Chapter 11
"Finnick you need to annunciate so that everyone can understand what you are saying no matter where they are in the room." Julius critiques
"Won't I be wearing a microphone Julius why will I need to annunciate?"
"Because if you don't have clear speech people won't be able to understand you and if people can't understand you how do you think you will get sponsors?"
According to James I don't need any more sponsors. I'm still wondering if he was telling the truth.
"Ok well I will tell Mags what you need to work on because I have to check in with Elle to see if I can give her an attitude adjustment."
Julius skips out of the room.
Mags comes in after a few minutes.
"Apparently you need to learn how to annunciate" Mags jokes.
"Yes we should work on that." I say sarcastically.
Mags smiles and shakes her head.
"How are you Finnick. I feel like I haven't been seeing you enough of you especially since you are my tribute."
"Don't worry Mags you have given me great advice. Besides you can really help me when I get into the arena if I get sponsors that is." I pretend I don't know about all of my sponsors but from the expression Mags is hiding I can tell that James was telling the truth.
"Yes well I'm sure I can come up with some." She smiles at me and sits on the edge of my bed.
"Are you worried about your outfit for this evening?"
I don't care what I'm wearing I'm just worried about Abbi and Emma. I think to myself.
"Not really. I trust Louise and my personality will help even if it isn't that great looking."
"That's nice Finnick. You're such a sweet boy."
"Thank you."
Just then Abbi and Emma burst through the room. They are barley wearing anything just pieces of material that cover up their private areas. They leave nothing to the imagination. Just there outfits are making me uncomfortable.
"Hello Finnick." They say in unison.
"Abbi, Emma" I smile and wink at them. I need the practice for my alter ego and these girls are the perfect audience. However the way they look at me just reminds me of the nightmare.
"Louise talked to us Finnick." Emma states
"Will be sure to behave." Abbi says with a seductive tone and starts creasing my face with her pale pink skin.
My skin begins to crawl
"Ahem" I hear Mags say.
"Who's that?" They say in unison and with a great deal of jealously in their voice.
"That's my mentor Mags."
She smiles and waves and says
"Did you girls run out of time to get ready this morning?"
"No." They say in unison again.
"Why do ask? Do you not think we look nice?" They both twirl and the fabric goes every which way. I look away because I do not wish to see them naked.
"No I ask because it looks like you forgot to put on the rest of your outfit. Looks as if you ran out in your underwear."
I muffle a laugh.
"Well fashion is different here than it is back in District 4 Mags." Abbi states
She nods but clearly doesn't care.
"Well it doesn't matter we have to get Finnick ready for his interview." Abbi says clearly trying to get Mags to leave.
"Well go ahead no one is stopping you." Mags looks at me and winks. I wonder if Louise talked to her as well. If he didn't it doesn't matter I feel comfortable with her here.
Abbi and Emma take me into the bathroom and there is some weird thing in the shower.
"What the hell is that?" I ask confused.
"Don't you know Finnick?" Emma asks with a dumbfounded look.
"It's because he isn't Capitol Emma. That is a spray tanner Finnick. It will make your skin tan." Abbi says annoyed.
"But I'm already tan?"
"It's to make your eyes stand out. It was Louise's idea." Emma says with a gentler tone. I must say out of the two of them I do like Emma better. Abbi seems like the instigator and Emma just follows her blindly.
"Abbi I can take care of this. Why don't you set up everything else."
"Fine." Abbi says clearly annoyed and stops out of the bedroom. and Emma and I are left alone.
"Alright Finnick. Step into the shower. When you get in there I will close this curtain. Then you should strip down—.
I cringe. Emma must have noticed because she stops talking.
She pats my shoulder lightly. "Don't worry Finnick. I won't do anything to you."
"Louise did talk to you."
"Yes and I am sorry that you feel that we have taken advantage of you truly I am."
"Really so you and Abbi actually feel sor—
"Abbi doesn't Finnick. That's why I sent her out of the room." She pauses. "She does this with all of the tributes. That's why I sent her away."
"Then why don't you stop her? or tell Louise? Why do you follow her blindly when you clearly think it is wrong?"
