Authors Note: Hi so this chapter is going to Annie's character opening up and exploring herself some more. After this chapter there were definitely be more romance but I wanted to establish Annie as a character first. Hope this doesn't make your eyes bleed lol. Like always I own no Hunger games content all of that belongs to Suzanne Collins the rest is my fiction.

Today is the first day of classes and I'm anxious. As pre-vet major I have mostly science classes this semester. The day goes on smoothly with my last class at 2pm. It's an oceanography class with a lab right after. I notice that students' names have been labeled at each lab bench. My seat is in the fourth row in the center. I sat down in the left seat and begin to setup my supplies. A few minutes into class and my partner hasn't arrived yet. As I begin to scribble down notes I hear the door open, my professor pauses annoyed. "Mr. Finnick Odair so nice for you to show up." So Finnick's his name? Around me, classmates mutter his name animatedly to each other as though a celebrity walked in the room. Maybe he was…

"I'm only a few minutes late cut me some slack, please?" I look up and notice it's the guy who laid next to me yesterday. His deep smooth chuckle resonates in the room even I feel myself swoon. But only a little bit. Today I could see his bright green eyes sparkling in mischief and dimples that probably melted many hearts. If I thought the guys yesterday were hot, he definitely takes the cake. He smiles at the professor with an amazing charm I thought only existed in celebrities. Looking around I realize that everyone in the room has eyes on him. The students watched him either envious, amused or salivating. Eventually charmed, my professor brushes him off with a smile and ask him to take seat. I go back to notetaking before noticing a chair pulling out next to me. I look the right and my eyes lock with his. Our eyes stay locked for a few seconds before I become anxious. Immediately, I feel my whole body go red as he gives me a wink and begins his notes. Soon our lecture ends and we have a fifteen minute break before lab.

Since we take our lecture and lab in the same room we don't have to move. I quietly grab my lab book and begin to read it over as the rest of the class burst into chatter or leaves for snacks. As I read I hear this Finnick guy talking with a group of jocks in our class. Since all of them lack the understanding of inside voices I could hear their entire conversation.

These guys, are a bunch of lax bro fuckboys. The only topics they seem to be able to converse about are lacrosse, girls and parties. I'm surprised they get anything done. I mean really? Body count goals, spending THOUSANDS on alcohol and oh, let's not forget they're frat boys too. It's taking everything in me not barf as they continue this basic conversation. Between the pastel shorts, backwards snapbacks and cut out shirts these guys screamed douchebags. Anything hot about that guy has officially been trumped by his fuckboy status.

Finally Finnick's boy squad take their seats. I hear Finnick shift in his before grabbing his own notebook before I feel his eyes on me. "So…" He starts.

I don't even look up. "What?"

"Wow, someone seems agitated today." He says with a sarcastic pout.

"Do you need something or…?"

"And here I thought you were shy…" I turn my face to see a mischievous look on his.

"W-where did you get that from?" Suddenly I felt cold wondering if I l already have become characterized by rumors already.

Noticing my lip biting and shaking hands his eyes soften. "Hey… I'm just messing with you. My friend Peeta said he met you yesterday."

I blush and remember Peeta's soft sweet face. "O-oh."

"Your name is?"

"Annie…"

"Annie, well it's nice to meet you." I finally lift my eyes and notice he seems to be genuinely acknowledging me.

I shrug not wanting to give him the wrong idea. "Likewise."

He quirks a copper brow at me. "You're not gonna ask my name? Wow, Annie that's cold."

"I know your name. Who in this room doesn't?" I reply, officially irritated by this conceded jock.

His face falters and for a second he looks hurt.

"Fair enough." He teasingly wiggles his eyebrows.

Finally our professor returns to talks us through lab safety for the next hour. We leave early after checking and locking our lab drawers as this lab period is normally three hours. After organizing my drawer and color coordinating it I grab my bag to leave. As I stand up to check one more time if I'm missing anything.

