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The Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins.

What if Gale, overtaken by the grief of seeing his oldest friend about to be swept into the monstrosity that is the Hunger Games, volunteered for Peeta and took his place?

Gale Hawthorne x Katniss Everdeen

A breath got caught in my throat as a flurry of emotions surged through my chest in a matter of seconds. Haymitch's amused smile seemed to bore through me, making my torso tremble in unease.

I felt Gale stiffen beside me before clenching his fists under the table. "You can't be serious," he muttered quietly, avoiding my gaze as venom began creeping into his tone, "Not during the interviews. Not in front of those people who are going to be watching us fight to death for entertainment." By the end of his sentence, he was practically hissing out his words.

Haymitch clenched his jaw, pushing his thin, chapped lips together over his teeth as his smile faded away. "Is it really that much different from what you two have been doing already?"

I narrowed my eyes, not knowing how to respond. Kissing for the sake of our angle in front of a live crowd really wasn't that much different from hugging in front of cameras, so why did just the thought make my chest flutter? I unconsciously gave Gale a sideways glance, only to see that underneath his scowl was something that looked like muddled worry.

Gale exhaled sharply and crinkled his eyebrows together before glaring thoughtfully at the table. "It's just—"

"That you don't want to be forced to reveal that much of your personal life to the Capitol?" Haymitch cut in, leaning back in his chair so that the front legs of it were hovering above the floor. "Suck it up. If you want to survive, you're going to have to swallow that stubborn pride of yours, son."

I watched as Gale's scowl swiftly deepened, etching lines of distaste on the otherwise smooth skin that surrounded his mouth. I swallowed hard, silently thinking back to the time he had first found out about the angle.

"I don't want anything fake. Especially not with you..."

Gale was never the type of person to change himself for the satisfaction of others. He would do as he pleased, remaining as solid as a rock while others molded to his touch. He was never afraid to voice his opinion, never afraid of the judgment that might be thrown in his direction. Now, he needs to answer orders helplessly, almost like a puppet, just for the chance of getting more sponsors.

This must be killing him.

I was roused from my thoughts by Haymitch breaking the silence around the table with a loud grunt. He leaned forward, making the front legs of his chair hit the floor with a bang. "Don't act like you weren't waiting for a chance like this," he said in a gravelly voice, peering at Gale mischievously through slitted eyes, "You should be more appreciative. I'm throwing you a bone."

A hardly noticeable flush appeared on Gale's tanned cheeks, but he remained silent. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair.

Haymitch slouched lazily, savoring the silence lingering around the table as he forced himself to take a sip of the water in front of him with a grimace. I half-expected him to whip out his flask, but the shadows circling his sunken eyes led me to believe that he had been avoiding alcohol altogether lately.

"All right," he mumbled, scooting his chair out and sluggishly getting to his feet, "Now that we're all feeling significantly more awkward, let's get this coaching started."

Effie's eyes shot up at us for the first time in what felt like hours. "I have to prepare! Haymitch, you take them first," she trilled, making her way clumsily out of the dining room in heels that made her at least five inches taller than usual.

I let out a sigh, feeling the glee from the training scores slowly slip away from me. "So, what's the schedule?" I asked absently, getting up from my chair. Gale got up from his shortly after.

"Four hours with me, lunch, then four hours with Effie," Haymitch stated in a bored tone.

"What do you and Effie have to teach us that will take four hours each?" Gale asked, his shoulders squared in exasperation.

Haymitch's mouth quirked at the corner before he swiftly turned away from Gale and I and headed out of the dining room, gesturing for us to follow. He ended up taking us to the sitting room and directing us toward one of the couches before sitting himself down on the coffee table, its legs whining under his weight. He began to rub at the stubble carpeting his chin with a thoughtful hand, frowning at us as we all sat in silence.

At first, I thought that he was studying us, but as the seconds ticked away, it seemed more like he was trying to kill time. I narrowed my eyes, feeling increasingly more irritated as my hands knotted into fists on my lap. "What—"

"Shhh," Haymitch hushed in a demanding tone, his gaze unwavering.

I pushed my lips together impatiently before feeling the corners on my mouth curl downwards. Haymitch continued to rake Gale and I with his glassy eyes, pausing occasionally to glare at one of our more dissatisfying features.

Gale exhaled sharply. "Stop—"

"Shhh!" Haymitch said, more loudly this time. He wrinkled his forehead theatrically.

