The Hunger Games - Second Quarter

27

"You look gorgeous!" Effie beamed placing her cold hands onto my shoulders.

"Thank you." I grinned. 

Tonight was the interviews. Also the last day I had to make an impression, I know I need sponsors.

"Look at yourself honey." Effie said turning me towards the mirror.

I was dressed in a burgundy knee length dress that flared out at the hips, my hair was curled with a black flower crown, my shoes were a cream suede heels that matched my nails, my eye make up was simpler then what it usually was but still bold and i had burgundy lipstick similar to the colour of my dress. For my jewellery I had a silver chain necklace with this thing that looked like a black tooth on the end. 

Cinna smiled at me then said, "I should go help Katniss."

"Isn't she gorgeous Gale?" Effie asked as Gale walked into the room.

"Stunning." He replied but I sensed a bit of sarcasm in his voice, "Haymitch wants to talk to us, Elsa."

I stepped down from the platform I was standing on with the help of Cinna, then he left to get Katniss. Gale and I walked out of the room together, it felt awkward.

He stopped me, "What's going on between us?" He said.

"What do you mean?" I replied.

"You've been so cold towards everyone, especially me." He says.

I forced myself to chuckle, "I prefer to call it coming to my senses."  I said.

"You've changed." He says.

I stepped around him and started walking down the corridor, "People change." 

I didn't turn around but I pictured him standing there, watching me walk away. And I hoped he was. But I knew that isn't what had happened because I felt him grab my wrist and pull me close to his body.

We were so close if either of us leaned in a little our lips would touch.

"This isn't you." He said.

"You're crazy if you think the games haven't changed both of us." I replied.

"You don't know how bad I want to kiss you right now." He whispered.

I stayed quiet for a second, I wished in that second he would've gone for, I wished he would've smashed his lips against mine and we would be okay. But he didn't. Which led me to say, "Please don't" because I knew if he did, I'd go back to being okay and I wasn't sure if I wanted to be okay again. Not now at least. If I was okay there would be no where to go but down, if I stay down I can't get worse.

He let go of my arm and took a step back, "I'm sorry." He said and walked down the corridor.

I stood there for a few seconds until I heard a door close, then I slowly followed.

"It's about time you showed up." Haymitch said when I got there.

Gale looked at me but I looked away, "I got lost." I lied.

"I wan't you guys to keep it low." Haymitch said.

"Aren't we supposed to make impressions?" I asked.

"All the other tributes will be making big impressions as well, and I'm not sure you can live up to theirs. You know what happened in Phoebe's interview." Haymitch says.

"Okay." Gale says.

"We've already been laying low," I say, "We can't go any lower, did you see our scores last night?"