Author's note: Sorry for the wait. I would like to thank my um... three readers? School is a pain and my parents are all worried about my grades, getting ready for the SAT and all other kinds of stuff. Plus, school always makes it so hard to do anything else. Though it doesn't help that I am terrible with interviews. Anyway, here is the latest chapter.
Ferrario is a complete airhead, but then, again I already knew that. He has decided to dress me in a bright purple and white suit. Unfortunately, it's a size too small. Because of this, I can barely move. I feel like I'm in a coffin, a tight, itchy, ugly coffin. Every time I try to walk, I feel like I'm about to fall I over. It's like I'm waddling or something. But it gets worse, I have to wear a fake crown. I fell absolutely ridiculous. I guess Ferrario is all about district one and royalty thing. It's really getting on my nerves.
"Oh, you look absolutely beautiful! In fact, you almost look like a true Capital citizen!"
Ummm... for me, that's not a compliment.
Ferrario clasps his hands together in delight."I have truly out done myself. Come, Gamble, let's go show the rest of the group."
I waddle down the hallway, following Ferrario, who looks ridiculous in a bright, bright orange suit. Ugh, I wonder how these people like this stuff. But if it's to help me win the games, then I'll have to suck it up. I just hope that everyone else will think I look as good as Ferrario says. As we enter the waiting room, I see Regal and Lydia watching television, while drinking some beverages. He has already finished getting dressed. His hair is combed back and he is in a fairly normal suit. Lydia is in a beige dress that barely reaches her knees.
What happens next seems to go in slow motion. Regal takes a sip of his drink at the same time that he sees me. His eyes immediately widen and spits out his drink, effectively hitting a still squealing Lydia.
"Oh, Regal! What is your problem?! This is a one of a kind!"
"My problem? You want to know what my problem is?!"Regal points at me," How about telling me why my tribute looks like a bruised, purple beanstalk."
Regal speaks again," I told you to make him look slightly bigger, so the audience won't know that he's so skinny."
Lydia begins to protest," Well, I told you that we could have surgically improved his body mass." Then she turns to me and Ferrario. "Besides, that suit looks ravishing. Great job, Ferrario!"
Regal rolls his eyes. He sits back down on the couch. Not attempting to hide his annoyance, he says," Fine, as long as the Capial likes it, I like it."
Then, Iris walks in the room, scowling as usual." Lydia, why do you have coffee on your dress?"
Lydia squeals and turns to leave," Well, we had some... difficulties. Besides, I wanted to wait for Angel, to see what she's wearing."
"Wait no more, your victor has arrived."
Everyone simultaneously turns toward Angel. She actually looks great. She's in a sleek, magenta dress, with little purple gemstones implanted in the material.
Iris is the first to break the silence." That's actually pretty good. Now let's go head down for the interviews."
Angel gives a whine as she protests," Wait, that's all your going to say? Don't you want to tell me that I look beautiful."
Iris goes back to scowling," No, I don't care for fashion. I care about winning the crowd. Now let's go."
Angel starts pouting as she follows Iris. Regal gets up of the couch," Well, Gamble, we should probably get going as well. "
Right. So I follow Regal to the elevator. Knowing that for me to win the crowd, I'll have to lie more than I ever have.
Lyrica Valrod is one of the most recognizable faces in Panem. Since she's been the interview host for the Hunger Games for over twenty years. Personally, I think she's kind of annoying, but she does really try to help the tributes.
As the set is being prepped for the show,I talk to Aurora and Casper for a few minutes.
Aurora grunts in discuss." All they did was talk about their stupid parties. Honestly, do I look like I care about who slept with who?"
Casper laughs,"Sure you do? Hey, at least you look good." He points at me," Gamble looks like a walking bruise."
I laugh along with them," Yeah, but if everyone in the Capital loves it, so do I. So I guess that's what counts."
Aurora really does look good. With her long brown hair, flowing with her aquamarine colored dress, she looks great. Casper is in a bright, sky blue suit with some yellow streaks, randomly put throughout the outfit. His appearance makes him look like it's the sky with lighting bolts.
So I ask," Hey, Aurora, what'd you do for your private session. Because you should've seen my sister when you outscored her. She was all over the place."
Aurora smiles," Well, what I did was pretty brilliant, if I do say so myself. I fought a trainer and won. Then I healed him. You know, made him a splint. The Gamemaker's loved it."
"Well, that's better than what I did."Casper goes on," I just ran around and sliced dummies."
A man yells at us from a speaker," All tributes get into your positions for the interviews."
Aurora grunts with disapproval. "Shoot, I thought they forgot about the stupid interviews."
I ask her," Do you really think that all of Panem would forget about us?"
She rolls her eyes as she walks away," I was being sarcastic, Gamble. Don't make me give you a matching bruise on your face."
Laughing, I waddle to my chair. Females go first in the interviews. So I have to wait for Angel to go. Then, it's my turn to entertain. I'll be fine right? I just have to do what Regal said. Just be cheesier than you think. That's easy, right? Oh, no! What if I mess up? Will I be laughed of the stage? Will I be booed? What will Vegas and Natalie think? No, worse! What will Father and Royce think? Focus! I can't afford to do that. I have to get home. They will be proven wrong.
I hear laughter from the crowd. I look up at the monitors and see that Angel is already up there. Gosh, I have to stop spacing out like that.
I see Lyrica asking Angel some questions. Lyrica giggles as she asks Angel if she has a boyfriend. I can tell you that answer, it's no.
