Your Friend.
Finnick Odair is sitting outside his front porch enjoying the sunny day. He is in the rocking chair going back and forth, back and forth.
He looks across the way in Victors' Village and sees Annie Cresta sitting out on her front porch.
Finnick notices she is flinching and is looking down at her lap.
Annie knows Finnick is looking at her. Annie came back from the Capitol a month ago after becoming a victor. Ever since then all she has wanted to do is to talk to Finnick again. She hasn't since she came back though.
The only reason she wants to talk to Finnick is because she thinks it will make her feel better. Finnick stayed with her on the train ride home and she felt safe and somewhat sane. She just doesn't have the courage to go up to the great Finnick Odair.
Despite Finnick not speaking with her for a month he wants to talk with her. The only reason he hasn't is because he feels like it has been too long. He feels like the window of opportunity has closed.
Despite this fact he knows Annie needs someone because he can hear her screams.
Annie has a loving family that can take care of her but, they can't help her as much as Finnick can because he knows what it's like to be in an arena. He knows what it's like to watch someone get murdered.
Annie doesn't know what it feels like to kill because she has no blood on her hands. She didn't kill a soul. Which was a first in Hunger Games history. Annie Cresta was not supposed to come out alive and yet she did. At a price though and that is why she is more effected than any other victor. She's too good.
Finnick looks at Annie one more time and then heads back inside. Once again leaving Annie alone.
Annie watches him close his door and a single tear rolls down her cheek.
She is hoping one day she will get to feel the comfort of Finnick again.
It is raining buckets outside on a gloomy District Four day.
Finnick is sitting inside watching the rain roll down the windows. He doesn't have anything better to do. Besides, he finds it somewhat relaxing.
However, Annie Cresta does not feel the same way. She is all alone in her house and any form of water seems to scare her even taking a shower is difficult. She did almost drown to death so it is justified.
She is sitting on the floor rocking back and forth with her knees pressed to her chest and her hands over her ears.
The thunder and lighting strike and she lets out a whimpering sound. She just wants someone to talk to or someone else around to distract her.
She lifts her head up and knows this could be the grand opportunity to speak with Finnick again. She could walk into town to find her family but, that would take too long and she would have to be in water for at least twenty minutes.
She sighs and stands up and eventually gets enough courage to leave her house and start knocking of Finnick's door.
Finnick hears the pounding and doesn't know what to expect. He thinks it could be from the storm or worse someone to take him off to the Capitol.
Finnick doesn't really have any friends. Ever since Snow murdered his family he didn't want him to hurt anyone else so he cut himself off from almost everyone. The only person he really talks to is Mags. Despite putting up this wall Finnick wants someone else to talk to.
Finnick is always lonely and just craves to have a conversation with someone, anyone else. He would talk to Annie but he fears she would just push him away from all the allegations she must have heard about him.
Annie pounds on the door harder becoming afraid because of the water falling on her.
Finnick is about to head upstairs too afraid to find out what is behind the door but then he hears
"FINNICK! FINNICK! FINNICK!"Annie shouts. She is now terrified and regretting coming over here. She knows Finnick is home she saw him earlier today.
Finnick doesn't know what to do he is standing in his house frozen.
"PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR!" Annie shouts. Annie has given up but, she knows she can't go back home because it has started to rain harder so here she will sit, on Finnick Odair's porch until someone retrieves her.
She knocks one more time and then slumps to her knees.
"You can't leave her outside, it's raining." Finnick whispers to himself.
He is assuming Annie doesn't do well with water because of almost drowning and the nightmares she had on the train. They were all of her dying from some type of water
Finnick hasn't talked to Annie since she stepped on District Four soil. Finnick didn't really tell her he would visit her. The last thing he said to her was it will get better. Which is some what true, it will get better but just not much.
Finnick is confused as to why Annie is knocking on his door. He has seen Annie around Victors Village but, they don't talk to each other. They just smile they don't even exchange hellos.
Finnick walks slowly to the door. Even though he is doing this a small part of him is hoping Annie went home. He doesn't know what to expect or what to do because Annie is virtually a stranger.
When he does open the door though, he finds her sitting on his front porch soaking wet and crying.
Annie looks grateful that Finnick opens the door but then is worried thinking Finnick will just tell her to go away.
She swallows hard at the thought. She doesn't want to be sent away she wants help.
"Help me." She whispers.
