Prim's Games

Chapter 6-PRIM

In the morning, Venia, Octavia and Flavius are waiting for me. Maybe they'll make me look amazing so I'll be even more memorable to potential sponsors. The thought cheers me a little as they make my skin soft, stencil designs on my skin and paint flames on my nails. I'm a little confused because I thought the fire thing didn't work out, but I just go with it. Maybe they've fixed it or are trying to bring back memories of the sorta-fire with the flame designs. Venia does my hair in a braided bun with a lock of fake red hair to stand out against my blond hair. They apply just enough makeup to enhance my look, but not change it, on my request. They do however end up covering my body in a powder that makes me glitter. I smile a little as I think of how Katniss would react to all this. She'd probably shoot all of them.

"Close your eyes." Cinna says as he enters with my dress which is covered. I do, and feel the silk slide over me, and then the weight of it shift as they adjust it. Octavia helps me into a pair of heels since my eyes are closed, and I'm glad they're a little lower than the ones I practiced in.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now Prim." Cinna says. I open them, and I look amazing. My dress is a light orange color, and when I move it gives the impression of candlelight. Combined with the makeup and shoes, I look like a completely different person. The stylists squeal in delight and admiration. At least this'll make a good impression on the Capitol.

"Thank you Cinna," I say "It's beautiful. But what if I don't make much of an impression?"

"Don't worry about it. Just be yourself. They'll love you." he says, and at that moment, Cinna becomes one of my favorite people in the Capitol. Archer comes in, and he's wearing a black suit with flame accents. His jaw drops open a little at the sight of me, and I blush. We take the elevator up with the other tributes, and sit in an arc in the order we're going. I'll be last or second to last, since we're District 12. At least I'll get to see how everyone else does.

We go single file onto the stage and take our seats. I'm so nervous, my hands are shaking a little, but I try to smile and act natural. Caesar Flickerman goes onstage, in a midnight blue suit with hundreds of tiny light bulbs sewed in. His hair, lips and eyelids are the same color without the bulbs. The tributes all go for their three minute interviews, with various angles; beautiful, charming, fierce, funny and the audience loves them. Rue looks like a fairy in a gossamer gown with wings. Caesar's really nice to her, complimenting her on her 7 and more. The boy from her district, Thresh is sullen and quiet. Then, it's my turn. I step out and the audience applauds. So far so good I guess.

"So Primrose, the Capitol must be a real change from District 12. What's your favorite part so far?" he asks.

"Please call me Prim Mr. Flickerman. And it's so hard to choose. Everything here is amazing, the food, the clothes, the people. I really do like the food though." I say. The audience giggles a little but not much.

"I love the food too Prim! Does it show?" he jokes, holding his hand over his stomach in mock horror as the audience shouts reassurances.

"Anyway Prim, that costume you wore looked amazing while the fire was burning. Were you scared at all?"

"To be honest? I was terrified. Being burned alive is not something I want to do. But Cinna's a genius for coming up with it and this," I lift my skirt a little "It's amazing!" I look at Cinna who's gesturing at me to twirl. So I do, and the audience oohs and ahhs over it.

"Wow that is amazing," he says. I stop twirling and sit as graciously as I can, since I'm dizzy and he says "Don't stop!"

"I have to I'm dizzy." I say, trying to make it look like a joke by giggling a little.

"Okay then," he says, smiling a little "The way you volunteered for your sister was pretty brave. Can you tell us about her?" The last thing I want to do is pour out my feelings for Katniss in front of these people. The ones who'll be taking bets on my life.

"Her name is Katniss. I love her more than anything." I say. The Capitol is completely silent for a moment. I imagine Katniss at home, watching this with Mom. I hope she's okay.

Suddenly, the buzzer goes off and Caesar says "Sorry Prim, we're out of time. Best of luck to you."

"Thank you." I say and walk off the stage. The audience is applauding politely, which seems like a good sign. Archer goes up and his interview goes okay, the audience laughs at his jokes but I'm not really listening until Caesar says "So do you have a girlfriend at home? A crush, any girl special to you?"

"Not yet. I kind of do like one girl a little though from my district. Unfortunately, she came here with me." he says. The audience bursts into cheers and the camera zooms in on me, and it's clear that I'm blushing, although my face definitely reveals some anger. I think he's nice as a friend but I don't know if I like him back in that way. He's definitely getting lots of sponsors for that, but it may have screwed my chances at the Games.

"Oh, well that's sad," Caesar says, as the timer goes off. "Well best of luck to you and Prim in the Games Archer." he thanks Caesar and walks off. We all raise our heads in required respect and go to the Training Center lobby. We take the elevators up, and I make sure I'm not in Archer's car. I can't face him. Not yet.

When the elevator drops me off on the twelfth floor, I wait for Archer, Effie and Haymitch, who all come up in the same car. "Archer, what did you do that for?! I thought we were allies, and I'm sorry but I definitely don't feel anything more for you!" I yell.

"I'm sorry Prim. It's just that you're literally the sweetest, prettiest girl I've ever met. If you don't want to be more than allies though, I won't push it." he says, and I feel kind of sorry for yelling at him.

"I'd like that." I say, and Haymitch looks shocked.

"Wait a minute kids. You two could use liking each other to your advantage, even if it is just an act. Like the ill-fated couple from District 12. Never meant to be." Haymitch says.

"No," I say "I'm not pretending to feel something for someone I don't feel for just to gain sponsors. We're just allies, that's it." I say, firmly.

"Okay, it's your decision Prim, but you'll regret it when sponsors shun you for supposedly not returning his feelings." Haymitch says and storms away. We all shrug it off and go to dinner, where we sit around the table in awkward silence. Haymitch doesn't come until we've finished the rose petal soup, and he's definitely not sober anymore when he does arrive. After dinner we watch a replay of the interviews, and mine is definitely forgettable, although Archer's will get him sponsored by at least a few Capitol residents. When the Panem anthem finishes, we're all quiet, knowing that tomorrow we'll be in the arena. Possibly never to see our families, our friends again.

Haymitch and Effie have to leave to sign up sponsors for us so we won't see them again unless one of us wins. Effie thanks us for being civilized tributes and says it's been her pleasure to help us. Haymitch says "Okay kids, I have a little last minute pre-Games wisdom for you. Try to find a source of water, make as many trustable allies as possible and stay alive." We just nod, because there isn't much else we can do.

I go back to my room, and wash off the remainders of the flame designs on my skin, only keeping the nail designs as a reminder of what I've been through. I relish what might be the last shower I ever take. I put on a fleece nightgown and think of Katniss, Mom and Buttercup, of all my memories with them before I fall asleep.