Chapter 7: The Interview and The Dance

Clove

I've been preparing myself for the interview with my stylist, Lance, and here I am, looking at myself in the mirror. I am wearing a strapless red gown and red heels, about 5 inches. I am also wearing my hair down. I have light red eye shadows and red lipstick as well. I must admit that I'm stunningly pretty tonight.

"You really look beautiful Clove," Lance said. I turned around and face him. I smiled at him. "I think you look beautiful enough to impress Cato." My smile faded a little.

"Cato doesn't have anything to do with me," I said fiercely.

"Clove, tomorrow will be the start of The Hunger Games and tonight will be your last chance to be with each other in any way that you want," he said. "We know you have been ignoring each other for the past few days because of the games. We're not stupid Clove. We know there is something going on between the two of you."

"There isn't. Cato and I are just…," I said but Lance interrupted.

"What? Friends? Either way Clove, wouldn't it be better to work things out before one of you has to say goodbye?"

I looked away from him and stared at myself in the mirror instead. Lance was right, up to now, I still have strange feelings for Cato. I still haven't managed to fade all my memories with him away. The problem is that I'm not so sure if he feels the same way about me. We haven't been talking for days, even after he comforted me in my room. Besides, he likes Glimmer and there's nothing I can do about it. Now, I just have to focus more on the interview.

Minutes later and Lance and I met up with Cato and his stylist, Cassandra. Cato really looks handsome tonight. Well, he always is so there's no need to be surprised. He smiled at me and I just nodded at him. I'm not planning to talk to him. I'll just ignore him completely, because such distractions can never come in handy with serious situations like this. I'll just focus more on the interview.

Cato and I met up with the other tributes. They have already formed a line. We made our way to the front. I saw Katniss Everdeen, the girl from District 12, staring at me. I glared at her and she quickly looked away from me.

"Don't worry Clove, you're so much prettier than her," Cato suddenly said.

"Oh, I'm not that insecure," I said.

We continued making our way to the front. I glared at the other tributes as we walked. We stand behind Marvel and Glimmer. Marvel smiled at me. I smiled back at him, thinking about the games. Marvel, I hope somebody else will kill you.

Cato

Marvel and Clove smiled at each other. Seeing the two of them like that really annoys me so I always find a way to distract myself. Glimmer then smiled at me and I smiled back at her. The two of us have been close for the past few days but I never took her as a friend. I'm just hanging out with her to stay away from Clove and Marvel. I'm just using her as a distraction.

Well, to be honest, I never accomplished anything with regards to me and Clove. I still have strange feelings for her. I still haven't managed to fade all my memories with her away. I still think about her each and every day. The problem is that I'm not so sure if she feels the same way about me. We haven't been talking for days, even after I comforted her in her room. It seems like she has developed her feelings for Marvel and there's nothing I can do about it. Now, I just have to focus more on the interview.

Moments later and the interview has began. Glimmer was called and she made her way to the stage with two guards. We watched her interview with Caesar Flickerman in a screen in front of us. I think people have been staring at her because of her beauty. She'll get many sponsors for that. Minutes later and Marvel was called, and then it was Clove's turn. Her name was called and she made her way to the stage with two guards. Clove really looks beautiful tonight. I can't help but get mesmerized by her. For me, she's even prettier than Glimmer. I watched her interview with Caesar Flickerman in the screen.

Clove

"Welcome Clove," Caesar Flickerman said cheerfully as I made my way towards him. We shake each other's hands.

"It's good to be here Caesar," I said sweetly as I sat on the chair next to him.

"You look lovely," he said admiringly. I smiled a little.

"Thank you Caesar," I said sweetly. "How kind of you."

"So Clove, tell me, what are you looking forward to in the games?" he asked me. What a very stupid question.

"Killing," I said sweetly.

"Of course, how silly of me," he said, laughing. The audience laughed as well. "So, what did you feel when your name was called at the reaping?" Oh no. Should I tell the truth? No, of course not. But then all the thoughts that have been bothering me ever since the reaping seem to flood me right now. I just smiled to hide all of it away.

"I felt absolutely happy," I said sweetly. "Because I've been prepared for the games ever since and I've been wanting to show the whole Panem what I'm capable of. Luckily, I was called and here I am, in front of all of you, the soon to be victor of the 74th Annual Hunger Games." I gave everyone a dangerous smile.