I rolled my eyes before feeling Gale lean lazily into the cushions of the couch. I followed his example. This could take a while.

After a few more minutes of this, Haymitch swiftly slapped his hands onto his knees and got to his feet. "Nope. Got nothin'."

"Wait, what?" Gale asked, eyeing our mentor with wariness.

"I've been trying to think of what to do with you two," Haymitch said, shrugging his shoulders lightly, "but you're both about as interesting as drywall. So far, we've got everyone fooled with your top training scores and unforgettable costumes, but your personalities..." Haymitch gave us both an exaggerated wince.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I countered, my voice coming out more squeaky than I intended.

Haymitch let out a quick chuckle, obviously amused by my reaction. "What I mean is that people won't start tripping over each other to sponsor you two if you just kiss. You both still need memorable personalities, as well." His gaze drifted toward Gale, who was still leaning exasperatedly against the couch cushions. "Maybe not him, actually. He's too pretty."

A flare of annoyance flickered behind Gale's ashen eyes, but he composed himself with a quick sigh. "Okay, then. What are we going to do?"

A smirk played on Haymitch's thin lips. "Hmm...Let's see. Aloof? Arrogant? Charming? Humble? Sexy...?" His eyes flickered to me before he stifled a fit of laughter, "Nevermind, definitely not the last one."

I felt a pout play on my features before seeing Gale out of the corner of my eye grin at my reaction and reassure me with a gentle nudge.

"Now, lucky for you two, hostile and sullen are also approaches," Haymitch stated, his voice drifting off, "but that's usually reserved for the more intimidating tributes."

I couldn't help myself from picturing Thresh taking a seat for his interview, his face twisted into a permanent glare as he refused to answer questions with more than a few words. If only I was his size, then I wouldn't have to worry about coming off as likable. I unconsciously deepened the pout on my face.

Haymitch squared his shoulders before peering over at Gale thoughtfully, his smile dropping from his face as his tone suddenly became serious. "I can picture you as arrogant. That could even end up coming off as charming."

I felt myself visibly tense at the thought of Capitol women swooning over Gale in their seats.

"And you," Haymitch's slurred tone caught my attention as his eyes swept over to me, "You could come off as a lot of things."

"Great," I blurted out without thinking. If I had learned one thing from sitting at home and begrudgingly watching previous games, it was that tributes without an eye-catching, obvious trait hardly ever caught sponsors' interests.

"What about fierce? Or determined?" Gale suggested, a look of pride in his eyes, "She could pull that off without even trying."

I felt a blush faintly color my cheeks, which only succeeded in irritating me even more. Haymitch must have noticed since he raised a skeptical brow before saying, "Okay. Go on, delight me."

"Uh," I responded lamely, not knowing what to say.

Haymitch sighed before shooting me the most obvious interview question there was. "Are you confident in your ability to come out as the victor?"

No, I thought harshly. If anyone was going to be the victor, it would be Gale. A number of seconds passed as I cringed in my seat, knowing that a tribute going for a fierce or determined approach should have answered immediately. "Yeees...?" I said quietly, mentally slapping myself afterwards. Gale gave me a quizzical glance.

"Okay. Fierce is not going to happen," Haymitch stated matter-of-factly.

I felt Gale stiffen beside me. "Why does she even need an approach? She's fine and dandy just being herself," he defended, making me feel a little guilty.

Haymitch took a seat back on the coffee table. "I'm thinking the same thing, boy," he mumbled before directing his gaze back to me. "Just answer the questions, sweetheart. Don't let the audience know how openly you despise them, as we should be fine."

I couldn't help but feel anger well up inside my chest. At least two hours had already passed, and we hadn't made any progress on my approach at all. The only possible thing that could give me the least bit of depth would be...a breath caught in my throat.

As if he could read my thoughts, Haymitch suddenly piped up. "Time to work on that other angle! Let's see you two kiss."

Gale and I seemed to simultaneously tense up before giving Haymitch a skeptical glare. The mentor responded by creasing his eyebrows together defensively. "We want this kiss to be believable, otherwise it won't even be worth doing," he muttered, waving a dismissive hand, "but if you two want to practice in private, then so be it."

A shudder ran through me, and I immediately pushed the thought to the back of my mind. "We should work more on individual angles, Haymitch. Gale hasn't even practiced his."

Haymitch shrugged his shoulders before agreeing. I let out a quiet sigh of relief before glancing in Gale's direction, only to be perplexed by the slight look of disappointment he was sporting.

