Disclaimer: I own nothing, Suzanne Collins wrote the book, it just inspired me.

Chapter 7

FINNICK POV

We arrived at the station around noon the next day. Once the train came to a halt I stepped out of the train. There's a podium on the train stations platform. I walk over. I scan the crowed looking for my family, but there nowhere in sight.

I struggle getting throw my speech. I notice the crowds not giving me the same proud look they did the last time I came home. Now their faces are sad. I see Mags off to the side out of the corner of my eye and she's talking with the Mayor. She looks worried, sad and frighten all at the same time. When I finish my speech she pulls me aside.

"Finnick we have to get you home, now."

"Why? What's wrong?"

She gives me a grief stricken face.

"Something happened with Coral and Annie."

I don't wait for her to elaborate, I race off stage and sprinted home. When I make it home I practically bust the door down to get inside, desperate to find out what's going on.

"Dad! Coral!" I call out.

I hear nothing so I walk throw the house. Through the kitchen, sitting room, dinning area, my fathers room. Then I come to Corals room I see that the door is slightly open. I push the door completely open. My fathers is sitting on Corals bed, a blank look on his face. I walk in hesitantly and stand in front of him.

"Dad?"

He doesn't respond.

"Dad, where's Coral?"

I shake his shoulder

"Dad! what happened?"

I ask him but it's like talking to a brick wall. I kneel down and look straight into his face. His eyes ate red, swollen with tear tracks down his face. He doesn't look at me, his eyes are fixed on the floor.

"DAD!" I shout.

His eyes wonder before they some what settle on me.

"She's gone."

He grabs the roots of his hair by the nap of his neck tightly in his hands as his eyes close.

I clinch my jaw.

"Gone where?"

"With your mother."

Tears emerge from my eyes and run down my face. I don't know what to do with myself. I want to scream, cry, run, punch throw a wall. So I do it all. I run out of the room screaming at the top of my lungs as tears constantly roll down my face. I punch a whole through a wall in the hall way. I feel that I might have broken my hand but I could care less. I run out of the house and collapse on my porch. I pound on my floor boards with both my hands screaming at the top of my lungs. I can't comprehend this. She was alright when I left. How could this have happened.

Mags finally caught up to me by now. She climbs the steps and kneels in front of me, holds me as I sob.

"She's gone, she's gone." I repeat.

"I know Finnick, I know."

"How? when?"

"Hasn't your father told you?"

"No, he's not in his right mind."

"It happened yesterday, she was poisoned Finnick."

"By who?"

"No one knows."

Then I remembered that Mags mentioned not only Coral but Annie at the station.

"Is...is Annie..."

I couldn't even finish my question, the thought on not only losing Coral but also Annie was unbearable but Mags knew what I was asking.

"She was poisoned too, but not to the extent that Coral was. She's at home recovering."

"She...she's alive?"

"Yes,"

I rise to my feet, whipping away some of my tears.

"I have to go see her."

I run my way through the town to Annies house. Everyone in town stares at me as I run by. When I make it to Annies house I climb the steps two at a time. I knock on the door. I whip my face taking my tears way. Ms. Cresta opens the door. Her face is stricken with sorrow and her eyes are red from crying. She sees its me and walks forward hugging me. I hug her back.

"I'm so sorry Finnick."

I'm fighting tears.

"Can I see Annie?"

"Of course you can."

She walks me through the house towards Annies room.

"I'll be out hear if you need anything."

"Thank you."

I enter Annie's room and close the door behind me. She's laying on her bed, breathing heavily, shaking a bit and a thin layer of sweat coats her skin. I sit down in a chair that was placed at her bedside. Looking closely I notice that any essence of color was striped from her skin and she had dark circles under her eyes.

"Annie."

Her eyes slowly open, red and swollen as can be.

"Finnick."

"Yeah its me."

Tears start rolling out of her eyes.

"I'm so... sorry Finn... this is all... my fault."

She says between sobs.

"No...no it wasn't Annie, don't say that." I say brushing her tears away.

"What happened yesterday?" I ask her.

She takes a breath, hiccupping.

"We were at your house, we just got there from school. There was a knock at the door, Coral answered it. No one was there but there was a box and there was a small piece of cake, I had a bite but Coral finished it. Then she said she had a stomach ach and she collapsed, It all happened so fast I held her in my arms, her eyes were open but she wasn't responding. Her mouth started to foam, I ran out for help when I reached your dad and then I blacked out." She tells me.

"I woke up this morning and...and she was..." she breaks out into sobs. I lean forward hugging her as she lays there and we both sob.

"I'm sorry Finnick...I'm so sorry." she sobs into my neck.

"You did nothing wrong. You did everything you could to help her."

"I shouldn't have let her eat that thing, we didn't even know who sent it."

