I am so sorry that this has taken me forever to update! SO sorry. I guess you could say that I had writers block, or a lack of ideas. Both are extremely true. I think I figured something good out though, but this chapter might be an epic suck. You all have to let me know so I can know…..otherwise I'll just think it's awesome and keep doing terrible things and this story will continue to be terrible. I realized very quickly that this story is getting increasingly boring as time goes on, and I had to do something to get it back up to say….Chapter 12 standards. I believe that I have done that. Like I said, you'll have to tell me if it was good or not.
I currently have a competition going, and I would love it if you would all make an entry for it. It's super easy. The contest is to write a speech that could be said at Luke and Liz's wedding. Example: you could make one from Cato and have him threaten to kill Luke if he makes Liz sad ever. I have gotten one entry so far as far as I know, and I would like some more. You can make as many as you want, and send them over PM or in a review. Also, there are some questions I wish to ask you. Such as:
When you think of Liz and/or Luke (separately, or as a couple), what do you think of? Are they stupid love struck teens? Are they the ultimate power duo? Express what YOU think, because it might be different then the way I have written them.
If you could become one of the characters in this story, who would you be? Why?
Who is your favorite character in this story? Why? Least favorite? Why did you pick that person?
If Luke and Liz couldn't be together anymore, and you got to choose who they ended up with, who would it be? Why?
I want some serious answers here! Like I said, you can submit your answers in a review, or you can send me a PM with the stuff in it. And also, there is still the personality quiz and the fan test if anybody is interested in those. So far, I have only had one person take the fan test and get a perfect score. That's so weird….anyway, that's all. Thanks for reading the authors note. Now here's the chapter. Enjoy!
"Oh my god Caesar! I can't believe that you asked me that." I say, laughing.
Luke squeezes my hand.
"So I'm guessing the answer is no…." Caesar says, pursing his lips and crossing him arms over his chest.
"Yes Caesar. Somebody didn't want to get around to that until after the wedding." Luke says, pointing at me.
I playfully punch him in the arm, opening my mouth as though I'm protesting. I don't know why I was so terrified a second ago. This is going really well.
"So, off the topic of babies, let's talk about your family. How have your parents been reacting to all of this? I mean, are they happy with their children getting married at 15?" Caesar says, looking back in the direction of our parents.
The cameras flicker over to them, and they all act with expert skill. My mom, well she gave the camera the finger. My dad smirks, just like usual, making the Capitol girls go nuts, and Peeta and Katniss wave politely, laughing and smiling.
Caesar starts laughing and turns back to us.
"Well, I would say that my parents are pretty open to having Liz and I get married at this somewhat young age. I mean, they did it too, so it isn't too much of a shock." Luke starts.
And my response comes easily. I'm talking to Caesar like he's one of my friends.
"Yeah, his parents have been really nice to me. And I think because they agree, my parents are agreeing a bit more too. And there's only been a few death threats made by my dear father, so I think everything is going pretty well." I continue.
"Wow. Death threats? From Cato Hirsch? I would have never guessed that one!" Caesar laughs.
"Yeah. He's crazy, but nobody ever said you could pick your family. My dad's my dad, and I know he's just looking out for me."
"Yeah. Your families seem pretty chill about all of this, but what about your friends? How are people your age reacting to all of this? It can't seem natural to some of them."
Luke turns to me and smiles, looking back at Caesar. He takes a deep breath, and then says one of the sweetest things I've ever heard. And the fact that he's saying it to me makes my heart nearly beat out of my chest.
"Well, I really don't care what people think of it. I'm in love with Liz, and I'm going to marry her, whether they like it or not."
I put my hands over my heart and feign wiping away tears.
"That was so beautiful. I love you too honey." I say in my cartoony romance voice.
Luke kisses me lightly on the lips, and then blushes as everyone cries out with a chorus of ooooohhhhh.
"Oh come on Mellark. That was no way to kiss your fiancée. Don't mind us. Just kiss her stupid." Caesar chortles.
"yeah Luke. Wouldn't want to disappoint all the people watching." I reply, trying to stifle my laughter.
Luke takes my face between his hands and kisses me over and over and over again, opening and closing his mouth in sync with mine. We've done this enough to know each other's kissing patterns. And we milk that up for a good 30 seconds.
"PDA ALERT!" My dad screams from the wings.
Everyone shrieks their approval and Luke finally stops kissing me.
"Wow Luke. Were you kissing her, or trying to swallow her?" Caesar asks.
"Little bit of both. We see how long we can keep kissing before we have to part to breathe." I joke.
"And there was certainly enough of that to try and beat on the Victory Tour, which the two of you just got back from. What did you think?"
Luke and I look at each other for a moment, both of seeming to try and grasp a response that will make sense. He starts first.
"It was really nice to finally be out of the Arena. We could stop worrying about people trying to stab us and well, kill us."
