*Insert usual Sorry-this-took-a-while-enjoy-the-chapter speech*

Flynn, District 1

"Alright, sir, I think you're ready," says my stylist, stepping back and flashing his weirdly white teeth in a huge grin at me.

He weirds me out with the way he views me like a piece of art and not like an actual human being, but it is his job. And I've had trainers who have viewed me in the same way. Anyway, at least I really do like what he's given me. The more casual look instead of the usual suit makes me look more relaxed and ready to start the Games, which I would say is an accurate portrayal. The open collar, fitting pants, and riding boots combination would almost qualify as a typical tribute uniform. It suits me perfectly.

The door opens, and Rapunzel pokes her head in. "Um… They're ready for us to go," she says with a hesitant smile. I nod and follow her out.

It's only when I've opened the door completely and gotten a full look at her that I realize how absolutely beautiful she looks.

Her signature mile-long hair has been tied into a thick braid so that the end doesn't even touch the ground. They've also stuck all sorts of little flowers in her hair, and she wears a light purple dress that brings out her hair and eyes. Listen to me. What am I even saying? What do I even know about this type of stuff? I quickly clear my head and jokingly offer her my arm. She raises an eyebrow, smirks back, and briskly hooks her arm through mine, cocking up her chin and marching forward. We march like this until we reach the backstage area, where other tributes slowly file in behind us. I'm tempted to look behind me to see who else we're working with and what everyone looks like, but there will be plenty of time for that later. I need to focus right now. After Rapunzel starts, I'll only have three minutes until my own interview. I'm not that nervous—I'm going with a laid-back angle. After all, that's my true personality anyway, right?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to our final interviews!" I jerk my head up to look out onto the now-lit stage where the interviewer and host, who has always referred to himself as merely "The Ringmaster," begins his introductions. I see that he's still wearing his signature red coat and top hat, and has not lost his curled mustache or stout, round appearance.

I'm still staring at him when he suddenly cries, "I won't make you wait a moment longer, ladies and gentleman, HERE THEY COME!"

Rapunzel immediately strides forward onto the stage, grinning and waving as everyone cheers. I easily break into a laid-back manner, strolling right behind her and smirking at the audience, and unless I'm crazy, a few female voices near the front are screaming my name.

We sit on the end, and I exchange a nod with Mulan, who sits on my other side. The Ringmaster makes a few more final remarks before he finally calls Rapunzel up to being the first interview.

Tiana, District 3

I'm so torn on how I feel about this dress. Of course, it's beautiful. The light green fabric is more expensive-feeling and high-quality than anything I've touched in my life. And I imagine I must look more beautiful than I ever have in my life. But I don't really feel any better about what's to come. I'm not at an advantage. Every single person up here looks beautiful. But on top of that, they all have personalities or skill. I'm just an aspiring businesswoman from District 3. I don't know how to fight or survive or…

I need to stop. I've thought these things to myself over and over again, but now is not the time. If I'm so worried about my disadvantages, I can get rid of one of them: not having the slightest idea who I'm up against. All I have to do is pay attention.

The District 1 girl is absolutely beautiful. She doesn't even need a stylist or a beautiful gown to look that way. But she did have a stylist, and she is wearing a dress. So now I'm sure her wide, wonderstruck eyes, round face, and of course, her beautiful golden hair, have gotten the entire audience in her dainty hands. Plus, from what she's saying, she seems to have a training background. This is ridiculous. How am I supposed to compete with these people?

Her partner doesn't make me feel any better. He's probably dressed the most casually of anyone here, but somehow, it works to his advantage. It's like he doesn't need to fall all over himself to impress anyone because he already knows he can do well. And I don't doubt that he can.

The District 2 girl, Mulan, is dressed more simply, in a pink, blue, and red long-sleeved gown. Although I guess that's still pretty fancy, huh? She's very serious. She refuses to play along with any of the Ringmaster's attempts at jokes, but she still manages to get across the message that she's completely prepared for these Games, with the motive of bringing honor to her family riding behind her.

Shang is just as serious, if not more. I barely listen to him at all. I'm too busy taking in his enormous form and worrying, because I'm up next. How on earth am I supposed to follow him?

When he calls my name, I remember my other issue with this dress: the skirt is huge, and I'm not sure if I can stand up without it getting in my way. But I have to try. I gather up the folds and slide them up, pulling myself up and managing to teeter only slightly before successfully standing on my feet and wobbling over to the Ringmaster.

My interview manages to somehow drag on and fly by at the same time. I tell him about how I was a waitress back at home, and how I was saving up to open my own restaurant one day, and thankfully, the Ringmaster somehow manages to spin it around and gush about how I must be extremely determined and independent-minded. I don't argue with him, and then he says something about how if I have as much determination in the Games as I do about my restaurant, then I'm sure to win. I just smile uncomfortably. "Hey, and with your winner's earnings, you probably wouldn't even need to worry about that restaurant anyway, eh?" he says.

"Oh, but I would still open it anyway," I say eagerly.

He eyes me, looking a little taken aback, but he just says, "Ah, so you're a hard worker through and through! Something certainly to be admired!" Thankfully, the buzzer finally rings, and I'm extremely grateful to hobble back to my seat.

I don't know why the stylists put Naveen and me in matching attire—his suit is the same shade of green as my dress—because we've barely even spoken to each other. Granted, I could probably do with being a little more friendly, but I just don't see the point in making friends here. After all, only one of us can go home. Even now, I have little interest in what he's saying to the Ringmaster.