The next couple of hours included Gale trying out a number of approaches and me attempting to answer traditional interview questions with a cheery attitude. Haymitch seemed uncharacteristically patient as he suggested answers for us to memorize and cite on stage, which included our love for our families and our hunting abilities. We spent a long time deciding on whether or not Gale and I should elaborate on our past together, and ended up deciding that, during my interview, I would try to exaggerate it to the point where it seemed that we wouldn't be able to survive without each other. Which, in a way, was completely true.

Our fourth hour was almost up, and Haymitch decided to go through a quick run-through of what we had learned.

"...Now, since I know you two can't do anything by yourselves," Haymitch started, and despite the obvious insult, his tone was warmer than usual, "I'll tell you how to work that kiss in. Katniss will be interviewed first, and she'll sit there and look pretty while hinting at the relationship going on between you both. Then, Gale will go up and answer a few questions." The mentor took the time to lock his eyes with Gale's before continuing, "Try to steer the questions toward Katniss. Eventually, some kind of variation of, 'How much do you love her?' will come up. And then, get out of your seat and go for it."

I couldn't stop myself from tensing up again. No matter how much it was brought up, the thought of kissing Gale just couldn't seem to sink in.

Haymitch got to his feet before stretching his arms above his head and letting out a strained sigh. He took a tense stance before mumbling, "Don't mess this up. Either of you. Make it believable."

I swallowed hard, but forced myself to nod. My cheeks had been getting continually more red for the past hour. By now, they were probably beets.

"Lunch time!" Effie's voice rang through the hallway, beckoning the three of us out of the sitting room. Walking only made the fact that my legs were rigid and achy from sitting more prominent in my mind, but that was soon soothed with the thought of warm food in my stomach.

I was delighted to see a platter of lamb stew and wild rice in the center of the table again, and practically dived into the plate with a spoon when we had all seated ourselves around it. I had succeeded in scarfing down half a plate when Effie caught my attention by clearing her throat loudly.

"Honestly! I might as well start my coaching now, and that means you are going to have to eat like a lady, Katniss," she chimed, her glare sweeping over me and resting on Gale, "That means you, too."

"What?" Gale clamored in mock-horror, his voice muffled around his mouthful of stew, "I'll have you know that I eat in the most ladylike way possible." He proceeded to rest both of his elbows on the table and continue to shovel the stew into his mouth. I couldn't stop myself from chuckling at Effie's horrified reaction.

After lunch, Effie practically swept Gale and I up to her chamber, babbling about keeping our backs straight and not dragging our feet the entire way. I watched as the anger behind Gale's irises increased with every, "Didn't they ever teach you two manners in District 12?"

She threw open the door to her chamber, the bright white and pink walls instantly stinging my eyes as I walked onto the plush carpet. Gale sat himself on a distant wooden chair as Effie dragged me into her closet and, much to my discontent, slipped me into a full-length gown and heels. The gown was white and low-cut down the back, making my bare, protruding shoulder blades frame my braid.

Effie proceeded to drag me back out of the closet, making me trip over my feet in an effort to follow her. As soon as I waddled into Gale's view, he began to stifle back fits of laughter. His eyes raked down my body before landing on the pale blue heels I was in. "If you can walk in those, surviving in the arena should be a cinch," he mumbled, eyebrows raised.

Effie shot him a glare. "Be quiet while I'm working with her, or I'll have you in heels next." That shut him up.

For the next hour, Effie had me struggling to walk across the room. The gown kept getting tangled around the shoes, and the carpet kept making them fall to the side, making my ankles scream in pain. The only thing that kept me from kicking off the shoes in Effie's direction was the fact that she ran around in them full-time, and the determination to conquer anything she was capable of.

Gale seemed thoroughly amused when I had succeeded in walking without a single wobble, but his eyes instantly turned as sharp as a hawk's when Effie yelled corrections at me.

"Straighten your legs! Hands at your sides! Don't twist up your face in concentration like that!" Effie's trilling voice pierced my ears like needles, making me purse my lips together in frustration.

The gown was bothersome, and it would be so much easier to walk if it didn't get in the way of my heels. At this thought, I hiked it up my shins and Effie proceeded to give the back of my hands a swift slap.

I heard Gale let out a sharp exhalation from across the room. "I think she's good with walking now," he mumbled through a clenched jaw.

Effie let out a sigh, unaffected by the venom in Gale's tone. "She's decent. It's a good thing Cinna won't have her in heels as high as those."

