Chapter Two- Two Identities

I follow nervously behind Finnick and his family, feeling like an intruder to everything. I love the fact that Finnick and I are both still alive, but I can't stand the fact that he won't even look at me, unless he's being made by some Capitol person to talk to his best friend. I mean, I know it's not his fault because I think all that he knows about "me" is that I'm now going to live with him as his best friend, but I don't think he actually knows anything else. I think I can't wait until I can finally explain it to him.

For now, I'm just going to have to trail behind everyone else here, marvelling over the house that his victory has brought to his family, and kind of me. I'm not acting when I do this, though, because this house is nothing like I've ever seen in a District before, with huge rooms wherever you turn and lavish furniture, everything in the house themed around the ocean- obviously. Its beauty is then aided by the fact that there is a private beach that also comes with the house, the sand and sea there instead of a garden.

However, it's only when the cameras have finally gone for the night- all the parties, banquets and introductions over with- that his mother sighs, turning to me. "Annie, sweetie, there are only three bedrooms here that have beds in at the moment. They tried to explain it to us before they left, and the President also left a message, which apologises for not having enough for now, but where would you like to sleep? If you want to, I can sleep in the same room as Dylan, so that you can have the second spare room."

I shake my head. "I'm happy to sleep on the sofa, Mrs Odair. I don't want to get in the way for you three, considering it is technically just your house," I reason, knowing without looking that Finnick agrees with me and wants me to leave.

"Melia. And only if you don't mind," she says.

"It looks comfortable enough," I point out, smiling.

"It folds out as a temporary bed," interrupts Dylan. "If you were listening when they gave us the tour of the house, they said."

"Oh, sorry, I must have tuned out for that bit then," I admit, shrugging my shoulders.

"So you are sure you're fine?" Melia checks.

I nod. "Of course, I promise."

"In that case then, goodnight and sleep well- unless you want something to eat," she adds quickly.

"Thank you, but I'm quite full after that wonderful party." I look towards Finnick at this, only to find that he's looking anywhere but at me. I sigh.

"Well then, we will see you in the morning." The two boys' mother then leads the way upstairs, her two sons following her away.

I sigh again, before walking into the living room and standing in front of the sofa. I tilt my head to the side as I stare at it for a few moments, during which I try to work out how exactly it folds out, as Dylan said it would. After a few more minutes, I give up, deciding that it's comfortable enough as just a sofa, so I will be fine, even though it's not quite a bed.

I flop onto it and look around the room in the dark, only the light from the moon that streams through the window lighting up everything in the room, changing the contents from a soft greeny blue to a slight silver. To say the least, it's beautiful. It's not quite as over-elaborate as the Capitol was, yet its well-polished surfaces and perfectly fitted furniture over shadow a District normally, and actually look more welcoming than the Capitol too.

I can't quite relax into it and appreciate it as much as I probably should, though, just because of the fact that Finnick doesn't really believe I deserve to be here. He still doesn't know who I am, so he's just going to tolerate me for now, playing the part of my best friend- who has missed me more than words can say- in front of the cameras, and a boy whose house I'm staying at- but he doesn't have to pay attention to- at any other time.

Finally, after an hour or so of sitting still, moving around, and doing whatever else is possible as an attempt to sleep, I give up on finally being able to shut my eyes without nightmares following. For one thing, I'm in a new house with new people, two of which I've only known since this afternoon and the third one ignoring me. The main reason for me not being able to get to sleep, though, is the fact that whenever I close my eyes, something from the past few weeks comes back to haunt me. Life's going to awful if this is what it's going to continue to be like.

There's only one other person who might be in the same situation as me now, but they probably won't want to see me, whether or not they're awake. I take a deep breath in, before getting to my feet and padding silently upstairs. I'm going to need to see him, though, no matter how much he wants or wants not to see me. It's unfortunate, therefore- as I admitted an hour and a bit ago- that I paid no attention to the tour of the house earlier, so I can only guess that it's Finnick's room when I walk along and finally reach a bedroom with no sounds of sleep coming from.

I knock gently, whispering, "Finnick?" There's no answer, so I quietly push the door open and see the bed empty and the window open. I walk over and lean out with my eyes shut, the salty sea breeze cooling my flushed face. I sigh and then open my eyes once again, which is when I spot a figure on the beach that belongs to this particular Victor. I allow a slight smile to cross my lips as I find an easy path out of the window and down the side of the house, all those years I spent in District Two Training Centre paying off.

I land like a cat on the sand without making a noise, standing up and brushing myself down. I then make my way over to the boy that sits at the water's edge- still undetected by him- and stop behind him. He's changed out of the suit he was made to wear for his return, into a much more casual t-shirt and shorts. "Hey Finnick," I say, my voice in the silence startling him slightly.

