'Kay, well, I decided not to do a song every chapter. Too much work...not enough time...
Don't get me started on District One. Too late, already started. You know how awkward and wierd I felt during District Ten? Multiply that by two...carry the four...you should get a zillion times worse. I personally killed both of their tributes.
People threw stuff at me. Tomatoes, glass bottles, tomatoes with glass shards. I was ushered away by two Peacekeepers who told me that was the worst uprising they saw during a victory speech. It didn't help. Then during the dinner, I recieved death threats from four people. The mayor, the father of Jessa, Cristan's girlfriend, and the daughter of the mayor who was 'in love' with Cristan. Worst. Day. Of. My. Life.
Calypso was holding onto my shoulders, staring me dead in the eyes. Her damn blue ones really make me uncomfortable. "You look beautiful, dear. Now go outside and knock 'em dead."
I nodded, feeling twice as nervous as I did during my first time up on this stage. "This interview could go on for hours, not three minutes."
Calypso chuckled. "They wouldn't, dear. These only last around twenty minutes. And be excited! After this you get to be one of the first to party at the president's new mansion and you get to see all of the victors. Plus, the Gamemakers have some announcement they want to share."
I shook my head and sighed inwardly. "I better get my butt out there." I grumbled, walking outside.
"Good luck!" She called, laughing to herself.
"How's the victor life been treating you so far?" Caesar asks, once I sit down and calls me by new nickname in the Captiol 'Mermaid Princess'.
I batt my glitter dusted eyelashes. Time to get into character. "So super fantastic!" I bubble with fake giddiness. I have to admit, though, I kind of love it.
Caesar chuckles. "Anything new, exciting?"
I look at him seriously. "Caesar." I say and he looks like he doesn't know what he said wrong. "What can be more exciting then your victory tour?" And the crowd cheers again, loving my attitude.
Caesar smiles, and pats my cheek. I resist the urge to flinch or stiffen. "That's the spirit, darling. So tell us, what have you been really doing with your money."
I shrug. I can't lie about this one. "I helped my sister and her husband buy a good house. I couldn't stand them living in a crammed apartment especially with a newborn. I couldn't live myself if my niece inhaled proccessing factory smoke if I could help it. My family mean the world to me."
Caesar seems touched. "I think it's so good that you put your family as one of your top priorities, especially at a young age." The crowd gives a sound of agreement, like I care what they think.
I give another shrug. "I don't have anything besides them. I start a new school when I return from the Quell, so no friends. I'm allergic to cats, and we don't have dogs in District Four, so no pets. And aren't I a little young for a boyfriend." All of the sudden the crowd laughs as does Caesar. What the hell? "What?" Now I know I sound naive and I'm not even trying.
"I think that's up for an argument." Caesar says.
I blink. "What do you mean?" And now I'm back to acting my ignorance.
"Let's just say I've heard from a few people on how beautiful you look." And he drops it there. No more on that discussion.
We talk about nothing more than my new life, which was easy but a drag. I don't want all of Panem to know my personal life and I know I will get a good smack from Trinity for mentioning Vanity during my interview. I'll be dreading to see her when I get back.
"So, what's first the party of the announcement?" I ask Mags when we get to Snow's mansion.
Mags stares at me. "How did you know about the announcement?" She doesn't give me a chance to answer. "The announcement. We're an hour early, and the meeting is in the living room."
There's a ton of victors already there. Old, new, pretty, ugly. I find myself standing next to Chaff and Wave. They say that everyone is here and we're just waiting on Bluecreeks. When he showed up, we got down to business fast because now there was only twenty minutes before guests would start arriving.
"As you all know, this Quell is double the tributes this year. Two districts have only one mentor: Ten and Twelve. It would be extremely difficult to mentor four tributes as it is hard to just do two. We would like to know if anyone would volunteer to help them." Ren announced. What an announcement, Ren! Shouldn't you have thought of this when you were...I don't know...planning the games?
The only districts that have the enough to spare is the Career districts and Six. Two is in first place with eight, we come in second with seven, One would probably be higher but a few have died so they only have five now, and Six, which no one knows how they possibly managed, has five out of six victors still alive and healthy.
A previous victor from District Six, a non-morphling (shoker, I know), raises his hand. "I guess I'll help Ten out." He shrugs.
Mags, Wave, Melinda, and J.T. are mentoring this year. I know our victors would gladly help out but Fraser, the winner of the first Hunger Games, is too old and broken and Farley hates District Twelve because of her Games.
No one wants to help out poor District Twelve. Avery looks overwhelmed, twenty-six and having to watch over four kids no less than twelve years younger than her. I sigh and look around. Nobody looks interested, except Mags but like I said she's already mentoring someone else.
Trey was from Twelve and if I kept an eye on him
I gave a sound of defeat and raise my hand. "Me." Everyone eyes stared at me. "I guess I'll do it. I'll help out Twelve."
No one speaks. Mags and Wave are equally shocked, just like everyone else exxcept Avery who looks grateful towards me. "Aren't you a little young?" Plutarch asks, breaking the silence.
"You never set an age limit." I snapped. "Besides, it's not like any of these bastards want to help out." I felt heat tinge my neck, realizing what I said.
"Said like a true victor." Chaff apraised me and everyone laughed except the Gamemakers.
"I don't see why she can't do it." Melinda said. Everyone looked at her, because Melinda hardly ever speaks.
"She can do it." Ren said gravely. What the hell? He makes it sound like someone is dying. Does he really think that I can't help a tribute out as much as the next victor? How rude.
After the meeting Avery approaches me. "You've got a lot of nerve to do something like that." She says, her grey blue eyes staring back at me.
"As long as it's well appreciated." I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes. When did I become so disrespectful?
"I came to say thanks." She holds her hands up defensevely. "And congratulations, you are now a victor, complete with the look, the attitude, and the attention."
"Thanks." I smirk. "Do I get to choose my tributes or what?"
She laughs. "If you want you may choose which two you would like, it doesn't matter to me. I can never pull a victor anyways."
"You will. I know you will but you've only been at this ten years." I say.
She smiles. "Maybe this year I can pull it off with some help."
I nod. "Bet we can." And I high-five her, because now I'm determined.
I'm not doing the thing for District Four but I am putting Serenity talkin to Blue's sister next chapter because she plays a small role in this. Next chapter is the reapings with Haymitch *Sigh* Can't wait to post it. Very sorry this chapter is short