"Up straight." Lola commanded pushing up my back. "Chin up and smile," she said with a blinding grin as she made her way to the other side of my bedroom. "Now walk."
I took a deep breath and walked with a forced yet cheery smile on my face towards her, whose face seemed to glow brighter with every step that I took.
"Marvellous, Annie. Absolutely marvellous." Lola let out a sigh of relief. "I think we have it." She checked the practically illegible clock that was imbedded into one of her many pearl bracelets. "It only took two hours."
My shoulders slumped in relaxation and I hobbled to the bed. I took off the bright orange skyscraper heels, fell back onto the soft covers and rubbed my sore feet.
"Oh Annie, I am so excited to see your interview," Lola chimed, sitting on the end of the bed and patted my leg. "I think you will do great."
"I hope so," I said. "But they will probably have to wheel me on the stage." I huffed and rested on my elbows, looking directly at Lola's reassuring smile. "It only took Rio twenty minutes to get his walk down and he already has the confident smile going for him."
"That was why I sent him away early to work with Finnick and Mags on interview strategy," she replied. I sighed glumly and glanced at the token on my wrist. "Annie, the Gamemakers gave you a nine. That's a big enough reason for the sponsors to already like you." She squeezed my leg. "And Mags, Finnick, Azula and Ivo will be there for support."
I smiled back to her. Through the peacock feather eyelashes, I noticed that one of her eyes were blue and the other was brown. It was because they were usually both brown.
"Are you wearing a blue contact Lola?" I asked. "Is that some new Capitol fashion trend or something?" I gave a small laugh but instantly silenced myself when I saw the frown on her face.
"No. I wasn't going out until the interviews so I decided to leave it until later." Lola's tone was dead. Highly unlike her. I almost felt uncomfortable with how serious she was being for once.
There was a short pause.
"Imperfection isn't desirable in the Capitol." Lola began. "It's best to fix the broken things before the seeing eyes can heavy the burden." I swallowed something heavy in my throat. Lola rose from the bed and patted down her green metallic layered dress, her mismatched eyes distant in sad contemplation. "I'll go tell Finnick and Mags that you are ready." Lola walked out of the door and left me in silence.
Is being perfect considered an angle?
"So, Annie. What do you think of the Capitol?"
"Well, I think that it is great with, um-" I exhaled and Finnick pinched the bridge between his eyes, obviously frustrated.
"I'm sorry Finnick, but the 'confident and alluring mermaid' angle that you described doesn't work for me," I admitted and fiddled with the rope on my wrist. "I feel more like a fish out of water." That was actually very true.
"It has to work," he retorted. "It's worked for the past four years." Finnick ran a hand through his copper hair. I tried so hard to not roll my eyes.
Yeah, and look where they have ended up.
"Finnick," Mags said. We both looked to where she was sitting in an armchair a few feet away from us. "Most of those other girls volunteered and had a confident and almost cocky attitude about them, which clearly did no favours." Mags placed down the tea she was drinking and moved to stand behind Finnick. She pointed his shoulders towards me, which moved his face along with them. "What do you see when you look at Annie?" Her tone was as soft as the sea waves in the early morning.
Finnick brushed his eyes over me like he did on the train, but this time there was no look of judgement but nervousness in his eyes that was in some way more disarming. His gaze on my body made a slight blush creep on my face. I looked away and prayed for my face to cool. After a short while he just looked down shook his head.
"I-I don't know, Mags," Finnick mumbled.
"I see a naturally beautiful, sweet girl and that shouldn't be covered up by some cheap charade." Mags smiled to me, which helped to bring my attention back to Finnick. Mags gripped onto his shoulders tighter. "Don't you agree, Finnick?"
Finnick gave another and almost inconspicuous look over me and swallowed hard enough for me to see his adam's apple move in his throat. A shy smile grew on his face.
"Yeah," he replied simply.
