104: The Games (A Hunger Games Story)

Chapter Eight

I wake up and try to shake off last night's events from my mind. I go into Clo's room to wake her up. After a rushed breakfast, it's pretty much time to get dressed for the interviews. Talon brings me to the room where I got dressed for the parade, but this outfit is much simpler than the one from the parade. I'm in a simple blue-ish suit, that I think really suits me (pun intended.) The makeup team then swarms me and my hair is done, and I think they even put some glitter in various parts of my body.

Me and Clo meet back in the suite, and she is wearing a simple yet elegant light green dress. It is longer in the back than in the front, and it has a little bit of glitter. Her face however is anything but simple, with green glitter pressed around her eyes, and her hair is in the most complicated up-dos I've ever seen. But despite capitol stuff all over her, she looks beautiful. "You look nice," she says, and I reply, "you too," as we walk into the elevator with Diamond and Johanna, who take their way in the huge audience one we get outside.

The stage is set up outside the training building,so me and Clo are escorted a short way to backstage. We are in a line, Clo before me, and me and her talk in whispers. "Good luck," I say and she squeezes my hand. The careers are up first in beautiful outfits, and have smart, well thought out personas.

Time is rushing by, and before I know it, it's time for Clo. "Well hello, it's our favorite district cutie, Clover Degray!" Letos Moon cires out as Clo walks up, and she smiles sweetly and blushes. "Well, we were all so touched when you're brother volunteered to be with you, what's your relationship with your brother?" Letos asks as the two sit down. Clo looks to the audience and says, "well, my brother is my best friend. He was the only I had growing up, and he always protected me." I can almost hear the whole world saying, "Awww" as the capitol citizens coo over my sister.

As they talk, I realize that my sister is doing an amazing job with this. She has always been a bit dramatic, and loved to be in her school plays, so this was right up her alley. When I see Letos talk to her, I realize everyone was right. He has this ability to make any remark memorable.

Too soon her interview is over, and as she blows a kiss to the audience, I start to sweat nervously. I am escorted to the door, and as I walk onstage my head is pounding, but I remember what Diamond and Johanna said, forget yourself and be your character. I sit on the chair and try not to faint, while Letos smiles and says, "hello Rowan, let's get right into it. You volunteered after your sister was reaped, what made you do that?" I take a deep breath and start, "well, like Clo said, I protect her, I always have, and it just came naturally to me, I didn't think. She's my little sister. And- I just couldn't let anything happen to her. I'd never forgive myself it something did." Letos smiles and says, "well it's nice to hear about how much you and your sister love each other. Now, we know how shocking it might be, all of this happening at once, what has it been like?" I remember that my persona is, and say, "Well, people here are different," setting him up. Letos seems to catch on and asks, "how so?" I smile and say, "the people are very...Colorful, it's like a constant, candy-themed party." This gains many laughs from the audience, and I know I should keep going. "Well, I would think that two, do I look like candy?" Letos asks with a smile, "oh well, I guess you would be more, I don't know, toffee?" Letos feings confusion and says, "I really don't know what to make of that."

As the audience laughs once again, I glance Johanna, and she looks at me and nods slightly so I know I'm doing well. "Now, how confident do you feel about your chances of winning? You did get a pretty good score." I think about it for a minute, then say, "well, the games are so unpredictable, I really don't know. It depends on what type of arena it is, but I don't think I'll do too bad." Soon, I forget that all of Panem is watching, and to me, this is just an amusing conversation with Letos. Letos nods and says, "Well we all like a tribute with confidence, right," as he turns to the audience with gets a lot of cheers. "Unfortunately, that's all the time we have with Rowan, but it has been lovely!"

As I walk off the stage, I think...oh my gosh! The crowd is cheering my name! I immediately think of the sponsors, and how this will benefit me and Clo. I am so deep in thought I don't notice when I'm back at the suite, and hugging Clo, "we'll get loads of sponsors," I say, and things are finally looking up.