Chapter Sixty-Four; Unwilling Star of the Show

(Stephanie's POV)

One minute Slena had been there.

Stephanie turned and was relieved to see Haymitch weaving through the crowd back to them.

She turned and Slena was gone.

Haymitch reached them, his look already questioning as he glanced at Stephanie and then to the direction of Slena's retreating back.

Stephanie just shook her head. There would be time enough for that later. What she currently was more worried about was her impending interview, take two, with Flickerman.

Glancing over Haymitch's shoulder, Stephanie could clearly see that Flickerman was evidently waiting.

Stephanie barely suppressed a grimace.

"Where's Isa?" Haymitch asked as his grey eyes scanned the crowds.

Stephanie glanced about her distractedly, not really looking.

"No idea," Stephanie mumbled.

Haymitch scoffed clearly in a 'leave it,' manner and with a hand on the small of Stephanie's back and a hand on Frenkin's shoulder, he directed them over towards Flickerman's table.

Stephanie was momentarily comforted, knowing she would have Haymitch and Frenkin's rallying support nearby and not just the secluded stage and a crowd like before.

As they ascended the small flight of marble stairs, Stephanie hiking up Ficen's latest invention of some cocoon of nude silk, Stephanie caught the look on Flickerman's face before it broke into its usual, huge smile.

There was that same scrutinising look of mild bafflement, suspicion and wariness on Flickerman's face that had been on Slena's only moments before.

Stephanie frowned. Was that really how people saw her?

She had the urge to jump up on the table and declare to everyone that she was not the girl they thought she was; keeping secrets, hiding hidden strengths and strategies. She was just a normal 18 year old girl from District 3 who was in way over her head in somewhere like the Capitol.

She was just a pawn at the front; what you saw was what you got. She wasn't the manipulative strategist moving the pieces as many suspected she was.

Flickerman clapped his hands together loudly breaking Stephanie from her reverie.

Stephanie managed a shaky smile as she slid into the seat of the circular booth next to him at his insistence.

"Well it's marvellous to see you again Miss Trindlesworth! You had more than a few of us worried at your little tumble," he said affably, but there was something in his eyes that was slightly cooler than his tone implied, something that was assessing Stephanie.

Out of the corner of her eye Stephanie saw Isa appear as she pounced on Frenkin.

Stephanie was both immediately shocked and soothed when she felt someone slip into the seat next to her and warm fingers brush hers for a brief moment under the table.

If the slight widening of Flickerman's azure eyes was anything to go by – so was he.

"Abernathy?" The name was a question from Flickerman's sky, blue lips.

Stephanie looked up at Haymitch, ready to murmur that she would be fine though every part of her being protested. She didn't want Haymitch to get it trouble and also she didn't want to draw any more attention to herself.

An interview for the tribute with her mentor? But then Stephanie's thoughts reasoned miserably; nothing about her from the beginning had been normal.

But her intended reassurance fell quiet.

Haymitch looked at Flickerman.

Flickerman looked at Haymitch.

And then the interview began, Haymitch and Flickerman all easy smiles.

Stephanie remembered just in time not to gawp in front of cameras.

The hell had just happened?

Stephanie felt angry tendrils curling tight in her stomach.

Wasn't Haymitch always telling her to be honest with him?! For her to always tell him everything?

And what was Haymitch doing right now then? Stephanie suspected – No! – knew Haymitch was keeping things from her.

Those disappearances all a few days ago when he would just up and vanish for hours at a time – To where? With who? Why?

Like how he knew Flickerman had been 'bought'. How did he know?

And now the 'secret look' of mutual silent understanding between the two?

Stephanie was just about fed up with Haymitch being a complete and utter hypocrite, though most of her frustration was centred around the fact that she was terrified for Haymitch.

Stephanie answered Flickerman's first few questions easily enough about her health and how was she after the fainting and about her dress and she looked well…etcetera, etcetera.

They both – Stephanie & Haymitch – downplayed the fainting as much they could, saying it was just emotion overdrive.

"And your Capitol lover…" Flickerman trailed off.

Stephanie took a deep breath – She had to be convincing.

She distantly realised that there had gathered quite a crowd of spectators who were all waiting in hushed silence.

