Chapter:10 Thalia's P.O.V

"You look amazing, darning!" Octavia shriks. I have to admitt my prep team is very peppy, but I have grown to like them. They are not as bad as it seems.

"Thanks." I reply as I take in the image before me. Not as fierce but im glowing. Im in a tight red dress with beautiful glimmering belts wrapped around it. My hair is pulled up in a bun. A grayish/black hair brooch rests on my head. I wear red and black shoes. And pearl earings, why? Then seem so out of place. I shrug it off. I usually dont get the chance to wear things like this, so im enjoying every second. Im a bit uncomfortable beacause I dont normally wear dresses back home. I barely have any, and the length of it isnt helping, its a bit shorter than what im used to. But its stunning. I truley smile. This is nice.

"Sooo...Do you like our lastest creation?!" Travis bursts as he spins me once more. I laugh.

"Yeah, I do! Its beautiful! If only you could stop spinning me..."

"Im sorry" He chuckles and releases me. "How about a round of applause for the beautiful, tribute!"
Travis and my prep team clap a little. Errmmm...okkaaayyyy. Not used to that. Cinna who has been standing in the back, just smiling softly, steps up.

"Im going to have to steal this lovely tribute for a minute." He smiles. Travis nods with a also gives a weak smile, my prep team is just confused. I probably mirror their confusion right now, cause truley, what would Cinna try to tell me alone? He pulls me away to a seperate room. I give him a questioned look.

"I have something for you..." He pulls something out of his jacket pocket. He hands me the object. My eyes widen.

"Wow." I whisper. Its a beautiful necklace. It has some sort of shell with a pearl at the tip, hanging from it. "Wha-?" Cinna cuts me off.

"I found it in you dress pocket and guessed it was you district token? Or at least someone wanted it to be."

"Who? I have never seen this before."

"I'm unsure. Oh, but I also found this." He rummages through his jacket pocket once again and finally pulls out a small folded up paper. He hands it to me.

Hey there Taly, The minute you got called and taken into the Justice building I rushed to the Jeweler's. No one knows though. This pearl I found the day you showed me the lake. It was weird cause, well, there are no pearls in District 12. I thought it was one of a kind, reminded me of you. So I saved it. I wasnt planning on giving it to you, not this soon *smile*, but I wanted you to have it. There couldnt of been a better time. Just remember me ok? Come back, to me...Errrmmmm...Im rambling now and Im runnig out of space so im going to wrap this up. I incorporated the pearl into this necklace and slipped it into your pocket at the Justice Building (Its not good-bye, remember that, not forever) I hope You'll use it as your District token. Remember, Im always going to be your best friend. Love, Breadboy (Not love *Chuckle* that would be weird)
P.S: Still not fond of the name Breadboy.

I look up from the slip of paper and smile to myself. Breadboy, The nickname Karina and I gave him the first time we all went out as friend. It stuck. "Thats my official nicknames for you now!" I said ignoring his frown. Always the same. I miss him. I look up at Cinna.

"Thank you."

"No problem." He replies. I hand him the necklace and he helps me put it on. I silently thank Liam for this. It might help me stay sane in the arena. Cinna stands in front of me. Now I know why I wear pearl earings. I thank Cinna once more.

"Its ok. Now, Lets go."

I'm taken to the floor where the interviews will be held. I walk into the backstage section and see Karina. I burst into laughter.

"I never thought I would live to see the day Karina would wear a fancy dress!" I exclaim in between laughter. She grunts.

"Shut up, you are wearing one too."

"I know, but I have never seen you wear a dress!" She glares at me.

"I feel like a wrapped up tuna roll." She frowns. It brings on another fit of laughter.

"Its pretty, I like the whole metalic theme."

"Whatever. Your lucky yours is short! At least you can feel your legs!" I grin.

"I love this!"

"What?"

"You! Your annoyance! There is finally a thing in this world that makes you angry!"

"I dont like you..." She hisses.

"I know you love me! You can stop saying it so many times!" I continue laughing.

"Ok right. Sure." She laughs along. "Common before we get in trouble."
We regain our spots in line and just in time too, because we begin emerging for the croud to take a look. Caesar is welcoming us but the roar from the audience block out almost all other sounds. We sit next to the stage in order from Districts 1-12. The interviews will go like this: Each tribute gets three minutes to talk. They will be presented in order of Districts, ladies first. And so let the fun begin...District one finishes at last and Karina steps up on the stage. I focus on her. I must be horrible to be up there, suddenly I begin to shake. I will soon be up there too. Its ok, your fine, you can do this. I turn my attention back at Karina and Caesar.

"Welcome Karina Masonry! I must say you do look stunning tonight!" Karina takes her place next to Ceaser." I wanna begin by saying...You looked dangerous at the opening ceremonies! You sure know how to handle a weapon, dont you?!"

