CHAPTER 4

It took Annie a lot of days to get a hang of her new surroundings. Finnick asked for an extra bed from Effie but Annie would just simply slide out of hers and then snuggle close to him. But sometimes it was worse. While Finnick was deep in his sleep, she went out of the room and roamed around the headquarters looking for Thomas. Good thing Peeta saw her entering the conference hall and alerted Finnick at once. Finnick then never missed to lock their door every night. But when Annie found out she could not open the door anymore, she would wake Finnick up with her screams and he would faithfully wait for her to calm down and lead her back on the bed. And now that he was watching her sleep on his arms, Finnick knew he was definitely satisfied with what's happening. But he felt that it was unfair of him to like the situation.

But was it wrong for him to look forward to the nights where Annie would rest her head on his chest? Or when he admitted that maybe even her screams became some sort of a calming sensation for him? That he was so used to hearing them, he cannot live a day without it? Or maybe the fact that Annie was calmer and more peaceful now compared to their days back in District 4?

It was still selfish of him to enjoy her vulnerability. But he just loved the thought that he was there to protect her. It was a pat on his back every time he was able to calm her down because all his life, all he wanted to do was to protect and love Annie.

Because from the beginning he knew she wasn't just like any other girl.

Annie Cresta was some tough cookie, Finnick reminded himself. But that's what he loved about her most. Sure, there were other guys who courted her back in District 4, but Finnick was the only one confident enough to challenge her for a swim race in the seas.

"You are challenging me for a swim race?" Annie asked with an awed expression on her face.

"Yes, why not?" Finnick shrugged. "If you say you're the best swimmer that you really are, I want to know."

Finnick heard her snort. She continued to meddle with her net until Finnick lost his patience and sat down beside her and took it away.

"Listen, Cresta, you better say yes or I'll have to kiss you right now."

Finnick was sure he got her by surprise again. Although he really had to stop himself from doing the latter because he knew she would not like it. But the temptation was just so hard to resist.

"Are you being funny, Odair? Just because you think you could get me with your good looks you'd go on and about saying--!"

"So you think I'm handsome?" Finnick teased.

Annie frowned at him. She stood up and harshly grabbed the net from his hands. While walking away, he heard her say,

"3pm at the shore. Be there or I'll have to kill you myself."

Then and there Finnick knew he would lose the race. She was the fastest swimmer in the whole of their generation. But what's a little show-off for the girl you like? He knew nobody had gotten the slightest idea why he chose Annie. His friends would even say that, she might be pretty, but she was like a tomboy and was even tougher than a Victor. They knew because they tried and failed in cooing her. But he was Finnick Odair, for the Capitol's sake! She might be best at swimming, but he's the best in everything else.

Finnick showed up just in time and naturally lost the race. But it was worth the ridicule because for the first time ever, Annie Cresta smiled at him. No, not with that arrogant smile she mocked him with, but a... smile.

"Good race. But I told you I'd beat you." She said as they shook their hands.

"Nah. It was worth it." He replied, not really wanting to let go of her.

"I thought so too."

And then there, a moment he knew that would have a permanent space on his mind, she smiled—as sweetly and as innocently—just like the way she did when they were still little kids. And he stood, frozen in place, and watched as she finds her way out of the cheering crowd. But he knew that that moment, that race, and that smile was the start of something beautiful. Because he only then realized that Annie left a shiny silvery-white net on his hand.

If only I had the time to get it back. Finnick sadly thought.

But he knew it was now gone and how he wished it was President Snow who got blasted during the attack. That ferocious man—an idiot he may be—had the chance to escape the chambers just before the bomb went off. The mockingjays since then prepared for counter attacks and defence mechanisms just in case the Capitol would take revenge. Fortunately, the Capitol still had the backbone to live up to their lies about the non-existence of District 13 and couldn't send their best fighters out of their protective walls.

Finnick's jaw tightened once more as he saw the scar marks on Annie's arm reflect the moonlight. He had to stop himself from thinking about Annie's beating or else he knew he might also lose his sanity. He pulled her tightly to him but gentle enough not to wake her up.

It was a good day today. Finnick admitted as he stroked her cheek.

Annie didn't have her tantrums and just spent the whole day with Prim out in the headquarters' gardens. He peeked from the conference room window during defence meeting and saw them lying on the grass and at one point, Prim even managed to comb and set Annie's hair without even making her feel annoyed. He would want to continue watching them pull some weeds if it wasn't not only for Cinna's throat clearing that he reluctantly focused once more in the meeting.

"So you now like the garden, huh?" Finnick whispered gently and tucked in a lose strand of hair behind her ear. She flinched but didn't wake up.

"You don't like sea salt anymore?" He continued, "Okay, Cresta. Our next fight would then be about rose bushes."

And for that silly joke, Finnick had to laugh at himself.

He looked at her one more time, murmured his apology for losing the net, and with a satisfied smile, Finnick Odair closed his eyes and drifted away into his dreams with his Annie Cresta safely inside his embrace. Because tomorrow, he knew, would be the longest day he would be separated from her again.

Okay so this is the shortest chapter but somehow my most favorite--yet. So stay tuned for CH5.

Where will Finnick go? Can he truly leave Annie alone?

PS: Thanks for your reviews in the previous chapters. XD