I wake with a jolt as the train lurches on the tracks. I must have fallen asleep next to Finnick, because I'm still in the armchair next to his couch. It's dark, still nighttime. I flip on a lamp near me; the cheery yellow glow lights the room enough for me to see Finnick without disturbing him. His expression, which was contented when he fell asleep, is now the face of someone in a struggle. His arms and legs are flailing underneath the blanket, and he cries out every so often. If the blanket I'd covered him with hadn't been such a light one, I'd think he was just overheating and fighting to get out from under it. But the covering I chose was merely a sheet, and a thin one at that. No, Finnick is caught in a nightmare. And a fairly bad one, from the look of things. I shake his shoulder gently.

"Finn," I murmur. "Finn, wake up. You're dreaming." He yelps as if in pain, and I shake him more urgently. "Finnick! Finnick, wake up! Wake up!" With a thunderous frightened shout, he opens his eyes wide. He seems surprised not to see a murderous Career or a devious Mutt. I give him a piteous smirk. "Dreaming, huh?" I ask, trying to pretend as though I was unaware he was caught in a deathly reverie. He sits up groggily, rubbing his head.

"Oh, Annie, knock it off. I know they're bad. I'm completely aware that I scream, and kick, and sometimes cry… when I'm having nightmares." His gaze turns distant, and I know he's seeing something I can't. "They're just so real to me," he murmurs. I hug him close before laying him back down on the couch while I re-curl into my armchair.

"I know," I say, then realize the truth. "Well, no, I don't know. Not yet. But I will." I remember why I'm on this train. Tears come, but I fight them, opening my eyes only when I'm sure I can hold them back. I expect to see Finnick with his arms open for a hug, but instead I find him already asleep. With a sigh, I lean down and give him a peck on the cheek. He smells like the sea, like home. "Sweet dreams, Finn," I whisper. "No nightmares."

I wake with the sun in the morning, having had a nightmare-free slumber myself. I look over at Finnick's couch, to find it still occupied by him. Well, he's had enough sleepless nights. I decide not to wake him, and begin to roam the train. As I walk silently down the halls, lit only by the dawn light, I realize I still haven't seen my compartment. So I wander down the corridor where I located Finnick's room. There, to my left, I see a door marked with my name. I push open the door quietly and head inside.

The room is elegant, but surprisingly stark. Dark yellow walls, a plush bed with burgundy covers, a wooden dresser and a mirror. Not much to see, and the clashing colors hurt my eyes. So I turn on my heel and leave, intending to go ask Nimmo when we'll arrive in the Capitol. Instead, I find Nimmo standing in my doorway. The wig color of the day is electric blue, with a shimmery sequined suit to match. He seems as surprised to see me as I am to see him, and we both step out into the hallway to have more space to breathe.

"Nimmo… what are you doing here? In my room?" I ask. He gazes at me as if the answer is obvious, but answers cheerfully, as always.

"Why, just looking for you and Finnick, little lovebirds. I figured the two of you would sneak off to a compartment before…."

"No!" I exclaim, too loudly. "No, no, no. Nothing happened between me and Finnick. Nothing, Nimmo. Okay? I'm a tribute, he's a victor. Odds are, I'll be dead in a few weeks, and Finn will have to watch my body get scraped up by a helicopter. Only a fool would involve himself with someone they'll never see again." I stop talking, eyes misty. The sad part is, what I've said is true. In a few weeks, Finnick probably will watch my body being scraped up by a helicopter. Along with the rest of Panem. Including my father, and Isemet. I want to win badly now, so they'll never have to see that horrible image. I shove past Nimmo, accidentally hitting his arm pretty hard with my shoulder. I mumble an apology as I break off into a dead run through the train. I've closed my eyes against the hot tears, so I don't notice when the train gets unexpectedly dark. A computerized voice blares over a loudspeaker,

"Do not be alarmed. We are merely passing through a brief set of tunnels. The Capitol will be upon us very soon. I repeat, do not be alarmed. Use a source of artificial light if necessary."