He doesn't glance around or talk as I sit next to him, pulling my knees up to my chest. Instead, he keeps his green eyes fixed onto a point in the distance, sighing as the cold waves wash up the beach and against his bare feet.

"You couldn't sleep either?" I guess, trying desperately to make conversation.

He shakes his head and breathes out deeply, but doesn't actually speak a word.

However, I think I notice a flash of silver pass through his hands, from what I guess to be the necklace that I gave to him in exchange for the rope bracelet around my wrist, and I smile, venturing the question, "What was she like?"

"Who?" he replies, finally speaking his first word to me in hours. It's obvious he knows who I'm talking about, though, by the way he tenses his shoulders and brings the fist with the necklace in closer to his chest.

"Your ally, Georgina," I explain, reaching my hand up to his shoulder and squeezing it reassuringly.

He shrugs, staying silent again, although he tries to subtly move away from me.

I sigh, moving my hand from his shoulder and to my knees as I say, "I'm sorry, Finnick, I just didn't know if it would be easier if you talked about-"

"You have no idea, do you?" he quickly interrupts, his voice still quiet, although I can see annoyance and hurt streaked across his face in the moonlight.

I think I must gasp slightly from the sudden force behind his words, as I shake my head and shut my eyes. "I just-"

"She was the best thing to ever happen to me and I loved her more than words can explain," he continues, cutting me off once again. "I never thought I'd be able to feel something as real as that, especially at this age. It was the most perfect thing ever and I was ready to protect her with my life, but she just suddenly began to die for no reason. Nothing hurt her, nothing touched her, nothing went near her. She just suddenly died."

"I know, Finnick, I saw. It's not your fault." Now, I only just realise how stupid I was for not warning him.

"You think that it's going to make it better by talking about it, but how can that be the case? You have no idea how much I risked, just so that she would stay safe. But she still somehow died. I have her death weighing on my shoulders." He stands up quickly and kicks the water at his feet, before crouching down and covering his face with his hands.

I scramble to my feet and wade through the water to him, resting a small hand on his back. "It's not your fault," I repeat. "They reported on it and said that no one knows what happened to her."

He makes some half annoyed, half angry shout and stands back up, turning to face me. "She's dead, whilst I get to live this life of luxury, in some fancy, perfect house, that you, Annie Cresta, have decided to live in too." He grabs the top of my arms tightly in his strong hands, a sharp pain shooting down each arm in a matter of seconds. The reason that my eyes have begun to tear up, though, is because he looks so sad, and not because he's hurting me. "I don't even know who you are, yet everyone's expecting me to act as if you're my best friend. You're probably just some girl from the Capitol who is desperate to get to know the latest Victor of your sick Games."

"I promise you that I'm not," I begin.

He glares at me. "But, whoever you are, you've got no idea of what I've had to get through to get us here, least of all having to kill kids both younger and older than me."

I bite my lip. "Finnick, you were honourable and more. You only did what you had to-"

"But killing people was nothing compared to having the one girl I loved die in my arms," he finishes, his green eyes staring into mine with such intensity that I want to run and hide. "Can you tell how much I had to go through, yet?"

The look he's giving me is somewhat worse than the one that filled his eyes when he killed all the other Careers, which is why I suddenly wonder if he wants to kill me now. This worry isn't aided by the fact that he begins to move his hands, them only stopped when I push the rope bracelet over his hand and onto his wrist. "Yes, actually, Finn. I can tell."

I run before he has the chance to answer. The desperate longing from less than an hour ago to tell him my real identity has suddenly disappeared, replaced instead by an urge to leave him alone. He doesn't really want me with him. He wants to be left alone to think things through. He needs the chance to get used to things as they were. I'm only going to make it harder for that to happen.

I slow my breathing down to a steady rhythm as I change my speed from a fast sprint to a relaxed walk. The only places I know in this District are the Justice Building, the train station and Finnick's house in the Victors' Village; I'd be incredibly lucky if I managed to find those places, though. Luckily, I spot the Justice Building in the Town centre as I push my hair off of my face, deciding to go there. Even if he doesn't want me with him, I can at least move out of his way. Right now, I plan to go into the Justice Building to watch what's been recorded of the Sixty Fifth Hunger Games so far.

When I walk in, I realise I'm still wearing just the lace top and shorts I went onto the beach with- no shoes even- but there's no one here to see me. And, anyway, who would actually care what I looked like? I sigh as I follow the signs to the huge library at the back of the building, then following the instructions there to get to the section I need: The Hunger Games: Everything you Will Ever Need to Know.

"How did it happen?" a voice out of the darkness asks when I arrive, making me jump.

"Finnick?" I reply, straining my eyes to see if it's actually him. "How did you get here before me?"