Fas the reporter was at the front, holding a bulky camera with a protruding lens that seemed to be being held together only by a few haphazard strips of tape. Stephanie distantly thought it a bit strange considering all the technology available at the Capitol, especially given the other reporters crowded around him were all using high-tech devices.

Stephanie put on her most charming smile.

"Like I say Flickerman, I don't know who he is…" Stephanie attempted to look forlorn.

Stephanie saw the muscles in Haymitch's clenched jaw twitch though a smile was still pasted on his face.

There were a few camera flashes, Flickerman added an appropriate sympathetic noise that was quickly taken up by the crowd, a ripple of coos sounding around those gathered. Though it was nothing like the choreographed pantomime of her initial interview.

Haymitch cast her a side-long look, completely pleasant to anyone else but Stephanie read the silent nudge in his grey eyes. She knew what he wanted her to say. She had to continue with the manhunt for her Capitol Lover that Flickerman had started. Stephanie just didn't want to say it.

She was afraid what the results would be if certain people actually took what she said for real. Her thoughts had been constantly stuck on it for a while now, as she considered all the clues the Capitolites would be using to try and hunt down her Capitol Lover. The unique, expensive necklace she had been given…that Seneca Crane had given her. Stephanie knew that Haymitch shared her anxiety. There was no possible way such a situation could end well. But Stephanie swallowed down her reluctance, knowing she needed to play along.

"I am just as eager as you to know the identity of this…this," Stephanie breathed harshly through her nose, her teeth clenched, "This wonderful, Capitol man. And I just hope that he comes forward Caesar, so we can finally meet properly."

Flickerman beamed at her as the crowd erupted into applause.

Stephanie breathed a sigh of relief. Haymitch's shoulders visibly relaxed.

It was over – for now.

There were a few more menial questions about what she thought of her outfits and stylists. How she found life and parties in the Capitol?

"And are you looking forward to the training? Starting in two days' time! My! Time flies when you're having fun. You have been spoilt with all these parties! All the previous years' tributes didn't even get this attention!" Flickerman spoke animatedly and the crowd laughed, obviously in agreement.

Stephanie smiled tightly. Yeah – so much fun, she thought bitterly.

Stephanie faltered for a moment at the question though. Was there a right answer?

She thought fast, keeping in mind that the best way to waylay Capitolites was to appeal to the one thing they couldn't resist. Just like Haymitch had taught her.

Flattery.

"Well I will be so sad to leave behind all these marvellous parties," she intoned meaningfully.

There was another ripple of patronising coos from the onlookers as though Stephanie were a young child.

"Well don't worry after your training there will be more weeks of fun in the Capitol!"

A small cheer went up.

Stephanie barely contained a grimace.

More blasted weeks of fun. Stephanie knew the reason for the extra weeks after the training, was for any tributes who received dismal training scores to try and still salvage sponsors before the Games.

Stephanie knew that she would most likely be one of those tributes, but it didn't make her any more appreciative of the extra weeks.

It was another thing to add to a long list of many that Stephanie was worried about.

How was she actually doing in terms of sponsors?

Isa was always gushing that she was still 'hot news'. But did being the centre of various scandals mean she was obtaining sponsors or just keeping the Capitol entertained?

Trust Capitolites to find the most agonising way of doing something… Stephanie thought harshly, as she considered how the tributes stay in the Capitol had been scheduled as Flickerman had mentioned so gleefully. 'Fun' events, then training to learn to how to kill, followed by more 'fun' engagements, before finally the arena, where they would kill for real. Live and Death sandwiched between one another. Just like how the Capitolites live, Stephanie thought bitterly.

The interview was rounded up.

Eager reporters pushed towards both Stephanie and Flickerman wanting more information, more opinions, more scandal.

Stephanie allowed Haymitch to fend them off with easy grins as Isa clearly took charge of the situation.

Stephanie grabbed Frenkin's collar as she passed him, Haymitch clearly leading them back to the buffet tables.

Relief finally flooded Stephanie but it was short-lived.

Stephanie was dimly aware of the glares being sent her way from other Careers and their mentors and escorts, and even a few from the out-lying districts.

It was evident none were best pleased that Stephanie had seen fit to essentially upstage the whole event with her interview.

But the cold stares were just a minute part of what caused Stephanie's panicked breathing and pounding heart caught in an ice grip.

Seneca Crane had just entered the room.