"Indeed I do, Caesar! But thats not your biggest danger, I am!" Karina seems serious and Ceasar takes this as a joke, turns to the cameras and gives a horrified look. He thinks shes kidding? Poor Ceasar.

"You arnt gonna Hurt me are me Mrs. Masonry?" I see Karina stiffen.

"Karina, please, Just Karina."

"Havent grown up yet, hmmm...Karina?"

"No. Still havent found wrinkles on me. And let me say, You dont look so bad yourself Caesar. What are you, 20?" Caesar laughs and Karina manages to giggles.

"Im flattered!" Caesar bursts. 'If only he knew he looked more like a mutt than a man,' I think to myself.

"So Karina, What are your plans for the games?" He leans forward in his chair, not wanting to miss a single world.

"That Caesar, is for me to know and for you to find out." Caesar gives an exaggerated frown.

"Well, I cant predict the future, so lets find out about the past." Caesar winks at the Camera. "Karina? Do you have a...loved one back home?"

"Well yeah, my parents, my sister, my frie-" Caesar jumps in.

"No, A lover?" Karina's cheeks turn pink.

"I...I..." The Three minutes are over.

"Well, thats all the time we have for Karina Masonry today. Good luck to her and lets hope we get the chance to find out the truth about the guy that took Karina's Heart." Is over. Karina dismounts the stage and I see she let out a big sigh as she sits back down at her chair. I lean back and look behind the other tributes heads to where Karina sits. To my suprise she has done the same and is staring at me. I mouth "You did good." And I can read her lips clearly because of the practice I have had during hunting trips. "Thanks." Then she adds. "Good luck." I nod and sit back strait. The show must go on.

"...And now, A big warm welcome to Thalia Aden!" Caeser exclaims "Good to see you again, dear!"

"Its a pleasure to be here, Caesar!" I answer as I sit down. I give him a sweet smile, he accepts it, though im pretty sure it looks fake.

"Sooo, what have you liked most about the Capitol?"

"The food! Its just so yummy!" I sound like a five year old that just got a new toy for christmas, Caesar chuckles. Well, at least I was truthful.

"Yummy indeed!" Ceaser rubbs his belly and wets his tounge. He suddenly gets serious. "Now Thalia, im going to ask the question on everyones mind...Who was that little girl holding you back at the reaping?" Why this question? Why do I have to bring the people I mostly care about, into this?

"She...Shes my younger sister...Zuley. She was just scared, about me coming. About me coming to the games. But..." I put on my best cofident expression "...I know im coming out of this alive." Ceaser nods, then a mischievous smile spreads across his face. Oh no.

"And the boy? The one that took her away? He must be special to you because we saw you making some eye contact with him throughout the reaping." Hes smiling wickedly, then talks to a unvisible person ."PLAY THE CLIP!" My eyes turn to the huge screen behind us and they begin to play the reaping. But its different from the replays I saw. This one has me and Liam making eye contact. The pain in his eyes visible, my eys seem to stare at him with need, longing. HOW THE HELL DID THEY KNOW I WAS LOOKING AT HIM?! THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THERE, HOW DID THEY KNOW I WAS LOOKING EXACTLY AT HIM?! I give him a crooked smile. I nervous laugh escapes me. Why?

"Emmm, yeah." I all I manage.

"Who is this prince charming?" I let out a nervous laugh/choke. Prince Charming?! What?! I quickly glance at Karina and I can tell she is holding back laughter. FML. How am I supposed to answer this? What do I say? Wait why am I even thinking he is something more, damn im stupid.

"Hes just my best friend." I say out loud, though im still convincing myself. Caeser seems to notice my doubts.

"Are you sure about that? Seeing you here in that beautiful dress, glowing, I doubt he hasnt already fallen for you!" I blush. Why am I so nervous? Does he consider me something more? No, dont be stupid!

"I...No. No. Just my friend." He drops the subject about me and Liam having 'something more', only to change the angle of view.

"And you? Do YOU find HIM attractive?" My blush grows deeper. Holy fuck, kill me now! This dude is seriously asking me to confess my feeling about my best friend/ Who knows what else, on national television! This needs to end now!

"And you Caeser? Do you have a special lady here in the Capitol?" Caeser laughs hysterically at my attept to change the subject. As if on cue, the buzzer sounds. Thank you god!

"Sadly folks, thats all the time we have today! One last round of applause for Thalia Aden!" The audience claps and I return to my seat off stage. The tributes bow and then they play the Anthem. We all exit. Chris, Karina, and I manage to get in the first elevator, alone. Once the doors close I let go of the breath I didnt notice I was holding. Karina bursts into laughter and Chris just stares at the distance.

"I WOULD PAY A FORTUNE TO SEE LIAM'S FACE DURING YOUR INTERVIEW!" Karina exclaims between laughter. I give her my signature death glare, which she shrugs off and keeps on laughing. I laugh in my head. Bet it was funny...