It's the third day of training which means that later today we'll have to show the game makers what we're made of in a private session. Supposedly, they will score us and we'll see our scores on T.V. this evening, then the following night we will be interviewed.
Jared and I practice as much as we can, trying to cram as many skills possible in before lunch, but we can't stop time and pretty soon we're all sitting in the dining room waiting to be called. The district one male goes first, I think his name is Tyler, and then district one's female tribute, Brielle. They don't come back and we watch as district two leaves, followed by district three. I grab Jared's hand and hold it tight. He looks at me and I skim his brain, he can tell I'm on the edge of a panic attack. He whispers to me,
"Nervous?" I nod,
"I think I might pee my pants." I reply, this comment gets an amused chuckle,
"You'll do great, Megan." He reassures me, "I know you will." His name his called and I grip his hand tighter. "I have to go now, Megan." He says gently, and pulls his hand out of my trembling one. He cups my face in his hands and kisses me on the forehead, "You knock 'em dead." He says as words of encouragement. I smile,
"Good luck." I say and he grins confidently.
"I won't need it." He says, "And neither will you." And with those words he leaves me sitting at the table by myself. The other tributes in the room didn't notice our exchange, they're too busy wringing their hands nervously and planning what they will do. Thanks to my mind reading I know everybody's strategy. The little twelve year old from district five is good with knives, turns out she's a butcher's daughter. Her name's Claire. Justice, the boy from district six is 16 and really fast. Skyler from district seven and his district partner, McKayla are both handy with an axe.
"Megan Melaleuca" I'm called out for my personal session with the game makers. Show time, I think. I head into the gymnasium and pick up a trident and demonstrate my skill. Next I skewer the dummy through the heart with a spear, then I make a complicated human trap and scale the fake rock cliff to set it up. I listen in on their thoughts and I'm happy to hear that they're impressed, although their faces show no outward emotion, their thoughts are promising. I even get a glimpse of the arena, as one of them imagines me putting my skills to use in it. I climb down off the rock wall and stand in the middle of the gym floor, waiting to be dismissed.
"You may go now." A stern looking woman with square glasses and slicked back graying hair, informs me. I exit and head for the elevator, pushing the number four button. I find Jared and we sit on the bed in my room, eating popcorn and discussing our private training sessions. A quick scan of Jared's brain tells me what happened but I let him talk anyway. I lean against his side and listen to his voice, blocking out his mind and concentrating on the calming rhythm of his words.
After dinner we all sit down to watch the scores announced on television, I drape my legs over Jared's and fix my eyes on the screen. Smith raises and eyebrow, Jewel thinks we're cute, whatever, I don't care what they think, I'm going to spend as much time as I can with Jared, there's no telling what will happen once we're in the arena.
The kids from districts one and two all pull varying scores between eight and ten. The tributes from district three both get fives. Jared and I both score a ten. The rest of the tributes average a five, except district seven where both contestants get an eight, most surprisingly to everyone except maybe me is the district five girl, Claire, who manages a seven.
The next morning, a Sunday, is when our team starts prepping us for our interviews. We're going to be coached separately, me with Jewel and Jared with Smith and then we'll switch. At the end of my session with Smith Jared and I will practice coordinating our answers for the tomorrow night's interview, with me being interrogated first and Jared watching.
Let me tell you, four hours with Jewel is no picnic. We practice walking in heels, sitting, posture, smiling, and eye contact. Who knew being ladylike would be such hard work? I mean honestly I don't know why I should be polite if the same people are going to cheerfully watch me murder other children. Capitol people make no sense to me. Even reading their minds gives me a headache!
After lunch it's time for me to work on my interview angle with Smith. The goal is to find a character I want to portray. Luckily I'm good at acting and bullshitting answers since I can read people's minds. I know exactly what to say to make them believe every word out of my mouth. That's me, Megan Melaleuca: Master Manipulator. Not a bad ring if you ask me. After about 30 minutes with Smith, he decides I can pretend to be charming very well. Well, excuse me, I thought I was charming and endearing naturally, although according to Smith I'm naturally a smart ass. Well as long as we're pretending, I'll pretend that comment wasn't engineered to insult me.
Jared comes in later and watches as I answer all Smith's questions as if this were the actual interview then I watch as he answers questions. He does great. I'm not worried; we'll both shine in the spotlight. We're actually an item so not much pretending should be required. We go together like bees and honey; this star-crossed lovers thing will be a piece of cake.
Monday is devoted to making me beautiful for the cameras. After I'm completely clean and my makeup and hair is done, Analeigh arrives with my dress. I'm told to close my eyes and I can feel the material fall over me as they slip the gown over my head. I'm finally allowed to open my eyes and look in the mirror. The dress is beautiful, turquoise in color with a V shaped neckline and wide off the shoulder straps. Soft pleats fall away from the empire waist and the dress ends just below my ankles with enough room for the sliver pumps to peek out. The dress hugs and skims over the all the right places. I lift my eyes to my face and am astonished to see how radiant I look. My normally straight hair is curled and falls in ringlets with certain pieces braided with thin silver ribbons. My big emerald eyes are lined in silver and the lids are coated in shimmery sliver eye shadow. Silver starfish earrings hang from my ears.
When Analeigh and I meet up with the rest of the district four crew my eyes automatically find Jared. He's looking classy in a suit embroidered with silver. His tie is the same color as my dress and his sandy blond hair falls nonchalantly in his eyes. He looks his angle, confident and dashing. I almost melt when his eyes meet mine and I hear what he's thinking about me. I know it's silly and shallow but it fills me with warmth to know that someone like Jared thinks I'm beautiful and that he loves me as much as I love him.
After we get off the elevator we line up with the other tributes and prepare to take our place on the stage. We all are arranged in an arc during the interviews and I sit like a lady till it's my turn. I'm called seventh and I walk confidently up to take my place next to the interviewer, Charlie Lancaster. I shake Charlie's hand before I sit down. He doesn't waste any time getting started.
"So Megan, you are like the other girls here in that you are your district's first female tribute. How does that make you feel?" He asks. I remember what Jewel said about filtering out my 'ums' and 'likes' before I answer.
"I was really surprised and a little nervous to tell the truth but I'm excited and confident that District Four will be home to the first winner of the Hunger Games." I say.
"That seems very likely with your training score, a ten. Very impressive for a little girl like you." He says. I'm a tad irritated that he pointed out my petite-ness but I answer politely anyway,
"Well, I'm stronger than I look and I can be very resourceful." I answer evasively.
"I bet you are," Charlie says before turning the interview towards a more personal topic, "Tell me, Megan, how do you feel about your district partner? We've noticed you two are pretty close." I swallow. This is it. All I really have to do is be honest, but how can I say what I feel without seeming weak?
"We are best friends." I start, "I love him and it's tough to know that only one of us can come out alive. I can't imagine being without him. We're cherishing our time here in the Capitol and we'll be by each other's side in the arena. I know he's got my back and won't betray me. We're better together." I say and I can hear the audience sigh collectively at my answer. I jump through their minds and I know we've got this in the bag. The Capitol citizens love us.
"I know I speak for everyone when I say our hearts go out to you. Good luck, Megan." Charlie says dismissing me. I give a sad little smile and wave.
"Good night, Mr. Lancaster, good night audience." I say before going back to my seat. Jared's interview goes wonderfully. He has the audience wrapped around his finger with his clever and confident responses. They have tears in their eyes when he describes how he feels about me. I blush pink when he says my name. When he's done I zone out for the rest of the interviews. I don't want to know the other contestants, not when I'm going to have to watch them die.