So, I didn't repost for a few days. I was busy! And quite frankly, this is boring. Anywho, I hope you enjoy this chapter! It's a good one.


Thaddeus, Age 16, District 3

Well this is certainly a turn of events. I don't know what on earth my designer was thinking but she's put me in a jet black suit with neon paint splatters. But no, if that wasn't enough, it glows in the dark. She demands that I show it off to the Capitol during the interview, so I guess I'll be glowing like an idiot. We're heading to the interviews now, with me in my stupid paint splatters, and… wow… Madilynn looks good. She's in a lapis-lazuli blue double-layered summer dress that shimmers between gold and blue in the light, along with golden high heels and a golden anklet. Her wavy, dark brown hair is put up in a messy clip, strands of hair falling in her face to make her look perfectly imperfect. Tonight she really does look like an angel.

Sky, Age 15, District 10

It's my birthday. And do you know what I get to wear to the interview on my birthday? A COW DRESS! I'm not freaking kidding, my designer put my in a cow dress. It has black fur around the collar that's so long it gets in my mouth, with long sleeves that have the same black fur around my wrists. It puffs out at the bottom until I look like I'm puffed up to three times my size. Along with this, I'm wearing a pair of cow ears and my prep team painted my nose black. If I get out of the arena the first thing I'm going to do is talk to President Snow about getting them fired. It should be illegal to dress tributes in outfits this stupid!

"Hey beautiful," Ryden says, in a tuxedo patterned with black and white cow spots but looking undeterred. At least I'm not going to be the only one there with cow ears. "You got a cow costume, too? That's tough."

"You're telling me," I growl as we are lead into a large room. The other tributes are there as well, hanging out and chatting quietly. Most of them look good, and they choke back laughter when I walk in. Some don't even bother trying to hide it and just burst out cackling.

"Screw you," I hiss at Vencitiy who is snickering more then the others. She sneers at me before turning back to her fellow Careers. She's in a skin-tight purple dress with her brown hair racked up into a fancy ponytail with a small braid going down the side of it. Her face has been exaggerated with layers of makeup and she is in six inch purple high heels. Tanner keeps eying her with a naughty look in his eyes. Tanner himself is in a black dress shirt with all the buttons undone to reveal a six pack of abs. He's in black dress pants, black shoes and wears an undone red tie around his neck.

I can't help but wonder what will unfold over the course of the night…

Hunter, Age 18, District 9

I sit in a comfy, deep purple chair watching the other tributes chat and pace back and forth. Thaddeus is ringing his hands obsessively and I wonder why he isn't high right now. Maybe someone nicked his drug stash. That would have been incredibly hard since he probably sleeps with it under his pillow.

"Hello, Hunter," I hear someone say. I turn and find Gleam standing before me with a slight smile on her face. I narrow my eyes. A happy Career is never a good sign. "I have a proposition for you."

"What is it?" I growl, rising to my feet and glaring down at her. She keeps grinning.

"Well," She says happily. "If you haven't noticed the Career Alliance this year is a little… fragile... right now. We need reinforcements. So, I've decided that if you join us we will grant immunity to that little friend of yours, Roshan, until the final eight tributes. Until then we won't harm her."

"No," I growl. I can keep Roshan safe; I don't care if they are hunting us down. I turn to leave but Gleam's voice stops me.

"Are you sure?" She asks. I look back at her and find she's still smiling. "It would be such a shame if she had a run-in with one of our patrols and didn't have immunity. A score of eight won't protect her if she runs into Raith or Jess or Vencitiy, even. After all, I thought you cared for the little thing. I guess I was wrong." She spins on her heels and is about to head off.

"Wait," I hiss. She looks over her shoulder curiously. "I'll join… on one condition."

"And what would that be?" She asks, casually leaning against the wall.

"That you grant immunity to Velvet, too."

"The archery girl whose skill matches your own?" I nod. "That's a large price, Hunter boy. She's a threat."

"That's my only offer. Take it or leave it."

"Fine," She sighs. We shake. Her hands are so cold.

Gleam, Age 17, District 1

They call me up first and I walk onto the stage, waving at the audience with a smile. I'm in a long silver gown made of thousands of tiny diamonds that reflect all light that hits them. My hair is up in an intricate do and my makeup has been done to bring out my emerald green eyes.

"Hello, Gleam," Caesar laughs, his hair up in a silver wig. I wish I could tell the moron that it makes him look a hundred years old, but I have to look good for the sponsors.

