CHAPTER 4
I take a deep breath and calm the growing frustration that comes with sitting in a chair for hours while my prep team – Venia, Octavia and Flavius – apply layers of make-up, polish my nails and tame my hair into Cinna's vision for today's parade of the tributes. Finally, Cinna walks in with my outfit for tonight and as he helps me into the black, one-piece suit, he says with a twinkle in his eyes "this suit comes with a surprise." Every one stands back and Cinna flips a switch on the inside of my wrist. The back of my suit ignites into flames that don't burn and I see Cinna and the prep team hold their breath in awe. I turn to look at my reflection in the mirror and my eyes widen at the vision. I look nothing like myself and the flames only accentuate that feeling.
Cinna flips the switch and the flames are immediately extinguished. "It runs on battery, so make sure you only turn it on just before you enter the Parade." Cinna instructs. I nod in acquiescence.
I'm nervously waiting in the bowels of the stadium that is holding almost all the Capitol residents who are buzzing with anticipation for the parade. I look in curiosity at the other tributes dressed in outfits that reflect their District's speciality. It's very rare to see let alone meet people from other Districts and I'm almost tempted to say hello to the friendlier looking tributes. But then I notice the blonde, solidly built male tribute from District 1 staring daggers in my direction. I hold his gaze to not give away how unnerving I find his staring. The District 1 tribute smirks and breaks our gaze as Gale arrives beside me.
"Making new friends, I see" Gale remarks with a raised eyebrow.
"Hardly" I reply. "He started it anyway." I turn to face Gale and see him adjusting the collar of his suit. "Tight fit?"
"I think Portia purposely shrunk my suit."
"At least we're not wearing ridiculous coal miner outfits."
"A small victory" Gale smiles and brushes a stray hair from my face. I smile back, but the arrival of Haymitch, Cinna and Portia interrupts our moment.
"You kids ready to give the Capitol a show?" asks Haymitch. "Sounds like Cinna and Portia have done wonders for our outfits this year."
A buzzer goes off signalling the start of the parade and Gale and I are ushered on to our chariot. Cinna and Portia flip the switches on our outfits and Cinna gives me one last encouragement, "win them over." Haymitch adds to Cinna's words. "Make sure you smile and get the crowd to love you. Remember, your potential sponsors are out there."
Our chariot jerks forward and I instinctively grab Gale's hand to steady myself. We exchange nervous smiles, but I also see the conflict in Gale's eyes. He looks like a standout tribute with the black outfit hugging his broad shoulders and arms toned by years of physical labour from hunting. But this parade is another machination in the Captiol's totalitarian dominance of the Districts. A parade of the sheep before the slaughter and yet we are meant to peddle to the very audience sending us to our deaths. I can tell Gale doesn't want to participate in any of this, but for us to have a fighting chance in the arena we need sponsors. To get sponsors, we need to look and act like winners.
"I know you don't want to do this. Neither do I, but if we want survive the Games, we need to act the part." Gale searches my eyes and I continue. "Don't do it for them. Do it for you. Do it for me. Do it for us."
Gale responds by raising our clasped hands as we enter the stadium and the crowd erupts into a loud cheer as our flaming chariot comes into view. I smile widely, but dial it back when I catch a glimpse of my crazed smiling face in the screens. I take a sideway glance at Gale and see that he is playing the stoic tribute role. He looks powerful with the flames billowing behind us giving his grey eyes a new level of intensity. The volume of the crowd increases and flowers are thrown in our direction, so I take the opportunity to play more into the crowd's hand. I take a flower that has landed on our chariot, bring it to my nose and give an appreciative smile. The crowd reaches a deafening level and all I can think is whether Haymitch approves of our efforts.
We arrive at the end of the parade with the other tributes, who are giving us jealous looks. Gale and I drop our clasped hands. Even though I'm sure my hand is sweaty Gale doesn't loosen his grip. I smile inwardly. Gale is my rock, a steady constant in my life. If I lose him, how will I live? I strike the thought from my mind and turn my attention to President Snow speaking.
With the parade over and our entrance a triumphant success, we head back to our apartment and I can't help but feel elated that we have passed the first test. "Brilliant." Effie says happily. "The crowd loved you."
"Whatever you pulled out there, it certainly didn't hurt your chances" adds Haymitch. "But we need to get to work on your interviews." My happy mood begins deflate as I realise that looking like a winning tribute and speaking like one are two different things. "Rest up" Haymitch says. "We have a lot of work ahead of us tomorrow."
Gale and I are coached separately by Haymitch. I don't know if it is his tactic, but it feels strange keeping something secret from Gale. I don't have much time to dwell on it though as Haymitch brings me to the sitting room and we take seats on couches facing one another.
"Ok, we need to give you an angle." Haymitch begins. "People in the Capitol are calling you 'the girl who was on fire'. I think we should capitalise on that."
"How?" I reply, not knowing where to start.
Haymitch forces me to act in all manner angles that the Capitol might find appealing – sexy, seductive, fiery, innocent. It is no use though. No matter how much Haymitch coaches me I can hear the falsity in my voice as clear as day before I start arguing with Haymitch. Eventually, we mutually agree to end the coaching session and I hide in my room until Cinna and the prep team dress me for the interviews. Cinna notices the strained look on my face and tries to alleviate my anxiety. "If it helps, imagine you're talking to me during the interview." I find it so easy to talk to Cinna that this is something I could pull off.
