Disney Hunger Games

Chapter 17

Interviews: Districts 5&6

District 5 by belle-of-the-ball-xo

District 6 by RavenclawMaven1198

*Esmeralda's POV

"Eric, you are head-in-head with Hercules for Capitol's sweetheart. If you can beat him out, you'll have plenty of sponsors."

"Oh, I will be," he says while practicing his famous smirk.

"And what do I need to do?" I ask Phoebus. He keeps giving tips out to Eric, but the thing he'd helped me out with was my fighting positions, and I'm convinced that he likes me more than a friend.

"Be you, there's no way they won't love you." I blushed. Eric sensed that he was no longer needed and left.

"I'm going to bed, I have a big day tomorrow."

"Okay, but I'm sure you have nothing to worry about."

I slide into the satin sheets and toss and turn for about an hour.

There's no way I'm getting any sleep.

I quietly step outside my door and walk to the living room and sit on the couch to watch all the reapings from the different districts.

I match names with faces and try to remember everything from training.

"I thought you would've been asleep by now." Phoebus says as he sits down next to me.

"You can never be too ready."

There's an awkward silence while I wait for the next district to appear.

"Please tell me something that I can do to make the crowd like me."

"Honestly, I don't know, but don't be fake."

I start to raise my voice, "I'm going to need something a little more than that."

"Well I don't know what else to say."

"Do you want me to die? Is that why you are always helping Eric and never me?!"

"No that's-"

"I don't care. Good night Phoebus."

Returning to my room I sit on the floor waiting for fatigue to wash over me, but no such luck.

I start to practice some phrases for the interview tomorrow, which is completely useless.

Laying on the floor, I see my door crack and I jump to my feet.

Phoebus peeks his head in.

"What are you doing?" I whisper. He looks almost embarrassed.

"Nothing I was just, nothing."

I step closer to him and look into his eyes, even though the room is dark.

"Just know that if you ever need anything I am always here."

I don't think he was talking about fighting skills.

----------------------------------------------

I woke up early that morning, anxious for the day to come. I got poked and prodded at, but I admit that after they were done I didn't look too bad.

I was wearing a one-shoulder purple dress with gold polka dots and Eric was wearing a white button-up shirt with a metallic gold tie.

We walked onstage together and Mickey welcomed us.

He asked us some questions, nothing noteworthy, though. However, Eric took every chance he got to get the crowd to love him.

I got a 7 and he got a 9, not horrible.

When the interview was over, I walked to the bathroom because I needed some space.

I let warm water wash over my hands and I feel hands on my waist that rapidly turn me around.

My lips are pushed against Phoebus'.

It feels so good, running my fingers through his golden hair, our lips molded together.

"I've been wanting to do that since I first saw you."

He just made things a whole lot harder.

***

Aladdin's POV

"Remember, make the crowd love you. They like the spunky ones. That's why they liked me so much." Genie smiled a toothy grin.

I laughed. Meg was mindlessly staring off into space. I know something had happened during training. I wonder if it will affect her score.

I heard our names being called and we walked onstage.

Meg had a slight smile on her face. She had to do better than that.

I walked onstage and did a little dance. The crowd went wild. Genie was clapping for me from backstage.

We sat down and the crowd quieted down.

"Come on, Aladdin! You are going to steal my job!" Mickey laughed.

The crowd erupted in laughter with him. Oh the Capitol, so easy to please.

"So, the question has been circulating throughout the Capitol, Merida is the mayor's daughter, Belle works at her local library, Eric helps manage a power plant with his father, what do you do?"

I gulped. I hung out with Genie and ditched school. And stole. You couldn't forget stealing. I would be an avox if I told the truth.

"I help Gerald Genie with his chores and such. He pays me."

The crowd clapped.

"Well that is very kind of you! Now Meg, we got some footage of some heat between you and Hercules. Is everything ok?"

Her face went pale. "Um, yeah. Just a little anxiety."

"I hear you, sister. But Herc seems like a nice guy so I would give it a try."

She crowd cheered in agreement. Her face turned bright red. She had gone through the spectrum in less than five minutes.

"And for the scores."

It seemed like forever for the numbers to come up on the screen. I had been anticipating this moment for days.

Then, a large eight illuminated my side of the screen, Meg got a four.

"Very nice." Mickey said sarcastically. Meg's eyes filled with tears. As long as she hung out with Hercules, she would have plenty of sponsors.

I strutted offstage and Meg immediately broke into sobs. She had to be escorted into the elevator by peacekeepers.

Genie high fives me and cheers loudly in the hall.

I might actually have a chance for surviving.