A/N: This is the start of the Finnick and Annie storyline, I hope you like it! Thank you for the reviews I've received so far :)

Finnick's POV

I was still a little hung over from the party the night before, but when I finally woke up enough to sit up in bed, I had a sudden memory of what I had said to Katniss. I groaned. What would possess me to tell Katniss, of all people, the secret I tried to hide most from everyone I knew?

"Finnick, are you up?" There was a knock at the door and my father came in. He already had a frown on his face and it was only 11am. He sighed when he looked at me. "Another big night?"

I didn't say anything. I knew that no matter what I said, he would lecture me anyway, so I chose to say nothing. As predicted, my father began his usual rant that always went a little like this: "When are you going to take school seriously? Yale will never accept you if you continue acting this way. Partying every night is ruining your future. And when are going to settle down into a serious relationship? This business with a different girl every night is just not acceptable. You need to find a good girl from a good family if you ever want to inherit my company."

I rolled my eyes. Everyday, it was the same old speech, and after almost two years I couldn't take it anymore.

"Are you even listening to me?" My father demanded.

"I gotta go, dad." I said, getting up.

"Where are you going?"

"Swimming." I told him.

Being in the water was my only real escape from the pressure of my family and the ridiculous reputation I had as the Upper East Side's biggest player. I had always loved the water, but recently swimming laps had become a sort of therapy for me. In the water there was no father putting expectations on me, no colleges to apply for, no future to have my parents plan for me. So I had started to look for places to swim outside of the Upper East Side. I needed a break from that whole world, and finally I found peace and quiet in a small aquatic centre in Brooklyn. What I loved most about it was that no one I knew would be there, they would never be seen dead more than two blocks out of our area of the city. In Brooklyn, I wasn't Finnick Odair, father of a millionaire and known by every girl on the Upper East Side. I was just a regular guy.

When I arrived, the lap pool was almost deserted. I couldn't wait to dive into the cool water and start swimming, that was until, I looked up as saw the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. She was sitting up high on a lifeguard's chair, intently watching the water. She had long, dark hair and the greenest eyes I had ever seen. She was absolutely stunning.

I considered walking over to her and laying on my usual charm. I could picture it already- she would blush, twirl her hair and as soon as her shift was over I would have her back at my place and that would be that. I stopped myself, because that wasn't really me, and I knew that. Finnick Odair from the Upper East Side would act like that, but here in Brooklyn was the only place I could really be myself away from all that charm. Sure, all the girls I was with was the easiest way to rebel against my family and piss my father off, but I stopped enjoying it long ago. So I shook my head, trying to forget about the gorgeous girl, and dived into the water.

After an hour, my mind felt clearer, but as soon as I stepped out of the pool, my eyes flicked up towards the lifeguard chair. But there was someone else sitting there now, watching over the water. It was probably a good thing she was gone, she looked to gentle and sweet to be just another one of Finnick Odair's flings.

However, I as soon as I left the aquatic centre and saw the girl again, I felt my heart lurch in a way that was different from anything I had ever felt. The girl was sitting on the curb in front of the building, her head in her hands. Beside her was a blue vintage bicycle complete with a basket on the front. Looking closer, I saw that one of the tires was completely flat. When I approached her, I realised she was crying. I also realised that even though I really wanted to help her, I had no idea what to do.

"Are you ok?" I asked. My instincts were telling me to sit down beside her. They were also telling me to wrap both arms around her, so I wasn't sure if I could trust them. I decided to sit down anyway, a safe enough distant away from her.

The girl looked up at me with her big green eyes that were now puffy from tears. Even while crying she was still beautiful. "Oh yes, I'm fine." she sniffed.

"You don't look fine to me." I replied.

"Why would you say that?" she asked, and looked like she was going to cry again.

"Oh no!" I exclaimed, "Not like that, I didn't mean that you don't look fine, I mean you look more than fine- better! You're beautiful." I realised I was rambling. "What I meant was that you look like you need some help."

The girl stared at me. "I knew what you meant," she said, as if I was an idiot, "I was just joking."

"Right, very funny." I said, feeling relieved, "But seriously though, are you ok?"

