I'm nervous and fluttery and just want to scream to let it all out but if I do I know I won't be able to keep myself together and the interview will just go to Hades.
Sitting in front of my vanity, I lean in again, checking to make sure I look perfect. I feel exposed and stupid without all the makeup I used to wear, but that's silly. Cinna's look is at the height of fashion and will be for quite some time. And besides, Finnick's used to girls wearing no makeup at all. If anything, I probably look more attractive to him than usual. I have a light layer of foundation on my face, completely invisible, and a fluid dark line of eyeliner that flicks up and in toward my plucked and colored in eyebrows. A light aqua eyeshadow glows from behind the long lashes I glued on tight.
My dress matches my eyeshadow. It's a mermaid dress, tailored perfectly to me and bringing out all my curves. My hair looks positively flaming in contrast.
When I come out of my room, I see Orion standing by the cameras making minute adjustments to them that probably aren't needed. I can tell that he's annoyed and when he looks up at me I know he can see how excited I am. I give him a big, bright smile through my nervous energy and he smiles back before turning away. I'm not sure how authentic it is, but it does make me feel better. I'm such an awful girlfriend!
I sit down in my interviewer's chair with my note cards. They hold the 20 questions I chose from a list of dozens that my viewers wanted me to ask him. I feel anxious waiting for him to come in from the guest bathroom where his team of stylists and makeup artists are at work on him. As I passed by the door I heard him joking with them and my heart skipped a beat. While I wait for him I wish I had my tablet or phone with me but with my friends calling and texting every second, begging me to let them see Finnick, I really couldn't keep them on me.
Two minutes after I sit down, Orion walks out to tell Finnick it's time to start. He answers back cheerily and I stand up and face the door. I know I'm grinning stupidly as he walks in, but it's hard not to. Repressing a squeal and the urge to jump into his arms, I offer him my hand which he brings to his lips, leaving a tender kiss and me just about ready to collapse.
"Helena, I always look forward to our interviews together. Love the hair."
He stares into my eyes while I get lost in his and mumble something of a greeting.
He pretends not to notice and greets Orion with a pleasant handshake, also ignoring what can only be described as a glare from my boyfriend.
Finnick's entourage crowds around the door while I try not to blush and take my seat. He takes his opposite of mine. When Orion gives us the signal, I clear my throat, knowing Orion will edit it out later, and begin.
"Hello, Panem! This is Capitol Girl, back from the arena of the latest Hunger Games where we fell in love with the first two Victors of one game ever, the lovebirds from District 12, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! But today, let's roll back the clock and remember one of the most popular Victors of all time, the winner of the 65th Hunger Games, Finnick Odair!"
Light of breath and head spinning, I finish my intro just in time for Finnick to give his most dazzling and seductive smile to the camera in front of him, aka, the one directly behind me. My eyes drift to his mouth and I know no one could ever be so beautiful, even with all the full body treatments and modifications in all Panem.
"Helena, you look beautiful," Finnick says, apparently finished with his own introduction.
"Thank you," I say, taken aback.
"No really, you're like a siren. And can I say, I would gladly drown for you?"
This isn't good. If I don't take control of the situation I can't be sure in the next second I won't throw myself at him.
"I think everyone in Panem would do the same for you," I say, before quickly moving on.
"So what have you been up to for the past month?"
"Oh, I've been very busy attending a lot of parties and events and keeping up with my talent when back home. I'm so tired all the time my makeup team has to work twice as hard to cover up the bags under my eyes."
"He's lying!" someone from his team yells, laughing. "We're redundant!"
I lean in toward him and he does the same.
"N-no, I don't see a thing!"
"It's all makeup, darling."
Orion clears his throat and I reluctantly lean back into my chair.
"So what did you think of this year's Hunger Games?"
"It was amazing! I have to hand it to Katniss and Peeta, they were wonderful."
"Have you had a chance to meet them?"
"Sadly, no, but maybe during their Victory Tour? Certainly I'll see them at next year's Quarter Quell. I'm definitely looking forward to it."
I run through a few more questions with him, going off on tangents here and there before I pick up the stack of questions.
"...But let's get down to these. My viewers are dying to know a little more about Finnick."
"Please," he says, gesturing toward the cards. "I don't want to keep my fans in too much anticipation."
I keep my gaze on the top card, taking a breather before I have to look back at him again.
"First question: Is it true that your last relationship ended? Th-that's from ilovefinnick1001."
"Yes, she was a sweet girl but, she just wasn't for me. So maybe you could come and find me sometime ilovefinnick1001."
"Next question!"
A few more cards in, I come to, I admit, my own. For a moment, I wonder if I should really ask, but that passes and besides, I need to know! Not for me though, but for all my single viewers.
