What He Meant

"Annie." Finnick says as he walks back to Victors Village from the train station. Back from the Capitol back from doing unspeakable things. From doing something he never wanted.

"Hi Finnick, how was your uh… Capitol thing?" Annie asks.

Finnick hasn't told Annie the real reason why he travels to the Capitol because he's afraid she will think less of him, even though it's not his fault.

"It was fine." He says but what he meant is it was torture. He meant that he was miserable and forced to do something no human should have to.

"That's nice… will I have to go to the Capitol as much as you one day?" Annie asks, nervous that one day she will have to go to the Capitol multiple times a month.

"No Annie don't worry about that it's because… I'm the best." Finnick says with a smile. What he really meant was no, because I won't let Snow do that to you, because you're too good.

"Well I can't argue with you there, I think you're the best too." Annie smiles.

Annie still hasn't accepted the fact that she is falling for Finnick Odair. The thought has entered her brain more than once but, she hasn't thought anything of it.

"Thanks." Finnick says and playfully pushes Annie.

"No pro dude." She smiles.

Finnick rolls his eyes and looks at her. Annie is having a good day. He wonders if it is because he is back. He isn't that vain despite what the world thinks.

What Finnick doesn't know is that Annie is having a good day because he is there. Finnick knows that Annie does better when he is around but, he doesn't think seeing her for a few minutes counts.

Annie clears her throat.

"What exactly do you do there?" She whispers.

"You know... have fun." He smiles but what he meant was I have to be sexually abused and do whatever is asked. I must have fun because that is what I'm told to do.

Annie rolls her eyes and sighs.

"Well answer me this Finnick." She smiles

"Of course Annie." He smiles back.

"If you're having so much fun why are you in some weird state when you come home?" She asks catching Finnick off guard.

Finnick shouldn't be surprised because he knows Annie is smart and very observant.

He cocks his head and looks at her and smiles. It is filled of remorse not joy. It's a sad smile

"I have no idea what you're talking about Annie." He smirks. But what he really meant was I know exactly what you're talking about Annie, please don't ask me about this.

"Okay whatever, don't tell me." Annie says.

Annie is frustrated but more worried. Worried that Finnick isn't actually going there to have … fun but he's going there for other reasons. Snow related reasons.

"Annie…

"Finnick you're my friend and have been for a while I just… I just" she trails off not knowing exactly what to say.

"Yessss." Finnick smiles

Annie rolls her eyes and shoves Finnick playfully.

"Things about you are strange, you're not that ego inflated person." Annie says

"I know." Finnick says. But what he meant was thank god someone else can see it.

"Okay so that must mean all those allegations about you and your... relationships must not be true. Right?"

"Annie." He sighs. "I do what I like." Finnick says. What he meant was I do what I like and I like keeping you safe. I like keeping people safe and all the abuse I endure is worth it.

"I'm sure you do." She whispers. "Finnick you're my friend-

"I'm you're friend too." Finnick looks at her and smiles.

"l know and that means I can care about you. Finnick I know something isn't right with those visits and I care because I… I lov… like care about you." Annie says confused. Was she just about to say she loved Finnick? Does she love Finnick?

Yes. Yes she does love Finnick. Why it took some strange conversation about what he does in the Capitol to make her realize this she doesn't know. But it doesn't matter because she realized it.

Finnick looks at her strangely.

"You… like care about me?" Finnick asks but what he meant is did you just say you loved me?

"That's what I said didn't I?" She says avoiding his gaze but not for long. She looks back up at Finnick and sees his face. The perfect face.

Finnick's face is less than perfect. He has small scars on his face from knife cuts from the Hunger Games. He has crooked teeth and his nose is strange because they didn't bind it correctly after it got broken from the games. It looks almost crooked. If you aren't as close to him you don't really notice. He does have those eyes. Those green eyes that you can easily get lost in.

"Annie." Finnick says while snapping his fingers in her face. Annie was lost in his eyes. Finnick didn't realize this so he thought she was zoning out.

"What?" She asks.

He puts his hand on her shoulder.

"You okay?" He asks.

"I'm… I'm…"

"Annie do you need something?" He asks worried.

"No, I'm fine … I have everything I need… right here." She pauses. "With you." She whispers.

"Oh." He says confused.

She leans on his shoulder and closes her eyes. Finnick wraps his arm around her.

"You know Finnick I don't care what you do there." She says.

"Really?" He asks surprised.

