That morning I'm awakened by Esperanza running in my room and clapping loudly. "Nate, my dear, it's time to get up! Up for a very busy day!"
I flop over and groan tiredly. I don't wanna get out of bed.
Can't I sleep just five more minutes?
"Time to get out of bed!" she says, to which I look up at her and glare. She smiles and goes to awaken Priscilla. Eventually, I roll out of bed and yawn. My eyes beg me to close them again, my body refuses to move and becomes reluctant when I try to shuffle to the bathroom. I collapse back on the bed and curl up on the foot of it. If only I could reach that light switch…
I hit the lights and stumble in the sudden illumination. Finally I stalk to the kitchen and take a cold shower, which wakes me up nice and good. By the time I join Esperanza and Priscilla for breakfast, I'm just as awake as I always am.
Priscilla sits down next to me and takes some food for herself. We sit and don't talk, which makes Esperanza think we actually want to listen to her. I go from staring at her blankly to staring at my plate and playing with my food. I suddenly get the feeling someone's watching me and my glance goes to the twelve-year-old sitting to my left.
I was right; her chocolate brown eyes are trained on me. When I look down at her, she smiles at me and stifles a giggle, making blah blah blah motions under the table as Esperanza goes on about how fun the interviews are going to be. I can't help but laugh to myself.
Esperanza's eye goes to me and she says, "Are you listening, Nate?"
"Oh, yes, of course!" I say, with a sweet smile. When she goes back to her blabbering, Priscilla and smile giddily at each other, like the innocent little kids we used to be.
Soon, we're whisked off to the sitting room to learn how to properly approach our interviews. I think about every stupid thing Cupcake said last night and I am 99.99999% sure he was drunk. There is something seriously wrong with that guy. But he did say about himself "acting" for the Capitol. God, I can't understand him. Maybe I will when we're both Victors, I'll get it. But for now I just think he's an odd little fruit loop.
"Nate! Sit up nice and tall, please!" Esperanza says, gesturing to Priscilla. She sits very properly and I realized I must've zoned out thinking about Cupcake. This'd better not happen very often or I swear to God- "Nate!"
I sigh and sit up tall like she demonstrates. The smile comes back to our escort's face, "Good."
This is not how Platinum acted at all. In fact, he seemed much more relaxed as opposed to… Proper. But I listen to Esperanza's nagging anyways. Not like I actually have to use it when I actually get out there, right?
"Now, the Capitol people enjoy the lovable, charming, eloquent type," Esperanza says, "So used advanced language, and maybe you can even try adding in your own slight Capitol accent! So, let's try it! Priscilla, I'll talk to you first."
I hate this.
"Now, they're going to ask you questions about who you are and where you're from. Be sure to answer completely honestly, now!" She turns to Priscilla and says, "Priscilla, where are you from?"
"I originated from District 2, a dim, quiet location," she says quietly.
"Do not forget to smile, Priscilla! Big smiles, all the time! And speak up, why don't you!?"
Priscilla heaves a sigh, "Esperanza, does this really work?" she asks in an annoyed voice.
"Why of course it does!" our escort says, looking a little offended.
"Sure," the 12-year-old mutters sarcastically.
"Nate, why don't you try it?" asks Esperanza. "I hear you're from District 2. Why do you like it there?"
I play along with this silly game, putting on a smile so big my cheeks hurt. "Oh, I love the meadows. The flowers… And the Training Center is exquisite!"
Esperanza claps and squeals happily. "Very good, Nate!"
Platinum appears in the doorway and smiles at our escort. "Esperanza, my dear, I'm here to talk to Nate and Priscilla privately."
She looks a little reluctant, but Esperanza eventually leaves. Cupcake sits in front of us and says, "Remember everything your escort said?"
We exchange a glance and nod.
"Forget it. All of it. There is no honesty. There are no genuine answers. There is no refinement. It's all a good show."
I remember him saying that to me last night.
"What do you mean by that?" Priscilla asks.
"Don't sit like you're both sitting right now. That's robotic and trust me, you look as uncomfortable as you feel."
