That Fine Line

Chapter 13 - The Interview

My palms were slippery with sweat as I stood at the edge behind the curtain, waiting for the interview with District Three's Beetee to end.

"Y/N."

I whipped around a little too quickly out of jitteriness to find Finnick's exposed chest in my face. Blood rushed to my cheeks, making me somehow even redder than I already was. He was dressed in an outfit that resembled a pirate, with his white button-up shirt buttoned down all the way to where his belt was. 

He held my shoulders and leaned down to talk to me. "You're going to be alright. You've done this before, and you can do it again. Just pretend that those people out there are every day normal people."

I nodded nervously. Looking at his reassuring gaze was confusing. I felt calmed by his presence, but at the same time, I couldn't afford to mess up in front of this gorgeous man.

"Next up, is our pacifist tribute, from District Four, Y/N L/N!"

A round of applause awaited my entrance. They're just every day Capitol citizens. I live in the biggest penthouse of Panem, and I am the daughter of one of the most wealthy politicians. Drawing in a deep breath, I strutted the way I'd seen numerous models done on television onto the stage.

"Wow!" Caesar Flickerman ogled at me for a second. "That is an absolutely stunning dress you're wearing! You look like you just walked straight out of a storybook!"

I really did. When I'd first seen it, I had no idea the Capitol's fashion industry had become this advanced. Once again, matching Finnick's pirate theme, my outfit took inspiration from the archaic legend of mermaids. For my upper body, all the way to my torso, the fabric was transparent and didn't appear to exist, except my breasts remained one skin tone all the way, and they rounded at the peaks. Below my waist, my natural color gradually transitioned to the translucent turquoise of my dress. The fabric was unbelievably malleable. It would stretch easily for me to take normal steps, but once I put my feet together, the fabric would come together, as if to form a tail. Frills were attached underneath my arms and by my legs, and even the tiniest movement would have them flowing around me as if I was underwater. Belle had braided the top part of my hair into a crown and applied some liquid to the remainder of flowing hair, giving me a wet look.

But what was most astounding of the entire outfit was when the lights hit the fabric perfectly. The dress would reflect the light, glinting as if I had grown actual scales on my body.

"Thank you, Caesar," I giggled, flushed. "It's definitely an upgrade from wearing a fishnet with my butt exposed in front of millions."

The purple-haired man threw his head back in laughter at my joke, as the crowd joined in, and Belle shifted embarrassedly in the front row seat at the shade I'd thrown at her.

"Speaking of wearing a fishnet, tell me," Caesar leaned in and suddenly everyone grew quiet. Shit, the atomsphere just got really serious. "A lot of people are also probably curious," I didn't have time to ponder what he was probably about to ask-- "How did it feel to 'Titanic' with Finnick Odair?" His voice crescendoed to that last part, almost yelling Finnick's name.

Everyone cheered at the seemingly long-awaited question. "Um," I laughed nervously, "It was... exhilarating?" It came out like a question. Realizing that could be interpreted as romantic, I quickly added, "It felt like I was flying."

The host's eyes widened with curiosity, still smiling at me. It was amazing how the man could keep up that expression for so long. If I tried to do that, my face would start twitching about five seconds in.

"Was it planned? That move?" he asked.

I shook my head innocently. "No."

He hummed. "You two were awfully close. What with him hugging you with his head on your shoulder and everything. One could say that's what lovers do--"

"It's not like that," I cut him off the second I heard the word. Then a wave of guilt washed over me. That was bound to lose me sponsors regardless of how pretty my dress was.

Caesar stood there, shocked at my overreaction to his unserious conspiracy. I didn't know what to do either. I just kept on staring at him, hoping he would somehow save this interview from complete and total awkwardness.

Suddenly, his face shifted from mock suspicion to a bright playful expression. "Aww, I'm just teasing. One pair of ill-fated star-crossed lovers is enough to sulk about. Now, enough about Finnick." He turned to the audience. "In case you don't recall, our sweet Y/N here won the seventy-third Hunger Games just two years ago. With her excellent hiding and camouflaging skills, along with her sharp instincts for basic survival needs, she single-handedly won the Games without any alliances, and get this: no bloodshed.

"As I said." He smiled at me. "A pacifist."

Caesar cocked his head to the side, indicating the change in subject. "So, this is the... second time you've been to the Capitol?"

"The third, actually." The second would have been the first Games I'd participated in.

"Oh." He seemed slightly surprised. "Okay, well what's usually the first thing you do when you get here?"

"Binge TV," I answered automatically, gaining a roar of laughter from the audience.

"Tell me my shows are the first thing you watch." The laughter grew louder.

"No... sorry, Caesar," I apologized jokingly. "But Amidst Our Broken World would have to be my number one."

Mild confusion flickered across his face. "Didn't the last season come out last year?"

"Yeah, but they don't have television in the Districts. At least not for watching soap operas." A few chuckles from the audience.

"Then you must be quite the television addict, dear Y/N. How the heck did you manage to watch seventeen seasons within three visits?" Caesar asked, bewildered.

"Well, to be fair, my first 'visit' wasn't really a visit. It was more like I used to live here."