I shot Effie an exasperated glare, but couldn't help but feel a little grateful. The shoes Cinna would put me in for the interviews would feel like nothing after wearing these, at least.

I swapped places with Gale as Effie ushered him to the center of the room. I sat myself down on the chair and slid the heels off my now swollen feet in relief before rubbing my sore ankles.

"Straighten your back," Effie said in an even tone, studying Gale's posture. He obeyed after a lot of hesitation, his usual slouch soon disappearing. I watched as the lean curve of his back became more prominent under his slim-fitting shirt, making a curious rush of warmth color my cheeks.

Effie quickly circled around Gale, making him stiffen under her vision. The muscles in his arm tightened as she prodded them with manicured fingernails, and his eyebrows furrowed together after each glance she sent to his face.

"Well," she said, taking a few steps back, "Nothing much to do with you. The Capitol ladies will practically eat you up the moment you step on stage with that camera-ready face of yours."

I felt my body tense as a familiar feeling of possession rushed through me, making my eyes narrow in annoyance. Effie must have noticed because she quickly gestured for me to stand by his side, causing me to quickly pad my way over on my now bare feet.

"Now," she chimed, her painted lips spreading into a grin to reveal her unnaturally white teeth. "Give me a smile. Both of you."

My cheeks twitched as I forced the sides of my mouth the curl upward. Gale looked like he was just pushing his lips together into a stern line.

Effie let out a sigh. "I should've known with the two of you," she murmured, rubbing her left temple.

For the next couple of hours she had us walk with perfect posture around the room, sit down the proper ways on chairs she had set out, and flash smiles on cue. By the time she thought we had mastered posture and walking, she had us say banal phrases with a smile, while smiling, or ending with a smile. This wore on Gale's patience the most, and by the last half hour, he was shooting scowls in Effie's direction instead of grins.

"Good enough," Effie sighed, plopping herself down onto her bed. Her tired features seemed to rejuvenate as a single thought crossed her mind. "Did Haymitch work with your star-crossed lover angle, yet?"

Her eager voice made me flinch uncomfortably. "Yes," I answered, feeling Gale's gaze wander in my direction.

Effie's thin eyebrows promptly raised at that. "Okay then," she said with a sparkle in her dark eyes, "Let me see that jaw-dropping kiss."

I should have known that this was what she was talking about. I pressed my lips together before slowly sneaking a sideways glance in Gale's direction, only to see that he was already surveying my face with deep, wondering eyes.

"Come on," Effie pushed, "There can't be this much hesitance on the stage. The crowd will never buy it."

Never buy it? Would that mean, after everything we've been through, Gale and I would still be left sponsor-less in the arena?

I let out a sharp breath before swiftly turning on my heel, making myself face Gale with a strong look of determination, despite my now pounding heart. His eyebrows flew up at my sudden movement, and a look of surprise instantly taking over his features. His cheeks faintly glowed in the bright light of Effie's chamber.

My heart began to leap into my throat as I proceeded to stand on my tiptoes, my hands grazing Gale's shoulders to steady myself. He promptly leaned down to get to my eye level and...

I let my lips brush across the hollow of his cheek, as light as a feather. Just this was enough to send my heart knocking intensely against my ribcage, and I had to turn away. My now muffled ears just barely picked up the sound of Effie disappointedly groaning.

"Work on that," she stated simply before walking over to my side and tugging me over to the closet. I was thankful, since the muscles in my legs had just started to spasm and I found it difficult to control my shaking knees.

I slowly began to compose myself inside the closed doors of the closet as I let Effie slip the gown off of me and dress me in my normal clothes.

"I thought you said that Haymitch went through the angle with you two," she mumbled harshly, handing me the leather boots I had been wearing with a slight grimace.

"He did," I responded with a pout, working my feet into the boots, "He didn't go through the kiss, though."

Effie flashed what looked like a genuine grin in my direction. It was the first I had seen out of her since we arrived at the Training Center. "But you went for it, anyway. Cinna was right, you truly are a Girl on Fire."

I didn't know whether that was an insult or a compliment, but before I could ask, Effie was pushing me out of the closet. Gale was still standing dumbstruck in the center of the room where we had left him.

"That was a great reaction, from both of you!" Effie gushed, taking a seat back on her bed. "So genuine, so true."

I felt a shudder pulse through me. That's because it was.

"But next time, aim for the mouth," she added simply. I watched as Gale's ashen eyes widened, but he responded with an obedient nod.

