Suddenly, a crazy thought passed through his mind. Could it really be...-nah don't be stupid Finnick...he scolded himself. But...maybe it wouldn't hurt to try asking...

He blurted it out before he could stop himself. "Annie?"

The girl's eyes widened in complete astonishment. "H-how do you know my name?"


So that was it. That was the reason Finnick recognized her. Cato had showed him a picture of a younger version of Annie on their plane ride to LA. The mesmerizing sea green eyes, the long and straight light brown hair...it was unmistakable if you held the picture next to her face. The big difference between the photo and the real Annie now is that the one in the photo looked so content whereas now, she's like a lost puppy.

"Hello?" Annie's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He realized he had been studying her the entire time, making her incredibly uncomfortable. "I said...how do you know my name?"

"Huh-? Oh. I..." Finnick paused, unsure if he should tell Annie her brother is here. If he did, he wouldn't want to get her hopes up if Cato never came to get them. He's not even sure if she remembers who Cato is. He couldn't risk overwhelming her again. "I...saw your face on a flyer saying you were missing."

She frowned and slanted her eyes at him. "You do realize I'm fifteen and not five years old right?"

Finnick chuckled at her remark. He didn't expect someone who had been imprisoned for almost a decade to still have a sense of humor. "I would never treat someone my age like a child, Annie."

"You're fifteen?" She said almost incredulously. "You look much older than that."

"Just turned sixteen last week actually...but yeah. That's just a characteristic of a celebrity sometimes; you have to look older and more professional I guess."

She knit her eyebrows in confusion. "A celebrity?"

"I'm an actor and a model." He smiled radiantly and gestured toward himself in a proud manner.

She gave a sad smile. "I never really got to watch you on TV...I'm kind of a prisoner here."

His smile disappeared and his sympathy only increased. "Oh...well, you're not missing out on much anyway."

She sighed, staring at the only door in the room longingly. "I feel like I am. I haven't seen the beach or even the sun in years."

He cringed at the thought of being separated from the warm sand and perfect waves for surfing. She's been deprived of privileges he's had on a daily basis. "How about I take you to the beach once we get out of this mess?"

Are you seriously flirting with Cato's little sister? Finnick asked himself. You're trapped in a prison cell for who knows how long and you're still making time to flirt?

Old habits die hard.

Her face lit up at the thought of being free again. "You promise?"

Guilt ate away at the insides of his stomach. Finnick didn't want to disappoint her, but he also didn't want to crush her spirit any more than it's already been all these years. "I promise you, Annie, that I'll do whatever I can to get you out of here and take you to the beach."

She smiled out of pure happiness this time and his breath was taken away at the sight. Miraculously perfect white teeth...stunning green eyes...it was like staring at an angel. It didn't matter to him anymore that he was imprisoned in a building with the most dangerous criminals lurking around. All he cared about now was making Annie smile again, so he could see the beauty she radiates so effortlessly.

Suddenly, her smile dropped as she focused on Finnick's damaged arms. Painful scratch marks decorated his forearms and dark bruises formed around his wrists and hands where he contacted the floor and slammed against the metal door. "Did I...did I do that to you?"

"What?" He looked down and finally noticed the injuries his arms suffered. "Oh, no that was all me. Well minus the scratches...but that's okay. I'm perfectly fine."

She slapped a hand over her mouth as her eyes welled up with apologetic tears. "I'm so sorry...I just-I just get into these crazy, insane fits and I...and I can't control them...I didn't mean to hurt you..."

"Shhh..." Finnick hushed her gently holding his cuffed wrists out to her, but not touching her. Her shoulders shook from silent sobs and it broke his heart to see her like this. "It's alright. Really, I'm fine it's just a scratch."

She looked up at him as a tear slid down her cheek. He dared to softly wiped it away with his thumb, getting lost in her dazzling eyes again. They maintained that intimate contact for a few prolonged moments before Annie blushed and averted her eyes back to the ground. She wasn't used to being looked at in such an admiring way. In fact, this boy has been the only one in years who's ever gazed upon her in a way that wasn't lustful or just hungry for her body.

Finnick had unknowingly renewed a sense of hope inside of her; that maybe, just maybe...humanity wasn't so cruel after all.


"Katniss, Madge, stop biting your nails." Peeta chided gently. He didn't have to turn his head away from the spam musubis he was making to see his cousin and girlfriend anxiously gnawing on their nails. "It's not very hygienic."

The group knew they couldn't go back to the mansion without the risk of Cashmere and Gloss waiting for them there. So then, they had moved into one of Finnick's private homes in LA right after his abduction. Cato, Gale, and Finnick often met up there to play video games and avoid the paparazzi. It wasn't as big as his primary mansion, but it was still much larger compared to the average two story house.

