Hey guys! So I had a big response to last chapter, which I am really excited about. I'm hoping to get more reviews for this chapter though. So I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and please review!
I wake up in the morning to incessant banging on my door. I think it is Allison but when I open the door I see Cato standing there. I immediately blush at the thought of what a mess I must look like.
"What do you want Cato?" I ask tiredly.
"Good morning to you too." he says with a smirk.
I sigh, "Sorry, I'm just really tired."
He chuckles, "Nice job on your training store. Looks like you're officially in the Careers."
"Thanks," I say coolly.
"The Careers are having a meeting up on the roof. You coming or not?"
"Sure," I say quickly, "Just give me a second to change." I slam the door in his face without waiting for an answer.
I run to the bathroom to brush my teeth and get dressed. When I walk out of my room, Cato is leaning against the wall waiting for me.
"Ready?" he asks.
I nod and we head to the elevator. The ride up to the roof is strangely silent. When we get to the roof, I see Clove Glimmer, Marvel, and...Peeta?
"He's in the group?" I ask gesturing to Peeta.
Clove nods, "We thought he might be...useful." she says with an evil smirk that sends chills down my back.
"So," Cato continues, changing the subject, "How do we want to do the bloodbath?"
"Run to Cornucopia, kill as many people as possible on the way there, then when everyone is gone, we make it our base." She has a bloodthirsty glint in her eye when she talks about killing people. Not for the first time, I am thankful that I am in the Career group. I would not want to be her enemy.
"That's the strategy Careers always use," Marvel comments, "Everyone will be expecting it."
"Well it worked for every other group, so why does it matter?" Clove argues back.
"Guys!," Cato says over their argument "Marvel you have a point but I have to agree with Clove on this one. That's the strategy Careers always use because it always works."
Clove looks at Marvel smugly.
"What do you think Glimmer?" Marvel asks Glimmer hopefully.
Glimmer snaps out of staring at Cato, "Huh? Oh-um-I agree with Cato." she says nuzzling into his shoulder.
I choke down my laugh at the sight of Cato looking so uncomfortable.
"Great, so we have that settled," Cato says.
I notice that the group doesn't look to me or Peeta for decisions. They just make them themselves. Why did he even invite me if he wasn't going to let me talk?
For the next hour the Careers discuss possible strategies in the Arena. I think this is pointless because if we don't know what the terrain is going to be like in the arena, then what's the point of trying to plan a strategy. There are too many possibilities. We could be here all day. I think Cato realizes that because he says, "Guys, that's enough for today. It will be easier to discuss this in the Arena, when we know what's going on."
The group nods in assent and everyone gets up to leave. I wait for Peeta and the others to leave before talking to Cato, "Why is he in our group? You said I had to match your lowest score to get in, why didn't he? I know there's something else going on Cato. I'm in the group too, I deserve to know."
"Calm down 6-" Cato starts.
"Don't call me that!" I say frustrated.
"Fine, Avery. You're right. Peeta does know something we don't."
"And that is?" I ask carefully, trying to get more information.
"He knows how to find Katniss,"Cato says coldly, "And I bet he knows how she got that 11 too."
I am sitting in the living room listening to Allison talk about the interviews but my mind keeps drifting back to what Cato said earlier. I was right. Cato was livid about Katniss's score. Now she has a target on her back. And if Cato wants to kill her, all the Careers want to too. They all worship Cato, especially Glimmer. They can pretend that they get a say in what's going on, but I know its Cato who makes all the decisions.
"Avery?" Allison says, breaking me out of my trance, "Are you listening to me?"
"Sorry," I say, "I just got distracted."
She looks at me curiously before continuing, "So what angle do you want to go for in your interview? Personally, I think humble but mysterious would work well. I mean, you're the mayor's daughter, you're from District 6, and you got a 9. These don't usually go together. But don't give too much away about yourself. Keep the audience guessing"
"Okay," I say, "I can do that."
