Interviews

Arya Nightshade

I sat down in the waiting room. I had an hour before the interviews to kill so I spent some of it making sure I didn't look awful.

As on my requests I didn't get set on fire or get coated in sparkles. Instead I was in a long dark blue satin gown with a slightly lighter layer of gossamer over it. There was a long slit in the front, up to my thigh, that (Thank god) did not reveal too much. Otherwise I would have strangled Polona.

Extending from the top left to my waist there was a detailed design made of jewels. It resembled a vine or flames creeping down. My hair was curled flowed down my back. I reached for my lucky ribbon on my dresser but it wasn't there. I looked around but it wasn't there. I sighed and twirled a lock of my hair around my finger.

Hermia then descended like a hawk on her prey on me. Shrieking how were would be late etc. Now I was waiting in the room. Most of the tributes were just milling around. Logan was "Going to be fashionably late" as he put it. Really he was just going to sleep until his team hit him on the head.

I sat looking at my hands and doing nothing. I pulled anxiously at one of my curls. Then I settled for staring at my nails. They were painted a similar shade of blue to my dress and each had a pair of silvery angel wings on it. Polona had said something about a surprise, and twirl on her command. Maybe that's why the dress felt like it was weighted in the back.

I sighed and tucked the curl behind my ears. I wonder how Dad and Leo were. Dad was strong, but Leo... It wouldn't matter. No matter what I would win and go back to them.

Someone dropped my ribbon onto my lap. I was just about thank them when I saw who it was.

"You dropped this."

"Great." I replied icily, "Thank you for finding it."

He pointed to the seat next to me, "Is that seat empty."

"Yes." I replied, "And this one will be if you sit down."

He sat down anyway and grabbed my wrist, pulling me back down.

"Please give me a chance." He asked, well begged with his eyes.

I almost said yes without thinking but stopped myself, "I already gave you a chance." I said cuttingly, "You ended up kissing a... I have no words to describe the …"

He gave me the best puppy dog eyes ever. Telling him no was like refusing a kitten who was in desperate need of your help, but I steeled myself to do it anyway. "Arya please, give me one more chance. For me? For us?"

I took a deep breath and sighed, nope I could not reject those kitten eyes. "First of all there is no 'us'. Friends maybe."

His eyes lit up like a 5 year old on Christmas day. "That will be great!" Then he added almost shyly, "Thanks, you know, for a chance."

"Yeah sure." I said. Even though I would regret it. Friends I could deal with. You could drop them or ignore them right?

"Shade. Ren wants to talk to you!" Shimmer called. She was dressed in a blue knee length dress that seemed to have sparkles and lots of gems and reflective shards embedded in it. Of course all you could see was their radiance thanks to the layer of sheer gossamer over it. The dress hugged her upper body making her seem even curvier.

I gave him a light shove towards her, "Go I'm going to check on Forester."

I got up and he did too. I walked over to where Forester was talking to Acacia. I smiled to myself and just watched them smiling. I envied them. I had to be attracted to a possibly cheating jackass who could catch your heart and crush it in seconds.

Wow. Did I really just think that? I'm really getting mellow dramatic.

"Boo!" Logan shouted in my ear.

First I shrieked at 7 octaves up then I collapsed in fits of giggles. His prank backfired because he was now rolling on the floor clutching his ears. I had a feeling it was more for my benefit than his but it was still funny.

It was instantly not funny when my voice entirely gave out and I began coughing. It was one of those awful dry coughs that won't stop. I eventually got it to stop and by then the whole room was looking a me.

I picked the person who I hated the most, in this case Irina and started a glare contest. I easily won. And turned my back on her.

"Nice job defending your territory from the skank." He clapped my back, causing me to cough again.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him.

He rolled his eyes, "Never mind you'll know soon enough."

The attendant called up all to line up by district. Girls then guys. I nudged Forester nodded towards Acacia and winked towards him. It was funny to watch the 12 year old squirm.

We filed on the side of the stage and waited. First was Ren, then Shimmer. Ren had that cocky arrogance that along with his looks made him look pretty much a strong contender. Shimmer played her sexiness and charm for the audience. Shade, well I was listening myself.

