I knock on my door, and wait.

Someone must have locked the house at night, lucky me. I guess I wasn't meant to sneak in. It was okay if my younger brother catches me.

The door opens to a half asleep Rhyal. He frowns when he looks at me. "Annie?"

"Yeah. Can I come in?"

"Well, yeah, it's your house." He said, moving out of the way.

I walked in limping a little, my ankle getting worst with every step.

"Are you okay? What happened? Where did you go? Did- did you try to-"

"No, no I didn't. I just needed some fresh air and I fell." I sat on the couch. Petal, Marina, and Sapphire looking at me confused.

"Are you okay?" asked Sapphire.

I nodded. "I just need to clean my cuts."

"I'll get it." said Petal.

"Do you need ice?" asked Marina.

I'm shocked, so shocked I just nod. Did she really ask me? Did she talk to me? She did.

I try to hide how happy I am, but really I didn't think this would happen.

Rhyal came in skipping, literally.

"Did someone hang around the canning department?"

He laughs at my humour but it doesn't dampen his cheerful spirit. "No! I finally took the chance, Annie! I finally asked her if she would like to go out!"

"Finally! So, will you tell me who the lucky girl is now?"

"Uhh." He hesitates.

I glare at him.

"It's just-"

I narrow my eyes more.

"Annie-"

"Rhyal."

"It's...ugh."

"Rhyal! Lucas! Cresta!"

"Haven."

I'm still, in shock. "What?" I finally whisper.

"It's Haven."

"Haven?"

He nodded.

"Haven." I whisper. "When?"

"The Games."

"Oh my gosh... What! Haven?"

"Don't you approve?"

"Well, yeah but Haven? My brother and my friend. It's just so weird."

"She's just so sweet, and gentle and different!"

"Why didn't you tell me? You can trust me Rhyal..."

"I know, I was just scared."

"Of what?"

"You know, Annie. I mean fresh air? Really?"

I feel face turn red. "Yeah, let's go get some now." I said, getting up.

"Are you sure? Your ankle-"

"Hurt's but I'm good. Come on the beach sounds good, right now."

"Girls we're going out for a bit, eat all your food and take a shower." I yell out at them.

On the beach we sit down where the water can still hit my feet but not get us wet. The sun setting beautiful colors engulfing the clouds.

"So, you know?" I ask.

"Well... I assumed. You're always so distant, and you don't get up early for anything... So? Who is it?"

I sighed. "You haven't figured it out?" I find a little flat rock, and toss it into the water. It just sinks when it hits the water.

"No..."

I don't know what to tell him. I don't think he would really approve of Finnick. Of course, we're just friends but that might not be for long. I know all the girls he dates in the Capitol aren't really dates, but Rhyal doesn't know. I don't think it's my right to tell him what's really happening with Finnick. He's sixteen and even if he's just a year younger than me he's still my little brother and I want to protect him. He'll want to protect me too from the 'bad boy' Finnick but he doesn't really know that he's really good. It's just a face he puts for the camera's.

At the same time Rhyal's my brother and if I ask him to trust me then I have to trust him.

"It's Finnick Odair..."

He's quiet in shock. "Finnick?"

I nodded. "We're just friends though."

"But you like him."

I nodded.

"Annie." He shakes his head. "Your just leading yourself into heartbreak. I know guys like him and they'll just use you, then push you aside for the next girl."

"No, he's not like that."

"All of them are like that and he's the worst. He usually goes for the rich but I guess you fit that now too."

"No, Rhyal. It's complicated, we're just friends and that's it..." Saying it out loud now kills me. "Nothing more than friends."

"Annie, I think you should stay away from him. You can do so much better. I know girls think he's handsome but think about what's the best. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Rhyal, you just don't understand." The sea breeze ruffles my head. I look at his hazy green eyes, and see how serious he is, he's not a little boy anymore. He doesn't play tricks and skip school. He was there for Grandmother when she passed and that one loss was the last thing that made him this way. It was good he couldn't get in trouble for being stupid, but I miss the stupid him.

"Annie, you think you know him but you've seen him. He's always with girls."

"Rhyal just listen." I whisper. "Just hear what I say and really listen. I'll tell you everything but you need to keep it a secret, this is a matter of life or death for Finnick's mom, Sora and for me... Okay?"

He narrows his eyes but nods.

I know it's not right to talk about what they do to him, but I can't have the only person that knows about us disapprove of it without all the facts.

So, I tell him everything; without the kiss. With every sentence it like his eyes grow more tired, and every sentence I think I shouldn't be telling him...

"You see it's not his fault." I finish, the moon is now out and the temperature is cooler.

"Oh, Annie." He sighs, shaking his head. "You really think you won't get caught?"

I look down at my feet. "We haven't, yet."

"Annie, please, just let him go."

"I can't Rhyal." Tears in my eyes, now. I refuse to let them drop but my lips trembling. "You wouldn't let go of Haven if you knew you wouldn't get caught."

"But you don't know, Annie. That's it you don't know!"

"He doesn't have a reason to do it if we're not doing anything! We're just friends!"

"He doesn't need a reason, Annie. He's the President, he doesn't care what you are!"

The tear falls. I drop my voice to a whisper. "You couldn't do it Rhyal. You couldn't stop."

