Hey guys, well my newest obsession are the fabulous Hunger Games. I want to write about Annie and her hunger games just to see how things go. May or may not continue, who knows it depends on the response this story gets and the reviews! So please review.

"Happy Hunger Games!" was the common greeting shouted across the square as my friends, Pearl and Aquaria, linked arms as we made our way to the eighteen year old section in the center of District Four. Of course the three of us chirped the response right back, giddy that it was our last reapings. I glanced around at the hundreds of girls surrounding us and feel a wave of relief wash over me. The chances of any one of my friends getting chosen was extremely small and none of us had signed up for tesserae. My name was in there seven times; with any luck it wouldn't be seven times too many. I glanced around me again and noticed Brooke Waves, a very poor girl with a horribly large family who had at least sixty white slips of paper with her name printed on it. The glass goldfish bowls were filled to the brim this year.

"Welcome!" Marina Clyde, the District 4 escort, announced into the microphone, balancing carefully on her extremely tall high heels and grinned all of us children penned in like sheep in neat little squares. "It is time to choose once again a pair of courageous tributes to compete in Seventieth Hunger Games. But first may I introduce our mentors for this year, the victor of one of our earliest Hunger Games in history, Magnolia Dalora!" A seventy-five year old woman with blue hair walked up on the stage. Even though her real name was Magnolia everyone called her Mags. She won the Twelfth Hunger Games at age 17 and even knew a life without the Hunger Games. We clapped politely as Mags walked across the stage, babbling to herself as usual.

"And the extraordinarily handsome, Finnick Odair! Victor of the Sixty-Fourth Hunger Games" Applause and squeals erupted from the pit below as Finnick waved to the overzealous crowd. His sea green eyes matched his dress shirt perfectly and his bronze locks shone in the sunlight.

"Oh those arms!" moaned Pearl gazing at the toned muscles on his arms, "I would do just about anything to lay in those, even if it was only for a hug!" I try to keep from smirking. Finnick and I have always had a special relationship. It all started when he saved me from drowning after I slipped and feel off a dock when I was eleven. Without his lifeguard like skills, I would have easily drowned. He opted to give me swimming lessons ever since. I remember the first as if it happened yesterday.

"Annie, you've got to trust me one this one, I promise I won't let anything happen to you." Finn whispered in my ear as we stood in waist deep water. "You're safe with me. Now slowly lie on your back, that's it, breathe normally and stay calm. You're doing it!" I smile crept onto my face as I looked up at Finnick's golden chest from the water below.

"I'm swimming?" I asked excitedly feeling absolutely weightless, brushing my hands and feet across the water's surface.

"No just floating, but hey it's a start." Finnick Odair flashed his white teeth, "As long as you can float," He added later that afternoon, sunlight bouncing off the waves, "You can swim. But it's nice to know other techniques besides knowing how to float. We'll practice blowing bubbles and controlling our breathing tomorrow." Finnick had said to me as he wrapped an old coral colored towel around my shoulders, leading me home.

I smiled to myself at the memory sneaking a peek at the stage one more time. I pair of gorgeous green orbitals glued on me this time and an embarrassed shade of red flushed my cheeks, making the rosy blush I applied earlier useless. I could not say I was in love with Finnick Odair, but I was developing a little crush on him. Perhaps after the reaping I could pluck up enough courage to talk to him outside of swimming lessons, before he heads off to the capital. Yes that would be nice. Today after this entire this final reaping my life would finally be pulled out of chaos and I would have no need to always life in fear of dying too young due to the terrible fate that is the Hunger Games. 'Yes,' I think to myself as I gaze at Marina digging into the girls names with a long manicured hand, 'There is no way my friends and I will get picked. After today, we are free. I'll be free!' I grin again as the blue haired escort snatches open the name in her hands and smiles.

"And the female tribute is: Annie Cresta!"

I am inside a drum.