I pull away and whip the tears from her cheeks. She hiccups as she cries. I sit with her for a long time holding her hand, and she eventually falls asleep but I didn't want to leave her. I fall asleep in the chair I was sitting in.

A week later we had cremated Coral, as we do with all people from district 4. Annie was now well enough to leave her house. I couldn't have gotten through the day without her holding my hand. We had a small ceremony on the distinct 4 overlook cliff. When the ceremony was over we released her ashes, and the wind carried her. Now she would be apart of the sea, the sand, she would always be here.

The following weeks after Corals funeral were unbearable. My father had moved back into the old house. He said he needed space and I was happy to give it to him. I stayed at home a lot, keeping myself in the dark. Mags would sometimes try dragging me out of the house during the day but had little luck. But I would leave the house at night, when there was little to no one out. I didn't really want to hassle with people. I find myself wandering to Annie house most nights. Some nights I'm tempted to knock on her door but I stop myself.

Today I'm locked in like any other day. I think its Friday, Mags usually comes by these days to bring me food. But I have no appetite.

There was then a knock at the door. I assume its Mags.

"Not today Mags."

I call out but the knocking continues.

"Go away Mags."

I call out again but the knocking still continues. I groggily lift myself from the sofa and make my way to the door.

"Mags I said..."

I stop when I see her in front of me.

"Hey Finn."

"Annie what are you doing here?"

I asks as I try fixing my hair.

"I stopped by to see Mags and she insisted I come over to see you and bring you some food."

She says holding out the tray of food.

"Oh, well thanks. Umm, you want to come in?"

"Sure."

I step aside for her to walk in. I close the door behind me.

"So what did Mags send over today?"

"Fried fish and chips."

She hands it to me.

"Thanks."

She looks at me.

"How are you I haven't seen you in so long."

I sigh as I place the tray of food on the counter.

"Not good Annie, not good."

She comes close to me and puts he hands on my forearms. I'm slowly loosing control of my emotions.

"I don't know what to do with myself anymore, I...I..."

Tears break throw my eyes. She immediately wraps her arms around me.

"It's okay Finn let it out."

I burry my face in her neck and let the tears take over. I wrap my arms around her tightly, needing something, someone to hold onto.

"I know it hurt Finnick, I'm hurting too..."

She starts crying herself.

"I loved her so much she was like a sister to me...I never had anyone like that...And now she'd gone just like that..." "And if I feel like that... I cant even begin to imagine how you must feel...She was your sister, flesh and blood...I'm so sorry Finnick." "I promised you I'd look after her and I failed."

I pulled away from her neck. She reached up and wiped away my tears.

"Annie, I already told you it wasn't your fault."

"But I still feel responsible...you can tell me that its not all you want but I still feel it." "I held her in my arms as she slowly slipped away, and I was helpless. I couldn't help her."

Her tears kept rolling down her face.

"Annie, "

I face her towards me.

"You almost died yourself... You did all you could, I know you did." "At least I didn't lose you both."

One last single tear escapes and I kiss it away. I bring her close to my chest and hold her. She wraps her arms around me and we stand there clinging to one another.

"Annie, help me pull myself together."

"I'll do what I can, If you do the same for me."

"I will Annie."

From that day on she was at my side and I hers. She kept me going. She pulled me out of the darkness. She encouraged me to keep going and I did the same. I couldn't imagine a day without her. We would spend our days at the beach, swim for hours, lay on the beach soaking up the suns rays. Talk for hours on end. Do our school work together. She became my best friend.

Days went by, weeks, and then soon months. The pain from Corals death would never leave, but with time It would be easier to bare.

A new year was approaching. Annie's birthday was approaching fast, March. She'll be turning 13. I would follow soon after in April.

"So what do you want to do for your birthday?" I ask her one afternoon as we sat on the beach while I breaded her hair.

"I want to go out for a swim, lay on the sand, watch the clouds go by and practice my knotting."

"But we do that almost everyday."

"Exactly, I don't want to make a big deal about it."

"But its your birthday." I protest.

"Yeah your right, it is my birthday, and I want to do what we do everyday."

I sigh.

"Fine then, But I'm still getting you a gift and you cant say anything about it."

"Alright alright but I don't want you spending money on me."

"Your so difficult." I complain making her giggle.

When the morning of her birthday came I quickly grab my things and ran out of my house and through the town heading to Annie's house. I jogged up the steps and entered the house. I now come and go as I pleased.

Her mother saw me enter and greeted me from the kitchen.

"Morning Finnick."

"Morning Ms. Cresta, Is she awake?"

"No I was about to head in with her birthday breakfast, Go on in and wake her yourself."

"Alright."

"Would you like something to eat too?" She asks me sweetly.

