Chapter Two: Goodbye is really the hardest part.

Finnicks POV.

I stand, in shock. That's the only way to describe the feeling I felt when it finally hit me that they had called me, my name. There had to be a mistake. No way could I be headed to a deathly arena where I probably wouldn't come out. This had to be a joke, some sick person put them up to this to scare me. I couldn't move. My feet literally would not press forward as everybody turned and stared at me. Across the square, I could see my mother collapsing into my father and my sisters staring, as if they couldn't believe this was happening either. My brother only stood there, strong and regretful. I knew he would take my place if he could, but it was impossible he had reached the age limit. God, I had been so worried about Annie, Tridan, all of the people in my life I couldn't bare to lose that I hadn't had time to worry for myself. And now here I was, supposed to go up there and accept "fate" with open arms. Still, I couldn't move. I knew peacekeepers were making their way to me, but I had to find something for strength before I could even think about obliging to the capitols wishes. What did they think now as they saw me on screen? Probably how cowardly I was. It wouldn't do well in sponsors, but for the moment I couldn't find any motivation to care. No, the only thing that could get me to move was one thing, and I couldn't spot her until I heard her beautiful voice, screaming my name in terror. Annie. Little, spunky Annie with the spirit of a warrior Goddess was crying and trying to shove her way through people and peace keepers to get to me. My legs thawed out, I wanted to run to her hold her and tell her I would come back if only for her. She had always been my best friend, my little sister but now that I realized how little time we had left and how much time I had wasted I felt the distinct horror of how much time I had wasted, leaving us in the friend zone. I moved towards her, intent on telling her I yearned for more, even if I didn't know exactly what yet. But a Peacekeeper caught my arm, hauled me to the stage. I turned to fight him off but a woman peace keeper was grabbing Annie and I knew that unless I wanted her hurt I better do as they said.

Up on the stage, I was distant and cold. No emotions were to show through my façade. I only had eyes for Annie, watching her salty tears flow down her cheeks and her choked sobs being the only thing heard as our mayor droned on about the history of Panem and the hunger games. Her dark hair was coming loose on her head and I wanted to brush it back away from her pale face so I could stare into her sea-green eyes. Why had I been so insolent? Why had I not admitted that I truly did like Annie more than I showed? Now I would never know if she could feel the same for me, or if we could actually accomplish being more than just friends. Our fathers used to joke that one day Annie and I would get married, but I had never paid them much attention. I couldn't marry her, I used to think. Not Annie, the girl who could catch fish easier than I could or the one that could out swim pretty much every person in the district. She was just one of the guys. So why did I now see her differently? Was it because we were doomed and I wanted only what I could not have? Or was it because I finally realized just how much she meant to me?Distracted by thoughts, I shook hands with Darielle, a girl with a wicked expression one that said she would enjoy ripping me to shreds in the arena. She was a career, and therefore ruthless and unmerciful. I would watch my back around her, yet her presence reminded me just how hopeless my fighting chances were. I probably would not live past the initial blood bath. It should frighten me, I was literally staring in the face of death. But no emotion registered. I guess I was beyond caring, the only thing that truly upset me was my wasting time with those I loved, or could love in Annie's case. I never told my brother how much I really liked his fiancée, or how he had inspired me. And God only knows the last time I told my mother I loved her, or even hugged her. And my father, I hadn't gone fishing with him in years. Just him and me. Now that I was headed to death, those things mattered. And I couldn't take back the lost time.

I was really letting my thoughts lead me away from the present, because the next time I was conscious of my surroundings, I was in the Justice Building. They always took future tributes here to meet with family or friends who wanted to visit for good-byes, or in winners' cases see-you-laters. The room was elegant, with pretty wall paper and a couch made of some soft material I couldn't conjure the name up to. Probably because I had never seen something so rich. We were just typical poor district citizens, and never had the luxuries others did. Nonetheless, the couch was too inviting for me to just stand here so I sank into it closing my eyes against the growing headache from the cycling of my reveries. It was only minutes later when a peacekeeper opened the door and let my family inside. Harmony ran straight into my arms, sobbing and blubbering things that didn't make sense. I held her to me and stroked her golden hair, trying to hold back tears myself. Marisol was more composed, her lip quivered but I knew she was just trying to be strong. I wrapped a supporting arm around her as well, knowing I needed to be their support right now more than I needed some myself. My mother was biting back her cries only coming over to kiss my forehead and whisper over and over again how much she loved her baby. She couldn't hold back anymore and had to leave the room because she was crying so hard. My father held Telilah, and let me kiss the babies soft head before staring into my eyes and murmuring only one sentence before going to find my mother. "Come back to us now, ya hear?"

