"Get up!" barks a harsh voice.
I roll over and squint at the clock. It's 2:17 a.m. My sleepy eyes can just distinguish Glimmer standing over me in the darkness, her green eyes glowing like a cat's.
"Go away," I mumble, rolling back over and smothering myself in the blankets. I can guess what this is about, but don't these people have anything better to do? Like sleep?
Glimmer responds by ripping the blanket off my bed, leaving my body completely exposed to the cold air. It's a good thing I don't sleep naked.
"I said get up! Cato's called a meeting and we all need to be there!" says Glimmer sharply.
I sit up slowly and stare back at her with the most bored expression I can muster.
"You running errands for Cato now?" I ask dryly. "What's next? You gonna fetch him his slippers?"
"Shut up. Just 'cause you tied his training score doesn't mean he's not still the leader. Meet us up on the roof in five minutes or you're out of the alliance," she hisses before walking out.
Damn it. I quickly throw some clothes on. As much as I dislike my alliance, I need it for the early part of the games, especially if I'm going to try and take them out. If I don't roll with the careers, there's no way I'll be able to get my hands on a spear.
I hustle to the elevator and head up to the roof. I step outside into the cool air, suddenly wishing I'd brought a jacket. All the other careers are already up here. Cato and Glimmer are glaring at me while Clove and District Four just look bored.
"Glad his majesty could join us," says Cato, his icy blue eyes somehow colder than usual.
"Gentlemen, ladies…and Clove," says Cato, prompting the smaller girl to flip him off, "We have a serious problem."
"That's a bit of an understatement," mutters Clove, playing with I small knife I didn't know she had.
"What are we gonna do about the bitch on fire?" asks Glimmer, spitting the words out bitterly.
Cato sighs. "I'm not sure and I have absolutely no idea how she got that eleven. Did any of y'all see her do anything…interesting during training?" he asks.
"Nope," I say.
"Not really," says Clove, still flipping the knife in her hand.
Lewis and Brooke just shake their heads.
"She stuck mostly to the survival stations," says Glimmer.
"Yeah, but tying knots and learning to make fire won't get you an eleven, dumbass," scoffs Cato.
We're silent for a moment. Everyone else looks deep in thought, desperately trying to figure out what I already know.
"Okay, so she's hiding something, something deadly. Anyone have any ideas what I might be?" Cato presses.
One of us does, but…he doesn't need to know that. Everyone else is silent.
"Well that's great. That's perfect," mutters Cato, running his hand through his blonde hair.
"Is she target number one now or is it still Thresh?" Clove asks.
"I guess it's still Thresh. The girl may be good at something, but she's not big," says Cato.
"We should try to get her at the cornucopia anyway. I'd love to stick her with an arrow," says Glimmer.
I can't suppress my laughter at that statement. "You better hope she stands still for you then," I choke out.
"Screw you!" Glimmer hisses, her green eyes blazing, "I got a nine in training! The gamemakers looked pretty satisfied!"
"Yeah, I bet they did," I retort, my face stretching into a grin.
I can tell by the way she flushes with anger that I've gotten under her skin. I notice her oncoming fist just in time and step back. Cato steps in between us and pulls his fling/future victim back.
"Calm down, blondie. Fighting amongst ourselves isn't going to help us take down Thresh or the girl on fire," says Clove like an annoyed older sister.
"I hate you!" spits Glimmer from behind the wall that is Cato.
I just roll my eyes in response.
"Look, if you've got a problem, settle it later in the games. Going into the bloodbath, we have to be unified. Understand?" Cato says, the dark emphasis on the last word giving everyone pause.
Glimmer looks down. "Fine," she says, obviously still angry.
"Back to the cornucopia," says Clove, "I wouldn't risk missing Thresh or losing supplies to get her. If the opportunity presents itself, go for it, but don't let that distract you from securing the supplies. The last thing we need is for the rest of those scrubs to get weapons."
Her tone leaves no room for argument. I just hope Katniss avoids death long enough to help me out. At least, I think that's why I hope she avoids death.
"Smart thinking, midget," says Cato with his usual smirk.
We all ride back down after that. Cato, Brooke and Glimmer take the first elevator. Lewis, Clove and I take the second. Lewis hangs back, trying to avoid drawing Clove's attention. I think he's scared of her.
"Marvel, stop messing with Glimmer," says Clove flatly.
I snort at that. "What? Are you in love with her too?" I ask dryly.