"I ran straight here because I figured out that this was the only place you'd find your way to, because you didn't want to return back to my house," he answers. "If you didn't turn up here by the morning, I would have had to have gone on a hunt for you."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before," I whisper. "I just thought you-"

"Sssh," he cuts me off, putting his hand over my mouth, his sudden closeness surprising with me. "Come with me and then we'll talk."

Following his instructions, I don't say anything as he lifts his hand back from my mouth, putting it, instead, with my own hand. I gladly take hold and follow him though the dark, keeping silent as he walks along cobbled street after street, only our barefooted steps making the miniscule sounds I can hear.

Still, I stay silent when we reach the cliff beneath a pastel coloured house and he lets go of my hand, replacing his hold onto an old, rusty door handle. He pulls open the door and reveals an old fishing boat, which he drags out onto the beach and to the water's edge. He walks back to shut the door of the boathouse, before leading me to boat, telling me to get in, and then pushing it out, only jumping in when it's afloat.

It's another few minutes- after he's brought the boat to a stop at least a mile out from the coast- that he sits down in front of me, smiling when he must see the fear etched across my face. "What?" he asks, watching me.

"You're evil," I grumble, holding on tightly to the edge and watching the small waves lap against the wooden sides of the boat. "You know that I've never been in a boat before."

He laughs, taking my hands in his and replacing the bracelet I returned to him onto my wrist. "They'll have cameras everywhere in the District. I thought here would be the best place to talk."

I turn my head to look at him and I can't help but smile as well. "I can certainly think of no more beautiful place to talk," I agree.

He nods, reaching forward and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Can you please explain, though? I've spent the last few days mourning over Georgina and today hating Annie, only to find out that they're the same person. I'm more confused than you can imagine."

"I must admit, I only know a little more than you do," I say, my smile dropping. "They only woke me up today, just with enough time for me to see my mentor being murdered, and then to get back here before you arrived."

"They murdered your mentor?" he repeats, looking shocked.

"They had two tributes who survived, Finnick," I reason. "Of course they had to blame someone, and it couldn't be either of us."

"But it can't have been her fault," he argues.

"I think it may have been," I whisper. "She would try to do anything to help tributes in love. I guess we were finally her first and last opportunity to get both tributes out."

He sighs, rubbing the back of my hands gently. "And so Annie Cresta…"

"And so Annie Cresta was created, so that we could both live," I finish.

"You look so different," he points out.

"I think that may have been the point," I laugh. "No one's going to recognise me now. Can you imagine what upheaval we would have caused if they actually saw us both surviving?"

He shrugs. "I suppose so. But what's your background story? They're always asking me questions about you, but I never know how to answer them."

"I know as much as you do, really, in this case," I admit. "About all I know is that I'm an orphan and that I live with you, your mum and your brother."

"No more details?" I shake my head. "Give me a minute and I'll make something up for you, as I know more plausible stories for the District. Do you know why you weren't there for the Final Eight interviews?"

"No, again, but why don't you say that I was really busy that day, sorting out something in the District, and it couldn't wait?" I suggest.

"May as well," he agrees. "In terms of your backstory, how about you were my best from before school started because I taught you how to swim? Two years ago, a couple of weeks before my first Reaping, you stayed at my house with me, my mum and Dylan, whilst your parents went away. They went on a cruise that would usually be reserved for people for the Capitol, but they could afford it because your dad was a peacekeeper and your mum did really well in terms of making nets- she'd had a really successful few months."

"If that's what my mum used to do, you may need to teach me," I interrupt.

"Sure." He nods, before continuing, "However, on one of the last nights, the engines failed and the boat sunk, not helped by the fact it was really stormy weather. It all happened before any rescue boats had the chance to arrive. Hardly anyone survived."

"That's pretty specific, Finn," I point out. "You've been thinking about that loads, haven't you?"

"I didn't need to think," he mutters. "It actually happened. My dad captained it."

I stare at the look of immense loss on his face and squeeze his hands. "Oh my Games, Finnick, I'm sorry. We don't have to use that story if you don't want to-"

"No, don't argue, it would make sense," he decides, trying to smile at me.

I sigh. "Only if you want to."

"Of course I want to." He nods. "I want to do whatever's necessary to keep you safe, even if that involves never letting you out of my sight again."

He makes me smile as I say, "Yeah, likewise to me. You've got another thing coming if you think I'm going to let you go away to the Capitol to mentor."

He laughs. "Is there anything else I need to know that you can only tell me out here?"

"Not that I can think of," I admit. "Can we come out here again if there are any developments?"

He nods. "So we should probably head back in now."

"Hmmm." He gets up and walks to the other side of the boat, to begin directing it back to land. I shuffle over to him and lean against his legs, watching the huge silver moon. "You really need to be rested for more of your lovely Capitol interviews."

"Thanks," he grumbles, dislodging me slightly from my position when he moves his feet. "I'll make sure you're in some too."

"I appreciate the gesture," I laugh. "But you can't get to sleep, can you? That's why you were on the beach earlier."

