Interviews: Districts Two and Three

Sisco Perry's POV

District Two

The next two interviews fly by. Then comes Mace Andrews-Ajax.

"Mace, come on up here!"

He sits down, wiping his hands on his pants.

"So, Mace, tell us about your family," there are encouraging cheers from the crowd.

"Well, my parents have been training me for the Games for a while."

"Yeah, but what are their names? What are they like? Do you have and siblings? Friends? Girlfriends?"

He sighs, exasperated. "My mom's name is Sierra Andrews. She doesn't want me or my sister in the Games, but I guess she can't do anything about it at this point. My dad's name is Meden Ajax. He trained me, but thought it wasn't worth it to train my sister. He vowed that his boy would be a champion, and I don't want to let him down. My sister's name is Rosemary. All the boys are after her, and I feel as if it's my job to protect her."

"Ooh, another reason to come back home. Is Rosemary younger than you?"

"Yes, she's sixteen."

"Tell us about your social life, Mace. Who are your friends?"

"Um, my one friend is Delta Gilbertson. She's seventeen."

"She?" I ask and raise my eyebrows.

"Yes, she's a girl, but we're not dating. I don't have a girlfriend."

"I bet you wish you did. Tell us the little lady's name!"

"I don't like anyone. Honestly!"

"Oh, come on, tell us –"

The buzzer sounds and he has to sit down. I don't remember much of the other two interviews, but the last one kinda sticks in my mind. Austre Mason is her name.

"Austre, I hear your relationship with your father is a little rocky." She sighs sarcastically.

"You have no idea! He's one of the Head Peacekeepers, and I saw him punishing a thief when I was ten. I think that's why I'm such a –"

"Oh, I don't think that's why you're, you're, extremely enthusiastic about the spirit of the Games… you just… saw the pain in that thief's eyes and liked it?"

"Huh?" Yeah, that didn't make much sense to me, either. I was just trying to keep this interview profanity-free.

"Austre, you're a Career. Whatever you've seen in your past has just prepared you even more for these Games. Don't be angry at your dad."

"Um, Sisco, I don't think you should be telling me…" I zone out of her little speech. I watch the timer, counting away the seconds. Five, four, three, two, one…

"Sorry Austre, we're out of time. Now we're on to District Three!"

District Three

"Lavender Jones, come on up!"

"Hi, Sisco! Thank you for having me."

"You're welcome, Lavender." I already like this girl. She's wearing a deep purple strapless dress that falls just below her knees with a light bulb necklace that must be her token.

"So, what's life like for you in District Three?"

"Well, I live with my mother and two siblings, Ariel and Ethan. Ethan has a mental illness. They're not my whole siblings, they're half. We share the same mom but have different dads. Mine just walked out on us when I was four. He came into my room, said goodbye, and left. Like he disappeared into thin air or something. I haven't heard from him since. His name was Alacai."

"Ouch. What about your siblings' father? You said you lived with your mom. He isn't in the picture either?"

"Once he found out Ethan had a mental illness, he decided he didn't want to raise or support a kid like "that," so, yeah. He left just like my dad."

"I'm sorry, Lavender. Let's change the subject. Do you have any romances?"

She blushes. "Yeah, I guess. I have this huge crush on my best friend, Asher."

There are "oohs" from the crowd. "Does Asher know, or is he just hearing about this?"

"He knows. I told him during the goodbyes." There are sighs from the audience. Perfect. Let's bring a little more drama into these Games. "Does he feel the same way?"

"I don't know for sure, but I think he might. When I told him, he shook his head. His eyes filled with tears and he said, 'Lavender, we can't. Not now. I wish you had told be sooner. I wish…' then the guards came and took him away.

Her buzzer sounds and I shake her sweaty hand before she sits down. Then I call the next person up: Genevive Hawkins.

"Genevive, hello."

"Sisco, greetings."

"Well, Genevive, you seem so very sweet. Is everyone in your family like you?"

"No, they're all tough. I'm the weakling of the family, or as my brothers call me, the runt."

Her voice is so small, so timid; I have to lean forward just to hear her. We talk a little, but not about really important things. I find out her token is a teddy bear given to her from her parents. She seems more and more unlikely to survive every moment. I feel so bad for her, even though I know I'm not supposed to get attached to the tributes. The next three interviews are uneventful, but Beau Atkinson's sticks in my mind for no apparent reason.

"So, Beau, wait, that rhymed!"

"Um, yeah, it did, Sisco, uh, whisko?"

"Hey, that's the spirit! So, tell us about life at home."

"What's there to say? I live with my evil step-mother." He immediately looks like he regrets saying that, like if he survives the Games, his days are numbered back home. I don't question him further.

"What's you token, Beau?"

"A book. It's small, and I've read it before, but it's my favorite. It explores the effects of war and violence on those coming of age."

"Sounds interesting. What's it called?"

"Gregor the Overlander. It's a really easy read. Big words (as in size, not like spectacular, or whatever little kids call "big words"), large spaces, and it's good and addicting, making it hard to put down."

Beeeeeep! His buzzer goes off. That's the end of District Three.

I know, I was really creative with Beau's book….XP

If you don't like how I did your character, I'm sorry… I'm trying my best. I believe everyone who entered two or more tributes has at least one tribute that's not a bloodbath, so that's good!