We do some practice interviews so I can get used to my new angle.
"You're perfect Avery, " Allsion says, "The Capitol audience will love you."
After lunch I am sent to Flora to practice manners. There is a lot more to it than I thought though. She shows me the right way to walk, sit, stand, wave, smile, and countless other things that I just consider pointless. By the end of the day I am exhausted and fall asleep immediately.
This is the day. The interviews are tonight. After breakfast, I am sent to my prep team. I will be in their hands until I walk onstage. They babble away as they do my nails, hair, and makeup. I am not allowed to look in the mirror. Finally Annabeth comes in with a garment bag.
"Close your eyes" she says. I feel the dress slip over my head. "Okay open!" she says with excitement.
I open my eyes and gasp with shock. The dress is long, flowing, and a light silver color. When I move it shimmers brightly, giving the illusion that the moon is shining down on me. My makeup is minimal except for my eyes, which are accentuated with glittery shadow and thick, dark eyelashes. I am also wearing silver sandals that shimmer like my dress.
"I see we're sticking to the moon theme?" I ask with a chuckle.
Annabeth laughs, "Yes. Do you like it?" she asks.
"I love it," I say, "It's beautiful."
Annabeth walks with me all the way to the stage, "This is where I have to leave you," she says, "Just relax. You'll do great." She squeezes my hand and leaves.
I line up with the other tributes backstage. My palms are clammy and my stomach is rolling. The music starts playing and the tributes walk onstage. I remember what Flora said, and I smile and try to look confident. Caesar Flickerman is introduced, this year sporting hair and eyebrows that are a powder blue. He calls Glimmer up to the stage and she walks up confidently in her see through gold dress. Clearly she is going with the sexy angle. There are probably sponsors lining up for her. Marvel is funny and outgoing. Then Clove is called up in a stunning red dress. She acts sweet in her interview but I know what's hiding behind that fake smile. Then Cato is called up and he walks up confidently in a black suit. He cocky and arrogant, but it works for him. The rest of the tributes go by pretty quickly.
And suddenly I hear my name being called. I stand and try to walk confidently over to Caesar. He greets me warmly and we sit down.
"So Avery, let's get right to the point, I heard that you were invited to join the Careers. Is that true?" Caesar asks slyly.
I pause for a moment before answering, "Yes Caesar it's true." then I remember what Allison said about being humble, "I mean, I was so surprised that a girl from District 6 could do so well in training to be offered that spot."
"Speaking of training, how about that score. A nine. We rarely see anyone from your district get that high of a score. Can you tell us where that came from?"
"I don't want to give away that little secret just yet Caesar," I say.
He laughs and so does the audience.
"So what do you think of your fellow teamates?" he asks.
I consider what I should say before answering, "I think that there is much more to them than meets the eye Caesar." I say mysteriously.
"Interesting," Caesar says thoughtfully, "Avery, one last question. What are you going to do to make sure you get home?"
"Whatever it takes Caesar. Don't count me out because of my district, I have more to offer. I need to get back home. My family needs me. But I will say that if I go down, I'm going down fighting."
The buzzer goes off, "Thank you Avery." Caesar says. There is thunderous applause as I return to my seat.
Max is up next and he is charming and boyish. The girl from 11 is sweet and cute and basically wins everyone's hearts because of her young age. However it is District 12 that steals the show yet again. When Katniss twirls, her dress streams out around her making it look as if she were engulfed in flames. Then she wraps up her interview with a touching story about her little sister. But Peeta shocked everyone in Panem with his interview by announcing his love for Katniss. If there's anything the people in the Capitol like its love. They eat this stuff up here. That was either the sad truth, or a brilliant strategy.
Either way District 12 is once again the stars of the night.
Chapter 9 done! Every time I write a new chapter, it is longer. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Please review! I really appreciate any feedback I can get :) And be sure to check out my other fanfictions Real or Not Real and Moving On.
