**Hello readers. I lost inspiration for this story, and it's still kinda gone so no promises on how soon I'll update, but I won't abandon it completely. Enjoy**

"Annie. Cresta." The monotone voice says as the door to the training room opens. Tyler had just gone through to perform in front of the judges and game-makers and anyone else who paid to be here. I walk towards the door slowly, catching Xavier's eyes on my way out. He mouths "good luck" to me. I'm glad none of the careers were here to see it.

The training room feels so much larger when you're the only one in here. Well, technically the only one. The head game-maker Oriz Carinama, a scruffy looking old man who may have at one point in his life been a woman, is retiring after this year apparently. A rumor was flying through the Capitol the last few months which only just reached our ears this morning. Not that it's too big of a deal, he may just try to make this one a game to remember; at least it's not a Quarter Quell. The only hair on his face is neon blue, and it clings to his chin for dear life. His eyes look surgically engorged and are a shiny silver color. He wears a purple and yellow robe with some odd design on it. And he has a very curvy figure for a man.

I walk to the middle of the room. I remember talking about what I'm going to do for my talent with Mags this morning. Do what I'm best at. Even if it doesn't get me a good score, I'm already with the careers. Don't matter if I flop.

"Annie Cresta. District 4." I say to them. They quiet down from their mindless chatting as walk over to the knot station. I like knots.

Quickly, I take a piece of rope and begin to tie knots. I hear a few of them snicker, but after a few minutes, I use some extra rope and make a line over one of the practice beams on the jungle gym. Creating the weight system has always been the hardest part for me, needing to balance it just so. Carefully laying out the knots that have now made a net, I toss a fifty pound bag in the middle and the net swoops it up suspending it in the air.

I actually hear one of the people clap.

I have just a couple minutes left. The knives are all laid out in front of the targets. Remember what the instructor said. I pick up a smaller knife and aim it at the closest target, I end up hitting it, but just a little outside the bull's-eye. I back up a little, adjust my stance and through another, this one actually hits the targets' head. I through three more, all hitting the targets in various places until a buzzer sounds.

"Thank you Miss Cresta." One of the men with spiky black hair says as he stands. A few are taking notes and some I don't think watched me at all. Rude. I exit through a different door, up a set of stairs and find myself back in the lobby of the building. I walk over to the elevator and find Athena waiting as well.

"Well look who it is." She smiles evilly at me.

"Hi Athena." I reply shyly.

The elevator dings and she gets in. I move to enter too but she stops me. "I don't ride with losers. I know that Jem has you as an ally but make no mistake Cresta, at the first open chance I get, I will kill you. Nothing is stopping me from winning this." Then the doors close and she's gone.

Well that was pleasant. I press the button again and wait for a different elevator to come down. When one finally does, it opens, showing a bare chested Finnick, full on making out with another one of those Capitol freaks. I don't have time to check and see if her fake afro was pink or purple, because the next thing I realize, is I'm running towards the stairs. I faintly hear my name being called and it sounds like Finnick's voice, but I know better. Finnick was eating her face off so he couldn't possibly be calling my name. Not when he has her's to let simmer on his tongue. I run up the four flights of stairs much faster than I thought I possibly could. Thankfully, Finnick is not there when I arrive. Tyler is though. He takes in my winded, painfully shocked expression, and gives me a concerned look.

"Annie?" I don't acknowledge him. "Is everything okay?"

Mags softly pads into the room, she must have heard my entrance and Tyler's concerning questions. "What wrong?" She mumbles looking between Tyler and I.

"I don't know. She came in here, and hasn't said anything or tried to control her breathing." Tyler says in a worried voice.

"Girl?"

I look her straight in the eyes. "He…"

Mags' face suddenly changes and she nods her head in understanding. She must have seen him leave to go meet his newest or returning client. I turn to walk down to my room. Maybe she even came up here. I don't smell any ridiculous perfumes except for Talika's so hopefully she didn't.

"ANNIE!" Speak of the devil… "Annie darling! Where are you going?! Your scores will show soon!"

"Not for another two hours." Tyler says to her. She shushes him. I keep walking.

Faintly I hear Mags tell her to "Leave alone."

My bed is freshly made. My clothes are all neatly hung up. Even my dress that I wore here. I rub the fabric between my fingers, soft and light. It smells a bit like salt water and fresh linens, with that musty smell of well used rope. Quickly, I throw off my training uniform and put on the dark green dress that matches my eyes so well. It takes me home. Back where I should be, back where I belong.

Wait, no stop thinking that! Tyler has to be the one to go home!

But I don't want to die.

Neither does he! Think of what he has in front of him! His whole life!

But think about what you have in front of you. Finnick's face appears in my head instantly.

No, stop it!

You know you want more.

No I don't. I can't.

Liar.

If I let myself think that way, let him get into my head, then my plan to save Tyler will have a massive hole in it.

