All day long I had been practicing questions with Mags. "Finnick, you don't need me to ask you anymore questions," Mags said. "If I have bad answers people won't sponsor me," I knew the looks would get me sponsors, I just needed an excuse for Mags.
"Finnick you are fine," Mags got up and went to her room. Rose was in our living quarters during the afternoon, so I decided to ask her to ask me questions. "Hey Rose, would you help me practice answering questions?"
"Haven't you been working on that all afternoon," she asks.
"Yes, but you can never have enough help," I say smiling.
Rose looked at me and sighed, "sense you are a little darling to everyone in The Capitol I will help you."
Did she just say I was a darling to everyone in The Capitol? Can she even say that? I now had an overwhelming sense of joy, just by hearing that statement.
"Never mind Rose," I say, "I don't need any more help." I get up and walk to my room with a smile on my face.
Link walks past me, "what are you so happy about?"
"Oh, nothing."
I jump on my bed and then I accidentally fall on the floor. I can't wipe the smile off of my face. Not because I just fell on the floor, but because my strategy worked!
The day continued and it was time to be taken to our stylists to get ready for our interviews. Rose took both of us to our Prep Team first.
My Prep Team was happy to see me. "Well look, it's our little darling," said the girl. The normal routine of getting washed off and my hair getting fixed went on and on. When I met with Cassidy she was super excited to show me my outfit.
My outfit is nothing special. It's just a tux that has blue trim around the sleeves, I guess to represent the water. Cassidy takes me to the stage where we will be having our interviews and I get in line, district order, along with the other tributes.
Link has a green dress with blue trim around the bottom. I hear music start to play which means the interviews have begun to start.
The careers go first and their interviews are basically the same, stating that they want to kill every single person. Kara goes next, Caesar asks her numerous times for her to speak up because no one in the audience can hear her. Her tribute partner goes next and it's the same deal. I bet Wiress and Beetee are having a hard time trying to get people to sponsor them.
Link goes next. "Please welcome from District 4, Link Prescott!" the audience cheers for her. Her interview is going really well. Her time is up and now it is my turn.
"Ladies and gentleman, he won your hearts at the tribute parade, please welcome Finnick Odair," Caesar says.
I walk out on to the stage waving at the crowd and put a huge smile on my face. I sit down in the chair next to Caesar's. "Finnick, Finnick, Finnick can I just say wow. I think you blew everyone away during the tribute parade with your looks," Caesar says, "everyone has been talking about you."
I give a small laugh, "well what can I say I was blessed," the audience starts to laugh. "Now Finnick, you got one of the highest scores this year, what are your thoughts on that," Caesar asked.
"I am happy with my score, I feel like if I had a trident I could have scored a twelve."
"A trident, did you use it to fish a lot?"
"Yes, my cousin and I caught fish for my dad all the time."
"I see, but Finnick, is there a special someone back at home?"
This question was going to help my strategy so much more. "No there isn't, but I am sure there is someone special here in The Capitol," I say as I smile at the audience.
A bunch of girls start screaming my name. I try to hold back my laughter from how insane the way they're acting is.
The bell goes off which means my time is up. "Ladies and gentleman, Finnick Odair."
I stand up and wink at the group of girls that couldn't stop screaming and wave to the audience and exit the stage.
I meet back up with Mags and we watch the rest of the interviews. Sasha goes on stage for her interview, she talks about her survival skills. "Have you made any alliances," Caesar asks her. "I actually was asked to be in an alliance."
Caesar looks at her and asks, "with whom?" Then she answers, "Finnick Odair asked me to join his alliance."
There was a giant gasp from the audience. I wasn't surprised after hearing how much these people loved me.
"Finnick is a real sweetheart isn't he," Caesar asks. "Yes, he is," she answers. Mags put her hand on my shoulder. I thought what Sasha said was sweet.
Luke and Naomi had their interviews. Luke talked about how he was good with an axe and Naomi talked about her survival skills too.
Mags and I went up to the room. Rose was up there with Link. "Great job to you both," Rose said. "Thank you," Link said. That was the first time I had heard her say something without a nasty reply after it.
"I just wanted to say that I am so glad I go the opportunity to be your escort," Rose says, "I am so sorry this happened to you two." I guess she thinks that we are both going to die.
"I don't get to go with you to the arena tomorrow, your stylist does," Mags says, "I just want you to know that you are both Victors in my heart, no matter what happens."
"Thank you Mags," I say. Mags was a big role model to me and I was going to miss her so much. That night I sat by window watching The Capitol citizens celebrating the eve of the games. I heard Mags open the door and come into my room.
"Was it like this before your games," I ask her.
"Yes, they will be celebrating all night. Sorry for the noise."
"It's fine, I'm just thinking about tomorrow."
"Finnick, you can do this. I believe in you, you just need to believe in yourself, now get some rest."
"Good night Mags," I say as she leaves my room.
