Chapter 11

"She'll do fine," I say to Peeta as we take our seats in the audience among the crowds of Capitol citizens. He still seems nervous, despite Kim's reassurance (if you can call it that).

Peeta smiles at me. "I hope so, Katniss. Rory will do great."

"Yeah, I had it easy. Everyone loves Rory."

"People love Kim, too."

I'm slightly taken aback by Peeta's comment. "Of course, I'm sure. She has a family, after all."

"Yes, but that's not what I mean. She was pretty popular back in school, Katniss."

This takes me by surprise. I guess I hadn't really thought much about what Kim's life in District 12 was like. It's hard for me to picture her as anything but this angry, mad-at-her-stars girl that is the only version of Kim I've ever known. I've never paid much attention to social life in school, especially the social life of people who aren't in my year, or aren't from the Seam.

"She and I have talked about it a little," Peeta continues. "I kind of remember seeing her around, but it's like she's a completely different person now."

I don't know what to say, so I just squeeze Peeta's hand. I can't stop trying to picture Kim chatting and laughing with a group of girls, but for some reason the picture won't form.

A minute or two later, a loud, disembodied voice announces the arrival of the host of the Hunger Games, Caesar Flickerman. He's dressed in a familiar blue suit with matching hair. The crowd cheers as he takes the stage and greets his audience with a low bow and lots of waving before taking a seat. A curtain is lifted to reveal the 24 tributes, all sitting in their own chairs behind him. My eyes flicker to Rory, who seems to be hiding his nerves well.

"She's smiling!" Peeta exclaims.

My head whips over in Kim's direction faster than if would have if Peeta had just suggested that she had turned into a stalk of celery. To my complete and utter shock, my boy with the bread spoke the truth. "No way!" I blurt out, unable to come up with a more intricate sentence.

Peeta and I are both still gaping at Kim when Flickerman calls up the tribute for the first interview; the girl from District 1. The District 12 tributes will go last, as usual. I don't pay much attention to the interviews, as they were all more or less the same kind of things that happen every year. Flickerman is able to keep them interesting with his amazing social skills, but I find myself too nervous for Rory to really focus on anything else. I know he'll do fine, but still. This is important.

Finally, the boy from District 11 returns to his seat, and it's Kim's turn to join Flickerman downstage.

"Welcome, Kim! It's great to have you here tonight," Caesar Flickerman begins.

"Thanks, Caesar, it's wonderful to see you!" Kim replies cheerfully. Peeta and I lose the use of our jaw muscles.

"Thank you, I'm sure everyone is excited to see you as well!" Kim waves, and the crowd cheers in response. "So Kim, what do you think of the Capitol? It's quite a bit different from District 12, I hear!"

"A lot different, yes," Kim agrees. "In fact, I was just thinking earlier about how much more open it is here!"

"It's quite a big city! Were you surprised by the size of it all?"

"I suppose I was, but that's not what I meant."

"Oh, well, by all means, please explain."

"It's open. Free, you know? Not built like a prison like the districts, with electric fences surrounding them." Peeta's eyes meet mine as we realize with a sudden horror what Kim is doing.

"Kim, please, no," Peeta pleads under his breath. I hook my arm around Peeta's and lean forward in my seat, trying hard to remember to breathe.

"Well, it's for the protection of the districts, of course," Flickerman replies.

Kim's pleasant, even genuine-looking smile never fades from her face. "Of course. And that's another thing about this city; it's safe. I mean, it must be if it doesn't need protection like the districts, right?"

"Well-"

"And all of the food and technology you all have here! The districts are where all of it comes from, and yet not a single district can even begin to compare!"

"Right, well…"

"It's so strange to think, Caesar. Given the fact that the rebellion was 75 years ago now, for almost everyone alive in Panem right now, the difference between life in the Capitol and a life heavily affected by the Hunger Games is simply a matter of being born into the wrong family."

"Yes, I… I suppose…"

"Cat got your tongue, Caesar?" Kim asks with an actual giggle.

Peeta and I have begun to drool. Never once before now have I ever seen Caesar Flickerman go speechless.

Flickerman laughs nervously. "I certainly hope not! When my cat gets ahold of things, I never see them again!"

The crowd, which had gone silent, laughed at that a bit longer than they should have, presumably just glad to hear an aspect of the interviews that they recognized.

"Well unfortunately, Kim, our time is up. Ladies and gentlemen, Kim Westin!"

Kim stands up, curtsies, and returns to her chair at the back of the stage. Rory beams at her. The crowd breaks into an awkward applause. It's clear that most people have no idea what just happened. Peeta and I cheer, our subtle way of saying 'you go girl'. Why fight Kim's spirit? It's something everyone living in the districts can relate to.

"And now, please welcome the last, but certainly not least, tribute for the night, Mr. Rory Hawthorne!"

The crowd cheers as Rory makes his way to where Kim had been just moments before. Flickerman seems relieved to able to move on.