The girls rolled their eyes in harmony. "You're starting to sound like Prim." Katniss retorted.

"Prim's a smart girl, so I'll take that as a compliment." He smiled before leaning over the counter to peck his beautiful girlfriend on the lips. Peeta Mellark will never grow tired of their daily kisses. He'll never grow tired of just gazing upon the girl he had been madly in love with since he first laid eyes on her in kindergarten. His parents laughed at his confession of being in love at five years old. To them, it was just a cute little crush that'll fade in a week or so.

They couldn't have been any more mistaken.

It took ten years for them to realize that their youngest son was completely head over heels for the same tan skinned girl with the signature brunette braid and smoky grey eyes. The only problem was that she probably didn't even know he existed...let alone loved him back. He had always been too scared to approach the mysterious beauty and introduce himself. Though Peeta was born with a talent for speaking and persuading, he knew he couldn't even handle a simple conversation Katniss. The second reason was because she was usually surrounded by her intimidating group of friends; friends that he would later call his own family.

The first time they met couldn't have been anymore awkward...

Peeta had been working at a place called Mellarks Bakery since he was eight. It was one of the several hundred bakeries that his family owned in the country. His parents, who were the top chefs in the world, would usually be out of town visiting their other bakeries in a different state or traveling to events they were invited to. That left him and his two older brothers in charge of the bakery in Oahu.

From when he started working, Peeta loved to bake and make beautiful artwork with his hands. He sketched, painted, and could decorate assortments of food from small sugar cookies to gigantic wedding cakes. But when he was really bored, he would let his mind drift off to the girl who unknowingly stole his heart at such a young age.

She and her cousin would walk to the elementary school to pick up Prim when they were done with their after school activities. They would pass the bakery along the way, completely oblivious to the sky blue eyes looking after Katniss longingly. Regardless if he were helping customers or hulling heavy flour bags, he never missed a chance to steal a quick glance at her.

The day they first officially met started out normal for Peeta: school, then go straight to the bakery, then watch Katniss walk by a few hours later. While he was in the middle of carrying in the last of the flour bags, he didn't hear anyone walk through the door. He was about to toss the last one on top of the pile when he turned and froze.

Katniss had been patiently standing there, watching him with those alluring grey eyes. She suddenly tensed once they made eye contact and shifted her gaze to the floor. A prominent blush formed in her cheeks because he had caught her staring.

Is she blushing because I caught her checking me out? Peeta thought to himself, turning red in the process as well. No don't be stupid...she's just shy.

"Uhm, hi." She said quietly, her eyes looking up again at him with red still in her cheeks.

"Hi?" He responded as if it were a question. He kicked himself in his head for being so awkward, but he couldn't help but wonder why she was here. Clearing his throat, he flashed a friendly smile. "How can I help you?"

She pulled out what seemed like a shopping list and waved it around a little. "My family is throwing a party later tonight and I need these things."

His smile dropped in disappointment upon hearing those words. Katniss tilted her head to the side curiously, "Is something wrong?"

"No, not at all! I just...kinda hoped you were here for more than just shopping-" Peeta slapped a hand over his mouth when he realized what he just said.

You idiot.

She looked confused for a moment, but then caught on and blushed even harder. "Oh..."

"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that." He said quickly trying to save himself. "Well, I kinda did because you're beautiful and all but-ugh never mind. I'm going to shut up now."

Way to screw things up with the girl you've only been love with for a decade, he thought bitterly to himself as he hung his head in embarrassment.

She suppressed a giggle at his flustered behavior and blushed even a deeper tinge of red. "Uh thanks..."

"Can we start this all over again?" Peeta looked up at her and gave a meek smile.

This time, she laughed out loud and Peeta's stomach was ready to explode from all the butterflies. Even her laughter is an enchanting melody he'll never grow tired of. "Sure, why not?"

He held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Peeta Mellark. Nice to meet you."

She snorted in amusement. "Peeta, I already know who you are."

"Really?" He asked, surprised she was even aware he existed. "I just thought you wouldn't have noticed me before."

"We have math class together this year and every year before that we've had at least one or two classes together." She smirked. "I even remembered we had the same kindergarten class."

He blushes a little again, remembering that year as his absolute favorite for bringing Katniss into his life. "Oh...good point."

She gave a gentle smile as she waved the paper in her hand. "So how about that list?"

It turns out that her mother had ordered so many things, that Peeta had to help Katniss carry everything to her house.

"You didn't have to do this for me." She said with her lips pressed in a thin line; she really hates it when she can't do things on her own.

"It's no problem really," He beamed as if he just won the lottery (which in his case, he got the biggest jackpot ever). "Anything for a long time classmate."

