Finnick Odair, aged 19. The Capitol
Aurelia is smiling at him in a way that makes Finnick feel stupid.
"What?" he says.
"Annie this and Annie that. You can't stop talking about her," There's a wicked glint in Aurelia's eye as she leans in closer. "I think you've got a little crush, Finn."
What. It's such a completely ridiculous concept that Finnick bursts out laughing.
"Oh Aurelia," he says smoothly. "Don't be ridiculous."
But later when he's back at the tribute centre remembering her words, he thinks about it again.
He thinks about Annie's clever comments, and her big green eyes, and her innocence, and her easy laugh. He thinks about how different she is from his clients in the Capitol, how much more real she is. He tries not the think about how the very idea of her in the arena makes something in his chest stutter and clench painfully.
Is it ridiculous? What is she's right? What if, somehow without him noticing, Annie Cresta had crept underneath the walls he had put up to protect himself.
Finnick Odair can't have a crush, that much is obvious. Finnick Odair can't ever have romantic feelings towards anyone- it's just not possible. He's got to think of Sammy, and Mags, and hell even Hayden. He needs to protect them. Finnick Odair cannot have a crush on anyone, and especially not on a tribute.