Katniss Everdeen

Madge assures me that I did perfectly fine, but I'm not so sure. My little duck is still in that arena, grieving for poor Rue and fighting for her life and so is Peeta, whom I owe a dept I can never even dream to repay. And all I can do for either of them is smile for the camera and put on a pretty dress. And I'm afraid I messed up even that, I'm not exactly the most likeable.

Without Madge, I wouldn't have had even the faintest clue what to say or do when the Capitolites showed up to interview us.

She coached us for ages, not afraid to snap at Gale or tell me to suck it up when I fretted and panicked. She even loaned me one of her dresses and did my hair and makeup. Apparently, the Capitol thinks the merchant/miner divide between my family and Peeta's is adorable but – and I quote Madge here – I shouldn't look too poor, as that would put them off.

I never realised just how much my friend has been forced to be around those Capitol people until she pretty much explained every little thing about them. They're like children in their silly ideas.

So Now I sit on the Hawthornes' sofa, waiting for the replay of the interviews. They show them live for the Capitol, of course, but we were too busy preparing our own interviews to watch.

The interviews start off with the usual Career district stuff: Cato and Clove's respective trainers and Academy mates, assuring the reporters that they'll win no matter what and are sure to remain the final two standing.

The only difference this year is that almost every single one of them expresses regret and sadness at one of the two having to kill the other – Clove's friends saying it's a pity about Cato, Cato's friends saying the exact opposite.

Clove's family is up first, the parents giving more or less the same statements as her trainer and her Victor aunt says a few words, too. Her sister, who's only a year younger than me and looks an awful lot like Clove, gets a lot more attention."Clove always said she'd make a much bigger splash in the Games than me, once my time comes."

I cringe at the thought of a family training not only one, but two children to fight for the Capitol's amusement, but the girl, Olive, doesn't seem to think anything of it."I mean, she always had the advantage of going in first but now with Cato? Yeah, I'm not going to top that."

The reporter laughs amicably, instantly taking the opening Olive probably gave him on purpose."So what do you thing of your sister's relationship with young Mr Hadley?"

"It's actually quite strange seeing her like this,"the girl replies, letting out a soft giggle that makes me sure I'll come across like I tittering moron by comparison."Clo's usually all business, no play. But anyone could see that she and Cato have something special. It's just so sad they won't make it home together."

It goes on for a while and I can tell that the Capitol will be eating it up. I curse that girl for taking away Prim's sponsors before I remember that she's like me. All she wants to do is save her sister.

Cato's parents and brother Nero are up next. The boy is a natural on camera, playing the audience much like Peeta could. He grins and jokes and makes the reporter laugh at his antics. He only gets somewhat serious when the interviewer brings up Clove."It's a real shame. My brother finally finds someone who gets him and then she has to die."

Then a sweet little girl of maybe ten comes on screen, smiling brightly and giving the camera a little wave."Hi! I'm Tulia Hadley and my big brother Cato is gonna win the Hunger Games!"

She says it with such conviction and adoration, I can't help but feel guilty for wishing her brother would just die already. The interviewer goes on to gently prompt her to speak about Clove, and she absolutely lights up at this."She's like a princess and I can't wait to meet her. I bet they'll get married when they come back home and I'll get to be bride's maid!"

Apparently no one has had the heart yet to tell her that there can be only one Victor. It's strange to see such innocence in a kid from the district most notorious for producing vicious tributes.

"You'd like for them to get married?"the interviewer asks and Tulia beams and gushes."I'd love that! And I already met Clove's sister Olive and she agrees that we would make great aunties."

Oh, the Capitolites are definitely eating this up.

District Four is really no different than it always is, although it's obvious that Felicia's friends and family do their best to keep the questions from straying to the subject of Cato and Clove. They hardly let the interviewer get a word in edgewise after he brings them up.

Amber's district pains me to watch. Her little brother is very quite and shy and it's clear he doesn't have much hope for her, even if he tries to hide it. If his sister's intellect is any indication, he must be smart enough to know that after Amber's outburst at Rue's death, she won't be allowed to win. They didn't let us see much of the redhead's reaction, but it was enough to make it clear that the Capitol won't be happy with her.