"How do we sit, then?" Priscilla asks.
"Relaxed," Platinum says, "Lounge back a little."
He demonstrates it, leaning back in his chair. I soon copy him, and Priscilla is last.
"That's better. Now, don't use big words. The Capitolites are idiots that like to pretend they're smart, but nobody will sponsor you if they can't understand you." Both of us nod.
"Third: Cupcake, that smile is horrifying. Please, never ever do that again."
I nod, "Alright. Got it."
All three of us exchange a laugh, but Priscilla looks a little bewildered by him calling me Cupcake.
"What else do we have to do to be great?"
"Whatever you do, I'm telling you now, do not say anything anti-Games." His gaze falls on me, mostly.
"What!? I hate the Games and Esperanza told us to be honest!"
"Saying anything hateful of the Game is a ticket to get you automatically killed by the Gamemakers. You volunteered for this, Nate. You have a character to play. Use your anger about last year and turn it into enthusiasm."
"Ahem! What about me?" Priscilla asks. Platinum turns his glance to her. "Last year for you was a very… Unique situation. The Capitol people don't know that Ashley was from 2. Only the really smart Capitol people and people from the Districts are going to make the connection between Ashley's screaming and both of you. I'm sure a lot of them looked above her after I came out of the closet, though."
"Watch it," Priscilla growls and Cupcake sighs, "Right. Anyways, I don't know yet whether or not the Capitol is going to want to bring that up. After all, you saw what they did-"
"Yeah. I still have scars from it," she whispers darkly. "My fuckin' stylists complained about 'em, too. The FUCKING NERVE of those guys!"
Cupcake looks a little helpless and puts his hands on her shoulders, "Priscilla, calm down…"
She takes a deep breath and curls up out of his grasp.
"Right. If they ask you anything about being an orphan, I would suggest you don't bring that up. Anyways, here's another tip: you shouldn't always keep a smile on. When you talk about the Capitol…" he puts a finger on his cheek and flashes us a charming smile, "Smile every time."
Both of us nod and watch.
"But, the key to getting them to love you is being relatable. Therefore, emotion is handy. You can't go overboard, though. You shouldn't just let go and sob, if you can help it. In fact, the people will be more attracted to your character if you look pained but determined to speak through the tears. If you remember my last interview… The tears were only because I was terrified. But the Capitol people all fell in love with me."
I remember it too well. I remember how I couldn't stop crying as I watched and how loud I screamed and how many items I threw at the wall and how many times my heart broke.
The next question comes out in an extremely weak whisper, "They won't ask about Elijah… Will they?"
Platinum looks sadly at me. "I don't know. I would doubt it, though."
I breathe a little sigh of relief.
"I think the two of you are going to do just fine at interviews," Cupcake says, "As long as you don't say anything that shouldn't be said."
He gives us a nod and stands up to walk out, but suddenly Priscilla asks, "Hey Platinum…"
He turns back around and says, "Hm?"
"Why does Cutter seem so peeved at you?" she asks, out of genuine curiosity.
He stares at the floor and gives us a slight head shake. "It's just too awful, you guys."
"I won't tell anyone!" Priscilla, says, "Cross my heart and hope to die!"
Upon hearing this Platinum shakes his head and walks out of the room with much haste. I just watch him go. Esperanza doesn't come back immediately after that, so Priscilla and I seize the opportunity to get some lunch.
"He seems to really like you," Priscilla mutters.
"Huh?"
"He calls you Cupcake."
"Oh… Yeah…"
"Either he's hitting on you which is a little weird because there's a three year age difference, or…" she stares at her plate.
"Or what?"
"Or he obviously feels bad about what happened to Elijah and doesn't feel bad for Ash."
"There's an Archer in our Games, Priscilla."
"Huh?"
"Dill's brother. Or one of them."
She looks as if she's just realized this for the first time. She probably has. She blinks, wide-eyed, before going back to playing with her food. Neither of us talks a lot after that.
I can't stop thinking about how Platinum said he had "chosen me." It can't be true. Can it?
