Chapter 14

The next morning I see Ademia's ugly side.

"Stand straighter! Stop squinting! Don't purse your lips! Come on, look alive! Lily this might be hard for your small brain to process but you might want to try to get it right this time!"

I was actually doing pretty well. All of this happened within the first hour, when we were both playing nice. Then my claws came out when she went too far.

"Wow, if you're this bad then your grandmother must have been even worse than this!"

"You know what Ademia? You should leave. Before my ugly side comes out." I had snarled.

"Honey, you only have an ugly side." She had countered.

"Well guess what Ademia? I'm fed up with your crap. I'll figure this out on my own. I don't need your help."

Now here I stand, my smile graceful and not too much. Everything about me screamed elegant. The way I walked, my posture, absolutely everything.

"There you go," says Ademia quietly from the doorway.

I whip around and crack down on her. "What do you want now?"

"I knew you wouldn't need my help. You just needed some constructive criticism to get you going."

"You mean to tell me that all of that was just a ploy?"

"Yes, honey. I would never hurt you like that. Ever."

"I would cry Ademia, but you taught me not to," I say. "Well, that and the fact that the makeup Percy gave me would run."

"That's my girl. Come on, I'll teach you which smile goes with which phrases now."

It turns out that I'm a natural at this.

"People will love you!" We have half an hour left. I need her to hate me. But I can't stand it when people hate me. I also need everyone to choose Alexander to win and be a sponsor for. Ademia isn't a sponsor.

I'm having this fight of wills in my head, and Ademia is sitting there patiently awaiting a response. Right, then she will like me. It won't hurt to have just one person left…

"Only because certain talented people have gotten me this far."

"Let's try some questions they might use in your interview."

"I thought this was manners. I also thought that Furlow and Mary were asking the questions."

"Yea, but Furlow doesn't know Olus as well as I do. I know what he will ask. Furlow has a paper of questions provided by the Capitol."

She's right. I sigh and say, "Okay, ask away."

She smiles, "Alright. Why did you volunteer?"

I hesitate and she says, "No hesitations. Just the truth."

I sigh, "I knew that nobody deserved to be killed by someone who could be a possible friend."

"What do you mean by 'possible friend'?"

"I mean under different circumstances we could have all been friends. We could have all liked each other."

"Were you and Breeze Climpf friends?"

"No. I just didn't think that she deserved it. Not even her."

"'Not even her'? I sense a rivalry."

"That's probably because there is one. We both fell for the same boy. But I had always thought and pretty much known that he preferred her. I never seemed to exist in his world."

"Oooooh. Who is this lucky lad?"

I cough nervously and wriggle in my chair uncomfortably. "I'm a bit parched. Could I get some mineral water?"

"Of course dear," says Ademia, ending our Mach interview. "Just remember, if you get that far in the real interview, don't stop."

"I know," I whisper. Then finally our time is up and I head over to lunch and gratefully meet up with Alexander.

"Hey, how was Ademia?"

"Unexpected. How was Furlow?"

"Eh, so-so."

We sit down to eat and I pick at the starches on my plate. I haven't really been hungry for a very long time.

"So, Mary was right about you only eating starches?"

He's been using to same conversation starter for the past few days. It's kind of cute to me. "Yea," I answer.

"Does it work?"

"I wouldn't be using it anymore if it didn't."

He nods to acknowledge this and we fall silent. I hate silences, so I feel compelled to break it.

"What do you think is going to be in that arena, just waiting for us?" I have just asked the most dreaded question on everyone's minds.

"I don't know. This is the first year of these sick Games. It could be anything."

We are silent again for a while, then when we are finished attendants cart us off to the rooms where we will be instructed for another 4 hours.

"Sexy? Charming? Humble? Take your pick." Says Mary.

"What?"

"You want to have an angle for the crowd. You're pleasing them. Show an angle for yourself in 3 minutes."

"3 minutes?" I'm baffled by this small time frame.

"Yes, and right now I'm considering slow and stupid seeing as you can't keep up." Says Furlow, his voice thick with exasperation.

"All 3. Each angle will shine in a minute time frame."

"That's dangerous."

"Should we add that to the list too, then?" I mock.

"If you do all 3, you will seem dangerous as well as mysterious. Bravo Ms. Gallina, you have your angles. Now we should practice." Says Mary, completely ignoring my comment and cutting off anything Furlow has to say about it.

"Yes, yes, practice." Adds in Furlow, clearly annoyed.

"Smooth move, Furlow."

"Unpleasant isn't what people want," he replies clicking his tongue at me.

"Let's begin," I say with a smile.

"What does it feel like to be one of the first tributes to ever be I the Hunger Games?"

"Wonderful. It's an amazing experience and it's good to know that I won't ever be forgotten. Especially looking this good in these clothes." Sexy in minute 1. I will definitely look the part with Percy's help.

"What do you think about all of this happening so fast and so soon?"

"I'm surprised by how people do it. I mean, have you seen the other tributes? They are adjusting so well, and they have looked amazing while doing it." Minute 2, charming.

"What has been your favorite thing since you have gotten here?"

"Wow, that's a thinker. A simple girl like me from District 4 learns to not expect much, so I'd probably have to say the luxuries. I love all of the beautiful things that people here in the Capitol have." I add in a wistful sigh at the end, for good measure. Minute 3, humble. I've tested all 3 angles and nailed them.

Mary and Furlow exchange a glance and a terse nod, and then turn to me.

"You're ready," says Mary simply.

Summer tends to be boring when your friends can't hang out… :/

So that's basically why I updated, so people don't get too bored on the first day of summer vacation.(:

Do you guys like Lily's approach on the interviews?

Alright so review, favorite, add to your alerts, and PM me any suggestions for it.

I'm still waiting on those names for both of the tributes from the following Districts: 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. I just thought that I might want some input from you guys on the names, but if I don't get them in time then I'll probably look for all of them myself. :p

Bye!