I'm gonna do Finnick's POV next chapter when the Games start. I might do one this chapter. We'll see.

I wake up to my prep team lingering over me. Their happy smiles make me want to throw up, because the only thing I'm feeling is nervousness. I get up and they take me by the hand and put me in a tub of green water that smells like pine.

One of them works on my nails while the other go to work mixing colors together for drawing patterns on my body. Then they dry me off and go to work drawing a pattern on my cheeks. For eye shadow, they do a black smokey eye that is actually very flattering. Then comes velvety red lip stick. When I look in the mirror, my hair is in loose curls that are extremely flattering. My eyes look cat-like, and taunting. The pattern on my cheeks make me seem other wordly.

Putra comes in, carrying my dress. It is long and black. It goes stops just above my ankel. It seems all I wear now a days is black. I like black, though so it doesn't bother me.

When I put the dress on, I notice the padding in the breasts and around my hips. It is gathered at the waist, giving me an hour-glass figure. The dress is one-shouldered. The shoes are black patten leather, 5 in. pumps. All in all, they succeded. I look extremely sexy.

By the time they are done prepping me and dressing me, it is already time to head down to the interviews. I catch sight of Cecily on the way, and have to ask her something.

"What is Darious's approach? Or do you even know?" I say carelessly.

"Yes. Cold-blooded." She says and turns away to keep walking.

Putra leads me down to where the back-stage area is, and tells me to keep from crossing my legs, or the dress will tear. Nice job, Putra. I can hardly move in this dress anyways.

I catch a glimpse of Finnick, who is wearing a light green suit. On any one else, the suit would ridiculous. But on him, it looks welcoming. He looks at me and smiles. I smile back. If only we had one more day... Then a thought accures to me; the Training Center roof. I could tell him to meet me there so we could hang out a little before we have to kill each other. After the interview.

The next thing I know, all of us tributes are walking onstage to take our seats. I can here the roaring crowd and see a gazillion faces. I take my seat, remembering not to cross my legs. This will be hard, since I always cross my legs. But I'll manage. My palms start sweating and my heart beat hammers away in my chest. I subtely wipe my hands on my dress. Thank god it's obsorbant.

Each interview only lasts three minutes, but it feels like forever. Finnick goes for sincere and determanded. Saying how he was going to win this for his siblings. I know he's not lying, about anything. I have a very keen sense when it comes to truth. A trade I picked up from my mother. It feels like hours, and then Nightlock is walking towards her seat next to the host. I don't know his name; I don't really care. She I know is lying, she is trying to be innocent but I can already tell she would kill you in a heart beat in the arena.

Her brother, Kactit, is like so many from his district. Strong and silent. But also, says he will do whatever it takes to protect his little sister. Then my name is being called, and I automatically go into performance mode. I strut over to the chair, shake hands with the host, and slyly smile at the audience.

"Welcome, Willow. How are you liking the Capital so far?" He asks me like he knows me.

"Well enough. The food is the best thing so far." I say smiling.

"The food. Really. Now if I am right, your mother was in the Hunger Games?" He asks.

"Yes." I say nodding.

"And her mother, too?" He says.

"Correct." I say smiling.

"And she was Katniss Everdeen's Daughter?" He says.

"Mmhm." I look away from him, feeling anger starting to boil. I hate it when Capital people say her name.

"So Since they were all victors, do you think you stand a chance of winning?" He asks me as if I don't.

"Umm... Maybe. I did hear a lot about it from my mom before I was 12. Just things a mentor would tell you. So, possibly." I say trying to sound like I am almost purring.

"I think you do. What about you, folks?" He asks the crowd. They all scream different answers, most of them yes. He laughs the way all hosts do. His bright red wig moving back and forth on his head. "So tell us. How did you get the nine you did in training? Mostly District 12 gets low scores. But not your family, obviously." He says trying to be flattering, but just really pissing me off with his comment about my district.

"Just doing what I do best. And that's a secret." I say with a wink.

"Of course." He says this just before the buzzer goes off, and I instantly know I blew it.

They know nothing about me! How did it go that fast? That was hardly a minute! And then I am walking back to my seat and Darious is walking up. By the look on his face, I can tell he knows they cut my time short. Dick. I am still mad at him for what he did. Although he has always been blunt about things. He spares feelings for no one.

He succeeds in coming off cold-blooded. But then again, he was always cold-blooded. And I mean always. Even when his mother was mourning after his baby sister starved to death. He said to get over it. And I start to wonder why I even dated him. It was that or be left with the kids from the comunity home that just made everyone depressed. I feel bad for thinking that. But in return I hung out with merchant kids. And I don't know why, but being excepted was to important. But Carra and Primrose were my bestfriends since we were able to say 'mama'.

Darious is done and we all have to stand for the anthem. Then we are escorted off-stage. Putra tells me I did a great job and not to worry. Tomorrow Cecily and Credinsa will be getting me sponsors like no other. Well, of course only Cecily can actually seal the deal, but Credinsa can find them, too.

Surpirse! Finnick's POV. I know.. It's short.

I look for Willow, wanting to wish her luck, and tell her that before the gong sounds, to find me and then we will meet and run for it. But once I get sight of her, I only have time to smile at her before her mentor drags her away. Damn it.

I can't help but feel like I should have said something, like told her I would bet on her if I could. Or... No, we're allies. That's our connection. I don't have feelings for her. I can't. I won't let myself. But the way her skin felt against mine... It was magic.