"Oh, you look so dangerous, yet so lovely," Caesar said, clutching his chest. I smiled at him. "And you seem so confident, and confidence is key." He smiled at me admiringly. "So Clove, tell me, do you have a sweetheart back home?"

"No," I sighed. "But once I'm the victor, I'll have them lined up." I smiled again.

"Of course," Caesar said. He then gave me his hand and we both stand up. "Clove! District 2!" He bellowed as he held up my hand. After that, I was dismissed and I met up with Archie and the others.

"You did wonderful darling," Archie said. "That was incredible." I smiled, and we watched Cato's interview in a screen in front of us.

"So Cato, are you prepared?" Caesar asked him.

"I'm prepared. I'm just ready to go," he answered cockily. Caesar laughed a little.

"So, the most important thing for you is to win, correct?" Caesar asked him.

"Yes, because it can really impress the ladies," Cato answered as he winked at the audiences. He's really handsome.

"True," Caesar said, laughing. He patted Cato on the shoulder. "So Cato, tell me, is there a special lady back home that you wanted to impress?"

"No," he sighed. "I don't have a love life right now." Archie and the others looked at me.

"Why are you looking at me?" I asked them irritably. They just ignored me and looked away from me. I know that they've been thinking about me and Cato being lovers and all. Moments later and Cato met up with us.

"Nice job Cato," Archie said to him. He smiled cockily.

We watched the interview of the other tributes in the screen but I wasn't paying too much attention to them. What I'm really looking forward to is Katniss Everdeen. And finally, it was her turn. She walked towards Caesar Flickerman looking both scared and nervous. Well, she's always like that. But it really entertains me to see her like that, as if she's afraid of every little thing. However, Caesar Flickerman seems to favor her. He's been discussing the events at the parade admiringly and Katniss ended up twirling on stage with fire on her gown. The audiences were really amazed by it. Oh! I really hate her. She's really a show off. And after that, dramatic conversations about her volunteering for her sister at the reaping came up. And finally, her interview was over, but I'm still raging inside. I really hate her.

And then it was Peeta Mellark's turn. I was also annoyed by him. It's like Caesar and the audiences were his puppets, laughing and all in every word that he says. And then their conversation turned into something serious.

"So Peeta, is there a special girl back home?" Caesar asked him.

"No, not really," he answered. Caesar looked at him questioningly.

"No? I don't believe it for a second, look at that face, a handsome lad like you. There must be some special girl. Come on, what's her name?" Caesar insisted.

"There is this one girl then, and I had a crush on her forever, but I don't think she actually recognized me until the reaping," he said.

"I'll tell you what Peeta, if you go out there, and you win this thing, and when you get home, then she'll have to go out with you," Caesar said. "Right folks?" The audiences made loud noises of approval and Caesar laughed. However, Peeta didn't.

"But I don't think winning is going to help me at all," he said.

"And why not?"

"Because she came here with me." The audiences quiet down. Of course they were shocked.

"Well, that's bad luck," Caesar said quietly.

"It looks like another pair of star crossed lovers will be thrown in the arena tomorrow," Archie said, minutes after Caesar dismissed Peeta. And then he looked at Cato and me. "Oh, I forgot, we also have our own star crossed lovers right here." The others looked at the two of us as well. I eyed Archie angrily. He quickly looked away from me. Before another fight broke off, an announcement was heard.

"Attention tributes, we would like you to go to the backstage for the closing ceremony," Caesar Flickerman's voice echoed from above.

"Closing ceremony? For what?" Cato asked.

"We don't know either," Cassandra answered.

"Just follow their instructions," Enobaria said. Cato and I nodded.

"Let's go Clove," Cato said to me. I nodded and we made our way to the backstage. I wonder what the closing ceremony is about.

Cato

We met up with the other tributes inside the backstage. They look confused as well. I have spotted Katniss and Peeta. It looks like they had a fight. I can tell by the looks on their faces. Minutes later and Caesar Flickerman has arrived.

"Tributes, I would like you to form a line according to your district number. Quickly please," he said and we immediately formed a line. Clove and I stand behind Marvel and Glimmer. "So, we have decided to have a dance."

"A dance?" Marvel asked.

"Yes, a dance. You are going to dance with your district partner for the rest of the night until we ordered you to stop," Caesar said. "As I gave the signal, you will get on the stage and dance in front of the audiences. District 1 will go first and the rest of you will follow, alright?" We nodded though I don't really understand what the purpose of this dance is. No matter, I'll just go with the flow.

