The 83rd Hunger Games: District 4; Chapter 8
So this is the chapter where all the pieces fall into place about who Elyce will be with…sorta. Please read and review!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games that is Suzanne Collins. Just Elyce's story came from my mind.
Chapter 8
I'm allowed to wake up on my own this morning but after breakfast I'm to go down to the remake center. Lane is the only other one up. I smile at him.
"Good morning," he says.
"Morning," I reply back.
"Are you ready for the interviews?" Lane asks.
"I guess…"
"I heard you and Finnick had some problems yesterday."
"Yeah, that's why Blake came."
"He was only trying to help you know."
"I know," I say, feeling a little guilty. We finish up breakfast and head down to the remake center together. Our prep teams are waiting for us. I wave bye to Lane and walk with Lima and Alula to my room.
They talk constantly about how big the 'water heels' are going to be in the Capitol after my interview. Alula shows me she has orange water heels and Blake did make pink fish ones for Tala. Lima has green ones to match her hair feathers.
My fingernails and toenails are painted sparkly gold. My hair is somewhat curled and strands of sparkly gold seaweed are pinned into it. Gold sparkles are rubbed across my entire body. I will literally shimmer under the stage lights. Last, I have gold eye shadow. It's lunchtime by then so I eat with Blake.
"Might I say you are positively and literally radiant Miss Annya," says Blake as we sip our soup.
I smirk. "This was all your brilliant idea."
"Just wait till you see your dress."
"Oh please tell me!" I beg him all through lunch but he doesn't budge. I resort to gulping down my soup so he'll have to show me sooner.
"Alright, alright, come with me," says Blake when I'm finished. We walk back to the room. "Stand on the pedestal, close your eyes and spin slowly." I step up and feel a strange, thin material at my side and I start to twirl around in place. I do this for about a minute.
"How much longer?" I ask.
"This should be good," says Blake. "But keep your eyes closed. I have to stitch up the side." I wait for a minute longer. "Perfect."
I take that as my cue to open my eyes. The person in the mirror causes me to gasp. I'm in a black fishnet wrapped so many times around me you can't see anything. But it's not bulky or heavy because the fishnet is so thin. The dress is strapless and goes down to my mid-thigh. Along the bottom edge there is a row of hanging strings with glittering gold seashells on the ends of the strings. It brings out all the highlights of gold, from the gold seaweed in my hair to the golden sparkles floating in the water of my shoes, the glittery gold paint on my 20 perfect nails to the gold sparkles embedded in my eye shadow and scattered on my skin. I shimmer, glitter, shine, sparkle and glimmer. I look like a creature as beautiful as a princess of the seas and oceans.
"Oh Blake," I whisper. "This is just so…" I can't find the right words. Blake places my amazing shoes on the floor in front of me. I step into them and notice he added a line of little sparkling gold swirly shells on the glass strip in front of my toes.
He steps up on the pedestal and kisses my forehead. "Go rock them." Blake holds out his arm and I take it, stepping down and walking down the hall to the elevator. We ride up and my heart starts pounding at the thought of being watched up onstage by all of Panem. The doors open and once again I'm the last to arrive. I turn to Blake and he gives me a thumbs up; this is where he leaves me for now. I take a few steps into the room, the clicking of my heels announcing my presence. Gasps meet my ears as the other tributes catch sight of me but I ignore them and smile ahead at Lane, Kyle, Larkin, Zack and Fawn.
"Oh my gosh you look fantastic!" says Fawn, breaking the stunned silence. She steps out of the line and gives me a hug as though we're best friends.
"You do look pretty good," says Larkin, also walking over.
"Thanks, you guys do too!" I say. Fawn is wearing a bright pink dress that's the same shape as the one I wore for the reaping. Except instead of a grey belt and straps like I had, she has a few rows of diamonds on her shoulders and around her waist. Larkin has a tight, metallic blue dress with a row of little pointy things hanging down from the bottom. They look like tiny knifes.
Suddenly I feel hands on my waist. I already know its Zack so I don't bother turning around. "Hello Elyce," he says, holding me a little closer to him. Fawn giggles and Larkin smiles.
"Hi Zack," I reply back.
"Well don't you look sexy?"
"Hmm, you like?"
