Ariel's POV
I have to say, Angel has redeemed herself from the opening ceremonies. My interview dress is really quite pretty. It is loose fitting and falls all the way to the ground. It almost seems too lose but I understand the style as Angel ties a string at my waist that separates the bagginess from the top of the dress from the bottom. It makes me look less like a curtain. The color changes from blue to light green, giving it the look of rippling ocean water.
All of the tributes wait behind the stage for the interviews to begin. I come in and multiple things happen. Mako appears to be walking away from the careers who are scattering from a tightly knitted crowd and all face me. Mako approaches me and says, "Ariel, please, you need to listen to me," He grabs my hands, "You have to leave the career pack. Ever since your score was announced they have been talking about… something… Ariel I think they're planning to get rid of you quickly."
I glare at him. How low can he stoop? Mako has never liked being in a group, so this is the perfect excuse. And why would he start liking groups now?
"So you're lying to try and get me to follow you?" I snap. "The Games have really made you a piece of work."
"Are you kidding me?" His mouth hangs open wide. "Ariel, when did you stop trusting me! If the Games have changed anyone, it's you!"
I slap him across the face. I've never slapped him before, but I do. And I immediately regret it. He doesn't flare up and yell at me, he doesn't storm away. He just stares at me with an unbearable pain in his eyes. I turn and walk over to a chair in the corner of the room before he can see me fight back my tears.
Augustus Flickerman introduces the show. A few years back, the original interviewer, Caesar Flickerman, died of old age and his grandson took over. This year his wig is a rainbow of colors and his suit, instead of the usual dark blue with thousands of white lights stitched in, is completely white. But when he steps out onto the stage and the light catches the suit, the cloth begins to illuminate with multiple bright colors.
"Welcome to the interviews for the One-Hundredth annual Hunger Games! I'm Augustus Flickerman, your host. But enough about me! Don't you want to see our Quell Tributes?"
The crowd roars in applause, welcoming us to the spotlight. They scream out different names of the tributes and Augustus continues.
"So let's say we get started with the lovely Sapphire Karat from District 1?"
The audience goes wild as Sapphire moves to the interview seat in her short white dress with gold flecks. She looks absolutely radiant from her gold dusted hair, to the knee high gold and silver sandals on her feet. I don't pay much attention from then on, except for when I am called for my interview.
"Let's bring out our District 4 female, Ariel Poseidon!"
Thank God, he got my name right. Three minutes. Just three minutes, and you're out of there.
Finnick and I worked out how I would portray myself. Angry, but channeling it into my confidence. Tough. I step out and the crowd "ooh's" at my dress. No smiling, no giggles. I am tough.
"You look absolutely stunning, Ariel! It's definitely a step up from your opening ceremony's costume," says Augustus.
The crowd busts out laughing.
"Please, I'm just thankful I can breathe in this one!" I retort.
They laugh even harder. I fight the urge to laugh myself.
"So anyway, what is the best thing you have enjoyed about the Capitol?"
I shrug. I should say the pool, but that might give away my private session, which is classified.
"Well you seem a bit tense," Augustus adds. "Are you psyched for the Games?"
"You could say that," I reply. "At least, it has something to do with the Games."
If President Show II were here, I would glare right at her. My comment to everyone else, however, leaves them wondering.
"Hmmm." Augustus rubs his chin. "I do wonder what that means!" One minute left. "So, Ariel, how does it feel to get the lowest score in the history of careers."
Alright, turn up the anger. I set my eyes on Augustus, my head slightly tilted down. He looks slightly frightened by my sudden change in disposition.
"I honestly believe," I start, "that the people in charge of the Games are against me. First they put me against the…" I hesitate. "…love of my life." The crowd murmurs a bit. "Then they give me what I believe to be an unfair score. Knowing the Gamemakers, they'll probably have an arena where none of my skills are usefull."
Although I shouldn't smile, I can't help but give Augustus a sarcastic half-grin.
"But all I know is," I continue. "I can take anything they throw at me!"
The crowd goes wild, cheering on my courageous spirit. My buzzer goes off and I walk off stage.
"Well," says Augustus. "She certainly showed us that you can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, and she is one tracker jacker, huh folks?"
The audience continues to cheer, even as Mako walks on stage with his dress shirt with the same material and color as my dress, and black pants.
"So what is the best thing…"
I tune out the interview, only occasionally glancing up at Mako or the television screens showing Mako's face since his back is turned to me. He seems distracted, sometimes looking my way, and he also keeps glancing down at his pocket where he continues to fiddle with whatever he has in it.
"You and Ariel both seem a bit off," says Augustus. "Why might that be? Trouble in paradise?"
Augustus nudges Mako and winks. The crowd laughs a bit. Mako softly chuckles and pulls his hand from his pocket, his fingers tightly curled around whatever he is holding.
"Normally today would be happy for Ariel and I. And I guess in a way it is," he says, drawing the crowd's attention. "Today is our three year anniversary and I was planning to make something special out of it…"
I hear the shuffling of the audience shifting in their seats. A few eyes are on me, but most are focusing on Mako as he uncurls his fist. I gasp, drawing more attention, but still not a lot. He holds a beautiful bracelet and then briefly explains an old tradition in our District. I get a knot in my stomach because I know what is coming next.
"Today," he says, turning towards me. "I was going to ask Ariel to marry me."
The audience erupts in cries of "aww" and sadness. I even see some people tearing up. I think Mako wasn't finished talking but as soon as the noise does down he says, "But I guess I'll never really get the chance to spend my life with her like I'd hoped."
The noise is more subtle, but it is also full of more small sobs and sniffs. As soon as the buzzer goes off, the audience roars over Augustus' attempt to call the girl from District 5 to the stage. Mako silently sits next to me and I notice the cameras are still locked on us, but my mouth is hanging wide open, and I am blushing intensely. I feel like crying.
"I'm sorry," Mako whispers, so quietly I can barely hear him. I don't respond. I'm too shocked to do anything but close my mouth and sit like a statue. Time passes agonizingly slow as the rest of the interview take place. As soon as they are over and we are out of the way of any cameras, I run to the stairs that lead up the building, despite Finnick's call from the elevator. My dress billows behind me as I climb the steps. At around the third floor, I trip over my dress and fall onto the stairs. I curse and sit up, tearing off my sandals and throwing them behind me. The waterworks burst over my eyelids and spill down my made up cheeks. Was Mako serious about proposing? I know he loves me but…
"These sandals cost a lot."
I whirl around to see Annie at the top of the stairs holding my shoes. I suddenly feel real anger towards her.
"You!" I sneer, standing up. "You told him to say that! Do you realize how humiliating that was? How heartbreaking?"
Annie recoils and twitches a but before she speaks.
"I didn't tell him to do anything. It was all his idea. Plus-" She twitches again. "Plus, I couldn't get him to pretend anything All he said, all you saw… it was real."
The sanest thing she has said this whole time and it makes me feel so guilty. Guilty for treating Mako the way I did. Guilty for breaking up with him. I bow my head and hide my face in my hands. My sobs grow silent but harder, and moment by moment, I cry more and more tears.
"Wh-where is Mako?" I ask, my voice breaking and shaking. I look up when Annie doesn't reply, but then I realize why.
She's gone.
Author's Note: How did you like this chapter? Please let me know. I love hearing your feedback, everyone. And I promise, one more chapter after this, and the One-Hundredth Hunger games will begin!