The outside world that was once around me has been completely blocked out and I am left alone with my own terrible thoughts bouncing off every surface. 'Why?' I wail, 'Why me?" An earsplitting scream, that I soon realize if my own, escapes from somewhere in the crowd as Peacekeepers in White Uniforms lead me silently to the stage. 'Volunteer?' I remember, allowing my eyes darting around in their sockets at the girls section, 'There has to be someone willing to volunteer.' District Four is, after all, a Career District, somebody had to want this shot at fame and fortune! But the crowd remained silent. My hands begin to sweat as my entire being begins to shake, each knock of my knees seems sounds like my now numbered heartbeat being magnified by a million times. Tears glaze my eyes, making any and all possible familiar faces blur into the crowd. Faintly I can hear Marina congratulating the male tribute and before I could even realize who he was, I am sitting alone in the Justice Building, gripping a damp tissue, and awaiting my visitors. The last people who would see me alive face to face before I come home in a pretty white coffin decorated with seashells.

Pearl and Aquaria are the first ones to barge through the door. Tears steam down our faces as we wrap our arms around each other for the last time.

"You'll be fine." Pearl says between sobs, attempting to stay positive for my sake.

"Just train hard Annie, find good allies and you can win!" Aquaria adds. Out of the corner of my eye I notice Pearl wiping her tears away with her bleach blonde hair, a bad habit of hers that had never really gone away. Not having the heart to admit to either of my best friends that there was no chance of me coming back, I force a weak smile and nod.

"Promise me you'll try and win Annie, don't give up." Aqua continues not buying my smile.

"Cross my heart and hope to die." I blurt out before smacking my lips at the phrase I had just said. The was a long awkward pause after that, and a Peacekeeper, gesturing that we had only one minute left in the visit, broke the silence.

"You'll be fine," Pearl repeats, clutching me in a big hug, "And when you reach the top eight and the cameras come for the interviews I'll tell everyone how completely amazing and beautiful you are. You're the best friend ever."

"Thanks Pearl," I whisper, fighting back tears, as I squeezed my friend for support.

"You're going to make it Ann, you've got to try." Aquaria said wrapped her arms around my torso again.

"I promise." I breathed, tears draining from my eyes slowly. The tall Peacekeeper entered the room again and escorted my friends out of the room. Pearl waves sadly, a gesture which I mimic. The last thing I hear before they are out of sight is Aquaria shouting, 'Good Luck!'

A few more unimportant visitors come and go and several girls come in only wanting to chat about Finnick.

"And don't you dare let me catch you kissing Finnick Odair on Live television, Annie Cresta!" Turretella Spines, a terribly self-centered and annoying girl who loves saying full names a little too much, ranted on, "He loves me you hear!"

"Actually he's not exactly interested in anyone. Between being a mentor and traveling all over Panem and going off on… Capitol Business, he doesn't have time for a love life."

"Well I'll have you know Annie Cresta…" Sensing my discomfort, the Peacekeeper called time only two minutes into the visitation and Turretella was quickly and promptly kicked out.

My last pair of visitors are my grandparents. Papa's got an arm draped around Gram's shoulders. Her green eyes, the exact shade of mine, are red and swollen. She's been crying. For nine minutes we sit huddled together in silence, just trying to drink in each other's presence. When the one minute warning is given we get talking.

"Annie, darling, I want you to take this as your token." Gram says slipping her ring off her right index finger and pushing it onto my ring finger. I gaze at the small ring, not really paying attention to Papa talking strategy plans in my ear. It had a slender silver band and a sideways oval shaped stone in the center. Foggy blue ocean jasper, I recall. Papa gave it to Gram when they were teenagers and she's treasured it ever since, even more then her wedding ring.

All too soon the Peacekeepers are pushing my beloved grandparents out of the room. Now we are all crying.

"I love you!" I call to them as tears slip out of my eyes, across my cheeks, down my neck and disappear into my blue dress.

"I love you too my darling Annie." Gram calls out as the Peacekeeper shuts the door blocking my view. And as he does, I feel empty inside and long for just one more glance at them.

Five long minutes pasted. Whispers seemed to bounce of the walls and creep through the shadows, adding to my anxiousness. Each one seemed to murmur a poem of death,

"Touch this world and then the next,

The arena will send knifes through your chest.

You have no hope,

You cannot flee.

You cannot escape the grasp of me.

The blood that now trickles through your veins,

Is just as scarce as desert rains.

So tie a rope around your neck,

The call of suicide might be the best,

Choice, for you.

Because you don't have a clue.

Murder awaits you.

At the Games."

At this point my hands are clamped down hard on my ears, and my head is between my knees.