He runs his hand down along my thigh. "Of course," Zack whispers in my ear. Screens around us flicker to life and Caesar Flickerman is shown before a cheering crowd. We can hear the crowd through the walls. Caesar warms up the crowd and Zack and I take our places in the line. I turn around and smile at Lane behind me who's wearing a black suit with shells attached to the gold trim.
"You look nice," says Lane.
"So do you," I say.
"Attentions tributes," says the stage manager. "It is time to go onstage. Stay in your spot in line and remain seated until you are called up. You'll have 3 minutes for your interview and when the buzzer rings you must go back to your seat." Fawn, being at the front of the line, leads us out into the screaming crowd and blinding lights. I smile, wave and blow kisses like I practiced. The District 3 boy in front of me sits down in a white chair and I take a seat next to him. Fawn is called up first. She is sweet but still a Career. Zack is next. His angle is humorous but also still a Career. Caesar asks him if he has a special someone. He asks almost everyone this question. Zack replies that there's a girl here right now that's more than caught his eye. Caesar begs for more details but Zack just smirks and shakes his head. When he walks back to his seat he gives me a wink.
Kyle is submissive. Larkin is sarcastic. I learn that Clove is her aunt. Soon enough the District 3 girl is up. My heart speeds up and butterflies fill my stomach. The District 3 boy next to me is at center stage now. I try to take calm breaths but to no avail. My hands have started to shake now like they always do when I'm nervous. Only Chase notices that though. And now the District 3 boy is sitting next to me looking relieved.
"Please welcome Elyce Annya of District 4!" booms Caesar. I paint on my biggest, best, most award winning smile and walk over to the interviewee chair. The crowd screams enthusiastically and I can't help but notice it's louder and longer than it was for the other tributes. It's probably because of the look Blake and Finnick have created for me. Blake made me kick-ass beautiful and Finnick made me flirty and desired. I shake Caesar's hand and take a seat in the big circular white chair.
The applause and cheers die down a bit and Caesar starts to speak. "I must say Elyce, your whole ensemble is spectacular but I love those shoes the most!"
"Thanks Caesar, watch this," I say. I stand up and click my heels back and forth on the floor. Everyone oohs and ahhs in amazement as the glitter-filled bubbles explode inside the confines of the glass shoes.
"Doesn't everyone need a pair of those?" says Caesar jokingly.
I sit back down. "I don't know if they come in your size Caesar. You'll have to ask Blake," I say, earning a laugh from the crowd. For a moment the cameras are on Blake.
"It looks like we match too!" exclaims Caesar because he has chosen to wear gold this year. "Now, down to business, what's it like here in the Capitol compared to District 4?"
"Well there certainly aren't as much fish everywhere!" I answer quite honestly. The crowd laughs again. Witty: check. Well actually it was more like funny but whatever.
"So you're a pretty girl Elyce, with quite the personality, anyone can see that," starts Caesar.
I smile and giggle, playfully shoving his arm. "Oh stop it! You're much too nice!"
"I'm sure you have a special boy at home, correct?"
"Actually no; there just isn't anyone special enough to catch this girl yet," I say with a wink at the camera. "But there is one boy I've found interesting…" I tap my lips with my finger thoughtfully.
"Oh do tell!" prods Caesar.
"Sorry, but my lips are sealed." Flirty: check.
"Do you miss anyone back home?"
"Yeah, my best friend, Chase. She gave me her ring to use as my district token. And my brothers, Eli and Eric. I miss you guys!" I say, blowing a kiss at the nearest camera. Some of the crowd actually sighs. As if they could feel my pain.
"And a 10 in training." Caesar whistles. "Impressive score, can you give us a hint at your strengths?"
"Now Caesar!" I say, acting shocked, but quickly I grow serious. "I only have to say, don't underestimate me. I'm more powerful than you might think; and I'm full of surprises."
"Are you ready for the Games Elyce?" asks Caesar. He asks every Career tribute this. The crowd is still hanging on my every word.
"Definitely," I say. "I did volunteer, didn't I? I've been waiting for these Games for a long time." A Career: check.
The 3-minute buzzer rings, signaling the end of my interview. "That's all the time we have for Elyce," says Caesar. "Please give a final round of applause for Elyce Annya of District 4!" I shake Caesar's hand again and I wave, smile and blow kisses like always while I walk back to my chair.
