Of course he doesn't snore, he is the personification of physical perfection after all. I do though and he kicks me awake to tell me on three occasions. On the third time I threaten to claw out his eyes and he doesn't wake me again.
In the morning my Prep Team burst in and scream when they see Finnick and I in bed together.
"Whoops sorry!"
"Oooh we didn't mean to interrupt!"
"Finnick could you sign my make-up bag?"
"Urgh get out!" I yell at them. If it had just been me alone there would have been no apologies.
They swish out of the room and shut the door, which is a development at least.
"Why are they here so early? I think I must have started enjoying myself too much and I'm being punished," I say as I stretch out. Finnick takes an elbow to the face and groans.
"I'm not sharing a bed with you again Mason." He sits up and twists his head until his neck cracks. "I mean you've given new meaning to the word 'clingy'."
"Shut up you liar, I stayed on my side of the bed all night." I climb out and put on mismatched top and pants over my underwear.
"I think I've got bruises in the shape of your fingerprints."
"You're such a girl, Odair!" I go to the bathroom and run a toothbrush over my teeth before splashing some water over my face. "Do you want a shower or anything?" I call out to him.
When I return to the bedroom he's got his shirt back on.
"I'm gonna go back to my floor, can't take the dizzying heights of 7," he explains.
"I'm sure we could get an oxygen mask sent up for you."
He gives me a withering smile.
"I've got a breakfast date at 9 and you…" he puts a hand on either side of my face, "…have a day of beautifying ahead of you to get you up to an acceptable attractiveness level." He drops a kiss to my cheek and dodges my lazy punch.
I walk him to the door, past the gaping mouths, and smack his butt on the way out.
"Right come on then Flakes, make me pretty." I call back to them as I stride back to my room.
For the first time during this whole ordeal, I sit there with a smile on my face. The Prep Team's inane babble just washes over me.
"Hold this ear for me will you Oberon? Have you seen the dress?"
"No, Gaia's kept it all pretty close to her chest."
"Well she's had to hasn't she? She can't recycle another outfit because she's never designed a Victor's dress before. I don't think District 7 have had a female Victor before have they Jo?"
Before I can open my mouth to tell them not to call me 'Jo' they have moved on.
"Pass me the brown brush will you V? Thanks hun. I thought Finnick was with that…whatshername…Coco something, you know the daughter of the contractor who builds the arenas for the Games."
"Well he was at Claudius's party last night with her but they left early."
"Do you think he was coming here?"
"That's what I was thinking."
They gossip all day, even through lunch, which I am denied on Gaia's strict orders.
When the dress arrives, in the standard gold bag, I see why I've been on nil by mouth. The bodice of the dress is a beautiful black bone-crushingly tight bustier with a red lace pattern over the top. The skirt is jet black with three crimson petticoats underneath.
Gaia appears around 6pm, still nursing her hangover, to knot me into the dress.
"I thought the idea of the Interview is to talk to me…I can barely breathe," I gasp, leaning over the dressing table with Gaia's knee in my back as she pulls on the ribbons in the back.
"Ladies don't need to breathe." She tugs again. "Ladies also don't invite strange men into their bedrooms." She tugs harder.
"Then please ask Oberon to stop crashing in in the mornings." I retort snidely.
That's all we speak about the matter. I am taken down to the studio and before I go on to the stage, on foot this time, Gaia dips a brush into some red paint and flicks it across my lips.
"Don't bite or lick," she warns.
A stagehand grabs me and takes me onto the stage towards my 'throne'. The audience is smaller tonight, it's more intimate. I sit down and catch Blight's eye.
'Careful' he mouths.
I nod.
Caesar runs onstage, holding his hands up.
"Sorry everyone sorry! I had an eyebrow crisis!" He grabs both my hands and kneels down in front of me. "Can you forgive me Johanna? We might yet save the evening."
More people in headsets fuss around him and he takes his seat. The lights above us shine brightly, then go out, then spotlight on me, then spotlight on Caesar, then go out and come on again.
"Ok, places people we are live in 5…4…3…" Everyone scatters until it is just Caesar and I on the stage and it is silent. A red light goes on above the lenses of all the surrounding cameras.
"Hello there Panem, here we are: The Victor's Interview. Johanna Mason has managed to squeeze herself into a…well it's gorgeous isn't it Johanna? A piece of artwork, and then managed to squeeze the artwork into our chair! You should have given us a head's up Johanna we would have found a couch for you!" He gives me a gleaming white smile.
"Oh it's lovely and cushiony actually Caesar don't worry about it." I beam back.
"Good, good. How's the Capitol been treating you since you got out of the arena? I mean aside from providing you with fabulous clothes."
"Oh it's been an eye-opener alright. I mean last night I tried champagne for the first time, boy is that stuff fun!"
Caesar chuckles, "Well treat that one carefully, it's not so fun the next day. What else?"
"I'm loving….just everything at the moment."
I gush and gush about the Capitol. I even bitch about how boring it will be at home now after experiencing so much here. I talk about how glad I am that I'll be moving to the Victors Village and have a telephone in my new house to talk to my new Capitol friends.
"Speaking of friends, I'm sure you know what I'm going to ask you about now." Caesar raises an eyebrow and points to a screen in front of us beside one of the cameras. It shows a willow tree in the rain. "Now what was happening in there hmm? We've all been dying to know because you went in there on a rampage and came out with some bruises. Then…" The screen changes to show the muted footage of me stroking back Red's hair as he dies. "…you're friends again."
A part of me had known that I was going to be asked that question at some point, but I still hadn't prepared an answer for it. What an idiot. What do I say?
"He wasn't who I thought he was," I say, looking at the floor. "I went in with a plan and that plan got screwed up."
"Yes you certainly had a plan, lets take a look at the metamorphosis as that plan came together shall we?" Caesar saves me by changing the subject and the screen shows two pictures of me. The first is from my reaping getting on the train, the flowers in my long hair, which is draped over my face. The second is from the Game Highlights in my sequin dress with my new nose, new breasts and polished skin.
We discuss how easy I found pretending I was useless and the contempt I felt for everyone who fell for my act. Once I get started on my 'relationship' with Absalom I really let rip. Having seen the Game Highlights gives me more ammo for my verbal assault on his character profile.
Caesar has to stop me ranting because the show is coming to an end.
"Ok, thank you so much Johanna, loving the inside gossip about all the other Tributes. I'm really looking forward to our interview towards the end of the Victory Tour and getting the gossip from the Districts." He grasps one of my hands again. "I hope you enjoy the rest of your time here before you head home and have a lovely time tonight at the Victors Party at President Snow's mansion."
"Thank you Caesar." Damn I'd forgotten about the Party. Hopefully Finnick will be there too so it shouldn't be too awful. I'll have to have a reception with President Snow who might very well be furious with me but as long as I keep my wits about me, I'll be home soon enough.
"Just stay away from that champagne tonight," Caesar shakes a finger at me. "You're only young remember. Thank you again Johanna and might I just add on a personal note, I was absolutely devastated to hear about your Father."
My smile falters.
"What?"