Emma puts her blue hand on my shoulder and says whispers "Because I'm afraid of what she might do to me." I look at her arm and notice that she has purple splotches all up and down her arms. I think it is just a fashion thing but deep down I know that they are bruises. I wonder what Abbi does to her, her own sister. She doesn't say anything after a few minutes I figure she won't.
"So I'm supposed to step in here?" I motion to the shower.
Emma looks confused by my question and then realizes that I am talking about the spray tanner.
"Yes, when you are in there strip down to your underwear. Then places your clothes outside, then stand in the center and put your arms out like this.
She stands at the center and looks like a lower case "t".
"Then tell me when you are ready and I will press the buttons. Close your eyes and try not to move or else it might come out uneven, also it will be cold so prepare yourself."
She hands me a hair net and I step into the shower. I do as she instructors and then shout "I'm ready."
I hear her fiddling with buttons and she shouts
"Ok be ready in 3, 2, 1."
The machine starts to mist me with some spray. It is cold and smells terrible it only last a couple of seconds I thought it would be longer.
"Ok step out and let me see."
I step out and look at the mirror. I am visibility darker and my eyes do stand out, they are like gleaming emeralds.
"I need to spray this on you to make sure so it doesn't run."
I stand in the same "t" formation and she sprays something that is sticky but it smells like honey I bet that masks the smell of the chemicals from the spray.
"Ok you're done. Put this one." She hands me a white robe. "Don't worry if some of the spray rubs off that is normal."
I nod put the robe on and she takes my hand and ushers me to my bedroom.
When we get to the bedroom the floor is cover in all different products, I wonder what all that stuff is. I couldn't imagine being a girl they probably have twice as much stuff.
"Finnick you look gorgeous. I'm just jealous I didn't get to be the one to assist you in the bathroom." Abbi gives me a wink and flirty smile. What happened to this girl? Her sister seems normal. What happened to her to make her like this?
"Well you are better at setting things up." Emma says.
I go to sit down but they both yell stop.
"I'm sorry Finnick I forgot to tell you, you can't sit for an hour. Even though I sprayed you down there is still a chance that the spray tan may run. You don't want to look uneven." Emma says
"Alright."
They take off the hair net and start fiddling with my hair. They start putting on that slime then the spray. Then they start putting some sort of clips into my hair. Then they go onto the face and start smearing the creams, first the white one, then the green, and finally the skin tone. They stop to admire their work.
"Does it look alright?" Abbi asks.
"I think so but maybe we need an outsider's opinion. Mags, what do you think?"
I almost forgot Mags was in the room. She walks over to me, looks me up and down and smiles.
"He looked fine but he looks better now." Mags says kindly.
"Ok great but we are still not done." Abbi says with excitement.
They start putting the shimmering powder on my face. Then grab a tube that has a brush with black gunk on the bristles they put it on my eyelashes and it burns.
"Is that stuff supposed to burn my eyes?"
"It should pass in a minute if it doesn't let us known and we will take it off." Emma says
It does pass in a minute. However, my eyes teared up and now they need to put on more of the powder. They then step back
"Twirl" Abbi commands.
I do as I am told.
"Ok I think phase one is complete. Now take off the robe so we can start painting." Abbi states
"Painting?"
"Body painting. We are going to add designs like a tattoo but don't worry it will wash off." Emma explains
"Louise wouldn't let us do real tattoos" Abbi sounds annoyed by this.
They open up a case that has silver, teal, and blue containers. Emma opens one of the containers and it looks the same as the creams that they smear on my face. They grabs brushes and start by makes intricate circles with the silver –they look exactly like Louise's' tattoos—it starts at my left shoulder and goes down in a diagonal line to my right hip. They then continue the line and do the same on my back. I assume that I am going to be shirtless for my interview because why else would they be painting me. They use the blue and teal to fill in the circles. They then add some squiggle lines to make it look more abstract. They spray me down with the sticky honey smelling stuff. Emma then grabs something from the makeup pile. It looks like a pencil but is silver. She puts the silver stuff on the bottom and top of my eyes lids. It starts to burn and before I can ask she says.
