I sat with my knees held up against my chest, my head resting on the tops of my kneecaps. The sun began to set, I sighed half in relief and half in exhaustion. Watching the sun set was what I came here to do. Watching the bright colours splash all over the pale blue sky always entertained me. But I wasn't planning on doing it alone. I heard the faint sound of footsteps behind me, I immediately smiled. Could it be Finn?

I turned around quickly, my smile grew larger as my thoughts were confirmed.
"Finn, you made it!" I stood up and lightly brushed off the sand that remained on my dress.
"Sorry I am late, I was caught up with Capitol business." He apologised, and lucky for both of us it was sincere.
"Capitol business." I mocked him, pretending to be masculine and tough. Finnick laughed and lightly pricked my nose with the tip of his finger.
"Aren't you just adorable?"
"Well," I flipped my hair over my shoulder and rolled my eyes, "I try."

I sat down again, facing the sky once more, not wanting to miss what I came here for. I patted the space on the ground next to me, inviting him to sit which he gladly did. Light oranges and pinks covered the sky above us.
"Isn't it beautiful?" I said in awe.
"Yes, you are." Finnick looked down at me.
I hid all my true feelings and emotions behind a mask of composure before I burst into giggles.
"Is that one of your most used pick-up lines?" I managed to gasp in between laughing fits.
Going by his reaction; I had taken him off guard. He laughed with me for a few moments. It appeared as if he was acting, which he was quite horrible at whenever I was around. I have always wondered if he had meant what he said that evening.

Once I had calmed down I rest my head against his all too familiar chest, listening to his heart-beat.
"So, what kept you held up tonight?" I asked innocently, I didn't want to start an argument. It wasn't his fault he had been arriving late all the time.
"Well since it is getting closer to the Hunger Games." Finn pointed out. I nodded my head, waiting for him to continue.
"Yeah.." I encouraged him to keep speaking.
"So they have been meaning to ask me about –" He hesitated.
"About what, Finn?" I persisted sweetly, not showing how curious I truly was.
"About me mentoring the Tributes."
"Oh." I breathed. It was all I was able to come up with, it took me by surprise. My eyes were glued to the ground as I silently assessed the situation in my head. I sat up and looked at him worryingly.
"Finnick, are you sure you're ready for this?"
"I don't really have a choice." Finnick gently shrugged his shoulders before tossing a small pebble into the lake.

"Of course you have a choice, you always do." I assured him. I don't know why I said that, it was stupid of me. I had no evidence to back up my statement, I didn't understand what he was going through and I certainly didn't know what the Capitol was capable of.
"No I don't Annie." Finnick shouted, "I'll never have a choice, you don't get it."
My eyebrows rose and my mouth opened slightly in shock. I was alarmed at how fired up he had gotten over my statement.
"I- I'm sorry." I stuttered, he stood up and walked towards the water. I sat there, frozen in position. Not wanting to move or speak, worried I would anger him further.
"No, I am sorry. I didn't mean to-" Finnick began.
"Don't sweat it," I waved my hand in the air as if to toss it all aside. "You know I care about you. That's all that matters."
Finnick nodded to himself. "But you're right. What if I am not ready?"
I bit my lip lightly and dropped my gaze from him to the sand beneath my feet.
"I have just heard so many storied about mentors. How they spend so much time training their tributes, becoming their friend and allies. And then –" I paused and a for a long moment. No one said anything. I swallowed nervously before finishing what I had started to say.
"Then for them to see those kids killed off in the arena as if they were worthless, reliving the games every time. It would be a nightmare."

He didn't say a word. I shook my head, how could I be so stupid. Why did I even open my trap and get involved. I wasn't helping anybody so why was I even there. I didn't know what he was going through so why am I acting like I do. Maybe it's because I wished I did. I suppose I was sick of seeing him suffer.
"I apologise for even saying anything." I abruptly stood up and was beginning to walk away.
"No." Finnick's soothing voice stopped me. "Please don't go. Stay." He asked.
How could I ever say no to that boy? I brushed some strands of hair out of my face a twirled back around to meet his gaze.
"If you insist." I winked mischievously. My intention in lightening up the mood succeeded.
Together we sat back down on the sand.
"You know we should call someone to bring us a picnic blanket and food." I thought aloud.
"You know, that's a swell idea."
"Swell?" I repeated the out of place adjective he had used and began to laugh uncontrollably once more, this time when he joined in his laughter was vibrant, joyful and real.
"Well I can't deny it is a swell idea. Anything I come up with is always impressive." I grinned cheekily.

"Where would I be if I didn't have a best friend like you?" Finnick said, his eyebrows furrowed and his voice laced with sarcasm.
"Dead." I shrugged plainly. The remark caused him to smile and nod in agreement.
"Of course."

We sat there for hours that night. Together we talked and talked for what seemed like forever. We never noticed how long we were gone for. Both of us were too caught up in our own little conversations or focused on replying with a spontaneous, sly remark that would catch the other off guard. We ended up lying comfortably on our backs, looking up at the night sky. The stars shone brightly as they were sprinkled over the black canvas of the night. The moonlight hit the water in a rather peaceful way, illuminating the area. Finnick and I spoke about what we thought of stars, we even began to make shapes out of them. We played games, we told jokes, we told spooky stories and we sang little, out of tune songs to each other. Every moment was made to last. I knew that his was rare; I wasn't going to be able to speak to him like this for a long time. He will most likely be busy with the Capitol in the future.
I slowly but surely drifted off to sleep on the sand next to Finn. I yawned and let my eyes shut. I had enchanting, realistic dreams. Finnick was even in there in them.

I gathered that he never slept that night, which was not unusual for him. Finn had once told me that if he closes his eyes the Hunger Games just replays over and over again in his mind. It haunts him until he wakes up, unable to bare the pain of re-living the memories anymore.
I gathered that he never slept because when I woke from my little snooze I expected to see him there. But of course he wasn't, he had left me alone to sleep on the lake side. Perfect, just perfect. I grit my teeth together and felt my jaw lock. I yelled out, my voice whisking its way through the air effortlessly.
"Fucking hell, Finn."