"No and neither is Cato. He may be trying to hook up with her, but he'd slit her throat in a second to win," she says, sounding annoyed.
"I'm really glad you're telling me all this," I say.
"Look jackass, I don't like her and I don't like you, but we need to work together to take the others out at the cornucopia We can't be divided like this, so…stop pissing Glimmer off or you'll regret it!" she hisses.
We reach the fourth floor and Lewis gratefully slips out. Clove doesn't speak to me again until she gets off at the second floor.
"Remember what I said, One," she says.
Her dark eyes somehow look darker than before, more threatening. I can't imagine what they'd look like if she knew what I was really up to.
I wonder if this is what hell's like. Maybe this is what's waiting for me if I die in the games. Endless grooming sessions by a Capitol prep team. Hours of more shaving, polishing, combing and exfoliating turns into several hours with Gloss thinking of an angle. In the end, it's nothing spectacular. He just tells me to be charming, funny and confident, pretty standard career behavior for the interviews.
Finally, Antony shows up with my outfit. It's actually not too bad, a slick blue suit with a matching tie. I'm glad I'm not a female tribute. Their outfits are always a lot more complex.
It's finally time. I check myself one last time in the mirror and make sure everything is in order before heading to the elevator. Glimmer left a while ago in that completely sheer dress of hers. Cashmere didn't have much trouble thinking of a way to sell her to the sponsors. I'd feel bad for her if she wasn't such a bitch.
I tap my foot as I wait for the elevator. Just like the parade, this is important even if it's bullshit too. The interview needs to go well. I never was the best actor, but I can certainly pull off Gloss' charade…at least I hope so.
The elevator door opens and my jaw drops. Standing inside is the girl on fire herself and…she looks incredible. Her stylist continues to impress. Her dress shimmers with bright flecks of orange and red, almost like it's actually on fire. Her dark hair is pulled up in some elaborate style with her bangs swept off to one side. Her face has light makeup on it, emphasizing her sharp grey eyes and her pink lips that are drawn into a smirk.
"You coming or what?" she asks with a slight chuckle.
Snap out of it, you idiot.
"Uh…yeah," I manage, joining her on the elevator.
The door closes, isolating us from everything.
"You look stunning," I say without thinking. Goddamn it, what's wrong with me? I haven't felt this stupid since…actually I'm not sure I've ever felt this stupid.
Katniss blushes, her skin matching her dress. "Thanks. You look good too," she offers, looking at my suit.
I notice she starts biting her fingernails, which actually have a pretty interesting flame design on them.
"I don't think your prep team would appreciate that," I say with a chuckle.
Katniss looks at me like I just caught her stealing and lets out a sigh. "I guess I'm just nervous," she says.
I nod in understanding. "I get that. I just hope I don't embarrass myself out there," I say.
Katniss swallows nervously and doesn't answer. For some odd reason, I want to help her out.
"You don't have to be nervous, though. It's the Capitol. They aren't hard to entertain. Just…relax and it'll be fine. Hell, you could even try being cocky," I suggest.
"You think I could pull that off?" she asks, arching a dark eyebrow at me.
"With your score, no doubt. Well done by the way," I answer.
Katniss smirks again. "How pissed were your buddies?" she asks.
I can feel my face stretching into a grin as well. "Let's just say they're quite eager to put the fire out," I quip.
Katniss nods and is about to speak when the elevator dings, signifying we've reached our destination.
"I'll go out first," I say, "Wait a minute or two before leaving. If they figure out we're working together, we're both in a world of shit."
Katniss nods and I step out without another word. Most of the other tributes have already arrived and are milling around backstage. No sign of Peeta, but Thresh and Rue are both hanging off by themselves. I spot the other careers and they wave me over.
"Everyone's favorite late-comer," drawls Cato as I walk up.
"Hey," I say simply, putting my hands in my pockets. Cato's dressed in a light blue jacket and black pants, but seems more focused on analyzing Glimmer's outfit.
Clove shoots me a look, reminding me of our earlier conversation although in her goofy orange dress, she's a lot less intimidating.
"Lookin' real good there, Clove," I say sarcastically.
Clove's dark eyes narrow and she smirks. "Wish I could say the same about you, One," she says.
"Whatever. How y'all feeling?" I ask, turning to the District Four tributes, who look surprised to be included in the conversation.
"Fine, I guess. I'm a little nervous," says Lewis, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You should be," Cato interjects with a wicked smile, "If you screw up out there, everyone will see it; your parents, your friends, your girlfriend, your neighbors…the entire country."
