HungerWho37- Good! Good! I'm glad we share the same sense of humor. I'll happily oblige to making my "first reviewer ever" laugh whenever I can.
Pale Is The New Tan- Similarly, when I saw that you reviewed, I'm positive it rained happiness over here too, haha. Your reviews always brighten my day. I hope I didn't keep you in suspense for too long with this next update!
MangoMagic- Ooh, Australia! I'd love to travel there someday, rain or shine. Here in the U.S., I live in the state of Ohio and the weather literally changes every five minutes. I will gladly keep updating this story if it makes your days a little better :)
Today was the day of the interviews with Caesar Flickerman. Tomorrow the tributes would find themselves in the arena. This was the last chance to impress their potential sponsors.
Peeta stared at his stylist, Portia, as she put the finishing touches on his hair in district 12's backstage room. His golden locks were brushed forward, tapered and textured up in the front with messy spikes. She had dressed him in pristine tailored black trousers and dress shoes, a crimson red button up that looked as if it were made of smoldering embers under the stage lights, and a black fitted vest buttoned up with a silver silk tie underneath. He looked suave and debonair. The perfect representation of his charm. And he was prepared to charm the pants off the audience.
All the prepped and styled tributes were escorted to the wings of the giant stage. The first 6 districts were situated behind the right wing and the last 6 districts were put on the left. The lights were triggered and the music began as Caesar appeared on stage. The crowd went wild as the blue-haired man gave them all a dazzling smile and greeted them.
"Hello! Hello! Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the 74th Annual Hunger Games Tribute Interviews. I know you all have been dying to see some of your favorite contestants this year and they're all waiting in the wings ready to go! Shall we get started?"
The crowd erupted in reply and Caesar started the night with the right wing of the stage, bringing out Glimmer in her practically see-through getup. He went down the line, and Peeta made sure to pay attention to when Cato's turn came.
"Our next tribute is of course one of the favorites this year as he comes from the formidable and deadly district 2. This striking gladiator of a man is certainly one to watch- for more reasons than one," Caesar said in an aside. He wiggled his eyebrows and winked as the crowd whistled and howled. "I'm thrilled to call to the stage, from district 2, Cato!"
Peeta's mouth opened slightly as the towering tribute made his way to Caesar's side. He was dressed to impress in black slacks and a black sports blazer, the cobalt blue collared shirt underneath buttoned down scandalously low to show off his tanned and chiseled body. His platinum hair spiked straight up and his emerald eyes blazed towards the audience. He could see the way Cato carried himself, head held high as he exuded superiority over the entire crowd of thousands. Peeta felt something stir inside him, but he kept a calm exterior and tried to push it away.
"Welcome, Cato. How has your stay in the Capitol been so far?" Caesar asked the boy from 2.
"It's been great," Cato responded. "I'm getting the best treatment. It's something I plan on getting used to when I win."
"And you have every reason to be so confident. You are quite the monstrous contender. You received an exceptional training score as everyone predicted you would. Do you see any of the other tributes as threats to your crown?"
"I've never felt threatened by anyone my entire life," Cato replied. "I'm certainly not starting now. No one is taking my title away. They'll all fall by my sword when the time comes. You can count on it."
"But some of the other tributes have managed to create quite the stir recently with their own surprising and impressive training scores," Caesar countered. "Aren't you at least a little intimidated by any of them?"
"Intimidation is not in my vocabulary, Caesar," the brute shot back confidently. "Unless I'm the one who's causing it. I'm a ruthless killing machine. I volunteered for this and I'm determined to win for my district at all costs. No one is getting in my way. That's really all it comes down to."
"Well you certainly have me convinced. How about you folks?" Caesar asked the audience. The crowd roared and pumped their fists in appreciation of Cato's mighty prowess. The cameras were trained on the Career's menacing and bloodthirsty glare and displayed it for the whole nation to see how deadly he truly was. Peeta felt a chill down his spine as he watched him from the wings, hiding in the shadows of the curtains. He knew, now more than ever, to tread carefully with the brute from 2.
The interviews continued as Caesar enthusiastically grilled each and every tribute, playing to their individual strengths for the camera. He finally made his was down the line till only district 12 was left waiting in the wings.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, it's Hunger Games tradition to close out the evening with the interviews from district 12. This year is no exception and how fitting it is, as the pair from the coal mining district has literally left a trail of fire in their wake with their exceptional performances thus far. So without further ado, you know her as the 'girl on fire.' Please welcome to the stage, Ms. Katniss Everdeen!"
