Chapter 6: The Interviews

It has been a week and a half since we have been selected to compete in the Hunger Games. I am sitting down, having dinner with the gang and my family. "So she's staring at my jewels, she cannot take her eyes off them" Effie said. "Well look at,

all that your wearing" Cinna said. Haymitch then walked up to us. "frankly it's rude. Oh, Haymitch, you should join us. we're having some of your favorite dinners" Effie said. "Oh, lovely" Haymitch said as he sat down with us.

"Where is Peeta?" Katniss said. Peeta was the only one not with us right now. "He is in his room. now listen, tomorrow is the last day, and they let us work with our own tributes right before the games. so you, Lana and I will be going down at 9:00" Haymitch said.

"What about him?" Katniss said. "He says he wants to be trained on his own from now on" Haymitch said. "What?" I said confused. "This kind of thing does happen at this point.

there is only one winner. right?" Haymitch said. "We should have some chocolate-covered strawberries" Effie said. "Ohh that sounds nice" I said. "Oh my, yes" Portia said.

"Please" Cinna said.

It is the next day and I and Katniss were getting ready for our interviews. I and Katniss were in the backrooms with Cinna and we were trying on our dresses. we had same,

style dresses. Katniss's dress was red, and my dress was a yellow color. Katniss and I spun around in our dresses. "amazing" Cinna said. "I don't feel amazing" Katniss said.

"Don't you know how beautiful you girls look?" Cinna said. "Not really" I said a bit shy. "No. and I don't know how to make people like me" Katniss said. "I don't know how to,

make people like me either" I said. "How do you make people like you?" Cinna said. "Well, you made you and Lana like you" Cinna said. "Yeah" I said. "That was diffrent.

I wasn't even trying" Katniss said. "Exactly. just be yourself. I'll be there the whole time. and just pretend you're talking to me and your family. okay?" Cinna said. "Okay"

Katniss and I said. after a while we all got in line for our interviews. one by one we were called up for our interviews. Katniss, Peeta, and I were the last ones to go since we,

were in district 12, one of the last districts. As we were waiting in line my legs were shaking nervously. I don't really do well in front of crowds. I get nervous whenever I,

have to speak in front of crowds. My family was waiting in line next to me to support me. "Hey Lana, how are you feeling?" Ruby said. "I'm nervous mommy. I don't do well in front of crowds" I said. "Hey you will do great, I promise" Jaune said.

"Think of it as...talking to one of your favorite superheroes, or one of your favorite movie characters" Blake said. "Thanks, mom" I said. "Don't worry, you will be great" Ruby said. "I have had to sing in front of thousands of people,

once but I was fine in the end" Weiss said. "Really?" I said. "Yes. father wanted me to sing to people in Atlas after the fall of beacon to let them know that we weren't victems" Weiss said. "Oh, I see" I said. "I had almost flipped out at a lady at the end,

of the party, I really wanted to let her have it" Weiss said. "You should have let her have it" Yang said. I then heard Katniss's name being called. "From District 12, District 12,

you know hernas! the girl on fire!" Ceaser said. I heard the Audience cheering as Katniss was walking out onto the stage. "Well, we know hernas, the lovley Katniss Everdeen!"

Ceaser said. I watched as Katniss walked up to him. "You are up next" Salem said. I nodded. "I know" I said. "Just remember what I said, okay Lana?" Blake said. "Yeah"

I said. "You got this babe" Yang said as she put her hand on my shoulder. I kissed Yang and she Kissed me back. I was in my own little world, trying not to think about the,

interview when Adam tapped me on the shoulder. "You are on shortly, listen for your name" Adam said. I nodded. "Good luck" Adam said. "Thanks" I said. I watched as,

Katniss walked off of the stage. "Fron District 12, you know hernas! our other girl on fire, Lana Xion Long!" Ceaser said. the crowd cheered as I walked out onto the stage.

I smiled as I walked up to Ceaser. "Welcome, welcome!" Ceaser said as I walked up to him. Ceaser took my hand and we sat down on the two chairs. I looked at the,

Audience. Ceaser then spoke up, "Well, that was quite an entrance you and your friend made the other day" Ceaser said. "What?" I said confused. "Well, I think someone a little nervous" Ceaser said. the Audience laughed and Ceaser laughed with them.

I saw my family and Cinna in the Audience watching in the distance. The laughter died down. "I said that was quite an entrance you and your friend made the other day. at the tribute parade the other day. do you want to tell,

us about it?" Ceaser said. "Well, I just was hoping I wouldn't make a fool of myself and burn up" I said. the Audience laughed. "When you and your friend came out of that Chariot, I have to say, my heart stopped. did any of you experience this as well?

my heart stopped" Ceaser said. "So did mine" I said. "Now about the flames, are they real?" Ceaser said. I smiled. "Yes. My Aunt told me she wanted to have the flames"

I said. The audience gasped. "In fact, I am wearing them today. would you like to see?" I said. "Wait, Wait, Wait. is it safe?" Ceaser said. I smiled. "Yes" I said.

"What do you think folks?" Ceaser said. "Yeah!" the audience said. the audience clapped and cheered. "I think that's a yes" Ceaser said. I said nothing and stood up.

I got ready to spin. I looked at my family and waved at them. they waved back. I then spun around in my dress. I kept spinning and spinning as I was getting dizzy.

"Woah" I said. I continued spinning and the audience gasped as they watched the fire coming out from my dress. "Steady, steady" Ceaser said as I slowly sat down in my seat.

I took a moment to catch my breath. "That was really something Lana. that was something" Ceaser said. I smiled. "Now, I have one more question for you" He said.

"Yes?" I said. Ceaser held my hand. "It's about your family. and your friend's sister. we were all very moved when you and Katniss volunteered for her at the reaping.

did she come and say goodbye to you. and what did your family think about this?" Ceaser said. "Yes, she did. my family also didn't like this at first because they did not,

want me to be in danger. but I wanted to save her life and it was worth it" I said. "And it will be worth it" Ceaser said. he then kissed my hand and we stood up. "Ladies and gentlemen, from district 12, Lana Xion Long the girl on fire!" Ceaser said.

the audience cheered as I walked off the stage.