This chapter will take place a couple weeks after the first day of school, unlike Finn's. I'm not too sure I like the title of this story so if you guys have any ideas for a new one I'd love for you to tell me.

Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own The Hunger Games or its characters, settings etc etc the amazing Suzanne Collins does dot

Word Count: 2,077

Annie's Point of View

Without waking Uncle I barely open the front door and slip outside to a warm morning. My eyes find the side walk, my feet do the same. I begin my mile walk to school. Technically I should be taking the bus but Uncle doesn't have enough money to pay for it. Plus I'm perfectly fine walking even though I have to wake up earlier. He really does try to provide me everything I need but some things are just too expensive. Ever since his job at The Hob hasn't been doing so well his paycheck has been coming in with a smaller amount. Therefore last year I got a job at the beach. After school I'm either get my bathing suit on and life guard or run the concession stand. I don't mind it. It feels good working to make money especially for Uncle, the only person in this world I'm really sure I love.

As I turn the corner then wait for the crossing guard a small red car stops at the light next to me. Its loud music rocks in my stomach. He'll be deaf by the time he's thirty. I roll my eyes as its driver honks his horn trying to get my attention. Just then the crossing guard steps out into the street with her vivid STOP sign. I walk off the curb, nod a 'thank you' then continue my walk to school. The school resources officer directs traffic at the school's drop off intersection and bids me a good morning, a shy smile in return. A few more steps and I'll be inside "District 4 High".

I walk in to the usual rowdiness that is high schoolers. People running through the halls, those two kissing, laughing girls, staring boys. No one bothers me though, which I definitely don't mind at all. Because I'm so quiet and independent I don't exactly have friends, well any at all actually. It's okay I guess. Most of my childhood I haven't had many friends so I don't expect to have any now. Its better this way I'm not distracted.

Taking a flight of busy stairs I get to my locker. After putting some of my books in, I take out my schedule and look for my first period class. Technically its still early in the school year (even though it isn't the first day) so I haven't memorized the order of my first term classes yet. Oh yeah its biology. Walking up another flight of stairs I pass all the labs, then refer to room 'B308'. I walk in the classroom to my usual classmates. On the first day of school the only person I recognized was Finnick Odair. Personally he doesn't bother me but I don't like his attitude. He walks around this school thinking he's the best at everything. I went to elementary and middle school with him.

Because I'm a window girl I take a seat in the lab desk next to him. I feel claustrophobic if I can't see the outside. It's almost as if I'm trapped. Thankfully nobody sits next to me. Although I do not like Finnick I can't help but feel sorry that he has to sit next to B.O Blake for two months. Today Mr. Flint had us working independently out of the text books. The whole period all I could smell was Blake. Poor kid smells like the back of a bar.

Once first period was over I walked back downstairs to the art rooms. Last year when I filled my schedule out I had any extra period so I thought I'd sign up for an easier class. I've always been pretty good at drawing and using my hands to make art but never as good as some of the kids in this class.

I sit down next to a dark haired boy I don't think I've ever seen before besides being in this class. A long, purple, silk dress drags on the floor while a feather bounces on her head. Her dark purple hair matches her long dress. Once she turns toward the class I get a good look at her face. I'm actually not surprised to see that her eyes, lips, and make up are purple as well. Last week she was a pastel green, yesterday she was in neon pink, and on the first day of school she was a bright orange. In a strange way she looks beautiful with her colors like this.

"Welcome back everyone. I want you to finish your first sketches today. You know where all the materials are. When you do let me check them over. Do you want music today?" she asks as sweetly as she always does

All of us nod our heads, with wide eyes. She's a nice teacher. Everyone loves her because she's so easy on us, practically treats us like her children. Ms. Portia is a small petite woman whose natural hair and eye color I will probably never know. I'm pretty sure she's been teaching here for three years, everyday wearing a different color than the last. I get back to my task for the day. Unfortunately I'm unable to finish by the bell. I'm not worried though because Ms. Portia won't give me a hard time. I walk up to her desk after everyone exits the classroom.

"Ms. Portia?" I ask shyly

"Yes sweetie?" she says looking up from her computer

"I was wondering if I could bring this sketch home and finish it. All I have left to complete is the background, which-" I'm cut off

"Of course you can bring it home Annie. Just make sure you bring it to class tomorrow okay?" she tells me warmly

"Thank you. I promise I'll have it finished for class tomorrow." I assure

"Lovely. Have a beautiful rest of the day."

