Just like before the parade, the four of us sit together at lunch, and the dynamic is similar. Peeta tries cracking a few jokes and mostly fails, and then (because they both know that Bella and I are vampires) we reminisce about home and our past lives. Peeta and Katniss listen intently and contribute when they can, usually adding in their own stories. It's fun, when you consider the fact that we'll be fighting for our lives in a matter of days.
The next two days go by relatively the same, and before I know it, it's the night before the Games. We're being prepped by the stylists, and Katniss looks so worried and scared, she might actually explode. As soon as the stylists are finished making us look fancy, they warn us about the "dangers of touching someone else". It's quite funny. They're worried that our outfits will be ruined if we touch another person.
Tonight what Katniss and I are wearing shocks me. It's really amazing. It's something that a couple would wear to prom, but instead of being made out of cloth, it's made entirely out of a scaly, silver material. Katniss has on a beautiful strapless dress that flows and slightly widens to mid-calf. I'm wearing a suit complete with a tie and shiny shirt. The best part is, all of it is shiny and looks like scales, and the silvery fabric reflects other colours off of the nearest objects so that we can be any colour. The advances in technology have been astounding me recently! We also have a matching tiara and crown made of water lilies, which really pulls out Katniss' eye colour.
Once we're finally lined up for the interviews, I get a good look at Bella and Peeta. They look as bright as us, so I get the feeling our stylists were in contact with one another. Bella is wearing a dress similar to Katniss', but with inch-wide straps, with the material falling to her knees, and a cinch around the middle. She's stunning. Peeta has on a dress shirt and tie, with khaki-like pants. But the most brilliant aspect of their outfits, is that it seems to be made of thousands of shards of glass. Millions, even. Every way that they turn, the light reflects off of them in unnatural and amazing ways. They look magnificent. Again, the advances in technology and crazy, because they aren't getting cut by the glass, and it moves and feels like cotton.
Suddenly the interviewer and commentator, Caesar Flickerman, walks on stage. He's slightly middle-aged, but he manages to look good in his canary yellow suit with matching hair and lips.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to the 62nd annual Hunger Games Interviews! Let us begin!" he shouts to the audience, and beckons the girl from D1 forward onto the stage.
About 12 minutes later, it's time for Bella's interview. I can't wait to see how she plays this.
"Bella, Bella, Bella. You and Peeta are looking magnificent tonight!" he begins. She nods her head graciously. "So. Being from District 3, you must be good with technology?"
She twirls her hair flirtatiously. "Honestly, no," she laughs. "I've never been into that stuff. When the cable guy fixes my TV, I worship those kinds of people, but otherwise, they aren't my type."
"Oh? And what is your type?" Caesar asks, surprised.
"Most of the time, boys in general," she giggles again. "But when they go all nerd on me... I don't really understand a word they're saying. It's a shame I'm from D3; I'd probably fit in better in District 1 or 2."
"I agree! You certainly are a beautiful young woman." Caesar smiles. I growl. Keep your old hands off of my girl, thank you very much.
"Thanks," she grins. She looks like she doesn't feel comfortable with the situation. A way older guy hitting on her? I would find that weird, too.
"So, do you have any allies yet?"
"Yeah, I allied with the two cute guys from Districts 3 and 4, and my new friend Katniss." she says, grinning for real this time, and I do too until I notice Peeta smile, which quickly wipes the smirk off of my face.
"You look like a strong group of contestants this year." She nods. "Have you met the other careers yet?"
"They did approach us in training, to see if Katniss and Edward would ally with them, but we denied them. The four of us have grown close after the past few days, and not much can change that."
Some of the crowd goes "aww" and Bella takes this opportunity to shyly smile.
"Now if you don't mind me asking, how do you think you did in training?" he says curiously. "This year, the training scores will be announced after the interviews." Caesar explains to the audience.
"I think I did quite well. Even if I didn't, don't count me out. I'm more than just a pretty face." she announces seriously.
"Yes, you really are." Caesar says in the same tone. The buzzer goes off, and they both stand up. "Bella Swan, District Three, we wish you luck!" he says, grabbing her hand and holding it up triumphantly. She smiles graceously and leaves the stage.
"Next up, Peeta Mellark from District Three!"
Peeta walks on stage, looking slightly nervous but ready to pull this off.
"Hello Peeta, how've you been so far?"
"Well, this whole thing has been great so far. I'm the district's baker's son, so it was nice to see how all the different tributes compared to their district's bread." This gets a huge laugh from the audience. "I mean, look at them. The District One bread is very beautiful to look at, but doesn't have much depth, as compared to the District Three and Four's breads, which are thick and look good."