"Hi, Caesar," I smile. "It's so nice to meet you!"

"It's nice to meet you, too," He says. "Gleam, that golden dress you were wearing in the tribute parade was just stunning. Would you like to tell us about it?"

"Well," I say, making sure that I'm still grinning like there is no place I would rather be, when in fact I would rather be anywhere but here with Caesar Flickerman. I've always hated him, he's so obnoxious. "I was so delighted when my designer brought it out; I'd never seen anything so pretty! Well, obviously I have now. I mean, look at this dress!" I stand and spin around in it a few times, the Capitol audience making noises of awe.

"Yes, yes," Caesar laughs. "It's very beautiful." I sit back down. "Gleam, what kind of a chance do you think you stand at winning the Hunger Games?"

"Well," I say, twirling a strand of my hair around my fingers. "I know I'm going to win."

"You know you're going to win? Why is that?"

"Because I've seen the other tributes train," I reply. The audience gasps as I call out the other twenty-three tributes. "Don't get me wrong, I've made some really good friends like Vencitiy and Jessamine, and I've actually dating one of the other tributes, but looking at the way they fight… I don't think any of them stand a chance. I'm strong, I'm fast, I'm skilled… and they just aren't."

"You don't say…" Caesar says, rubbing his chin. "Gleam, you said that you're dating one of the other tributes, is that correct?"

"Yes,"

"Would you care to tell us which tribute that is?"

"Oh come on Caesar," I say. "I can't tell you everything."

"Sure you can," He laughs. "Am I right, folks?" Cheering sounds from every corner of the audience.

"I think I'll just let him decide whether to tell you or not when he gets up here," I reply with a sly glance towards where the other tributes are standing behind the scenes.

"Alright," He sighs, looking slightly disappointed. "Oh, and it seems that we are out of time. Ladies and gentleman, Gleam Luxton!" Everyone cheers as I head back into the room with the other tributes. I just nailed it.

Jessamine, Age 18, District 2

"What the hell was that for?" I demand as Gleam reenters the room that we are all waiting in.

"What was what for?" She asks, sitting in a chair and folding her hands in her lap.

"You just said that we don't stand a chance," I press, looming over her. "Great way to help your fellow Careers."

"Get ready to feel the wrath," I hear Caesar say, making me want to bang my head into a wall. I have never heard anyone say so many horrible puns in one night. "Let me introduce… Raith Delver!" I glance up as Raith strides into his interview in a silver tuxedo with a ruby tie and lapels. I glare back down at Gleam.

"Oh come on, Jess," She says, standing up and resting her hand on my shoulder. I'm in a sleeveless black, lacey dress and a pair of combat boots. I have those black lines under my eyes that football players wear and my hair is done in a messy bun. I look like I'm about to go into battle. "I had to make my self look good for the sponsors and that's the angle my mentor told me to go for."

"Whatever," I mutter, taking a seat to watch Raith's interview. I missed the first few questions but I can still watch the rest.

"So, Raith," Caesar says. "Looking at your training score I'd say you're pretty tough. What are your greatest skills?"

"I'm good with swords," He replies. "And javelins. I'm observant and I'm pretty fast."

"You're pretty fast?" Caesar asks. Raith nods. "Well that should come in handy in the arena. Let me ask you, do you have a girlfriend back home?"

"I used to…" He replies, grinding his teeth. Oh dear god, this is going to end very badly for me, isn't it?

"Used to?" He asked, confused. "Well, what happened?"

"Quartz was killed," Raith growls through his teeth. "In the last Hunger Games when a knife pierced her heart."

"That's unfortunate," He says with a frown. "Well, I'm afraid to say that's all the time we have. Ladies and gentle, give it up for Raith Delver!" Raith stands and heads back into the room, glaring at me as he does. Oh boy. You know who's up next? Me.

"Jessamine, welcome," Caesar says, shaking my hand as I sit down in the chair.

"Call me Jess," I tell him.

"Okay, Jess," He nods. "Raith was just out here and talking about how Quartz was killed in last year's Hunger Games. I think it is very interesting that you are both here this year, considering, Jess, that it was your brother who put a dagger in that girl's heart, wasn't it?"

"Yes," I nod. The audience gasps. Oh no, drama, what will we do?

"And how do you feel about being in the Hunger Games with the fiancé of a girl that your brother killed last year?"

