Against His Odds - A Hunger Games FanFiction

Chapter 9

Iris was in her changing room, while her stylists were gathered around her. "You better look good for your interview," Eifa said. Iris nodded. The interviews were tonight, and her stylists were getting her ready for them.
Minutes later, Iris found herself in front of the mirror. Her makeup was well done, and she wore a short, white dress that faded into yellow sparkled the higher up the middle section went, just like they said they were thinking of earlier. Her long hair was in a beautiful French braid down the middle of her back. She had gold eyeshadow and what seemed to be a pound of mascara on. She looked stunning.
Presley, Odis, Chad, and her all walked down the hall to the interview room. She waited in the room in the back. Iris watched the interviews from the TV in the back. It was time for Heather's interview. From the TV screen, Iris watched Heather walk up onto the stage. She was wearing a beautiful pinkish white dress, probably by the orders of President Snow. Ceaser gestured for her to take a seat.
"So, Heather, tell me about yourself. How did you get in the Hunger Games when you were the President's daughter?" Ceaser asked her. Heathwe looked a bit nervous to answer this. "To be honest," she started, "I was hoping to... end the Games." Ceasar didn't say anything, but instead looked at her curiously, waiting to hear where this would go.
Heather continued, "My plan was to be chosen for the Games, and my father would hopefully end them for me. But, things apparently didn't go as planned." Caesar hesitated before asking, "Do you think he loves you?" Heather nodded. "Of course he loves me, but he is doing this for, in my opinion, everyone in Panem." The timer suddenly went off, although Iris knew that two minutes hadn't been up.
Heather walked off of the stage and into the back room, where her prep team was waiting to congratulate her on how good she did. Soon enough, Jonathan did his interview, then the others. Finally, it was time for Chad to go. "Good luck," Iris whispered to him as he entered the stage, greeted by the cheering of the Capitol citizens. She watched his performance from on the screen.
"So," Caesar said, "how does it feel to be fighting with your best friend?" Chad looked down as he answered, "It's hard, Caesar. But I couldn't just stand there and know I would have to watch her suffer alone. I'm her closest friend, and I want to be there for her." There was a murmur among the crowd, some of them looking up respectfully. Iris remembered Chad talking about their plan: Next, I would make up a good story. You've outta attract a lot of supporters if you have a significant story.
Caesar continued, "Well, it looks to me like you love her." Chad slowly shook his head. Iris breathed out a sigh of relief; she didn't want to have to hurt anyone's heart if she were to die, especially her best friend. "I'm sorry, Caesar, but she's not the girl for me. I have known her since we were first old enough to work in the fields, and it would just be weird to date her."
"So, tell me, how did you meet her?" Caesar asked, obviously interested in the day they first started working in the fields. Chad smiled as he thought of the memory and said, "Well, we were both assigned to the same row of picking wheat. A simple task, if you ask me. I was lonely; I don't know if she was, too, but we talked to each other and just started hanging out. And now we're here, both prepared to die together." The crowd fell silent.

Beep!

The timer went off, and the crowd started screaming their cheers for Chad. He walked off of the stage and smiled to Iris as he walked by her. Suddenly, a thought appeared in her head. What if Chad actually did like her? After all, he said you have to make up a good story to get sponsors and supporters. What if he lied about them just being friends? Iris couldn't think of that. She was jolted back into reality as she heard her name being called. She put on a smile, took a nervous glance at her prep team as they reassured her, and walked out onto the stage.
She took a seat. "Iris! It's nice to have you here today!" Caesar said. Iris nodded. "It's an honor to be here, too," she said. "So, Iris," Caesar started, "how do you feel about your low score?" Iris laughed. "It's fine," she started, "I mean, I have others to fight with." Caesar put on a broad smile amd laughed. "So tell me, how do you feel about Chad?" He asked. Iris froze.
She eventually mustered up the words to speak. "Well," she started, "he is a great friend. He is always there for me, and I'm always there for him." Caesar smiled and raised his eyebrows. "But we want to know about what you THINK of him. You know what I mean?" Iris knew at this point that everyone thought they would be a perfect couple. She thought of what to say and how to make up a good story.
"Well... Chad... He, always seems to be with me. I mean, have you ever gotten that feeling..." Iris noticed that the crowd grew eerily silent, anticipation strangling them at this point. She finished, "... That feeling where you get butterflies, like you are thirsting for what will happen next when you're with him. I mean, he's a nice guy and all..." She thought of how Chad seemed to act is if he didn't like her. "... But sometimes I wonder what he thinks of me. About how I am to him, and what he... means to me." Iris found herself blushing a bit, realizing that what she was saying was half true. But before Caesar could say anything else, she added, "I mean, I don't love him! I just like him as a great friend." The crowd began to stir. "Well, we all have our separate opinions," Caesar said. "Who else feels important to you here?"
One image popped up in Iris's mind of someone she knew. "Heather," she said, "Heather Snow. She has a bright heart, and she doesn't deserve to be here, ready to... possibly die. President Snow would be proud of her. And because of that... I will do my best to protect her, even at the cost of my life." Caesar and the crowd looked at her with wide eyes. "Well," Caesar said, "You have a kind, brave heart. I'm sure President Snow honors your courage. But are you up to the task?" Iris nodded. "Although I got a low score, the other tributes would be best staying away from me. They don't know my possibilities or limits." The crowed cheered with all their might, their voices raising over the beeping of the timer. "Iris Strutter everyone!" Caesar said as she walked off stage."
Iris waved to the crowd one last time before disappearing into the back room. Her prep team came rushing up to her with Chad at their heels. "That was excellent!" Presley said. "You really showed your bravery and honesty out there!" Odis complimented. Iris looked at Chad as she was bombarded by compliments, his eyes meeting hers.

She found herself with Chad on the couch, staring at the TV as they replayed the interviews. "Chad," she said after a long moment of silence, "Do you actually love me?" Chad looked at her. "I'm sorry," he started, "but I don't love you that way. I love you as a friend, but not as a love-life." Iris quickly blushed, realizing that he thought that she liked him. "Don't think that I love you!" She quickly said, closing her mouth as she realized that those were the wrong words. Chad laughed. "I never did, Iris. I know you better than that!" They looked at each other and laughed. "Why do the Capitol citizens want us together?" Iris laughed. Chad smiled and said, "They ship us." They continued to laugh for a long moment before Iris stopped suddenly as a cold feeling emerged in her gut. Chad stopped and looked at her. "You okay?" He asked.
"Tomorrow's the Games," Iris whispered. "We go into the arena tomorrow." A worried expression crossed Chad's face. "It's okay," he started. "We should get some rest." Iris nodded. "Goodnight," she said. Chad replied, "Goodnight." Then they left to their rooms.