I've run no more than ten feet before I round a corner and crash into somebody, and we fall together in a heap of limbs on the floor. As we finish the pass through the tunnels, the light returns, and I see that Finnick is the one I've collided with. Of course. He smiles at me, a dazzling display of perfect teeth. I stand up hurriedly, intending to disentangle myself from the situation, but Finnick grabs my arm and makes me stare into his beautiful eyes.

"Annie, thanks for last night. Everything you did was really sweet."

"Yeah, well I guess it's hard for someone like you to fall asleep alone." The words come out far harsher than I had meant them to. His eyes grow stormy for a moment, and disappointment flashes across his face, as though he caught a deeper meaning to my joke. But he quickly regains his composure.

"Anyway, after you woke me when I was dreaming, I never had another nightmare. Although it did take me awhile to fall asleep again. By the way, I'm a very good fake sleeper." He simpers, and I realize what he means. He knows I kissed him last night! I'm mortified, even though it was nothing more than a peck on the cheek. After my conversation with Nimmo, which I am now sure Finnick overheard, I look like such a hypocrite! I raise my hand to slap him, but put it down in an incredible moment of self-control. Finnick smiles innocently.

"So, enough about that," he continues. "I've never been on the train this long before. Let's go find Nimmo and ask him why. We should have been there before nightfall last night."

"You go find Nimmo," I reply, not wanting to face the Capitol man while still feeling two-faced. "I haven't seen Pisces since last night. I want to make sure he's okay." I scamper down the hall, embarrassed when I hear Finnick's loud peal of laughter.

I do want to find Pisces, though; I hadn't lied to Finnick. After seeing his ashamed reaction at his own crying last night, I wanted to make sure he was alright. He's in the TV room, sitting where Finnick slept. I glance up at the screen to see that Pisces is watching a replay of his Reaping again. He flinches when the images of him crying flash upon the screen. With a sigh, I wrench the remote from his grasp and shut off the television.

"Pisces," I say, plopping down next to him, "you need to stop this. It's unhealthy to dwell on the past, especially when there's nothing you can do about it. Don't worry, what you did at the Reaping truly isn't as bad as it seems." He looks at me, clearly disbelieving everything I've just said.

"Yeah, sure. If you had started crying your eyes out, no one would've thought a thing about it. But you're younger than me. And you're a girl." I slug him hard right in the arm.

"Hey!" I chide sternly, genuinely ticked off. "Just as many girls have won the Games as guys, and you know it! So don't even give me that junk!" Pisces looks startled, as if he had expected a more gentle reception. Well, I'm tired of being gentle, after all the confusion with Finnick. Between Nimmo, Finnick knowing I kissed him (I still can't believe that one!), and my possible feelings for my mentor, I'm done with being the sweet little girl.

"No, Annie, that's not what I meant," Pisces protests, seeming tired all of a sudden. "I meant that, since you're a girl, people kind of expect you to cry. It's nothing against girls, just the truth. But I'm an eighteen year old boy. No, in most people's eyes, I'm already a man. So for me to cry up in front of everyone, instead of taking a swing at a Peacekeeper or something, makes me look like an easy target." He pauses and sighs, and I feel instantly apologetic. I lean into his shoulder, rubbing his arm where I hit him.

"I'm sorry, Pisces," I stammer. "My emotions are just… running a little high lately. I'm kinda skittish, you know?" Pisces nods, and then his gaze gets detached, as if he's deep in thought about something. A moment later, I learn what's weighing on my district partner's mind.

"Look, Annie… I can't win these Games. I know that. I know that. I just, I can't kill anybody. It's not in my nature. I'm absolutely sure of that. I might try to act tough, but I'm a sensitive guy. I'll never have a chance against a pack of Careers, or someone like Johanna Mason, or anyone else, for that matter." He stops for a moment, clenching and unclenching one of his huge fists, inhaling shakily.