Clove

We heard Caesar's voice and the audiences' cheers. I still don't get it. What is the purpose of this dance? Again, we heard Caesar's voice, this time signaling the start of the stupid dance. Marvel and Glimmer brought the lead. They made their way to the stage holding each other's hands. A romantic song was played and the audiences' cheers became louder. Cato then holds my hand and we followed. We made our way to the stage holding each other's hands.

This is the first time we held each other's hands. So this is how it feels when you're holding hands with someone. I saw Marvel and Glimmer dancing romantically. Cato then holds my other hand and made me face him. And now, we're facing each other and looking into each other's eyes. I looked away from him.

"Don't touch me," I said quietly as I tried retrieving my hands from him.

"We can't dance without touching each other, can we?" he said teasingly. I looked at him. He was smiling at me. I just ignored him. Then he let go of my hands and placed his hands around my waist. I looked at him. "Shall we dance?" He asked me.

"What choice do I have?" I said and he smiled at me. I slowly placed my hands around his neck. The other tributes have been making their way to the stage pair by pair. I didn't bother looking at Cato as we danced even though I know that he has been looking at me. I caught a glimpse of Glimmer looking at the two of us. I'm sure she wants to dance with Cato as much as Cato wants to dance with her. Katniss and Peeta, meanwhile, seem to hate this moment. They probably had a fight earlier.

"Clove, why don't you look me in the eye?" Cato suddenly said to me. I laughed a little.

"As if you wanted me to," I said without even looking at him.

"Clove, what do you mean?"

"Oh, I'm sure you want to dance with Glimmer rather than me."

"I don't," he said. I looked at him. "It's you whom I want to dance with."

"Are you sure?" I asked him disbelievingly.

"I'm sure, and I want to be sure, because I want to be with you," he said. "I miss you Clove. I miss you so much." And now we're looking into each other's eyes, dancing romantically with the music. I never thought I would hear such words from him. And here I am, with the only person whom I want to be with right now, knowing that he wants to be with me as well and hoping that things will be the same again for the two of us. But I know that it won't, as long as we're in the games. And here I am, unexpectedly wishing that we're not.

The night before the games…

Clove

I am sitting on one of the couches in the living room thinking about the games. I've made up my mind. I don't want to kill Cato but I don't want to die so I have to kill him. I know that one of us has to die, one of us has to say goodbye and it's going to be him. At least we've managed to work things out before the games, just like what Lance told me, and I think that was enough. I will kill him. I won't hesitate. I know it's hard but I have to. I'm sorry Cato, I'm sorry I have to kill you.

I ended up my thoughts as I heard somebody come inside. I looked around and saw Enobaria making her way towards me. She sat on the couch beside me.

"I know what you're thinking right now," she said. "You're thinking about the games. You're thinking about Cato. "

"I'm not," I denied.

"Don't lie to me. You're thinking about him. Don't deny it," she said. "Clove, I saw the way you looked at him and by that, I can tell that there's something special between the two of you. Clove, The Hunger Games is not a place for love. You need to kill everyone in order to survive. You shouldn't hesitate because you'll die first if you do. I have faith in you Clove. I know that you can win." We stayed quiet for a while. Moments later and I remembered about Cato's story about his uncle and Enobaria.

"Enobaria, can I ask you something?" I asked.

"Of course," she answered.

"What did you feel when you won the games?" I asked her.

"I felt happy, of course. I felt proud of myself," she answered.

"Did you also feel happy and proud when you killed your best friend?" I asked her. I think she was startled by my question.

"Cato told you about that, didn't he?" she asked me and I nodded. "Very well, let's just say that I felt frustrated when I lost my best friend, and by my own hands, but to be honest, it's just for a while, I didn't even feel guilty about it at all. It's because I reminded myself that what I did was just right. I need to survive so I have to kill him. All of us were just a piece of the games, and I'm sure everybody knows that. It's just that not everybody seems to understand."

"So you didn't feel guilty about it?"

"I didn't, because I just did what's right. And this time, you should too," she said, looking at me. "Because it's for your own good."

"So, we're just a piece of the games, and I should do what's right, in order to survive," I said and Enobaria nodded. Somehow, things are getting so much clearer to me right now. I should win, and I will. Let the 74th Annual Hunger Games begin…