"Hey Annie!" The remaining students stare at me causing heat to rush to my face. "My name is Finnick Odair. That's F-I-N-N-I-C-K, O apostrophe D-A-I-R. 19 year old sophomore from Oceana. Please feel free to talk to me anytime." He winks at me as he leaves coolly though the door as though nothing had happened.

The students stare at me and whisper to one another. With another blush, I sigh and scurry out the door. It's only the first day and I already managed to draw attention. Why couldn't he just leave? Why harass me? Why? Dragging my feet I make my way back to Huxley. As I scramble to find my key the door swings open. In shock I stumble back and come face to face with a familiar pair of hazel eyes. Except this time they're languid and highlighted by the rose on his cheeks.

"Cato?" His eyes widened as he moves back against the dorm frame.

He seems exasperated as he runs a hand through his wild hair.

"What are you doing…?" I couldn't finish my sentence as I realize a messy haired Clove on the bed in an oversized shirt. I look back at Cato and realize he's shirtless…oh boy…I see what's going on here.

Cato coughs to get my attention. "Hi Annie I… gotta get to practice."

Cato brushes past me with a quick glance at Clove before leaving. I quickly close the door for Clove's modesty, my mouth still agape. I stare at Clove who, as usual, has on an indifferent expression. I slowly make my way to my bed and set my backpack down. As our beds are directly across from each I look between my hands and Clove, wondering if I should inquire or not.

"Annie?" I look up at her a bit anxious. "You can ask. I know you're curious."

"Why don't you just tell me then…?"

Clove looks at me surprised honestly I am too. I'm not sure what it is but communicating with Clove is becoming much easier than I expected.

"Alright, I'll tell you then Cato and I were fucking."

"Okay, and?"

"I'm surprised you want details considering you've had no love life."

I'm not sure if it was Clove's teasing tone but something set me off. "Okay listen, I may be uncomfortable socially but that doesn't make me a prude. I'm not an idiot Clove it's plain as day what was happening in here as soon as Cato opened the door. Yeah I have no love life so what? You don't need to tiptoe around me."

Cloves dark eyes study me for a second hardening. I panic wondering if I said too much or became too comfortable with my dialogue. After all I've barely known her two days. But out of nowhere I hear a deep genuine laugh.

"Clove?" She manages to stop and look at me her eyes unusually bright.

"Annie, I'm sorry. You're right I do tiptoe around you. Mostly because you seem like you're an emotional ticking time bomb, no offense." I shrug. I've been called worse. "But I don't think you are…or at least as bad as you think."

I give her questioning gaze, unsure of how to respond.

"Annie you are actually pretty chill and I like that. Yeah you're panicky and a bit of spazz at times but you aren't basket case. You are not crazy." My eyes soften and almost water as that has always been an insecurity of mine. Clove read me like a book…

"Thanks Clove, that really means a lot."

"No problem that's what friends are for."

"F-friends?"

"Yeah." Clove goes back to her passiveness and shrugs.

"But we've only known each other two days."

"True, we could have a fall out as we learn more about each other but seeing that neither of us are divas I don't think that'll be a problem."

"I don't think it will either." Clove smiles at me big and for the first time in really long time smile genuinely too.

"However, we have got to work on your facial expressions. Anytime you panic or get awkward it show on your face really bad."

"Hey!"

"Gotta be honest if I don't tell you, who will?"

I roll my eyes but smile. This all feels so surreal, I actually feel like a nineteen year old college girl bonding with her friend. The feeling is so refreshing causing m stressors from my encounter with Finnick to disappear.

"So now that you've drilled me, it's time I drill you. You and Cato, talk."

"Woah, look who's taking charge for once." She laughs but notices I'm not going to change the subject.

Clove sighs before opening her fridge, which is next to the bookcase between our beds. She pulls out a bottle of Hennessey and takes a gulp. She lifts the bottle to me to see if I wants some but I shake my head.

