Okay I'm really sorry about not updating for a while, but in my defence, I've written four more chapters! :D Okay so I'd like to thank Annalee for your reviews:) and for saying I'm a celeb;) thanks, dearie.

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So you know I love you guys, and I do not own THG, quite evidently. Please enjoy and REVIEW or I might be forced to stall my next update:( I'm kidding. But still, I feel good when you tell end how you guys feel!

And now, my lovely darlings, my piece of brilliance, my gift to the universe.

~Jenna

TWELVE

Dying is a strange thing.

I mean, now you're there, the next, you're not. Seeing that is something you feel.

The night Annie died, I had gone in to see her. All the doctors were gone, and most of the machines were silent. My family was outside in the waiting room. We had been instructed to say our goodbyes. I was last, Oriole next after me.

I stepped into the room, my footsteps were extremely loud in the very quiet room. Annie was in her bed, her auburn hair matted and splayed across her pillow. Her eyes were closed.

I wished Oriole was here with me.

"Hey," my voice was hesitant. I cleared it.

Her eyes opened slowly, and she looked at me and smiled. I smiled back and almost started crying. I could feel the painful lump in my throat.

She motioned for me to step forward. I went to the side of her bed and kneeled, resting my chin on the rail. She looked at me and whispered, "I always knew you would grow up to be as beautiful as your mother was."

She lifted her shaky hand and brushed back my hair.

"I always wanted to look like you," I smiled. It was true, she was gorgeous. Her hair was thick and soft, long, falling down to her waist. Her eyes were deep and bright. Her smile was something that could melt butter. Her skin milky and smooth. "You were always so pretty, I remember dressing up in your clothes when I was little, trying to be you."

She laughed, a raspy sound, but it was still Annie.

"You and Or would pretend to be grown ups. You were so cute. You two were inseparable, you know that? You would cry every time you had to leave. Or would sulk in his room and wait for the next time you would visit." Annie's face is happy now, and I can almost forget this is probably out last time talking.

I was a bit shocked to hear that he was that upset. It was true though, even though we fought like brother and sister, whenever I was over there or he was in Twelve, we were attached at the hip.

She paused for a few moments, her chest rising and falling unevenly. She was in her own world again. I just sat there, my knees on the cold, sticky, sterile white floor. Suddenly, she looked at me and grinned. Her eyes were dreamy.

"He loves you, you know."

I couldn't speak. Who, Oriole? No. Confusion rushed over me like a wave.

She nodded. "Always had. Since you two were little. I always knew. A mothers instinct. I would always bug him about it, and he would deny it, but I knew. It was the way he looked at you."

I shook my head, but Annie nodded. "No, Annie, Oriole and I are only friends. I love him like a brother, but I don't think we feel that way about each other."

She smiled as if she expected this reaction. "Sweetie, you can't fool someone like me. I've been in love," her eyes glaze over, remembering Finnick.

I smile sadly. I don't know how she figures that Oriole feels that way about me. He's never done anything that would suggest he feels something for me other than love that siblings share. But then again...she knows him. She's his mother. I couldn't... But I don't know. She couldn't be right about me either. I wouldn't think of Oriole like that. Right?

"Anyways," she continued. "I brought it up because you two have spent long enough hiding it. You're almost sixteen, and he's now eighteen. It's perfect." She beamed.

I nodded, giving in. Who could deny something like that to someone who's so determined about it, and dying? "Okay, Annie. Ill do something about it."

She smiled. I was glad that even in this time, she could be conscious. And that she wasn't acting weird like she did when she had her episodes. Annie was acting normal.

I reached up and held her fragile hand. She looked down and suddenly frowned.

"Sweetie... I'm leaving." She looked up, searching my face for a reaction. I probably looked troubled. But not surprised. She sighed, as if she anticipated my knowing. "I'm sorry I couldn't fight and stay around longer."

I shook my head, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything. If I said anything, my voice would break, and that would be it. I would open like a breaking dam. I would cry and wouldn't be able to stop myself. I had to be strong.