Willow's POV

Cecily practically forces me into the elevator. "What's your problem?" I ask defensively.

"I don't have a problem." She says calmly. "But you do. The way the District 2 boy was looking at you... It looked as if he were going to rip your clothes off and go caveman." She says this as if it were evident.

"What?" I ask not wanting her to mean what I think she does.

"I think that might be a problem in the arena." She continues ignoring what I said. "There aren't any rules against it. Well, there are no rules." She says rolling her eyes.

"Oh." She does mean what I thought. "Maybe we should have presented me as a defenseless cry baby." I say looking down.

She puts her hand on my shoulder. "If he tries anything... You can defend yourself. I have seen you fight." She says reassuringly. But I really don't know what I would do. "Now, you just take a shower and eat a big breakfast tomorrow. You'll need it. Trust me." When the elevator opens, she stalks off to her room.

I shower off the beauty that my prep team worked hard on. I find some warm sweat pants and a hoody. Then I go to dinner as Credinsa is walking to my door.

The food tonight is indifferent. The same ol' spread of delicacies. I don't really feel like eating, having heard what I did from Cecily. So I just dunk a roll in hot chocolate, pick at a steak, and sip wine. After we have tea and watch the interviews. Cecily was right, Ignigma, the boy from District 2 was undressing me with his eyes. Even when we were still sitting in the semi-circle. He has a military style haircut, the kind Peacekeepers have. And blue eyes, solid blue eyes. He is handsome, but nothing compaired to Finnick, who shines like a star. Wait, why am I compairing him to Finnick? Nevermind. We watch the interviews while Darious just stares at me, making me uncomfortable. Then I see myself walking to the interview chair. I look radiant, every eye in all of Panem trained on me. Every eye. This eco's in my head, and I realize that no matter what I said -I could have said that I had an orgy with munks-, everyone would still be distracted by my looks. And I mean everyone. Even Darious is taken away; even though he saw me before we were even on the elevator.

I tell everone I am going to bed, which isn't totally a lie. I am, but not to sleep. I am going to wait for them to fall asleep, then going to sneek up to the roof to have some solitude before I die.

I sip in the cool night air. It reminds me of winter in District 12, except this smells like the Capital. Obviously. Back home, everything is covered in coal dust. It gives it an even more depressing look. But it's home. The streets down below are crowded with people wearing costumes. Wait, don't they wear costumes everyday? Whatever. I look down at them enviously, they never have to worry about starving to death. They never have to worry that their children will be sent to an arena to fight to death. They don't have to be sick to the stomach with anticipation to get through the Hunger Games and be on with their lives and try to forget. They don't have to pay for what they didn't do.

I hear a door open behind me and turn to see Finnick. Oh fate, you're silly. He smiles at me.

"I had a feeling I'd see you hear." He announces to the air.

"Well, like mother like daughter. How did you like the interviews?" I say.

"They were the same as they are every year. Except you. I did not however like how the Ignigma boy was eyeing you." He says now standing inches from me. My back is to the open air, and his right arm resting on the railing. This is a little close for allies. But I don't really care; it's Finnick.

"Yeah. My mentor said that might be a problem in the arena." I say acting cool.

"I won't let anything happen." He says putting his other arm on the railing. Now on either side Finnick's arms encircle me. I get that feeling again, the warmth that grows through my body.

"Really?" I say. "And what's it to you?" I ask rolling my eyes.

He just stares at me with those hypnotizing eyes. "I won't let him do that." He says seriously. Okay, this escilated quickly. But I kind of like that he's becoming protective. Ugh. Now isn't the time. Any time but now. Not when we're about to be sent to slaughter.

"And what will you do if he does?" I ask with equal seriousness.

"I'll kill him. I'll make sure his last words are a cry for mercy." His eyes harden. By now he is pressed up against me. My breath quickens.

"Why?" I ask. Curiousity has gotten the best of me.

" Because, I-" Cecily and I am guessing a man who is Finnick's mentor burst through the door. I won't get to know why now. Damn it.

"What are you two doing out of bed?" They ask. "Get inside now!" And so we do. When I am finally back on my floor, I Cecily speaks first.

"I'm sorry. Jo insisted we look for you guys. He had come up for advice on something, and somehow the conversation ended up with us finding your rooms empty. I actually don't remember how." She says. I am confused for a moment, then remember Her, Jo -who I am guessing is Finnick's mentor-, and Finnick are all from 4. So she probably knows them.

"Well you had great timing. I was going to here Finnick's reason for wanting to kill -Umm..- Ignigma if he tried anything in the arena." I say annoyed.

"I'm not at all surprised. Finnick and Jo are close. He told him how he feels about you. And Jo told me." She says obviously regretting it immediately.

"And how does he feel?" I ask intrigued.

"Nevermind, that. Go to sleep." She pushes me towards my room.

"Night." I mutter. How does Finnick feel about me? Why would it make Cecily not be surprised? These are questions that should be answered, I don't want to die not knowing. But now they won't be. How can Finnick know how he feels about me? Or I guess that should be rephrased. How do I feel about Finnick? Well obviousely he's my friend. But could he be more than that? If we hadn't met through the Games?

Then I start to wonder what Finnick is thinking and how he is coping. And I decide that's enough thinking for today. I need sleep if I am going to live.