Angel laughs and says," Well, I have been dating him for a while now. He's so sweet, but he didn't want me to mention him on live television. I would do anything to get back to him. Even if I have to kill every last tribute." Then she turns to the camera and blows a kiss. "Honey, I love you. We'll be together soon."
What a load of shit.
Lyrica shoots closer to Angel. "So, Angel, tell me something. Would you even kill your brother to get back home?"
Angel laughs and says," Well, not at first. But I doubt he'll last long anyway. So I shouldn't have to worry about it."
Lyrica quickly pulls back," Oooh, so no family love in the arena." Then the buzzer sounds, as the crowd groans in disapproval." I'm sorry folks. That's all we will be hearing from Angel unless she wins. So, give it up for Angel Braxton!"
The crowd claps with approval. A man comes over and tells me to get ready. Okay, I can do this. Deep breaths and smile.
I try to walk out on stage. Ugh, this is so tight, I think I have a wedgie. I shake hands with Lyrica and sit down.
She's the first one to speak," So, Gamble, may I just say, what an honor it us to meet you."
I force a laugh," Oh, please Mrs. Valrod." I take her hand and give it a small kiss. "The pleasure is all mine."
She laughs," Oh, Gamble, you got me blushing. And please, call me Lyrica."
I give her a nod,"As you wish."
"Oh folks, isn't he just a gentleman." The crowd roars with approval."So, Gamble, with a charming young man like you, you have to have a girlfriend, right"
Oh, I was really hoping she wouldn't ask that. I can feel my cheeks start to involuntarily heat up.
"Oh, everyone, he's starting to blush. Come on, Gamble, spill the beans."
Oh, great. Now I have no choice." Oh, all right. I do, but we haven't been together for very long."
The crowd sighs, though I actually hear some young girls scream my name in despair. However, Lydia squeals," Oh, that's just so sweet. You must be such a cute couple. I mean, who wouldn't want to go out with you, especially when your wearing something like that. I mean, that crown is to die for. Am I right folks?"
The crowd erupts with approval. See, everything I hate, the Capital likes.
Lydia then says,"We have time for one more question. What's your opinion of possibly killing your own sister?"
I take a deep breath," Well, I obviously don't want to fight her. But I will also do anything to get home. I truly though want at least one of us to go home. After all, what is family for."
Ugh, I think I gagged on that last line.
An alarm rings, signaling that my time is up.
"Well, there you have it folks. Gamble Braxton!"
I didn't really pay much attention to the other interviews.
Albums and Ursula played the ruthless silent killer roles very well. But that's what everyone expects. Aurora had the crowd laughing quite a few times with some stories about her adventures with her younger brother, Evan. Her district partner was REALLY silent. Like he barely said anything. Handcuff girl aka Serenity, threw her chair into the crowd. Her time went of much faster than everyone else. Casper was great. He was playing the humble young kid. The rest of the interviews were fairly boring however. Overall, I think I did pretty well. I'm sure that I'll get sponsors. Anything to help me be prepared for tomorrow.
I'm in the launch room with Ferrario. He hands me a regular t-shirt and some strange pants. They're long, but can be turned into shorts if I unzip halfway down the pant legs. Then a light, nylon jacket.
Ferrario is the first to speak." I would guess both hot and cold weather."
I can only mutter a small thanks. I'm freaking out on the inside.
He speaks again," Listen, Gamble, I know you don't like me, but I like you. You can win this."
I actually give him a genuine smile," Thanks, for everything." Maybe he isn't as weird as I thought.
The robotic voice tells me that I have one minute. So I start heading over.
Ferrario smiles, then says," Hey, Gamble, let's make a deal. If you win, we can go out and you can try fried rat. My treat."
Ugh, the puking feeling is back. I know he's trying to be helpful, but that's just gross.
But for some reason, I say from inside the tube," You got yourself a deal."
As I feel the tube rising, Ferrario gives me a thumbs up. Soon, I am overwhelmed by the scent of flowers and a blinding light. As my eyes adjust, I look around the arena. We are on a meadow with all kinds of flowers. To my left is a icy, cold mountain and forest. The forest runs along until the trees become orange, red and in some spots, bare. Finally, directly behind me, is a warm, sandy beach, glistening in the sun.
We are all in a circle around the cornucopia. I'm standing next to the girl from eight and the small boy from twelve. I look around trying to find my allies. Two tributes to my right is Aurora, and thankfully, Casper is right next to her.
So, next priority. I look into the cornucopia and see what I want. Three spears leaning next to a crate, but my big surprise is a rare weapon that lies with them. A halberd. I was always a natural with that, but Regal didn't want me to get attached to a rare weapon. So I catch Aurora's eye and show her that I'm going in. Then, she mouths something to me. I shrug my shoulders to show that I don't know what she's trying to say. She says it again. Oh, it makes sense. The arena this year are representing the seasons. The meadow for spring, the cold forest and mountain for winter, the multicolored forest for autumn and the beach for of a sudden, the gong rings and I'm off and running toward the cornucopia. I'm no longer worried about district one. No longer worried about Vegas and Natalie. Not even Father and Royce. I'm just running as fast as I can, praying that I get there first.
Author's note: So, what'd you think? I'm pretty sure this is my longest one yet. I think that I'm slowly getting better at this. But then again, you guys can decide that. So thanks for reading and I would love if you could review.