"Mostly." I add.
Luke laughs. "Yes. Mostly. And it was definitely nice to see all of the districts. When you live in a specific district, like most people do, you don't really get a chance to see the rest of Panem. You see your district, and maybe the ones that are on either side of it, but getting to see literally everything was a really fun experience that I will never forget." Luke says.
"I had fun too, and Luke is right, the fact that I could even go outside of District 2 and see everything for myself as opposed to on TV or in my school textbook was something I was very happy about. But it was a surreal experience. On one hand, we were celebrating our victory, and feeling really amazing in the fact that we were both alive and well and together. But on the other side of the situation, we were going to every other district and seeing the families and friends of the people we had met here in the Capitol and in the Arena. Some of them were even people we had killed….well, I had killed. I had gotten to know some of those people in more detail then I knew my classmates back home. And now we were faced with being where they lived, where they walked, watching the reactions of the people that were hoping and praying one of their own tributes would come home to them and be doing what we're doing now."
Caesar is shaking his head and pouting, clearly showing his sympathy.
"Now, on a more happy note, did you enjoy the scenery of the districts? Was it different then what you had always seen?"
"Well, it was definitely different than anything I had ever thought about. I'm not ashamed of where I live, but we all know District 12 isn't the nicest district, though they might have the nicest people. On the tour, I noticed that there wasn't that much that was different between my district and some others. I won't name the places, but it made me think of Panem as a whole in a new way. Made me change my own opinion, and I started correcting people when they would say the incorrect. And then I also saw some districts that made me nearly burst into tears. Some people have everything, and live in the nicest places, and yet they are some of the cruelest and meanest people alive."
"And I'll be honest, the first glimpse I got of District 12 was one of the best glimpses of anything I have ever gotten in my life. People always said District 12 was the lowliest of the districts, which is so untrue, but they have the nicest people. And they throw some incredible parties. But what made me think was that yes, District 12 doesn't have the same things as say, District 1, but they were happy, and it didn't seem to matter that they didn't have all the luxurious stuff. They had each other, and what they needed, and they weren't bitter toward anyone else. Everyone I saw was happy, and was positively thrilled that Luke and I were there. They had one of the best reactions I have ever seen in my 15 years of living."
"Oh yes, both of you had birthdays on very special days. Care to tell the people why they were so special."
"For one thing, Luke's birthday was on Reaping Day, and I felt so bad, because in my crazy Career day, I had forgotten that his birthday was that day. I was too occupied with getting myself into the Games."
"Don't worry sweetie. I had forgotten it was my birthday until my mom said 'Happy Birthday honey' when they were also saying goodbye to me." Luke laughs.
Caesar laughs along with him, and I fan my face with my hand to keep myself from blushing.
"And Liz, you can't forget to tell people about your birthday." Luke says, poking me in the arm.
"No. Stop it. I am literally going to smack you if you go into that. That was just plain unfortunate." I reply.
"That's a chance I'm taking. Liz's birthday was in the Arena. The day before the Games ended."
"That isn't so bad." Caesar comments.
"Yeah. I had just watched one of my allies kill his sister, and then commit suicide. That is totally bad Caesar. Don't even try making that look good."
"Oh…yeah. I stand corrected. That sucks. Now I believe you promised Luke a smack to the face?" Caesar replies.
"Are you seriously encouraging me to smack my boyfriend?" I shout.
"Yes. Come on. How hard could you smack someone really?" Caesar asks.
"Let's find out." Luke pipes up.
"Luke! You want me to hit you?" I ask.
"Yeah. Go ahead." Luke exclaims.
The Capitol roars with their anticipation. Luke and I stand up and walk to the front of the couch, so we're both standing sideways and people can see us. I am facing my parents.
"Backhand sweetie. Always backhand." My mom coaxes.
"Are you sure about this Luke?" I ask, giggling.
He nods and I raise my hand up, palm facing me. And then I whip it over and it connects with Luke's cheek. I go as hard as I can, and he laughs, whipping his hand up to his beet red cheek.
"Well, I'd say you can smack pretty hard." Caesar states.
I nod and kiss Luke on the cheek I injured.
"Sorry honey." I say.
He waves it off and we go back to sit down, continuing the interview.
"Well, now that we're all done abusing each other, let's continue. How do you feel about the other romances in the Arena?"
"What do you mean?" Luke asks.
"Well, Luke, your question would be how did you feel about Marcus and Liz? They were dating before the Games. Did you know that? And that kiss…that was something." Caesar says, looking me right in the eye.
I glare back at him.
"Well, I know that Liz probably has had boyfriends before me. That doesn't bother me. And I did know Marcus and Liz had dated. She said it in the Arena. Come on Caesar. Did you fall asleep during that one?"
Caesar puckers his lips, and Luke smirks.