"But, I don't want my life to be… wasted. I don't just want to be one of those boys in the arena who gets a knife in his back. I want something with importance. So I've decided to help you… Annie. I'm going to stick by your side once we're in the arena. I won't ask for any of your food or water, or use any of your weapons. I just want to be there to help you out. So when you get attacked, I can try to save you. Or die trying, anyway. Don't say no. Please. This is what I want, this is all I can do with my time in the arena. Please." I look into his eyes, which are a light, satiny brown, and see that he's sincere. Any thoughts I've been having about Pisces just doing this as a ploy to kill me disappear. He really just wants to help me. I nod once, to indicate that he can tag along with me in the arena. I want to thank him, because his protection could be the thing that saves me, but I can't risk letting my emotions bubble over again. Not now. Pisces smiles, relived. And the train pulls into the Capitol.

With a grinding halt, we stop. Suddenly, all I can hear is the screaming idiots outside, waiting to catch a glimpse of some poor District children, on their way to die. I roll my eyes and stand up, making my way to the front door so I can get off. At the door, I am met by an eager Finnick, who has put on a smiling face for the adoring fans waiting to see him step off the train.

"Nimmo said the District 3 train derailed sometime yesterday and we got stuck behind it; that's why we were on here for so long. Funny that it was District 3, with their technology and all. Weird how we never felt the train stop, too?" I nod, thinking that Finn and I were probably singing together when this all happened. I feel the blush rise to my cheeks, and push some hair over my face to cover it.

"You're not nearly as talkative as you were yesterday," Finnick observes in a devilishly seductive tone. I groan and shove myself past him, closer to the door. I want to be off of this train! Nimmo rushes towards us with a key in his hand and opens the door. I'm blinded by the bright morning sunlight, and the eccentrically colored outfits of the Capitol folks in front of me don't help matters. Nimmo leads the way out of the train station towards the Remake Center, and I assume I am to follow. I step off the train, shielding my eyes from all the colors, when Finnick smoothly marches up to me and matches stride with me. Instantly, a chorus of "Awwwww" arises from the women in the crowd, amused or perhaps disappointed by Finnick's hurry to find me. I glare at him, not wanting anyone to jump to the conclusions that Nimmo did, until he steps in front of me and addresses the crowd.

"Ladies, ladies," Finnick calls, waving his arms for emphasis. The crowd goes so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

"Give. Me. A. Break," I mutter under my breath, wondering how many of the women in the crowd know Finnick Odair personally. Feel free to guess what the word personally entails.

"The lovely young girl seen with me today is Annie Cresta, my tribute. We are not in a relationship, because of the complicated nature of the Games. So, there's no need to be alarmed; there's still plenty of Finnick to go around. Enough for each of you. You, and you, and you in the purple there, and-" I grab his arm and pull him away, before any of the adoring women pass out from sudden heart failure. He frees his arm gently and moves to stand in front of me.

"I actually had some advice for you," he entices. "Mentor-ly advice." Now my interest is peaking. We start walking again. "I know their clothes hurt your eyes, but try to look at them. Remember, you need to be friendly. These people are going to be your sponsors. They control your life. Or your death. Also, please try to smile. This whole set-up is disgusting, I know, but the Capitol citizenry isn't responsible. Snow is. The people here are just mindless sheep, like little children; they don't know how horrifying it is to us." I turn to face the crowd with a huge fake grin on my face. I wave at them, and they cheer and applaud.

"No need to stick up for your clients, I already planned to make an attempt at being charming," I say dryly. After Finnick laughed at me in the hall this morning, I have wanted nothing to do with him. Besides, reality is setting in, and I'm realizing that I don't need to develop feelings for someone I'll only know a few weeks.

"Look, Annie. I really am sorry about laughing at you. And telling you I was awake when you kissed me. I didn't realize that you would take it the way you did. Or that you were so taken with me," he says, giving me a sincerely apologetic face complete with puppy-dog eyes. Finnick doing puppy-dog eyes is too much, and I can't stay mad at him. I laugh.

