I knew that we were close when we could hear the booming music radiating off the rides and attractions of the festival.
"so you were talking about volunteering for something earlier..." Annie says curiously as she looks at my face expectantly, waiting for an answer.
"I took up the last two spots available for face-painting." I tell her, watching the busqers as they perform on the streets, still holding her hand.
"Face-painting?" she says happily, her voice raising an octave in excitement. Shocked by her abrupt delight, I turn my head to look at her.
"Yes, face-painting," I confirm, a real smile assaulting my face in the best way. We run to the entrance to try and beat the big line of people that's for forming. Even though we don't have to because as soon as we get there, the girls swoon and back out of the way. Annie didn't seem to like that too much but use my status to full advantage. When I get to the gate all I have to say, if at all because most of
them know me.
"Finnick and Annie Odair. Face-painting." they nod their heads and
open the gate without question. I turn to Annie and wink.
"Don't worry, Finnick got this." but Annie just rolls her eyes and hides her anger just as she usually does. I can tell though. I've been with her long enough to know that when she gets that slight blush in her cheeks, her mouth goes in a straight line, and she tries to act the same happiness she had before, that she's angry.
"I love you Annie, no matter what things are going through your mind. My heart only belongs to you." I reassure, walking through the entrance and into the long strip of town that is the festival. Two petite blondes with radiant blue eyes perk up when we walk through and are about to greet us cheerfully but then when they know who it is, they freeze for a moment.
"Finnick! Welcome to the festival!" one of the blondes say as she punches my playfully on the arm as if she knew me forever.
"Thank you." I say charismatically, and then turn to Annie who is growing
more upset by the minute.
"Do you want to go check out some things before we head off to face- painting?" I ask her, trying to look into her eyes but I'm sure she doesn't want to look into mine.
"I don't care" she mumbles sourly, looking away. "I've never even been
to a carnival anyways."
"Okay then I'll take you somewhere," I say, attempting to get her previous happiness back. "Come"
I take Annie and walk through ignoring the adoring crowd and bring her to the oh-so-famous fishing game here. They set up a small pool with some of the hardest fish to catch here in 4. They put in the blue tilapia, some carp and tarpons. You get the biggest stuffed animal if you catch the blue tilapia because it's supposedly the hardest to catch. Eyeing Annie, I see her light up when she sees the game. It's one of her two favorite things in the world; marine biology and staying sane as she told me. I also see a grin of doubt and curiosity flash on her face as she thinks of how I'll ever be able to catch the blue tilapia. Little does she know I've been practicing quite a lot.
"You think you're gonna catch the blue tilapia don't you?" she says as she arcs her eyebrow and puts one of her hands on her hip.
"No." I say, matter of factly "I know I'm going to catch it and win one of those huuuuge plush animals all for myself." I laugh and stand to wait in line.
"You can't have it all to yourself if you don't win it in the first place. You can't catch it. It's impossible! Even the best fishers can't!" she tries to reason.
"Challenge accepted." I wink and grab a rod lying against one of the wooden posts. I dig in the pocket of my shorts and pull out a 10 dollar bill.

The game tender takes it and asks. "$10 for 3 minutes?"
"Yes sir." I reply and get the rod ready. I remind myself that the tilapias are mostly grass eaters so I pick up a special weed placed in one of the tackle boxes and slip it on the hook.
"Alright you get 3 minutes to catch the fish, good luck!" he says, punching the button to start the timer.
I drop the line into the water and wait for the tilapia to come. I watch as the carp passes by, contemplating whether or not to bite it. The carp swims away and I see the tilapia lurking elusively by the hook. Come on, come on. I will the fish with my mind. I feel a tug on my rod and as I predicted, it was a small blue tilapia fish they put in there. The tender pushes a different button and the sirens sound.
"Winner! We have a winner!" he says and picks a plush fish down from off the ceiling and hands it over to me.

"Thanks" I smile and walk away, watching Annie's eyes practically fall out of her head in shock.
"Here," I say, giving her the plush fish she was eyeing. "I told you I could catch it." I tell her as we walk away from the booth.
"You're the best, blah blah blah." she rolls her eyes again. I stop mid-walk beside the fun house full of loud music, clowns and mirrors. I think briefly of how scary that place would be for Annie and how I should make this conversation quick before she notices it. I snap out of my thoughts and turn to face Annie square on. I grab her shoulders so she can't turn away.
"Annie, what's the problem?" I ask, ignoring the stares of strangers and awed girls.
"Them!" she says, reaching up and pulling at her hair like she slays
does when she's frustrated. "All of them! Finnick! How am I supposed
to deal with all these girls staring at you and flirting with you?"
"What?" I ask, my grip on her shoulders loosening. What does she mean 'how am I supposed to deal with it?' she's supposed to know that I love her more than anything! Doesn't she trust me?
"Don't act like you don't see it." she says sourly.
"Annie, you're the only one I see." I move my hand from her shoulder to cup her face. "The only one."
"Okay. Just don't do it anymore." she sighs "we have to go to our booth before we get in trouble for not being there."
"No worries" I say turning her around "the booth is right there"