I had expected the table to be adorned with another overflowing platter of lamb stew for dinner, but I was greeted instead by an herb-roasted chicken on a bed of steamed vegetables. It looked good, but I still felt my stomach constrict in disappointment. This began to make me worry about the Capitol food making me picky, so I pushed the thoughts of the stew to the back of my mind.

As we ate, I watched Gale out of the blurred part of my vision continually shoot me quick sideways glances. It made me feel on edge, but I decided to pretend not to notice.

Haymitch and Effie were filling Cinna and Portia in on the events that took place during coaching. Effie was leaving out the part where I almost fainted in an attempt to kiss Gale, and I felt immensely grateful.

"We're putting the finishing touches on the interview costumes, ourselves," boasted Portia, cutting a steaming piece of meat off of the chicken leg on her plate before popping it in her mouth with a fork.

Cinna grinned down at his food. "It's delicate work. The details are always the most important," he mumbled knowingly. The thin line of gold eyeliner circling his hazel eyes reflected in the lighting of the dining room.

"Did you decide on their individual approaches, yet?" Effie interrupted, giving Haymitch a curious glance.

Haymitch cleared his throat sloppily, not bothering to hide the chewed food in his mouth as he spoke. "The boy is arrogant and charming," he drew out the last word in a way that made Gale shoot him a glare, "and she is just being herself."

Everyone's eyes darted toward me, making me lower my gaze to the table in unease.

"The best angle I've heard yet," Cinna responded warmly.

Effie, on the other hand, seemed unpleased. "The tributes who get the most sponsors always have a specific approach."

"Haymitch tried to find me one," I mumbled lamely, "None of them fit me."

"She's probably going to outshine everyone else, anyway," Gale cut in, surprising everyone slightly. He had been uncharacteristically quiet ever since we entered the dining room. "Katniss just being herself is better than centering the approach entirely around one attribute."

Everyone gave Gale a wondering glance, as if it was the most honorable thing he had ever said. Haymitch broke the moment with a gravelly laugh. "It would be, if she wasn't so sour." He began guffawing at his own joke, and I watched silently as Effie's stern look broke into a smile. I felt the corners of my mouth tugging upwards into a smirk.

"Like you're any better," I murmured, trying to give Haymitch the most convincing glare I could muster.

After the chicken was stripped of most of its meat, the adults began to separate back into their own chambers. They each bid Gale and I goodnight after taking the time to wish us good luck, which only succeeded in reminding me that the interviews were just around the corner, making my chest tense in anxiety.

Haymitch was the last to leave, and a shadow passed over his features as he registered my uneasiness. "You'll do fine, sweetheart," he mumbled, barely audible as he made his way over to my side and gave my shoulder a swift, reassuring slap. He directed his gaze over to Gale, his tone becoming more playful. "Don't miss." And with that, he left the room, leaving Gale and I alone at the table.

I cleared my throat quietly before getting up from my chair. "We should go to bed, too," I mumbled before absently giving Gale a thoughtful glance. He raised a single eyebrow before gazing up at me with his piercing gray irises, making me freeze in place.

"We have to do something, first," he said, almost matter-of-factly, before getting up from his chair and stepping toward me.

I felt my eyes widen. "What are you...?"

The corner of his mouth quirked up in response before he wrapped his gentle fingers around my wrist. "Practice."

I involuntarily let myself gulp, and watched as Gale's eyes wandered to my throat as I did so. He pursed his lips before inching his face closer to mine, studying my reaction carefully through slitted eyes. He brought a warm hand to the small of my back and gingerly pulled me closer to him, letting me feel the warmth radiating off of his torso through the fabric of his shirt.

I let my eyes droop closed, shuddering as I felt the soft caress of his breath blow across my cheek. It wasn't like in Effie's chamber; this time, I felt as if I was completely prepared, like it was somehow natural. I was eager, even.

My heart seemed to swell in my chest, making my breaths come out shaky as I tentatively raised my head to near Gale's. His arms slid tighter around me, enveloping me in a comforting warmth and sending a dizzying sense of weightlessness pulsing through my veins. I couldn't help but imagine the pressure of his slightly chapped lips against mine, making the muscles in my legs tremble in anticipation.

That was why when I had instead felt the brush of his soft kiss against my cheek, I couldn't help but flutter my eyes open questioningly.

Gale was gazing down at me with a sheepish, almost pained grin. "Never thought it would be this difficult," he breathed, almost soundlessly.

