The hunger games: if Cato saved Clove

Chapter eight

Chapter eight: interviews

My stylist is making me wear a frilly pink dress and the most ugly pair of shoes (which I can't even walk in). I get changed into the dress and heels and my stylist insists on doing something "Pretty" with my hair. By the time he's finished I look worse than a district twelve person on reaping day (which is not how you want to look on your interview).

I'm sitting in an arc with Marvel in front of me and Cato behind. Caesar calls up Glimmer saying: "Let's see if she does shine, it's Glimmer!" She starts showing off and saying things like "I'm really good at archery and I think I'm going to win." I'm so fed up with Glimmer and I can't wait for these three minutes of agony to finish.

What feels like ten hours later Caesar calls up Marvel and he shows all of Panem what a git he is. Oh no. I can't do this! I'm going to mess up! I'll probably say something I shouldn't and the Capitol will take offence! It's too late now, Caesar is already saying "Let's spice things up a bit, it's Clove!" I hate it when people say things like that, oh well. I walk onto the stage and realise just how big the audience is! There are thousands of people cramped in, nearly all of them standing on tiptoes to get a glimpse at me! I hate all of this!

I sit down next to Caesar and he asks me "So then Clove, how are you feeling about the games tomorrow?" I try to remember what Enobaria told me about being sweet, but sarcastic and arrogant so I say "I'm looking forward to it." And smile.

"And this year, you were the only Career who didn't volunteer, how does that feel?"

"Well, I'm kind of glad nobody did because I planned to go in this year." I say, even though this is a nightmare.

"Well that was a piece of luck then wasn't it?"

"Yeah."

"So Clove, do you have any skills?" He knows the answer is going to be a yes but he wants to know what I'm good at.

"I've been throwing knives since I was eight." The crowd gasps.

"Well you get in there Clove, and you get all of the knives in that cornucopia and win this thing!" Caesar yells. "Looks like our three minutes are over, give it up for Clove!" The crowd starts clapping and cheering as I walk off stage.

My prep team take me into a room and congratulate me. I see a screen in the room and watch Cato walk onto stage and by the end of his three minutes, he displays himself as a ruthless killer. Cato's prep team take him to the same room and we watch the other interviews. By the time it gets to district twelve I listen intently because Katniss, wait, isn't Katniss a type of wild potato? Anyway, I want to see if she slips anything about the eleven. Unfortunately, she doesn't she just twirls around and makes me want to vomit. The boy, Peeta, says he has a crush on her and Caesar comments on how unfortunate he is when in my eyes, it makes him look like an easy target.