I throw myself on my bed face down and scream into the pillows. I can't afford to think of my own personal needs and wants. I can't want Finnick. If I let myself want him, then dying seems so much scarier.

Why would I want Finnick? He's a player, a womanizer, a prostitute. He manipulates women's feelings and doesn't seem to care. Plus he seems to have fun with it. I never know which Finnick I'm going to get, or when I'm going to see him again. He's a Capitol whore!

Whoa…. Wait a minute… did I really just think that? Finnick doesn't have a choice, Snow is the reason he has to do these things, take on these clients. He doesn't like doing it. I know he doesn't like doing it.

Get a grip Annie!

There's a knock at my door. "Annie?" His voice…

"I don't want to talk Finnick." I say back to the door. Cuddling up with one of my pillows I hear him knock again. I don't answer.

"Annie come on. It was just a client."

"You didn't seem to mind it."

"I was acting! Annie you know I don't have a choice." His voice is borderline pleading.

"I just… I just don't want to talk about it right now Finn." My voice quivers. I know he heard it too because he stops knocking. This isn't the first time his forced activities have made me cry, but its one of the first times he's heard it.

"Okay." His voice is soft, but rigid. Like he wants to come in and comfort me, but he's hurting himself for making me this way. I really do want him to come in and talk me out of my funk, to feel his arms around me, to let myself fall for him. But sometimes, the stubborn attitude wins over and that's that.

I hear his footsteps walk away, slowly fading out. Tears fall freely from my eyes, crying myself into a light sleep through small sobs.

"Alright young lady, I have let you sleep long enough." Her voice is like nails on a chalk board. "Your scores are being announced in ten minutes, I want you presentable and put together when you walk out into that room. You are the pride of District 4 Annie, you must be excited, yet proper."

"It's not like there's cameras watching me as I see my score."

Talika shifts. "Yes well, it presents a good image for Tyler." Her voice becomes very soft then, and her face serious. "If it really is him you want to save, you must be brave for him when he can't be."

My eyes bug out. "How did you…?" I ask as I crawl out of bed and stand before her.

She smiles. "Your friend Finnick is not the only one who acts for the Capitol on occasion." I'm sure my mouth hits the floor. "My father was head game-maker when I was young. He was killed by Snow when I was ten. Ever since then, my view on the way things are run around here have changed. I got into the games as an ambassador so that I could help those in need of it. You are a bright young woman Annie."

"Does Finnick know?"

She shakes her head sadly. "He only thinks of me as just another Capitol airhead. This is our secret."

"Did you and he ever… I mean, you're from the Capitol and all, and he's him so…"

She laughs. "My dear girl no. Actually, I don't really like men in that sense." My eyes grow wider. "I prefer females. Besides, I'm much too old for him."

"What? You look mid-twenties. And that's a lot younger compared to his usual clients."

"The power of makeup Annie. I'm early fourties. I had a partner. Dessi. She was a beautiful woman; bright candy pink hair, dazzling icy eyes. But that was then." She sniffs a little.

"What happened?"

"She wanted in on the games as well, an ambassador position like me. But they would only give her District 11 or 12, and she wanted neither. She made a huge statement about how she deserved a higher positioned district, one that was worthy of her. She went before President Snow before I could stop her." She pauses. "And well… you know how much President Snow likes being confronted." I nod. "I never saw her again. After that, a man named Michet picket up District 11 and Dissi's cousin was offered District 12, Ellaney I think her name was. But that only lasted a few years, then just last year, it went to her younger sister, Effie." She smiled. "I've never met her, but I've heard her tell stories of the impossible mentor she has to deal with, his name is Haymitch. He won the most recent Quarter Quell."

"I remember the stories. I was always happy that I would never have to go through a Quell. I'd escape after the 71st games, but looks like I wasn't that lucky."

"Perhaps you are. You have a great mentor looking after you Annie."

"He's not doing his full job though. He's supposed to help me and Tyler."

Talika nods and stands. "Maybe it's for the best. Maybe he's only helping you, because he thinks you're the best candidate to win. But maybe it's for some other reason too." She smiles.

"What other reason?"

"The very reason he was so hurt when you saw him this morning. The same reason he's in his room right now beating himself up for hurting you. The same reason he defied the Capitol and President Snow, just to spend some extra time with you."

Before I can speak someone knocks at the door. "It's beginning." Tyler says through the door. At least it wasn't Finn. I don't know if I could face him right now. I look back at Talika and see that she already has her Capitol worthy freaky happy smiley face on.

"Yes yes!" She squawks. "Let's go see your scores!" Then she pitters out of my room on her three inch sparkly blue heels.

Tyler lets her go by with plenty of room. "What were you guys talking about?"

"Nothing important."

"Okay, well come on then, they're starting without us." He actually looks a little excited about this.

We walk down the hall to the main living room where Talika paces nervously. Ezzré and Tyler's stylist sit calmly on the couch chatting with one another. Mags sits in a separate chair, and smiles when she sees us. The Capitol anthem begins then. We all look at the screen as Tyler and I take our seats.