"Um…" I say, rubbing my neck. I did not see that one coming. "I feel really bad about what happened with Cameron and Quartz, but it wasn't my fault. He's the one who killed her, not me. And… it wasn't his fault, either. He just wanted to come home, all of the tributes did. And if he wanted to do that then he had to kill someone, one way or another. Quartz killed people in her Games, too. If this situation was different and one of the relatives of the tribute that Quartz killed was here instead of me then Raith would be the one getting the interrogation right now. What I mean is that all the tributes have family and when you hurt them it isn't just them that you're hurting, it's their family and their friends, too. There is no way to avoid that. We're all going to do some things in the arena that we won't be proud of, it's just a matter of time. I don't think it's fair to hold it against someone when they are just doing the same thing that everyone else is, the only difference being that you're the one that got hurt."

"Very true, indeed," Caesar nods solemnly. Changing the mood, he brightens up. "You look very warlike tonight, Jess, like you are about to go into battle. Do you think that outfit your stylist put you in really stands for anything?"

"Well, probably the fact that I'm actually about to go into battle tomorrow," I chuckle. "But I think it's more then that, too. I think… it really kind of brings out this part of me, the part of me that's going to keep fighting no matter what happens. I've always been a strong person; I just think that this outfit really tells people that."

"Thank for your time, Jess," He says, standing up and showing me to the audience once more. "Jessamine Mason, everyone!"

Madilynn, Age 13, District 3

Oplarran comes out in a loose-fitting black T-shirt and a pair of black jeans. He smiles quietly and sits down, answering the questions with what seem to be honest answers. He talks about how much he misses his little half-sister, Sabrie, and how sad he was when he had to leave her.

"Sabrie," He says looking into the camera with tears in his eyes. "I have never felt any emotion stronger then how much I miss you now… and I promise that I'm going to come back to you, no matter what it takes." The audience is going crazy over that. Wow, that was some moving stuff. Oplarran makes his way back into the room with the other tributes, Gleam looking pretty angry that he just stole her spotlight. Oh god, I'm next. I make my way onto the stage and practically faint at the size of the crowd. I'm shaking and my palms are sweaty. I sit down and brace myself for the next few minutes.

"Madilynn," Caesar begins. "I'm sure you heard Oplarran talking about his sister. What do you… what do you think about that?"

"Well," I say shakily, swallowing hard. They are all staring at me… all of them… "I think it's... it's… really sad that he had to leave her… but we all have family that we l-left behind when we came and I don't think it's f-fair for him to get all the attention just because he made it seem s-sadder."

"I see your point," He nods. "You said you all left people behind. Madilynn, who did you leave behind when you came here to the Capitol?"

"My best friends, Hana and Lina," I say. "They almost volunteered for me, but I told them not to. I… I didn't want to see them getting hurt. I mean, better m-me then them, right?"

"What about family?"

"I don't have much," I say honestly. "Just my dad but um… we don't get along very well."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yes,"

"How unfortunate," The rest of the interview goes on like this, Caesar asking questions and trying to help me win sponsors and me stuttering and answering them pathetically. I'm so relieved when I finally stand up and leave. I watch as Thaddeus walks onto the stage a pale look on his face. I may have snuck into his home last night and stolen all his drugs. Look, I didn't want him to go into the interviews high. I thought that the world needed to finally see him as he really is. "Hello Thaddeus how are you today?"

"I'm good," He says quietly, staring at his feet.

"That's a very interesting outfit," Caesar notices. "Don't you agree, folks?" Everyone cheers and I can tell that Caesar is trying to warm them up to him. Hey, maybe he'll actually get some sponsors.

"Thank you," he whispers. "It actually, um… glows in the dark…"

"Does it really?" Caesar asks. He glances offstage. "Can someone get the lights?" The lights flickered off and Thaddeus' outfit instantly lights up, the neon paint splatters luminescent in the darkness. Everyone gasps. I don't like it that much but the Capitol audience definitely does. The lights turn back on. "Wow that certainly was something! Thaddeus, did you leave behind any family or friends?"

"No"

"None at all?" Caesar asks. Thaddeus shakes his head. "Whatever happened to you family?"