"Stop," I hiss at the voices, squeezing my eyes so tightly that my tears can't even attempt to escape. "Stop!" I beg. Suddenly a hand clamps down on my shoulder and I scream.

"Easy!" The Peacekeeper commands, trying to calm me down. I force my eyes open and let out a shaky breath, starring at her. The woman's blonde curls are tucked up into her helmet and all though her face seems harsh, her brown eyes flood with concern.

"It's okay sweetheart." She says in a soft voice, brushing some of the hair plastered onto my face from my tears and sweat.

"Everything okay in here?" Another peacekeeper, pointing his gun in the room, asked.

"Anxious, that's all." The blonde replied, clutching my arm and guiding me out of the room, and down the hall.

"Who wouldn't be," answered the male, as the escorted me out of the Justice Building. The sunlight blinded me as we marched outside towards the train station. I was stunned at how kind the peacekeepers were being towards me. Normally the just nod and barely talk, resembling stiff moving statues.

A crowd had parted on either side of the street, creating a path for my guards to escort me to the train. They roared in happiness, eager to see me win these games, or die. At the train station, I catch a glimpse of Finnick being surrounded my young girls oohing and ahhing all over him. He caught my eye again and winked.

"Flirt." I muttered under my breathe watching he and Mags disappear into the train along with the male tribute, who was happily waving to the crowd. Marina Clyde with her had one hand clasped awkwardly on her blue skirt to keep the wind from blowing in up, curtsied to the crowd. Suddenly an airstream blew her ridiculous bright green wig right off her head, revealing only a thin layer of short blonde hair. Letting out a shriek Marina retreated back into the train. I stood at the entrance, and fixed my eyes on my home one last time. I gawked at the people shouting and encouraging me scanning the mass for a familiar face. And to my pleasure I found two. Papa and Gram stood towards the back of the crowd being concealed with hands and faces. Gram gave me a reassuring smile and blew me a small kiss. I caught it and kissed the palm of my own hand waving back at them, allowing a small smile to issue off of my face. If I was going to die, that's how I'd want them to remember me: happy and joyous.

I stepped back into the train and in doing so the door shut noiselessly behind me, but this action seemed to cut off every single outside noise. The assembly noises had vanished and the gentle lapping of the blue ocean waves was nonexistent. Without delay the train lurched forward and began to speed away so the outside world was one big blurt.

Sighing, I moved through the train to the small dining car, and seated myself in front of a platter of muffins and scones.

"Hey there," Jordan Atlantic called, the other District Four tribute, sitting down next to me.

"Hi," I replied peeling off the wrapper of a warm chocolate chip muffin and breaking into the top. Jordan was a couple years younger than me, about 16 or so, and had a tall muscular build from years of rowing his boat out into the ocean. His head was topped with curly brunette hair and his eyes were a cozy brown color.

"How do you feel?" he continued joining me at the table, snatching a piece of a blueberry muffin.

"At the moment… empty. I don't think I can win this Jordan…" Tears wash over my eyes again.

"Don't you dare say that Annie!" Finnick, who had just entered the room, scolded.

"With an attitude like that you'll have no chance at winning!" Finnick continued straddling the chair to my right and crossing his arms over the back. "Listen I, The great and beautiful Finnick Odair,"

"You're not that great or beautiful Finn," I glanced at him trying to hide the small smile that was tugging at my lips.

"Annie I'm offended! You've seen me half naked before so you are well aware that I am drop dead gorgeous!" Finnick said in mock horror, "That's how I won my games actually. I just jumped out from behind trees and such and they all just died!"

"That's not funny Finnick. Killing people with looks is just as bad as killing people with weapons. I thought it was because you received the most expensive gift from a sponsor in Hunger Games history." I continued biting the insides of my cheeks to keep from cracking a grin. Finnick had the trident he received from his sponsors framed in his house in Victors Village.

"But as I was saying, I, the great and stunningly beautiful Finnick Odair, will do everything in my power to help you win. But you've got to trust me on this Ann, and do what I say."

"Yes sir!" Jordan nearly shouted. I had forgotten all about him.

"At least someone appreciates me! Well I'll work with you first."

"Sounds great!" Jordan beamed; he was a little too peppy.

"I'm going to my room; call me when it's my turn." I rose from the table and turned on heal and move towards the back of the train. I snicker as I hear Finnick mention something about me getting beauty rest.