Soon Esperanza comes back and goes on with her bullshit about how we should act. Both Priscilla and I keep in mind what Platinum told us. Soon, though, it's finally time to say goodbye and get ready.
I hate my prep team.
In case you couldn't guess.
They're a little more tolerable today, though, and they actually make me look like a slightly more attractive version of myself, as opposed to some ridiculous chariot outfit. I'm relieved that Priscilla is very much more covered up today than she was the other night. It feels like just last night, but that isn't the case.
They line all of us up back stage as Octavian Spencer, dressed this year in orange, gold, and silver, gets the crowd excited for the events of the night. Azure leads the line of tributes, lined up by District, girls before boys. That means Priscilla will get it over with before I do. I think she's a good choice to start off the night with, considering she's naturally bubbly and happy. I have a feeling it'll get her sponsors.
We all watch the screen and Octavian says, "So… Without further ado… We begin our events with District 1's very own… AZURE BAKWIN!"
We can hear the crowd from backstage as she gives all of us a smile and a wave before skipping out on stage.
Azure's personality is gross, so I look back at the other tributes behind me. Melanie gives me a slight smile when I catch her eye. The little girl from 7 bounces on her feet nervously. I catch Bean's eye and he flashes me a broad grin and a big wave. I wave at him, too, and then I see Cliff in the back. He looks pissed. Then again, he's an Archer. I'd put money on the fact that they're all snotty, gruff little kids.
The crowd goes crazy again and I turn around to see Octavian announce, "CUTTER ATCHISON!"
And he catches my eye and winks before swiveling on a foot and cooly walking out there.
But I turn back around and realize something's missing. No, someone. And they drag her out just then. Axis and some flustered green woman I'm assuming is their escort. Boeh is kicking and would be screaming but they put her on the ground and Axis covers her mouth with his hand.
"Boeh, you look fine. Stop screaming, please," he growls in her ear.
She punches him in the gut and lowers her voice but still sounds cold, "I look like a whore!" she whispers.
"Maybe it's because you're sexy," he whispers.
She stops to consider this. She glares bullets and finally says, "You're mocking me and I don't fucking like it. I swear if my stylists try to put me in anything like this again, I'm gonna fucking murder all of them."
When she catches my eye, she scowls. "McIalwain."
It takes a second before my mouth speaks words, "Richmond."
She sighs and glares at everyone and everything.
Soon, they announce, "PRISCILLA WESTFALL!"
She looks at me and appears to be terrified, but I give her a reassuring nod. Then she turns and walks out on stage. I'm not sure if the nervousness building within is because I'm nervous for her, or because I'm terrified because I'm next. I hope it's the second one. When I look back down the line, Bean watches the screen excitedly with a big smile on his face. Boeh sticks her tongue out at me and keeps her arms crossed across her chest. Her green eyes, masked in smoky black, still look around frantically. Axis watches Boeh nervously before turning his attention back to the TV.
Priscilla goes through her interview, failing to shed a tear even though I'm pretty sure she was trying. Suddenly she's walking off stage and I realize I'm about to go out there.
"And now… You all know him as the volunteer tribute from District 2… Here he is, folks! NATE MCIALWAIN!"
"Go Nate!" Bean says.
"I hope you choke," Boeh says with a scowl, wiping her lips and eyes rapidly with her arms. Axis pins her to the wall by the time I walk out. This is my moment. The applause blows me off my feet almost, and I can barely see any specific faces, but I see waving arms and hear claps and screaming. Octavian laughs and holds a hand out to me, which I shake heartily before taking a seat next to him.
"Well, well, well, Nate!" He smiles at me and I take Platinum's advice and relax, keeping on a slight smile. "Welcome to the Capitol!"
I put on a bigger and charming smile, "It's great to be here!" And the crowd bursts into applause. Octavian laughs and says, "What a kid, am I right?!"
More applause. I think I might be going deaf. The smile on my face slowly but surely goes from fake to genuine.
"Well, Nate, what have you found most satisfactory about the Capitol?"
Think, McIalwain. There are so many cool things you can say now. Say about the trains. Say about the food. Say about the escorts and friends. Say about-
The words come out of my mouth before I can stop them, "Well they have really good apple juice."
