"Let's meet our first District Four tribute, Bayla Fosch." Mr. Klein announced as said tribute walked up. "What's your response to Itzal's confession?"
Bayla blinked in surprise. What was this man talking about? "Sorry, Itzal's confession?"
"Ouch." Mr. Klein winced in sympathy with the young man. "Are you ignoring that it happened, or did you really not hear it? The young man confessed his love for you."
"What?" Bayla asked, shocked as a blush crept into her cheeks. "Which one's Itzal?" She asked. I really should pay more attention to what's going on around me. She thought sourly.
"The dark haired, orange eyed man over there." Mr. Klein pointed to him. Mr. Klein noted that the boy hid his pain well, for no doubt he was in some for being blunted like this.
"Oh." Bayla held a hand up to her mouth. "I'm sorry, Itzal, I wasn't paying attention, it's a bad habit of mine." Now she studied him for a moment. Though he hid his hurt well, she could still see it faintly in his eyes. "I can't really say an opinion." Her voice betrayed sadness. "I barely know him."
"Is there not one thing you can say about him?"
"Well, he is cute, and he seems kind." But he's from a Career District. Bayla kept this last part to herself as she saw him perk up slightly.
"There's hope yet, it seems." Mr. Klein smiled, and asked his next question. "Bayla, is it a coincidence you have the same last name as both the District Seven tributes?"
"No." Her tone darkened and the girlish blush that brightened her cheeks disappeared. A shadow seemed to hang over her now. "They are my brother and sister-in-law."
"Really? That's a stroke of bad luck if I ever saw one. I'd love to hear more, but I'm afraid we're out of time." He shook hands with the girls whose mood he ruined, and he beckoned the next person on stage. "Let's meet the unique Erlantz Wadstadt." Once Erlantz had come up, Mr. Klein continued. "Hello Erlantz. Can you tell the curious people of Panem about, uh…your dressing habits?"
"I doubt it's the answer you're looking for." Erlantz glowered. He didn't like this at all. Why should he tell people when they don't really care what his answer is? When they'll just treat him the same as always?
"And what answer would we be looking for?"
"A traumatic event possibly, or parents who wanted a girl, I don't know, something like that."
"Then what's the truth?"
Erlantz took a deep breath to gather his confidence, then said, "I look pretty in them, so why not?"
"Well, uh," Mr. Klein was at a loss for words. "I see."
Erlantz decided to throw the guy a bone and change the subject for him, and hopefully gain a few sponsors. "I will win this."
Gladly taking the reprieve from awkwardness, Mr. Klein said, "Will you?"
"Yes. There's a girl waiting for me back home, I have to get back to her. There's still so much I have to tell her." Erlantz was emboldened by the timid clapping of Bayla, who was smiling at him encouragingly."
"What's her name?"
"Shesta. She's my only friend."
"We're all looking forward to seeing you try to make it back to her." Mr. Klein held out his hand, indicating that they were finished. Erlantz shook it and walked off stage. "Next up is our District Five tributes. First is Rayne Etnalo."
