Thank you for the lovely reviews ! I realise some things may not be clear yet but feel free to ask questions, tell me what you want from the story (a romance, a love triangle, hint hint?) and I promise things will become clearer as soon as the Games start- one more chapter to go and the Games start!
"So, Wren." Caesar started. "That's a beautiful name, did you know it was a bird?"
"Yes, I did." I smiled.
"So what did you think of your outfit for the Parade?" Asked Caesar. "And what did you think of the Mockingjay theme, and being set on fire?"
"Well, my outfit was beautiful, I didn't even notice the wings, or the fire until Phox pointed it out to me." I laughed a little. "My stylists, Makenna and Elijah are full of surprises- I knew that fire is a theme of District Twelve's and I was kinda hoping I wouldn't be set on fire, to be honest.
"Yes, well, who would?" Caesar smiled encouragingly. "Speaking of Phox, a little birdie told me they saw you and Phox kissing at the party last night?" My heart skipped a beat.
I forced myself to give a little laugh. "I can't really remember much of last night. I didn't realise the punch was alcoholic." I said a little reluctantly. To my surprise, Caesar chuckled.
"Been there, done that." He confided to the audience, who laughed. "And you can't always believe in rumours."
"No, you can't." I said just because there was nothing else to be said. I silently thanked God that the drinks that made you throw up to leave more room to eat were banned- who knew what disaster could have happened if I had gotten my hands on those?
"So, we've recently found out about a lot of alliances. Are you allied with anyone? Perhaps Phox?" Caesar asked the question I had been dreading.
"No, me and Phox decided it was better we don't ally ourselves." I said.
"So I'm guessing we you aren't starcrossed lovers?" Caesar leaned in, raising his minty green eyebrows.
"No, we aren't. We're just friends. We've known eachother since we were little kids." I explained.
"Well that is both a bit of a relief and a dissapointment." Caesar shook his head sadly. I was kicking myself- now everybody knows I have emotional ties to Phox.
"So, just before our time ends, how well do you think you're going to do in the Games?" Caesar asked me.
"Well, all I can say is that the Wren was one of the last birds to die out. It was a surviver, and so am I." I said firmly. Caesar looked impressed.
"Well, ladies and gentlemen, I think that says it all. Ladies and gentlemen, Wren Fairbane!" Caesar held up my hand, and the audience cheered for me. Caesar kissed my hand in goodbye and then I was free to go. Only Phox left.
I sat beside Katniss, Peeta, Makenna and Elijah in the District 12 room- they were all dressed up because the camera occasionally showed a shot of their reaction to what we said. I watched Phox's interview, nervous for no reason.
"-Phox Naysmith ladies and gentlemen!" Caesar was introducing Phox. "So, Phox. I must ask this first, because I think both me and the audience are dying to know- what do you have to say about your alleged kiss with District member Wren?"
Phox ducked his head."Well, Caesar, like Wren said, you really can't trust rumours. I don't remember anything that happened last night."
"Well hands up, who does?" Caesar turned to the aurience. None of the audience raised their hands, and, and they all laughed. "Fine, so you and Wren aren't in love - More's the pity- but is there anybody else you like? Even a little bit?"
"No, I have a few people I used to be friends with when I was younger, but I haven't spoken to them in years." Phox ran a hand through his hair.
"And while we know that you and Wren aren't allies, do you have any other allies?" Caesar questioned.
"No, I don't have any allies, but you never know, maybe I'll get some when the Games start." Phox shrugged. For some reason, the television showed a shot of me and everybody else in the District 12 Waiting room.
"And last but not least, how do you think you're going to do in the Games?" Caesar raised an eyebrow.
"I'll level with you, Caesar, I don't see killing in my future." In the waiting room, Katniss threw her hands up in frustration. He shouldn't reveal everything, it will make him vulnerable. "I can't imagine myself killing unless I really need to. And if I can't win by hiding and survivng, I guess I just won't win."
"Spoken like a true martyr, but a brave man." Caesar nodded. "And I'm afraid our time is up. Please give it up for Mr Phox Naysmith!" The audience clapped, but didn't cheer. Phox may have just ruined himself on purpose.