I grinned back to him but he looked to the floor and ran a hand through his already scruffy hair, a way for him to gain his confidence back. He locked eyes with mine and shrugged in a disinterested manner. "Sure, why not?" Finnick said. "Let's make the good girl persona a thing." He cleared his throat and sucked in a breath. "So, Annie. What do you think of the Capitol?"
This time I was ready. I grinned and opened my mouth to reply.
I noticed a slight grin on Azula's face when I stuck out my hands towards to her, expecting gloves to be put on my calloused hands. After adjusting the last glove on my hand, she was finally finished.
"I believe she's done." Azula gleamed and with the go ahead from my prep team she stepped away from the full-length mirror, exposing me to my reflection.
My outfit for the interview was a knee-length, strapless and sea green dress. The colour matched my eyes perfectly. A layer of wave patterned white lace covered the green silk base and a long lace right sleeve finished off the dress. I was wearing short gold taffeta gloves with complementary heels. I was surprised to find that I looked elegant. My getup for the parade was more for show and to stand out rather than an official interview on national television. I always thought of myself to be pretty in a rather plain way with my petite frame and no curves or assets at all. My dark hair was twisted into a loose but fashionable bun and my rather large eyes were shaded and exaggerated with gold dust and heavy black mascara. Azula and my team had really outdone themselves this time to make me look perfect whilst I was being displayed throughout of Panem, I collected my shaky hands in front of me, knotting them together like they were a piece of rope.
"Are you nervous, darling?" Charm asked and I nodded. "Don't be. The Capitol citizens are easily entertained so smiling and giving the odd joke or two will make them like you." She finished, making the whole procedure sound as easy as blinking.
Don't forget the blood and deaths of children. That's entertainment.
We met Rio, Ivo and his crowd of stylists at the elevator. Rio's hair was gelled back and he wore a sapphire suit to match his own eyes. He nodded his head stiffly towards me. I could tell that he was trying to get into his zone. I could have assumed that he was as nervous as I was. But that would have been ridiculous. This was Rio.
All of the tributes sat in a high arc on the stage. I was quite happy to be in District Four, which meant I got to go eighth. I took my place in my designated seat with Rio following close behind. My eyes found Finnick, Mags and our designers. My breath caught in my throat. He looked so handsome with his hair in its usual styled scruffy manner, grey suit and sitting so tall. Mags waved subtlety to Rio and I and pointed me out to Finnick, who at that point was talking to a woman dressed in a cocktail of silver and purple and placing her hands all over him. The fact that I saw how interested she seemed to be in him, made my entire skin shiver and my heart constrict. Was this what it was like with all of the other girls? I knew I couldn't think of that right now but I just couldn't help it. When Finnick saw me something weird happened. His whole stature seemed to weaken and his mouth opened slightly as he took my appearance. Our eyes were caught like fish in a net, unable to break free. The woman next to Finnick glared at me and pestered him by poking him and laughing to get all of his attention back on her. It took her a few attempts but he turned back to her, his eyes occasionally skirting to meet mine.
The traditional music of the interviews began to play as Caesar pranced onto the stage, his canary hair and suit with black trimmings soaking up all of the lighting and attention.
"Ladies and gentleman, this is the 70th Hunger Games!" He announced with the audience clapping and cheering. "Let's get down to these tributes, if not, I believe my fabulous suit will start to get too used to the limelight." The audience were in fits of laughter, except for the mentors and tributes. The woman next to Finnick was in embarrassing hysterics.
Easily entertained is an understatement.
After a few more jokes Caesar finally got down to business with the tributes. The Careers practically spoke for what their outfits said about them. Satin acted ditzy and cheerful, which sent the audience wild. Maeve portrayed the confident and alluring mermaid that I was supposed to be. The audience loved them and the boys too so the standards were set incredibly high, yet were immediately lowered by Speck who couldn't stop shaking. I felt sorry for her. Like most she didn't want to be there. After her partner Relay, who spoke with a quiet intensity until the three-minute buzzer went off, it was finally my turn.
"Now, ladies and gentleman, let me introduce you to Annie Cresta! The female tribute of District Four." The audience applauded with the same intensity as they did with all of the other tributes as I reached Caesar and sat in the plush chair next to him.