She sighed. "No." she gestured towards her bike. "I have a flat tire but I forgot my purse at home so I don't have any change for the subway and I'm supposed to be home soon to bake a birthday cake for my aunt and nothing ever goes right and I'm just a mess right now." she spoke so quickly I could hardly keep up, but her erratic speech made me smile. At least she wasn't crying anymore. "Sorry, you probably don't care."

"I do so!" I said, acting hurt, "And it just so happens that today is your lucky day."

"How so?" she asked sarcastically.

"I happen to have some extra change in my pocket."

"Really?"

"Really." I reached into my pocket and took out the money, "That would be enough, right?"

"I can't take it, I feel bad." she said.

"Ok, how about you give me something in exchange?"

"And what would that be?" she asked suspiciously.

"How about your number?"

She laughed, "Nice try."

"Oh come on." I persisted.

"No chance."

"What about a name a least?"

She scrunched up her face in annoyance and even then she looked extremely cute. "Fine." she groaned. "I'm Annie. Annie Cresta."

"A pleasure to meet you, Annie Cresta." I could feel myself beaming. "I'm Finnick Odair."

"Nice to meet you too, Finnick Odair." I loved the way my name sounded in her voice.

"Well I suppose a name is something." I gestured for her to take the money in my hand, "But I'm still waiting for your number."

Annie rolled her eyes and reached out for the money. As she extended her arm towards me I noticed that she had thin red cuts covering her skin, from her wrist to her elbow. My heart dropped, they could only be from one thing. Why would such a beautiful girl want to hurt herself in such a way? It surprised me, because not only was there more to this girl than I originally thought, she intrigued me in a way I had never experienced before. However, as soon as she noticed me looking at her cuts, she drew her arm back, trying to hide it from my vision. Her cheeks flushed red and she tried not to meet my eye as she stood.

"Well, thank you!" she said hurriedly, still not looking at me properly.

Before I could apologise for staring at her arm, or even say anything to her at all, she was gone. I stayed on the curb for a few minutes after she had left, just thinking about what had happened. I'd never had a conversation with a girl that left me feeling so confused. Sure I liked her, but not in the way that I was attracted to which ever girl I was with at a party. This was a different sort of attraction, one that made me want to make her laugh and get to know everything about her. The only thing I knew for sure was that I couldn't get her name out of my head.

I got to the swimming pool at the same time I left it the day before, on the chance that maybe Annie was working the same shift as she had previously. I was in luck, and as I turned the corner to the aquatic centre, she was just leaving.

"Annie Cresta!" I said happily, trying to play it cool even though my heart was racing. "What are the chances of seeing you here?"

She stared at me. "Are you serious?"

"Of course!"

"Here for a swim then?" she asked.

"Not today." I replied, trying not to break out into a smile even though I wanted to.

"Then why are you here?"

"To take you out for coffee." I replied. I couldn't help but smile now.

"I don't think so." she said, still staring at me.

"Hey, I'm practically your hero- I totally saved the day yesterday." I reminded her, "You owe me."

"I already told you my name didn't I?" she returned.

"Come on, Annie!" I begged playfully, even though in my mind I was begging for her to say yes.

"Look, thank you for the money, I really appreciate it. But I'm not interested." she said flatly.

I felt like I was loosing her, so I returned to my usual charming persona. "As if you could resist my overwhelming charm!"

Finally she laughed, "I'm guessing not a lot of girls turn you down."

"Not one." I said. "So what do you say- one coffee? You'll ruin my reputation otherwise."

"Oh well I couldn't have that." she joked. "One coffee."

I took Annie to a small café that I had found after one of my many swimming days in Brooklyn. We sat in a quiet booth sit and I was almost overwhelmed with happiness that she had really agreed to come with me. I sighed though, when the young waitress called my name and leant close to me as she took our orders. Last week she had written her number on my bill, but I never called her. As she left she giggled and gave me a wave, before flashing a threatening look at Annie.

Annie looked at me with her eyebrows raised. "So you've seriously never been turned down for a date?"

"Ok maybe just once before." I admitted, thinking back to Katniss. She too hadn't been interested, but I wasn't really asking her out. It was all part of the stupid game at school, and if I didn't try to win her over too, then one of the guys might have seen through my 'player' act. "But I didn't like her anyway."

"Do you have a habit of asking girls out you don't even like?"

I looked into her beautiful eyes, "Not anymore."

