He looked around the room nervously. He heard the voice over the speakers announce him yet again. Quasimodo frollo, District 12. Staring at him from above was the head gammaker, Seneca crane and the rest of the game makers. They looked down at him intrigued.
Quasimodo saw the bow sitting across the room. He Picked up the bow looking over his shoulder at the gamemakers. He knocks the arrow into place like Katniss taught him and aims his bow at the target and….Fires. He misses.
The Gamemakers burst into laughter before ignoring him all together. He aims his bow at the target again and gets a bullseye, but when he looks back up their still ignoring him. Then He notices it. Sitting on the table in the room above is a pig with an apple in its mouth.
He nocks the arrow into place and aims right for the apple. Seneca looks up just as the arrow rushes past his head and impales the apple from the pigs mouth pinning it to the wall.
Seneca stares at him Impressed. "Thank you, for your consideration." He says giving a mock bow as he walks away, putting the bow back before he leaving the room. "Are you crazy?!" Effie asks him.
I just got mad. Quasimodo said nonchalantly. Mad? She said incredulous. "You realize that your actions reflect badly on all of us, not just you." "They just want a good show, it's fine," said Cinna trying to calm her down.
"How about it's just bad manner, Cinna?" How about that? She sees Haymitch enter the room. Well finally, someone with some common sense. Haymitch however was grinning from ear to ear. "I hope you noticed; we have a serious situation." Effie scolded.
Instead he grinned. Nice shooting kid, he said giving him a thumbs up. Quasi grinned back. Wha.. Wha..,.. What did they..,.. What did they do when you shot the apple? Haymitch asked him, trying to contain his laughter.
Well, t-they look pretty startled. Haymitch chuckled. What did you say again. Ugh Thanks for..,.. "Thanks for your ..,..consideration. Genius! Said Haymitch laughing.
Effie however did not look amused. I don't think we're gonna find this funny If the game makers decided to take it out…..On who? On Her? He said pointing at Katniss. On Him? He said pointing to Quasi.
I think they already have. He said smirking. Loosen your corset and have a drink, Haymitch said gulping down a glass of Alcohol. I would have given anything to see it. Said Haymitch, Grinning.
The next day the evaluations began. He sat next to Katniss watching the announcer on the screen nervously. "As you know the Tributes are rated on a scale of one to twelve after three days of careful evaluation." The game keepers have made their decisions.
From District 1, Marvel, With a score of 9. Cato From district 2, with a score of 10. Clove also from district 2 with a score of 10. Rue, from district 11 with a score of 7. When They finally got to district 12 he got nervous.
From District 12 Katniss Everdeen. With score of... Eight. Not bad Katniss. He congratulated her. "And finally,...From District 12 Quasimodo Frollo with a score of...Quasimodo bit down on his lip nervously waiting. Eleven.
His jaw dropped in shock did he just say….. Congratulations. Said Haymitch patting him on the back. "I thought they hated me." He said shocked. "They must have liked your guts." Said Haymitch.
To Katniss Everdeen the girl on fire! And to Quasimodo the boy on fire! Quasimodo grinned blushing. I have a feeling those nicknames are going to catch on quick. Said Katniss grinning. Yeah probably.
Meanwhile President snow was having a serious conversation. An eleven? He earned it. He shot an arrow at your head. Well, at an apple, Seneca explained. Near your head. Sit down. He motioned and Seneca obeyed.
"Seneca, why do you think we have a winner?" What do you mean? He asked confused. "I mean, why do we have a winner?" "I mean if we just wanted to intimidate the Districts, why not round up twenty-four at random, and execute them all at once?" It would be a lot faster.
Seneca doesn't know how to reply and gives him a blank expression. Hope. Hope? Says Seneca confused. Hope, Snow repeats. "It is the only thing stronger than fear."
"A little hope is effective." "A lot of hope is dangerous." "A Spark is fine, as long as it's contained." So? Seneca asks still confused. So... contain it, He growls.
That night at dinner the night before their interviews, Katniss walks into the dinning room for dinner. Where's Quasi Katniss asks noticing her friend is absent.
He's in his room, says Haymitch. Now listen Tomorrow's the last day and they let us work with our own tributes right before the game so you and I will be going down at nine. Well, what about him? Katniss asks confused.
Oh , he says he wants to be trained on his own from now on. What? She asks confused. "This kind of thing does happen at this point." "There's only one winner, right?" Right she says bitterly.
The next night is there interviews. Katniss is dressed in a glittering red dress. She looks really nervous. Amazing. "I don't feel amazing." Said Katniss nervously. Don't you know how beautiful you look? Cinna asks.
"No! And I don't know how to make people like me." "How do you make people like you?" "Well you made me like you. Says Cinna. "That's different, I wasn't trying."
"Exactly. Just be yourself, I'll be there the whole time, and just pretend that you're talking to me. Okay?" Okay, said Katniss nervously. Quasi stepped out of a room from back stage. He was wearing a black suit with a red flame pattern sewed on the sleaves
He stared at her red dress stunned. Wow Katniss, y-you look beautiful, he said stammering. Whatever, she said bitterly. She turned her back on him and he looked at her confused. "What's with her?" He asks Haymitch confused."
Haymitch shrugs as Katniss is called out on stage. From district 12. District 12, you know her as the girl on fire! Well, we know her as the lovely Katniss Everdeen! He shouts causing the crowd to cheer. She walks out onto the stage looking nervous.
She nervously walks and sits next to the shows host Caesar Flickerman. She so nervous however she doesn't hear his first question. What? She asks confused, which causes the crowd to laugh. "I think someone's a little nervous." Says Flickerman which causes the crowd to laugh again.