"They died," He says, his voice shaking. "In a fire two years ago. I wasn't in the house and I'm the only one that didn't burn down… I should have died with them that night. I shouldn't be alive… I don't deserve to be alive." At this point he's shaking badly and tears have welled up in his eyes. Without getting dismissed he rises to his feet and races off the stage. I can see tears racing down his face as he runs past me, towards the bathroom. I follow him into the boy's bathroom and find him sobbing quietly, leaning over a sink.

"Thaddeus…" I say slowly walking up behind him.

"It's just not fair," He whispers. "Why did they have to die… and why did I have to live? I'm the one who deserves to die, they all should have lived! I should have burned down with them."

"I know how you feel," I whisper, stepping up beside him and rested a hand on his shoulder. He doesn't look up and I can feel him trembling. "My mother abandoned me to live with my father and my sister when I was five. Two years ago he threw my sister across the room and her head split open when she hit the wall. She died on contact." Tears are falling from my eyes now. "I know exactly how you feel." Thaddeus slowly raises his head and turns towards me. I find myself wrapped up in his embrace and get lost in his warmth.

Tanner, Age 17, District 4

Citiy goes on and acts exactly like everyone expects her to. "Hello, Vencitiy," Caesar says. "Welcome! I'd first like to ask you how you feel about Gleam's accusations, especially when she received the same score that you did?"

"Honestly, Caesar," Ven answers, flipping her gorgeous brown hair. "I'm pretty insulted, especially since I can do anything that she can do better." The crowd gasps. "I mean, I'm her friend and all and I like her, but its ridiculous that she is says all this crap. And that's all it is, it's just crap, none of it is true."

"I see," Caesar says, rubbing his chin. "So, then, would you say that there is a rivalry between you and Gleam?"

"You could say that," She nods. "But I think its more like a friendly rivalry then us being enemies or anything… you know, like a healthy competition between friends." I kind of zone out for the rest of it because its just about how good she thinks she going to do in the Games and her outfits and all that.

"Now let me introduce our tannest tribute," Caesar says when Vencitiy gets up. "Tanner Trav!" I put on a crooked smile and jog onto the stage, waving at the crowd as I go. I shake hands with Caesar and sit in the plush chair next to his.

"It's nice to be here," I say with a smile.

"It's nice to have you," Caesar chuckles. "Tanner, how do you like it here in the Capitol?"

"It's nice, you know," I say. "Very, um, well, definitely very colorful." Some people in the audience laugh and my mentor, who is sitting in the crowd, gives me thumbs up. "Caesar would you like to see a magic trick?"

"Um, sure," He smiles politely. I pull out my deck and shuffle it dramatically; at one point flipping cards over my head and having them land in my other hand. Caesar picks a card and I pretend to pull it out from behind his ear. The audience claps loudly. It's a simple trick, really, but for whatever reason the Capitol seems pretty impressed. Taking a handkerchief from Caesar's pocket, which I stole about thirty seconds ago but no one noticed, I wrap my deck in it and make it 'disappear'. I spin around in the chair and when I come back around I pull a dove out of the handkerchief and it flies into the audience. I pretend to find the deck in Caesar's wig. "Wow, that certainly was something," he laughs, fixing his fake hair.

"Thanks," I smile charmingly.

"Well," Caesar says. "It's just about time for you to go, Tanner. Is there anything you'd like to say before you do?"

"Yes actually," I say. Everyone freezes. No one expected me to say that. I let the suspense build up for a few moments and can't help but smile at the look of excitement on everyone's face. "I'm the one dating Gleam." Everyone takes a sharp intake of breath and Caesar looks like he is about to say something when the buzzer rings. I can't express in words the look of disappointment on everyone's faces. I wave to the audience and trot off stage. I'm proud of myself, I left them wanting more.

Peregrine, Age 18, District 6

District Five is just as I expected. Ramona becomes the first tribute to ever get kicked out of her interview when she curses out the audience and then flicks off Caesar before coming back in the room with the rest of us to eat a bag of nachos. Elias goes on and talks about how angry he is to be here. I wish I could feel anger like he does. I come up next and sit in the chair, my expression blank. My mentor told me to try and appear good to the sponsors, but I'm just not good at getting people to like me. In fact, most people hate me so this should go pretty badly.

"Peregrine," Caesar says. "That's a very interesting name. Is there any special reason that your parents named you that?"

"No," I reply honestly.

"Oh," Caesar says, scratching his chin. "Well, do you have any family back home?"

"Yes,"

"Would you like to tell us about them?"

