I know, I KNOW! It's been so long! *cries to herself*
Just kidding, lol, but I know I've been holding out on you guys finding out what's supposed to happen. So here it is!
(And thanks for the reviews, guys, really)
"So, Lilly, do you know what you're doing for the interviews tonight?"
I'm standing in the center of a prep room, on a raised part of the floor. My eyes are covered and I am blind by a piece of material, it's sole purpose to let my bangs dry from their coloring. Cinna is behind me, adjusting the back of my dress and the sides.
"I do," I reply, grinning a bit.
"Can I hear about it?" Cinna asks politely. My grin grows into a full fledged smile, and I let him in on it.
"I'm the Lilly who's grown up. The rebel child my grandfather tried to shield from the Capitol."
Cinna chuckles. "That's a hard story to swallow. I remember you in a cotton candy pink dress on the Caesar Flickerman Show when you were seven, dancing circles around Flickerman. Now to see a sixteen-year-old Lilly renounce her good-girl image - that's harsh."
My smile falters. "Is… is it a bad idea?"
"Not necessarily," He replies, and he pulls on the dress, making me suck in breath. "I just…just be careful, alright Lillianne?"
I nod, feeling the big bow made of hair on the back of my head move with it. "I will. But Cinna, I feel this will make me stand out. Imagine - Lillianne Snow, The All - Panem girl, siding with the rebellion?"
He stops, and I hear silence.
"What…" Cinna breathes, "What did you just say?"
Oh no. That's not what I wanted to say. That is nothing along the lines of what I wanted to say. I meant - I didn't -
"I - That's not what I meant. I meant…"
"Where did you hear this about a…a rebellion?"
I gulped. "I don't know what-"
"You just incriminated yourself, darling!" He said hysterically, nothing like the calm and collected Cinna I knew and saw on TV. My mouth opened for words to come out, but nothing did for a few moments.
"Where?"
"Everybody knows!" I shouted, clenching my fists. "Everybody is in on how it's not going to be long before they overthrow the Capitol. Everyone hates my grandfather. They hate him. They hate my family, and they hate me!"
My breathing grows heavy. Cinna says nothing, and I continue, finally being able to vent my feelings.
"These games were designed to punish the Districts for their uprising, for their rebellion - well what have I done? I haven't done anything wrong! I'm not the president, I'm not a murderer- Why am I being punished!"
"Lilly-"
"Don't Lilly me," I beg Cinna, my voice growing frustrated, "Please. Please. All my life I've been Lilly - I'm not stupid Lilly anymore!"
"I'm sorry, Lillianne." He said, sighing. I felt cold on my ribs, then a can of spray shaking. "you can take off the mask now, your hair is dry and your dress is on."
I do as he says, and take off the mask over my eyes and am tempted to rub my ears but I remember my eyes have been doused in eye make up. I blink instead.
"So, what do you think?" Cinna asks.
"About wh-"
My jaw drops at the dress I now wore, and my thoughts are now clouded with the beauty of the dress. It's a slimming dress, hugging curves that I was surprised I had. It was a very dusty blue, almost silver, and flared slightly at the end, like a subtle trumpet skirt. With a heart shaped cut, it was strapless, and on my ribs were two openings on either side, filled in with intricate designs of ice, echoing my parade look. I turned to see the back, and my spirits lifted. From my high heart shaped neckline, it cut down into a 'v' shape in the back, with extra soft but sheer cloth running down like a small and subtle cape.
"You never cease to amaze," I breathe, turning to the front now. My bangs have had their tips dyed blue again - like the parade - only lighter periwinkle. Slicked back, my hair gathered in the back as a bow constructed out of my own hair. My blue eyes stand out of the silver eye liner and blue flares on my outer eyelashes. My lips are frosted pink.
"It's my job to amaze," He says genuinely. I turn to him.
"I'm sorry." I say regretfully. "I shouldn't take out my issues with you. I shouldn't have shouted at you. And I'm…I'm not being mature about this rebellion. If it's not good, I can change my angle or tone it down. I trust- I trust you more than my mentor."
An unknown emotion flickers in his face, like the one Katniss gave me before the Tribute Parade. He stared at me for a while, like if he was trying to assess something.
