Glory And Gore--Clove's Story, Hunger Games

(6) My New Ally

I took a bite of my roasted pig. The pig had an apple stuck in it's mouth. Valentina said she gets the apple, since she can't have the rest of the dinner because she's trying a new fruit diet. When I told her fruit has sugar in it, she waved me away.

This isn't the most elegant food ever, but it's not horrible.

"So tonight, you have your interviews with Caesar Flickerman." Brutus said. Cato dropped his fork on the floor. An Avox rushed to help him, but he'd picked it up already. I continued chewing my salad, since I knew this was coming. "Now, after lunch, we will work on your interview prep." Cecilia continued. Enobaria perked up and started smiling. "We need to fix your tone of voice, posture, sit, walk, angle, smile, and laugh." Enobaria said. This time, I dropped my fork. The Avox man picked it up for me. He polished it with a napkin and gave it back to me. I set it on the table. "Do we really need to review walking and sitting?" I asked.

Cecilia nodded. "Definitely."

"Just great." I mumbled sarcastically. Enobaria finished her pig and salad, and she rushed to me. "Are you done eating?" She asked.

"Oh, I'm ill eating." I said, my mouth still full. But Enobaria didn't understand. She grabbed my arm and pulled me into my room. Cecilia followed not far behind. She sat me down in a wooden chair and told me to keep my back straight. I made sure my posture was perfect. 

"Good. Now smile." Cecilia said. I smiled, without showing my teeth. "No no no! You need to smile with your teeth!" Cecilia said. I groaned and showed my teeth. "No! Make your smile big enough that we can see dimples." Enobaria said. I groaned and made my smile wider. "Perfect." Cecilia said.

"Now, laugh." She said. I raised an eyebrow and sat in silence. "LAUGH!" Cecilia yelled. I laughed, but not because she wants me to, but because her face turned redder than the apple Valentina is about to eat. Cecilia shook her index finger. "No! Do more of a soft, cite, giggle. But throw in a hint of 'I'm going to kill you'." Enobaria said. I rolled my eyes and did exactly what they said. Cecilia praised my ability to laugh 'adorably' and made me get up and walk. I walked across the room. "NOOOOO!!" Cecilia wailed. I took a moment to think about what in the hell she was yelling about, but then I realized it was the way I was walking.

"I'll give you a hint about your dress for tonight," Cecilia said. I stared blankly.

"It's kind of a long dress, so when you walk, you'll be holding it up. So practice that." Cecilia said. I blinked, as if to say, "okay, got it."

I did exactly that, and they worked on everything I would do in an interview. They made me do more laughing, since they want me to be used to laughing like that.

When we were done, Cecilia and Enobaria clapped. "Bravo! Now you can do whatever you want." Enobaria said. I smiled and walked out of my room. I went straight for the elevator, and rode down to the first level. The doors opened, and I went straight to the training gym. I didn't see anyone in here, so I went straight to the knives. I grabbed a few, and threw them by their handle. But then I reversed it, and threw them by the blade.

I heard a loud clapping noise and nearly hurled another knife at the direction in came from. But I didn't, since I realized it was another tribute. "Insane throwing skills, Clove." Said a female voice.

A girl, not much older than I am, was hiding in the shadows of the dummies that are by the spear stations. I study the shadowy face, trying to see of it's Katniss. How dare that bitch try to beat us Careers! We're superior!

I keep trying to identify the tribute, but no. I don't know this one. I feel bad, because I'm probably going to kill her tomorrow morning.

Finally, I couldn't bear it anymore. I need to know who this is.

"Who are you?" I asked. She laughed, as if it should be obvious.

Glimmer? Everybody knows who Glimmer is.

But it can't be Glimmer; this girl clearly has dark hair. She stepped out from the shadows and revealed her face. I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms.

"I'm Vivian Darkbloom, from District 4." She said. My eyebrow went back to it's regular place, but my arms remained crossed.

This was one of my allies.

"I wasn't sure about you at first, since you're so small. But now that I see you throw, I'm positive I want you to be a Career." She said. I rolled my eyes, and raised my eyebrow again. I decided to keep it there, until one of us leaves.

"I was going to be a Career, your consent or not." I stated. I surprised myself; I sound really arrogant and mean. But Vivian laughed. When she finished she raised her eyebrow, just like I was. We both had crossed arms, but tilted faces.

But it was then, when I looked at her face, that I realized just how beautiful she was. She had dark red lipstick, black eyeliner, dark wavy hair, and blue eyes.

Blue eyes! With dark hair!

How?

I'm going to save the question for later, when I have a more clear mindset.

"You can throw pretty well. But can you survive me very well? If you don't get me everything I want during the Bloodbath, I'll show Cato who you really are." Vivian said.

I have no idea what she's talking about, but she thinks she's scaring me.

"Ha, you don't know me, bitch. So back off."

Vivian lowered her eyebrow, and looked intimidated. But it didn't last.

"I know exactly who you are. You're Clove Shear, from District 2 and your partner is Cato. You are skilled at throwing knives." Vivian said.

I just laughed out loud at her answers. "Everyone knows I'm Clove Shear. Everyone knows I'm from District 2, everyone knows Cato is my district partner. And you just saw me throw knives, so that's how you know that." I said.

Vivian's ability to think fast and intimidate people has me impressed. I know right here and now, I'm going to be very good friends with Vivian. I might not even kill her.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Surprise! Interview didn't happen yet! But I'm sorry about the shortness of this chapter. This sucks. I'm sorry.