Hey...

It's time for the Interviews.

I hope you're ready! :D I'm excited for you to read it! It's my longest chapter so far.

I would also like to give a special shout out to LiveLaughLoveKataang for being there reading since the beginning! Your support means a lot to me!

Here it is!

Enjoy! It was a joy to write!

"Stop slouching," Effie scolds, slapping me softly on the shoulder. "And what is with your hair? Did you have another early morning pounce with your play mate?"

I could really use a good scream right now. Effie and I have been going at this for hours. Previously, we'd been working on presentation and posture in the pent house, but now, we're down behind the stage working on how I'm going to woo the crowd. I want to slap her back and tell her I already have a damn strategy and to leave me alone, but she doesn't know this. Haymitch and I have kept our plan low key considering Effie isn't much of a secret keeper.

So, I sit up straight and run my fingers through my hair trying to comb out the tangles I hadn't bothered to brush out.

"No, we didn't," I snap, frustrated. We haven't talked since – well, since before I walked into that training arena. Whenever I brush past her in the hall, there's a tension in the air that I can almost reach out and touch. The air around her is typically warm and electrified, but anymore, it's cold. And if that isn't enough, she recoils if our skin comes in the slightest contact. We've both been walking on egg shells, trying to be careful of not setting the other off. No matter what has occurred in the past twenty-four hours, there is still a part of me that longs to know what happened, even though I have a feeling I never will. After she fled from the room, beaming and ready to cry happy tears this time, she never resurfaced.

Haymitch stared after her for the longest time, frowning at something that must have been running through his head.

"What?" I asked hoarsely.

It was a while before I got an answer, long enough that I'd already changed into sweats for bed.

"I don't feel good about this, Peeta," he said lowly, careful to avert his words away from the nearby Effie.

"I thought getting high scores was a good thing."

"Not for her," he murmured. "The Careers will be keeping close tabs on her now – while they will try to collect you, they will try to get Katniss on their side as well. You can't let that happen. The boy from 2 – he's bad news. Make sure he never comes in contact with her. She won't last."

A shudder runs through me as the image of Cato wrestling Katniss to the ground in a matter of seconds flies through my mind.

She wouldn't last.

"I won't let him touch her," I vowed. "But I don't think I'll need to worry about her. It's most likely she can paint herself into the scenery. She can hide it out."

He nods, but not in agreement – just acknowledgment that he heard me.

"But what about you?" he asks intensely. "Can you hide?"

I pause, remembering the small lesson Katniss gave me on camouflage.

"Textures are key. And don't forget to add sunshine!"

"If it's necessary, yes."

Haymitch grins sarcastically before saying what I already know to be true.

"Looks like your job just got a little hard, Princess."

"Well, you look dreadful," Effie frets. "Guess that's what Portia's for isn't it?"

"Hey now, be nice," Haymitch interrupts from the couch across from me where Caesar will be placed tonight. "He's had a rough couple days, lighten up. He knows what to do." I smile in thanks at him. But if I'm honest, I don't know what to do. How does one make a very public declaration of love in the face of death?

Hell if I know.

"And if you need help," he says pointedly. "Caesar is quite talkative."

Effie sighs. "I really hope you know what you're doing, Haymtich."

"Oh, I do. I do."

She spins on her heal, obviously peeved that no one is bothering to share my strategy with her. But she'll know soon enough.

"How you feeling?" Haymitch asks me.

I shrug, unaware of the answer myself.

"Caesar knows what to ask," he assures me. "All you have to do be honest with the people."

I grit my teeth. "You make it sound easy."

"Isn't it?" he questions. "Say what you've been saying with your face the past week."

"I'm not good with words."

He sighs and runs his hands over his face. "Peeta," he breathes. "When you look at that piranha of a girl you love, what kind of things come to mind? What is she to you?"

I swallow the lump that's suddenly in my throat. "I'd do anything for her–," I hesitate before saying. "She's my guardian angel."

