CHAPTER 6

"What could possibly be the worst thing that could happen?" She grinned seductively at Finnick. "We're alone."

Finnick chuckled. "Other people could easily come here and take a peek, you know."

"I came here for you, Finnick Odair. Would you at least give me the time of the day? I know how you work. And it's all fine for me." She moved forward as the restroom door closed behind her. She started removing her coat, then her dress, then the rest of her clothing.

Finnick stared at her. She was beautiful. She had long and toned legs, her hips were a perfect curve, and she had her red pouty lips purring at him...

Her arms already snaked their way around his neck before he could even take her all in. The next thing he knew, she was all over him. Finnick could feel the pleasure of it all. But as he did, another part of him was blocking an image that would—and could—easily distract his facade.

He was back at the Capitol, on Haymitch's order, to recruit more members for the mockingjays. But the Capitol offered him something he can't refuse. Something he had been using to escape the pain of his reality waiting for him in the face of the only woman he loved.

"What are you doing?" Annie shouted at him one time while they were at the shore. Finnick wasn't able to help himself and kissed her.

"I'm sorry!" But he couldn't resist the grin on his face.

"Don't do that again!" She warned. "Promise me!"

Finnick didn't know what to say. He can't possibly promise not to kiss her again!

"Annie, I'm sorry, would you please just..."

"You didn't promise!"

"Why would I do such a thing?"

Annie stared at him with a shocked expression. She shook her head and started walking away.

"Annie..." Finnick followed her.

"I don't even know why I'm friends with you."

"Because I wanted to be your friend!" He held her by the elbow and swung her around to face him.

"Friends don't just kiss their friends if they want to!" She retaliated, stomping her foot in the sand in the process.

"They do." Finnick chuckled warmly. "Especially if they like each other."

Annie frowned at him, her chocolate brown eyes reflecting the sunset.

Finnick sighed. "I like you, Annie—a lot. Does it really take that long to figure it out?"

If only Annie knew of the things he had been doing now, he would never have her then. But what kept him going was to try and forget about her for a while—to release the hopelessness inside of him. After this he knew, as the woman passionately kissed him again, he would want nothing more but to look at Annie's face and grieve over his actions.

But right now, as he was still enclosed inside the walls of the Capitol, he was the great Finnick Odair... the great Finnick Odair who didn't have a heart for a single soul; who worked his way out of the games by murdering even his own allies; who kept fighting his way out just so he could see those chocolate brown eyes again... the same brown eyes that he was betraying now.

Annie...

He recollected the woman's kisses as if it were Annie's. But the no matter how much Finnick tried to think about it, he knew it was not the same. As the woman's kisses were hard and aggressive, Annie's kisses were soft—like feather, intimate and sweet in its own way. With Annie, he never felt the urge to go further and take advantage of her. But the woman wanted nothing more but to get him laid. The blush on Annie's cheeks after he kissed her goodbye gave him tingling sensation and warmth on his spine. But the flushed face of the woman made him wince with pain.

No, she was not Annie. No other girl would ever be his Annie.

But here he was. Holding on for dear life as he betrayed her—and this time, he couldn't even recount for how many times already.