"You got this," Peeta assured her with a pat on the back and a little push forward. "Go get 'em."
The crowd cheered as Katniss emerged onto the stage, twirling in her red gown that flickered with flames at the hemline. The audience was awed and ate it up. Caesar congratulated her on her training score and asked her questions about Prim. She answered everything with poise and grace. She earned the crowd's respect.
As Katniss descended the stairs backstage, Peeta was waiting his turn at the bottom. "It wasn't as bad as I thought," she said. "Good luck."
"What a little 'firecracker' she is, huh folks?" Caesar cheekily joked to the crowd. "Now, for the moment we've all been waiting for. Our final tribute of the night. He captivated us all in his fiery entrance into the Capitol and he's stunned all of Panem with one of the highest training scores in Hunger Games history. I know you're all just dying to meet him again. From district 12, come on out! Mr. Peeta Mellark!"
The crowd broke into thunderous applause and rose from their seats as Peeta appeared. Thousands were screaming his name and the boy made them go crazy with a winning smile and humble wave. He took his seat next to Caesar with a relaxed posture of supreme confidence.
"Peeta, Peeta. It's great to finally have you here. I've been dying to pick your brain all week."
"Well," Peeta chuckled, "don't pick too hard, Caesar. I'm still gonna need my brain in one piece for the arena tomorrow, if you don't mind." The crowd laughed and relished in the boy's easy sense of humor.
"Oh, of course! Of course! I wouldn't dare leave you at a disadvantage. Although, with a training score of 11, I doubt anything I could do would stop you" Caesar praised the boy. The crowd agreed. "Can you give us a little scoop of what happened in your session with the Gamemakers?"
"Now, Caesar. You know I'm forbidden to reveal what happens in the training center. Although," Peeta leaned in close to whisper to Caesar as if he didn't have a microphone attached to him for the entire nation to hear, "I can say the Gamemakers are suckers for magic tricks."
The crowd laughed again and Caesar dramatically stood up to look out into the audience towards Seneca. The two Capitol citizens pointed and winked at each other as the crowd delighted in the little spectacle. Caesar quickly returned to his seat and focused his gaze back on Peeta. "I'm sure you gave the Gamemakers a spectacular show. But in all seriousness, Peeta, you earned an incredibly impressive score. With your breakout debut at the opening ceremonies and now this, your district must be so proud of you."
Peeta smiled warmly at the host. "I hope they are, Caesar. Cuz I'm proud of them." The crowd awed.
"The fact that you're from District 12 only makes your accomplishments all the more impressive. Your district has faced the challenge of being the underdog in these games for quite some time. What do you have to say to any skeptics out there who judge you because of where you're from?"
Peeta turned to address the crowd and all of Panem. The spotlights bounced off his sparkling blue eyes in a dazzling aurora. "It doesn't matter where you come from. If you have something to prove, don't back down. I'm a fighter, Caesar. I'm gonna give everything I have in that arena. It's incredible what you can achieve when you have the courage to fight for it. I'm here to show that."
Caesar beamed at the boy, "Wow, what incredible spirit. Wouldn't you agree, folks?" The crowd roared with deafening approval and support for the district 12 male.
"So, on a change of topic," Caesar transitioned, "You are an incredibly handsome young man." Whistles and shouts spilled over as the host continued with a scheming grin. "Is there a special someone that you'll be fighting extra hard to come back for?" The crowd waited on bated breath, eager to hear if their obsession was available.
Peeta chuckled and blushed from embarrassment at the personal question. "No. I don't have a special someone. I'm trying to keep my emotions in check on that front."
"Oh, really?" Caesar interrogated. "And why is that?"
"Well, having feelings for someone is a luxury you can't really afford when you're getting sent to fight to the death, especially if that someone is a fellow tribute who's out for your blood."
"Feelings for a fellow tribute out for your blood?" Caesar repeated with widened eyes.
The crowd gasped at the juicy confession. Just then the timer went off signaling that Peeta's three minutes were up. "Well, you know what that sound means, folks. Please give a warm farewell to district 12's male tribute, Peeta Mellark!"
