Chapter Fifty-Nine; Lovers Appeal
(Stephanie's POV)
Caesar's introduction boomed into the room once more interrupting conversations, calling another away.
"The Scandalous Stephanie Trindlesworth of District 3!"
Stephanie caught Slena's gaze for a moment as Slena cocked an eyebrow at her curiously.
Stephanie cringed, her head dropping as she closed her eyes for a moment to collect herself. So this is what she had become? What her parents would see, her friends? This is what little Eldi would have to look up to. Yea, she agreed bitterly, it is scandalous.
A warm hand clutched hers. She didn't need to open her eyes to know who it was.
She lifted her head and searched his blue eyes as he held her gaze. She felt like she was being tossed about aimlessly in the blue of those eyes, looking for something, for anything to anchor her down, and keep the hysteria, the fainting and the breaking down all at bay.
"Good luck Stephanie." Frenkin squeezed her hand tight for a moment and just like that he had anchored her.
Stephanie smiled gratefully at him. "You too," she said.
Stephanie got shakily to her feet and walked towards the stairs.
She spared one last glance over her shoulder. All the faces were turned towards her; some wore indifferent expressions, some pity and understanding, others hoping she would fail and lessen the competition.
Stephanie climbed the stairs, trying to quell the tossing of her stomach. She didn't really know what she was expecting when she reached the top, but what it turned out to be was a sort of tunnel. The walls and curved ceiling were made of frosted stained glass and the floor was a plush, red carpet.
Stephanie walked the corridor that slowed curved left and then without warning she was suddenly out on a bright -stage, blinded almost by the lights and surrounded by unfamiliar faces.
Stephanie faltered for a moment before she felt a guiding hand on her elbow.
"Come on Miss Trindlesworth, don't be shy." It was Caesar Flickerman standing at her elbow. Stephanie was momentarily surprised by how short he was. He was barely half a head smaller than her though the extravagant hairstyle lent him some extra inches.
As the waves of crashing applause ebbed, Stephanie forced herself to kick start into action.
She allowed Flickerman to guide her over to the comfortable, white chairs that were angled to face one another and the audience.
Stephanie looked out to the audience that had started cheering again when she had begun walking. Stephanie might have laughed at the idea if her mouth was capable of working at that moment.
For the briefest of moments Stephanie's eyes landed on a little party of people in the front rows. Isa was there as was Bright, Lashes, Silver, Tess, El, Mirr, Alba and even Ficen. And they were going wild. Well, some more than others. Isa, Bright, Lashes and Silver were cheering and clapping for all they were worth.
It looked as if Isa might be responsible for 25% of the noise currently being made all by herself. She was waving her arms about wildly, chanting Stephanie's name, then her and Bright and Lashes had some sort of choreographed shout going on between them. Her hands were a blur as she clapped frantically all the way beaming up at Stephanie. It seemed not even Ficen could escape Isa. While Ficen was not as enthusiastic, Isa had dragged the glaring woman to her feet and had her clapping like a maniac.
Stephanie laughed then. She couldn't help it.
She barely knew Isa or Bright or Lashes or any of them really, and here they were cheering for her as if there was no tomorrow.
Stephanie glanced up to where Haymitch told her he would be watching from. And sure enough he was standing at the balcony of the box, looking down at her with a truly Haymitch smirk, a glass in one hand.
She caught his eye and he raised his glass to her, tilting it towards her in a sort of toast before he knocked it back.
Stephanie felt herself rally against the nerves.
She could do this.
Others had done it before her and maybe Isa was right.
Flickerman wouldn't have to fish for things to say or try desperately for some angle.
People knew her name and being a tribute that was no small thing.
Stephanie sank down into the white chair, smiling out at the audience and blowing them a few kisses. A new feeling coursed through her blood now; something exhilarating that caused her whole body to tremble like a leaf.
Flickerman managed to calm the audience down.
"Well Miss Trindlesworth…you certainly received quite the welcome. It seems you have an enthusiastic fan base," Flickerman said.
Stephanie threw her head back and laughed. When had laughing got this easy? Stephanie thought of all the things that could go wrong, of all that she was about to face but still…the cloying smile stuck to her lips like sticky treacle.