"It is supposed to burn for a minute or two if I doesn't let us know." Emma says. She is very concentrated right now.
"Try not to cry again. It makes your pretty face look uneven. We don't want that." Abbi smirks. She looks like she wants to be somewhere else or doing something else.
"Ok I think we are done. Louise will come in, in shortly to look you over and then show you the outfit."
They both skip out of the room and I am left alone with Mags.
"What do you think?"
"I think you will have an easy time working The Capitol women. Is that still your angle?" Mags says
"It was, unless you have a suggestion?"
"No I think that this strategy will work in your favor." Mags smiles.
I wish I could ask her about my sponsors. I want to know if James was telling the truth but I'm afraid I will get him into trouble. He did say he had broken some rules.
"Besides I think Louise constructed your outfit tonight with that in mind. " Mags smiles
"Does Louise do this with every tribute?"
"Oh yes. I talk with Louise about the direction my tribute wishes to take. Whether it be tough, weak, funny, smart, sweet, or flirtatious. He tries and uses that as inspiration for the outfit."
I nod. "He cares what happens to the tributes doesn't he."
Mags smiles. "Yes he is one of the few people in The Capitol that actually does care about the fate of the tributes. He sees them as people and not objects for a game. He takes this as seriously as a mentor does—or should."
Just then Louise bursts through the door.
"Hello Finnick, Mags" he says with a smile.
"How did the preparations go today Finnick?" he says with a worried tone. In all honesty it did go good. Better than I thought it would. I thought I would've had a mental breakdown do to the nightmare I had last night but, I didn't. I did find out that Abbi is more evil than I thought she was. I even felt bad for Emma.
"It went well." He can tell I am telling the truth and then brings in a bag that I'm assuming has my outfit in it.
He pulls out what is in the bag. The pants are blue and Louise says that it is made from denim—whatever that is— It has accents of teal and silver in the stitching . He next pulls out a shirt –for lack of a better term. It is white it has a v-neckline and it is sheer so you can see right through it. This is why Abbi and Elle painted me.
"The foe tattoos are to make to make it look like you are from The Capitol. That will get them to like you. If they think you are one of them you will be adored. It is see through so that you can work off the façade that you want to.
"Why not just have me shirtless?" I ask. I can still work the angle but I am curious it is pretty much the same thing.
"Because there are dress codes. Each tribute must wear a shirt, pants, or a dress."
"And this counts as a shirt?"
"Yes it does. If fabric is on your body then it can be considered as a shirt. Besides I don't think anyone will deny it and if they do you can work your charm on them."
"Yeah I guess you're right."
Mags smiles "It will be alright Finnick just make the people in The Capitol love you and no one will care what you wear."
Well apparently they already love me at least according to James.
We head out to the common room. Elle, James, and her stylist are already out there. Elle is wearing a teal dress that when she moves the lights hit it to show off a silver tint. She has similar tattoos than I do except hers start on her shoulder continue in a v shape to her other shoulder. She has a crazy design of waves of her eyelids and her eyelashes are somehow light blue.
We head to the elevator and head to the ground floor. When we get there we see all of the other tributes and their stylists. All of the girls are wearing dresses and crazy makeup. The boys however, are wearing suits, nice blazers, shorts, and there are outfits like mine however no one else has a see through shirt.
"Nice outfit Odair." Onyx—the boy from 1 says. He is wearing nice pants a red shirt and blue blazer.
"Well you know I try."
"Yeah well I don't care how pretty you are or how much make up you wear. Tomorrow when we get in that arena you're mine."
"I don't think that will be the case."
"What do you mean?" He says shocked
"Well Elle already promised me that if I was to die it would be by her hands. So unless you want to die by killing me I would step off."
Onyx glares at me and then walks off.
"You look nice Finnick." Caeli
"Thanks, so do you." Caeli is wearing a short pink dress, silver heels and her hair is falling down in curly ringlets. Her cheeks are very pink and she has big lashes. I think her stylist was going for a cute doll look. I must admit she does look very pretty.
