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Maysilee

The interviews are held on a stage in front of the Training Center. Two rows of chairs are situated in an arch in front the crowd.

Currently I am waiting for the host to announce us district by district to walk onto the stage. To distract myself from my nervousness I think back to earlier today.

I saw my prep team for what could possibly be the last time. Even though we don't go into the arena until late morning tomorrow, it will only be our stylist who gets us ready that day. Caius, Ophie, and Tara all wished me luck and assured me that they think I will make it far in the Games. Their words don't provide me with any reassurance since they aren't educated or experienced on what it does take to make it far, but I think they truly meant it and for that I am grateful. My stylist Jolene on the other hand only offered me these words, "Put this on." And by 'this' she meant a flowy blue dress, the color of my eyes, that goes past my knees with a cinched empire waist and floral designs. After that she marched out of the room without another word.

I snap back to reality when I hear Caesar Flickerman call District 12 to the stage. I stand up straight and follow Lucy, who is already making her way onstage.

I notice Haymitch heading for the back row so I follow him over and take the chair on his left. My nerves have magnetized in front of the crowd and I seem to even be shaking a little. Haymitch notices and grabs my hand. This seems to be a regular thing between us. I can't seem to remain calm unless I'm holding his hand. I'm surprised by the pull he has on me that I hadn't realized before. He really is not the guy I thought he was back home. I wish I would have gotten to know him before the Games, then we could have had the opportunity to be friends longer and maybe even more… A sneak a look at Haymitch and a pang of longing hits me in that moment. I'm so taken aback that I have to whip my head over to Caesar because I feel like I was caught in the act of something I shouldn't be doing. Which I guess in a way I was. I can't have feelings for another tribute, only one of us can survive. If I allow myself to start having these feelings of infatuation I'll only end up with my heart broken.

My thoughts have engrossed so much of my attention that when I remember that I should be paying attention to the interviews I see that the tributes from Districts 1, 2, and 3 have already gone. I'm cross with myself as I could have learned something valuable from my opponents. Something to help me defeat them which I should be thinking of to allow myself the chance to return home, and not my crush on some boy.

I take my hand back from Haymitch, who gives me a puzzled look but doesn't say anything, and I turn my attention instead to the rest of the interviews.

Throughout the rest of the interviews I take in some information about my competitors. Like one of the guys from District 5 for instance, he seems to be around 17. He doesn't appear to be exceptionally muscled but he does give off an air of being superior in intelligence. And if he really is smart than I need to look out for him, the smart ones know not to make stupid mistakes that get them killed. Like eating a poisonous plant, or starting a fire at a time when it's easy to see the smoke.

There's also a twelve year old from eight, who seems too scared to say anything. I feel bad for her; the chances of her making it out alive are very slim. She seems like a nice little girl too, I wish she didn't have to compete. It's barbaric, having us all fight to the death for the Capitol's enjoyment. We can't speak up against it though, that might cause our district to be annihilated like district thirteen was. We're completely defenseless. I hope this changes someday. Maybe even in my lifetime if I make it out alive. I don't want to see anymore friends or loved ones die for these sick games.

Lucy is soon called up which means I'm next. She breaks down into tears almost immediately. I start feeling bad for her too. Not because I particularly like her, but because I hate to see people cry.

Caesar isn't able to get much out of her during her interview. Then he's calling my name.

I stand up, aware that all eyes are on me, and go to stand next to Caesar at the microphone. Each year he wears a midnight blue suit, and then dyes his hair, eyelids, and lips a color of his choosing. This year he is sporting a dark green color. He looks horrific. But I just give him a smile and mentally prepare myself for his questions.

"Welcome, Maysilee!" he starts. "How are you liking the Capitol so far?"

"It's alright," I tell him. "I haven't been able to see much due to my training, but the view from the roof is amazing!" I admit, I am trying to suck up to the Capitol a little bit. I don't really want to be complimenting this place, but I do need sponsors. I sure hope they're worth it.

"Fabulous! So, what do you think about the Games having double the tributes this year?"