Flickerman laughed with her and the audience followed suit. As if to prove Caesar's point Isa, Bright and Lashes even threw in a few enthusiastic cheers that set the audience off again.
Glancing at the crowd it was clear to see that the majority of them were on some level of inebriation. Stephanie dimly wondered if maybe she had been slipped something.
The crowd went on cheering, playing off one another and trying to outdo one another. They had probably forgotten what they were cheering for. It started to reach a level of silliness and Stephanie turned to Flickerman, wondering why he didn't try to stop it.
And then Stephanie's face drained of colour, and the smile finally fell from her lips.
Caesar Flickerman's face was sombre. He had his back to the audience but Stephanie could still see him. His hair was jet black this year but in the light it shimmered a myriad of colours. His lips and his cheeks had a silvery sheen to them but his face was devoid of joy or jest.
He had two fingers pressed to his ear and his head was tilted to the side slightly as though he were listening.
Stephanie looked up to the box desperately. Haymitch was leaning on the rail, his face grim but he wasn't looking at the crowd, his grey eyes were boring into the back of Caesar's skull.
He glanced at Stephanie questioningly for a moment but Stephanie could offer him no insight.
Just when Stephanie thought the whole thing was about to erupt into chaos, Caesar turned around in his seat and just as he always did, began to calm the crowd.
"Now you are just being silly," he chided with a laugh and there were many sheepish expressions in response.
Caesar turned to Stephanie again and Stephanie managed to plaster on a wan smile to cover for the cameras in time.
"Now, Miss Trindlesworth. May I call you Stephanie?"
Stephanie nodded.
"Stephanie, where were we?" Caesar began again, leaning forward engagingly.
Stephanie studied his face for a moment trying to discern the slightest hint that would tell her what his momentary lapse had been about. She had never seen it in any of the videos. But then maybe they masked it? But no one has ever mentioned it? And if it is a normal thing then why did Haymitch appear so concerned?
Stephanie glanced in Haymitch's direction for a fleeting moment. He looked on edge.
"Now Stephanie, we could tip-toe around this interview asking you your opinions on the Capitol but that's not what we want to know…IS IT?!" Flickerman cried, directing the last part of his question to the audience.
The crowd responded with the negative.
Stephanie tried to appear serene, tried to keep the smile from slipping into a grimace.
"Now what we want to know is about these sumptuous love affairs of yours!" Flickerman dove straight in with the killer.
Stephanie gulped, giving a nervous laugh that sounded too fragile even in her own ears.
"Who are they? Come on now, you can tell me…" Flickerman coaxed, placing a reassuring hand on her knee.
The audience edged forward, waiting in charged silence.
Stephanie threw a glare towards where Haymitch was. I won't have to tell them your name, eh? Really, I don't think I'll get out of here alive, never mind the arena, unless I answer them! Stephanie's thoughts stumbled as she tried to think of something.
Right. Well Haymitch was right on one account. Draw attention away from herself.
Time to be convincing.
Steeling her nerve Stephanie began to set the plan into action.
"I have no idea who my Capitol admirer is," Stephanie answered Flickerman.
The crowd drew in a huge gasp so synchronised that it almost seemed rehearsed.
"Well things are not as they seem!" proclaimed Caesar. "Do continue!" he urged.
Stephanie took a deep breath.
"As you have guessed, I have a Capitol admirer. But I have no idea who that person is. I am as much eager to know his identity as you are Caesar." Stephanie hoped that her voice sounded sincere as she added the warmest smile she could muster.
"Oh you poor dear…He must be shy!" Caesar addressed the crowds and a collective "ahh" of sympathy went round.
Stephanie nodded in agreement.
"And how did this admirer first come about?" Caesar was leaning towards her now, an almost sympathetic look to his face.
"It was at the boutique…" Stephanie began hesitantly. The boutique with the now murdered stylist Cen and the catastrophe…Stephanie paused. Inhale. Exhale.
"That is where I received the…the most beautiful necklace I had ever seen." Stephanie gritted her teeth as there was another round of coos from the audience. I have to be convincing! She reminded herself, trying to soothe her stinging pride.
"And was there a message attached to it or a love letter?" Caesar inquired hopefully.
