1-4. A little tenderness
The dress Cinna has designed is waiting for me in my room and I quickly change in to it. I'm busy admiring myself in the mirror when Effie returns with her emerald ring, necklace and earrings. She fastens the necklace for me and for the first time I see the combined effect of Cinna's dress and Effie's emeralds.
"Perfect," says Effie. I can't help but agree with her. If looks alone could see me through tonight's interview, then I would be home and dry. But I must still navigate my way through the interview. I need to be eloquent and confident in my responses to Caesar Flickerman's questions. Not because I want to impress any potential sponsors, but because Cato and the other tributes will be watching my every move.
"Do you think Cato will like my outfit?" I ask Effie.
"Cato? Hmmm … I think you will snare him with these emeralds."
"Do you think I have a better chance if I wear that piece which belonged to your great-aunt Sophie?" I ask, remembering Cato's reaction when he saw it. "Who was this great-aunt of yours anyway?"
"Sophie? Oh, she was a famous dancer. Her stage name was Desire. She lived a very bohemian life and my parents regarded as the black sheep of the family. But I liked her. I used to visit Sophie quite often when I was young, so I knew Sophie much better than did Sylvie or any of my other sisters. That's why Sophie left her jewellery to me when she died. The emeralds were hers as well. A gift from a man she lived with for many years."
"Have you ever worn her jewellery?" I ask.
"The emeralds, yes, but not that piece you were looking at when Syvlie intruded. I've never been in a situation where it was appropriate to wear it. It's not the sort of jewellery you wear in public places, and it takes a certain amount of confidence and practise to wear it. You do understand how it should be worn, don't you?"
"Yes. Thanks to Sylvie's demonstration, I know how it fastens," I say, giving Effie a demonstration using my fingers to represent the spring-clips. "You would need a thin top to stop it sliding off, though."
"Or no top at all," laughs Effie. "But we are getting side-tracked. Peeta will be here soon. If we are done I suggest you change back into your regular clothes.
"Effie, could I borrow that piece of Sophie's I saw earlier?"
"What!? There is no way you are wearing that to the interview tonight."
"No, of course I won't. I do have some sense of propriety. But I might be able to use it to snare Cato."
I put on my most winsome smile and Effie finally agrees after some hesitation. She must have anticipated my request as she has the box with Sophie's piece in her bag. She hands it to me.
"You knew I was going to ask to borrow this," I say.
"I didn't know, but I suspected you might when you noticed Cato's interest," smiles Effie. "You had best try it on. You might not be able to keep it in place."
I find a thin top and return to Effie. She hands me the piece and watches as I nervously place the discs in position. I anticipated a certain amount of discomfort from the pressure of the clips, but the initial pain is almost unbearable. But fortunately the pain soon passes and after a short while I can only sense the weight of the piece on my breasts.
"Now try walking about," says Effie. "Try to shake it loose. We need to see whether it will stay in place."
I do as Effie suggests and try moving into several different positions. The piece remains firmly in place, but several movements cause me to wince in pain as the weight or tension in the linking chain pulls against me. After a few minutes Effie seems satisfied with my first attempt at wearing it.
"OK," says Effie. "You can take the piece off."
What sounds like the simplest of tasks turns out to be the most excruciatingly painful experience I could imagine. As soon as the clips are removed, the numbness quickly goes and my body protests strongly. I bite my lips to prevent myself from crying out. If I fail this last test, then Effie might not let me borrow the piece. I rub my chest gently to ease the pain, and after a while only a little tenderness remains.
"Hmmm. Do you still wish to borrow this piece?" asks Effie as she places it back in its box.
I nod and Effie hands me the box. I give her a hug in thanks, being careful not to aggravate my tender breasts. The sound of Peeta's voice coming from the dining area prompts me to finish changing and join the others for lunch.
By the time Effie and I join them, Haymitch, Peeta and Cinna are already eating at the table. Effie and I go over to the side table where the buffet is laid out, and we select some food. Peeta looks at me as I sit down opposite him, but he doesn't say anything. After Haymitch's revelation earlier about Peeta's feelings towards me, I'm not certain what to say to Peeta.
"Were there many tribute's in the training room this morning?" I ask Peeta, more to make him to talk to me than any real interest in the movements of the other tributes.
"Um … No. I was alone for most of the time. Cato joined me for a while, but a woman called him away. When he returned he looked like a cat who had fallen into a bowl of cream."
I immediately realise the importance of what Peeta is saying about Cato, but it is Haymitch who quizzes Peeta for more details. By the time he's done, I have no doubt that Sylvie was the woman Peeta saw, and Cato was summoned to gather information from me. A very slick operation, but one which may still end in my favour.
When we first arrived in the Capitol, Peeta and I used to wolf our food down in case it disappeared before our hunger was satisfied. Now we eat at a more leisurely pace. We would have time for a pleasant conversation if Peeta showed any inclination to talk. He simply eats in silence, although his eyes rarely leave me. After a while his staring starts to annoy me. I'm about to say something rude when Effie puts her hand on my arm.
"Perhaps if you stopped rubbing your breasts, Peeta wouldn't stare at them so, Katniss," whispers Effie in my ear.
I drop my hands in a flash and suddenly feel awkward. The tenderness hasn't quite worn off, and I must have been trying to sooth my breasts without thinking about what I was doing. From Peeta's reaction he must have heard Effie's words and I don't know which of us is the more embarrassed.
"Er … Sorry, Peeta," I say. "Effie and I were trying on some jewellery and one of the pieces is quite heavy. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
"Um … that's OK. I didn't mean to stare. That's a nice ring, by the way."
I suddenly realise I've left the emerald ring on my finger. In my haste to get changed I forgot to take it off and return it to Effie. Fortunately Effie doesn't seem to mind.
"Yes, it's an emerald," I reply. "Effie has been kind enough to let me borrow it for the interview tonight."
"Well you will look a very fine lady when you walk up onto the stage," says Peeta.
"Actually, I'm not going for the fine lady look. I think the warrior princess style is more appropriate for tonight. What do you think?"
"I don't know," replies Peeta. "Haymitch said that sponsors might be put off from helping you if they think that you are …".
"That will do, Peeta," says Haymitch. "Once we have finished lunch, Katniss and I will have our discussion about how she should handle her interview."
Haymitch's interruption stifles any further conversation, and we finish lunch in silence. After lunch, Peeta, Cinna, and Effie leave the apartment so Peeta can try on his outfit for tonight. I'm left alone with Haymitch.
"So," I begin. "Are you going to tell me what you told Peeta?"
"No," replies Haymitch. "I told Peeta what he needs to know and believe. Which isn't necessarily the same thing that you need to know and believe. You and Peeta are very different people when it comes to handling interviews. Peeta has a natural gift that makes people instantly like him. You, on the other hand, have a knack of annoying and confusing people. I know you confuse me. You scowl at people you should please, and flash your eyelids at people you should avoid. Tell me how you think you should portray yourself tonight."
"I thought it was your job to tell me," I reply. "I've no idea. I know I hate trying to read from a script."
"Which is why I don't think anything we rehearse here this afternoon is going to help you. You are at your best when you are being spontaneous. My only advice to you is to remember that you need to attract sponsors; and you must …"
Haymitch lists a dozen or so pieces of advice, most which I forget as soon as he has said them. Perhaps this is his revenge for my earlier behaviour.
"Now what?" I ask when Haymitch has finished his speech.
"Well, if you want another crack at Cato, I suggest you go down to the training rooms. I think he's another tribute who doesn't know the value of his mentor's help and advice.