Ms. Cresta treated me so kindly, like a second mother.

"If its not too much trouble."

"Not at all. I'll be right in with it."

I walk down the hall to Annies room. She's sound asleep, laying on her side. I kneel down beside her bed. I skimmed the bridge of her nose with my finger. She flinches a bit. I do it again and she pushes my hand away.

"mnnnnn..." she groans.

"Wake up birthday girl."

She wakes up a bit. Eyes fluttering.

"Finn?"

I chuckle as she rubs her eyes.

"Yeah its me. Happy Birthday." I lean forward and kiss her cheek.

She blushes a bit.

"Thanks."

She sits up, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"I didn't keep you waiting too long did I?"

"No not at all."

Ms. Cresta walks into the room with a tray of food.

"Good morning my lovely girl."

"Morning mom."

She places the tray on Annies lap.

"Happy birthday sweetheart." Ms. Cresta tells Annie as she kisses her temple.

"Thank you mama."

"I'll let you two eat up." She says before leaving the room.

On the tray there are two glasses of milk and two plates with eggs, ham, potatoes, and a slice of sweet bread. Annie and I dug into our meal.

Once we were finished I took the dishes into the kitchen while Annie dressed. Ms. Cresta is already cleaning dishes. She sees me coming and reaches out for the dishes.

"Thank you Finnick."

"No problem."

She dips them in the soapy dishwater.

"So you two doing anything special today?"

"No, She wants to do that same thing we do everyday."

"She never did like making a big deal about her birthday.

"Will you be staying for dinner tonight?" she asks me.

"Only if I'm invited of course."

"Your always invited Finnick, don't be silly."

"Then I'd love to."

Annie came out of her room with her usual beach bag over her shoulder.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah."

"See you in a while Mom."

"Alright darling have fun."

Annie grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the house. We went straight toward the beach. We sat ourselves down on a warm patch of sand.

"So what's the game plan for today, you decide." I tell her.

"Okay, lets go swim for a while, come back for a rest, you show me a few new knots, then just soak in the sun and talk as the clouds go by."

"Sounds perfect."

"Great lets go then."

She stands up and removes her shorts revealing a violet baiting suite she takes her shirt off and has a matching bathing suite top. I stand and take my shirt of.

"Race you to the water."

She tells me as she starts running. I run after her into the water. We dive in and submerge ourselves. The water was cool, and clear. Completely perfect. We eventually resurface for air. Annie wraps her arms around my neck like she usually does when we're in deep water. I wrap my arms around her.

"So where's my gift."

I grin at her.

"I though you didn't want anything?"

"Well you already said you were getting me something."

"True, don't worry you'll get it after we finish our swim."

"Alrighty then."

She lets go of me and starts floating about on the water. I start floating next to her.

After Annie tired herself out from swimming she head to shore. I stay back and head down to retrieve the final piece that would finish off her gift. I swim down deep where I know I'll find oysters. I grab a few and resurface. I head to the shore.

"What were you doing?"

"Getting your present."

I sit down next to her. She sits on her knees in front of me as I grab my bag and pull out a small knife.

"You know I don't like oysters right?"

I laugh.

"I know, but its what's inside them that count right?"

I pry open one and scavenge for what I'm looking for. She sits back and watches me.

The first one had nothing the second one also nothing but the third had a well sized, light pink/purple colored pearl. It was smooth, flawless, and beautiful. Just like her. I went back to the water to clean if off. I returned and fished around in my bag again. I had make made her a thin rope necklace with space to hold a single pearl. I placed the pearl in its holding place and sealed it off. I turned to her.

"Happy Birthday Annie."

I placed the necklace around her neck. She pinched the pearl between the thumb and index finger and inspected it.

"Thank you Finn. I love it."

She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me. I hugged her back.

"Your welcome Ann" I say kissing her cheek.

She pulls away from me and grabs her bag.

"Okay, now teach me a new knot."

She tells me as she pulls out a length of rope.

"Alright."

I teach her one of the more complicated knots that I know. While she tries it over and over I occupy myself by breading her hair. I find it really relaxing. More relaxing then knotting a rope. The silky texture of her hair feels amazing against my fingertips and the smell of it is so calming. After she's content with her knotting we head back into the water for one last swim. Were playful this time. Splashing, dunking each others heads into the water, laughing with each other. When we reached the point that we could no longer swim we went back to the shore once again. We laid ourselves down side by side on the sand watching the clouds go by.

Laying there next to Annie it makes me think about what Coral asked me the day before my reaping. I laugh lightly and turn to Annie.

"You know what Coral asked me that day before my reaping when I picked her up from your house?"

"What?" She asks turning to me.

"She asked me if I liked you. But really really like you."

Annie arches her eyebrow.