Caesar started to talk once Shade sat down, "So Shade Verin is it?"

He nodded and caught my gaze before seemingly relaxing.

Caesar didn't waste any time and dived for the gossip."So, you are handsome, strong, surely there must be a girl out there who has caught your eye?"

"Yes." He stated, running his hand through his hair, causing the capitol girls to swoon.

"Is she back home?"

"No."

"So she's here then?"

"Yes."

By now the Capitol girls were swooning and fluttering their eyelashes. I made a barfing motion to Logan and he tried not to fall over laughing.

Apparently Shade saw and smiled.

"Is she a tribute or a capitol girl?"

"Ah," He said leaning back, "That I can't tell you."

"So can you describe her?"

He shook his head, "Too obvious."

"Come on Shade! Details! You're gonna kill me here!" He mimed a agonized face.

Shade pulled a half smile, "She is beautiful for starters, but not just on the outside. She is fiery and has a temper to warn everyone off but she also has a softer side, where she is warm and caring. She is sometimes too proud and never willing to accept help but she is perfect to me."

"Any appearance descriptions at all?" Caesar asked.

Shade laughed, "I'll give you one. She has the most enchanting beautiful blue eyes."

Caesar wanted to ask more but Shade was unwilling to answer. "So Shade, are you ready for the games?"

He smirked, "What do you think?"

The crowd cheered as the buzzer went off. The next tributes passed by in a blur. Finally it was my turn.

I sat down and found myself completely at ease. I didn't have stage fright WHOOP!

"Arya is it?"

I smiled, "Yes it is."

"So and 11 on your score, how did you pull that off?" Caesar asked.

Lyric laughed and you could here it all the way here, "She isn't allowed to tell!"

Caesar made a crestfallen face but continued, "So your opening costume... What do you think?"

I laughed, "Well first I was freaking out, I mean its not everyday someone tells you 'I'm going to set you on fire, k?'"

That got a laugh from the audience. I looked at Caesar in the eyes and knew that was my mistake.

"Well Arya you certainly have some beautiful blue eyes."

I feigned clueless, "Well Thank you, I got them from my father's side."

He pressed on, "Has a certain fellow tribute shown any interest in you?"

Aside from Shade stalking every moment I had, no, none at all.

"I don't know what you are talking about, I have to win these games," I indirectly changed the subject.

"Ah yes, it comes to this." Caesar stared at me, "Why did you volunteer?"

I swallowed, "I have to save my brother."

"But he wasn't reaped was he?"

I shook my head, "He's very sick at home, I need the victor money to get the medical treatment to save him. I can't help him any other way."

"Why don't you ask for help then?"

I shook my head, "I can save him and I don't want to owe anyone else."

Caesar cast me a curious look and I just realized what I just said. Snap. I have to stop fitting Shade's description. Otherwise things are going to get haywire.

"What a beautiful dress you are wearing." He complimented. Yes stay away from the Shade subject.

I looked down at it, "Yes, I had to tell my stylist not to coat me in sparkles. Apparently they actually listened."

The audience laughed.

"Why don't you twirl for us?" Caesar encouraged.

I raised an eyebrow. "Ok then."

I'm wearing high heels not sure how this will turn out. I stood up and spun. The back of my dress to be dead fair was actually pretty impressive. As I twirled it seemed to send out a silvery sparkling mist. When I actually looked behind me I had a pair of large white angel's wings. The buzzer rang and Caesar grabbed my hand and held it up in the air.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Arya Nightshade an Angel!" He announced.

I supposed he needed something to announce me with but talk about lame names. I smiled and waved anyway and got off as stage as quickly as possible. As I exited I saw Lyric grinning, somehow I knew my costume had just brought some horrible last minute twist to the arena.

Lyric Moonlit

That girl's, costume had just given me a wonderful idea. Every year all the tributes have had a horrible disadvantage at the arena, with all the mutts and survival needed. What if we gave them an advantage. Each tribute would have more of a chance to survive . And what I was going to give them wasn't a survival pack or anything. No I was going to give them wings.