"You too." I respond before leaving for my third period class.

I try as fast as I can to make it to the gym. I have P.E. with Coach Snow. Once I get to the gym I rush to the locker room to get my athletic shorts and sneakers on. I'm the last one to get here, I notice, as the other girls stare at me. They whisper while I'm tying my shoes but whenever I look up at them they laugh and look away. They must be staring at my legs. I know I don't have a perfect body like they do but they don't have to make of me about it. I know I'm a bit bigger than some of the girls. It's always the same girls too; Glimmer and Clove have always started trouble with me ever since Middle school. Of course I don't reciprocate just ignore, at least that's what Uncle Haymitch tells me to do. Ignoring them I finish with my shoes, slipping my book bag into the locker.

Then we walk out of the locker room entering the large gym. Immediately I notice the mini tennis nets set up right down the middle of the gym. Coach Snow is talking to some boys as we take a seat on the bleachers. I sit a little way away from the rest of my gym class. I have no need to seat near people who are constantly judging me. Coach Snow addresses the class. His eyes slide over the girls a few feet away from me. I've noticed that his eyes tend to linger when he looks at people as if he can't get enough of them or he doesn't want to.

"Today we'll start badminton. Each net will host four people but everyone will be working in teams of two. Clove pass out the rackets." he says

As Clove passes differently colored rackets out Coach continues to teach us how to play. When he's done he puts us in girl/boy pairs. I pray to god that I don't get paired up with either Glimmer or Clove's friends. Please please please do not be Ca-

"Cato, Annie and Flix, Zen will play on the sixth net."

It's as if air all air has been stripped of my lungs, and the Earth is stuck on a rollercoaster. Cato isn't exactly the kid you want to be paired up with for anything. He's scary, big, and constantly up to no good. I remember last year he was suspended for sexually assaulting a teacher. It blows my mind that he has friends. Who would want to be friends with someone so evil?

From the other end of the gym he stares at me like he's a tiger and I'm raw meat. My stomach feels like its going to hop out of me. Clove thrusts a blue racket in my face. Begrudgingly I walk to the sixth net, standing across from Cato, next to Zen. Zen gives me a small she looks almost sorry for me. A white birdie comes flying over the net hitting me in the chest. Looking up, I see he has an evil grin on his face.

"Me one, Lonely Annie zero." he scoffs making an 0 with his hand

I pick up the fallen birdie. Then I serve it to him, he jumps closely to the net whipping it toward me again. However this time I whip it back catching him off guard. He looks at me with fire in his eyes, I try to hold my ground, try to show him that I'm not afraid of him. We keep playing the game like this and of course he wins. This is the longest forty-fives minutes of my life. I can't wait for next period anything to get away from him.

At lunch I sit by myself like I always do. It doesn't bother me I'd rather sit alone than with people that don't like me. Glimmer walks by staring at me with her piercing eyes. I look down at my lap as if she were never there. When I think she's gone she hunches over my table to get my attention. Regretfully I look up at her.

"So tell me Lonely Annie, is fun sitting all by yourself everyday?"

I don't answer her.

"See that table over there? There's so many people huh? That's because I have friends." Everyone at her table stares at me.

It takes everything in my heart not to burst into tears right in front of her. As soon as she walks by a single tear stains my cheek. Quickly I pound my fist to my face stabbing away any more tears threatening to spill. I finish my lunch in silence with the taste of tears.


"Annie how was your day?" Uncle asks

"It was okay." is all I tell him

"Did anyone give you any trouble?" he says gently

How do I tell him that everyday its the same thing? That I don't want to tell him because I'd rather not be a burden to him. He shouldn't have to worry about me because I should be able to take care of myself.

"No." I reply numbly

"Well good. See I told you they would stop if you just keep ignoring them." he kisses my forehead

"Okay I'm going to go to bed now, I'm tired." I fake a yawn

"Okay goodnight Annie, I love you."

"I love you too." I say

WOW! Cato, Glimmer, and Clove really don't like Annie. See what I did with Coach Snow? ;) Hope you like the sensitive, fatherly Haymitch. Next chapter in Finnick's POV.

Please review.