LOVE IS LIKE LIGHTNING

Summary: Love is like lightning. It's unpredictable, yet so unbelievably beautiful when it hits. It likes up your entire world with its energy, its power… You never want it to hit anywhere else. Finnick and Annie never expected to find solace in each other. But their love was a force of nature – they couldn't control it.

Chapter 2 – Train

My back is being poked and prodded as we're ushered onto the train. As the metallic doors close behind me, my entire being is engulfed in silence as Kai and I take in the luxurious décor. Shimmering chandeliers, exotic foods, and glassy tables; it's all very beautiful and very extreme. It's too much. I don't see how anybody, even the crazy Capitol citizens, could feel even remotely comfortable in this environment.

I can hear Ambrosia squawking about the unique elegance of "her people," and how when we finally reach our destination, the wondrous views will be amped up. She's marching us around the entire train, and after learning about every crevice of the place, we're left to our own devices.

I make my way to the common room, not yet wanting to isolate myself in my room. I'm not afraid I'll cry. I'm afraid I won't stop.

I slowly sit down on the silky couch, always suspicious of the Capitol and its weird products. I find myself shivering, not only from the fear of my imminent death, but because I'm still adorned in my beach clothes; shorts and a tank top. I guess I never thought I'd be in this situation.

I feel a soft blanket wrap itself around my shoulders. I glance to my left expecting to find Kai there with his soft eyes and sweet smile, but instead I'm face to face with the absolutely gorgeous, Finnick Odair. My eyes grow wide. I knew he was attractive before now, but being so close to him is taking its toll on me.

He is glorious. Shockingly so. His bronze skin glows under the fluorescent lighting, as if he ia an angel. His chestnut hair looks silky and inviting, and I resist the urge to reach up and run my fingers through it. His white t-shirt clings to his muscles, flaunting his protruding pectorals and swollen biceps. His face looks as if it was sculpted alongside the Statue of David, with his sky-high cheekbones and plump lips. But his most attractive feature had to be his eyes, a beautiful liquid-y green, and so deep that I feel as if I could fall into them. They're captivating and reflective, not only of me but him too. They tell his story, and remind me of home. They're my new favorite color.

My eyes fall back to his lips, observing his sexy smile and pearly teeth. I know he's waiting for me to speak but his exquisiteness has put me in a daze. I'm trying to formulate words, but all I can do is open and close my mouth dumbly. His smile widens even more as grabs a chair to sit right across from me, leaving only about a foot of space between our faces. I feel my cheeks grow pink, for reasons I can't explain, but the warm feeling that's coursing through my veins is pleasant and delightful.

He sticks his hand out in front of him, holding it there in the air until I shake it lightly. He lifts my hand to his lips and leaves the ghost of a kiss on the back of it, causing the rosiness to spread to my neck as my eyes drop to my lap. He's so intimidating and handsome and lovely… I feel like one of his fan girls.

"I'm Finnick Odair," he begins in a smooth, sultry voice, sending chills down my spine. The feeling is disconcerting. "Nineteen years of age, Sex God of Panem, all that jazz."

After finding my voice, I look back up at him, almost losing it again. Talking to this guy is going to be a roller coaster.

"I am aware," I say, shyly smiling. "Um, I'm Annie… Cresta. Annie Cresta." I feel like a stumbling, stuttering idiot, but he still smiling, so maybe it's just me being naturally insecure. "Seventeen years of age, Goddess of Innocence, all that jazz."

"I am aware," he echoes. "You're quite enchanting, you know. It's terribly obvious that you're trying to blend into the background, but unfortunately for you, you've failed."

He is magical. A mind reader? Maybe.

I let a sly smirk slip onto my face. "Oh? How embarrassing. I guess I'll have to work on being more inconspicuous."

"Inconspicuous? Did you get that from your word calendar?"

And now I'm laughing. Really laughing. And it's liberating. "Well, uh, no… I mean unless you like word calendars. Because in that case, they're positively magnificent!" It's weird. I know I'm joking and so does he, and it feels good. It keeps the games off the brain.

I see a genuine smile grace his flawless face, and soon enough, his throaty chuckle is mirroring my giggling. His eyes are lighting up the room with they're astonishing color. "You're too cute."

I'm blushing again. I can feel it, and I'm desperately trying to hide it from Finnick, but I know he has seen my red cheeks because he's shaking with poorly encased laughter. For some reason, I'm not embarrassed though. I feel so comfortable right now that I can't find any reason I should be. And that's exactly the reason why I should be embarrassed. Because I am talking to this guy who everyone claims to be some kind of master lothario, but he seems so innocuous and disarming that I can't bring myself to see him as that guy anymore. We have only exchanged a dew sentences and he's already convinced me of his transcendence.

We're still howling with amusement when someone obnoxiously clears their throat, adequately ceasing our snickering. Turning, I see Kai standing there red-faced and frowning, clearly not sharing our amusement. His brown eyes reveal his jealousy, but I wonder if he was putting forth an honest effort to hide it anyway.

"Mind if I join you two?" he asks, one eyebrow raised, an accusatory look on his face. He is looking predominantly at Finnick, with a face that seems almost agitated. I can't imagine why; he's always had that syrupy smile and bright eyes. Maybe someone just really needs to learn his manners.