The crowd roared in outcry at the interview's inconvenient cutoff, but rules were rules. Peeta stood and waved to the crowd one last time, overwhelmed by the chanting of his name. They wanted more. The only way they would get to speak with Peeta now is if he returned alive from the arena. He was hoping the crying fans in the audience were sponsors who were willing to give anything to get that chance.
Cato had been in district 2's backstage room with the rest of his team while he watched Peeta's interview. He drooled over the way Peeta's perfectly tailored pants hugged his ass in all the right ways. The vest was crisp and the special effects of the smoldering shirt seemed to add even more heat to the baker boy's scorching gaze. The district 12 tribute looked polished and delectable. Cato saw how the boy had the Capitol wrapped around his finger but was taken aback by his confession on national television. Did he mean me? I saw the look in his eyes on the rooftop when we kissed. But he told Caesar he was keeping his emotions in check. I guess I'll just have to force it out of him in the arena.
Now that all the interviews were completed, the tributes were all escorted back to their floors in the training center. The district 12 team was eating dinner, discussing their interviews and going over last minute strategies before tomorrow's launch into the arena. It was getting late, and soon everyone dispersed to go to their rooms for bed.
Peeta didn't notice that Haymitch was following him into his room. He turned around to find his mentor, drink still in hand, shutting the bedroom door behind them.
"Uhh, no offense Haymitch, I mean you're attractive and all for your age, but I don't do one night stands."
"Shut it, boy," Haymitch barked. "This isn't a time for joking around. You're going into that arena tomorrow. I need you to understand how important you are in these games."
Peeta rolled his eyes at his mentor. "I'm the district 12 male tribute. Tomorrow in the arena I'm going to kill or be killed for the Capitol's entertainment. They need every little pawn in place to make their precious games complete. I'm fully aware of how 'important' I am."
"No, you're clearly not aware at all," Haymitch blasted back. "I'm serious, kid. Now listen and take heart to what I'm really trying to say to you." There was hidden purpose in why Haymitch was in Peeta's room. Peeta couldn't help but notice the way Haymitch's demeanor shifted and the way he emphasized the word really.
Peeta eyed his mentor suspiciously. "Go on. I'm really listening. Promise."
Haymitch continued to stare at him intently while emphasizing key words. "Some of the kids here volunteered for this. You didn't, Peeta. You had different aspirations for your life. Different goals. But this unanticipated fate has now become a vital opportunity. You've become a tribute. Tributes are viewed as a type of celebrity. They aren't just normal teenagers. They are selected by fate for the honor of representing their district."
Haymitch was the last person to ever consider that being a tribute was an honor. It was at that sentence Peeta knew Haymitch was trying to tell him something that he couldn't say within Capitol walls. He listened more closely to the deeper meaning behind Haymitch's words.
"Your image has been broadcasted throughout all of Panem. Every district has seen your face. Every single district. They know who you are. Who you really are. They loved the fire that surrounded you at the opening ceremonies. They cheered at the incredible score you earned from the Gamemakers. And that interview had them eating out of the palm of your hand. You've garnered an incredible amount of influence here, Peeta. You've reached a level of status in Panem that is very special. Much too special for you to just be slaughtered in the arena. Your sponsors won't allow it to happen. Trust me, Peeta. I'm your mentor. I've spoken with all your sponsors. They want to see you get out of that arena alive. You're worth so much more alive. You have very special sponsors that will help you."
Peeta took in everything Haymitch was saying and formed his conclusions. Every single district. That must include 13. They've seen me here and think I've gained special status. They're going to help me. "I understand, Haymitch," Peeta told his mentor. "I won't let you or my 'sponsors' down. I'll stay alive in there. Tell my sponsors that I'll be waiting."
Haymitch nodded and patted Peeta on the back before exiting the boy's room. Peeta went to bed that night mulling over what Haymitch disclosed to him. He still had his alliance with Katniss that he fully intended on keeping, but now he drifted off to sleep with the knowledge that he also had his alliance with some very special rebel help from the outside. There was going to be some crazy shit going down in that arena, he just knew it.
Coming up next is the arena! Finally! I know my faithful handful of reviewers are still with me, but I hope the rest of you are too! I can't wait for Peeta to get in there and fight. Any comments or suggestions are much appreciated. See you in a couple days!