Alana and Kendall sat on the couch in the living room and leaned against Wiress as she grasped their hands. Next to them, Beetee sat with the boys. "Now, for District Three! Joule Casting: Five. Silver Ironsmith: Five." Claudius Templesmith announced. The girls clapped for the two boys as Beetee smiled at them and ruffled their hair. "Now for the girls of District Three! Alana Copperton: Four - a decent score for our youngest tribute!" Wiress wrapped her in a hug. "And Kendall Nickells: Three - her score matches her district!"
"Good job, kids." Beetee whispered. "They know you tried." He smiled at them. "Now you just have interviews."
"Do I have to wear makeup?" Joule asked wrinkling his nose. Beetee chuckled.
"Just some face powder, but everyone has to. No lipstick." Joule became more relaxed at Beetee's explanation.
"I hope I get a pretty dress!" Alana cheered as Wiress grinned having an idea.
"Beetee, you can train the boys and I can train the girls tomorrow morning and then Eustacia can take over in the afternoon!" Wiress suggested excitedly.
"Wait - interview training is all day?" Silver asked puzzled. "We only talk for three minutes."
"Yes, but they want you to look pretty and say the right stuff." Wiress explained. "It -" She swallowed down a gag. "It's for the sponsors."
"Ok." The tributes agreed before going to their rooms to prepare for bed.
The next day after a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, yogurt, pastries, and fruit, Beetee stood next to Joule and Silver in front of the large dresser mirror in his room as they practiced adjusting their ties. "Good job. The stylists will do it, but just in case you need to make any changes." Beetee said. Suddenly he heard a round of giggles from the hallway. Joule opened the door as someone knocked and began laughing at the sight in front of him.
"Ok, curtsey!" Wiress called to Alana and Kendall beside her. She and her charges were dressed in dresses with poufy skirts and wearing high heels. "Hello, Beetee. It's a pleasure to see you." She said sweetly to Beetee who was gawking at the giggling curtseying girls.
"Hello, ladies." Beetee said smiling and bowing to them. Giggling, the girls made their way back to their room.
"Walk straight!" Wiress called. "Now choose another dress and this time we're going to wave!" Beetee chuckled.
"I think my Wiress is letting the girls have fun with the dresses in their room." Beetee remarked laughing.
"I don't think I want to play dress-up." Silver muttered blushing. Beetee laughed.
"Well, I'll order some popcorn and us guys can chat." Beetee suggested. Joule and Silver nodded. After changing into sweats and t-shirts, the boys joined Beetee to discuss interview strategy. "So, what would you like to tell District Three tonight?"
"I represent the Engineering Academy." Joule began. "That's what Wiress said. And I'll tell everyone thanks for believing in me because I believe I can make it far." Beetee smiled.
"That's a good attitude to have." Beetee replied as Joule smiled.
"I'll tell Mom, Dad, and Copper hi." Silver answered. "I dunno. I guess I'm just an ordinary guy."
"Well, why do you want people to root for you?" Beetee asked.
"I guess I want to help my allies - we don't disclose allies during the interview do you?" Beetee shook his head. "I thought not. Yeah, that I'll work as a team just like I did in the factory back home." Beetee nodded.
After the girls practiced walking, sitting properly, and waving in various dresses, they relaxed and talked on Kendall's bed in the girls' room wearing yet another set of dresses. Wiress was combing and braiding Alana's hair and Kendall was reclined next to them propped up on the pillows examining her skirt that had green glitter on it. "So, what do you want to tell people back home?" Wiress asked.
"I love my mom, dad, Erica - my little sister, and Braxton, my big brother." Alana began. "Then I'll tell them not to underestimate me because I'm twelve." Wiress nodded.
"Why?" Wiress prodded.
"Because my mentor won when she was twelve." Alana replied simply as Wiress blushed.
"I -" Wiress began. "Oh - Alana!" She wrapped the girl in a hug before crying. Wiress pulled Kendall into the hug and they all wept.
"I hope you go far, Alana. You have spunk. Just like Wiress." Kendall responded holding her district partner's hand.
"What about you, Kendall?"
"I won't give up." Kendall answered. "I - I've seen your bravery Wiress. That's what made me not give up even though I will die there." Wiress sniffled. "Wiress, I don't know what you've faced here, but I know that you make it through. I want to do the same thing." Wiress nodded. "Well, I'm thinking I can't exactly say that, but I'll just say that I face each day with courage just like my mentor did in her games." The girls wrapped each other in a hug and had a good cry before it was time for lunch.
Wiress continued to pace an hour after the tributes had left for the remake center. "Wiress, it's ok. I heard you coaching them. They'll do fine." Beetee soothed putting his hands on her shoulders. Slowly, she turned around and wrapped Beetee in a hug. "They had fun with you, squirt."