While Caesar signed off his show, Phox came into the waiting room. "What the hell was that?" Katniss snapped at Phox.
"Katniss." Peeta said quietly.
"Don't 'Katniss' me!" Katniss threatened. "He just made outed himself to everyone as somebody who would be easy to kill! How are we supposed to keep him alive now?"
"We could use it to our advantage." Peeta said methodically. "Now somebody like Raff thinks he won't put up a fight, but if we teach him how to use a weapon, something that can kill from a distance, like a gun or a bow and arrow, he'll have an advantage."
"No. Absaloutely not." Phox shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I am not a killer!"
"Neither were we!" Katniss yelled. "You have no idea how much the Games change you because it's either kill or be killed, stabbed or starved to death, and when it comes right down to it, which side of the knife would you rather be on? One way or another, you will have killed by the end of the Games, for what reason, I don't know yet but it's a certainty."
Katniss stopped yelling and sighed. "We start training tomorrow. Sleep off whatever suicidal phase you're going through, and tomorrow, at least let us prepare you. OK?" It was a question, but Katniss said it so forcefully it was more like an order. She stormed out of the room, and Peeta ran after her. Elijah and Makenna gave eachother a look and walked out the room awkwardly.
"So I'm guessing everybody's-"
"What is wrong with you?!"I burst out.
"-...Mad at me." Phox finished. He sighed. "Including you, I see."
"What is wrong with you?" I repeated again. "In fact, don't answer that. Just tell me what the hell you were thinking when you decided to make yourself a candidate for the soon to be dead list?" I snapped. Phox looked at me incredulously.
"What the hell is wrong with me? What's wrong with you? First you don't want to be allies and now you're worried about my safety?" Now Phox snapped at me. I was taken aback- all the years I had known him, he had never gotten into a fight. Ever. He was always nice, even when the other kids teased him because his mom and dad were divorcing. I didn't like his mom, she was strange. She had a wig for every day of the week and she always smelled like blood and roses, though I never knew why. She was a huge supporter of President Snows, and was part of his advisory group. I was quite relieved when she moved towards the Outer West City, even thought that part eventually got bombed.
I didn't say anything. I didn't understand why he didn't realise whatever I told myself, I cared about him. He was a piece of the jigsaw of a life I used to know, one of the few remaining pieces. I didn't want to lose him.
"I'll see you at training tomorrow, Phox. Good night." I whispered hoarsely. Phox's eyes were filled with regret, and he moved to stop me but I shook him off.
I barely realised where I was going until I was staring down at the twinkling city lights. Once they provided a source of comfort, now they just made me feel hollow.
"Feeling suicidal?" I was only half surprised to find Roman Galloway on the roof. Like me, he was still in his interview clothes. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.
"What are you doing?" I asked, not shrugging the jacket off. Why was he being nice?
"If you're going to jump, you should at least be warm on the way down." He replied casually. And the niceness is gone, I thought. "Though if you are going to jump, it's an awful waste to get blood on the jacket." I yanked the jacket off my shoulders, rolled it up in a ball and threw it as hard as I could towards Rowan's chest. I hated to admit, he looked good in green clothes- the same dusty leaf green he wore for the parade, only this time in suit form.
"Are you warmer now?" He asked innocently.
"Don't be such a jerk." I snapped at him.
"Oh, dear, did little Fox upset you?" I could tell from the way he said it he called Phox 'Fox' like the animal.
"No." I said bitterly.
"Wow, he really isn't the brightest crayon in the box." Roman muttered.
"What?" I asked irritably.
"You know, not the sharpest tool in the shed, 51 cards short of a deck, fell out the family tree at birth," Roman went started listing metaphors.
"Yeah, I get it."
"Thicker than two short planks of wood stuck together with stupid glue." Roman offered.
"I said, I get it." I snapped. Roman looked at me, as if considering something.
"I have a little sister out there, somewhere. I wonder what she's doing." Roman said honestly.
"Oh, now it's story sharing time?" I was not in the mood for his mood swings.
