Forever in the Games- UNDER EXTREME EDITING

Chapter Fourteen

"Thank you! Thank you! Welcome! welcome welcome welcome, to the seventy fourth annual Hunger Games!" I'm sat in Flavius's studio, watching the lead up to the actual interviews, whilst they fix my hair and make up.

"In about five minutes! They're all going to be out! All of the Tributes, that you've heard about. Are you excited! Let me hear it!" Caesar Flickerman warms up the audience, as they all cheer back to him. I love this man, he always makes up Tributes feel comfortable, and he's so funny.

"Do you want to have a look Luce?" Flavius claps his hands, forcing me to fall out of my trance.

"Sure" I rise from my seat, and take a look in the full body mirror. "This dress is stunning, thank you"

He just nod's, and begins to pack up. "Do you want to go and get Katniss, tell her to line up for the interviews? Good luck Lucinda, I know that you, and the dress will blow them away"

"Thanks Flavius, I'll sure try my best" And with that, I walk out of my dressing room, and go to knock on Katniss', who's is just at the end of the hall. But I stop, just as someone steps out in front of me.

"Luce, in all honesty, do you think this plan will work?" It's Peeta, his blond hair all gelled back, and wearing a black suit, with red flames on the sleeves, clearly to represent us on fire.

"Well, considering you haven't told me all of it" He gives me a serious look "Well, what you're going to do in the arena anyway, yes, I'd say it will work. But I stand by what I said when I told you Katniss won't be very happy, this is the best possible way to humiliate her, remember that" I tell him, and keep moving forward.

"By the way" I turn back around, to find him watching me leave "You look very pretty" I just smile, and continue my, what seems like forever, journey to Cinna's studio.

I knock three times before i enter. My eyes must have widened, Katniss is in a dress covered in jewels that make her look like she is being engulfed in flames when she moves, her hair and make-up is done beautifully.

"Sorry to interrupt, but it's time to line up, Katniss" I inform them, widening the door a little. She  nods, and walks out of the room, closely followed by Cinna.

_*_

"Let's see if she does indeed shine, let's have a warm round of applause, for Glimmer!" 

We're all lined up, just behind the stage itself, with a television up ahead for us all to watch the interviews. Glimmer's the first one to be interviewed.

"Glimmer are you prepared?" Was the first question Caesar asked.

"Yes Caesar, I am very prepared."

"I like it" And for the rest I just zone out, like I always do at these interviews. Every year Caesar asks me about my family, the Games, and if I'm ready to enter for another year. Of course I have to tell him I don't have any family, purely because I have to. 

"Come on" I snap out of my trance, to find one of the show's producers, one hand on my back, leading me up to the stage. I walk up the steps carefully, lifting my dress up a little so I don't fall over. Damn this dress.

"Now! Where to begin with this girl! We've watched her grow before our eyes, please, lets have a massive round of applause for the wonderful Lucinda Colden!"

The crowd goes wild! They cheer, scream, and jump up and down with excitement as soon as I place one foot on the stage.  I walk gracefully over to Caesar, giving a wave out to the audience every now and then. 

"Welcome, Lucinda, welcome!" Caeser shouts again, gesturing for me to take a seat.

"Well! First things first, welcome back!"

"Thank you Caesar, it's good to be back to see you all again!" This gains a huge round of applause from the crowd.

"So tell me, where have you been for the past year, I mean it must be difficult for you, going to every District on your victory tour for the past seven years, and then coming back to the Capitol, and then to your old home, what's it like?" Was the next question, I laugh.

"It's pretty simple when you have Effie Trinket as your escort, you learn pretty quickly that everything has to be done on time" Everyone laughs, some people even nod in agree.

"And I suppose it must be nice for you, having your family supporting you all the way?"

"Unfortunately Caesar, I have no family, they decided to abandon me after my first kill, but I've managed better without them" I lie, but everyone claps, agreeing.

"Well, you've certainly proved yourself tougher than any of us expected! Now, the chariot ride, Lucinda, was magnificent" Caesar tells me, placing a hand on his chest.

"Thank you, obviously it wasn't my idea, our new stylists are simply the best I could have asked for"

"When you say 'our' you mean your fellow District Twelve Tributes?" I nod "Tell me what do you think of them? I was particularly impressed with Miss Everdeen with her training score of eleven!" 

My hands clench into fists, but I quickly cover it up, by placing them on my lap.

"I am too, very surprised indeed, it's not everyday we get a good training score of more than ten these days!" The audience nods, along with Caesar .

"Are you excited, and prepared for the Games Lucinda?" I notice everyone lean forward a little, I smile, and lift my head up.

"As excited and as ready as I'll ever be" Again, the crowd went wild! I rise from my seat, as Caesar grabs one of my hands, and lifts it into the air. 

"Lucinda Colden our very own, survivor!"

_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_

"Great job Luce, I'm very impressed!" Effie squeaks at me, as soon as I turn off back stage. 

"Thank you Effie, I'm sorry about what I said about you-"

"Nonsense Luce! You did what you had to, and I'm proud" 

Haymitch is slouched on the couch, watching for the start of Katniss' interview.

"Well done, I like that dress" He smiles, as I take a seat next to him. 

"Thanks, how's she doing?" I motion to Katniss on the screen, standing up from her seat.

"Brilliant" I look back at the screen, and I can't believe my eyes. She's spinning around, and the bottom of her dress is alight. Why didn't I get anything like that?! When she sits back down, they begin to talk about her sister, Primrose. Once her interview is over, I think I hear him call her, 'Katniss Everdeen the girl on fire!' But hey, I guess no one noticed Peeta and I on fire too. 

"How'd you think she'll take to the news?" I ask, as Haymitch stands up.

"Not too well. Nice, job sweetheart" Katniss appears around the corner, sort of out of breath.

"Thank you" she whispers back.

"Nice dress too, not yours" He motions to Effie, earning a slap on the shoulder.

"Please welcome, Peeta Mellark!"

This is it. Time to find out how Katniss will react to the news that's going to change these Games.