"Cato and I were neighbors and grew up across the street from each other. Both of us had no siblings so we spent a lot of time together. He's two years older than me. Originally when to BYU, Brigham Young University to play lacrosse. I was against it because I knew he took that offer to stay close to me. As you can imagine I don't have many friends. My personality comes off very serious and blunt which can be tough for people to swallow. We did ever thing together and went to each other's sporting events in between our own. Once I got the offer to play volleyball at Oceana I decided not to tell him. I felt we needed distance since it was unrealistic we would be together forever. As life would have it, Cato transferred to Oceana since all of their division 1 teams ranked in the top five nationally. He told me this before I could tell him. Once I did he feels like its fate or something…"

"Well do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Feel the same way. It's clear he has an attachment to you Clove. Anyone who sees you two together know he has an affection for you."

"Lust. He has lust for me. When I say we do everything together…we do everything…it's suffocating.

"So why are you fucking him?" Clove raises a brow. "Your words not mine."

"I'm bored I guess…"

"You know that's completely bullshit right?"

"Jeez, Cresta you are just letting it all out tonight aren't you?"

"Get back to the point Pendle." Suddenly there's a knock on the door.

Since I'm fully dressed. I open the door to be met with Effie's vibrant blue makeup and oversized blonde hair.

"Hellooooo, girls!" her sing song voice pierces my ears.

"Hi Effie, what's going on?"

"Just wanted to remind you girls we have a hall meeting at 8pm tonight and I expect you all there."

"No problem, I'll be there."

"It's not you I'm worried about not attending Ms. Cresta…" Effie shoots a glance at Clove who is still dressed in nothing but an oversized t-shirt.

Clove shoots her a glare. "What? I can't be in my pajamas early?"

"It's seven p.m. and last time I checked you played volleyball not lacrosse Ms. Pendle." I notice that her shirt does in fact say Oceana LAX with Cato's number on the front. Ouch.

The two glare at each as I awkwardly rub the back of my head unsure of what to do. I hear a cough causing the older woman to turn around. Behind her was a lovely girl with deep brown eyes and skin. Her thick curly hair stopped just past her shoulders. "Sorry, to interrupt Miss Trinket but the new RA is here and she needs the list of the girls on her floor."

"Oh my, she came early so I'll have to go. Please make sure all your girls in attendance." Effie smiled at her before heading down the hall way to her next task.

"Hi Annie, Clove, I'm Rue Okafor your resident assistant for the third floor. Nice to meet you, may I come inside?" I nod and let the girl in before closing the door.

Rue pulls out some forms from her clipboard and hands them to us. "Okay ladies, this a roommate agreement form. I need both of you to go through it together and sign on both. It's important to do this now so if you have conflict later you can refer to this form."

"I'm not sure we'll need it, Annie and I are anti climatic people." Clove glances at me, she keeps a passive face but I know she's teasing.

"I'm glad to hear you are getting along, Clove may be a little more so?" Rue wiggles her eyebrows suggestively at her attire.

"Is everybody just out for me today?" Rue laughs before continuing.

"Well nonetheless please make sure next time you have a guest let your roommate know."

"I knew him…" I say quietly trying to help Clove out some.

"Hmm Cato right?" We both look at her quizzically.

"Chill girls I saw him leave the hall earlier." She laughs. "My older brother Thresh is also on the lacrosse team. Since we live in Malibu the guys often stay at our beach house off-season. That boy is hard around the edges although meeting you has caused my concern to go away."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Clove said with no amusement.

"I just mean you complement each other. Oh and Annie, Finnick asked me to give you this." My face heats up as Rue hands me a piece of paper with his name and cell phone number on it. Clove shoots me a questioningly look, I'll have to explain later.

"What is this for?"

Rue shrugged, "Not sure, he said it was for a lab or something. He really hunted me down, I didn't pin you for his type though."

"I-I no. T-that's not. I mean. I just met him today, he's…not, I'm not interested in him." Both Rue and Clove looked at me in surprise,

"Not interested?!" The girls said in unison.

"Y-yeah."