"I said, that was quite an entrance that you made at the tribute parade the other day." Do you want to tell us about it? "Well, I was just hoping that I wouldn't burn to death." She said still a bit nervous. She was like a deer in headlights.
But the audience laughs again. "When you and your friend came out on that chariot, I have to say, my heart stopped." "Did any of you experience this as well? My heart stopped." Said Flickerman. So, did mine. Said Katniss still nervous. The crowd burst into laughter.
"Now, tell me about the flames." Were they real? She grinned. Yes. "In fact, I'm wearing them today. Would you like to see?" The audience cheers behind her. Wait! Wait! Wait! "Is it safe?" Flickerman asks. Yes, she says.
"What do you think folks?" He ask the crowd. The audience cheers. I think that's a yes! Katniss stands and walks to the front of the stage and begins to twirl. Quasimodo watches the monitors back stage and watches as Katniss spins faster and faster.
To his surprise flames seem to curl out from the bottom of her dress. Then as suddenly as she started she stops twirling. Caesar catching her as she stumbles. Katniss, that was something. That was something. Thank you for that.
She walks over and sits back in her chair. "I have one more question for you. It's about your sister." "We were all very moved, I think, when you volunteered for her at the reaping." Did she come and say goodbye to you?
Yes, she did. "She did, and what did you say to her, in the end?" "I told her that I would try to win. That I would try to win for her." He nodded. Of course, you did, and try you will. Ladies and gentlemen, from district 12, Katniss Everdeen the girl on fire! The crowed cheers as she walks backstage.
Nice job, sweetheart. Says Haymitch. Thank you. Nice dress too. She shrugs and watches as Quasimodo is called onstage. Now that you've met the girl on fire lets meet the boy on fire, shall we.
The boy who got an 11 in training Give a warm capital welcome for…..Quasimodo Frollo! Quasimodo walks nervously out on stage as the crowd cheers, and he sits next to Caesar. So Quasi, can I call you Quasi?
Uh….Yes. The crowd laughs. Looks like someone's a little bit nervous. The crowd laughs at this. So, Quasi how are you finding the capital? And Don't say with a map, he jokes earning a few laughs. "Uh, it's uh...different."
"Different? In what way? Give us an example." Uh well its certainly bigger than back home. The crowd burst into laughter. Interesting, so Quasi Is there a special girl back home? "N-No, not really." No? Caesar asks confused. "I don't believe it for a second."
"A nice kid like you there must be someone special." Well, there a….There's is this one girl that I've had a crush on for a while now, but I don't think she sees me that way. "Aww well that's to bad," Says Flickerman. "Well...I'll tell you what Quasi."
"You go out there...and you win this thing." And when you get home, she'll have to go out with you. Right folks? The crowd cheers in response to this. "Thanks, but I uh...I don't think winnings gonna help me at all." why not? Caesar asks confused. "Because she came here with me."
Quasimodo looks up at the screen knowing full well that Katniss was watching. "Well, that's bad luck." Yeah. It is. Said Quasimodo sadly.
And I wish you all the best of luck. Thank you. Quasimodo said. Quasimodo, The Boy on Fire everybody! The crowd cheers as Quasimodo heads backstage. As soon as he gets backstage Katniss throws him against the wall.
"What the hell was that?" "You don't talk to me and then you say you have a crush on me?" "You say you wanna train alone?" "Is that how you wanna play? Huh?" Quasimodo looks terrified. Katniss I…..Haymitch pulls her off of him.
Stop it! Will you. He did you a favor. "He made me look weak!" Katniss growled. "He made you look desirable. Which in your case can't hurt, sweetheart." He's right, Katniss, said Cinna. Of course, I'm right! Said Haymitch. "Now I can sell the star-crossed lovers from district 12 thing."
"We are not star-crossed lovers!" Katniss growls. "It's a television show. And being in love with that boy might just get you sponsors, which could save your damn life!" She storms off annoyed. He turns to Quasimodo who's starting to calm down.
You ok kid? I-I'm fine. H-Haymitch? Yeah? "You know everything I said out there was true. Right? He nodded. She'll be fine. He says smiling. She just needs time to cool off. Okay. He nods. "Why don't you get out of here. Maybe I can deliver you both in one piece tomorrow."
That night Katniss couldn't sleep so she walked into the living room to see Quasimodo sitting at the window. Can't sleep? Of course not. She sighs and walks over to him and sits next to him. I'm sorry I went after you. I-Its ok.
K-Katniss. Yes? What I said, I meant it. She looked at him confused and surprised. I-I've had a crush on you since before we left for the games.
She looks over at him and he turns away. I-I know its stupid. I-I shouldn't have said anything I-Quasi. Yes, he says turning to face her. She surprises him by kissing him on the lips. He turns bright red looking at her shocked. "You talk to much."
He looked at her confused. Why….Why did you-I guess I kind of liked you to, in my own way. I guess I was just trying to pretend that I didn't. Why? I-I don't know. He blushes than she changes the subject.
Listen to them. He nods. Yeah. "I just hope they don't change me." How would they change you? Katniss asked confused, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I don't know. Turn me into something I'm not" "I just- I just don't wanna be another piece in their game, you know?"
"You mean you won't kill anyone?" No. "I'm sure I would, just like anybody else when the time came." "But, you know, I just keep wishing I could think of a way to show them that they don't own me." "You know, If I'm gonna die, I wanna still be me." Does that make any sense?
Yeah. "I just can't afford to think like that. I have my sister." Yeah, I know. He says sadly. They sit next each other and stare out at the capital as they soon drift of to sleep. Tomorrow the games begin! Tomorrow one of them would die!