"You're forgiven, Finn," I admonish, taking his hand in a friendly way. "Now show me the Capitol you love so much." He swings our clasped hands and begins acting like a tour guide as we walk toward the Remake Center.

"Now here is a fine example of the Capitol's famous candy-colored tiles. And over there, a 24-hour dance club. One of my favorite haunts, as a matter of fact." I giggle as Finnick points out the novelties of the Capitol; a story or a tidbit of humor is attached to nearly every place surrounding the Remake Center. I realize how harsh and daunting the Capitol would have seemed to me, without Finn there to make the place seem more… comfortable. By the time we arrive at the front doors of the Remake Center a few minutes later, I'm laughing uncontrollably. Finnick is describing a lounge called Dionysus, and the story that goes with it is hysterically funny.

"And so I said, 'No, sir! I will not put my shirt back on! This is a restaurant, not a black-tie wedding! And, sir, why are you staring at my pecs? Do you want some Finnick like everyone else? Then here, have some!' And then I tossed the whole tureen of mashed potatoes at him!" We're both chortling like preschoolers now, as we head in behind Nimmo. Oshun and Pisces have followed us at snails' pace; she wanted the crowd to take in Pisces' muscular physique. Apparently, Pisces hasn't told Oshun that he plans to die for me without killing anyone. Not that I blame him, I wouldn't have told her, either.

Nimmo turns around to face Finnick and I, since Oshun and Pisces are still shuffling in. Both of us try to stop laughing abruptly, so that Nimmo can speak, but I wind up snorting accidentally and that sets us both off again. Neither of us can stop now, and we don't even attempt to control our guffawing. Oshun parades in and rolls her eyes at us; Pisces comes in behind her. Nimmo waits patiently for us to stop, but there's no end in sight. Finally, Finnick stops laughing long enough to tell Nimmo,

"I know… hahaha, where she's… hahaha, going, Nimmo… hahaHAha, I'll take her… hahaha." Nimmo smiles at us and waves us away, and Finn leads me down a hall. After a moment, I tug us over to a wall and collapse, because I can hardly breathe. I wait until my chuckling spasm has finally passed, and then I ask,

"What was so funny, anyway?" Honestly, I've forgotten amidst all the laughter. Finnick opens his mouth to tell me, but I press a finger to his lips and say, "No! Don't tell me, we'll never stop laughing if we start again!" He agrees, because he doesn't continue. For the first time, I actually look around and see the Remake Center.

White. Everything here is white. Floor, ceiling, walls, doors. Every surface is covered in shiny white plastic, smooth to the touch and cool on my skin. Squares of light glow softly from the ceiling; I can barely make out the faint outline of each light through its abundant plastic coating. Finnick stands up and pulls me up with him. I realize then that our hands are still clasped, and make no move to separate them. The connection of our hands feels right, but not romantic. More like two close friends strolling down the beach back in Four. Four… why am I not there?

Realization washes over me like the wave that swept me mother away. The Hunger Games; death. My knees give way and I start to sink; Finn's biceps contract instantly and keep me from falling. He picks me up and holds me to him, forcing me to look into his eyes. Those beautiful eyes have a calming effect on me, and I am breathing normally again after a moment.

"Are you okay now, Annie?" he asks me carefully. I nod silently. Relief leaks onto Finnick's face and he smiles. "Good. You just remembered why you were here, didn't you?" I nod again, and Finn's smile turns grim. "It stinks, I know. But I aim to get you through these Games alive, alright? You just have to trust me. And one crucial step in getting the sponsors who can save you is having a nice image. Which is why we're here. Okay? Let's go let them make you pretty… I mean, more pretty than you already are! If that's possible!" He sets me down, and I smirk up at him.

"Nice save, Odair. Come on." We walk hand in hand down the shiny white halls, until Finnick points out a door marked 'Taythanna'.