Caesar laughs with the crowd. "Seems to me like you're attached to your allies as much as Bella." Peeta nods. "So tell me then, what's your worst experience here so far?"
"The showers. I have no idea what settings to use; there's no labels! I accidentally used an apple scented, 200* setting that almost burned me alive! Tell me, do I still smell fruity to you?" The two of them go on for a while, pretending to sniff each other, talking about the perils of Capitol showers.
Finally Peeta stops. "I must say, Caesar, when I first saw you tonight, I almost thought you were a canary."
Caesar laughs. "To be honest with you, Peeta, I thought you were a broken mirror!" They both feign hurt feelings and keep verbally jabbing at each other, until suddenly Caesar pauses.
"Alright now, let's get serious. Do you have a girlfriend back home?"
Peeta hesitates, then gives an unconvincing shake of his head.
"Handsome lad like you. There must be some special girl. Come on, what's her name?" says Caesar.
Peeta sighs. "Well, there is this one girl. I've had a crush on her ever since I can remember. But I'm pretty sure she didn't know I was alive until the reaping." Sounds of sympathy from the crowd. Unrequited love they can relate to.
"She have another fellow?" Caesar asks.
"I don't know, but a lot of boys like her," says Peeta.
"So, here's what you do. You win, you go home. She can't turn you down then, right?" says Caesar encouragingly.
"I don't think it's going to work out. Winning . . . won't help in my case," Peeta says sadly.
"Why ever not?" Says Caesar, clearly mystified.
Peeta blushes beet red and stammers out, "Because . . . because . . . she came here with me."
He did not just say that!
The crowd gasps even louder.
"And there's another problem, too. For the few days that I've known Katniss Everdeen, well, she's . . . she's also captured my heart. Right now I'm torn in three directions: the Games, Bella, and Katniss."
I see some of the crowd faint. Those stupid, hopeless, horrible, terrible romantics. I might need to calm down slightly before my interview.
"Oh, Peeta. You have quite an interesting week or so before you." Peeta nods his head sadly.
Caesar says to the crowd, "Now wouldn't you like to get Bella back out here? See how she reacted to that?" The crowd screams their assent at him. "Sadly, Bella's time is spent for tonight."
They talk about home for a minute more, until the buzzer sounds.
"Well, best of luck to you, Peeta Mellark! Our hearts go with you." They both stand up and Caesar raises Peeta's hand, as with Bella. Peeta nods and solemnly walks off the stage.
"And here is the lovely Katniss Everdeen from District Three!" Katniss walks onstage, and her thoughts are similar to mine.
I'm going to kill Peeta for that! I can't believe he said that! But I have to be strong now. Maybe he didn't make me seem weak. Am I desirable now? I don't know. Only time will tell. Now let's get this interview over with.
She smiles as Caesar takes her hand. "And how are you doing tonight, Katniss?"
"I was doing fine before, just nervous for this I guess, but now that Peeta's dropped that bomb on me, I'm kind of shaken up to be honest. How are you?"
"I'm having a great time." he replies, then says to the audience, "Aren't you? Young love always captivates me!" The cheers are even louder now.
"Let's get down to business. Honestly, what have you liked the most about the Capitol so far?"
Nothing. Everything is despicable to me. I especially hate the citizens here. "I love the lamb stew," she chokes out, instead of what she was thinking. Thank god for small miracles.
"The one with the dried plums?" asks Caesar. She nods. "Oh, I eat it by the bucketful." He turns sideways to show the audience, his hand on his stomach in horror. "It doesn't show, does it?" They laugh and Caesar moves on.
"Now what were you feeling during the Reaping? Prim obviously means a lot to you." he says as gently as possible, but the words still crush the air out of her lungs.
After she breathes in, she rushes out, "She's my 12 year old sister. She means the world to me, and I don't know what she'll do - what I'll do - if I don't come home."
Caesar asks, "And what did she say to you after the Reaping?"
Katniss takes a very deep breath. "She asked me to try my hardest to come back. I promised I would win, for her." The crowd releases another "aww".
"Oh, I don't doubt you will!" He says, hands over his heart. "Shall we move on?" She nods softly. "Alright then, what are your thoughts on your alliance?"
"I think we're a serious force to be reckoned with."
"And Peeta?"
"Well . . . he's very sweet, funny, and knows how to cheer anyone up. His words are like magic, like a song that he wove together himself."
Caesar is nodding in agreement. "He's certainly got that sparkle about him! Anything to say about Edward and Bella?"
"They're probably the beautiful people of the group, but very smart at the same time. Edward is very confident and hard to doubt at any moment. Bella's personality seems quiet, but she's got a lot to say, and it's usually right. Overall, along with Peeta, I don't think I could picture better allies."
"I believe that! But truly. Do you have feelings for either of the boys?"