"That's good," Haymitch encourages. I sink into the couch once again, unconcerned for my posture. "See, Peeta. You can do this. It's obvious you adore her. Just let them know that."

I can do that.

I will do that.

"Strip for me," Portia barks as soon as I walk into the Remake Center.

"Couldn't I at least take you out to dinner first?" I joke, throwing her a wink. She sends me a glare that could kill baby bunnies. I hold my hands up, defensively, apologizing. She does her work quickly, scrubbing me down, powdering me down with some frilly crap that makes me sparkle bronze. For the first time, I look healthy without needing the help of flames.

She places me in a black suit with red trim, which I assume is a play-off of my previous costume. I can't deny that I look grown up now. I look like a soon-to-be victor instead of a sick boy from the Seam. It gives me hope.

"You look pretty damn good, don't you?" she asks confidently. She stands behind me, hands on both of my shoulders as I stare into the mirror.

I chuckle. "Don't be so smug. You did a...nice job."

Portia rolls her eyes and giggles. "Whatever, Peeta. If you think I did a nice job, just wait till you see your little friend."

I want to tell her how Katniss probably doesn't want to see me, but I keep my mouth shut. She scurries me along to me where Effie and Haymitch wait outside my room. Effie squeals and I make a reluctant, tiny spin for her.

"Look at you!" she gushes. "You look like a victor! Doesn't he, Haymitch?"

Haymitch shakes his head, "He looks like a hero."

We walk together towards Katniss' remake room and wait for her to come out. Effie gabs on and on about how amazing she heard Katniss' gown was going to be. From what little I could make out of her high-speed chattering, there's going to be flames.

"How much does this thing weigh?" I hear an incredulous voice giggle through the door.

"Forty pounds, give or take."

"I feel fat."

"You look stunning."

The door flies open and it's almost like the entire hall has been enveloped in a ball of sun. The dress – that fire red dress – it easily lives up to all the hype, hugging every curve of her just right, sparkling and casting glowing patterns on all of our faces. Her usually braided hair is piled on top of her head, wound with gold and red fibers. And her skin glows, just like the rest of her.

But the thing that gets me the most is simply her face.

Her lips painted a dramatic red, eyes twinkling, cheeks flushed naturally pink – looking as radiant as the sun.

For a second, I'm worried that I'm going to vomit out my heart. The harsh beating in my chest feels like it's forcing its way into my throat and I can't talk. I want to fall to my knees and beg forgiveness – say how sorry I am for being the way I am – wanting to make it up to her – wanting to change for her.

I'd do anything for you.

I feel Katniss' hand come up to stroke my chin and then push up gently, closing my dropped jaw. My skin feels hot with want and embarrassment when her hand lingers on my cheek.

"Your face...is smooth."

I chuckle, grabbing the hand on my face and capturing it in both of mine.

"They shaved it right when we got here. I'm surprised you haven't noticed."

She shrugs, "I always get distracted by your eyes."

And with that simple confession, I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it delicately.

I adore you.

Haymitch coughs awkwardly at the exchange, breaking the moment.

"You do looks lovely, Katniss," he compliments gruffly. "But we do need to go."

So with that, I take Katniss' hand and follow Haymitch to where the rest of the tributes have lined up. They all look nice – some a little over the top and might I say, promiscuous – especially the girl from District 1. I believe her name is Glimmer or something ridiculous like that. But it's clear that Katniss out shines them all, figuratively and literally, and I could say that from a non-biased point of view.

Effie wishes us both good luck, eyeing me cautiously – like she's sure I'm going to make a fool of myself.

But Haymitch grasps my shoulder and looks me dead in the eye.

"Honesty."

I nod.

He doesn't say anything else. He simply bows his head at Katniss and walks off.

The lights on stage flicker, signaling for us to sit. And it's at that moment my stomach lurches with sudden realization.

