Hunger Games are not mine.

I step off of her and look at the time. Annie is probably worried I'm not with her right now. I run over to the Televison and turn on the parade. Cashmere comes up behind me and massages my shoulders. It feels good.

Her tributes look nice. Decorated in a stunning green and lots of sparkly adornments. They both look strong, the boy is 18 now and had been the only volunteer this year. For honor, I can't believe they tell them this crap.

Then I see her. Annie. I want to thank Noqall. It's perfect. She's wearing a long green dress, tied with a short brown corset in the middle. Her skirt is filled with perfect long green ruffles. It's unexpected. It's classy. And it's so Annie.

She's smiling there, with her brother. I smile too.

"I'll tell my tributes Finn... 1, 2, and 4..."

"Till the top 8?" I ask.

"Like always."

Chaff's tributes give off no interest, and Haymitch's look depressing. And then Snow speaks and I turn off the TV and head back to the fourth floor. I rush in to give Annie a hug, she's beaming happily. Ken just takes off his jacket and smiles at us.

"Where were you? I looked for you?"

"It's okay Annie, I was just securing your alliance. The boys and girls from 1 and 2."

Ken eyes me curiously, "And how did you manage that?"

"I've been here a while now, I know how things work." The answer seems to suffice for him. "Tomorrow, during training, hang out with them. Pick up on how they train, study them, and try to learn something yourself. Don't act weak now."

They both nod timidly. I assume my knowledge in the art of killing children surprises them a bit.

After I drop the kids off at training I head downstairs and find a few mentors at a table. Cashmere is there, talking up a storm.

She smiles when she sees me.

"But really now is the color of the ruby even that important? I mean red is red right?" Ebonarbia gives Cashmere a disapproving look.

"No! It's not. When I ask for my lips to be ruby red, I assume that the Capitol can at least afford to give me that color and not scarlet red! Right Finnick?"

"Yea! Of course, what you said!" I say unknowingly as I pull up a chair. Cashmere is very superficial... but I guess that's all the Captiol has seen of me as well. I order a drink and watch them all talk about silly things. A deep pain shoots into my heart.

Even though she's underneath me, still safe in training, I miss Annie. I just want her with me.

"And what do you think newbie?"

I look up and find everyone staring at me.

"Newbie? How long have I been here now? 5 years? That's hardly a newbie now, I'm a vet."

"Well, you've never had a winner yet."

That's right. "Well things will change this year. There's a lot at stake."

And there really is.

I hold Annie close as they call out her brother's name later that night.

"And from District 4, Ken Cresta, with a score of... 8!"

The room jumps up with glee and Annie kisses her brother. He is smiling, but not in a happy way. In the way that a man does when he knows his days are numbered but feigns being joyful for the sake of his loved ones.

Then Ceaser moves on to Annie's photo. I hold her close. Thomps and Noqall don't even eye me oddly anymore. They're keeping my secret. The secret that I love Annie.

"Annie Cresta... with a score of... 6." He says it with no luster, no reason to be happy. But I am thrilled. Annie is shaking a bit but I shower her in kisses.

"You did it Annie. You did it."

I'll have to talk to Cashmere again, to reassure her, but for now... I am overcome with joy.