Caesar Flickerman shows up on screen. He has gold hair this year. Literally, it sparkles every which way he moves. His eyebrows have been dyed the same color as well.

"Good afternoon Panam! It is a great time for our country, wonderful really! We have the scores in for this year's tributes!" There's some clapping noises from the screen. A little cheering as well. "You've seen them in the Tribute Parade, you've had time to learn a bit about their pasts, bets have been placed already for those brave citizens with gut feelings. Now, their scores are in!"

"What does he mean they've learned a bit about our pasts?" I ask no one in particular.

"They always put together a brief biography about you after you've been selected, then people read them while you're in training to get a better idea of who you are." Talika says happily.

"District 1!" Caesar says excitedly. "Jem Morane." His face flashes on the screen. "With a score of 10."

"District 1! Dominique Silver. With a score of 10." Well that's just great.

"District 2! Maverick Heller. With a score of 10."

"District 2! Athena Coran. With a score of 10."

"Yikes." Tyler's stylist comments.

"Hard competition this year. It's been nine years since all four careers have gotten 10's." Ezzré says.

Talika smacks them on the back of the head. "Neither of you are helping."

I miss District 3's scores because of this. I know the boy from that district and Tyler had talked a little in trainings.

"District 4!" My stomach turns in knots. "Tyler Tropic. With a score of, 6."

"Good score." Mags says quietly. Tyler doesn't look annoyed or concerned. He just sits there anxious and tense.

"District 4!" My palms are sweating. My picture shows up. "Annie Cresta." I might throw up. "With a score of 8."

"That's wonderful Annie!" Talika jumps with excitement. "A score of 8 is above average!"

"Yeah…" I don't feel as happy as I probably should. My eyes are still glued to the screen.

They blow through Districts 5, 6 and 7. "District 8! Xavier Shale. With a score of 9." I feel a little relief, but that's not who I'm totally concerned with at the moment.

When they finally do get to District 12 most of our party in the room isn't focusing on the screen. Only Mags, Tyler and I watch. "District 12! William Dorn. With a score of 5." Oh no. "And finally, District 12! Rae Arell. With a score of 8." This gets everyone's attention. She's just fourteen, I learned from Tyler. Small frame, extremely quiet, and apparently as dangerous as I am.

"Don't you have an alliance with her?" Tyler asks. Everyone looks at me then.

"No. More of an understanding than an alliance."

"What score did you and Finnick have?" Tyler asks Mags then.

Mags rolls her bottom lip in her mouth and looks down at her fingers, she does this when she has to remember something she's purposely forgotten. Finally she looks back up and mumbles. "7." She holds a hand to herself. "Boy, 9." She says.

"I remember it like it was yesterday." Talika says dreamily. "He was the first of his age to receive a score above an 8. Then of course, the youngest to win ever!"

"Ah yes, the glory days." Finnick's voice carries sarcastically through the room. Everyone turns to look at him. Even me. He is wearing a dark gray tank top, with beige khaki shorts and sandals.

"You look like you're going to the beach." Tyler comments. Finnick's eyes roam the room, and stop for a brief moment on me, but quickly move away. I know he likes this dress on me. He's commented that it brings out my eyes.

Finnick smiles at him. "In a way I am little man. Mags," He pauses facing her. "I have an appointment to get to. I'll be back tomorrow morning to help prep for the interviews." He pulls some shades out from his pocket and puts them over his eyes. I can't exactly see where he's looking, but I can feel his eyes on me. Then he waves at everyone and says "Later!" before jumping into the elevator and disappears.

Mags and Tyler both look at me. I have my arms folded across my chest, and a scowl on my face.

"Alright you two! Dinner will take place in two hours so you have some free time on your hands!" Talika says excitedly. "Feel free to go down to the lobby and mingle with other tributes. But you are not allowed to leave the building, go down to the training room or go on other district's floors. Understood?"

"Yes." We both say. She smiles at our compliance. Almost everyone gets in the elevator after that. Ezzré and Tyler's stylists need to go work on our outfits for tomorrow night. Talika needs to mingle with the other ambassadors. And Mags wanted to go meet with an old friend. About a half hour after they leave, Tyler gets in and says he's meeting Will in the lobby to talk strategy.

Now it's just me alone. I lay out on the couch staring at one of the windows. The skyline is really beautiful. I could get used to a view like this, though I'd much rather have an ocean and beach to look out at. Like the view from Finnick's mansion. We used to sit out on that deck and tell stories to each other; stories of our past, our future. Finnick never really like to talk about his games or what he did in the Capitol when he left. I don't really blame him. I wouldn't want to talk about it either.

I hear the ding of the elevator behind me. A single set of footsteps exit walking towards me. They don't say anything. I sit up to see who it is, but my blood runs cold when I do.

"Hello Annie." He smiles like a hungry cat who's cornered a mouse. "I was hoping you'd be alone."

"Jem…"

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