Ariel from District 4 is another annoyingly beautiful one. I'm sure her soft pink gown has wide appeal to the Capitol audience, and her red hair makes her memorable. She explains how she's in an alliance with her partner and the tributes from 1 and 2. I should have expected as much, but this confirmation doesn't make me feel any better. They'll be unstoppable.

Eric is in a simple shirt, fitted pants, and boots like Flynn, and is also strong and handsome. I can almost hear the rush of coins as the all of the Capitol's sponsor money flows straight into this alliance.

I like the District 5 pair a bit more. Anna also wears a green dress, but the top half is much darker and the skirt is much slimmer than mine. She has her hair tied up with a green ribbon, and although I find her quite likeable, I can't help resenting her knowing that the audience will probably sympathize with her too.

Her partner, Kristoff, is fairly forgettable, so I don't really need to worry about sponsors as much, but he talks about how he hauls ice for a living, so he seems very strong, and he must be deft with a pickaxe, so he's probably solid with similar weapons. He's not one I can brush off either.

Could I beat the District 6 girl in a fight? Possibly. Will I do better than her in the Games? Possibly not. She talks about how she loves to read and has been reading about the Games all her life, so she'll probably have some brilliant strategy and outsmart us all. Plus, once again, she's beautiful, with a gorgeous golden gown with a skirt as big as mine.

Her partner, Adam, is hard to read. He seems a little nervous, but he's about as big and strong-looking as the other male tributes, so I'm sure he could hold his own in a fight.

It's now that I realize that we're only halfway through the interviews, and I've been worried about every single tribute. I have to try to be more optimistic. If only it were easier.

Naveen, District 3

Here comes another girl in a green dress. But it's hard to mix her up with the others—I think we've all had our eyes on her. Her flaming red hair and crazy skills with a bow make her hard to overlook. Although her interview reveals nothing special, she's still someone we're all watching out for.

Her partner is no different. Hercules is the biggest person here, so he could have absolutely no skills and still be a tough one to beat.

Aurora is very soft-spoken, but her hesitant answers and meek manners somehow come across as sweet and charming, and her pink dress and golden hair can't be a bad thing among the Capitol audience.

Her partner is a little more forgettable, but he still radiates a kind of nobility and determination that could easily be admired.

The District 9 girl, Jasmine, comes across as fairly shy and mysterious, but she hesitantly admits how much she's looking forward to teaming up with her district partner. Again, she'll probably draw in some sponsors, especially since the outfit her stylist gave her shows a little more skin.

Aladdin wins the crowd's hearts. He's easygoing, funny, and confident, but also shows a soft side by vowing to protect his district partner.

The District 10 girl is beautiful. Her blond hair is swept up to reveal her pale, blue-eyed face, and she wears a light blue gown just as huge as Tiana's. Although she seems not to be a threat, she may be able to earn a few sponsor points.

Her partner is fairly boring. He wears a nice, pale yellow suit that makes him look pretty classy, but he has almost no personality whatsoever.

The District 11 girl is another confident-seeming one. She wears a simple, shorter brown dress, and strongly states that she knows how to survive in the wild, find food, and defend herself. The audience may not be particularly fond of her, but she doesn't seem to need them.

Her partner seems a little over-confident to me. He talks all about how he's strong and knows how to use a sword, but I could see him starving to death instead if he's not careful.

The District 12 girl is hard to watch. She has a nice dress on, and she looks lovely with her night-black hair, snow-white skin, and blood-red lips, but she cries for the entirety of her interview, just saying over and over again how "dreadfully frightened" she is.

Her partner isn't much better. He tried to put on this flashy presentation of how he knows how to defend himself like a real man or something, but I don't think he really knows what his plan is. He and his partner kind of make the interviews fizzle out.

Nevertheless, the Ringmaster thanks him graciously and proceeds to thank us all again. We all rise to thunderous applause, and then he has only to wish us odds that are ever in our favor and we're off the air.

Rapunzel, District 1

"Hey, hold the elevator!"

Flynn quickly holds down the "open" button until the pair has shuffled into the elevator with us. They've made it considerably more crowded—the girl's green gown takes up practically the entire elevator on its own. As we begin to rise, she sighs and slowly tugs off her white, elbow-length gloves. She shakes her hair out of its up-do and pulls out her pearl earrings. She still looks lovely. She stands in silence for a few moments before she glances up and makes eye contact with me. She makes an awkward grimace that must be an attempt at a smile and quickly drops her gaze.

"That's a beautiful dress," I say.

She laughs and shakes her head at the floor.

"What?"

She shakes her head again. "I just…" She's interrupted by the ding of the elevator as the doors slide open to reveal Floor 3. She and her partner shuffle out without another word. Flynn and I glance at each other in confusion as the doors close behind them.

"What's up with them?" he asks.

"I don't know," I say sadly. "I guess they're just in over their heads. They must all be."

I spend the rest of the evening realizing how lucky we are and how different the atmosphere on our floor must be from the atmospheres on others. Everyone just kind of mills around, grabbing snacks and chatting idly. Other tributes might be having panic attacks or last-minute planning sessions. After an hour or so, I take a shower, wash the rest of my makeup off, put on a set of pajamas, and crawl into the soft bed, complete with fresh sheets. I feel full, rested, clean, excited, and ready for whatever tomorrow will bring.

Bloodbath next chapter! Brace yourselves...