Here is the new chapter. Thank you all again for the support of the story and your kind words of encouragement to continue with this. It keeps me going! I hope that you enjoy this next part.
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Celebrity Daughter
Chapter 3
The next couple of days showed the truth of the news that Haymitch had given us that night. It seemed like every magazine had a picture of me in it. The headlines, with examples like Movie Star's Daughter Makes a Splash at Premiere! made it seem like I was the hot new thing. And from Haymitch came the continuing news that people wanted to cash in on that fact.
.My parents decided to have a big powwow once we returned home to District 12. Haymitch had told them that there were at least 6 teen magazines and 4 TV programs wanting interviews, and even a modeling agency wanted me to sign a three year contract.
"And that is just the beginning," Haymitch said. "I keep getting more calls every day. They all want to see the celebrity daughter with the dark hair and I quote 'amazing blue eyes.' You really took them by storm, kiddo."
I had smiled at his praise and now only a few days later, sat in my family room with Mother and Father, trying to sort all of it out.
"First of all," my mother gently stated, "do you want to do any of this? You don't have to be a part of any of it, you know. It's up to you."
I thought about her question. I knew that taking all of this on would mean a huge change in my life. Was that something that I wanted? I didn't know that I necessarily craved change, but I had really enjoyed the premiere and having my picture taken that night. It was amazing that people actually wanted to see and know about me. It created a giddy feeling inside that I wanted to experience again.
I looked her straight in the eye. "Yes Mom, I want to do this. I think it's an opportunity that I can't miss out on. I had fun the other night. I can handle it. I don't have to do them all, I mean, I can pick and choose, right?"
"Yes," my father answered, "but let me tell you from experience that it's not easy. The more they see you, the more they want you, and the more demands they will make. It can get overwhelming quickly. You have to be prepared for that."
I nod my head. "I understand Daddy, but if you can make it work, so can I. Besides, you don't really think this will last that long, do you? I mean, you're the real star. They'll get tired of me pretty quickly, I'm sure, and then I can just come home and back to school like I was."
"I'm not so sure that will happen, but if you are set on going, then I'm not going to stop you," my mother says.
Father takes my hand and his matching eyes lock with mine. "Just make sure that no matter what happens, Emma, you won't let all of this change you. Stay true to who you are."
"I promise," I say to them. I knew then that I needed to get out and get a different perspective on the situation. I had to talk with someone outside the family who would tell it to me straight what he thought. I ran to the woods to find Mason
He was perched in a tree whittling some wood. "Hey there," I call out to him.
"Hey," he replies and jumps to the ground. "Look who it is. The famous daughter of a movie star that's in every magazine available right now. I told you that you would blow them away."
"Can you believe it?" I state. "All of the sudden they called out to me on the carpet and just started snapping pictures. I had no idea."
"Emma, look at you." Mason takes my hands and puts them out. "You're a beautiful girl, so of course they wanted to take you picture. You glowed in the one of you dancing with some guy."
For some reason, I blush at the thought of Finn. I had a feeling that the idea of Finn and Mason just didn't fit together well in my mind. So, I decide to avoid the topic. Instead, I laugh. "Don't tell me that you're like all those other boys and cutting the pictures out of the magazines and plastering them on your wall?"
Mason smiles and laughs with me. "No, I prefer the picture I already have." I knew what he was referring to. It was a picture he kept in his room from about a year ago. It was taken in the meadow by Gale Hawthorne, Mason's dad. We are sitting in our spot and obviously laughing together about something. It was such a natural shot of the two of us together.
I smiled at the memory, and decided to continue on. "Well, not only do they want pictures, but interviews, too. They want me to be a model!" I looked at him desperately looking for answers. "I want to do it, but do you think I should?"
"If it's what you want to do, then who am I to stop you?" He takes my hands again, "Look, honestly, you should just decide what you feel in your heart. You'll know what's right."
"It'll mean I will be gone for a while." I say quietly.
He sighs. "I know. But I'll be here when you get back."
"Maybe you could come and visit? I could show you around the Capitol a little." I offer.
"I'll think about it." he states simply.
We walk for a while then I head back home. I tell my parents my final decision, and they in turn call Haymitch to give him the news. Decisions are made for my departure. I am to leave in two days for the Capitol. I will live at my family's home there, with Effie Trinket coming to stay and watch over me. She is a planner extraordinaire, and will keep the schedule that Haymitch manages with the offers and make sure that I get to the appropriate places. I will continue my education through online courses which my parents gave strict instructions that I am to keep up with or they will bring me home immediately.
Preparations are made, and before I know it I am waiting at the airport to board my plane. When my group is called, I give all of my family a final hug. Father tells me he will be joining me in a month or so to begin his movie, and Mother reminds me to call when I get there. I turn to walk onto the jet way. As I take one last look back, I see over the heads of people at the back of the gate is Mason. He sees that I have spotted him and raises his hand in goodbye. I do the same, and then turn again to go on the plane.
Effie meets me at the baggage claim, and we get in a car together to head to the house. She allows me some time to unpack and settle in, the follows up by sitting me down and going over the next day's schedule. I will be doing a magazine photo shoot in the morning, and then making a TV appearance for an interview in the late afternoon. I nod in understanding, then we have a quiet dinner, and I head to bed. I have been reading for about twenty minutes, when my phone buzzes that I have a text message.
Hey there. It's Finn. I hear you're back in the Capitol.
I feel my excitement building at the thought of Finn texting me. Am I really acting this boy crazy? I answer him.
Yeah, I am lined up for some interviews and photo shoots. It seems that I am popular right now.
I'm not surprised. A beautiful girl like you and the daughter of Peeta Mellark? What's not to like?
It'll probably blow over after a week or two and I can go back home.