I creased my eyebrows together, unintentionally letting a pout tug at the side of my mouth. A million things were rushing through my mind, but the only response that passed through my lips was, "I know."

His grip around me loosened slightly, but his gray eyes were still fixated on mine. "I don't mean that kind of difficult. It's just..." He paused, thinking over his words before continuing, "It feels almost wrong to do. You look like you're forcing yourself."

I involuntarily shot Gale a skeptical look from under my eyelashes. Did he really think I was forcing myself when I was practically melting pliantly in his arms?

After a lot of thought, I pushed my lips together and let my head weakly nod in agreement, immediately regretting it afterwards.

Gale frowned before slowly taking a step back and loosening his hold around my torso, separating us almost completely. The moment he did, I felt like something essential was torn out of my grasp. "We don't have to do it, then. The kiss, I mean," he murmured, a flash of hurt faintly flickering behind his hardened eyes.

"No—" I squeaked, almost right after he had said it. I quickly tried to redeem myself by lowering my eyes to the floor and mumbling, "It's for the sponsors. We're going to need them in the arena." Gale let out a quiet chuckle, making me dart my attention back to him quizzically.

"I'll make sure not to mess up on stage, then," he said simply, his lips tightening into a smile.

The smile was crooked, and obviously faked. It almost hurt to look at, especially after being given so many of his genuine smiles earlier in the day. I sucked in a sharp breath before muttering, "We should get some rest."

"Yeah," Gale agreed, taking time to absently brush a stray hair behind my ear before continuing. "I'll see you in the morning, Catnip."

I forced myself to nod meekly, watching as he slowly started to make his way out of the dining room. Before he reached the exit, he tentatively craned his neck to look at me before flashing another grin in my direction. "By the way, your cheeks are really red."

I hadn't gotten a lot of sleep that night, much to my dismay. It seemed like I had just closed my eyes for two seconds when the light filtering through the curtains shined across my face, making me twist in my sheets restlessly.

"Oh, she's moving! I thought she was dead."

An insistent whisper registered at the back of my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. My eyelids were still too heavy for it to be morning.

"I don't think she's going to wake up."

"Should we splash water on her face?"

"Maybe. Make it icy cold."

"No, blazing hot. That always works best."

"Are you crazy? Do you know what that'll do to her skin?"

A groan escaped from my lips as the whispers gradually grew more loud, making it more difficult to ignore.

"See? You upset her."

"Not my fault."

"Just wait until I tell Cinna."

I gripped a bunch of my comforter in a fist before opening my eyes to slits. My vision slowly focused, only to reveal my entire prep team hanging over me. I instantly sat up, giving out a startled gasp.

"Yay! She's awake!" Octavia cheered, bouncing as she clapped her plump hands together. I drowsily gave her an incredulous look before something clicked at the back of my mind. Today was the day of the interviews.

I didn't bother to show any sign of protest as my prep team dragged me out of bed and to the bathroom, stripping me completely and immediately going to work on my skin. My eyes were still clouded with sleep as I curiously watched Venia whip out a gold powder and brush it onto my thigh thickly.

Coaching with Effie and Haymitch was over. They had done everything they could do to help me, and I was still hopelessly uninteresting. This thought lingered in my mind, making my chest sink as I felt multiple brushes and moisturizers rub against my body.

At this point, my only hope of being able to appear half as appealing as Haymitch expected me to be on stage was if Cinna made me so stunning, it wouldn't matter what came out of my mouth. Maybe his designs would do the impossible and save me, just as they had before the chariot ride.

But then again, even if everything else went terribly, I still had something to fall back on. Gale. He always did have a way with enchanting people, which he did unintentionally and obliviously. Our broadcasted relationship, as much as I hated to admit to myself, was probably the most interesting part of me.

I was set in a chair in the center of the bathroom, and ended up letting my eyes shut closed and give in to sleep. It was probably to my prep team's advantage, since my limbs wouldn't unconsciously jerk away at the sight of tweezers if they were limp with slumber.

When I awoke again, it was late into the afternoon and my skin was already made to look like glowing satin. My arms were penciled with subtle white designs and my twenty nails were filed and painted with flames.

"Good morning, sunshine," Flavius said in a cheerful tone, already more than halfway through curling my dark hair. Octavia was rubbing a clear substance into the strands, making the curls fall glossily in a curtain around my shoulders.