"Not really," I can hear muffled murmuring coming from the crowd. It was just my honest opinion; I don't get what they are so frustrated. I'm in an off the shoulder blue dress that matches the white-blue shade of my eyes.

"Okay… you're eyes are very pretty."

"Thank you," I'm not very good with conversations.

"Peregrine," Caesar says slowly. "What kind of a chance do you think you have at winning the Hunger Games?"

"One out of twenty-four," The audience laughs. Why are they laughing?

"That's not exactly what I meant…"

"What did you mean?"

"I mean…" He begins. "What skills do you have that will help you win the Games? Looking at the fact that you scored a six I know you must have some skills, surely."

"Yes," I say. "I'm very good with hatchets and I don't have any qualms about killing. I'm stronger then I look and I'm pretty fast."

"Wait, you said that you have no qualms with killing, correct?" I nod. "Why ever is that? Tributes are usually very finicky about killing, why is it that you differ from them, Peregrine?" This is the question that I have been asked my entire life: why are you different, Peregrine? Why can't you feel anything, Peregrine? Do you have mental problems, Peregrine? Does this hurt, Peregrine? No, I am sick of those questions and as I open my mouth to speak I feel a burning in my heart.

"I don't think that death is anything to be afraid of," I hiss. Suddenly, the flame is extinguished and it is replaced by a feeling of emptiness. "And I feel no emotion." The audience gaps up at me in surprise.

"Nothing at all?"

"Well, almost always," I say honestly. "The reason I volunteered for the Hunger Games was because I wanted to feel something. When I volunteered I felt nervousness and before the private sessions I experienced anxiety. Just now I experienced anger."

"Well that certainly is interesting. Are you afraid that you are going to die in the Hunger Games?"

"I feel no fear,"

"Okay, well what if you did?"

"Well…" I say thoughtfully. It's hard for me to have opinions when I don't have any emotions. "I figure that death is just going to be my final test to see if… if I really am a human being or just a faulty copy of one." Caesar dismisses me and I step offstage. I think the audience is happy to see me go and I feel something sink in my stomach. It only lasts for a few seconds and I savor it; that's longer then any of my other emotions ever stick around for. It takes me a minute of deep thought before I recognize it: disappointment.

I watch Eclipse go on stage with interest. Perhaps he will surprise me and I'll feel shocked. But that is unlikely. Caesar greets him and they sit down to have what seems to be a regular interview, Caesar asking questions and Eclipse answering them honestly. He talks about his parents and what it's like back in District Six. He says he's pretty good with a sword and a spear, and shows the audience the photograph of his dead dog but nothing out of the ordinary happens. He makes his way back into the room and Ivy goes up, a bubbly expression on her face. In a blue ball gown she looks fancy and proper.

"Hi Caesar," She says, sitting down with a polite smile. "How are you today?"

"Oh, I'm good, thank you for asking," He replies. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," She says. "Well, actually I'm a bit nervous."

"Why is that?"

"Well, Caesar lets think about that. Tomorrow I'm going to be flown into an arena to fight to the death with twenty-four other tributes and I probably won't make it out. I don't know, why do you think I'm nervous?" She says it all with a playful grin and everyone laughs. Well, except me of course; I don't get it.

"Alright, very funny," Caesar chuckles. "Who did you leave behind when you were reaped in District Seven?"

"My little sisters, Amber and Anna," She says instantly. "And my mother. My older brother, Dale, doesn't live with us anymore since he got married but I still miss him. My best friend Laurel, she's the greatest friend a person could ask for. And last but not least I miss my boyfriend, Heath."

"Oh, you have a boyfriend?"

"Yeah… I miss him so much. We grew up together. We used to go with my father to the lumber yards and play with wooden swords while they worked. We'd pretend that the district was being attacked by a dragon and we were the only ones who could protect it!" She laughs. Why can't I be like that?

Walley, Age 14, District 7

I congratulate Ivy as she trots off stage and do a few squat-thrusts to get myself ready. I remind myself of my angle and slip a small band around my hand. Racing onto the stage, I walk up to shake Caesar's hand and when I touch him he yelps and his wig stands on end. I laugh and pull the shocking device off my hand and show it to the crowd with a crooked grin. This should be easy enough.

