Chapter 5: Charm the Capitol

''Don't be nervous,'' Andrew said. ''Act like no one cares.''

I gave him a look that said, ''and how is that supposed to help''?

We were next in line to have our skills assessed for scoring. The highest you could earn was a twelve, and the lowest, a one. The session was private and went up from District 1 with girls first and boys second. Cameras were not allowed, but that fact did nothing to calm my nerves.

My name was called over the loudspeaker and I got up off the bench to go in. Like always, my hands were sweating up a storm, and rubbing them on my pants didn't help. My feet were practically soaked as well.

I walked in slowly with my insides turning and twisting. A heightened balcony overlooked a gym full of various kinds of equipment. A group of well-to-do Capitol citizens and officers milled around the balcony, laughing and congregating and only some of them paying attention to me. I made my way to an area lined with target dummies and picked up a spear from a rack of weapons. Then I went to stand in front of the first dummy and took aim.

With a deep breath, I drew my arm back, steadied myself, and threw straight shot. The spear hit the target in the shoulder, and I almost gave a laugh of relief when it didn't bounce off or miss. I did miss the next dummy though and regretted my early inward celebration. However, on the last one, I hit the target right in the gut and suppressed a smile as I was given nods of approval. And with that, I left, not feeling all too bad.

That evening, Andrew, our mentor Ms. Anna, and I, all sat on the edge of a fancy couch and waited to see our results on the television. Like one would expect, Amber and Onyx both scored highly, with Amber getting nine and Onyx getting ten. The girl from District 4, Lemongrass, scored seven, and Hawk, of course, made a ten. Eagerly I bent forward, curious to see what I would get. A seven played across the screen and I sat back to rejoice with the others. Andrew appeared next, gaining an eight from his session with the broadsword. I clapped my hands and praised him, as did the others, and he was clearly pleased.

''I told you you were always better than me with the sword,'' I said.

''You weren't scored for it, so we still don't know,'' he said, shrugging.

''Stop it!,'' I exclaimed, cuffing his shoulder playfully. ''Just accept it!''

He grinned and the others told us to quiet down. The only thing left before the games was the interview.


All the tributes stood in the hallway, awaiting their turn in the interview by Jimmy Flickerman. I watched the monitor as contestants took the stage and my turn came closer and closer.

Andrew wore a deep green suit with a white shirt and a black tie and pants. My own dress had dark green lace (my favorite color) and lines of golden ribbon streaming down from the waist. The top was a mix of browns and golds in a plaid pattern, and there was an outlining of smooth deer fur on the neck and shoulders that I quite liked.

In no time at all, I was next.

''Good luck,'' Andrew whispered.

''Thanks,'' I said, and then walked up to the stage when I was signaled.

Everything was much brighter than I had expected, and I almost gasped when I saw the rows of Capitol people clapping at my arrival. Remembering to smile, I strode up to the standing Jimmy Flickerman and sat down with him.

''Hello there! and what is your name, dear lady?,'' he asked with a grin.

''Shae, Shae Ridley,'' I answered, prying my eyes away from the myriad of colorful lights and hair.

''Well, Shae, since I hear that your from District 7, the lumber district, I was wondering, have you ever chopped down a tree?''

''Oh, plenty,'' I said, waving it off. ''I work in lumber with my dad.''

''Ahh, your dad,'' he said, nodding, ''and are you very close with him?''

''Yes, and the rest of my family as well,'' I answered.

''Really? How many siblings do you have?,'' he asked with curious expression.

''Umm, six, including me, but two are a lot older, so I'm kind of like the oldest of the youngest. I have two brothers and three sisters,'' I explained.

''Oof! That must be a handful. I can't imagine how you haven't had your own Hunger Games yet!,'' he laughed and the audience joined in.

''Well, they can be overwhelming sometimes,'' I chuckled.

''Okay, okay,'' said Jimmy, growing more serious. ''If you could bring back one thing from the Capitol to your family, what would it be?''

''Oh, I don't know,'' I said. ''Maybe the food? It's pretty awesome, but actually, you know what? I think I'd take back the chariot horses. They're so sweat and beautiful, my family would love them.''

''Ha!,'' he threw back his head, ''They are something, aren't they? If you win, you could get your own team and take me for a spin!''

I laughed, charmed by his humor. Jimmy talked to me for a few more minutes and then our time was up.

''Shae Ridley, everybody. Give her a hand!''

We both stood up and bowed before I waved and left the stage. Next up was Andrew. He was greeted warmly by Jimmy Flickerman and the crowd.

''And what would be the name of such a handsome young man?,'' Jimmy asked with a smile when they sat down.

''Andrew Pines, sir,'' Andrew said.

''With looks like that, Andrew, I bet that you have a most impressive following of lady friends,'' Flickerman said, leaning in.

''Only enough to handle,'' Andrew replied with the flash of a smile.

How witty, I thought.

''Speaking of,'' Jimmy said,'' any... particular lady friend you like?'' Obviously he was hinting at the reason of Andrew's volunteering.

''Yeah, maybe,'' Andrew said, glancing at the cameras.

''Think she's watching?''

''Definitely,'' Andrew answered. ''She wouldn't miss it.''

''I hope not! Seeing as how you volunteered, are you looking to win for her?,'' the interview host asked.

'Well, not exactly. It was more of a leap of faith, for a friend. Shae Ridley, to be exact. I've known her for basically my whole life.''

My heart gave a skip.

''Ahh, the other tribute. That's very heroic, you must be close,'' Jimmy said, raising his dyed eyebrows.

''Yes, but the games can be unpredictable, so we'll have to see how it goes,'' Andrew said.

''Yes,'' agreed Flickerman, ''good luck!'' He asked Andrew a few more questions and then finished up by asking the audience to give it up for Andrew. They did, and the two shook hands.