"I was beginning to think that she was going to sleep through the interviews," Venia muttered. She was on the opposite side of the bathroom filling a metal tray up with different assortments of make-up. She quickly made her way over to me before handing the tray to Octavia and taking control of my hair, loosely braiding it to the side and making it fall down my right shoulder in a wave.

Octavia and Flavius went to work with the makeup, brushing my face with precision as they erased my features with a layer of pale powder and drew them out again. It only took a couple of moments before they stepped away, revealing my new, airbrushed face to me in the mirror.

My lips were left alone, and when I asked, Octavia just giggled and chimed, "We don't want any makeup accidentally smearing onto the boy's mouth!" I felt myself visibly stiffen before she began applying dark makeup around my eyes, blocking my view of the mirror once again.

Cinna entered the bathroom with a big, black bag in his hands that zipped up the side. He responded to my confused gaze by gesturing to the bag with his gold-flecked eyes and explaining that he had covered the dress, still wanting it to be a surprise for everyone. His tone was warm with excitement.

I was brought to a tall mirror before being ordered to close my eyes. I obeyed, and almost instantly felt the silken material of the dress slide over my body. It must have weighed at least forty pounds, which gave me a start and almost made me lose my balance.

Someone offered me their hand, and I clutched it as I blindly stepped into a pair of shoes laid out neatly in front of me. They were cushioned on the inside, and at least four inches shorter than the heels Effie had me work in. I quietly let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh, she looks beautiful!" I heard Octavia squeal to my side. Warm hands adjusted the side of the dress as eager voices of approval rang from my prep team.

"Yes, she does," Cinna agreed softly, a smile apparent in his voice. "You can open your eyes now, Girl on Fire."

My eyes slitted open, and I was immediately given a start by the figure looking back at me in the mirror. I blinked my eyes ferociously in disbelief, making my eyelashes throw off bits of light as I peered at myself. My shining dark eyes and shimmering, smooth skin adorned with patterns of white flames just barely noticeable against the golden powder evenly brushed against my skin, complimenting the dress...Oh, the dress...

Its silken fabric was covered in flame-colored jewels around my torso, reflecting light with its precious gems in a way that made it seem like tongues of fire were licking up my sides. It was tight around my hips, complimenting my humble figure just as it cut off on my lower stomach and jutted out with flaring bits of fabric that stopped just above my knees. The heels felt sturdy under my feet, but looked as fragile as glass from the outside, making me look a lot more graceful than I really was. They seemed to reflect warm shades of orange and red, giving the illusion of fire sizzling at my feet.

It was no exaggeration to say that I was standing there with all the radiance of the sun.

We all stood in silence, just soaking in the genius of Cinna's work before I quietly choked out, "Thank you."

Cinna grinned, his gaze sweeping over me with confidence. "Twirl for me."

I obeyed, tearing my gaze away from the mirror before I slowly spun myself around. The flares of fabric grazing my thighs flew up and swayed together in blurs of warm colors, and the gems seemed to be awakened by the sudden movement as they immediately began to reflect light more colorfully, making the illusion of fire more vivid and bright. I heard my entire prep team squeal in admiration to my side, making my lips tighten into a smile.

"Perfect," Cinna said vacantly, sounding like he was talking to himself. His deep-in-thought expression was quickly broken by my prep team screaming shrill variations of, "I need a dress like that for Snow's next party!"

Cinna proceeded to politely dismiss the prep team, making them disappointedly scatter out of the room, their voices growing small as they complained under their breaths. A sudden silence filled the air when the trio had left, making Cinna and I exchange a look of equal relief before he quickly directed his focus back to the dress.

"Is everything comfortable?" He asked, studying the delicate patterns swirling over my arms with adept eyes. I nodded in response, still slightly mesmerized by my own reflection.

Cinna had me spend the next couple of minutes walking along the tiled floors of the bathroom, getting a feel for the dress as I moved around in it. The shoes were infinitely more comfortable than the heels Effie had me in, making taking steps in them almost effortless. The dress was much shorter than the full-length gown, cutting off just at the end of my thighs, making it so that I wasn't tempted to hike it up when I walked.

"You're going to blow them away," Cinna mused. I slowly gave him a tensed, sheepish smile in response, which made him furrow his eyebrows questionably before asking, "Is something bothering you?"

I let out a quiet sigh before looking down at my feet, the reflective shoes almost making me lose my train of thought. "I'm going to ruin everything," I mumbled in a small voice, avoiding Cinna's gaze as my eyes began to nervously dart around the bathroom, "Everyone has such high expectations for me, but I couldn't even answer Haymitch when he was asking me interview questions during coaching. The only things I have going for me are your designs and Gale." My throat tightened by the end of the sentence, making my words seem more strained than I had intended.