"Walley, welcome," Caesar says, a little annoyed that I messed up his wig. "It's such a delight to have you here,"

"It's a delight to be eating you here," I say then correct myself. "I mean meeting you here. Did you know that the tributes have an entire snack table back there? I never knew that! There are doughnuts and chocolate chip muffins and hot dogs and pie…"

"Okay, yes I did know this," Caesar nods. "That was quite a stunt you pulled at the Reaping, pouring that barrel of rotten milk on your escort. Would you like to tell us about it?"

"Not really," I say, mocking Peregrine's blank expression. "Just kidding! Um… we had to get the vat up there during the night so no one would see us and it took ages because it was so heavy."

"I can only imagine…" Caesar nods.

"Yeah," I continue. "And you wouldn't believe how hard it was to actually tip it over the side without dropping it because, you know, I didn't want to actually hurt someone… that would be bad."

"Clearly,"

"So, yeah, it was really hard," I say. "But it was so worth it! Did you see her face? It was hilarious! And did you see everyone else? They were all, like, 'oh my god, rotten milk is raining down from the sky!' It was so funny."

"Indeed," Caesar chuckles. "Walley, in the private session you received a four. Why did this happen?"

"It's all part of my evil plot," I say, rubbing my hands together. The audience laughs. I did this on purpose; because I said that the other tributes would never think that I'd actually have a plot. To them I'm a simple-minded fourteen-year-old. "No, I um… I don't know, I guess I just kind of got nervous…" Some of the old ladies in the crowd do that awww thing and I try to look embarrassed which is hard for me to do.

"What a shame," Caesar says but not really meaning it. "And to think you could have done so much better. It seems we are out of time… ladies and gentleman… Walley Silversein!"

Velvet, Age 16, District 8

I step onstage in a tight black dress with hint of green on the edges and near the seams. My makeup has been done very darkly and my raven hair has been drawn back into a tight braid. I stalk up to Caesar on silent feet and shake his hand.

"Welcome," he says. "Velvet, welcome. That's an interesting name, is there a story behind it?"

"Well," I begin. I hate this. "When my parents lived in District Ten they always wanted a fabric shop. So they named their first kid, my older brother, Silk. Then came me who they named Velvet. I also have a little sister named Cashmere and a younger brother who they named Satin." I don't get why everyone thinks that's so funny. Did you know laughing is just irregular breathing? It's disgusting.

Abrielle, Age 14, District 11

Velvet goes off and Sterling goes up. He just gave me a honey-bun scented candle and some soap that he made himself. It also smells like honey-buns. I asked him why and he said it was because I'm his honey-bun! Okay, that's probably one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me. Like, seriously, I just died of happiness. Well maybe not seriously but I'm really happy right now.

"Sterling," Caesar begins. He makes Caesar rub his hand down with Germ-x before he shakes his hand… not the good start I was hoping for. "Your family is very rich, indeed. How did this come to be?"

"I don't know," Sterling shrugs, rubbing himself over with Sherman the Lint Roller. He's in a pair of kaki pants, a blue dress shirt, and a green plaid sweater vest. I'm sure his designer had a good laugh over that. "But I'm a direct descendant of Paris Hilton."

"But then shouldn't your last name be Hilton?"

"What?"

"Shouldn't your last name be Hilton?"

"No, because she changed her last name to Sniveley when she got married."

"Oh… Sterling I think we'd all like to know if you have an arranged marriage planned, like your mother did." Wow, I did not know that.

"No, no," Sterling smiles slightly. "I have a girlfriend."

"And who would that be?"

"Abrielle Maddox," He replies and I beam. He called me his girlfriend! Gasps resonate through rows of Capitol citizens. "But she prefers to be called Abby. She's the tribute from District Eleven with the gorgeous golden hair that cascades past her shoulder and piercing blue eyes that sparkle in the light and that you feel can see into the very heart of your soul." Oh my god…

"Well, I'm sure she's something," Oh my god… "Thanks for coming out, Sterling."

"Your welcome Caesar," Oh my god…

Oh my god…

Roshan, Age 13, District 9

Well, Sterling's interview certainly was something. Oh well, no time to think about that, it's my turn! I bound onto the stage in a fluttery white dress that goes down to my knees. I wear a fake koala fur cardigan and a pair of boots made from the same material. Along with this, I have a pearl bracelet and a white headband with a white bow on it. No, not like the archery bow but like a bow bow. My hair is loosely curled and I've been told to appear innocent.

"Hi, Caesar," I giggle as I shake hands with him. "It's so nice to meet you!"

