ForFutureReference: Your comment made me really happy because that's exactly how I came up with Prim's score! Giving a twelve year old anything over an eight would mean that there's no way the Careers would let her get out of the bloodbath alive, just like they made Katniss a total target – and I don't think they'd want to have Prim gone that early on! And a higher score than Peeta would have been slightly unrealistic...

everyone: Thank you so much for the reviews, especially those of you who review almost every chapter! It makes writing so much more fun!

Now enough of my ramblings and on to Chapter Twelve...

)o(

I sleep rather well that night, finally not being plagued by nightmares.

I awake to Effie knocking on my door, trillering her ususal "It's going to be a big, big, big day!"

After a quick shower, I go to have breakfast. For some reason, Haymitch, Effie and Peeta are quietly speaking to eachother around the table. I briefly wonder what's going on but decide that if I need to know, they'll tell me, so I go pick out what to eat.

They're silent by the time I join them at the table and I raise my eyebrows at them but say nothing. It's odd but for now, I'm too hungry to care. Once my stomach is satisfied, I turn to Haymitch."Today's the coaching for the interviews, right? You can go ahead, I'm almost done eating."

"Yeah, well, there's a change in strategy,"our mentor tells me."Peeta asked to be coached seperately."

"Oh,"is all I say in reply. I'm not sure how I should feel about that. It kind of makes sense, having Haymitch to yourself puts all attention on your strategy. The brother/sister adorable thing we had going so far can't go on for ever and I need to learn to act on my own, anyway. Like I did in the Gamemaker session. Peeta and I won't be allies in the arena. I'd hinder him in fights, he's too big to climb and hide the way I intend – we haven't talked about it but it's obvious we both agree on that.

I'm suddenly very aware of everyone staring at me, Peeta looking very guilt-ridden. I shrug and smile to show I don't mind."So, who do I start with?"

"You have four hours with Haymitch for content, four with me for presentation,"Effie replies."You'll be with me first, Primrose."

We move to my room and I have an inkling that the next four hours will be horribly exhausting – Effie's quite the perfectionsit, after all.

She puts me in a floor-length gown and shoes with ridiculously high heels. Well, they're not even half as high as Effie's but they have to be atleast three inches. She smiles apologetically as I have to grab on to her arm to even get up."I can't see Cinna putting you in anything over two inches, but I thought we'd better make sure."

Once I get the hang of balancing about on these death traps and walk in a way that Effie deems graceful – apparently I moved too stiffly before – we move on to sitting. There seems to be more you can do wrong than right here. Posture's horrible, too, because I did not realise that I slump my shoulders and am now overly conscious of what my shoulders are doing.

I'm fine on eye contact and hand gestures though and apparently a natural in smiling.

Nevertheless, Effie lets me recite a bunch of meaningless stuff, starting with a smile, ending with a smile, while smiling, just to make absolutely certain.

We still have almost an hour left when Effie decides that I'm ready, smiling brightly."It's because you actually cooperate, Primrose, most tributes don't."

"You can call me Prim,"I blurt out. I like Effie and being adressed by my given name rather than my nickname just reminds me I'm not home. She beams at me and orders us snacks from the mouthpiece in my room and then we just sit around eating while I let good posture and crossing your legs at your ankles become second nature.

Somehow, I end up telling her about home, about Lady and Buttercup, Katniss and Mum, Livia and Estelle, and about Rory, Rory, Rory.

It's not until I catch her knowing smile that I notice that I keep talking about him and blush beet-red. I hastily change the subject, trying to learn a few tricks on how to make Capitol citizens like and, more importantly, sponsor you.

We actually manage to miss lunch and don't notice until Haymitch wrenches open the door."You gonna hand the girl over or did you decide to keep her, princess?"

Effie is absolutely flustered at having messed up her own schedule and I can't help but laugh along with Haymitch a little bit as she starts frantically apologising to no one in particular and rushes off to go coach Peeta.

Haymitch and I move to the dining room and sit down. He scrutinises me for a bit while I simply sit there, smiling back at him politely. Suddenly he lets out a low chuckle."God, I bet Effie's pleased with you. Our tributes usually don't get – that."

He waves his hand around to indicate my general posture. He's right, I'm sitting exactly the way she told me to. I'm even still wearing my heals and I've completely forgotten them until now. I just shrug and smile wider."I take all the help I can get."

"So what's your approach?"he asks."Likeable? Can't quite believe you're here? All this is just so amazing?"

I nod."With a dash of 'I can win this thing, you just watch me'."

"Building on that eight in training,"he agrees."We should probably also tug some heartstrings, you're perfect for that. That sister of yours who wanted to take your place is bound to come up. But don't you dare cry. Just all that you love her so much and want to go back to her blah blah. A lot of sponsors are sentimental saps, trust me."

The next few hours are spent with Haymitch firing question after question at me while I try to answer in a winning fashion, smile firmly plastered on my face. He corrects me here and there – too sweet, not sweet enough, the Capitol doesn't want to hear that, be more enthusiastic, be mysterious, be more open. It gives me a headache but after a while I get the hang of which questions warrant which kind of answer – a cocky smile at the mention of my score, an air of wonderment at the clothes and food, gush at this, be serious about that.

I breath a sigh of relieve when finally he's out of questions and has a semi-smile on his face."You'll do fine, kiddo. Just do it like you did now."

Effie and Peeta enter the room for dinner right that second, perfectly punctual. Effie's probably still upset about being late earlier.

Everyone's in a pretty good mood during dinner and I instantly know Peeta's sessions must have gone great aswell. I sigh contentedly as I sip my hot chocolat. I'm by no means happy to be here but Katniss is home safe and sound, so what does it really matter?

And I'm far from out of the running, I tell myself as I crawl into bed that night.