Finnick looks at her with pity in his eyes that Anne doesn't see because she is too scared.
He reaches for her had but she flinches afraid of what he might do.
Instead of reassuring her that he just wants to help, he just grabs her hand and pulls her up and walks her into his house.
Before Annie can stop herself she is hugging Finnick and starts crying into his chest. She has wanted to feel the comfort from Finnick again and couldn't help herself.
Finnick is frozen from confusion. The girl he hasn't talked to in a month is in his house and hugging her.
Annie doesn't care one bit that Finnick is just standing there but, it doesn't matter because he soon wraps his arms around her
"It's okay Annie." He whispers.
Annie suddenly realizes how strange this must be for him. Annie and Finnick don't really know each other.
Annie let's go of him and backs away.
"I'm sorry." She whispers and looks down. She can feel her cheeks starting to turn pink from embarrassment.
"It's okay Annie." Finnick says awkwardly.
She starts shivering. Partially from being cold but, also because she is scared.
"You're cold." Finnick says.
He takes her hand and leads her to the fire place. Which is already lit from earlier. He places Annie in front of the fire and wraps a blanket around her.
"That's better." Finnick says.
"T-thank you." She whispers. Still slightly embarrassed from hugging him but also still scared.
They sit in an awkward silence neither knowing what to say to break the silence
Annie thinks of the lasts words Finnick said to her.
"You're a liar Finnick." She whispers.
"Why would that be?" Finnick asks confused but, he smiles that charming smile he gives every women.
"You said it would get better." She looks at Finnick her chin is trembling and tears are forming in her eyes. "It didn't get better." She says slightly angry. She put too much hope into Finnick's words. She feels stupid for believing him.
"Annie I-
"It got worse." She whispers and a few tears roll down her cheeks. Finnick can't tell if it's from the dripping water on her face or if she is crying. He can't tell so he's not going to ask
"I'm sure that's not true." Finnick says not believing the words as they leave his lips.
Annie swallows hard.
"I'm scared all the time. I see things… hear things… always see crimson… always see blood. Always." She says with tears leaking from her eyes. Finnick is sure she is crying now but, doesn't say anything.
Annie always sees red because of the beheaded tribute. She sees blood around her all the time. On her hands, on the walls, on everyone else. But, right now Annie doesn't see any blood and she knows it's not a coincidence that she is with Finnick.
"Annie, it…it isn't all bad. I'm sure you don't feel bad 24/7." He says. He's not a hundred percent sure but, he knows no one can feel panicked all the time or can they?
Annie looks at Finnick and hugs him again waiting to test her theory of feeling better near Finnick and she does. It's like everything else has disappeared. She closes her eyes and nestles her head into Finnick's chest.
Finnick is confused by this but, still smooths her wet chestnut hair.
Annie starts muttering something into Finnick's chest.
"What was that?" Finnick asks her.
She swallows hard.
"I'm not afraid right now." She whispers. Almost regretting it instantly but, she knows it's true. There is something about Finnick that makes her feel at ease.
"See." Finnick says not understanding what she means.
Annie looks up at him. She is so close to him that her face is almost touching his.
"It's because I'm with you." She whispers.
"Annie I don't think-
Annie pulls back but still has her hands tightly wrapped around him.
"When I'm with other people… it's not the same. It hasn't been the same since the train." She pauses looking at Finnick expecting him to say something but he doesn't. She sighs. "I thought it was because I was leaving that place but sitting here now in your house in your arms I have that feeling again." She whispers.
"What feeling?" Finnick asks her not believe what she is saying.
"That feeling of impeding doom goes down. That feeling that someone is going to kill me. The blood on the walls. The crimson everywhere." She swallows hard. "It's because I'm with you."
"Annie, I think it's a coincidence." He says not sure himself.
Annie lets go of Finnick, frustrated that he isn't seeing it like she does.
"No it's not." She says offended.
"Annie. You barely know me, you can't say that I make everything feel better." Finnick says confused but understands somewhat.
"But you do. You do. I think it's because…" She trails off not really knowing what to say.
"Because what?" Finnick asks intrigued.
Annie stops and considers this she can't really think of why, so she says the first thing that comes to mind.
"You were the first person I saw once I got out. You were the person who stayed with me on the train when I was screaming." A tear rolls down her cheek.
Finnick look at her strangely not really believing her.
Annie is angry and embarrassed because Finnick is looking at her like some alien.