She laughed as they finally stopped at her front door. Her mother opened the door and was taken aback for a moment. Her fiercely independent daughter allowing a boy to walk her to the house..? It was just something she had never seen.

"Muddah, this is Peeta Mellark." Katniss jerked her head toward him since both their hands were full of desserts.

"Peeta! I've heard so much about you from your mother. Wow, you are a handsome young man now!"

Katniss blushed, she silently agreed with her mother on that part.

He blushed too- for probably the millionth time since Katniss walked in the bakery. "Thank you Ms. Everdeen."

"No, thank you for helping my daughter with the groceries." She smiled to him. Taking a bag from Katniss, she began to walk back into the house. "Please, come on in!"

After Peeta placed the last bag on the kitchen counter, he nervously wiped his hands on the black apron he was still wearing. As he did that, more flour from his hands streaked the cloth. It seemed like he was always covered in flour somewhere. "Well, I guess I should be heading back to the bakery now."

"Do you have to now? You can stay here for the little get together we're having in a few hours." Mrs. Everdeen offered sweetly. "It's our way of paying you back for your great service."

He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Uh, that's really kind of you-"

Before he got to finish, his phone rang.

"Excuse me," He said politely and picked up. "Howzit Matz?"

"Hey Peets," The middle sibling greeted back. "Barley and I left for a beach party on the other side of the island and we won't be back till tomorrow."

"Wait what?! Who's watching the bakery?"

"We already locked up, so no worries braddah."

Peeta groaned. "My keys are inside still. How am I supposed to get into the hale?" (Hale= house)

"Ooh tough luck braddah." Matzo replied smugly. "Guess you'll have to stay at Katniss' house, yeah?"

"...You did this on purpose."

"No, actually it was me and Barley." Peeta could hear his eldest brother laughing in the background. "You're welcome, Lil' P."

Peeta really hated when they called him that. I guess that's what he gets for being the baby in the family.

"So..." Katniss started, snapping him out of his irritation toward his brothers. "I'm guessing you got locked out?"

"Yeah, " He admitted.

"Oh, no problem." Mrs. Everdeen chirped as she was preparing the food. "You'll just have to stay with us here for the night, yeah?"

"Uh...I don't want to intrude."

"No, please." Katniss smiled gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We insist."

He felt as if her hand was sending sparks throughout his body. This girl has no idea how much power she has over me, he thought both amusedly and exasperatedly. Peeta knew that he could never say no when it comes to Katniss. And plus, he didn't want to miss out on possibly his one and only opportunity to spend time with her.

"You only live once, Peets." Barley's voice popped into his head. "Make it count."

Peeta finally made up his mind and smiled back at her. "Alright, I guess one night couldn't hurt."

It was the most daring and nerve-wracking decision he had ever made in his entire life.

But it would also be his best.

"Ew, get a room." Madge snickered as she plopped a cut strawberry into her mouth.

Katniss smirked with a devious glint in her eyes. She walked around the counter, grabbed a surprised Peeta by his shirt, and pulled him in for a hot, passionate kiss. When she pushed him back, his hair was a mess and his expression seemed a little dazed. She turned back toward Madge who was crinkling her nose in distaste. "I think this room is just fine for us. Don't you agree, Peeta?"

The blonde girl just rolled her eyes and stood up to leave the two alone. Before she walked through the door, she turned back around.

"Don't forget to wake the twins up in an hour. I'm going to take a nap myself."

"Gale's sleeping in the guest room over there." Katniss pointed the other direction to where Madge was headed.

Peeta slanted his eyes in suspicion. "If I hear anything else besides snoring in Gale's room, I'm going in there. Don't even bother about locking the door."

"Peeta, she's your cousin not your daughter."

Everyone turned to see Gale leaning against a doorframe of his room. He was smirking, but exhaustion was evident on his face.

"I thought you were going to take a nap." Katniss cocked an eyebrow.

He shrugged it off and then smirked again. "I took a little snooze and then woke up when I heard Madge say she wanted to take a nap."

Madge snuggled into his body. "You've always been such a light sleeper, Gale. C'mon, let's go to bed I'm exhausted."

Katniss knew better than to believe Gale had gotten any sleep. When he still lived in Oahu, Katniss and Clove both knew he never got any sleep whenever he was worried or upset about something. The last time she saw him like this was when her life had turned for the worst...

When she had lost her parents, her uncle, and a part of her sanity.

As he and Madge went into his room, Katniss couldn't help but wonder if he was worried that they'll all end up dead too.


So that was just a lame filler chapter because I realized the chapter was too long. Sorry it was so boring. I'm running out of ideas for how it should go down, so reviews or messages about what you think should happen would be really beneficial! PLEASE HELP.