Stephanie had no idea if he was swallowing this up with the rest of them but she decided to go on ahead with it anyway.
"No, nothing." Stephanie shook her head attempting to look forlorn. The crowd sighed with disappointment.
"Although…"
The crowd surged forward again, eager and listening.
Stephanie remembered the two words scrawled on the inside. A molecule of truth in a web of lies.
"He had written 'thank-you' on the inside," Stephanie said quietly.
The crowd gave a collective gasp.
"A thank-you for what?" Flickerman pressed.
Stephanie gaze was almost far-off and distant. Without meaning to she was giving a Class A performance.
Stephanie's mind stalled and stuttered to a halt. What did Seneca say thank-you for? Stephanie remembered his words; "A gift of gratitude," he had called it.
A childish part of Stephanie's mind was annoyed that she in some way helped someone like Seneca Crane but that she couldn't remember how.
He couldn't possibly mean thank-you for their disastrous dinner. Maybe he had sent it as a joke? Oh yes, because Seneca and I are such great pals, Stephanie's thoughts countered sarcastically.
"I have no idea," Stephanie replied honestly, giving a half-hearted shrug.
"Perhaps you have met him but just can't remember. In your interviews you have often told us how overwhelming the Capitol is for you? Think Stephanie!" Caesar insisted, taking Stephanie's hands in his own and squeezing them painfully.
Stephanie was a bit taken aback but when she looked around she realised. While speaking with Caesar she hadn't noticed the hushed silence that had fell. But now she glanced about Stephanie could see that the crowd was hooked on her every word.
There were even a few people that she could see in the front row with tears in their eyes, clutching their unfortunate friend's hand beside them, or strangling handkerchiefs stained with smudged make-up in their hands.
Stephanie had no idea how the rowdy crowd that had devolved to seeing who could shout her name the longest, had suddenly in the space of ten minutes, turned into this simpering mass of people. Stephanie looked towards Isa, who true to extreme, was huddled together with Bright and Lashes all clutching huge white handkerchiefs. Even Ficen – Ficen of all people! – appeared to look mildly interested.
"Come on Stephanie, can't you remember him?!" Caesar pleaded desperately. There were a few hiccupping sobs from the audience.
Stephanie raised her hands up exasperated. She had the most inconvenient urge to laugh right about then and she struggled to hold it back, knowing that that would not go down well.
"Well don't give up hope yet, Stephanie! Is there anything you would like to say to this young, handsome admirer who adores you so much?" Caesar said, giving her hands a reassuring squeeze.
Stephanie dithered for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. She was about to point out that Caesar had no idea that her "admirer" was "young" or "handsome", and most certainly did not adore her very much.
Stephanie had a very strong desire to look up at Haymitch to see what he was making of all this but she was afraid to even let her eyes drift in his direction, the audience and cameras were following her moves so intensely.
A camera came right up onto the stage and approached her until it was almost right under her nose.
Stephanie tried to edge away a little from the invasion.
Caesar closed his eyes inhaling deeply. "Go ahead Stephanie, just say what you feel."
Stephanie had that uncontrollable urge to just burst out laughing but she managed to quell it.
She glanced unsure at the camera. Say what? Stephanie opened her mouth and closed it again…and again.
An uncomfortable silence stretched but no one else seemed to notice it.
"Oh the poor thing is overcome with emotion!" Someone cried out from the audience and a murmur of sympathy went along.
Flickerman gestured to the cameraman and he moved the camera so it focused on him and then Caesar began speaking.
"Whoever you are out there…now is not the time to sit by and do nothing. Stephanie Trindlesworth - the woman you love, is going into the arena in a few weeks. Her training begins next week. You might never get this chance again. Let us know who you are, so you and Stephanie can enjoy the time you have before the arena. Whole worlds separated you before but now…now the glorious games have given you this chance to meet. Do not let fear of rejection hold you back…for if I know our dear Stephanie, you already have her heart." Caesar wiped a few tears away from his eyes after his emotional appeal.
Isa and half of the crowd were inconsolable wailing into their handkerchiefs.
Stephanie stood up, met Haymitch's gaze for a split second and then promptly fainted.