A/N: due to the fact my e-mail now feels like an overused hooker and there's now two people who'd want my head, I just have to update. At least I have some good music to pass the time. And to Rocket Summer, Peeta hasn't told Katniss yet. So thank you PeetaMellark'sKatniss and Rocket Summer.

Chapter 7

I continued to glare at Haymitch. He never seems to be out of ideas on how to insult me. I'm sitting here, preparing for the interview while he rants about how I'm sullen and unlikable. I'm just doing my all not to claw his throat out. Before I realize, he stops and starts waving his hand in my face.

"Hello? Anyone there?" I swat at him.

"Yeah yeah yeah. Sorry about zoning out there. I'm still a little bothered by the events this morning." His face changes colors. I guess he heard about the weird run-in Peeta and I had his morning. The funniest part about it was that I was on my way to ask Peeta why he wanted to be coached separately. The bizarreness of the event forced the question away and I never got around to it at breakfast. "All I want to know is why exactly did Peeta request to be coached separately?"

My mentor started to laugh. "He told me if I told you that he'd get his father to poison the weekly bread delivered to my house." I couldn't help but smile. That sounded like something he'd come up with. Now I'm wondering why I smiled. As he continued through the lesson, he starts to lose hope. Eventually, he stormed out, cursing about how I'm wasted talent.

I sat there, a grim smile on my face. 'That's right Haymitch. Just give up on me. You'll regret doing that.' I sit there for a while before standing up. On cue, the door opens and Cinna walks in. "Time to get you ready for the interview. I'm still continuing with the 'girl on fire' thing, of course." I smile and follow him to the prep room. They are already there, talking in hushed tones. They do the makeup quickly and leave.

"So, what's the plan?" I laugh at his question.

"I don't have one. Haymitch says I'm as attractive as dirt and I'm hostile. Actually, a number of people have said I'm hostile." It's Cinna's turn to laugh. He walks up to me with a yellow dress that sparkles in the correct way to look like a flame. My face starts to beam

"I don't think that's true. The prep team adores you and I'm sure so will Panem after the interview. Portia keeps telling me that if you and Peeta teamed up in the arena one of you'll win. That or a change in the rules." He hands me the dress and I go behind a curtain to change. While I'm back there, I continue to talk with my stylist.

"What do you know about the Games this year?" He starts to laugh.

"Do you want the Peacekeepers to take me away now? I thought you liked me." It sounds like he's messing with something. "I want to know what's going on between you and Peeta?" I feel my face start to burn. 'What is wrong with me today?'

"We're just friends, that's all. He actually saved me from starvation when we were just kids. Since then the only other friend I've had is Gale, but he's more like a cousin to me." 'God, I'm saying weird things. Maybe it'll be good if Cato chopped my head off.'

"Is Gale the guy Peeta volunteered for?" I find the question a little odd.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering. Do you know how your mother braided your hair for the Reaping? I'd love to be able to repeat it and I think it would work well." A small smile comes across my lips as I step out from behind the curtain in the dress. Cinna is standing next to a mirror, smiling at his handiwork.

"If I knew, I'd tell you." He nods.

"I just thought of something, Katniss."

"What?"

"What if you pretended that you were talking to a friend during the interview?" I scowl at him. That's a first.

"But they aren't. I bet most of them would like to see me dead soon now."

"Ok, I guess that won't work. What if you act like you're just talking to me?" I smile at the idea. 'That could work.' He asks me to stand and as the prep team walks in, he asks of me a simple thing. "Twirl for me." I spin around, and at that point the prep team screams in adoration. He was right about that, I guess. I wonder what else he's right about.


I'm sitting nervously as the small girl from District 11 walks off the stage. I have to say, if neither Peeta nor me can win, I hope she does. She reminds me too much of Prim. Thresh, who happened to deny the request of the Careers to join them goes up after her. I faze out as he answers questions in yes's and no's. Sometimes I wish I were as big as him. Then I could just be sullen like how Haymitch says I am. I hear my name and unconsciously walk up. I thank whatever god there is that my hands aren't sweaty. I'm sure my dress wouldn't help out with that.

Caesar Flickerman's color this year is a light blue. He shakes my hand and I sit down.

"So Katniss, the Capitol is very different from District 12. What here has impressed you the most?" I barely catch the question. My mind starts whirling. Not much has impressed me, except one.

"Those machines that make whatever food you want instantly." He laughs a bit.

