked up for this." Finnick looks at me again and raises his eyebrows.
"I know. I'm going to go home and lock myself in my room. If I need to go out, I'll go out through the window. I promise I will distance myself from him as much as possible. I just…..I just can't move out. He needs me. If it wasn't for me, he would starve to death." Finnick sighs and looks down into the crystal clear water.
"What's your name?"
"What?" I ask.
"What is your name?" He questions once more.
"Annie. Annie Cresta. Why?" I tilt my head and he looks at me,
"Because Annie Cresta, I like you. I don't want you to get hurt. If you ever need anything, anything at all, come to my house in Victor's Village. It's number 12. Just knock. Or if I'm not there, just come in. I leave the door unlocked all the time. Seriously Annie, just come. Even if you just need to talk, I'm there for you. Okay?" I nod.
Finnick gets up and pulls the net swiftly in. He raises it above the water and shows it to me. It is filled to the brim with fish and shell fish. My jaw drops and I look up to him. He smirks and raises an eyebrow.
"How did you do that?" I ask.
He chuckles. "Oh I don't know. I just kinda do. Maybe my good looks have something to with it." He waggles one of his eyebrows at me.
"Oh, so are you calling me ugly?" I put a hand on my hip and raise an eyebrow sassily.
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not." I push his shoulder playfully. He laughs and hands over the net.
I take it. Then I bow graciously and say, "Why thank you oh attractive one." He laughs even more. "Well I have to go Finnick. Soon my dad will be wondering where I am. So hopefully I'll see you soon?"
"Yeah, hopefully. Remember Annie, if you ever need help, I'm there okay?" I nod and begin to walk home. "Annie?" I turn back to him. "Be careful, okay?" I nod again and walk home, thinking of my encounter with Panem's heart throb.