Before The Interview
POV of Finn
"I am so proud of you!" I say to Tess as I lift her up and spin her around. Her face is beaming as she stared down at me. "How did you pull off a perfect score? I mean I knew you were amazing already, but I didn't think everyone else saw it. All I know is I'm glad they see it too."
She leans down and kisses me. "I love you Finn, so much." Her smile slowly fades to a frown and sadness fills her eyes. I lower her back down to the ground and pull her close into my chest.
"I love you too Tess. And nothing will change that, not even the games. I will always love you, with every part of me." My chest starts to feel warm as I realize she's begun to cry. "I know Tess, I know."
"Finn, if there was a chance for us to come out alive. You know the 2 of us, would you want to…well…you know…"
"I would love to." I don't even wait for her to finish. I know what she's going to say. She wants to know if we could be a couple, officially. We've decided not to label what we have now to save the other from pain when the inevitable happens. I know it won't do much, but at least it gives us a shot at distancing ourselves. I know it's pointless for me. She's the love of my life and I have to kill her or watch her get killed in order for Angel to survive. UGH! I hate this!
Why did I have to fall in love with a girl I can never be with? Because she's wonderful that's why.
"What are you thinking about?"
"How nice it would be to be together. But I better get going. Angel is all alone up there and I bet she's nervous." Sadness returns to her eyes. "I'll see you later tonight. I promise. Good luck, I know you'll do great."
I kiss her lips sweetly, lingering for a moment, not wanting to let go. When I finally pull away I see how badly she wants me to stay. I want to stay too, but my sister needs me. And I need to get to my proper spot anyway.
"See you after the interviews?" She says almost pleading with me.
"Of course." I reply with a smile. This brightens her mood a bit. This makes me smile even more. I lean down and kiss her forehead before I turn and walk towards the front of the line.
I see Angel anxiously looking back for me. When she notices me a smile shoots across her face and I can't help be smile myself when I see it.
"Is Tess okay?" She asks. That's just like her, always worrying about someone else.
"She's fine. I'm worried about you though. It's got to be tough being one of the youngest tributes, and then add all the stuff that's been going on. I would be a mess if I was you." That's when I see it, the terror in her eyes. I knew should would never admit it, but I could see how scared she was. I reach my arms out to her and reluctantly she falls into my chest. "You'll be fine Angel. I will do everything I can to make sure you can come out of it alive. I will not let anyone hurt you." I pause for a moment, thinking about what that means. A sharp pain shoots through my chest. I know it means Tess dies and that's the one thing I wish I could change, but I can't and I know this is the right thing to do. "I promise."
POV of Tess
I wait in line anxiously looking towards the front of the line. I see Angel and Finn, and Angel looks upset. I really want to check on her , but I know the interviews are going to be starting soon.
"Worried about the little girl?" Ricky asks from behind me.
"Yeah. Her and the girl from district 8 are both 13, Angel is a little bit younger than the other girl. The only person that's younger than her is the boy from 9. She's terrified. I want to make sure she's okay before she either breaks or closes off in the arena."
"Go."
"What?"
"Go. I'll cover for you. If your Aunt asks where you went I'll say the bathroom or something."
"Thank you Ricky." I say hugging you. "I owe you so much."
"Just make your boyfriend give me one chance in the arena. If he runs into me, just let me go. Only once." He pleads with me.
"I'll talk to him. But I don't think he likes you very much. And he's not my boyfriend….we're not going to make anything official because of the games." I start to feel depressed again. I feel like I'm going to cry. He places a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry I was too selfish to treat you right, and I hurt you. But it's nice to see you smile again you know." He leans down and kisses my cheek. "He wants to save you, you know. Even though he's going to choose his sister, he has thought about choosing you. That means a lot. He's a good guy."
"Yeah he is. Part of me doesn't want to win because that means him and Angel die. And I don't want to live with that."
"I understand what you're going through. I feel the same way about you. But you can't give up. Would you want me to give up so you could live?"
"No. I'd want you to try your best."
"Then that's what you need to do. Finn wouldn't want you to die for his sake, just like I know you wouldn't want him to do that for you. So don't do it." I know he's right. I nod. "Now go. Before your Aunt shows up and it's too late."
"Okay, thanks." I say hugging him before running down the line to see Angel and Finn.