"If it was between her and my family, I wouldn't have a choice."

He makes me feel so guilty because it's so true. How could I do this knowing it could hurt my kin? I might think they can't get hurt, that they wouldn't do that but they can and they have. Rhyal's right, Snow doesn't need a reason. He never needs a reason.

I fall into the old brown couch with the window letting in the cool winter sea breeze. We're so close to the water you can hear it hit the rocks over and over again. The seagulls squawk and fly out there, while I sit and rest here for a few moments.

"Annie!" Yelled Rhyal, running up to me. "Annie, look what I've found."

He holds in his hand a crisp small white envolpe it must be new, a month old at the most.

"Read it!"

"No, not right now. We have work to do. Here I'll put it in my pocket since yours are so full."

He smiles, eating one of the little chocolates father has. My mistake, had. He had them, but now he's gone; so I told Rhyal he could have them... I don't know where Papa got the chocolate but he always had some; mostly, they were for my mother. She loved them very much, and he always got them especially for her. Even if it was illegally; which of course it was.

We were taking all the important things out before the new people would move in. This wasn't our home anymore, this was Panem's. Everything my mom and dad worked for, gave us nothing because they took it all away.

I stay away from that thought, though, because when I think I start to talk... Yes, I was seven but they never had a problem punishing kids before.

Grandma came in though the door, with some iced water that was almost completely melted.

"Sorry, I couldn't come fast enough." She said, giving them to us.

"That's alright, Grandma." said Rhyal, he drank from the cup and then gave it to me.

I smiled. "Thank you, Grandma."

"You're welcome, darling." She sighs. "So? What do we got?"

"Well, we pack most of our clothes, and we got some pictures. Oh, and Rhyal found this. It's not even open." I hand the crisp white envelope.

She smiles, taking it then when she see's the name in the front her eyes darken. She puts the letter in her pocket, and sighed again.

"What's wrong?" Rhyal asked.

"Nothing, Rhy. Do you think you're all done?"

Rhyal and I look at each other. "Think so." said Rhyal.

"Alright then, just make one last look around then we'll go."

We nodded and looked around again. There was nothing left, though... They both took a lot of their clothing when they left, and the rest grandma sold so she could support us better. We couldn't bring the couch or the tables, that was the Capitol's.

Before the sunset we took out one medium small box each. I couldn't believe that our life could come in one box; it feels like so much more than that.

When we were home I told Rhyal he could have the bed, and I would get the couch. We would switch off every week, since the bed was too small for both of us.

I feel like I have to do something... Like I was in the middle of something.

When night fell soon after we got home, one of our neighbors came running into the house. "Nana, it's Ophelia. I think she's ready to have the baby." Worry was set into his young face, his lips in a grimace of fear.

"I'll be there soon. Just let me grab a couple of things I'll need."

He nodded, and ran back.

"You guys be good and eat some bread. I'll be right next door." Grandma left to the woman's house to help her give birth to a baby. It was something she knew very well. With her three sisters, she had to help them all give birth to their children, but that was a very dangerous time for infants, a lot of them wouldn't live past a year. Most of the sisters ended up with only one child, like Grandmother herself. Something happens to all of them; the Hunger Games, virus, or a hurricane lead our family to only be Rhyal, Grandma, and I... We were the only ones left.

Grandma dropped the envelope in the kitchen, and I picked it up. Why did Grandma suddenly look...scared when she saw it?

I looked at the front...

-Polly

That was all it said. I didn't know that name, but it didn't sound that scary.

I opened the envelope and take out the old yellowing paper.

I frown.

-Becareful when you leave, because they are coming for you.

I put the paper back into the envelope and set it on the floor where I found it.

I know who is coming, actually they came and they left taking my mother and father behind... They came for no reason.

"Annie!" Rhyal hugged me.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"You were out. One second we were talking, and the next second, you just fell. You're lucky you were sitting down."

I was out? I frown. Was that a memory? They seemed to have faded! I hadn't had one in so long, that was so sudden.

I wasn't sure if that was my imagination or if it was true memory. It was so old, fuzzy, skipping small parts here and there, like a dream... It was a memory though, I can feel it.

"I'm sorry." I said, not telling him about the memorys... I can't tell anyone about them, they'll think I'm sick.

"No, it's okay. You're probably tired, just sleep and rest."

I nod, slowly.

He smiles at me. "If you need anything just call."

I nod, again.

He walks out of the room, and I feel the tears in my eyes.

What's wrong with me!? I scream on the inside. Why can't I control myself? Why is this happening to me?

I can hear the door opening and I wipe my tears quickly. "Who is it?" I asked.

"Just me." said Sapphire, she smiles.

"Hi." I said, sitting up.

"Hi." She gets on top of the bed. "Annie?"

"Yes?"

"Are you sick?"

"I don't know."

She looks out the window, then back at me with her bright blue eyes. "Please don't get sick. Please."

"I won't. I'll fight it off Sapphire."

She smiled, her two cute little dimples appearing. "Good, we need you."

I smiled. "I'll be here for you always, no matter what."

"Okay. Goodnight, Annie." She said, slipping off.

"Goodnight." I tell her.

I can do this. I can control this, I hope.