Lewis' face pales a bit, reminding me of how young he is. Despite his abilities, he's still just a fifteen-year-old kid and Cato knows he can get to him.
"Leave him alone," says Brooke sharply.
Huh, I didn't expect that. Brooke hasn't talked much during training and she certainly never risked crossing Cato.
"Or what, Four?" Cato sneers, "You gonna make me shut my mouth?"
I notice Brooke's hands clench at her sides. Clove and Glimmer both look mildly interested in the exchange while Lewis just continues to look nervous.
Cato takes her silence for an answer. "Ah, I thought not. Lewis, fight your own battles next time. There's no place for that weakness amo-
Cato freezes and gets that deadly expression on his face. I follow his gaze to see my secret ally getting off the elevator. She avoids their sharp stares and simply waits for the interviews to start.
"I can't wait to gut her like a fish," chuckles Cato, his unsettling gaze landing on Brooke while he said that. Too her credit, she doesn't shy away and glares back.
Finally, the rest of the tributes show up, including Peeta in a dark suit complete with some flame accents to match with Katniss. Once again, District Twelve's style is surpassing everyone else's.
We're quickly forced into a line for the start of the interviews. I end up with Glimmer in front of me and Clove at my back, something I hope never happens again. I feel vulnerable with District Two behind me. It's no secret they're gonna axe us when the time is right, unless we pick the right time to haul ass.
Eventually, the signature music starts and Caesar Flickerman bounds onto the stage, wearing his usual blue suit and infectious smile. He quickly warms the crowd up, cracking a few jokes and talking about how exciting we're all going to be. I can't believe these people actually buy this.
"For our first interview, please give a warm welcome….to Glimmer!" announces Caesar.
Glimmer looks back at us once to smirk before strutting onto the stage like she owns it. Her interview is about as ridiculous as she is. She flirts with Caesar constantly, batting her eyelashes and striking the most seductive poses for the audience. I wonder how many parents are awkwardly trying to explain this to their children right now?
I know my parents will be watching, along with my brother and everyone else I know. I focus on my breathing to stay calm, taking deep breaths, holding them and then exhaling them quietly. This is the last hurdle. Then the arena, where there's no more bullshit. In there, it's all about who's the most lethal. Snappy outfits and jokes and poses don't mean a thing in there. That's where I'll shine.
Apparently the audience falls for Glimmer's incessant giggles and "sexy" angle. Caesar throws her hand up in triumph and she struts off to raucous applause. She shoots me a look as she passes, one that I ignore.
"Also hailing from District One, please welcome Marvel!" bellows Caesar.
Alright. It's time. I pull my shoulders back raise my chin and remember to stroll. I'm in no hurry. I'm confident. Everyone will see it.
I ignore the applause, cheers and blinding spotlights, focusing on Caesar as he shakes my hand and asks me to sit down.
"Well Marvel, how are you liking the Capitol so far?" he asks cheerfully.
Better not give the honest answer.
"It's certainly something, Caesar. The food, the apartments and especially the training facilities completely blew me away," I say, smiling and leaning back in my seat, trying to look casual.
"We try our hardest to be gracious hosts here, don't we folks?" Caesar asks, drawing another cheer from the crowd.
Oh yeah. You're real gracious…until we have to start killing each other to entertain you.
"Back to training, we were all very impressed by your score. Current projections have you as one of the top five competitors this year. How do you feel about that?" he asks.
"I'd say it's a little inaccurate," I shrug.
"And why is that?" he asks.
I pretend to examine my cuffs for a moment, like this conversation is trivial to me.
"Because I'm better than top five. I'm going to win," I say nonchalantly, prompting instant chatter from the crowd.
"Ooh, confident! I like it! And why shouldn't you be? A strong young man with a training score like yours should have no problem making it deep in the games. So Marvel, any particular strategies in mind for games?" prods Caesar.
Oh if only you knew.
"Can't tell you that, Caesar. I gotta save some surprises for the arena," I say smugly.
"Oh must you torture us?" says Caesar dramatically, drawing laughter from the crowd. "How about a weapon of choice? Can you tell us that?"
Why not? Everyone knows already.
"Spears," I say, "Anyone who saw me in training knows you don't want to be near me when I've got one."
I force a wicked grin onto my face, drawing more cheers from the endless rows of freaks in front of the stage.
"Wow, I'm nervous and I'm not even in the arena," says Caesar with a laugh.