Remember to be the nice girl.
"Might I say you look beautiful, Miss Cresta."
"Not nearly as good as you might I say," I replied and tucked a loose hair strand behind my ear.
Caesar chuckled and I felt a swell of confidence within me.
"How does it feel to be in the Capitol?" Caesar asked and I grinned at him.
"Words are unable to describe how I feel to be in the Capitol, Caesar."
This got some attention from the audience as they began to clap.
"Let's just call it greatly, stupefyingly magnificent for now," Caesar said. "We know that you got a nine at your personal assessment in front of the Gamemakers. Well done." The audience offered a polite applause. "But what is your greatest strength?"
There is no way I am going to tell you in front of everyone.
"I wish I could tell you Caesar but," I shrugged playfully. "Then watching the Games wouldn't be fun." The audience and Caesar laughed at this. I glanced towards Finnick and Mags, she was clapping and he was nodding in approval. I hated the taste of those words on my mouth; watching the Games wouldn't be fun. They are anything but fun, yet the audience couldn't know because they didn't have to live in constant fear of being a victim of sport or knowing that they were going to die, like I was.
"We, we wouldn't want that would we?" Caesar said to the audience and they giggled again, I beamed at them and a few seconds later the buzzer went off. "Oh I'm afraid that is all the time we have. Let us give it up for Annie Cresta!" Caesar grabbed my hand and we stood up together as the audience cheered. "Lovely to meet you." He bowed slightly to me and I dipped my head in return.
"Thank you Caesar." I said as I made my way back up to the other tributes. I glanced towards Finnick, who was nodding his head and clapping. The woman's arm entwined with his. I snapped my head away.
"Now, give a warm round of applause to Rio Ellwitt!" The crowd roared as he strode down the stairs and waved to them, ladies whooping and screaming. The sat with his body forward. Looking like he was about to attack.
"Rio, are you prepared for the Games?" Caesar asked. Rio chuckled.
"Of course I'm ready. I'm an animal, and an animal needs to hunt," he stated. Unlike the other Career boys that took the confident and charming approach, Rio was simply animalistic, which the audience seemed to adore.
"So no alliances I presume?"
"Definitely no alliances," Rio answered. My face fell and I gripped onto my chair to prevent falling. "They are all threats that I need to extinguish in order to win." Rio smiled smugly.
"What about the girl in your District?" Caesar questioned.
"Especially her."
Realisation hit me like a train. He didn't want me to do any combat training because I would be easier to kill. If I were easier to kill, he would be one step closer to winning. My eyes were brimming with tears and I glanced over to Finnick and Mags. Mags covered her mouth with her hands and shook her head in disbelief. Finnick stared down at me with an emotionless expression and pointed to his face, indicating me to do the same. Luckily I did before the cameras fell on me. I acted as if I wasn't at all affected, when really a small part of me shattered.
Following the interviews, I met up backstage with Mags and Lola. Rio and already went forward to the elevators and I wasn't surprised to find that Finnick was nowhere to be seen. I assumed that he was probably with the woman from before. The elevator ride was silent until it was broken by shouting coming from our apartment.
"What on earth?" Lola exclaimed as we all dashed to the door. I was the first to open it. I was stunned to see Finnick holding Rio up against the wall by his collar with anger in his eyes. I only caught onto the end of what he was growling.
"-The one to make it out alive I swear I will personally kill you myself." I didn't doubt him.
"Finnick!" Mags cried in disgust. Noticing the girls, Finnick dropped Rio immediately. Rio fixed his suit and stalked towards his room, knocking his shoulder against Finnick's.
"No one come get me. Goodbye," he said curtly. All was silent until we heard his door slam.
"What were you thinking? If you hurt that boy"
"Mags relax. I didn't hurt him, okay?" Finnick said, obviously collapsing from his adrenaline rush.