"I don't think I could live without one of those!" The crowd gives a small laugh. He gets serious. "Here's the thing Katniss. When I saw you come out during the Opening Ceremonies, my heart almost stopped. What did you think of the costume?"

"You mean other than why is my skin not burning?" The crowd gives a real laugh while he nods. "Well, I have to say that I never believed I would wear something like that, but anyone could tell you that." I stand up. "Look at what I'm wearing right now." I could hear Cinna's voice in my head. 'Twirl for me.' I spun around just like how I had earlier, exciting the crowd. I soon sit down before I'm asked to do that again; I can't believe how shallow I just appeared.

Getting the cue, Caesar continues. "So, how did you get that eleven? I bet a number of people are asking the same question." I spot the Gamemakers out of the corner of my eye.

"Well, I assume it was a first," I turn in their direction, "right?" They all start murmuring.

"Yes it was, and no she can't tell you what she did." I give a small sigh of relief. I don't want to talk about the 'threat' I gave them.

"Now Katniss," Caesar began, "who do you have at home?"

"My mother and my little sister, Primrose. At times all I want is just to go home. I bet you most of the other tributes would tell you the same thing." There's some murmuring in the crowd when the bell rings. I sigh in relief as Caesar says some things. I sit down and watch Peeta take the stage.

"So, Peeta. What do you think of the Capitol?" He just smiles.

"I really like the food, but the showers threw me off the first day…and do I smell like roses?" Soon Caesar and him get into a thing that cracks up the crowd.

"So, why did you volunteer for Gale Hawthorn?" He face loses the smile.

"It was just a pact for the Games, that's all." I know that's true: it had been my idea.

"So Peeta, do you have a girlfriend?" He shakes his head while I get a strange feeling in my stomach. I have a bad feeling about this.

"Well, is there a girl back home?"

"Yeah, there is. Sort of. The funny thing is Gale and myself had been competing for her affection and the day of the Reaping he said I won." Part of me wants to go away and scream. I think he's talking about me, and I don't like it. "He went on about how I was better for her than himself." I can tell the crowd is holding on to each word.

"I guess there was another reason you volunteered for him other than the pact. What was it?" He takes in a deep breath.

"Because she had already been Reaped." I sit there for a moment or two before I realize whom he means. Me. My face starts to blush as I turn away from the cameras just locating me. So that's why. I couldn't tell if he was serious or if this was some sort of way to use the Capitol audience.

"That's terrible. I can see how you fell for her, she's pretty charming." Caesar turns to the crowd. "You want Katniss to come back up, don't you?" They started to scream for me. "Unfortunately we can't." The bell rang. "Good luck to all of the tributes in the 74th Hunger Games." Everyone stands for the anthem and I use my all just to keep my head up.

Once over, I hurried to one of the elevators. Peeta walked in and then the doors closed. "I guess you want to know if I really meant what I said, don't you." I look over at him, my anger rising slowly.

"Sure. I want to know how much of that last part was true."

"All of it was. Gale had the idea of trying to hook us up after the Reaping, but things went differently." He was staring at his feet while I watched the numbers. Soon we were at our floor and I stormed out. Peeta walked out behind me, not in such a rush. Eventually Haymitch, Effie, Cinna, Portia, and the prep teams are up to the floor and everyone is sitting on the couches, staring at both of us.

"Well, I didn't expect that." Cinna murmured to himself. I was more furious at Haymitch than Peeta. I wasn't sure which one to trust at the moment.

"You surprised, sweetheart?" Haymitch asked with a very sarcastic manner.

"Couldn't you tell by her face? If I was an average person, I'd think she was in love with him." Portia happened to say to Cinna louder than she should have. At this point I stormed out and headed up to the roof.


I didn't know how long I had been up there; just watching the Capitol's citizens celebrate the Games when I heard footsteps. "What do you want?" I call back, not turning around. Instead of responding, the person just walked up beside her. Peeta looked out at the view.

"I guess you hate me now, don't you." My face scrunched up from that word. 'I couldn't hate him. Maybe get extremely upset, but not hate.' I told myself.

"No I don't. I'm just not sure how I feel about you. Maybe I'll figure it out before either of us die." He turned to look right at me.

"Then I'll just wait. I just hope you stay alive long enough to figure it out." I didn't respond and soon he walked away. Peeta Mellark was a curious person, that's for sure.

A/N: this is one of my longer chapters. Not the longest though.

Chapter 7 edited at: 10:09 AM PST on 30 DEC 2010.