Finnick appears to be a little apprehensive, looking the boy up and down, but being his mentor, he plasters another smile to his face and waves him over to us. Kai ends up right next to me, practically on my lap, his hand resting on my knee. I know I shouldn't feel so uncomfortable, especially since I've known him for the better part of my life, but I can't help but feel tense right now. I don't know if it is his choice in hand placement, how close he is, or the weirdly expecting smile he's constantly giving me, but it's quite nerve-wracking.

We're all silent, unsure of what to do or say. My eyes keep shifting around the room and I can practically reach out and grab the tension. Kai taps his foot to the tick-tock of the clock on the far side of the room. Finnick is just glancing between the two of us, a perplexed look on his face.

"Uh, so when did you two meet?" I can tell he's just trying to break the awkwardness in the room and I send him an appreciative look. His eyes are sparkling; beautiful.

"Oh practically forever," Kai begins, nonchalantly throwing his arm around my shoulder. "Our parents used to be great friends. We really met in second grade and have been great friends ever since. We know each other so well, we're practically family already."

"So, you guys are like brother and sister," Finnick responds, earning a snicker from me. It was obvious Kai meant that we'd be brought into each other's families through marriage, but I can't help but laugh. Maybe it's just Finnick. Maybe I'll never know.

Kai narrows his eyes, not so much that he's glaring, but enough to show his distaste. "Oh no! That'd just be weird. Right Anne?" He squeezes me even closer, trying to flaunt our "relationship" but it just sounds too forced. I almost roll my eyes.

"Uh, yeah… I'm just going to go slip into something else, so I'll see you two at dinner." I shrug out of Kai's embrace and return the green blanket to Finnick, offering my thanks to him. I tell him it was nice to meet him and he says it's his pleasure. I smile at this and he gives me a friendly, crooked grin. I say goodbye to them both and skip off to my private quarters.

"In less than twenty-four hours we'll be in the Capitol! Isn't that exciting?"

A chorus of murmurs bounce around the table as Ambrosia babbles on about "the most enjoyable place in the world." It's a wonder she has gotten anything in her mouth at all with all the talking she is doing. I'm sure I could write a seven page report on the bathrooms in the Capitol by now.

Finnick is sitting at the head of the table, with Mags on his left and Ambrosia on his right. I am sitting next to Mags and Kai sits directly across from me, obscurely nudging my foot with his every once in a while. I can't help but think that he is just like Finnick's alternate persona.

Many different aromas are floating around me, causing my head to spin. These peculiar, foreign foods feel weird in my nose.

"The sheets are made from the softest silks and the people there are truly beautiful. The food is even better than this! And the colors! They're absolutely breathtaking! The art is much more resplendent than in your district."

This makes me frown. Homesickness is brewing in my stomach, building and building, and I am sure I am going to burst into a steaming ball of despair any second now. I can't even bring myself to eat. "I can't imagine anything or anywhere better than our home." I keep my eyes trained on my lap, but I can feel Mags securely squeezing my knee. I have not gotten to exchange many words with her, but she seems very kind. She reminds me of my grandmother; gentle and loving. I glance at her through my right eye and instead see Finnick quietly chuckling to himself. I wonder if he misses home, too.

Ambrosia narrows her eyes at me, clearly displeased. "Yes, well just wait until we arrive! You'll be more than impressed!"

I'm mentally rolling my eyes as I plaster a smile to my face, hoping she'll just leave me to myself. When she begins to prattle on about the Capitol's newest fashions – in great detail, I might add – I politely excuse myself from the table and trot back to my room. As I near my door, I hear footsteps following close behind me. Turning, I see Mags hobbling behind me, carrying a small plate in her hands.

She carefully sets it in my hands, a charming smile on her face. She has to be somewhere between eighty and ninety, but her kind face holds a look of eternal compassion and graciousness.

Her head is tilted to the side in thoughtfulness, casually and indiscreetly measuring me up. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought she was deciding whether or not she'd win in a fight against me. I'm not sure if I should feel more uncomfortable or content, so I just stand there balancing between the two emotions. Without uttering a word, she abruptly pivots on her heels and totters away.

I'm still standing in the hallway, completely dumbfounded, still holding onto my plate of various fruits and vegetables. Seconds later, I hear another set of footsteps coming my way, and I look around for anything that Mags could have forgotten over here. Instead, I find Finnick standing in front of me, smiling widely, shifting his balance between his feet.

"Hello there, my little tribute." He reaches out and ruffles my hair, leaving it slightly askew. The gesture feels so friendly and serene, leaving a timid smile on my face.

I can feel my eyebrows squeezing together, and my confusion must be apparent because Finnick elaborates. "Mags just told me that we're switching tributes. Now I am your mentor, but I'm not quite sure why. Did you pour her juice for her? Because I know she undoubtedly loathes that."

I'm shaking with laughter, assuring him of my innocence. He grins and plucks a grape off of my plate, pushing me deeper into my state of relaxation. For the first time since getting reaped, I feel genuinely at peace. And all because of one beautiful boy.