Shit.
The crowd bursts into laughter and some claps and some screams and whistles. If I wasn't on stage in front of the whole nation, I would be kicking myself so hard for that.
Octavian takes his time to laugh and appears to be crying when he finally responds, "You like the apple juice, Nate!? The first ever volunteer from District 2, and you choose to pick out the apple juice?"
"I, uh, love apple juice."
The words buzzing around my head would fill up at least half the chapter with cursing, so I won't make you go through that. But I'm so frustrated with myself currently. The crowd and Octavian laugh for another good 30 seconds before he can finally talk again, "Ah, yes, Nate, we love you!"
There's some more applause and I keep a good-humored expression on my face.
"So, Nate, back on topic, why don't you tell us a little about District 2?"
"Well, it's a pretty cool place. Lotsa nice people. Had a lot of fun there, yes I did."
"Sounds delightful!" he says. I nod.
"So, you have one sister, is that right?"
"That's right. Cassia. She's wonderful, and I love her. She's real good at sports 'nd I think she'd be killer with a weapon."
"It's probably in the McIalwain blood then, wouldn't you say?"
I nod, "Sure is!"
If he makes an apple juice joke, I swear to God I will kill myself.
Luckily for me, he doesn't.
"So, what do you think of Platinum, eh?" he asks.
"He's alright. A real friend," I say with a "charming" but mostly playfully crooked smile. "Even though he is one of the… special little people this world has to offer."
The crowd laughs some more and Octavian grins at me. "Alright, alright, alright…" He pauses until the room grows completely silent.
"Alright," he says in a lowered voice, "Let's get serious for a second. Fun and games aside."
There's a pause and I try not to look as confused as I feel.
"Last year's tribute from your District-" Shit. "Elijah Crowly-" Fuck. "Did you have any relation to him at all?"
I wasn't expecting it at all. I try to collect my thoughts and in the moment I freeze.
I don't know how long I stay frozen for, but I'm snapped out of it by Octavian gently putting a hand on my shoulder, "Why don't you tell us about it?"
"There's not a lot to say!" I'm about to scream but I think back to what Cupcake said. Being angry isn't going to help me. So I let out the vulnerability, in that moment.
"I think, if we all remember last year correctly…" he says quietly, "Elijah's last word was your name."
I'm taken back to that moment in time, when I watched Elijah die. I forgot all about him saying my name with his last dying breath. The tears spill out of my eyes in a moment I can't describe the true heartbreak of.
"He was my best friend. We were like brothers. We did everything together." I try not to let my voice catch with tears but it does. I wipe them away and whisper, "I'm here to avenge him. I'm here to get my revenge."
There's a silence as the last word's echo dies out and the crowd erupts into whispers, sniffles, and even some real sobs. I wouldn't be surprised if some Capitolites had little crushes on him. All the girls back home loved him.
I don't fight the tears, and yet I speak anyways, just like Platinum said. Octavian wipes his eyes before saying quietly, "Everyone… Nate McIalwain!"
The crowd bursts into applause and I wipe my eyes, forcing on a smile and walking off stage. Priscilla runs into my arms and I hug her back tightly. We've been through so much shit it isn't even funny. When she finally unburies her face she tries a smile but I know it's not real. Platinum hugs me next, tightly, and he whispers, "Good little job out there, Cupcake." He sounds like he's crying. "Way to make 'em feel it."
Azure looks over at me and even she wipes her eyes and sniffles. Cutter scowls at the wall.
Suddenly we hear Boeh screaming "I AM NOT A WHORE!" on the screen and Platinum turns his attention back to the interviews. I meet my alliance and Cutter glares at the wall, "Good job Nate." Azure sniffles, "They're going to love you. You made them both laugh and cry."
"Sure." I dry my eyes as Boeh sweetly answers the questions asked of her and keeps her arms folded over her chest.
I don't want to watch the rest of the interviews. I don't want to get to know my fellow tributes at all.
That'll just make it even harder for me to kill them.