This is it.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight, I would like you introduce you to the twenty-four faces of the 74th annual Hunger Games!" Caesar cheers. First is District 1, of course. All I can say about that pair is this:

Marvel is a potential threat

I saw way more of Glimmer than I needed to

District 2 also has mostly the same effect on me. Cato worries me, and Clove makes my skin crawl – she may be tiny, but she's got a sick look in her eyes like something isn't right in her mind. And the Districts keep rolling, very few sticking in my mind. They are all playing some sort of angle. While Glimmer was supposed to be a seductress, the Fox-faced girl from 5 is enigmatic and sly, but worst – she's clever. Before I know it, it is Rue and Thresh I see up there. Rue looks adorable in a gossamer gown with wings, like a dark fairy, and when Caesar asks about her 7, she replies simply, "I may be small, but I'm good at hiding. So don't count me out!"

Thresh is terrifying to say the least. He gives curt, one-worded answers and I can tell it makes Caesar uncomfortable, but the thing that unnerves me the most is the way he looks at Katniss. Eyes bright, mouth twitched up in the faint trace of smile, his face hopeful -

Completely mesmerized. Or as Prim would have put it – unfathomable longing.

And Caesar notices and even tries to get an answer out of him.

"Do you like fire, Thresh?"

And when he answers he stares at Katniss, but she looks down, blushing.

"Yes."

That's the best answer he got all night.

You are mine.

And then it's Katniss I see gliding up to that stage, a trail of fire behind her. The crowd goes insane at the sight of her. Someone even throws a rose at her, and she catches it dutifully and sniffs it, tucking it in the sash around her waist.

"So, Miss Everdeen," Caesar says playfully, patting her hand. "You have been simply on fire since your arrival – well, actually since the Reaping. What has been your favorite part of the city so far?"

Katniss doesn't even hesitate when she dead pans, "The lamb stew."

Caesar chuckles along with the audience, "Ah! The one with the dried plumbs? That's my favorite as well!" He stands and shows the audience his profile. "Doesn't show does it?"

I smile at their happy exchanges. Some of the banter is about the fancy showers and the flames costume, light-hearted exchanges – until the one targeting her...admirers.

"Katniss," he whispers. She leans in comically, ready to listen. "I heard through the grape vine that you have a couple suitors? Maybe you could give me the scoop?"

She shrugs. "I'm a very desired woman, Caesar. You'll have to be more specific." She says it so blatantly sarcastic that everyone roars with laughter – mostly at how true it is, and how she doesn't see that.

"Well, I was actually thinking about that young man, Peeta, that came here with you!"

"Oh yeah!" she chides like she almost forgot. "He's okay." She shoots me a wink, accompanied by a blown kiss and make sure the cameras get a load of my bashful smile.

You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Caesar goes into deeper discussion about me, and I wish at that moment that I could melt into my chair and disappear.

"So what would you say is Peeta's most redeeming quality?"

"His ass."

The audience goes completely nuts, shrieks of laughter so loud it's almost deafening. I know the cameras are trained on my face, and I try to block it out, but I can't help but let the blood rush to my cheeks.

Katniss giggles along with everyone else before collecting herself and sighing. "But really," she clears her throat and stares at the floor, twiddling her thumbs. "I couldn't pick just one. He's strong. He's been the caretaker of his family for as long as I've known him which is a while, Caesar," she blushes then, a beautiful sight that makes my heart go berserk. "And he just - ," she pauses, eyes scanning the ground for something that isn't there. "He makes me feel alive."

I hear all kinds of sighs erupt from the crowd.

Caesar smiles gently, "I knew there had to be something there. I mean, you did take his sister's place. That's nothing small."

Katniss shakes her head. "I did. I mean, I couldn't let her go – I couldn't let – I just," for the first time in my life I witness Katniss Everdeen stutter over her words.

Caesar waits. When she finally seems to find her voice again she stares him dead in the face, her twinkling eyes suddenly dark and cold. The entire auditorium has gone silent.