I open one of the last doors in the train and slip into my bedroom. Everything is either a shade of blue or green, mimicking the sea. My twin bed had tiny starfish covering the fabric of the comforter. I sit on the bed that's pushed against the wall, and gaze outside the vast window that's plotted directly across my way. The calm ocean I am so used to has disappeared and become acres of cotton fields. In the distance I catch a glimpse of several trees, an orchard perhaps. My guess was that we were bordering district eleven, one of the poorest districts there are. It is also known for being horribly cruel to civilians who break their backs every single day for only a few measly quarters no matter what the weather or occasion is. Disgusted I draw the curtains closed and collapse beneath the sheets of my bed.

That's when the bad dreams begin…

Exhausted and covered in sweat I run in slow motion through a forest as the stomping of a career pack draws ever closer. Out of nowhere a pair of arrows rips through the air and pins to my sleeves to a nearby tree. A startled cry escapes my lips but I am too weak to get free.

"Well, well, well…" A cold voice says behind me, and I can only glance far enough behind me to see only half of a large pack of bloodthirsty tributes. "Who do we have here?"

"Please let me go!" I beg for mercy but of course it is a meaningless plea.

"Get her boys!" the female voice screams and all at once I am torn from the tree, stripped, and pinned spread eagle to the jungle ground.

"Shame to let such a pretty face go to waste." The hideous girl marks a line across my cheek with her knife. I let out a shriek. Suddenly it becomes an out of body experience; the pack is stabbing every inch of my body and seem oblivious to my cries. From my position above, I watch my guts spill out of my stomach in terror and scream every time a blade enters my body down on the ground. I just can't die, I can't win.

"Annie! Annie!" My eyes flash open as my lungs gasp for oxygen. Finnick is to my right again shaking me awake. I sit up quickly and look over myself, no trace blood anywhere. I launch myself off the bed and discard my dress not caring that Finnick was in the room along with me. I look all over my body but it remains untouched.

"Annie?" Finnick repeats again holding out a long silk robe for me. Embarrassment floods my cheeks as I cover myself. But Finnick doesn't laugh. Instead he takes me in his arms and leads me back to bed holding me close to his heart.

"Tell me about your nightmare." He instructs and I spill every detail along with every last tear nestled in my eye.

"Oh Annie…" Finn breaths when I conclude, "Why'd it have to me you?"

"I was wondering the same thing." I whisper sadly.

"Ann you've got to listen to me!" Finnick spins me around in his arms so I'm facing him, "I'm going to help you win this one. But you've got to do everything I say. Twenty four of you get thrown in that arena, Annie, but only one of you makes it out alive. You understand me?"

"I understand but… but what about Jordan?"

"Jordan's a good kid he can fend for himself. Mags can take care of him. It's you I'm worried about. I can't lose you to the games too." He hangs his head and hastily wipes his eyes. I instantly remember who he's talking about. Three years ago, Finnick watched his best friend, Valor, be murdered in the games. He was so close to winning too.

"Finn?" I sweep my hand over his hair, brushing it out of his beautiful sea green eyes. "Look at me, I promise I will do everything I can to stay alive."

"Want to seal that promise with a kiss then?" The flirtatious vibe jumps back in him as he makes a kissy face at me.

"Maybe later after the games," I grin pushing his face away.

"Well Annie Cresta I will tell you everything you'll need to know on how to survive the games in the morning." Finnick yawns and stretches his arms over his head.

"The morning? Why not now?"

"Well Annie," Finnick yawns again this time settling down on my pillow, "You're horrific screaming woke me up! It's nearly three in the morning Ann." Finnick draped a muscular arm around my waist and snuggled into my shoulder. "Your bed is so much comfier then mine," He whined, not opening his eyes, "I think I'll just crash here tonight." Before I could object, Finnick let out a loud snore besides me. I sighed and tried to get comfortable in Finnick's arms. Normally if he had tried to do this I would have kicked him right onto the floor but now that my life was ending I didn't care. With the clap of my hands the lights flickered off and I laid my head softly on Fin's arm, using it as a pillow.

One perk to having Finnick Odair as your teddy bear: He turns all your nightmares into sweet dreams.

So what did you think? Stylists and chariot rides are coming up soon!

Review-Review-Review!