When I wake up the day after, it's light. It's a Sunday, which is a day off for almost everyone in Panem. I think about what my mother and brothers will be doing back home and frown. Sunday's are usually the days we go out hunting in the morning and have a family meal with the Everdeens in the evening.
I look at the gold chain Quinn gave me in the elevator yesterday, checking to see if it's poisoned or dangerous, but it looks fine, so I clasp it round my neck. I wonder why she gave it to me, I'm not even from her district.
I'm interrupted from my thoughts by April knocking on my door and telling me we've got a big day ahead. I sigh as I push myself out from under the covers. I shower quickly, although I end up hitting a button that shoots funny smelling foam all over me, and I have to scrape most of it off.
By the time I'm ready and down in the dining room, everyone's there, waiting. I take my seat in-between April and Sue and begin shovelling food into my mouth. Living in the Capitol has me eating like an animal. They're talking about coaching us for the interviews, and I don't really know how to react to that. I'd forgotten about that part, and I'm not really sure what to say. I'm not a good public speaker, I get flustered easily. Jesse will breeze through the interview, I'm sure. He's still gonna die. The thought sooths me in a way I'm ashamed of.
On the Monday, as I'm buffed and painted, ready for my interview, I find my thoughts floating to Brittany. She'll do fine on this part, it's so hard to dislike her. She'll have a lot of sponsors, so I'm sure she won't be going hungry in there.
Me, I'm not so sure about, but they must put edible animals in there, it's just a case of finding them. My dress is the polar opposite of Jesse's this time. I think Will has done this on purpose, I'm dressed so brightly, while he's so dark. They still compliment each other, but he looks absolutely evil now.
We take to the stands where the tributes sit and wait to be interviews, and I find myself staring down the stand to Brittany. She sees me looking and waves happily.
I don't really pay attention to the interviews until they get to Brittany, although the girl from district 2 trips on her way up the stairs to the stage, and I laugh louder than I should.
Brittany is all smiles and giggles, and the host, Artie, falls in love with her almost instantly. The rest of the country probably does.
She tells stories about back home and her work and her family.
"So, I saw you waving to our district 12 tribute up there, are you friends now?"
I lean forward, anxious of what she'll say.
"Of course I am, dummy!" She laughs, and everyone melts a little more. "She's my best friend, the first person I've ever met and just felt a connection, she's so caring and compassionate. Plus, she's so beautiful it'd be really hard to ignore her."
I feel a blush creep up my neck as the screen switches to me, but I can't hide the massive grin taking up most of my face. I can practically hear the whole country "awh".
When it's time for my interview, I sit across from Artie, who's lips and hair are an alarming shade of red, and I smile at him.
"So Santana, tell us about you."
I drabble off a little about my father dying and looking after my siblings, knowing my eyes will light up as I talk about them. I talk about my job in the mines, and following in my father's footsteps, making him proud.
He asks me about Brittany, and I just start gushing about how adorable she is, and then stop myself, embarrassed.
Artie chuckles. "I know what you mean, she's kind of show stealing. So sweet and innocent." He sounds regretful, like it's a tragedy she's going into the arena. And it is, I sigh softly, covering my eyes.
"Are you okay?" Artie asks, looking concerned.
"I'm fine, I just don't understand how anyone would be able to hurt sweet Brittany." He nods in understanding, and our time is up.
I take my seat, as Jesse takes to the stage. I'm sure he's trying to be charming, but he just comes off as an arrogant ass. I chuckle to myself when he returns to the stand for our national anthem. He throws a dirty look my way but says nothing.
When we return to the floor, everyone descends on me, telling me how I've won the audience over with my performance. But it wasn't a performance, I couldn't actually imagine anyone ever hurting Brittany. I couldn't let anyone hurt her.
I sit quietly through dinner, listening to everyone chat like I wasn't going to be sent to my death tomorrow. I can't stand it, and I'm up from the table before the meals even halfway through. I enter my room, and pull off my dress, leaving it in a crumpled heap on the floor. I can't look at it. I get into bed, but I when I find sleep, my dreams are haunted. I see Brittany being stabbed by Sam, being hacked apart by Azimo from district 11, and worst, I see her lying bloody and broken at the feet of Jesse, his blood covered face grinning at me as he steps over her corpse and heads towards me.
I wake up screaming.