"I - I know - but - I don't want to say goodbye." Wiress wailed. "Beetee - I have to say goodbye - and -"
"Shh, I know. You know what, I bet they'll miss you too. They'll work hard to come back." Beetee whispered.
"This part will hurt really bad, huh?" Wiress asked through her tears. As she stared into dark eyes that leaked tears behind wire glasses, she knew Beetee's answer.
"Oh - Wiress - And you hope someone comes back - I - I hoped you would come back so bad." Beetee whispered choking back a sob.
"I wanted - I wanted to be their friend because I remember being scared - but - now they have to leave."
"I know, sweetie. I know." Beetee whispered holding Wiress as she cried. "You have a few hours to let it out now." He held a sobbing Wiress and let a few tears fall into her dark hair. Though he was grateful another Victor shared his plight at growing close to and losing tributes, his heart was torn listening to Wiress' sobs knowing she would face this pain year after year. Eventually, their prep-teams entered the suite to prepare them for the interviews.
"Wiress, why don't we put you in the outfit you wore last year." Horatio suggested. He tugged her silver dress with gold gears and circuits over her head. "Well -" Horatio began as he tugged at it.
"I think I grew." Wiress said. "Capitol food is different from District Three." She reasoned. Yeah, it makes you sick. The food at the training center seemed more rich and nausiating than it had been at Kevius' apartment.
"Hm -" Horatio paused. "Your victory tour dresses fit you when you went to pre-Games parties." Wiress shrugged.
"Well, maybe you could - maybe Alana can wear the dress - please, Horatio, please, can she wear it? I don't want to waste it."
"I'll ask her stylist." Horatio said. "Actually - I have a dress that would be perfect for the occasion." Wiress tugged on her bathrobe as Horatio left the room with her old dress. Looking down at her feet, Wiress put her hands on her waist. Now that she thought about it, eating rich food of the Capitol had made her gain some weight. Even though she insisted on daily walks to get her out of the apartment and so she could have time to mull over her inventions, she knew they weren't balancing out the calories she took in at every meal. Even though the meals at the training center were more like feasts, Wiress found herself picking at the food more concerned about how her tributes were eating than what she ate herself. Soon Horatio came back. "Alana will wear the dress." Wiress squealed and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you so much!" Wiress gasped. After peeling her arms from his middle, Horatio held up a black dress with a v-line neck and a long slit up the side.
"A dress for a growing young lady." He said slipping it over her. Wiress wiggled uncomfortably knowing her front side was a bit too exposed for her liking.
"This is an inappropriate dress for public." Wiress announced. Horatio chuckled and handed her a silver shawl. "Thank you." She met Beetee in the living room. He was dressed in a silver suit and white shirt.
"Let's see our kids." Beetee said taking Wiress' hand in his.
"Alana Copperton." Ceaser Flickerman said as Alana caught Wiress' eye in the mentor section of the large audience and beamed. "I see you are wearing Wiress' old dress."
"Yes!" Alana exclaimed. "Wiress asked her stylist to let me wear it!"
"You're rather close to your mentor, aren't you?" Alana nodded eagerly.
"Yeah! She's like a big sister to me. She's really smart and she gives me the confidence that I can return to my mom, dad, my sister Erica, and my brother Braxton." Alana waved and smiled. "I love you guys, and Panem, don't underestimate me because I'm twelve. Because a smart girl won at twelve, and she's my mentor!" The buzzer sounded and Alana curtseyed before returning to her seat.
"Kendall Nickells, how are you today?" Caesar asked.
"Fine." Kendall replied. "Courageous, I guess."
"Oh?" Caesar asked.
"Yeah. I watch how my mentor goes through every day being strong. She went through the Games and that's a lot to deal with. But she stays strong and helps us. I believe she's made me stronger too." Caesar smiled as the buzzer sounded.
"And that, ladies and gentlemen are the female tributes from District Three!" Caesar announced. Wiress clapped with tears of pride and sadness running down her cheeks. Beetee pulled her into a hug as Caesar turned to the boys. Wiress grasped Beetee's hand knowing his tributes were next to speak.
"Joule Casting." Caesar said. "How are you doing this evening?"
"Good." Joule replied shaking Caesar's hand. "I'm proud to represent the Engineering Academy just like Beetee did. I want to make everyone proud at home. Mom, Dad, Copper, I love you. Don't throw away my books yet, because I might need them next year." Joule winked as the buzzer sounded.
"Silver Ironsmith, how do you feel about these Games?" Caesar asked.
"Well, as an ordinary guy in District Three, I worked in the factories in a team. I will be a good teammate to my allies in the arena."
"Why do you say that?" Caesar asked.
"Because that's what Mom and Dad instilled into Copper my brother and I. Mom, Dad, Copper, I love you guys." Silver said before blinking back tears. "I'll make you proud. Thank you for everything." The buzzer went off before Wiress buried her face into Beetee's blazer and sobbed. She knew all four tributes did well, however, she knew that for all four, tonight was goodbye.