"No." He said, his voice a million miles away. "Do it. It's different."
Something about the tone in his vibrato was suspicious, and he quickly changed his quizzical look to a smile. "You'll do great, Lillianne. Be yourself."
His smile falters, again giving me a look I can't decipher, when Cashmere bursts into the room, wooing.
"That's right! Best dressed once more! Cinna, I need to start betting on you!" She pats her hands on her long and flowing maxi-dress with a flower pattern covering the fabric. They're lilies.
"Now, now," Gloss warns from behind, "Cashmere, you know what we said abut gambling." Behind him, a handsome boy comes in. His blonde hair is messed up to perfection and had silver sprayed over it as well. His suit was powder blue, very retro with the navy blue piping on the lapels and a white shirt underneath. His pants were slimming, navy blue. He met my eyes with a slight smile.
"Well, our tributes are ready," Jaques says from behind, pushing Demetrius back out the door, "And the show is in ten. Let's get a move on!"
Demetrius chuckles. "Jeez, you sound like Cornelia."
I snicker as I catch up beside him, and Jaques throws us a nasty look. We chuckle together as our mentors and stylists usher us to the place where we will await judgement by the country of Panem.
The trumpets sound, the crowd goes wild, and I hear Caesar's laugh from the staging area behind the main stage. I also feel the tension rise from the tributes behind me. We're all lined up in the back, ladies first, and in order of district.
So naturally, I'm first.
If the fear of the crowd wasn't enough, the constant stares at the dress I wore were making me self conscious, the lights from the stage were making me sweat, and my thoughts on every possible situation that could go down were making my head spin. I looked back to see Demetrius staring ahead, mumbling to himself as if he was running through his 'lines'. I look farther and see Alex at the very end. I wave at him subtly. He winks and smiles, then looks at me up and down. He raises his thumbs in approval and nods goofily with an over-exaggerated wink again.. I laugh and suddenly, I'm jerked by Demetrius.
"What?" I ask, a bit annoyed.
"The stage manager called you to go up," He said, equally annoyed. My exasperated eyes widened, and I turned to, sure enough, a very stressed woman in a tight black dress beckoning to the side of the stage. I nodded fervently and stumbled forward, looking back. Alex gives me a warm smile.
"District One's - and my long time friend - Lillianne Snow!"
Caesar's voice is calling for me, and I realize that it's time. There's no one but me to shine for these three minutes, and my angle is not one to put to waste. From the wait, I know that my rebellion angle will be too much to handle. But I know exactly what to do, even if it means making the crowd feel strange. I brace myself and force a smile upon my face, strutting out from the side of the stage.
The crowd woos and shouts when they see me come around the corner, and I oblige by waving at them. My heart starts racing as I near Caesar, and when I do reach him, he reaches over for a hug.
"My dear, it's been too long!"
I hug him back, and answer. "I know! It's been a long time!"
We sit at the same time, and I smooth out my dress, the crowd 'ooing' at the glittery material. I wink at them, giving them a knowing smile.
"It has, Lilly! The last time I saw you, you were…nine." He gestures at my body and a whistle from the crowd makes me laugh uncomfortably.
"It's…er…Lillianne. And yes, I've grown a bit, don't you think?"
He laughs. "Well, yes! Look at you, a young woman already!" WIth a grab to my hand, he gestures me to stand. "Can you give us a look at that exquisite dress?"
I roll my eyes playfully. "Eh, alright." Obeying, I spin once, the flare at the bottom of my dress fanning out and glittering in the light. The crowd goes wild. Reeling them in, I sat quickly, crossing my legs.
"Was that enough?" I challenge. Caesar laughs.
"Woah, there, what an attitude!"
My heart races as my act is getting noticed. I can't smile, though. So I shrug.
"You'd have one too if you were being sent to kill kids younger than you tomorrow."
The laugh from the Caesar's previous comment dies down into awkward silence. Caesar leans back, a quizzical look on his face. I straighten in my seat, a bit shocked at my brash statement.