"Finnick is hot! I mean he takes sexy to another level girl." Clove nodded in agreement with Rue.

"Well why don't you date him?" Rue laughs again.

"I'm taken."

"Aren't you like 17?" Clove states moving to the edge of her bed so Rue can sit.

"No, well not anymore. I started school early technically I'm a junior but I'm 18."

"I also started school early before transferring here." I smile at Rue, another person who I seem to connect with. Maybe Mom is right…I'm finding my niche

"Nice! I'm so glad you're here with us in Oceana. My boyfriend Thom is graduating this year so I'm glad there's someone here who gets the struggles of being younger." She returns my smile.

"So are we going to get back to Finnick or nah?"

"Fine, Clove he's my lab partner that's all."

"So you get to sit next to him the whole year?"

"Hopefully not but yes it seems so…"

"Why do seem upset about that?" I crossed my legs on my bed. It was clear girl talk was in full swing. Part of me was scared because I've never experienced this before plus I barely knew these girls. But, there was another part of me who felt excited, giddy to talk about these things with people my age and not in a doctor's office. Our dorm is small so even though I was on my bed I was quite close to Clove and Rue.

"It's just he's such a jock and he's conceded."

"So?"

"Clove come on. He's so out of my league it's not even funny." Rue looks at me with sad eyes.

"I hope my comment about not being his type didn't-"

"No…it's not that it's just he's totally not my type."

"Well I'm glad but you do know you have your own beauty about you Annie." I smile weakly but today is not the day I get into my image.

The three of us are quiet for a minute before Clove speaks.

"So who is your type?"

I pause and blush debating whether to be honest or not. "I-I like guys like…Peeta? That's his name right."

Rue squeals and Clove huffs unimpressed.

Clove sighs. "You would like guys like that."

"W-what's wrong with Peeta? He's very sweet and caring."

"He's short and looks 16."

Rue interjects. "Okay but Clove you're a giant. Peeta is actually a good height. He's like what 5'10 or '11?"

"Yeah but he's just too sweet and soft for me."

"We know." Rue and I laugh as we say it in unison.

Time passes and the three of us just continue to talk. We share our interests, fears and embarrassing moments. Before I know it, even I open up about the bullying and gossip that led me to leave Montana. I even went as far as talking about my emotional triggers. To be so vulnerable with these girls I just met is a risk but also a risk I'm currently willing to take. Hope I don't regret it. Soon we realize it's close to midnight and we completely ditched the hall meeting. Rue told us everything we needed to know anyway. Since the dining halls were closed Clove called in a large pizza we somehow successfully snuck in without running into Effie or other girls on our floor.

Our pizza was half cheese and half double pepperoni. It came with a free liter of orange crush soda so we all sat on the floor and had our meal. Clove wrinkles her nose as Rue and I dig into the slices of pepperoni, "I don't know how you guys eat that stuff."

With a mouthful I reply "I'm from Montana we hunt and eat meat all the time."

"And I just love pepperoni." Rue and I high five as Clove rolls her eyes.

As I pour some soda into my cup, I see Clove pull out her bottle of Hennessey. Rue quirks a brow at me and I shrug.

"Clove, you know I could write you up for that."

Clove shrugged as she tied her dark hair up. "Yeah but you won't."

"How do you know?"

Clove smirked. "Because if you write me up you get in trouble because you not only skipped a hall meeting but also ended up in a room containing alcohol now you tell me how Ms. goody-goody Effie is going to take that?"

Rue shakes her head. "Whatever but be careful you're an athlete after all."

"I have today and tomorrow off so I'm enjoying this before the season gets crazy."

As we continue to eat and chat, Rues phone begins to ring. Still chewing she answers.

"Hello?...Oh Hi babe!...Where are you?...Yeah sure that's fine….I'm hanging with my floor mates Clove and Annie …What? Really?...Okay I guess we will see you then." Rue hangs up with an amused look.

"What is it lover girl?" Clove asks taking another slice.

"The boys a coming over."

Oh shit.