"Her name's Payson. I was supposed to take care of her when our parents died." Roman continued, ignoreing my comment. I couldn't help but feel a stab of sympathy. He and his sister were orphans too. "Do you have any family?"
"Nope." I shook my head. "Just me."
"Shame. But it's better that way." Roman said simply. "You should go get some sleep. Big day tomorrow. Listen to Katniss, remember everything she says, and focus on learning how to use a range of weapons, not just one."
I turned around to tell him to stop being so nice, but he was already gone. And coincidentally, it was time I was gone too- my dress was starting to feel too tight and my feet hurt like hell. I took off my heels and walked barefoot back into the penthouse suite. Thankfully nobody was around except the Avoxes. I was almost at my room when Mollie burst in throught the door, dark ringlets bouncing. I had gotten so used to seeing Makenna, I was surprised when Mollie's ringlets didn't turn into flames.
"I came as soon as I heard!" She exclaimed, rushing over to me.
"Heard what?" I asked wearily.
"The interview. Phox. What did you think I meant?" She asked, confused.
"Never mind. Where were you? I haven't seen you in days." I quickly changed the subject. Mollie smiled triumphantly.
"I have been getting you..." She paused for effect. "Sponsors!"
"You've done what?!" I exclaimed, pleasantly surprised.
"Yeah, well after the parade it was really easy. I just got talking with some of my friends about how nice you are and-"
"Wait a second- I'm nice?" I spluttered. Mollie raised an eyebrow.
"Well not when you interrupt me." She said pointedly. "Anyway, long story short, I've got you at least two sponsors already- all I need to do is get Peeta to seal the deal."
"Well that's great." I said, almost too tired to be enthusiastic.
"Yeah, I just wish I could say the same for Phox, but after his little stunt most people don't want to waste their money on someone who's likely to die within the first two minutes." Mollie looked regretful. I felt worn down.
"I've got to go to sleep, Mollie. Big day tomorrow." I said tiredly, not realising I was quoting what Roman had said to me on the roof. Mollie told me good night and left me on my own. I took off my dress and put on a baggy top, too tired to be bothered with anything else. I collapsed onto my bed, ignoring the silk bed sheets and just sleeping on top of them.
I don't know when I fell asleep but the next thing I know is Makenna waking me up, pulling open the curtains and exposing my eyes to harsh sunlight. "Up, up, up! It's going to be a big, big, big day!" She said cheerfully.
"What?" I murmured.
"Nothing, it's just something Effie Trinket used to say. Katniss told me it's a great method of waking people up." Makenna shrugged.
"Yeah it is. It's far too cheerful for the morning." I hid my head under my pillow.
"Not a morning person then, I take it?" Makenna said sympathetically, taking the pillow off my head. "Would it help if I bribed you with coffee?"
"It would indeed." I climbed out of my bed, following the rich bitter smell of coffee. I didn't mind the taste, and it was something I had been craving for 7 years, but the only coffee we had was the recycled instant that tasted disgusting.
Makenna followed me out the room to where everybody else but Elijah was at the table- Phox drinking black coffee, Peeta was pouring a whole saucer of milk and two lumps of sugar into his- he was obviously not used to the taste of coffee- , and Katniss was drinking something that was too creamy to have any caffeine in it.
"I prefer hot chocolate." She explained, taking another sip. "And you should drink up too. Both of you- big meals, we've got hard training ahead of us. I'm going to be teaching you weapons and survival, Peeta's going to be teaching you how to disguise yourself and everything to do with food, from finding it, cooking it and preserving it. We don't know what type of environment you'll be in."
Her last sentence weighed down on me and Phox heavily. It could be a forect with wildlife, which would be the best, because there would be a lot of food supplies. Unless the wildlife were muttations like wild dogs. Or we could be in barren wasteland, relying solely on gifts from sponsors. Or an island in the middle of the ocean with no other food than poisoned fish.
I never realised how unfair the Games were until now. And I never realised just how crucial the few days of training were to the Tributes. I had to get as much training as I could.
"So," I said. "What are we waiting for?"