"So, do you have a girlfriend back home?" Caesar Flickerman asks Peeta.
He hesitates, then gives an unconvincing shake of his head.
"Handsome lad like you. There must be some special girl. Come on, what's here name?" says Caesar.
Peeta sighs. "Well, there is this one girl. I've had a crush on her ever since I can remember. But I'm pretty sure she didn't know I was alive until the reaping."
Sounds of sympathy from the crowd. Unrequited love they can relate to.
"She have another fellow?" asks Caesar.
"I don't know, but a lot of boys like her," says Peeta.
"So, here's what you do. You win, you go home. She can't turn you down then, eh?" says Caesar encouragingly.
"I don't think it's gonna work out. Winning… won't help me in my case," says Peeta.
"Why ever not?" Caesar asks, mystified.
Peeta blushes beet red and stammers out, "Because… because… she came here with me."
For a moment, the cameras hold on Peeta's downcast eyes as what he says sinks in. then I can see my face, mouth half open in a mix of surprise and protest, magnified on every screen as I realize, Me! He means me!
And I hate him for it.