I heard Cinna quietly click his tongue in thought before he replied. "You have no idea, do you? How brightly you're shining to both the citizens of the Capitol and the Gamemakers?" My eyes flew up to give him a confused stare, which made the corners of his lips curl into a grin. "Your spirit, Katniss. It has made you the center of attention, and you're so caught up in your faults that you're not even noticing it."

It took a moment for me to be able to respond after letting his words sink in. "My spirit?"

Cinna's grin widened, as if he was hoping that I'd ask. "The same spirit that made Haymitch go sober, made you score an eleven from the Gamemakers," he paused and pursed his lips before continuing, "...and made you volunteer for your sister."

I felt myself flinch at the thought of Prim, an image of her angelic face immediately taking up my thoughts. Cinna wandered over to my side and wrapped a light, encouraging arm around my shoulders before breaking the silence once more. "What I'm saying is that Haymitch wouldn't have told you to act like yourself if he thought you wouldn't do well."

I hesitantly nodded my head. It wouldn't be the first time I felt like I was undeserving of Cinna's confidence. His calm voice instantly roused me, as if he could read my thoughts. "Suppose that, during your interview, you were talking to a close friend instead of Caesar Flickerman. Perhaps...Gale?"

It was the first time I had heard Cinna refer to Gale by his name instead of 'the boy tribute.' I shot him a look before pressing my lips together in thought. "Yes, but that doesn't make sense," I muttered in an almost defeated tone, "He wouldn't be asking those questions. He already knows everything there is to know about me."

As if on cue, a knock on the door echoed throughout the bathroom. "Cinna, the boy is ready. Can we get a move on? Effie wouldn't be pleased if we're late." It was Portia, her voice filled with anxiousness.

Cinna wrinkled his eyebrows at the door, obviously not done with his pep talk. "Of course, Portia. Is the boy with you right now?"

"Yup." This time, it was Gale responding. His voice sent a rush of choking warmth through my chest. "The Capitol will probably like this suit, by the way. Very sparkly." There was an obvious edge of sarcasm in his tone, but the stylists seemed unaffected by it.

"Just wait until you see Katniss' dress," Portia said, loudly gripping the handle on the other side of the door, "Can we come in?"

I suddenly felt very self conscious, the makeup and dress weighing me down much more than it had a moment ago.

"Yes, we should all probably get going to the elevator, anyway," Cinna encouraged. I felt a horrified grimace twist my features as I fought a powerful urge to retreat and hide in a corner. I stood stiffly and watched the door fling open, revealing an impatient looking Portia and a slightly bored Gale. His features seemed to brighten at the sight of me, his eyebrows springing upward as he shamelessly let his gaze rake up and down my figure.

I unconsciously began to study him, a breath getting caught in my throat. His tanned skin seemed untouched by makeup, but his gray eyes were somehow made even more piercing and mesmerizing under his tousled raven hair. A black dress shirt was purposely buttoned messily and tightly around his chest, revealing a firm set of muscles under it. The same fiery effect was added to his dark, slim-fitting pants, but was much more subtle than the gems that wrapped around my torso.

"Wow," we both seemed to mumble simultaneously, causing chuckles to come out of the stylists.

"C'mon, we don't have all day. You two can ogle at each other later," Portia insisted, grabbing Gale by the arm and half-pulling him out of the room.

Cinna continued to chuckle quietly, his hazel eyes directed toward the floor as Portia and Gale took their exit. I made a move to follow them, but he stopped me by gently holding back my arm. "Wait a second."

He quickly responded to my questioning look, his words filled with the same confidence as earlier. "If you can't imagine Gale asking you the questions, what about me? Do you consider me a friend?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but was cut off by Portia intently calling for us from the hallway.

"I'll be sitting on the main platform with the other stylists in plain view. Just find me when you're asked a question," Cinna said, not waiting for my response before gesturing towards the bathroom door. "Shall we go? Before Portia rips my head off?"

I couldn't stop a smile from forming on my lips as I followed Cinna out of the room, suddenly feeling a wave of determination surge through me.

Gale and I could easily overtake the other tributes. We've already attracted more attention than the past District 12 tributes combined, wrecking through the competition with both the beauty and destruction of two, untamed fires.

Thanks so much for reading!