"Well, while it is a lot to take in, I know the victory comes with great honor and respect, Lilly." He replies, then leans forward. "And I believe that victory can be yours, with the odds in your favor."
I laugh a bit too sarcastically for my own taste, making Caesar raise an eyebrow. I answer after my laugh.
"With a three, do you really think I have a chance, old friend?"
The crowd is getting even more uncomfortable. Good.
"Well, anythings possible." He quickly retorts. I shrug again.
"You have a point." I answer. I smile to relax the tension. "Maybe I'll see you again here for my victory."
He catches on to my innuendo, to relax, and he smiles brightly. "I look forward to that, my dear!"
The crowd picks up again and claps, less enthusiastic now. I give them a wink.
Caesar is quick to change the subject. "Now, Lilly, take us back to that fateful reaping. It is understood that you had no entries, however you were reaped as your District's tribute. Tell us, what was it like?"
I sigh. "Well, imagine this. You've been watching a game for your entire life on the television, next to your sister, rooting tributes on. Now imagine yourself in my spot, hearing your name being called through the speakers, knowing there must be a mistake. Caesar, I've never put my name in the reaping. I don't even qualify, as a Capitol citizen."
The crowd cheers for pride in their Capitol. I continue. "The first thing, is confusion. Wondering if they really called you, if you're in a dream, or a nightmare. The next is denial. They couldn't have called your name. Maybe they misread. After that, it is shock. You realize that it's happening. It's really happening. Finally, it's fear."
"Fear?" Caesar asks. I nod.
"Yes, Caesar. Fear. Fear that you may not come home. Fear that your family will lose you. Fear that you will die, that you will die the most horrible way there is to die: in the arena."
The crowd starts mumbling amongst themselves.
I keep going. "And when the fear sets in, you begin to wonder what your life means. Am I just a pawn in these games? Am I some thing that people root for to kill others? Am I a nothing but a piece to entertain the bored citizens of Panem?" I turn to Caesar. "I didn't want to die this way, Caesar. Not with thousands of people betting on me or just hoping I'll make it through."
Some people are sniffling. I'm starting to wonder if I'm overdoing it. Caesar reaches for my hand and rubs it.
"Lillianne, we hear you. Loud and clear."
"No," I interject, again shocked at my remark. I pull my hand back. "You don't. Don't you see? These games are tearing us apart. The games aren't worth the lives of children. Children, Caesar. Would you want your daughter or niece, or even granddaughter in my position? About to go into a bloodbath? Fighting for people to like her?"
Now I really know I've gone overboard. Caesar's face pales a bit, and he looks away as if he's thinking it through. I'm about to take it back, but I just try to save.
"Look, Caesar, I know that question was uncalled for. But really, think about it. Citizens-" I turn to the crowd, "Think about it as well. I thank you all for your support in this unexpected turn of events, what with your President's own granddaughter in the arena. But think about this: Is it all really what it seems?"
My buzzer goes off. I thank heaven above that it's over. I want to cheer in triumph right now, to jump up in my chair and shout at the crowd, 'That's right! I made you stupid people think, the way I was forced to when I was nine!'. But I don't. I stand, just as Caesar does, and he grabs my hand.
"Lillianne Snow, you have become the - er - voice of the tribute. Darling, when you speak-" He gestures to the crowd, "We listen. Panem extends their luck to you, and may the odds be ever in your favor. Ladies and gentlemen, District One's Lillianne Snow!"
The crowd erupts into applause, now more genuine than the shouts of fervor from when I first came out. Some people were apprehensive, I saw. But I didn't mind. My interview was over anyway.
I'm about to turn to the exit, when Caesar makes me instantly regret everything I said in the past three minutes and makes my heart stop.
"By the way, citizens, Lillianne's own sister - supermodel extraordinaire - Juniper Lee Snow, is in the crowd tonight, taking a short break before the Jean Paul Gaultier show tonight! Tune in after the interview for the recaps, then the live show!"
The crowd claps and I frantically search for my sister. Sure enough, on the big screen, is my sister. She waves with a frozen smile on her face, looking exactly like Juniper would when she's uncomfortable.
Oh no.
Oh no, oh no, oh no.
What have I-
What have I done?
Review on ahead~