I take a seat and almost let out a relieved sigh when I remember I'm on camera. Instead I cross my ankles daintily and watch the rest of the interviews. Lane is likable and friendly and I smile a few times at his answers. Now that I'm not a nervous wreck I can actually enjoy watching this.
Once I'm off the stage I go immediately to the 4th floor. I grab a quick dinner and eat it in my room where I watch a recap of the highlights of the interviews. Sure enough I am shown strutting onto the stage in my awesome dress and shoes, and giggling at Caesar's compliment about being a pretty girl. My entire Career speech is also shown.
"Now this girl is victor material," says one of the announcers.
"Absolutely, just look at her work that crowd," says the other announcer.
"I can't wait to see her in the Games."
"And if she is a victor then we might possibly have another Finnick Odair on our hands."
They laugh. Wait a second are they saying that I'm going to be the next 'sex god,' well goddess, of the Capitol? "Well that is her mentor." They burst out laughing again and I switch off the TV, disgusted.
I walk over to the window and move the curtain over. The streets are filled with people, noise and lights. They're celebrating because tomorrow we enter the arena. I don't know how long I sit there, staring and thinking meaningless thoughts, but when I finally manage to tear my eyes from the sight I look at my clock. It's 10. I take a quick shower, and get in bed. However sleep evades me. I lay awake, wondering and worrying about tomorrow.
Suddenly the door opens. I lift my head up slightly and see a tall, muscular silhouette. It's Zack. His light brown hair shines in the light from the hallway. I can tell he's not wearing a shirt. "Hello Elyce," he says, just like before the interviews. "May I come in?"
"Sure," I say.
"Aren't you going to ask why?" he asks, stepping in and closing the door.
"I was getting to that," I retort with a grin. "Come, sit here." I pat the side of my bed.
"I don't think anyone can sleep the night before going into the arena. Whether it's because of fear or excitement." Zack sits down beside me; rather close I might add.
"How did you even get up here?" I ask.
"Well I got out of bed and I snuck to the elevator. Then I pressed the button that said 4 and now I'm here."
"Amazing story," I say sarcastically. "But if you couldn't sleep why did you come here? Why not go to Larkin or Fawn?"
"You're my favorite," he says, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
I blush; glad that he can't see it in the darkness. "Why?"
"You're pretty, funny, smart, nice, sexy…" Zack trails off.
"Sexy?"
"Of course." Zack slips an arm around my waist, sending flutters up my spine. "Can I ask you a question now?"
"What is it?"
"Why are you only wearing underwear? Don't get me wrong, I like it, I'm just curious."
"Oh um…" I blush a deeper red. "This is just how I sleep. What about you, how come you don't have a shirt on?"
"I thought you'd like it better this way," Zack says simply.
"Oh I do." I turn my head up to face him, staring straight into his deep blue eyes with my green-grey ones. "Stay with me tonight, please?"
"Sure." We lay back on the bed and I roll over with my back to him. Zack rests an arm on my side and pulls me closer. My head lies on his other arm and I can feel his warm breath on my neck.
"You comfortable?" asks Zack.
"Yeah; goodnight Zack."
"Goodnight Elyce." I close my eyes but my mind won't shut off. So I think; about Zack and I and what all this means. I know we're more than friends but not by much. If we were much more then we'd be sucking each other's faces off.
I wonder if this is what we'll sleep like in the arena. Me wrapped comfortably in his arms. It would preserve body heat if nothing else. What was once a simple angle has turned into so much more.
Maybe it's because I know I should rest for tomorrow; maybe it's because my mind is finally slowing down; or maybe it's because I'm so calm here with Zack, but somehow I manage to fall asleep.
There you go! I'm pretty sure you know who Elyce is gonna be with now. Oh and I just have to say this: when Elyce said to Zack 'Amazing story' I so wanted to put 'Cool story bro, tell it again' but I don't think they would say that in the future in Panem… Anyway, enough with my strangeness, please review! I love hearing your thoughts and opinions! I also want to thank those who have reviewed, added this to your favorite list or put this on alert. And keep on readin' people! Because the Hunger Games are coming in the next chapter!
