Against the Current (Finnick and Annie)

Chapter 29~Annie

"Maybe one day we'll find that place where you and I could be together. And we'll catch our dreams within the waves of change. So smile for me one last time and believe that we'll meet again. Until then, I'll be missing you." r.m. drake

~~~

The days blur together. The only times I leave the house are when Dad and Luke make me. There are periods of time I don't talk and every night brings nightmares. But I face them every night for the chance that I'll see Finnick in the dreams between the horrific scenes.

The mornings are the worst because for one short moment I almost believe that Finnick will be next to me when I wake up. Then when I only see the empty void, everything comes rushing back so fast that the onslaught of pain makes it hard to breathe.

Johanna and Beetee sometimes call but we never talk for long. They keep me updated and ask how I'm doing. I always answer fine. They know I'm lying but they just let it go. They don't sound too great either. Maybe one day we'll believe the truth in our lies.

A sound by my door breaks me from my thoughts and causes me to take my gaze from the stars in the sky. I look behind me and see Luke standing there looking unsure of himself.

"Luke?" I call out.

"Can I come in?" He asks. He's taller than me now but tonight he looks so small.

"Sure," I reply.

Luke walks in and I make room for him on my bed. He's been more withdrawn lately, but I don't blame him. I haven't been present much either. He's been through more pain than any of us have at his age.

"I miss him," Luke says in a tight voice.

I take a shaky breath and nod. "I do, too."

Luke silently pushes a folded piece of paper between the space between us. Lately there's always been a distance neither of us can breach, and I hate it.

I take the paper and slowly unfold it. "What's this?"

"My best man speech," Luke says quietly. "I wrote it when you two first got engaged."

My heart tightens painfully and I'm not sure I can take reading this, but my fingers are already opening the paper and my body is moving closer to the moonlight filtering in. I take a deep breath and begin reading.

"Annie and Finnick didn't meet in the most normal circumstances. In fact, it was probably in the worst way ever. However fate must've been working for them, because something amazing came out of that terrible time.

You see when Annie first came back from the games, I was worried about her. The carefree, happy sister I knew was gone. She was alive and here, but her head was always somewhere else. I thought I lost my older sister, but then Finnick came along.

I first met Finnick when he saved my sister's life. Back then he was just a celebrity and someone I admired from afar. But then I discovered he's just a person. A really, really cool person. Finnick never talked to me like I was just some little kid, even though at the time I was. He was always there to help and joke around. He even gave me priceless tips to win the heart of my love.

Finnick is great, but most of all, he loves Annie. Ever since he came into our lives, I'm not worried about her because I know that Finnick will love Annie through every bad and good moment. He'll always be there for her and give her the love she deserves. So despite everything, I'm glad Finnick came into our lives because he is just what Annie needed. Thanks Finnick for being the best big brother and always loving my sister. You rock!"

I laugh a bit at Luke's little ending. A small smile makes its way to my lips as I imagine a little intimate ceremony on the beach. We'll have a table out with food and drinks and Luke will stand in the front of our small gathering. We'll all be laughing and smiling as Luke says his speech. No doubt I would be crying like I am now and Finnick will joke how I'm such a softie. I only wish it actually happened.