"I need you...I need you to take care of him. I know I haven't been any help to him, but I need someone to take care-"

"I will," I croaked, nodding furiously.

"Okay," she breathed. "You know he needs you." She added, after a few minutes.

I looked down. Her chest was heaving now.

I stood up and leaned down close to her, resting my head on her pillow. She tilted her head and kissed my forehead. I cried a bit. She just pet my hair.

"Annie," I said, after I had done crying. My voice sounded fairly normal. "I promise I will always take care of Oriole and my family and myself, if you promise never to leave, okay?"

I looked into her eyes. She was serious. "I will always be here, Lavianna. I will never leave you guys, okay? I promise."

I nodded. She reached behind her hair and unclipped a delicate necklace, one that I hadn't noticed before. She shakily held it in front of me.

It was dainty and gold, but worn. The colour was sort of brassy. But it was beautiful. The pendant was a small anchor, lacy and defined, it hooked around a small rope that looped around and held a small pearl beside the neck of the anchor. The pearl was small and white, about the size of the end of a pencil. It was so simple and stunning, I almost cried.

"Finnick gave it to me after I returned from the Games. We were sitting in front of a willow tree at the beach, and he told me he wanted to marry me. Instead of an engagement ring, he handed me this.

I want you to have it, because to Finnick, it represented his love to me, anchoring us both down in this difficult world. The pearl is our love, something beautiful in all this hardship. You are the beauty in these ugly times, Lav. You anchor everyone down in this family, even if you don't know it. Your presence is refreshing and everyone loves you so much. And I know you are a gorgeous girl, inside and out. So, here. I will always be with you, in your heart, in the beach, in Oriole, and in this."

I smiled through my tears, and took the necklace. I reached back to put it on, but suddenly another pair of hands took it from behind. I jumped a bit, but relaxed when I saw the golden skin.

Oriole swept my hair back and clasped on the necklace. I turned and looked up at him. His eyes were sad and watery, but he grinned at me. He must of slipped in during Annie's speech and my crying. I guess I was too busy hanging on to every word she uttered to notice anything else.

I turned back to Annie. "I guess I have to go now," my voice was small and quiet.

She smiled and nodded. Annie lifted her arms a bit, and I dove right into them. She lifted off the bed a bit. Her arms pulled me close with surprising strength, and I buried my face in her hair, that still smelled like Annie. Ocean air and a light flowery perfume. I cried hard and told her I loved her.

I finally pulled back. I kissed her forehead.

She reached for Orioles hand and mine, and nodded at us to do the same. I grabbed his hand and he held on like I was a lifeline. We stood there, holding hands with Annie.

"I love you two more than anything in the whole world." She smiled.

I looked at Or, he was staring at his mother, not wanting to miss a thing. I kissed his arm, right under his shoulder. Looking at Annie, I said, "You're the most amazing person I've ever met."

"You two will take care of each other, right?"

Oriole and I looked at each other. I nodded, and he lifted out entwined hands and held it between us.

"Good," she whispered. "I'm so happy."

I turned to her and laughed. I took her in, her laugh lines beside her bright eyes. Her smooth skin, her flowing hair, her perfect nose, defined mouth, dainty chin. Her smile. I loved her and I wanted this image to etch itself into my brain.

She smiled and said, "Goodbye, Lavianna, sweetie. I love you more than the entire ocean can hold."

"And I love you that times every grain of sand on the beach." I smiled and forced myself to turn around. Annie dropped my hand, but i had to sort of tug to let go of Oriole.

Every step I took, I was on auto pilot. My legs felt like lead, every atom in my body screaming at me to turn back. But I couldn't. I knew that had to be the last time.

I walked out the door, breathing in, out. In, out, in,out, in.

I glanced back, through the glass door, and saw Oriole, lying beside his mother, her cradling him sideways like he was an overgrown child, as he cried into her hair.

I used every grain of strength I had left to turn away.

I never spoke to Annie again.

Yeah, that was sad. *Wipes tear from eye*

Gosh.