A/N: So, I received some reviews saying that they'd like a Finnick POV... so here it is! I will probably continue to switch up POVs in future chapters if this goes well. But don't worry, I'll get back to Everlark soon :) Thanks for reading!

Finnick's POV

I hate these uncomfortable dinners with the other victors. Our very own President Snow (the same man who sold me into prostitution recently) often invites us to a series of extravagant Capitol parties before the annual Games to discuss ideas and tactics for our future tributes. Not to mention, he also introduces us to the gamemakers who give us hints about what the arena will be like.

I sit silently at a table with some other victors, bored as hell. I try to listen to their conversation white stirring my lobster stew lazily. I'm hardly interested in their small talk. Across the grand dining room, a willowy young woman approaches our table, with flowing dark auburn hair. She quietly slides into a seat beside me.

"Hello," she greets us quietly. Many of them nod to her, although some give odd looks. They quickly return to their conversation. I glance at her. She shifts uncomfortably. I reach out a hand.

"Hey, I'm Finnick Odair," I introduce myself.

"Annie... Cresta," she adds. I know who she is. She's the dubbed insane girl from my district, or so I've heard. I believe she won two years ago. It's strange that I've never met her in person. I didn't mentor her. These past few years, I've tended to stay away from the Victor's Village, even living in my old house with my family. I only moved into my new place when I turned eighteen.

I remember witnessing Annie's games... Shortly after, she was placed in the Capitol's mental facility for a while. I stare at her uncertainly.

"How-how are you doing?" I try to ask. She brushes a strand of hair out of her face.

"Fine. I hate these-these parties," she admits, eyeing the exclusive victors across our table. I can't help but smile at her words.

"Me too. They're very pointless, if I'm being honest."

To my surprise, she laughs at my words.

"Yes... and they just take even more money from the districts..." she points out. I nod. It's true. Although we're both from District Four, I can't help feel like we're betraying our home attending these parties and eating the very seafood our fisherman collect; but at least our district is better off than most.

I glance over my shoulder to hear a violin waltz begin to play. Instantly, Annie tightly clamps her hands over her ears when a high pitched note on the string is played. It sounds similar to a scream. A soft moaning escapes her lips. The others victors look over at her strangely. I stare at her bizarre reaction, frozen in confusion.

I slowly realize that the violin triggered a negative response for her. Perhaps, she remembers an ugly moment from the Games. I swallow uncomfortably. Should I try and help her calm down or flee from this awkward moment and spare myself trouble? I mean, I hardly know her.

Annie begins rocking back and forth, her face contorted with fear. She doesn't seem to be improving.

"Um... Annie..." I carefully place a hand on her shoulder. She flinches. Surprisingly, I force my hand to remain strong on her shoulder.

"It's okay, it's just music. Music is good... it's beautiful," I whisper to her. "It's beautiful," I repeat, gently patting her arm. Gradually, she lifts her head.

"I'm-I'm sorry... that was embarrassing," she admits, avoiding eye contact with me.

"It's okay. The Games were bad for everyone," I try my best to assure her.

"Would you like to dance?" I politely offer after a moment, pushing myself up from the table and holding out my arm.

"Okay," she hesitantly takes it...

This afternoon, I catch myself reminiscing about the day when Annie Cresta entered my life and completely transformed it. It's a cool afternoon, with various salty scents wafting up through town from the shore. I march up a winding road, kindly waving at people out running morning errands. Some know me and are nice enough to greet me, while others recoil because of my reputation. I'm used to mixed reactions by now. I can't please everybody... it wasn't my choice to become the Capitol's most desired prostitute.

Annie's house overlooks the southern part of our district, across the street from mine. I woke up at the crack of dawn to pick the first wildflowers growing near the beach just for her.

I approach our Victor's Village, with eight victors in total residing in the homes. Even now, as I stroll up to Annie's house, the sweetest, most peaceful sensation comes over me.

Damn, you really need to get a hold of yourself.

I knock, and in a moment, Annie appears, her wonderful green eyes meeting mine.

"Hey, look what I brought," I grin, revealing the delicate purple and white flowers. Her face lights up, and she gently takes them from me.

"I can't believe they've already bloomed. Thank you," she lifts them to her freckled nose. I lean against the doorframe.

"Well, don't I get a kiss?"

She smiles playfully.

"Oh, I don't know... you didn't bring any chocolate covered fruit this time," she muses. I laugh, gently slipping an arm around her waist. She lifts her head and presses her lips to mine.

"Do you want to come inside?" She asks quietly after we break. I step over the threshold and shut the door. She guides me to her living room, weaving between piles of boxes. Next month, she's planning on moving in with me. It was decided after I proposed to her in February.

I tell Annie to wait on the sofa while I fill a vase for her new flowers. Carefully, I set them on the counter next to her growing pile of gifts-all from myself. Okay, I've enjoyed spoiling her lately. I return to Annie and we discuss what else she has to pack. I think we're both beyond ecstatic that we're officially going to be living together.

Unfortunately, Annie has always struggled living alone (and so have I come to think of it). The horrors of the past always seem harder to conquer when you face them alone. Despite our struggles, I believe somehow we'll find comfort in a simple, married life. I've never considered myself lucky, but in this moment I feel so fortunate to love someone who completely understands my trials and I hers.

Only four years ago, I certainly didn't think this way. Before Annie and I fell in love, before I had hope for a possible rebellion, I was a slave similar to other victors I know. Now, my body made still be used for other people's pleasure against my will, but my souls certainly isn't. No, it belongs to Annie. Snow can never take that right away from me.

For a long time, I worried about how my situation might affect my relationship with her, yet somehow she is one of the few who never judged me. She knew I never wanted a life like that. President Snow would murder my family, maybe even Annie, if I refused to enter prostitution.

Thank God I haven't had to step foot in the Capitol in over two years. District Four is extremely fortunate to have mentors trade off coaching tributes. Every time I set foot in that city, I am hopelessly reminded of my double life. The sexiest man alive in Panem persona is often exhausting, and it truly highlights how filthy the cravings of the Capitol are-women and men alike.

Unfortunately, it's my turn this year to mentor our new tributes, but who knows, maybe the rebellion will come into action before the Quell. More than half the victors are already in on the secret.

"Finnick, what if I came with you to the Capitol this year? Maybe I could help you with the tributes... I haven't mentored in a long while," Annie suggests, affectionately combing a hand through my hair and breaking my thoughts.

"Are you sure, love? It's a lot to handle. I mean our kids are good, but they don't always win," I admit, shaking my head sadly. Annie lets out a sigh.

"I know... I really just want to overcome some of my fears... and I'd like to be with you. I know how unbearable it is there by yourself," she says, her eyebrows furrowed. I wrap an arm around her and kiss her cheek.

"I'm proud that you're trying, and I want the same for you. You really want to come?" I give her a lip-sided grin. She wraps her arms around my neck.

"Of course I do. I also want to come so I can hear about how the rebellion is going," she whispers. I chuckle quietly.

"I understand."