"How are you doing this evening, Rory?" Flickerman asks.

"You know, I'm actually doing pretty well, Caesar," Rory replies. He's clearly as amused by Kim's performance as Peeta and I are.

"I'm certainly glad to hear it! So, I hear District 12 has decided to switch things up a bit this year! What with you being mentored by the female mentor, and Kim being mentored by the male mentor."

"Right, well we had a bit of a special circumstance."

"So I've heard! Katniss Everdeen is your cousin, is she not?"

"Yeah, she and I thought we'd both feel better if she was the one to mentor me."

"We've got a bit of a family effort going this year! How has that been working out?"

"Things seem to be going pretty well! Katniss knows what she's doing, of course. And I think it helps a bit that we already knew each other and had a strong connection even before any of this happened. We've been pretty in sync with each other."

"It sounds like things are so far so good, then! Though it must be hard for Katniss. A lot of pressure is put on the mentors under normal circumstances, but you're family. Does any of that add to your worries about the games?"

"I'm not going to lie, Caesar. It does a bit. That and thinking of my family back home. We're barely able to scrape by. I'll be old enough to work in the mines in a few years, and we really need the extra income, especially after my father's death."

"It sounds like there's a lot of pressure all around. Well, Rory, I wish you the best of luck, and hope for your family. But I'm afraid that's all the time we have for tonight. Rory Hawthorne, ladies and gentlemen!"

The crowd cheers. Rory waves and returns to his seat beside Kim.

"That concludes the interviews for the 75th Hunger Games! Let's hear it for our tributes!" The crowd roars excitedly around me. "Happy Hunger Games to all, and may the odds be ever in your favor! Goodnight, everybody!" And with that, Caesar Flickerman waves to the audience and exits the stage. The curtain falls on the 24 tributes.

Back on the 12th floor, Peeta and I are reunited with Effie, Kim, and Rory.

"Way to go, guys!" Peeta exclaims. Both Rory and Kim are still smiling. I have to say; smiling suits Kim.

"That was awesome!" I agree.

"Yes, excellent job, Rory. Yours and Katniss' family effort certainly sparks interest with the sponsors. And Kim… For some reason, I'm not really sure what was going on with your interview. Oddly enough I think you've left a lot of people rather confused, but you definitely attracted attention, which is good!" Effie says.

"That's the idea," Kim says cheerfully.

"I thought it was brilliant!" Rory exclaims.

We all try to go to bed early. After all, tomorrow is the official start of this year's games. We'll all need our energy, Rory and Kim especially. However, much like my final night in the Capitol before the 74th Hunger Games, I find myself unable to sleep at all.

After an hour or two of lying awake in bed, I give up any remaining hope of being rested in the morning. Quietly as I can, trying not to disturb Peeta in the process, I roll out of bed and tiptoe my way out the door and up to the roof. Roof access is one major advantage to living on the top floor. The view is so pretty from up there, and the fresh air is a great way to clear your head.

Momentarily, I'm surprised to find Kim already up here. However, the surprise is pretty short-lived.

"Can't sleep?" I ask as I join her near the edge of the roof, looking down upon the city.

Kim shakes her head. "Too nervous, I guess," she replies.

"So was I. I came up here my last night, too."

"Sometimes I forget. That you and Peeta were in the same situation last year. That you understand how it feels. It's just so easy to be angry at everyone involved in this stupid thing."

"I know, believe me, I've been there. And I had Haymitch as a mentor, it's easy to get mad at him, too."

"But you and Peeta have just been trying to help me. You're the only ones on my side."

"It may seem like that now, but you've got most of Panem on your side. So many people have been affected by these games. And most of the Capitol is so clueless. That was some interview earlier, by the way."

Kim grins. "Thanks. I just figured, I'm most likely going to die soon, anyway." I'm about to say something, but Kim stops me. Technically, given the odds, she's right, and probably doesn't want to listen to false reassurance at this point. "So before I die, I thought I'd take the opportunity to speak out against the Capitol a bit."

"Well, from the sound of things, it looks like you've confused a lot of people. Called into question things that Capitol citizens have been taught all their lives in a subtle way that most of them haven't even realized yet. Maybe some of them will think it over, and figure it out. Maybe you've implanted some actual thoughts into the minds of people who have been mindlessly following their government for years."

"Maybe. I'd like to see somebody stand up to the government. You could probably do it. You and Peeta. Rory too. Make sure he wins, Katniss. You guys could change Panem."

"Don't count yourself out yet. You've certainly got the spirit to change Panem. Kimberly Westin, the one person in all of history to leave Caesar Flickerman speechless!"

Kim and I share a laugh (is a sentence I never thought I'd say). Just then, the door opens and Peeta and Rory join us with a tray of steaming mugs.

"Who were we kidding?" Peeta asks. "None of us ever had any chance of falling asleep tonight. Hot chocolate?"

The four of us stand together in the refreshing night air, sipping hot chocolate and gazing out at the city until we're too tired to keep our eyes open.