"I asked her if she was trying to set us up or something and she replied, "I just want her to be my sister, but that means you have to marry her"."

"She really said that?" Annie asked shocked.

"Yeah, you know she really loved you."

She looks away for a moment facing forward towards the sky.

"I really loved her too."

She says with a whimper. A single tear runs down towards her ear.

"Hey don't cry Annie, I didn't tell you to make you feel bad."

"I know I know."

She sits up straight and whips away the tears. I sit myself up as well.

"Its just..."

"What?"

She turns back to me.

"She was pushing me towards you too."

"Oh...really?"

She nods her response.

"Do you think she knew we would need each other at some point?"

"I don't know, maybe some part of her knew."

Now Annie's crying and I'm teary eyed. I pull her to me and hug her tight.

"I'm glad I have you Finn."

She pulls back and looks at me.

"I'm glad I have you too Annie."

I tell her as I whip away her tears.

"Okay, no more crying."

She nods.

"No more crying."

She whips her face clean, then releases a small giggle.

"I cant believe she wanted you to marry me, that's so weird."

"Not that weird."

I bump her shoulder. She raised her eyebrow to me.

"Come on Finn, I doubt that The Great Finnick Odair would settle for plain Jane Annie Cresta when he could have anyone he wants."

I laugh at how she say my Capital title.

"Hey I don't know what or who I'll want later down the road in life. Just because I could have anyone doesn't mean I want just anyone. And I like that your a plain Jane, there's not many of them left. I'd chose you over anyone."

"Really?"

"Yes."

She looks away and leans her chin on her knees.

"Tell you what Annie, lets make a pact right now."

"What kind of pact?"

"A marriage pact."

She turns her head sharply, completely in shock.

"If we're both single by the time your 18 and I'm 20 then you and I will elope."

She starts laughing.

"Are you okay Finn?"

She mocks me as she presses the back of her had to my forehead. I brush her hand away.

"Yes I'm fine. What do you think? Want to make the pact?"

"Finn, your crazy."

"How am I crazy? I mean I care about you. You care about me. I wouldn't mind getting married."

"Finn..."

"So yes or no?"

I interrupt her. She sighs heavily.

"Yes, deal."

I hold my hand out and we shake.

"Okay, future Mrs. Odair. Shall we get ourselves ready to head back and wash up before dinner at your mothers?"

She blushes and laughs at me.

"Yes Mr. Odair."

We stand up and redress ourselves before leaving the beach. We head to my house to shower and redress in nicer clothes. Annie packed a pretty yellow sundress to wear. We make our way to Annie house. The sun is starting to set and the lighting along with the yellow from her dress brought out the sparkles of gold in her eyes. I could barley take my eyes off of her. When we made it to her house her mother already had dinner waiting. She made crab cakes, grilled shrimp gumbo, and grilled salmon. It was delicious. For dessert, Annie didn't want cake, you cane probably guess why. So her mother made chocolate moose cups with fruit toppings. Annie and I were on our second cup when Annies mother excused her self.

"I'm heading off to bed now."

She leans over Annie and kisses her hair.

"Happy birthday sweetheart, don't stay up too late."

"I wont."

She then turns to me.

"Good night Finnick."

She gives me a genital pat on my cheek.

"Good night Ms. Cresta, thank you again for having me."

"You very welcome."

She then walks off towards her bed room.

I turn to Annie.

"I should get going too."

"Let me get my sweater and I'll see you out."

I nod and head for the door as Annie grabs a sweater from the closet. I'm already down the steps as she walks out the door behind me. I turn around as she's on the last step and wrap my arms around her waist. I bring her off the step and twirl her around a bit. Her giggles echo through the night with my laughs following. I set her down gently back onto the ground. I wrap my arms around her shoulders as she wraps hers around my waist. She presses her cheek against my chest as I rest mint on top of her head.

"Thanks for today Finn."

"Any day Annie, which will probably happen since we do the exact same thing every day."

I laugh and she slaps my back.

"You don't give me a gift everyday and we sure not make marriage pacts everyday either."

"I know Annie, I'm just teasing you."

I kiss her hair before letting her go from my arms but still hold her hands.

"Happy Birthday."

I kiss her hands. She blushes.

"Thanks Finny."

"I should get going."

"Yeah you should."

She says as she looks up at the sky.

"Be careful."

"Come on Annie, your talking to the guys that survived the Hunger Games. I think I can handle a nightly walk home."

"Okay then oh Great Finnick Odair."

"See you tomorrow Annie."

"See you Finnick."

I make my way home and rest myself up for the following day.

Hello everyone, hope you're liking the story :)...Let me know what you think, your reviews are what keep me going...lol...Cant wait to hear from you guys...Much love, bye for now.