I can't sit still as Grandis does my makeup and it bothers him. "Settle down!" he shouts and I apologize.
Flux fixes my hair and puts a metal clip in it that's shaped like a bow, but it looked like it was made out of vines. "To keep the tree theme," he says, smiling.
Flux, Grandis and Fawn help me in my dress and I glance in the mirror to see how it looks like.
I do look quite sexy. The dress is quite sheer and long. It flows as I move. It has sequins that hide some of my skin, yet enhance my figure, making my body look a lot more curvy than it really is. My makeup is also very dark and bold.
"I love it," I tell Terra. We have lunch, and it's rice with these vegetables and beef.
"I overheard that you were planning on being sexy for the interview," Terra says.
"Yes," I reply. "And this outfit is just perfect for it."
"Just remember, you don't have to be anything special, it's better to be relatable."
"I don't know how to relate to any of you," I say. "I've never had this much rich food, I don't live a similar life. I spend all my days going to school and working in the forest."
"Talk about family, friends. Everyone has loved ones," Terra says, putting her hand on mine, trying to comfort me. "You'll be fine."
"Thank you," I say.
Then it is time for the interviews, so I have to leave her. She gives me one last hug and wishes me luck.
The first interview shown is Swann. She acts very sweet. She keeps complementing everyone and everything.
Then Asriel goes up and the crowd is crazy for him. The first thing he talks about with the interviewer, Skene Duncain, is how much of an advantage he has over everyone. He boasts about his skill and the crowd just eats it up.
Then Skene asks Asriel if he has a girlfriend, to which Asriel replies no, saying that he hasn't found the right girl yet. It's so obvious that these lines have been given to him by his escort. The audience just loves the fact that he's single, and the fact that he's waiting for the right person.
"So, tell me about home, Asriel," Skene says.
"What about home?" Asriel asks.
"I understand that you have an older sister," Skene says.
"Yes, I do," Asriel says.
"What was her reaction when she found out about you leaving?" Skene asks.
He's obviously hit a sore spot in Asriel, because his face is full of emotion as he says, "She told me that I was an attention-seeking idiot for volunteering."
Skene laughs. "Was that it?"
"She told me that she loved me, and to make her proud."
"And will you?"
"Yes, I will. I love my sister more than anything," he says, and it gets a chorus of 'awe's.
When my turn arrives, I'm shaking like a leaf, I can't seem to remember anything that Cass taught me.
I sit down on stage as Skene asks me the first question. "How are you feeling tonight?"
I think I remember Cass telling me to be confident, but now I'm just trying to focus on forming words in my mouth. "Uh, good, I think. I haven't thrown up yet." The audience laughs.
"Yes, and that training score, second highest, a nine. Give her a round of applause for that," he says and everyone cheers.
"I must have dazzled the gamemakers," I say.
"And you sure are dazzling all of us tonight, in this dress," Skene says.
"Thank you," I say, smiling.
"I just have to say that you made quite the impression on everyone at the opening ceremony, both you and Phelan."
"Phelan and I are like the dynamic duo."
"Really? So you're close?"
"Despite the age gap, Phelan and I have been friends since we were younger. He's a sweetheart."
"He sure seems like it. What are you going to do if you win the games?" Skene asks.
"I'm going to go home to my family and friends and make sure they know how much I care for them," I reply.
"Well, they're watching right now, so why don't you tell me how much you care for them?"
"I love them so much. I love my mom, my dad and all my friends. Even my neighbors."
"Any boyfriend back home missing?"
"I'm not sure," I reply, truthfully, thinking of Lauren.
"Why is that?"
"I only ever knew he liked me until after I was reaped," I say, blushing. I don't really like telling them about this.
"Well, he sure won't be able to turn you down if you're a victor," he says, and my interview is over.
I go back to my seat and I continue watching the interviews.
Phelan goes and the audience loves him and his jokes. The people of the Capitol all roar with laughter as he jokes around with Skene.
The rest of the interviews seem to go by very slowly. The girl from eight is nice and friendly and the guy from nine keeps talking about his girlfriend. Then suddenly, they were all over.
I head over to the elevator, lifting my dress up a bit so I don't trip. Suddenly, someone grabs my arm and pulls me, so I stray from my path.
I am led to an empty and dark corner and I finally see who it is, and it's Asriel.
We're very close together, so I back away, confused, and end up backing into a wall.
Then suddenly he leans in and he kisses me and I'm kissing back.
Then he pulls away at looks at me with those honey colored eyes, and all I can think about is him.
He kisses me again, keeping his lips on mine a bit longer. He's acting so weird, he's usually so reserved and now he seems out of control. He backs away from me.
"You look beautiful," he says, and then he's gone.
I can't even comprehend what just happened, or what kind of feelings I have for Asriel. I was so sure I hated him until that second. But two things are for sure, and that is that Asriel's kiss was worse than the alcohol I drank, making me feel dizzy and lightheaded, and that I just had to have Asriel. I wanted him more than Lauren.