I'm sitting on a chair in the room underneath the stage where the interviews will take place. I can hear the people shuffling into their seats and the last minute preparations back stage. I smooth out the wrinkles in my beautiful red dress, another one of Cinna's creations.
"Nervous?" Gale says as he stands over me in a black suit with red flame accents. His hair is coiffed into a slick back style. I smile at the sight of Gale looking so dashing in a suit.
"Can you tell?" I ask as I stand and nervously rub my palms together.
"Not one bit." Gale jokes. "You look really..." Gale says, his eyes scanning me from head to toe, "great." He looks slightly annoyed at himself for sounding so lame. "All I could come up with is great? Sorry Katniss, you look more than great. It's rare to see you in a dress, so you've caught me off guard."
I blush at Gale's awkwardly sweet attempt at a compliment. "Well, you look great too. It's rare to see you in a suit." I say, scanning him from head to toe. Even though I said it in a jokingly, I see Gale blush which he tries to brush off by commenting how warm it is in the room. The joking is over though as all the tributes are ushered to a platform, which raises us to the stage above. The short banter with Gale made me completely forget about my nerves, but they return soon and it takes all my concentration to not fall while walking in my heels. We all take our seats and Caesar Flickerman begins the interviews, starting with District 1.
Before I know it, it is District 12's turn at interviews. I feel mildly unprepared as I walk to the front of the stage and take the seat next to Caesar. I spot Cinna in the crowd and I return his reassuring smile. My interview actually doesn't go too badly. I imagine I'm talking to Cinna, which leads to interesting and honest answers ("What's your favourite thing about the Capitol, Katniss" "Er, the lamb stew..."). Caesar is up to the final minute of my interview and I can feel my heart returning to a normal pace.
"That dress is absolutely exquisite" remarks Caesar and the crowd murmurs in approval. "Can you stand up and show us?"
As I stand up I see Cinna make a twirling motion with his forefinger, so I begin to twirl somewhat unsteadily on my heels. I hear gasps in the crowd as I look down and the bottom edges of my dress are in flames just like the ones Cinna used on our black suits. The crowd erupts in an approving applause and Caesar motions me to sit down. "Incredible," comments Caesar as the buzzer signalling the end of my interview emits in the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause for Katniss Everdeen, female tribute for District 12."
Gale is called up as I take my place behind Caesar with the other tributes. Gale settles into the chair next to Caesar and is immediately bombarded with questions.
"So, Gale," Caesar begins, "you, like Katniss, volunteered as tribute for District 12? There must be something in the water." Caesar winks to the crowd who giggle in response.
Gale gives a stiff smile and replies "yes."
"So, why did you volunteer?"
"I couldn't let my best friend go to the Games alone." Gale furtively looks at me and I hear the crowd sigh in appreciation.
"You're referring to Katniss?" clarifies Caesar.
Gale nods, "yes, we've been friends for 5 years."
"Just friends?" Caesar playfully asks with a twinkle in his eyes. Gale has the good grace to blush and I see my own blushing face projected on the big screen.
"Just friends" Gale confirms, but Caesar seems unconvinced. "It's OK, Gale. You can share anything with us" says Caesar as he sweeps an arm to the audience. Giggling breaks out as Caesar gives Gale a knowing look.
Gale takes a deep breath and looks at Caesar blocking out the audience, "I care about Katniss. Deeply. I admire her strength and heart. I would give anything to keep her alive." The intensity of Gale's eyes is undeniable as he continues "even if it costs me my own life." The mutual care between Gale and I is common knowledge to everyone in the Seam, but to hear him speak so ardently about me and my well being sends my heart racing. All I can think is that Gale is saying something beyond the superficial layer of his kind words.
A hush settles in the room. All eyes, especially those of the Capitol residents who are hanging on to every emotionally saturated word are on Gale. "Because you love her?" prods Caesar. Gale's swallows nervously, but before he can say anything the buzzer rings, signalling the end of his interview. The crowd shows their disapproval, the end of an enthralling story has been taken away from people who are used to getting everything they want. Gale didn't verbalise an answer, but it doesn't matter as his eyes, projected throughout Panem, said it all. A mixture of longing, love and tenderness were on display in those grey eyes I know so well.
The overload of new information about my oldest and dearest friend makes my head spin. A death grip on the arms of the chair is the only thing that keeps me upright. I remember to arrange my face in what I think is a coy look knowing the cameras will be on me and I should maintain whatever strategy Haymitch and Gale have used. Is this strategy or is it real? Does Gale love me? The blush that rises in my cheeks from the very thought is an unintended, but appropriate reaction to the latest sequence of events. Gale rises and moves towards his seat among the other tributes as Caesar announces with a glorious smile beaming into the camera, "ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause to Gale Hawthorne, male tribute for District 12."
In the waiting room underneath the stage my opportunity to ask Gale about his interview is non-existent as Effie and Haymitch descend on us. "Great work" says Haymitch as he pats Gale's arm approvingly. Haymitch turns to me, "you're lucky Gale is here. He just saved your interview and your chances of surviving."
I search Gale's eyes, trying to figure out if he was sincere about everything he said and didn't say in the interview. His eyes are unreadable, but there are hints of something that speaks so strongly to a part of me I have yet to explore. "Don't worry, Catnip. I've got your back" Gale says with a warm smile.
Gale has my back and I have his back. And it seems like I may also have his heart.
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