A/N- Sorry about how short it is, but it just seemed like a good spot to end. Thank you for reading.
Finnick 19 Annie 16
"Just three more years, then you'll be safe," I tell Annie as she clutches my arm for dear life. I'm walking her to the reaping again, just like I have for the past three years. And just like before, we're both terrified.
"He doesn't like me," Annie whispers. "I ruin your image." I take a deep breath, knowing exactly what she means. I'm supposed to be some unattainable flirt that breezes through woman after woman because not even the ladies of the Capitol can hold my interest. When people see me with Annie over and over again, though, that image starts to crumble. Snow can't like that, and getting rid of Annie would be the perfect solution. Not to mention romantic. I can just see the headlines- The True Love of Finnick Odair Is Thrown Into the Games.
Oh, the media would eat that up now that most people know about Annie. I'm not sure how that happened, but one second she was invisible, then suddenly everyone seems to know about her. The last time I was in the Capitol, three different reporters asked me about the girl from District 4, and one of the stupid whores that I was with giggled about how hot it was that I was cheating on my girlfriend. It took everything I had not to punch her.
"You'll be fine Annie," I whisper, even though now that I think about it, I'm not so sure. There are way too many things stacked against Annie. The instincts that helped me win my Games are now flashing on red alert.
"Be brave," I whisper into Annie's hair when a peacekeeper steps over to take her away from me.
"I will," she says softly. I kiss her lips gently for just a second, then walk onto the stage.
"You okay?" Borglum asks when I plop into the seat next to his.
"No," I answer truthfully.
"It'll be fine," he says, but his voice isn't exactly encouraging.
The speeches and formalities fly by in what seems like seconds, and before I know it, Alva is stepping over to the glass balls.
"Ladies first," she sings. Then she reaches in. Her pale pink hands unfold the paper. As soon as she sees the name, her eyes flit over to me for just a second, but that's enough to make me bury my face in my hands. I can't even hear the name because I'm already plummeting into some dark space that doesn't seem to have air, because I can't breathe. I can almost feel myself floating around, blind, fighting for oxygen.
"Finnick," Borglum whispers. I know that I should say something back, but I don't want to listen to whatever he has to say, I don't want to listen to anything. Annie is going to the Games.