Alright, next chapter. *sweats* let's hope this'll be enough for my language arts teacher… o.O
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Katniss' POV
As I waited for Prim to come out in her interview dress, I couldn't help remembering the scores they'd flashed on the TV last night. Seven, just like Rue. But my little sister had fallen asleep before she'd had a chance to tell us anything. My heart tugged painfully as I remembered her peaceful slumber, blonde hair strewed around her pillows haphazardly.
I hadn't even seen what Cinna had cooked up for her yet, but I was excited. He'd set out a long dress that looked suspiciously like a wedding gown, except it was shimmering with yellow, hints of blue and white. As I shifted impatiently next to Peeta, who was in a slick black tuxedo, it flashed a little in the artificial Capitol light.
Then there was a gasp and a sigh, as the tributes all stepped up onto the platform. The District One girl was in a dress rather similar to Glimmer's, from last year – golden and cut off barely below her butt. She was almost as pretty, too. I rolled my eyes as the others slowly filed into their places, but it felt like I had forgotten to breathe when Prim picked her way cautiously up the stairs and into her seat.
My little sister looked like a princess. Her skirt flowed all the way to the floor, with a one-sleeve top sparkling with tiny reflective diamonds. She was practically glowing with glimmering red light, rubies and garnets meticulously arranged in patterns resembling flowers – no, not flowers. Primroses. All along the hem and up to about thigh-height. Prim's makeup was simple, but little tiny roses were stenciled along her cheeks and in the corners of her eyes, flashing with glitter. She was radiant.
Rory was looking handsome with his carefully combed black hair and smooth red blazer, with – ironically – a piece of what looked coal carefully arranged in his lapel, in place of a flower. It actually looked kind of good.
I zoned out for most of the other tribute's interviews, but I focused again when Prim drifted up nervously. As she seated herself and shook Caesar Flickerman's hand with her own trembling one, then tried to relax a little, tensely glancing at me. I gave her a reassuring grin.
"So, I'm sure everybody is eager to welcome a special young tribute this year – Primrose Everdeen!" The Capitol roared their approval. Caesar continued on smoothly, easily and calmly navigating Prim into the best spotlight possible. She replied to everything in a quiet, quivering voice, but bravely raised her head so her blue eyes stared at both Caesar and the Capitol with a rather defiant glint. I knew the feeling. What could they do now? Just make her life hell in the arena? They can't hurt me or Peeta either – this starstruck-lovers thing was way too popular in the Capitol. It looked like we'd won the crowd, for now.
Finally Caesar got to the question everyone wanted answered – "What do you think of being chosen for the second time, but this time actually going into the arena?"
Prim's answer both terrified me and made me undeniably proud.
"I think I'm going to win – no matter the cost."
o.O.o
Peeta's POV
I watched Prim with a slight smile on my face. A bit snarky, but all true. And I knew Katniss would pay anything to make sure she won too. It crossed my mind that this time we were actually, truly competing. Rory vs. Prim. I had to decide between the obvious duty of protecting this scared little boy and the love of my life – and Haymitch had already decided for me. Before stepping into the limo that would take us to the City Circle, our old mentor had cornered me and whispered a quick instruction in my ear. "You have to make sure Rory comes out of this alive. Whatever your bias is for Prim, ignore it." Then he'd straightened and nodded at me before slipping into the long black car. I brooded over his warning for a while then conceded that it was for the best. Also, technically I had a bias against and for Rory, because of Katniss' relationship to him but also because of Gale's relationship for his brother. I had to ignore that, though. All that mattered was getting Rory out alive.
I refused to think about what that meant – Prim dying.
Shaking my head ever so slightly to clear my mind of these depressing thoughts, I turned my full attention to where Rory was stepping up, shaking Caesar's hand and seating himself. Watching intently, I silently willed him to do what we'd practiced. Cool. Calm. Tell a joke or two.
He actually made me quite proud – quietly but calmly answering everything, then adding with a small grin a little joke about coal and flowers, which led to a bout of Caesar's laughter and then follow-up puns. Everything went well, the buzzer went off, and Rory stepped back to his seat.
Now all that was left was the arena.
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oh. my. God. This is so short! D: only 850+ words? I suck. Truly. Ah well. This is all I'm using for my report, so wish me luck! ^.^'
~DeaththeKidKat