"It's nice to meet you, too," He smiles, happy that he actually gets a normal tribute. "That was an interesting costume you wore in the tribute parade."

"Thank you," I smile. "Everyone always says I'm very cat-like so my designer kind of took that idea and ran with it."

"I see," he nods. "You received an eight from the Gamemakers, correct?"

"Yes,"

"What do you think this means for your chances of winning the Hunger Games?"

"Well," I say slowly. "I think it's a good thing, you know? A high score is really good and I know the sponsors love it," I give a little girly wave to the audience where I flutter my fingers and slightly tilt my head to the side. "But I guess it could also be a bad thing, making me look like more of a threat then I am…"

"Yes, I completely agree," Caesar nods. When I get dismissed I bounce back to the room with the other tributes and watch Hunter make his way onto the stage. Caesar welcomes him. Hunter is in a costume that reminds me an awful lot of Robin Hood, with a dark green hoodie, a black belt, dark green skinny jeans, black combat boots and black sunglasses. "Hunter, have you noticed any alliances forming between tributes? With all the romance I'd assume there are some."

"They are everywhere," he replies with a blank expression. His angle is supposed to be serious and deadly. He's pulling it off pretty good so far.

"Do you have an alliance?" Caesar asks when Hunter doesn't continue.

"Yes," Hunter growls.

"With whom?"

"That would be spoiling the surprise," Hunter says seriously.

"Alright," Caesar clears his throat and straightens his tie. "Well, Hunter, you received a score of ten, that's very impressive. In fact, you tied with Velvet for the highest score out of all the tributes. Do you think you deserve that score?"

"Definitely," Hunter nods.

"What do you think of Velvet?"

Hunter hesitates. "She's… impressive."

"Would you consider her a threat?" Caesar asks.

"Everyone is a threat," he replies simply.

"Even to a high-scoring tribute such as yourself?"

"Yes," Hunter states. "They cannot be underestimated."

Ryden, Age 18, District 10

"Good luck, Sky," I whisper to her as she steps away from my embrace and onto the stage. She looks back at me before going to meet Caesar. They shake hands and the whole thing runs pretty smoothly, Sky actually talking about the garden I made her room into. She says how sweet it was and how touched she is.

"So Sky," Caesar says. "Would you consider you and Ryden an alliance?"

"Um…" She spits some of the black fur from the cow dress out of her mouth and rubs her neck. "I'm not really sure…" Caesar changes the subject and talks about how it is her birthday. He gets the entire audience to sing Happy Birthday to her and I don't think she's very happy about it but she pretends to be.

"See," I say when she comes back. "That wasn't so bad."

"Yes it was," She replies simply, going to sit in a chair. I straighten out my cow tuxedo and race onto the stage. After shaking hands with Caesar I sit and we get down to the interview.

"What pushed you to make Sky's bedroom into her own private garden?"

"Well," I say slowly. "She always seems to sad all of the time. I just wanted to see her smile for once."

"How sweet," Caesar nods. "Sky said she wasn't sure whether you two are in an alliance or not. Ryden, what do you think?"

"I think it's not really decided," I answer. "We haven't really talked about it."

"You two do know that the Hunger Games are tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah," I chuckle. "I guess it just hasn't really sunk in yet."

Dillon, Age 14, District 11

Abby does great in her interview, talking about how much she likes Sterling and how nervous she is about the Games. She must have won over tons of sponsors. When she returns everyone is giving her dirty looks, except for Sterling, because they are so jealous of how well she did. Sterling gives her a huge kiss and everyone rolls their eyes.

"You did great," He smiles. He's lucky to have a girl like Abby. I'm in a dark brown suit made of silk with a black shirt and vest underneath. As Caesar calls my name I make my way out onto the stage. I know how important it is to win over sponsors and that's why I feel so nervous right now. My knees are shaking and my palms are sweating. I shake hands with Caesar and he looks a little disgusted.

I'd rather not think about this next part. All in all, I fail miserably. I stutter the entire time and am sweating buckets when I finally just pass out and a medic has to come in and revive me while Dream from District Twelve goes on. She does well, or at least she does well in the part that I see, talking about how smart she is and 'how idiotic the other tributes are for focusing so much on brute strength and physical ability instead of mental capability' or that's what she says. Taylor goes on with his laid-back attitude and wins over the crowd when he walks onstage drinking orange juice out of a coconut with a mini umbrella in it. Caesar talks the show out and that's about when I loose consciousness again.