"Really." She smiles.

"Then why do you want to know so badly?" Finnick asks intrigued.

"Like I said you're my friend." She takes his head off his shoulder and looks at him. Their faces are almost touching. Annie clears her throat. "Besides, whatever you do there doesn't effect what you do here. You're my friend, no matter what you do with all your… friends in the Capitol."

"Annie you don't know what you're talking about." He says confused.

"Yes I do Finnick Odair." She smiles "And you can't tell me otherwise." She smiles again and leans back into his shoulder.

"You're a strange person." He says but what he meant was why can't more people be like you.

"Well I try." She smiles.

Finnick rubs Annie's arm and they sit in silence for awhile.

Finnick suddenly takes his arm away causing Annie to look at him confused.

"What's wrong?" She asks.

"I just got this strange feeling." He whispers. The feeling Finnick got was a nice feeling a feeling he hasn't felt with anyone else in awhile. A feeling of falling in love.

"Strange feeling?" She asks.

"Yeah…" Finnick says.

"Are you hurt or something?"

"No…."

"Deja vu?" She asks.

"Something like that." He smiles.

Annie gets off his shoulder.

"I need to go home." Annie says. She doesn't really but, she's afraid if she stays with him any longer she will declare her love for him which she doesn't want. She has know Finnick for a few years and doesn't want to lose him because he is too important.

"Let me walk you at least." Finnick says but what he meant is don't go.

"Erm Finnick we are ten steps away." She says looking at him confused.

"Yeah so?" He smiles and she rolls her eyes. He helps her up and they walk to her house.

"Thanks for walking me." Annie says sarcastically.

"It was my pleasure Annie." He smiles.

Annie twirls her hair.

"Hey Finnick." She says.

"Yesss?" He smiles.

"Do you… Do you, you know..."

"Do I what?" He asks confused.

"Nothing." Annie says.

"Ann-EEE." Finnick says smiling.

"I was just curious if those admirers really mean anything to you." She says and twirls her hair faster. Nervous for his answer or nervous that Finnick will figure out she loves him

"Ermm why are you asking me this?" Finnick asks.

"I'm just a curious camper." She smiles.

"Well no, no one has caught my eye." He smiles but, what he meant was has anyone caught your eye Annie.

"Okay." She says smiling.

"You look every pleased about that Annie." Finnick says. He is thinking that she does love him. She almost said it earlier.

"Well um… uhhh I just wondered is all."

"Annie do you… do you-

"Well it was nice seeing you Finnick." Annie turns around to go into her house but before she can Finnick grabs her arm.

"Annie." He says and she turns around

"What?" She whispers looking at the ground.

Finnick places his finger underneath her chin and she looks up.

"Do you love me?" He asks.

She can feel herself blushing.

"Of course you're my friend and-

"You knew what I meant Annie."

"Stop." She says.

"What?" He asks confused.

"Just stop. Don't ask that question. Don't go down that road."

"Why not?" He smiles.

She hugs him. Finnick is confused by this but, he eventually wraps his arms around her.

"Because I can't get lose you. I wouldn't know how to survive." She whispers.

He pulls back and looks at her.

"That's basically a confession Annie Cresta."

She lets go of him and backs away.

"No, it's not." She says and crosses her arms frustrated.

He does that half smile Annie loves.

"Yes it is, and you can love me Annie Cresta. I mean everyone else does."

She looks down and picks at her nails.

"Not like me." She whispers.

"Now who has the ego." Finnick says but what he meant was, you're right no one cares about me like you.

Annie looks up frustrated not because Finnick doesn't love her but, because of the way he is treating this like some big joke.

"Whatever." She whispers. Her eyes are filling with tears for a reason she doesn't know.

"Annie." He says and she looks up.

"What?" She grumbles.

He hugs her and she sighs and leans into his chest.

"You can feel whatever you want. Okay?" He says.

"Okay." She mumbles.

"Okay."

"Is that the only word you know?" She teases.

"No, I'm smarter than you think." He smiles. Annie leans back into his chest and they stay there for awhile like this.

"I should go." Finnick says. Annie let's go of him and looks confused. "I made plans." He says which is true, he says sees Mags after a Capitol visit so she knows Finnick is okay.

"Oh." She whispers.

"Don't worry I will see you later." He says.

"Kay, bye Finnick." She says but what she meant was goodbye Finnick I love you.

"Bye Annie." He says but what he meant was I think I'm falling in love with you.