I wouldn't be so sure of that…
We'll see…
In the meantime, while you're here, how would you like to go out this weekend?
Oh wow. He's asking me out on a date. My smile spreads though my entire face.
I would love to. Just let me know what time to be ready.
How about 6:30? I can pick you up then at your house.
Perfect! I'll see you then.
See you then.
My phone goes quiet, and I try to continue reading, but find that I am distracted at the thought of the upcoming date. I finally decide to turn off my light and get some sleep. It takes a while, but I finally do. I am deep into a beautiful dream of me with wings flying over the Meadow, when a high pitched voice wakes me.
"Emma Grace!" Effie squawks. "Get up, sweetheart. We've got a big, big, big day!"
I groan as I life my head up. I look at the clock and see it's early, but I definitely need to get going to make the photo shoot on time. I get out of bed and head to the shower. I clean up, dress, and quickly eat the breakfast Effie has left for me. We get into the car again and head to a large studio in the middle of town. It is in a new building, and the studio takes up one whole floor of it. As we enter, I am immediately taken by some familiar faces. The prep team from the premiere is here, which can only mean one thing. Cinna.
I finally see him and he comes over. "Didn't think I would let you down for your first shoot, did you?" he says. I smile and mouth the words thank you. The team curls and blows out my dark hair, letting it hang loose. They then complete my makeup, keeping it fairly light, with purple accents on my eye shadow. This comes to make sense, though, when Cinna brings out a silk purple blouse that goes over one shoulder. I am given silver pants to go with it, and once dressed am looked over for a final inspection.
With approval, I head to where the backdrops are set up. The photographer is kind and places me into position. Giving directions, I listen and begin to pose. The first minute or two is awkward, but eventually the feeling that overcame me the night of the premiere returned, and I felt easy as the camera continued clicking. I must be doing something right, though, because the photographer keeps saying "Wonderful! Magnificent! Excellent!" to me. After about two hours it is over, and I am returned to my own clothes and allowed to leave.
After a quick lunch, Effie takes me to another studio, a TV one this time. I am kept in my own clothes, but once again put in a chair and given a makeup job. I meet the host of the teen talk program, and told to just be myself and that they would love me. The show starts and eventually I am introduced. Marvel, the host, tries to make it light and easy for me.
"So, what do you do for fun in District 12?" he asks.
I tell him about spending time in the woods, reading, going to school, and being with my family. Not the most interesting, I'm sure, but the audience is smiling at least. Finding out my interest in reading, he asks what my favorite book is. I tell him I love the gothic romances like Pride and Prejudice and the girls in the audience give approving nods. The interview goes on with a few more questions about my life and growing up the daughter of a celebrity, and quickly enough I find it is over. Wow! Not as bad as I thought. We leave and I finally head home for some peace and quiet. Haymitch and my parents both check in to see how it all went and how I am doing, and I reassure them that everything is going well.
The next couple of days pass much in the same way. I have one more photo shoot and a magazine interview. I answer a few of the same questions, and some new ones, but again the reporter seems pleased. Finally, I find that Saturday is here. I am pacing around the house all day in anticipation of the date. Effie tries to find things to distract me, but nothing works, and time seems like it is going by like a snail. I try working on some school assignments, but can't concentrate long enough to study. I give up, and take a nap. When I wake, it is time to get ready.
I take my time dressing, and think I look pretty good when the doorbell rings. I go down and open it, and Finn is there. He is leaning against the doorframe and smiling with that cocky grin he inherited from his father. He asks me if I am ready, and I nod and say goodbye to Effie.
We get in his car and after driving off I ask. "So, where are we going?"
"I thought we could go to a great seafood restaurant I know," he begins. "Then maybe catch a movie and walk on the beach afterwards?"
"Sounds great." I say. We listen to music on the drive and find that while we don't agree on heavy metal, we do both enjoy 80s music in general. We sing along to Devo and end up laughing. We get to the restaurant, and Finn is right, it is fantastic seafood. I consume pretty much every bite of shrimp I get. All the while, he asks me about the shoots and interviews, and tells me about his father's latest movie, which is why he is in the Capitol himself.
"I head your Dad will be here soon filming, as well." he mentions in conversation.
"Yeah, he starts the new movie in three weeks. I read the script. It should be a good one." I say.
"Maybe you can get a part in it." Finn remarks.
"I don't think so. I leave the acting to him!" I joke, even though I am half serious about it. Although I enjoy the photo shoots, I don't see myself doing movies. We continue our discussion through the rest of dinner and then head to the movies. It's a romantic comedy with Rue Hart, and I can't help but think of Mason again remembering that she is his favorite. When Finn takes my hand, though, very naturally about half way through, I find myself distracted from the screen. As we leave the theater, we both find we liked the movie, and agree it was one of the better rom coms of the year.
Next, we head to the beach. I can feel Finn relax immediately as we arrive, as he is in his natural state around water. I take off my shoes and hold his hand as we walk through the sand along the edge of the water. We don't talk of anything of real importance; just make remarks here and there. I mention the different constellations and stars that were visible, and Finn tells a story about searching for starfish in District 4. I laugh when he tells about how in his search he ended up finding a crab that pinched his finger. Eventually, we return to the car and he lets me in and drives me home. It's kind of silent on the way, and I think it is because neither of us really wants the night to end. But, we eventually reach my driveway, and Finn walks me to the doorstep.
"I had a really good time tonight." I say as I look into those deep green eyes.
"Me too," he replies. "I like you, Emma Grace. I really like you a lot." And then he draws a little closer to me, places his hands on my shoulders and brushes his lips to mine.
I'm being kissed by Finn Odair. Oh boy, I'm in trouble.
So, there it is! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I hope to update soon with the next part. Please, please, please REVIEW! They are love, and I definitely want to hear what you all think now. Thank you all so much for reading.