Hey everyone! So, I want to thank you guys for the feedback and for sticking with me thus far. I looked at my outline and there's still a ways to go, so if you're in...I'm in :) BUT anyways, as you know, this all started because I wanted to improve my writing and this is probably one of the trickiest character development I've ever worked on, so PLEASE feel free to comment, post critiques, etc. because without your reviews I can't improve. You guys are awesome! Thanks so much and I really hope you enjoy :) Happy reading!

Helena: Nickel Creek.

"What was that?" I asked him in the elevator back to the fourth floor.

Finnick shrugged, "What?" He asked leaning against the panels of the wall.

I felt silly for bringing it up. My lips were still tingling. "That…today?" I asked, biting my lip.

"Oh…that," He said uneasily. He scratched the back of his head, ruffling his pretty auburn hair, "Motivation," He said with another shrug.

I felt a fire spark in me. "That's all?" I asked, insulted by his nonchalant smirks.

The arrogant Finnick of the Capitol nodded and the elevator doors opened, "That was all." He held his hand out to keep the doors open saying, "Don't be silly Annie." He didn't once make eye contact with me. I was supposed to be the foolish little girl that he could laugh about with all of his Capitol friends. He was probably planning on mocking me with Thomas later. The stupid tribute that was pathetic enough to pursue her mentor. I was furious. We stood outside of the little Capitol apartment, a clenched jaw and me with balled up fists.

"So what do you want from me, Finnick?" I growled.

He looked at me in shock. His emerald green eyes seemed a little distant but then reconnected with mine, "Annie, I just want you to survive." His quiet voice sounded desperate. "You're my friend," He said, placing his hand around my jaw.

"Your friend?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Finnick was speechless. He watched me before he spoke, but the best he came up with was, "Well…" I was irate. I shook my head, pushing his hand away from me. I shook my head, shaking in anger. "Every time, I fall for it every time." I pushed past him and approached the door. He stopped me before I entered the apartment.

"Annie, you know I think you're wonderful," He said, letting the last wave of ice wash over me from the echoes of the hallway.

"Ok, Finnick." I breathed.

Ursula, Mags, and Thomas were waiting on us, ready to watch the playback of the opening ceremony. Ursula watched the two of us with a cold glare. Thomas was more curious than anything else, lifting an eyebrow at our entrance. Mags was the only one who didn't question it. The sweet old lady smiled at me and wrapped a thin blanket around me. Thomas and I looked wonderful, but I couldn't subdue the thoughts running through my mind. When the ceremonies were over, I waited for everyone to leave. I sat on the couch, hopelessly waiting for him to speak to me, but he was quiet. We were the only two left. I watched him push his hair back. He didn't say a word. He leaned forward and glanced over at me. He leaned back. He didn't say a word. I hated Capitol Finnick. I got up angrily, "You know, you should have played along seeing as I'm going to die anyways," I growled, flinging the blanket on the couch and storming off to my wing where I was to stay.

"Annie…" Finnick followed me.

I stopped in the middle of the hallway. "What Finn?" I snapped. I walked away from him towards my room, "We both know I'm not going to survive this," I said while closing the door.

Finnick burst through, pushing me out of the way. "Stop it!" He shouted, but just quiet enough so my contender and caretakers wouldn't hear him. "Just stop it!" He slammed the door behind him, leaning against it and putting his hands to the temple of his forehead. "Annie Cresta…I swear you are the most frustrating person I've ever met." He said, flinging his fists back against the door.

I approached him, "I'm frustrating? What about you?" I threw an angry, accusatory glare towards him and crossed my arms.

He stood up, walking closer to me. "What about me?"

I closed the space. My chest against his, "What about that kiss today? Or that ring you gave me?" I asked through gritted teeth as that slender piece of gold nested coldly on my finger. "Or last night? Or all those other nights?" I barked, pushing him. I wanted to scream as I thought of his playful jokes, sharing the same bed with him, him hugging me through the night. That kiss. That's what set me off. Our lips touch for the first time and it's for a quick fix smile.

Finnick looked just as desperate and enraged as I felt. He stumbled and then threw his hands in the air, violently. "Annie you don't want me! I swear, you don't want me!" He shouted with an almost pleading tone.

I shook my head, "No, it seems you're the one who doesn't want me…again. Again? You must love controlling me like this." My voice was weak and like the past few months, my feelings for Finnick and the rest of my life fell into the same series of dejection, desperation, and disappointment. I stripped from the net around my shoulders and threw it to the corner of the room, dragging my sore and weary body to my new bed. It was cold like that of a prison cell.

"Annie…" He sighed, approaching me.

I shrank from him, sitting on the edge of the bed with my head in my hands. "Leave me alone Finn," I whispered. Tears were imminent and I felt my body ready to break from exhaustion and distress.

But Finnick didn't leave. Instead, he sat down beside me. Finnick reached around me and grabbed my hands, "No. I'm not losing you like this," He said, turning my hand in his, inspecting the little ring on my right hand.

I snatched my fingers away from him, pushing back pieces of hair that had fallen from Cora's intricate braided design. "Why are you fighting so hard for me, Finn?" I asked curtly.

Finnick sank down, off the bed and to his knees. He grabbed both of my hands and rested his elbows on my thighs. He didn't speak for awhile, instead, he turned my hands over and over in his like he had and then he looked up at me with sad emerald eyes and answered, "Because one of us has to." He kissed my fingertips and my heart broke as anger dissipated. Tears splashed down to my thighs. I didn't realize they were mine until he reached up and pushed them away with his hands, like he did every time. I hated every touch from him. I hated every glance, every sweet smile, every reassuring action because it only made me want him more. It only made me want him closer. It reminded me that he didn't want me. He was never going to want me, and he knew that my emotions were caught on him. He knew I wanted him and didn't want me back. But none of that, not the disappointment, not the rejection, nothing stopped my next desperate plea. Was he reveling in this?

"Kiss me." I whispered the dare. And he did. Finnick didn't hesitate. He pulled himself up beside me, searching my face, watching me. His movements were cautious, planned, as if I had set a trap for him. He studied me in seconds and then the kiss…It wasn't passionate. It wasn't romantic. It was just a kiss. Different than the one at the ceremony. His lips were soft; there was a lingering sadness between us. It was wrong, but only because we both knew, even if he did keep me alive, it would never last. I was alone without him, and he would never miss me. And I would be fine with that.