"Oh, it's quite weird. I never imagined this would happen. With just 24 tributes the Games seemed like quite the challenge!"

"Of course, as it's designed to be. But let's talk about your training score. It's a great score! We are all so curious to know how that happened, any hints?"

"I'm sure you are, but I can't release what happened during the private sessions, sorry Caesar!" I tell him. "But let's just say, definitely don't count me out. While it might seem impossible with forty-seven other competitors, I still know a thing or two about how to survive from my training."

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of counting you out! I'm actually quite interested to see what it is that got you that score!" Just then the buzzer goes off. "Well thank you so much Maysilee, and I wish you the best of luck," he tells me as I head back to me seat.

"Thanks!" I reply with a quick smile.

When I sit down I realize I didn't seem nervous at all. That's so strange, as I never do well speaking in front of large amounts of people. I guess I was just so focused on making sure I was noticed and didn't seem like a weak competitor. Well, I tell myself, I think you succeeded. My greatest wish is that the sponsors took notice of me but I didn't seem like a huge enough threat to go after at the beginning to my competition.

Jarod goes up next. He doesn't seem like himself at all, and unless I'm mistaken it seems like he's trying to appeal to the girls. I try not to laugh, as I can tell he isn't succeeding in the slightest.

His time is soon over and Haymitch stands and walks over to Caesar when his name is called.

Haymitch has me entertained the whole time. I can tell he's being himself, he doesn't seem to care about ripping on the games at all. He tells Caesar he thinks it will be stupid which causes the crowd to laugh, and me along with them. When Haymitch's interview is done I swear my stomach hurts from laughing so hard, and I smile at him as he returns to his seat beside me.

The anthem starts playing and we are ushered off the stage and onto an elevator back up to our floor.

After dinner the interviews are replayed so we all sit down to watch. Jarod is as angry as always the whole time, and all Lucy can do is criticize the other tributes on a shallow level. I begin to like her less and less each day. Both of them, for that matter.

Haymitch

Finally, it's time for the interview. Each Tribute gets three minutes of fame during the interview. All forty-eight of us. That's over two hours of people talking about themselves and trying to get sponsors. One hundred and forty-four minutes. And only three of them are mine. Wow this is going to be nerve wrecking and boring. I don't really care what the others have to say. And I am scheduled to go last. The last interview. This is really going to suck. In school, when we've had to do projects and present them, I learned that there are only two presenters that people ever remember. The first and the last. And the one that they remember the most is the last. So if I screw up and bomb the interview, people aren't just going to remember it, that's one of the only things that they are going to remember. That I screwed up.

After a long day with Sampson and the prep team, it is finally time for Rosale and Damon escort us to the stage. And I mean long. The whole day they were prettying me up for the interview. I have absolutely no idea why it took so long, I could have done it in five minutes, but they took all day.

Now, I'm dressed in a fancy black suit, a red tie, and dress shoes. There is gel in my hair. And it is combed with a nice part on the side. I completely hate it. All of it. I don't look anything like myself and I don't feel comfortable wearing this monkey suit.

Rosale just keeps talking and talking as we walk to the stage. Damon is clenching his fists, I think he is getting annoyed by her.

"Good luck! You guys will be awesome! Oh and don't forget to smile!" Rosale says in her usual optimistic, happy voice.

"Good luck." Damon says. Then he turns to me. "Remember, manipulation is the key if you are going to pull it off." He whispers this in my ear. Way to put more pressure on me, Damon. I think.

We are ushered onto the stage single file and sit in our seats. There are two rows this year instead of just one. We get the four on the end of the arch. Maysilee and I sit in the two in the back row. She looks really nervous again so I grab her hand. I know how she feels. I wish we could just get this over with as soon as possible. But I am last and she is right before Jarod.

The District One girls go up and then the boys. Then District Two, Three and Four. This is taking forever. And I guess it doesn't help that I don't listen to what they have to say. I know that they are killing machines. They are in the Career pack along with Districts Two and Four. It's usually them who win the games.

Maysilee pulls her hand out of mine and sits it on her lap. I'm confused. Am I taking it too far? Was her hand falling asleep? Maybe it's just not calming her like I thought it was. Well, I'm not going to dwell on it. She looks sad. I'll talk to her about it later.

