Shattered (A Hunger Games Fan-fiction) (Wattys2015) (#feels)

Chapter 4

Annie crosses her arms in front of herself and her eyes have a familiar glint in them. I have seen that glint many times but not in the past couple of years. It user to be there when we used to go swimming with our families, when we came to these woods for picnics and even when she was planning a devious prank.

The fact that she has a plan is good to hear, but I am not fully convinced. Knowing Annie, she might have forgotten a few details. I look at her closely and ask, "What would your plan be?"

She starts to pace in front of me and is now running her hands through her dark hair. Her lips are set in a firm line and her eyebrows are knitted together. I know that face and that fast walk too: it means she is planning something intense.

"Okay," she says at last. "Your house can fall in any day, right? You guys will have nowhere to go, right? You're already short on food. You don't even have a proper...." I cut in with a wave of my hand.

"Gee, Annie," I say. "Way to rub it in my face!"

Her expression falters and she frowns. "Finn, I didn't mean it that way. Oh My Gosh, I am so sorry."

"It's okay," I grin. "So what are you thinking?"

Her eyes are twinkling in the sun and I feel like I am gazing at avast bed of lush green grass that is gently moving in the wind.

"Well, we have plenty of room in our house. I mean, there are like three spare bedrooms upstairs that we hardly ever use." I know that. Her house is two storeys high and it seems like a mansion compared to the shack I live in. They stay downstairs mostly though because Annie's mother can't climb the stairs now and Annie moved all her stuff into the room next to her mother's. The other rooms are on the next floor and they are always vacant. But I still don't know why she is bringing this up now.

"Yeah," I nod. "But what's that got to do with our problem?"

"I was thinking," she begins. "Since my mother is sick and the Peacekeepers think that she can't take care of me, what if we show that I will still be looked after. That someone else who is close to me can take care of me?"

"I like the way you think," I tell her. "But I still don't get it."

She sighs in frustration and sits back down next to me. Her dark brown hair is swaying back and forth.

"Finn," she starts again. "Your mother loves me, right?"

I nod without hesitation. "Of course she does. So does my father. And Rose says you're her role model." It is true. My family loves Annie to pieces. She is at our house once a week and my parents think that she is the most innocent and charming young girl in all of Four.

"Right, so since you guys are facing bad living conditions and stuff, you could all move over to my house?"

I'll admit that I am terribly confused. We can't just move into her house. That will just be...wrong of us.

"Annie," I say. "It's not that I don't appreciate the offer but we can't move in with you. It'll just cause extra disturbances. Besides, we are talking about you right now. Not me or my family's condition."

Tears have started to brim in her eyes and I mentally slap myself. It's obvious she's crying because of something I said.

"Don't you get it, Finn?"she groans. "I am talking about me. If you guys move in with us, the Peacekeepers will see that I am being taken care of and they can't take me away that way. Plus, this'll be good for you guys too."

I stare at her, at a loss for words. I know that my parents won't have a problem with laving Annie and her mother with us. It is the fact that we will be moving into her house that is a little complicated. We will have a great place to stay of course, but my parents might feel like we'll be intruding on them. This could solve Annie problem though, I think. I really don't want Annie to leave. With her gone, I'll be nothing. She is my only best friend and we've known each other so long. The thought of her going away is too much to handle. If she leaves, I'll be alone at lunch, in lessons, when I have to fish. We will never be able to go on picnics or walks. I'll have no one to talk to about my deepest fears and secrets. Annie knows me better than I know myself.