"Keep it that way. You'll live longer," I banter back, getting Caesar and the entire audience to laugh with me.
"So Marvel, we all saw you volunteer, but what made you want to throw your hat into the ring?" asks Caesar.
"My family," I say without hesitation, "I promised them that I'd win and give them the lives they deserve."
I hear a few "awws" come from the crowd, but I ignore it. Thinking of my family has brought me down a bit. I hope they're not ashamed of me, getting up here and preening like the usual bloodthirsty career.
"That's very noble of you. So your family's eagerly awaiting your return…is anyone else?" says Caesar, waggling his eyebrows for extra emphasis.
"No. I never really worried about stuff like that," I say. It's the truth. For years, I've been all business, focused entirely on my training and not allowing any distractions.
"I find that hard to believe. What about your district partner Glimmer? Why, if I were twenty years younger-
I cut him off. "Caesar, if you were twenty years younger, you'd be forty and still way too old for her," I say with a smirk.
Caesar laughs and puts his hand to his chest. "Oh, how you wound me sir!" he says in fake agony. The audience is lapping this up.
"But seriously, I find it very hard to believe that a handsome young man like yourself doesn't have a special girl!" prods Caesar.
Special? Somehow, I find myself thinking of Katniss. She's pretty damn extraordinary and beautiful too, especially tonight. Damn it, I'm doing it again. Focus!
Caesar raises his eyebrows at me. "You look like you were thinking of someone there," he says with a pearly-white grin.
"Just thinking about the competition," I say with my best attempt at Cato's signature smirk, "They better be ready because I'm full of surprises."
Caesar chuckles and stands up beside me. "I bet you are. Ladies and gentlemen, Marvel!" he yells, raising my hand with his. I just smirk and stroll off to an endless stream of applause and cheers.
That went perfectly.
I consider heading up, but decide I'd better watch the rest of the interviews. Clove comes next. She's cool, deadly and plays a bit of the mysterious side. I guess she has to with her size. Cato comes next and he's as cocky and vicious as I'd expect from a District Two tribute. District Four does alright, but Lewis stutters and looks a bit awkward up there.
I hardly notice most of the following tributes. They all try to work their angles, some doing better than others but few making a great impression. Thresh is a bit interesting for his silence, answering all of Caesar's questions with yes or no despite the eccentric man's best efforts to get him to open up. Thresh doesn't really need to do anything else. His gargantuan size should have sponsors lined up around the block anyway.
Then comes one of the only interview I have genuine interest in. Katniss is a bit nervous at first, making her seem uncharacteristically ditzy. I shake my head at the lamb stew joke and the twirling. I guess the Capitol really is entertained by anything.
"Katniss, we were all very moved by what you did for your sister," says Caesar.
I'll say. It was probably the bravest thing I've ever seen.
Katniss still looks uncomfortable, but manages a thank you. I think Caesar is treading into sensitive territory.
"What did you tell her after that?" asks Caesar.
"That I would try to win," says Katniss with unmistakable sincerity.
"And try you shall. Ladies and gentlemen, Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire!" he yells, lifting her hand up with his and drawing the loudest cheers of the evening.
Katniss looks relieved as she heads back stage. She meets my eye and I smile at her. She returns it but quickly looks away. Probably for the best, especially with everyone around…but I still wish she hadn't.
I turn back to see her district partner heading onstage. I'll give the kid this: he knows how to work the crowd. He's funny and charming and does everything you have to in order to get sponsors.
"So Peeta, I've asked many of the male tributes this question and now it's your turn. Do you have a special someone waiting for you back home?" asks Caesar.
Peeta shakes his head sadly. "Not really. There's this girl I've had a crush on for forever, but I don't think she even knew I existed before the reaping," he says.
Damn, that must suck. I actually feel a bit for this guy.
"Well Peeta, here's what you do. You go in and win the Hunger Games. Then go home and there's no way this mystery girl can ignore you," says Caesar, drawing cheers of encouragement from the crowd.
Peeta just shakes his head again. "I don't think that's gonna work," he says.
"And why ever not?" asks Caesar.
"Because she came here with me."
For the second time that evening, my jaw drops. Katniss and all the other tributes look shocked as well. I think things just got really complicated.
A/N: Tensions are rising among the Careers, Katniss is has a target on her back, the start of the Hunger Games is imminent and now Peeta's confessed his love! As if everything wasn't complicated enough for our hero. One chapter to go before the arena. As always, all reviews, favorites and follows are greatly appreciated.