"Yeah my stylist was going for the innocent look because when I get in the arena I will be vicious." She gives me an evil smile.
"So do you know the plan for tomorrow?" I whisper
"Yes."
Caesar Flickerman starts with the opening. Says he thinks this year's Hunger Games will be very exciting and says that all of the tributes have great potential.
The interviews starts Onyx and Ruby talk about how they will bring pride to their district if they win. Rainn and Clara talk about their training scores and their outfits. Collin and Caeli discuss their scores and how they think they will manage in the arena. They both recieved low scores I wonder what Caesar thinks about the tributes. Does he have a favorite?
Next up is Elle. She walks out to Caesar.
"Hello Elle. May I say you look marvelous tonight. Your stylist must be a genius!"
"Why yes Caesar, If I die in that arena tomorrow I'm just glad I got to wear such a pretty dress." I'm surprised by her actions what happened to being all tough?
"Yes as you should so are you worried for tomorrow?"
"Of course not Caesar the arena could be anything or have anything in it and I will still win and my family will be very proud once I make it back to District 4. It's like I said after I volunteered District 4 needs a new victor and I know this year they will." She smiles and winks to the crowd. They clap and scream in her honor.
The bell chimes signaling that her interview is over. She smiles and blows kisses to the crowd as she leaves.
"Good luck Finnick." Mags whispers in my ear.
"Now our next tribute has been all anyone can talk about. Please welcome the great Finnick Odair from District 4."
When I walk out on that stage there is a roar of emotions and I hear people yelling they love me some even are saying that they want to marry me. I haven't even spoken to them and I am getting declarations of marriage. I wonder if the citizens in The Capitol even know what real love is.
I walk giving waves, blowing kisses, and giving winks to women in The Captiol. I swear some of them look as if they might faint.
"Hello Finnick." Caesar greets me
"Hello Caesar." I say seductively.
"This is quiet the outfit Finnick. I think many people in the audience love it."
"Well you know Caesar I wanted to show off for the ladies out there after all this could my only chance I get to." I wink at the crowd and screams of joy come from the audience.
"Ahhaha That is very considerate Finnick. Now you received a very high score in training. Did you except to do so well?"
"I hoped I would Caesar but if I am being honest I thought I did rather poorly." I don't think I did poorly but I want the crowd to think that and the other mentors who think I got my score for good looks. They will tell the tributes that I am not a threat in the arena.
"You're just being modest no Finnick." Caesar jokes "But I think I am going to ask a question that is on everyone's mind out there… is there a special girl back in District 4?"
I laugh "Of course not and none of the girls back home compare to the ones in The Capitol. They are far more beautiful." I wink to the crowd and they erupt into a frenzy.
"Well maybe some lady out in The Capitol can capture your heart."
"Maybe."
The bell sounds
"Give it up for Finnick Odair from District 4."
I get up wink and blow kisses to the crowd. I have these Capitol women eating out of the palm of my hand. They are so easy manipulate it is almost sad.
"That was marvelous Finnick." I hear Julius beam.
"I thought so as well." I smile.
I expect the other tributes to be glaring at me but instead they are laughing at me. I think to myself good let them think I'm a joke that way it will come to a shock when I end up killing them.
I don't pay attention to the other interviews until they get to 7 not because of Amber but because I want to see how Cole got that 11.
"Hello, hello Cole."
"Hello Caesar." He says in a deadpan voice. I guess he is going for the tough guy act.
"Well you are the tribute who received the highest score from training tell me how did you do it."
"Well I just showed off my strengths and there are many of them." He gives with a wicked smile.
"I'm sure there especially with a score like that."
"Yes and it doesn't matter who or what tries to kill me in there because nothing or no one will be able to stop me. If they don't believe me they come and try."
Caesar says his goodbyes and then Amber is up. Amber talks about District 7 what winning would mean to her. What her secret weapon will be and the fact that she has already made some friends. Caser presses for more information on that but she just says "You'll see tomorrow."
The rest of the interviews go by and then we head back upstairs. The others are talking about the interviews. I couldn't care less. There are no more events that we have to do. Tomorrow is the arena and tomorrow I may die.