Five, Six, Seven. They seriously had to pick twice the tributes this year? Really? I am probably the most impatient person, yet I have to wait the longest! How annoying!

Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven. Almost there. Almost done with tonight. Almost.

"And from District Twelve we have Lucy Payton!" Caesar Flickerman says. Lucy's interview goes on for what seems like an hour. And she starts crying again.

"And now, let's just give Maysilee Donner a round of applause!" He shouts. Her interview is pretty much the only one I'm completely focused on. She is sweet and the whole audience is falling at her feet. They love her. I would sponsor her if I could. But, I can't and soon her three minutes are up and it's time for Jarod.

"Now, it's Jarod Hale's turn!" Caesar announces. Jared walks up there and is a total fake. He seems to be trying to impress all of the girls of Panem. Well, if I was a girl, I most defiantly wouldn't be impressed. I'm tempted to throw something at him.

"Now for the last tribute, Haymitch Abernathy, let's give him a warm welcome!" Caesar says.

I walk up to the hot seat and sit down.

"So tell me Haymitch, how has your time in the Capitol been?" He asks me.

Annoying, horrible, I hate it. Those are all things I want to say, but instead I say, "So far so good. I like the food." I answer.

"And how are you doing away from your family?" He asks.

"I miss them. But I'm going to make them proud." I say. I don't feel like I'm being cocky enough. Got to work on that. I hear the audience sigh.

"So, Haymitch, what do you think of the Games having one hundred percent more competitors than usual?" asks Caesar.

I shrug. "I don't see that it will make much difference. They'll still be one hundred percent as stupid as usual, so I figure that my odds will be roughly the same." There is the cockiness and arrogance. The crowd is roaring with laughter.

"Well, you are a funny one. And you sure have the confidence!" Caesar comments.

I smile, the audience is laughing and applauding. I think I'm doing a better job of winning over the ladies than Jarod did.

"Where do you think you stand in the Games?" He asks.

"Well, Caesar," I pretend to be all formal, "I know I stand pretty high up. I'm fast, quick , smart, and good in high pressure situations. Oh, and did I mention that I'm really cocky?" Everyone laughs again. Caesar takes a few seconds to catch his breath.

"What would you say your greatest strength in the arena would be?" Caesar asks.

"I would say that my greatest strength would be… that I am sly and my opponents won't know what to expect. And they have to know that I will be expecting them to attack me. But between you and me, I'm going to get to them first." I say in a pretend whisper. I think I'm playing the cocky part very well. And the arrogance. I look over to Damon and he is laughing. He gives me a thumbs up and I smirk. I think they think I'm indifferent or snarky. Well, the audience seems to love my haughtiness, hopefully it will get me some sponsors.

The buzzer rings and I stand up and walk over to my seat next to Maysilee. She seems to have enjoyed my interview. I'm glad she did.

Everyone stands for the anthem. Then we all head back inside the Training Center. When we arrive at the elevator we head up to our floor and go straight to dinner. Dinner is full of conversation.

After dinner we watch the replay of the interviews. Jarod is glaring at me the whole time. I don't think he likes the fact that he failed at winning over the hearts of the country and he tried so hard, while I just made them laugh and they fell instantly in love with me. Lucy stays quiet throughout most of the replay time, but she sure does have some complaints about all of the tributes.

"That hair is so fake… He is so stupid!... Who would say that?..." She kept saying. When it got to her, she got really quiet again.

Maysilee's interview comes on. She's amazing and the crowd adores her. They want too hear more about her when they timer goes off. Gee, I even want to hear more. Then Jarod comes on the screen for his recap and its more obvious than ever that he sucked at winning the hearts of the capitol. My interview comes on and I was right, at first I didn't seem that cocky but I did work my way into it.

Damon and Rosale are ecstatic. Especially Rosale. She is so happy with our interviews she starts jumping up and down with joy.

Damon comes to me and says, "You played it good kid." He then grabs a bottle of wine and heads to his room.