Annies POV.

Mrs. Odair ran out as Tridan and I waited in the waiting room silently. Her breakdown made my heart constrict and I wanted to run back to the ocean to forget everything. I couldn't, though. I had to be here for Finnick. He needed me, and I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't tell him good-bye. Tridan was to go next, after Maxwell walked out looking at us sympathetically but in the end not saying anything just leaving the building. I knew he would have taken Finnicks place if he could, but every one of us were powerless against the Capitols rules. The endless stream of them, that only they benefited from. It made me clench my fists. I wanted to kill them. Make them all suffer for this. They were so cruel to make us watch the ones we loved die for entertainment. If I could, I would have started a rebellion right then and there. But I was just a small girl, of average size who would carry no weight. They would kill me before I got three words out. Still, it felt good to spew hateful words in my mind while Tridan visited with Finnick. It gave me something to do other than breakdown and curl up in misery on the floor. When it was my turn, I stood up shakily wiping my sweaty palms on my dress. I shouldn't feel nervous around Finnick but I did, mostly because this could be the last time I would see my best friend. The pain was breah taking and as I walked in he was standing, looking out a dirty window out into the town square. There were people outside, celebrating another year of their children not being sentenced to death or cursing because they hadn't been able to volunteer. Why, I thought hadn't someone volunteered for Finnick? Why would anyone want someone so good, so beautiful to die. That thought brought me up short. Finnick was basically my older brother, but as he turned around and I caught sight of his tortured face I just wanted to hold onto him and never let go. I was just grief-filled I reminded myself. I wasn't falling for him. No, not Finnick. He was just Finnick. That's right, Annie. Just Finnick. With his gorgeous blonde hair and dark green eyes, so much like my own. We could be related, although everybody in our District could look like it. We all resembled each other because of the little gene pool we had to choose from. In seconds I was running to him, wrapping my arms around his waist the tears coming again. I felt stupid, it wasn't like I was headed to death. I should be strong for him, not acting like a baby when he needed support .His strong arms wrapped around my thin waist and I felt the sobs leave him, his chest heaving. My strong best friend, breaking into small pieces.

It felt like hours, but was probably only minutes, until we pulled apart. He led me to a small couch that would be in other situations very relaxing. But right now it felt confining, and wrong. Nothing this good should be in such a situation. Everything should be bleak, like our lives. "Come back to me." I said, breaking our silence for the first time. My words were forceful but I needed to know he understood. Of course he did, he nodded and gazed at me with the intensity of a thousand suns."I'll try." was his reply and I gripped onto his hand squeezing with all my strength."NO. Promise me Finnick. Promise me I will see you again. I-I can't do this. Without you." I begged my green orbs filling again as my voice broke. His face crumpled seeing my pain, but I wouldn't change it. Not if I could get him to try his hardest to come back to me. He stared at me for a long moment before nodding again, and I took it as consent. With shaky fingers I reached up and unclasped a necklace he had gotten me when I was nine. It still fit because I hadn't grown. It was a rope chain with a little pendant on it of a Saint from the old days. When I looked it up, according to history it was a saint for hope. Finnick knew this and he went to shake his head as I handed it to him. "Don't. Just take it okay? So you remember to fight. Fight hard. For me."I whispered and I swear, I felt it coming like a storm. Something in his face changed and before I could move he was leaning in, his breath fanning across my face. When his lips met mine, I tasted salt and cinnamon. It was so Finnick. It lasted only a second, but long enough to make me confused. He was going to explain, I know it, but before he could muster up his voice a peace keeper was there tearing us apart. "LET HER GO." was the last thing I heard before being dragged out of the building and back to the street.