"We're very proud of her,"timid little Toby tells the camera, forcing a small smile."Am's really bright, so we're not surprised she made it that far. I hope she'll make it home. I miss her."

I grab a hold of mother's hand as she lets out a small sob, my heart breaking for the poor boy aswell.

District Nine gets barely any attention whatsoever. I must admit, I didn't even know the boy's name until now. Well, he hardly gets any screen time anyways, just enough to remind us he is still there. Trevor, as I learn he is called, has the same tactic I would have chosen had I entered the Games. He's hauled up in a tree, picking off game and mutts with a bow and arrow he is surprisingly good with.

All that is left of his family is his father, a strong-jawed man with a pained look in his eyes."My boy made it this far, no reason to assume he won't make it further."

Except for the fact that kids like Trevor rarely win.

Thresh has a grandmother and younger sister who resemble him in demeanour greatly. They point out his strength, his knowledge of getting himself food, the fact that he is a few inches taller than Cato but take no pride in the fact that he killed Marvel, which the Captiolites seem to think is some kind of honourable achievement.

Our district starts off with Peeta's side. It's mainly people from town but there are a few Seam kids in the mix aswell. Well, he's a sweet guy, obviously everyone likes him.

His oldest brother, Rye, is as skilled with working the audience as Peeta and his beautiful fiancée Laureen, the jeweler's daughter, makes a few comments about the boyfriend-qualities of the Mellark men that has the interviewers giggling."I'd thoroughly recommend it, Katniss."

Taftan is a lot blunter and straight forward, not having the way with words his father and brothers possess, but still the same charm."Well, yes, it's been obvious for years that Peet's into Katniss, you'd have to be blind not to see it"

Even Mrs Mellark comes across very likable, though she pointedly avoids mentioning me and rather focusses on her son and Prim.

"I'm very happy to have my three beautiful boys, but I've always wanted a little girl,"she coos sweetly."And seeing how much my Peeta cares about sweet Primrose is just precious."

"Katniss is my best friend and I've known Peeta since we were little kids,"Madge tells the audience, smiling sweetly in a very new, very expensieve dress."He's liked her for a really long time, of course. Katniss is kind of oblivious to such things, sadly. And I didn't feel it was my place to tell her. The funniest thing is that Katniss is so dense about feelings, she hasn't even realised she likes Peeta. It's always Peeta this and Peeta that and she still has no idea."

They laugh with her and I frown. She's just saying that for the audience, right? I look from Madge on screen to Madge sitting with Posy on her lap, but she refuses to catch my eye.

Gale joins Madge on screen – I insisted he not do his interview alone due to his temper – and surprises us all by how well he does. Well, with what is at stage we should have known he'd come through, but the way he actually smiles for the camera is so believable it is almost shocking."Prim and Katniss are like sisters to me. So I s'pose I should warn Mellark that he should treat Katniss nicely, but he's such a goner, the only thing I'm worried about is him feeding her too many cakes."

"Primmie's my best friend,"Rory says, looking very dapper in one of Peeta's old dress shirts that Taftan Mellark dropped of for him. The looking not too poor rule also applies to him. He blushes deeply."And, well, you've all seen her, heard her. It's impossible not to love her, right?"

"So you're saying she's not just a friend?"the reporter presses him. Rory fidgets nervously."So far we're only friends but I've been trying to work up the courage to ask her out. It'll be the first thing I'll do when she steps of that train."

And then I'm looking back at myself from the screen."Prim's the most important thing in my life. And Peeta being in the arena with her – on the one hand, there's no one I'd rather have there with my baby sister. But on the other, only one of them will make it home to me. And it breaks my heart."

I said what Madge had written out for me but only now that I see myself saying it do I realise that I actually mean it. The boy with the bread isn't planning on coming home and it's because of me. It pains me, and not because of the debt I have yet to repay him, even though I can't quite understand the ache in my chest.

The replay Olive, Tulia, Rory, me and Laureen's sly wink over and over again between shots of the arena and I don't think anyone's surprised when they announce the rule change.

Prim and Peeta can both come home.

)o(

Had anyone remembered that boy from Nine (aka Trevor) was still alive? Probably not, but he is :)