"You should never have to choose."

Caesar blinks confused. "Choose what?"

"Between you and your family. That should never have to be a choice," her voice growls in a low, dangerous purr. "Where is the line drawn, Caesar? Will they finally wake up one day and see how wrong this is? No. They don't care. They're blind. That day was the day I decided to draw the line." She leans in closer to him, so close, I'm sure they're sharing breathing space. "The Capitol will not ruin another family."

The buzzer goes off.

That's it.

She just bad mouthed the Capitol during The Interviews. The place where everyone can see and hear her. You never want to shoot down the Capitol – especially in public.

Katniss Everdeen, you just made my job a whole lot harder.

"Last but certainly not least, Peeta Mellark – District 12!"

Show time.

My legs carry me again, since my mind seems to have gone blank.

I'm shaking hands with Caesar. I sit in my chair. I see his blue lips move, but nothing comes out. How funny...

"Peeta?"

What? "Huh?"

The audience chuckles lightly.

"I said, 'what is the most different thing you've seen while in the Capitol so far?"

"Everyone's...a color," I say, even though I know that doesn't make sense. More chuckles.

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"You're blue," I say pointing at his face. "She's green. He's gold. She's pink," I point over at Effie who rolls her eyes, but not in agitation. "It's like I'm inside a rainbow."

The audience cackles, nodding in agreement towards one another.

"Hmm," Caesar ponders. "I never thought of it that way before."

"I'm quite insightful guy, Caesar," I tease, shooting a wink towards the crowd. The women squeal and pounce each other trying to catch. I snort a little.

"I think I might be, too." He nods over to the smiling Katniss. "Tell me, am I correct when I say you two have a history?"

I feel my cheeks burn a little, "I guess you could say that."

"Oh?" he asks, intrigued. "Do tell."

I'd do anything for you.

I swallow the lump in my throat. "She saved my life."

A soft gasp is passed around by the spectators. I guess they weren't expecting that.

"How so?"

"My father died when I was very young," I start. "We were okay at first. We managed, but when I was twelve, I couldn't – I – it was a really bad winter." Pictures of that day flash in front of my eyes. I remember how grey that day had been. The clouds had blocked out the sun, and it had begun to rain –

"My family was starving. I had even resorted to digging through trash bins for food," I should be embarrassed when I say that bit, but I don't. Suddenly, I remember how cold it was, and I remember the sinking feeling in my empty stomach when I looked into lonely, silver bottoms of the cans.

"And I crawled under one of the trees by the bakery, set on withering away, but she saw me."

An eleven year old Katniss flashes through my mind, cheeks stained with tears, nose pink – blackened bread in her arms, a welt on her cheek.

"She had burned two loaves of bread on purpose, even taken punishment, just so she could give them to me. She'd snatched a cookie, too. For Prim."

She stands over me, extending her arms with the loaves stretched towards me. The smell of yeast and hope.

"And I ran home without thanking her because I couldn't seem to form a sentence in front of her – and I still can't sometimes."

The warm touch of her tiny rain soaked hand on my cold one, telling me to be careful.

"It gave me hope – that I could do this. I could survive. I wouldn't be here today without her."

Always protecting me.

"And then she had to go and do something crazy like volunteer in my sister's place. I mean, I still haven't repaid her for the bread and now this. It would be so much easier if she hadn't tossed me that bread. So much easier if I wasn't –,"

The entire audience is hanging on my every word. It's so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Wasn't what, Peeta?"

I turn out to look at her, her eyes wide and filled with tears as she remembers that day with me. She must remember. She must.

My heart thuds once solidly, coaxing me to go on.

My angel.

"If I wasn't in love with her."

Took you long enough, Peeta! Well, there you have it! Step one of the KPP (Katniss Protection Plan) is complete!

Next chapter will be mushy :-) Roof top? I think so.

Reviews please! :-)