"Finnick, back at your District, I've seen you hanging around with another Victor, a girl with dark brown hair and green eyes, a lot. What's your relationship with her?"
"She's just a friend, one of many. Don't worry girls, you don't have any competition."
For a second his voice sounds hard, but by the end of his statement he's still smiling as brilliantly as ever. I make a mental note to ask my uncle to stop watching Annie Cresta. I was suspecting there was something going on between them, but if there's nothing, then there's nothing to report on. I'm glad I waited until the interview before releasing the gossip.
The rest of the interview goes as well as the first part and I thank him and his entourage for coming. After that the next few minutes pass by in a blur. Orion disappears with the footage, Finnick's agent goes into the hallway to schedule another appointment for him, and his team go to the bathroom to clean up, leaving Finnick and me alone.
We have a very nice conversation about clothing and I promise him whatever he wants from my father's chain when I remember what he said about there supposedly being no more seafood. I play with the idea of asking Finnick about it for a while but then the reporter in me decides I can't pass up an opportunity to ask someone from District 4 themselves.
"Finnick, I heard an odd thing from someone."
"What is it, Helena?"
"Well, it's silly, I know, but I heard that some of the Districts have been dissenting lately... including District 4."
A mortifying second passes between us before Finnick starts to laugh. Not knowing what else to do, I join in.
"Oh, Helena, I know usually your sources are top notch, but the Districts rebelling?"
"I didn't say rebelling," I say, growing pink. "And I thought it was nothing. I just wanted to make sure."
"Darling," he says, pulling my face close to his. "Trust me, everything's fine. Nothing ever changes in Panem."
And then he leaves me breathless to join his team in the foyer.
Although I'm absolutely embarrassed, I drag myself out with Orion to bid them all a farewell, only to witness Andy and Penelope come dashing in, straight into Finnick's arms as soon as Cassie opens the door. As if I hadn't already humiliated myself!
I apologize but it's obvious Finnick's enjoying the attention. He kisses them both on the cheek and tells them to make sure and watch my video. They follow him out, each clinging to either one of his arms. As soon as everyone's out, I close the door myself and collapse into a couch.
"It's always so exciting when he's here," Orion says.
Stars, I forgot about Orion! I knew after the interview I would have a lot of making up to do with him.
Sheepishly, I turn to him.
"Thanks for everything today."
He shrugs.
"Well I don't like disappointing my fans."
I hang my head in shame.
Orion walks over to me and crouches down. He lifts my chin up until I'm staring him in the eye.
"I forgive you, but I'm going to call you duck for the rest of the week."
I smile.
"Fair enough."
I jump into his arms, thankful that he's forgiven me so easily. He knows I would never cheat on him and that Finnick is really just a celebrity. He falls in love with everyone and anyone and falls back out just as fast. And as exciting as that is, I'm more grounded than that, and that probably has a lot to do with my Gucchi.
As thanks and further apology, I take Orion out to one of our favorite restaurants. As with most things in my life, I go through different food phases. A few months ago it was lamb, I'd never really liked it, but Katniss got me into it, and a few months before that it was soups. Now it's seafood, and Puck's is the best seafood restaurant in the Capitol.
Surprisingly when we get there, it's not nearly as full as it usually is. I didn't even have to make a reservation. Instead, we're led right in and given a table with a great view of the aquarium that takes up the entire center of the restaurant.
Orion orders fresh cuts of tuna while I order a lobster to my exact specifications. When I'm done, I hand the waiter back the menus without paying any attention to him when Orion points at the stuttering kid.
Perplexed, I really look at him for the first time and ask him what he wants. He's a stick thin, lanky boy with lizard eyes and violet hair. He licks his lips with a forked tongue anxiously before getting out what he wants to say.
"I'm sorry, but we don't have any lobster."
Orion snorts and I narrow my eyes.
"What do you mean you don't have lobster? Isn't this Puck's?"
"Yes..."
"And isn't it a seafood restaurant?"
"Yes-"
"Then go bring me my lobster."
"But there isn't any. You can check yourself. I don't know why. I just heard the shipments aren't coming in. It's been like that for weeks."
"That's ridiculous," Orion says.
"I just had lobster last week," I say before remembering where I'd had my last lobster. It was at home.
While Orion yells at the hapless waiter, I start to feel a sense of dread. Could my father be right? Are the Districts really dissenting? But Finnick said nothing was wrong. He wouldn't lie, why would he?
Angrily, Orion stands up and takes me by the hand.
"Good luck getting us to come here again!"
I let him drag me out as he mutters angrily under his breath.
Around us, I see that the other patrons are fine and happily eating their meals.
Oh, I'm so spoiled. So what if there's no lobster? I try to tell Orion that I can order something else, but he's too incensed. I stroke his hand. He'll calm down soon enough, and soon everything will be back to normal too. Won't it?