Noah and Louisa were pleased with their scores, and their joy will definitely help them in the interviews. Haymitch won't have to work so hard to get people to like Louisa. She's sweet and innocent, the Capitol loves that. Noah is so much like Peeta. I can already tell he will be great with Caesar. While the kids are with their stylists Cinna and the others come in to get me ready. Cinna brings in another beautiful dress, but this time it just about touches the floor. The silk feels like clouds on my body, and the shade of orange is like the sunset in the woods. It's the first time I have worn a dress with no straps, but I don't mind. My hair is pinned behind my head into a swirling bun, and my makeup makes me look at least two years old. For some reason I feel really beautiful, and Cinna can tell.
"I don't need to tell you how amazing you look tonight, do I?"
I shake my head no and can feel red fill my cheeks.
"It's almost like I knew you wanted to look pretty for someone," he winks then walks out.
That snaps me out of my blissful state real fast. Who is he talking about? Cato. That's the only person I have really talked to outside of our group since I've been here. Why would he think I want to look good for Cato? I don't care what Cato thinks of me.
"Katniss! Let's go, you don't want to be late. This will be televised, you know"
Effie's high-pitched voice rings through the apartment.
I don't want to sit down, no matter how comfortable the seats are. Loud Capitol citizens surround me. The smells of various perfumes sneak into my nose causing me to cough and get nauseated. I cannot stay around these people any longer so I head to the balcony. I'll still be able to watch, but I wont have to be around all so many people.
No matter how loose the dress is I still have a hard time walking. For some reason they keep making me wear heels, knowing I can hardly walk in them. With every step I feel like I'm about to fall. I never had to concentrate so hard on walking until I came to the Capitol.
"Having a hard time walking?"
A voice says from behind me. It startles me and I lose my balance, falling off to one side. For some reason, though, I don't hit the ground. Before I know it two arms are under me holding me up. I don't need to ask who it is.
"I don't need your help, Cato! Get off me!"
"Obviously you do need my help, because you can't even manage to walk properly."
The sound of his voice makes me angrier.
"Well if you hadn't have talked to me, then I wouldn't have lost balance!"
"I don't even understand how you won the games," he huffs before walking away.
I wrench my shoes off and look around to see at least thirty people still staring at me. Red floods into my cheeks and I can't tell if it's because I'm mad or embarrassed. He made me look weak. I don't need his help. Where does he get the nerve? I would have rather fallen than have him help me. Tonight is supposed to be about the kids' interviews but I know when Effie catches wind of what happened it will quickly become about me.
I head downstairs to watch the rest of the interviews. I'm still fuming when I reach Haymitch and Effie.
"Katniss! Put back on your shoes!"
I roll my eyes but oblige and sit quietly through the interviews.
I was right, the Capitol loved Louisa's innocence and Noah kept them laughing the whole time.
"You guys did really great. Everyone loved you," I say with a smile on my face.
"Yeah. A lot better than Katniss did last year!" Haymitch interjects laughing.
I laugh and play it off like it's nothing. Haymitch loves trying to get under my skin, and tonight it's actually working. I don't need any more fights, though. We talk the whole way up to the apartment. Noah and Louisa seem pretty confident about going into the games tomorrow. I guess Haymitch helped a lot in their private training sessions. He didn't want me to go since it's my first year. I have no problem with that, I don't want them to learn a mistake from me that later gets them killed.
"Try and get some sleep, guys. Tomorrow's the big day." Haymitch says and ushers them off.
I go into my room to change, let my hair down, and wash off all the makeup. Unfortunately, I only get changed before the shrill voice of Effie brings me to the sitting area. I knew this was coming.
"Katniss Everdeen, have you lost your mind? You can't just yell at people in public! Where are your manners?"
Obviously Haymitch didn't get the memo yet so he comes into the room and asks what's going on.
"Well, it seems our victor has started a battle with another victor. Cato, from District Two."
He just laughs, punches me in the arm, and then starts to walk back to his room.
"Haymitch! Don't you think we should have a talk with her about how you cannot just start conflicts with other mentors?"
Effie is getting mad now. I know she wants someone to back her up, but Haymitch is definitely not the person to do so.
"Effie, loosen up. There are no rules against victors bickering with each other. Talking to Katniss wont make a damn difference."
He states before stumbling back to his room. It's late, so he is very drunk. Effie looks at me, sighs, then turns and leaves. I'm left with the rest of the night to figure out why Cato is getting under my skin so badly.