"The nightmares are awful, but I suppose they'll be better now that I know I've still got you," he replies, reaching one of his hands down to my shoulder.

I smile again. "I hope I can say the same about me."

When the boat bumps up onto the beach, I take Finnick's offered hand and jump onto the sand. Then I help him move the boat back into boathouse, the job getting done much quicker when two of us are doing it. I watch as he locks the doors and then walks back over to me, slipping his hand around mine and beginning the walk back to the Victors' Village.

"Finnick," I whisper, looking up at the pastel house that is on the cliff above the boathouse, "was that your house?"

He looks up the cliff at the house and nudges my shoulder. "Still is. And, don't you remember? It was yours too."

I smile. "I'd really like to see it again," I admit.

He chuckles. "Come on then," he says, before leading me up a path through the cliff that I didn't notice earlier.

I follow quietly behind him as he pushes open the door to the house and then gives me a tour. I must admit, this house isn't too bad. True, it's not quite like his house in the Victors' Village, but I know it's certainly better than some of the houses in District Two. To say the least, it's big, and then it's also got the great views. I don't say it, but they must have it because of what his dad's job was.

He introduces each different room of his house and I guess that his house looks so big because some of the rooms are big, whilst there are just many of the other ones. But, I also now realise just how close his family is. In each room, there are at least three pictures of everyone together. Now, more than I felt like ever before, I feel really like I am invading his life.

The final room he shows me is the room he used to share with brother. The walls look like they were originally sky blue, but it now looks as if the two brothers were let loose on the room with any colours they wanted, doing whatever they liked. To be honest, I think the paintings on the wall are actually quite cute, and they go well with all the things that I assume were made by their mum.

I turn to smile at Finnick, who had let go of my hand and left me to sit on his old bed when we got in this room, and I see he's flushed slightly pink whilst he watches me. "It's cute, Finn," I decide, walking over to the bed and curling up next to him, my head on his chest, my legs over his, and my hand once again in his.

"Oh, please don't say that," he groans.

"No, it's really sweet that you and Dylan decorated your room," I argue.

"I decorated it when I was six," he complains.

"That means he would have been only one," I say. "You did it on your own!"

"Hmmm. I even did it without mum," he mutters. "Mum and dad went out to buy something for Dylan's birthday, and they left me here with you."

"Me?" I repeat.

"Yeah," he agrees. "You were my best friend, so of course you were with me to cause trouble."

"If you say so," I sigh.

"I definitely say so," he laughs.

"I still think it's cute," I grumble, looking at an orange blob on the wall with a face and eight things sticking out of it.

"I know you do." He kisses the top of my head.

"Night, Finn," I say softly, shutting my eyes.

"Night, Annie," he replies, equally quietly, wrapping his arms around me and not letting me go. "I'll still be here in the morning."

"As will I," I agree. "You can't think you're getting rid of me that easily."

He tightens his arms around me. "Never in my life will I want to get rid of you."

Author's Note: If I'm being honest, this is to make up for being horrible to Georgie- my friend, not the character... And I hope this is worth it- having a whole story (plus all those one-shots I still need to write), instead of just one character in another story.

Anyway, Annie/Gina/whoever-you-want-to-call-her finally told Finnick and I suppose this means that they'll begin to be able to go to each other for help. I hope you liked how she told him; I personally liked how they went out into the boat to talk.

Clovely-littleme: I'm glad you liked it so much and that it was worth the wait. I only hope now it will make up for me being such a stinker!

SirEvy: I'm really pleased you like it and look forward to it updating; even I am looking forward to writing it!

RadMalfoyCookie: Thanks for your confidence in me!

Next chapter: I'm afraid I have absolutely no idea at the moment...

Unfortunately, though, I am going to have to say the same thing as I am saying for all my other stories (apart from I Volunteer): I'm going to put all my stories- except for I Volunteer- on hiatus for a bit. I'm sorry if you're all going to hate me for this but, basically, I want to finish I Volunteer before summer and, on top of all of my exams, I'm not going to have the time to update everything, in addition to finishing that particular story. So I'll carry on writing chapters for I Volunteer and updating it when I can, but I will begin re-updating all my other stories once that the prologue of I Volunteer's sequel is up.

My plan for after that, though, is:

To replace I Volunteer with its sequel

Finish Safe With Mellark- this won't have a sequel

Start updating And From Those Moments again, after Safe With Mellark is done

To continue updating Secrets In Love- this currently has forty two chapters planned, plus an epilogue and a prologue, and it will have a sequel

To update Now Give Us A Kiss whenever I have the chance, like I was before

And to use the forum I have created for Panem Facebook: Fights and Fantasies to have other authors who are willing to write chapters for this story- PM me if you're interested

Thank you for understanding, and I hope it's not too much! But review anyway, and all that jazz...