I lie in bed for hours that night. My thoughts have not strayed from Annie since I sat by the riverbank this morning. Her flowing brown hair that gently touched my skin when I spoke with her this morning. Her piercing green eyes, that can uncover any secret. And I realize my first opinion of her was wrong. She is not some soul mate who will understand me when no one else can. She is no different from the rest of them. I am thankful now that I did not allow myself to love her to quickly. I opened up to her, that is all. She is nothing to me, really.

Well, I can tell myself that.

Our conversation this morning plays through my mind, bringing on another round of tears. The truth is, I have been longing for some form of human touch, human love. Not that I have a lack of admirers in the Capitol, but I want someone who loves me for who I am, and I them. It is not Annie that bothers me, but the lack of this. Annie is only the one who made me remember afresh my deepest longing. But, what was it she said before I turned and left. That she did not want to walk with a boy she barely knew, and who had a reputation...that was when she smirked sarcastically and laughed with her friends. I realize she has hurt me in a way that I never thought I could be hurt by anyone. She has changed me, in my own mind, into something that I am not. Into a Finnick who cares not for morals, or for love...

I get no sleep tonight.

When the grey light of dawn streams through my window, I pull myself out of bed, bags under my eyes from a sleepless night. Face stained with tears. One thing is on my mind. Annie. And the knowledge that I can never open up to her, or anyone, ever again. Snow has taken that from me, like he has taken everything else.

I dress in a simple pair of cargo pants and a light green shirt. I know I should eat, as I have eaten nothing since the day before yesterday, but for some reason I am still not hungry. I leave my home in the Victors Village and walk towards the river. My mind wanders, and I do not notice the form in my cave until it is too late.

She stares out at the river, eyes not meeting mind, body not changing posture, as I come up. I consider turning back, but decide that is too childish. Besides, this is my cave. She is the one who needs to leave.

I sit down beside her, and only then does she meet my eyes. They are swimming with tears, and look almost a dull sea green, rather than the piercing colour of yesterday. I am taken aback by this.

"Finnick, I have something I need to tell you."

I think about her statement for a moment, and then nod slowly,"Go ahead."

Annie takes a deep breath, her sobs catching in it for a moment.

"I am sorry for how I acted yesterday. It was childish. I just...I felt so uncomfortable. I didn't know how to react, so I reacted as a young, 15 year old girl would act in that situation. Stupidly. I meant nothing I said...I just hope, I hope you can forgive me, Finnick."

I stare at her, surprised. "Annie, I barely even know you. Why did you tell me this? You could have left it. What am I to you?"

She looks at me, her eyes again the deep green of yesterday. "When you came back from the Games, I was only a little girl, but even then I saw it. The struggle within you. The pain. The tears on the verge of breaking free every time you walked on the streets. Then it changed. You seemed above it all. Cold, but injured. I have always had a feeling about you, Finnick. I have wanted to help you, but..." her voice breaks," I have just made it worse."

Looking at her, I feel somehow that I should comfort her. Wrap my arms around her and forgive her. Tell her it is okay. That these are exactly the words that I have always wanted to hear. But I don't.

"It's okay, Annie." I say,"I wouldn't expect a child to know any better."

She looks up at me, hurt filling her eyes. I don't understand it, why this girl has so suddenly come into my life and torn it apart. But there is also a side of me that is happy to have hurt her like she did me. And I know that I have become the childish one.

She nods slowly, though, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Fairs, fair." she says.

I shake my head at her, but I can't help a smile from turning up the corners of my lips, only slightly. A glint enters her eyes, and she winks. How our relationship has changed from anger and hurt to this, in moments, I do not know. But I am thankful for this turn of events. I wonder if maybe we could be friends.

Then Annie gets up.

"I have to go," she says," I have school."

I nod, and give her a small smile.

She turns to go, but I call her name to stop her, and she turns once again to face me.

"Annie, I need a friend."

She smiles, then. Truly Smiles. Her reply, though, takes me off guard. She speaks and then leaves. Leaves me pondering her words and her friendship.

"Take off the mask, Finnick."