Right before the buzzer goes off, she quietly says, "Both."
Caesar says, "Ladies and gentlemen, Katniss Everdeen from District Four! Best wishes to you always." He raises her hand, too, and she smiles and nods once before leaving. Finally, it's my turn.
"Here is number four of one of the strongest alliances, Edward Cullen from District Four!" I smile and wave as I walk on stage. I am not handsome, I am not brilliant; I am as radiant as the stars tonight.
"Well, hello Edward! Good to see you! I have heard quite a few good things about you."
"And I've heard thousands of amazing things about you! First of all, that suit looks fabulous on you. I don't know what Peeta saw wrong with it." I say jauntily, winking at the audience. "And these seats! So lavish." I say, rubbing the cushion.
"I would have to agree with both of those statements! Honestly if I didn't have all of you to talk to, I could fall asleep right here. Such fuzzy chairs." he says, laughing. "So what's it like back home? Don't tell me you had the misfortune of your lady being reaped as well." I nod, eyes downcast. "This is terrible news! Do we have a love square on our hands?" The audience screams at him, overjoyed with the drama playing out before their eyes.
"Let me get this straight. Bella loves Edward and Peeta, Peeta loves Bella and Katniss, Katniss loves Peeta and Edward, and Edward loves Katniss! Woah!"
"Actually, Bella's been pulling me in, too, these past few days. Honestly, I love them both. They're so similar, yet so very different. It's easy to see myself with either of them in the future." I admit cautiously. This gets the audience going "aww" again. They must love doing that. "But for now, my main goal is protecting the two of them and Peeta in the arena. Peeta's become a brother to me, and I wouldn't be able to stand myself if I let any of those three get hurt. Our relationships and developing feelings are on the back burner for now, until we reach the final four."
"And I know you will make it there, my friend." he quietly replies, patting my knee. When I look him in the eyes, they're surprisingly full of raw emotion. He truly believes in my and my allies. Maybe he doesn't enjoy his job quite as much as the Capitol believes. Befriending 24 teens every year, just to watch most of them die. I make a vow then and there, that if I win, I will keep in touch with Caesar Flickerman. He sees something change in my eyes, and he grins warily.
"Do you think you did alright in the training session?"
"To be honest, I think I did magnificently. What did you think?" I say, gesturing to the balcony of Gamemakers. The majority laugh, smile, and nod, so I take that as a good sign.
"It's good to see so much confidence in a polite boy like you!" Caesar grins.
"Well, thanks," I say graciously. "You're a lot nicer in person, and back home you were famous for your kindness, if you don't mind me saying."
"I always saw myself as a celebrity as a boy," he jokes, puffing out his chest and sitting up straight, before reclining again. He's just about to ask another question when the buzzer goes off.
"That's all the time we have for Edward Cullen of District Four! Best of luck to you!"
"Thank you," I say to Caesar, "and thank you!" I say to the screaming, shouting, rolling crowd. They're all riled up now. Good for us.
Here are their training scores!
Bella: 7
Peeta: 8
Katniss: 11
Edward: 10
A few hours after the Interviews:
I dash through the dining room into the elevator. After dinner I had politely excused myself from the chit chat in the living room to escape to my bedroom. I pulled on an outfit of all black: black jeans, black turtleneck, and some comfy black tennis shoes exactly like a Nike pair I wore in America for hunting. After I was ready to go, I listened around to see if anyone was thinking about me. Just Katniss, and she was thinking about what was going to happen tomorrow. All clear. I dash through the dining room into the elevator and pressed the "G" button. Ground level. Perfect. As soon as the elevator arrives at the bottom floor, I cautiously walk out to find a sleeping Peacekeeper in the entry post. He must be drunk already. This keeps getting easier! But I can't let my guard down now.
I turn around to see a giant board; the classic "You Are Here" sign, probably meant for first-time escorts, mentors, and Peacekeepers. I can see that the research facility is only a few blocks away.
Running through the front doors of the Training Center, I quickly reorient myself and jog to the research building. Phase One is almost complete.
I've never been one for cheating or spy work. Usually I quietly play by the rules, watching and waiting for my opportunity to make sure everything works out. It went smoothly the majority of the time. When it started to take a turn for the worse, Alice and I usually intervened and stopped the situation entirely. From family feuds about football, to cocaine crime rings, we managed it all in basically the blink of an eye. But without her to watch my back... I swallow nervously, thinking about what may be waiting for me at the research facility. There's no telling. Spy work it is, then. I need to rig these Games in the hopes of saving all four of us, no matter the outcome.
After entering the building, I realize it must be closed for the day. The lobby lights are on, but the secretary is gone. I rapidly locate the security cameras and the mainframe computer at the front desk. I sprint to the computer and tap my foot impatiently as the computer boots up. It only takes a few seconds, but every second is precious.