POV of Slate
Luckily my family cared for me enough to bring Jade with them last night. It was nice to be able to hold her close again, to feel her heart beating in her chest against mine, to taste her lips. It all reminded me of what I'm risking being here. My future could be wiped away in a matter of seconds, my siblings would be alone with our psychotic parents. I came in here to create a better life for them, but now I see I might have made it worse. The stakes are higher now than ever. If I don't win I ruin the lives of everyone I love. What did I get myself into?
"Slate are you okay?" Onyx asks.
"I don't know."
"What's wrong?"
"I just realized that I was wrong."
"About what?"
"I thought volunteering would save my siblings, make my life with Jade better. But now I know I ruined everything the day I spoke up. I might have condemned them all to a life of mourning and strife. All because I thought I was helping."
"Slate if you go out onto the stage a mess you're going to ruin your chances. Then you will die out there, and everything you're worrying about will come true. But if you stay strong you might win."
"I know, but after seeing them last night it's made it hard to think that way." I pause. "I want to go home to my fiancé, to my siblings. I want to live and I might not get that chance now."
"Well you can't change that now. All you can do from this point is focus and try to win." She pauses. "I know how important they are to you and Slate I promise you that if I win I will take care of them. I will go to the peacekeepers about your parents. I will take them in. I will invite Jade into my home and tell her about how much you loved her. I will take care of them if you die as long as you try to live. Do you think you can do that?"
"It's a deal." We both smile and hug each other. "Onyx, you're my best friend. You know that right."
"You're mine too Slate. But…never mind."
I wonder what she was going to say. I was about to ask when I hear Ceasar announce the interviews are about to begin. I guess I'll have to ask her some other time.
POV of Rose
The waiting is the worse part. It makes me nervous. "How you feeling Elm?"
"Excited, I get to be my charming self on camera." He laughs. I can't help but laugh too. He does have a charm about him that hopefully will catch the attention of some rich Capitol women, or someone with a rich husband. "Are you nervous?"
"Kind of. I hate the wait. I feel bad for the people from 12. They must be going crazy." As I say this I notice the girl from 12 is up with the siblings from 4. She got a perfect score in training. That is intense. She's going to be my toughest competition. I'll have to watch out for her and try to break her.
I look at the little girl from 4 and realize what I need to do, and that I am going to hate myself for it.
"What are you thinking about?"
"What I have to do when we get in the arena."
"I know it sucks. But we have to kill people."
"Yeah I know, but I think I already have my first target picked out."
"Who is it?"
"The girl from 4."
"I thought you didn't want to go after her, the girl from 8 or the boy from 9. You said they reminded you of your siblings too much."
"I know, but after getting some new information about her ally from 12 I realize that she's our ticket to breaking little miss perfect score."
"You think it will work?"
"Yeah."
"What about her brother?"
"We'll figure that out before we put our plan into action. But mark my words. 12 won't be a threat to anyone for long. Niece of a victor or not."
POV of Crisis
"Scarlet you have the 2nd highest score here. Only one other person has that score. They're going to love you. There is nothing you need to worry about, I promise."
"What if I don't know what to say?"
"They told us he'd help us out. Just answer honestly."
"Okay."
"And stick to your strategy. Remember, with the score you got it sets it up perfect. But most importantly be yourself. They'll love you, trust me I know." I say smiling.
"Okay."
"Is that all you can say?"
"I'm still really nervous."
"Baby, I will be right off stage and I am going on right after you. We'll be together again before you know it."
"What if I can't do it without you?"
"You can, you were alone when you got that 11. That's how I know you can do this alone too. I'm worried about myself. I'm not as likable as you are." She hits me
"Yes you are. You're amazing."
"You have so much confidence in me, but none in yourself. What changed in training?"
"I knew I needed to do good to help protect you."
"Well then think of that now. If you're worried about getting sponsors to help me then be yourself and it will help me too.'
"Really?"
"Yeah, because if they love you and donate to you then I'll get some of it too."
"If you put it that way I think I can do it."
"I know you can." I pause to kiss her. "I love you Scarlet."
"I love you too Crisis."
Alliances:
Careers: Diamond, Titanium, Onyx, Slate (for now), & Electra
Finn, Angel & Tess
Eric, Riley, & Slate (in arena)
Onyx & Slate (true alliance)
Rose & Elm
Scarlet & Crisis
Alone: Carter, Faith, Calla, Hazel, Joseph, Gigot, Ricky, Garnet, Iris & Falon