"Of course not. I paid attention to every painful detail of you and Alice kissing too." Caesar responds, rolling his eyes.
I gasp and think of slapping Caesar, but then think better of it and sit there pouting.
"What was going on between Alice and Luke, Liz? Since you're his wife, you should know, right?"
"She doesn't need to answer that. Don't torture her anymore then that kiss did to me. I feel terrible for how things turned out. Alice and I were at a party, and we got drunk, and kissed. And then kissed some more. But in the Arena, she kissed me when I was being her medic. And poor Liz walked in right after she did it, so there was no way she could have not seen it. And I didn't like it. At all. She and I were friends so to speak, but I hated her the entire time. And I'm pretty sure Liz hated her too."
"Her death was quite spectacular." I agree.
"That it was. Oh, and Liz, I have another question for you? What do you think of Alice? We've heard Luke's opinion. But what's yours?"
"I wanted to slice that girls head off the second I saw her. And it felt good shooting her in the stomach." I say in a clipped tone.
"Oh, Alice? Yeah, she never stood a chance. Liz here is the only girl for me. Liz and I, we planned that if she tried, I could go along with her for a while, because she would die in the games, and Liz would have me forever." Luke replies.
"That's adorable." Caesar says.
"Really? You think so? Because it was a load of bull. We never planned that out. Alice was a slut. Liz wasn't. And there's your reasoning for me picking her instead of Alice." Luke says, rolling his eyes.
"And I'm sure that kiss with Miklisho wasn't planned either, now was it?" Caesar asks.
"Well, I planned it, if that's what you mean. I didn't tell anyone else, but I knew what I was going to do. It worked out exactly how I wanted it to." I say.
"That's what it seemed like. Now Liz, tell me about Team Victory. Who are they? What do you do as a member?"
"Well, in a nutshell Team Victory is a super elite group of Hunger Games Victors that all live in District 2 and are between the ages of 16 and 21. Usually the group is all boys, but they made an exception and let me into their posse. And we pretty much go around to all the awesome parties, and we're the popular people technically."
"That sounds amazing. You two seem to be getting very popular this year, what with winning the Hunger Games, being the delicious lovers of districts 2 and 12, and then there was winning Prom King and Queen. Speaking of Prom, what was it like just being two normal teenagers for one night?"
I laugh. "Normal? We could never be normal. It was a super fun Prom, and probably the only one I will ever go to, so it was nice."
"Was it that bad that you don't want to go back again?" Caesar asks with a smile.
I am kind of annoyed by this interview, but I just smile and keep talking.
"Oh no. It was really fun. It was really nice to see all my friends all dressed up, and then there was a really huge party afterwards at my friend Jason's house. Like I said, Team Victory throws and attends the best parties."
"That's good to hear. How did you win Prom Queen?"
"Well, I guess that I had a lot of votes. People like a winner. And me winning the Hunger Games helped I think."
"I'm sure it did. On to our next question, this one for Luke. Who is going to be your best man at your wedding?"
"Well….probably my dad. Or…well, I don't really know. I haven't given much thought to it yet."
"That's alright. You still have plenty of time for making plans. Liz, do you know who your maid of honor will be?"
"I really don't. I might have my friend Tina be my maid of honor. But I'm not really sure. I'll have to give it some thought."
"What kind of wedding do you think you'll be having?" Caesar asks.
"Whatever kind Liz wants." Luke replies.
"Probably a big Capitol wedding. We're kind of required to since we're Victors. I'm sure you'll be invited Caesar."
Caesar laughs. "And who will be making the dress?"
"I believe that my friend Jason will be, if he's willing to make it."
"I'm sure he's squealing with joy in District 2 right now." Luke adds.
"Yeah, I would be squealing too. You know, if I could make a dress, and if I didn't have to do this. And if squealing was something I could do." Caesar comments.
"And my final question is for you Luke, regarding your parent's friend Gale. Have they been in touch lately?"
"Oh, yeah of course they have. Their friends. Friends keep in touch."
"And even my parents have gotten in on the friendship. They hired Gale to protect me."
I clamp my hands over my mouth like I revealed something I shouldn't have, then move my hands and smile.
Everyone laughs like a maniac, including Luke and Caesar, and my parents, Effie, Haymitch, and Katniss and Peeta.
"Well, I'm afraid that's the end of the interview. You two have a party to get to. Thanks for coming." Caesar says.
"Yes. Thank you so much for having us." Luke says.
"I haven't had this much fun since I killed Alice." I say, laughing.
Luke loops his arm through mine, and together we walk off the stage, waving and blowing kisses and looking positively cheery. And then I run back to the dressing room, looking for something hotter to wear to the party.
Thanks for reading the chapter! I hope you all liked it. I worked really hard, and I thought I really captured the randomness of an interview with Caesar. Please review, and answer the questions. I would love hearing from all of you. Thanks again!