"Please enter the passcode." speaks the feminine voice of Siri. From what Bella's told me, Apple is still going strong and they now also specialize in security and cameras. The company is based in District 3 along with other rivaling companies, but Apple is the most well-off.
I try a few random combinations before a frustrated growl escapes me. How am I supposed to do this? Let's see... What numbers would be important to Panem... If I did my math correctly, the Hunger Games started sometime in 2138. I begin typing in years, starting with 2130 just in case. The first Quell would've been 2163. The second Quell was 2188, then. I punch in both of those codes as well, and finally I realize what I forgot. The year of these Games. The year 2200.
It's been 200 years since Forks, Washington?!
I try to forget that as I type in "2200". Luckily I finally get it right, and I open the camera app. The "shut down cameras" and "delete footage" options are right at the top. I chuckle to myself; those people truly are idiots. I complete both actions, and remember to turn off all the alarm systems.
After leaving the computer desk, I jog down the first corridor until I reach a room at the end labeled "Head Gamemaker's Office". This is it, then.
Slightly earlier that evening:
Head Gamemaker POV
After watching the interviews, I finally decide upon the pairs. It only took me until the last second! All the pairs are perfect - for entertainment, at least. Every tribute will have some serious challenges ahead of them, if they're to survive.
I sigh in satisfaction in my work before safely tucking the list into my desk. I'm amazing. Honestly, I'm a pretty young Gamemaker, especially to be the big man. It's my 7th Games, and my 3rd as the boss. I started when I was 21, fresh out of Panem College For The Elite (the acronym was terrible!). President Snow was clearly impressed with my drive and ambition, and I understand why. I am superior to 97% of the human race as we know it. I did the calculations myself.
Yes, I am still at work. I promised myself I wouldn't leave until I had made up my mind about the pairs, even though there's sure to be a group of girls - or should I say women - waiting outside for me, but really, who cares? Oh wait, I do. It's too bad that the interviews are always so late at night. I just had to watch them to be sure I was making the right decisions. And I have.
The nation of Panem doesn't fully understand just how great this year's Games truly will be. Obviously they don't know the special twist yet - neither do the tributes - and clearly tributes can't be paired with someone from their own district. That would be pointless. And if Panem knew about the big secret before the tributes, the mentors would just tell their tributes and it would ruin everything. This is much more fun. The mentors, stylists, and escorts are only being told tonight. They should actually all know by now. I pack up my briefcase, ready to finally leave.
Time for a night out on the town with my ladies.
The next morning:
I stumble into my office, wearing dark sunglasses after waking up with the worst migraine ever. All the other people in this building are feeling the same, except for security personnel, who care too much about their jobs to get drunk the night before the Games.
Speaking of Games, I pull out the list again. It doesn't look the same, but then again, my face looked neon blue in the mirror this morning. I decide it's fine before calling Axel into my office.
"I need you to run this to Cornelius for me. These are the pairs. If you lose this, or so much as change one name, I will make sure the only job you have, is cleaning up pet poop," I spit at him, "and while you're at it, get me my triple macchiato already!" He scampers out of my office, clearly perplexed. I'm not usually this snippy but today is a very large exception.
A/N: Wowza, that was a shockingly long and revealing chapter! If anyone has questions about what happened with the list of names, or anything else... just PM me or review. Believe me it all makes sense in my brain. Also, I've never been hung over, after all I'm only 14, so I'm not sure about the neon blue face thing, it just made sense to me because obviously the Capitol is so great that they made better alcohol as well as technology and more.
Anyways thanks for reading, I love each and every view I get, and believe me it's inspiring when I get reviews! Special thanks to Maggiemoo1113 and SpeedrReadr for being my idea bouncers (they helped a lot - SpeedrReadr honestly came up with the whole D4 interview costume!) and another special thanks to CullenFromPanem, who is so supportive of hopeful little me, that I always start writing again once they review. Their kind words always keep me going :)
I did keep Katniss and Peeta's training scores the same as in the books, sorry but I couldn't think of anything impressive for Bella to do, so she got a 7. You'll just have to imagine for yourselves what they did, although Katniss and Peeta's are pretty similar to the book. Katniss just didn't shoot the pig's apple ;)
One more thing: in case you haven't heard, there's now a tumblr for this story! Stop by my profile to get the link. (There might even be some sneak previews posted there... Shhh!) I've posted the official arena outfit there, and I'm working on the interview outfits. Hopefully those will be done soon.
Thanks once again, please leave a review on the way out, sorry for the long author's note (I have a lot of stuff to say!), and next chapter...
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
ONA