She feels stupid for even coming over here or why she wanted to see Finnick again. Did Finnick Odair just put his spell on her like he does with every other women?
She sighs and stands up.
"I think I should go." She says and starts to walk to the door.
"Aren't you going to be alone?" Finnick ask her. Not just for her, it's mostly because he doesn't want to be alone.
She shrugs.
"It beats being somewhere I don't feel wanted." Annie says.
"Annie, don't go back to your house." Finnick almost begs.
Annie is confused by this since he totally felt different about her a few minutes ago.
"Why? You clearly don't want me here." Annie says more confused than angry.
"That's not true… I just don't want you to feel lonely." He says again.
She looks at him strangely and figures out why he doesn't want her to leave and it isn't because she will feel lonely.
"Is that what you are, lonely? All here alone in your big house?"
"I- I." Finnick stutters because no one has ever picked up on this before. That the great Finnick Odair is a lonely shut in.
Annie hugs him again because she feels sorry for him. This time Finnick doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her
"And here I thought Finnick Odair had everything." Annie whispers into his chest.
Finnick scoffs. He has never heard something so crazy before.
"I wish." Finnick mutters.
Annie breathes in deeply and rests her head in Finnick's chest. He smooths her wet hair and rests his chin on the top of her head.
Finnick has been hugged by many people before but… this is different. He feels something that he hasn't before. He feels safe in Annie's arms and Annie feels safe in Finnick's
"I'll tell you what Annie Cresta." Finnick says. Annie pulls back and looks at him confused. "I think I found a way to solve both of our problems."
"What would that be?" She asks intrigued.
"You say you feel safe when you're with me-
"Yes." Annie says sheepishly.
"And I'm lonely but, if you see me I will be less lonely and you will feel better. It's a win, win." Finnick says smiling.
However, Annie isn't taking it the way Finnick means it.
"So you're just using me like those Capitol girls." She lets go of Finnick and takes a few steps back.
"No Annie that's not what I meant." Finnick says
She cocks her head to the side and studies me.
"Why does the person who has everything-
Finnick cuts her off once again angry that she is so naive to believe what everyone says about him.
"I don't have everything." Finnick tells her again.
Annie rolls her eyes thinking that this is all BS and she doesn't want to buy into it
"If you're so lonely why don't you just see your friends?"
"Don't really have any." Finnick says
She scoffs
"Right, Finnick Odair, no friends." She mutters.
"It's the truth, I don't want any."
"Well that might solve your problem. What about a family? I'm sure you've got one of those."
"I had one... they're all dead now." Finnick says and turns his hands into fists.
Annie feels guilty now but, is also curious. She doesn't want to ask but, the words come out of her mouth like vomit.
"What happened to them?" Annie whispers.
Finnick doesn't know what to say. He doesn't want to tell her the truth. I doubt she would believe him anyways. So he tells her the cliff notes version.
"There was an accident and they all died." He says and can feel the tightness in his throat as he says these words because he still feels guilty for what happened.
"Oh… sorry." Annie mutters. Now feeling guilty.
"Don't be you didn't do anything." He whispers.
Annie nods. She feels guilty and now knows Finnick was being sincere.
"You say you don't have any friends?"
"Yes." Finnick says and looks at the ground awkwardly. It isn't normal for a nineteen year old to not have friends.
"I can be your friend." Annie whispers.
Finnick rolls his eyes.
"What is this first grade?" Finnick smiles. "Besides, you're only doing this because you feel sorry for me."
Annie scoffs.
"Well Finnick… like you said if we are around one another we could both be helping each other." Annie smiles.
"You're only saying that because you're feeling sorry for me." Finnick says again.
"Isn't that why you said it first?" Annie smiles.
"I- I guess." Finnick says.
"Okay." Annie says.
"Okay?" Finnick says confused.
"Okay I'll be you're friend." Annie says.
Finnick looks at her strangely wondering what it is about Annie Cresta that he can't figure it out.
"Alright-
"I just have one condition." Annie says.
"What?" Finnick asks confused.
"That you'll be my friend too." She whispers.
Finnick goes over to her and hugs her again.
"Of course I will." He whispers and Annie rests her hear back into his chest.
A/N: Hello all! I know that ending was way cheesy but, it was fitting I thought. Anyways. I'm trying to write more in this tense to get better at it so I hope I'm doing a relatively good job because I'm trying over here lol.
As always thank you for reading!