Once our coffees arrived, Annie laughed incredulously as I poured four sugar packets into my drink.

"What can I say, I like sweet things." I gave her a wink, but she only rolled her eyes.

"You know, you don't have to be so 'charming' all the time. It might work with other girls, but I think there is more to you than that."

Wow. We had only known each other a couple of hours and already Annie saw through my act unlike the people who had known me my whole life. Annie was a quiet girl, but she was very perceptive. As soon as she said that though, I realised that I hadn't actually been on many proper dates. Usually my charm was enough to get a girl into bed with me and that was it. Not often did I actually take a girl out, and I wasn't exactly sure what to say. Especially since Annie wasn't like any of the other girls, who practically melted as soon as I looked at them.

"So, Annie." I said, stirring my coffee. "Tell me about yourself."

"There isn't much to tell." Annie said, staring into her own drink.

"Come on, everyone has a story." I pressed her.

"I don't like to talk about mine." she said quietly. She looked uncomfortable and I suddenly remembered the cuts up her arm. I was lost for a moment on what to say next.

"Well." I said, regaining my composure. "Prepare yourself for the life story of Finnick Odair."

"Oh God." she rolled her eye, but laughed all the same. That was all I needed from her- a laugh. I loved the way it sounded.

I told her a little about my life on the Upper East Side- my parents, my friends, my school. It wasn't particularly interesting, but she listened all the same.

"So if you're from the Upper East Side, then why do you go swimming in Brooklyn?" she asked.

I decided to trust Annie with the truth. "I have a certain…reputation at home, which is something I try to forget about when I come here."

"Why do you want to forget it?" she asked softly.

"You were right. It's not who I really am." I told her, "But the people at home don't see that. So I put on an act." We were both quiet for a moment. "So, now I've told you my secret, you have to tell me one of yours." I continued, "I do love secrets, you know."

"Oh do you?" she laughed, but bit down on her lip as if thinking hard. "I don't really know what to say…"

I liked that Annie was careful about what she revealed to me. I was used to living in a place where everyone's private lives were practically common knowledge. It was different to meet someone so mysterious.

"Let's start with the obvious then." I smiled, "You like swimming."

"I do like swimming." she smiled back. "And so do you."

"See, we have so much in common!"

Annie laughed again. I noticed her flick her eyes towards the clock on the back wall and suddenly she looked panicked. "Oh no, I didn't realise that was the time!" she said, "I need to go."

"Really?" My heart sunk, "Why?"

"I have an appointment." she said hurriedly, digging in her purse to find the right amount of money.

"Hey, I've got this one." I told her.

"Are you sure?" she looked at me.

"Yeah." I smiled, "You can get the next one."

She rolled her eyes at me. "Thanks again Finnick, you're actually not a bad guy." She stood to leave.

"Hey Annie?" I called, "How about that number then?"

She scrunched up her face again, before reaching into her bag and pulling out a pen. I almost couldn't breathe when she leant across and wrote her phone number neatly on my hand. "Don't go swimming anytime soon then." She laughed.

I stayed at our booth for nearly ten more minutes, not wanting to leave in fear that I would loose the happy feeling I gained from our conversation. Unfortunately, my thoughts of Annie were interrupted by the flirty waitress slamming the bill down angrily on the table. Sighing, I paid, and took the subway back to my regular life.

Thankfully, both of my parents were out when I arrived back at the apartment, but Mags was sitting on the couch knitting. She gave me a knowing look as I flopped down next to her.

"Where have you been, young man?" she asked suspiciously.

"Out." I told her.

"You look funny." She stared me up and down.

"Well so do you!" I replied defensively.

"No, you look different. Happier today." She flicked her eyes towards the phone number on my hand. "Ahh, a girl."

"Not just any girl, Mags." I told her.

"Anyone I know?"

"Nope." I said, grinning. "Her name's Annie Cresta and she isn't like any girl I have ever met before."

"As in she didn't fall immediately for your immense charm?" Mags asked sarcastically.

"Right again." I laughed, Mags knew me better than anyone.

I had never felt this way after meeting a girl, ever. Something about Annie captivated me. Maybe it was because she really wasn't like any of the other girls I knew. What I think I really liked about her though was that she saw through my charm and instead looked at me how I wished everyone else here would. When Annie looked at me, she saw me for me.