"I think that this is a better time than ever to say goodbye." Lola chimed in and faced me. "Goodbye for now Annie." She smiled and gently hugged me. I wondered if it was compulsory for her to say 'for now' to give tributes a last glimmer of hope before they entered the arena. I held her tightly.
Next it was Mags to hug me and kiss my cheek. "Good luck," she whispered in my ear and squeezed my shoulders.
"Thank you, Mags," I said, holding on to her arms. Mags nodded towards the door. Lola turned back to look back at me but Mags was leading her out of the apartment. She closed the door, leaving Finnick and me alone in the living area.
"So," Finnick said walking up to me with his hands in his pockets. His tone nothing but serious and my heart was racing in my chest. "Sorry about Rio, being a jerk." I shook my head and looked down, trying to not show the hurt on my face.
"It's okay. It wasn't like I was going to win anyway-" Finnick cut me off by lifting my chin to meet hi gaze. I saw the worry in his eyes.
"Annie don't say that. You don't need him to survive. You are smart and strong enough to do it on your own. When will you see that you are better than you think you are?" Finnick's honesty froze my entire being. The room was still. Our eyes searching through each other.
If I am doing to die anyway.
In an instant I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulled myself on my toes and planted a soft kiss on his lips. It was only brief, and the look of shock in Finnick's eyes proved that it was a mistake, but I didn't care. It was the last time that I was going to see him. With even more speed he collected my cheeks in his hands and threw his lips onto mine. His lips were sweet and tasted like roses and I fell into his passionate kiss. I couldn't tell if the tears on his cheeks were mine or his. I scrunched his soft hair in my fists. When we broke apart, all we did was stare. Our bodies were pressed together and our breathing was heavy. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but only another breath came out.
"What is it?" I breathed.
"Fight, Annie. I will be here doing all that I can to get you home." He rubbed his thumb on my cheek to wipe away something. It was a tear. "You have to win." With my mind still running from the kiss I merely nodded. Finnick kissed me swifly. "I will see you soon." He brought his body away from mine and held my hand until he couldn't anymore. He headed to the door, glanced one more time at me and left. It wasn't my first kiss, but it was the only one that I actually felt something.
The next morning was a blur. The hovercraft, getting my tracker and ending up in the catacombs of the arena all felt numb.
After eating my suggested large breakfast and putting on my gear of undergarments, cargo trousers, special grip boots, shirt, blue windbreaker and my hair in a slick ponytail, I sat alone with Azula. She felt like a mile away from me, but we were only on the two-seat couch.
"You remind me of my daughter, Lita."
I snapped back to attention. "Lita? As in-"
"Yes. Your prep team Lita." I had no idea. Azula had a much more naturalistic look whilst Lita's outfits seemed to get more outrageous day by day. I didn't know how old Azula was or how young Lita was under all of that fakery. The capitol never ceased to surprise me.
"W-Why is that?" I asked.
"She lets people control her because she thinks that she is beneath them." Azula replied. She wasn't wrong about either of us. I recalled the times that she was constantly being chastised and ordered around by Charm and Tercius and the times when I let almost let Rio tell me how to train for the Games.
"A person's worth is only measured in their eyes and no one else's. Okay, Annie?"
I nodded and we were grinning at each other.
The cold voice of a woman called for the tributes for launch. I immediately began shaking. Azula and I made our way over to the glass tubes and stood in silence. Her hand was on my shoulder.
"Have you got your token?"
"Yes," I answered flashing her my wrist, the net tied on tightly.
"Good luck Annie. Show them how much you deserve to win," she said and I nodded. Surprisingly she embraced me and I returned it. I didn't know why she did it, if it was because I reminded her of her own daughter or something else entirely, stylists should never really get close to their tributes. Especially the dead meat. "Put those calloused and ugly hands to good use," she whispered in my ear and I giggled.
I stepped into the tube and the glass door closed behind me. I breathed in deep as the platform started to rise. Before I knew it I was saw the cloudy sky and the rocky terrain with twenty-three other tributes around me.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Claudius Templesmith announced, "let the Seventieth Hunger Games begin!"
