Chapter 6- Questions and Answers
Seneca POV
Prim came with me to my apartment that overlooked the city in all its glory. I carried my Primrose to the window and said, "It's not as beautiful as you."
"Aww, Sen, you make me blush," she said.
'You know every day I wake up and my first thought is 'how can I make Primrose Calyx Everdeen blush with compliments today'?"
"Such a lie,' she laughed.
"So true," I corrected. We stared back out the window. The sun was getting ready to set. That meant we must have about two hours until the interviews that were at nine. "We need to get ready," I said, 'have you bathed?"
"No, I was just going to.'
I set her on her feet, "I'll be waiting right here," I said as she started to skip off. I sat on my couch facing the wall that my flat screen TV was concealed on now by a turn able wall. Prim got a few feet away and then turned back, "Seneca can I stay tonight?'
'You sure can sweet Prim. Call your sister to tell her, though. I wouldn't want to get burned by her," I grinned and Prim ran to kiss me again and before I could make her stay, she was off.
Haymitch POV
If I ever got the chance, I'd kill Effie. She was all in my ass about that damn mahogany table I had ruined, again. I mean what the hell? Get over yourself Miss Trinket; it'd do us a whole load of good. She walked in to the room wearing this crazy as hell outfit that was bright pink and had a poufy skirt and top.
Can you say poodle? I can.
"Where are the tributes?" she asked frantically, 'I've been looking all over! Have you seen them?"
'What am I, a babysitter?" I asked her, cracking open more booze.
"Dammit Haymitch! You're supposed to keep track of them!" she took the bottle from my hand. I snarled.
"Would you take a chill pill Miss Up-Tight?" I asked annoyed.
'We've got to find them, they're on in two hours."
"Watch them be downstairs, right where they should be," I said sarcastically as I got up. God, Effie was just so annoying and sometimes she amazed me with her stupidity.
Katniss POV
"They look great," I said to the District 12 stylists, Macon and Chicory. My mentees were in great, almost Cinna-worthy costumes. Juniper was in a black and white dress that looked to mimic flames rising. Boggs was in a simple white suit, but the coat had the same flame design to mirror Juniper.
My prep team (who'd stuck with me ever since my Games) had come to get me ready earlier. Cinna had made this really great dress that was white and there were fake flames on the bottom that would come on when Cinna pushed the button. It was just like my interview dress three years ago.
'Katniss, are they all set?' Peeta walked in the room with Portia. He was in a deep orange, almost gold, tux that had the same little black dots on it that my dress had.
"Yep, they're here," I gestured to my tributes who were whispering nervously was startled all the sudden by the door that was nearly busted down. Haymitch (obviously smashed drunk) screamed to Effie: "I FOUND THEM! In your face Trinket."
I rolled my eyes.
"We were down here Effie," I said as if it were something that was widely known.
I heard a vibration in the room. All of us, besides the tributes, checked our phones to see if it was one of us. It was mine; I had a message from Prim.
Seneca and I will be there in fifteen. Save us a seat
Prim POV
I was in my dress about to leave for the interviews with Seneca. The schedule for the interviews was that Seneca was going up to talk with Caesar for a moment about hints to what this arena will look like (by the way, I already know) and that stuff. After each tribute has a few minutes talking with Caesar the anthem will play and all of us go to an after party.
Seneca was behind me, tying the back of my dress. He was one of the few people I let touch me other than a handshake besides Katniss and my mom. I wasn't the touchy-feely sort of chick, but Seneca I'd known so well it was like he was my secret guardian. "You look beautiful.'
"You look hot yourself," I said and mentally slapped myself for having put that in such a fan-girl way. Seneca just laughed.
"Do you need a coat?" he asked me.
"Can't hurt. The Capitol is known for cold nights anyways," I said as he got my dark blue coat for me. I looked in the mirror one last time and then Seneca and I were off. He had his own car to drive us there; it was really down to earth especially for someone of his status. He opened my door for me before getting in to drive. As the streets of the Capitol passed by, I couldn't help but think of all the people here and what the tributes might be wearing tonight.
Once we were at the interview theatre, we had our car valet parked. I spotted my sister in a dress that must be a Cinna original. "Katniss!"
She and Peeta turned around, "we were waiting for you guys.'
"Are you two going to be sitting with Juniper and Boggs?" Seneca wondered.
"And Haymitch," Peeta offered.
"I do hope that Haymitch isn't smashed drunk," Effie appeared behind us.
"Either way, its Haymitch," my sister put in.
"We ought to go find our seats, the show's about to start!" I watched Effie in her deathly high bright yellow heels take my sister and Peeta to their reserved seats as Seneca took my hand to lead me to the stage.
Nicki POV
Terrified does not even match a description of how scared I was to go out and try not to make a fool out of myself in front of everyone in the Capitol. "And you must know her as the Current from District Five… Nicki Peckerwood!"
I gulped. Here goes nothing.
I walked out to a brightly lit stage with pink spotlights. Every seat in the audience looked to be filled. Dammit. I looked down at my feet to distract myself and also to hopefully keep from falling. I saw the electrical volts come alive on the hem of my dress. I had to give Blithe points here, this was cool.
I finally made it to the white circular chairs that looked like oysters to me. Caesar Flickerman was in the other, his blue hair reflecting off the lights along with his aqua suit. I sat and smiled.
'So, Nicki, I have been told by a source that you have a close friend who was a victor of the Games recently. Can you tell us about her?"
I looked to find Katniss in the crowd. She was easy to spot in her fire dress. 'Well, Katniss and her family took me in for a while a year ago when my dad was away and my aunt was busy," I informed him.
"Do you think she's worried about you being in the Games so young?" Caesar asked.
"No one can be as worried as I am," I said with a watery smile.
"So, tell me, your family is very wealthy in District Five, aren't they? I remember I once had the pleasure of talking to your father on his one of many visits here.'
"Oh, well, he's just head of the power plant back home," I said humbly.
'Look at how humble she is folks! Don't you just love it?" the crowd roared in applause to agree.
I blushed.
"Nicki, one final thing: are you ready for the Games?"
I should have been honest, screamed hell no, but all this is really was a stupid interview. Most people lie during them anyway. "Bring it,' I said and smiled.
The crowd roared again.
"The Current Nicki Peckerwood!" Caesar stood up, kissed my hand and held my hand up in his while the crowds applauded. For the first time since I'd been in the Capitol, I felt empowered, just like the currents on my dress.