My training score was four, the lowest out of everyone. Mother and the boys will be so upset but I have to do this, this is the way I can win.
After four hours working on my style, being timid, and a further four hours working on how to look good to the audience, I go to see Brohnad and my prep team. They are all standing around something green when I get there.
"Hi," I say, "so are you ready to make me look pretty for the interviews then?"
"Yes, yes," says Brohnad, "come in."
I take a sit while Brohnad does my hair. He splits it into two and braids it. He ties the bottom end of my braids together. I look in the mirror, I feel different, look at myself, I look pretty.
"And now for the dress," he says, "it's beautiful and you'll love it!"
He points to a long, deep green dress, with sequins scattered all over it. I also have slightly high-heel green shoes and a green clip. I put them on, Brohnad notices my charm necklace.
"What this?" he asks, "I didn't make this for you."
"My best friend gave it to me and I love it," I answer, "I am going to where it whatever you say."
He nods, "That's fine, it's very beautiful."
"Yes, it is!" I say sternly.
I go to wait for the interviews with the other tributes. Girls are first so I am before Antonio. The nerves hit me as Hognouce, the boy from district six, goes on stage. Now it's my turn, I take a breath and walk on.
"Everyone welcome Johanna Mason!" says Caesar Flickerman. The crowd cheers my name, I feel proud. Then I remember, it's because I'm in the games, not because they like me.
"Hello Johanna," he says, "how are you finding the capital?"
"It's great," I reply, "the foods delicious, the beds are nice, everything's amazing and completely different to home!"
"Yes, I suppose it is," says Caesar, "so, back home, is there anyone special. A beautiful girl like yourself must have somebody."
"Yeah, there is this guy," I say back to him, "I really like him, we were kind of friends at school. After the reaping he came to say goodbye to me and admitted hid love. I couldn't believe we felt the same way."
"Well," he says, "when you win, you can see him again."
"If I win," I say.
"Well that's all we have time for," Caesar says loudly to the audience, "Johanna Mason, district seven!"
"Thank you," I say and walk of as Antonio walks on.
"That was great!" Cilee pulls me into a hug, "come on, let's watch Antonio."
Antonio's interview is such a bore. Predictably all he talks about the food, I'm sure he's put on more wait and is more of a fat slob. When he finally comes out, we go to floor seven and have tea.
"You were amazing!" Carrie tells me, "you could win this."
"No she can't!" yells Rylan, "she got a four in training; there is no chance that she will win at all!" Hearing this nearly makes me cry. Luckily Carrie comes to my rescue.
"That's her tactic," she yells back at him, "how dare you say that in front of her. For all you know she may lose her will to live!"
I excuse myself from the table and go to bed. This time tomorrow we'll be in the arena, some of us dead, maybe me. I cry but I can't go to sleep. I decide to go on the roof again, up the lift and I look at the city. I see people dancing in the streets, celebrating the hunger games. I think of district seven, the place I want to be right now. I go back down to my room and cry myself to sleep.