The Hunger Games (Writing Contest) [CLOSED]

Lara Grenwill-Interview

I'm to go next, after the boy from district five finishes.

I look behind me- staring at the boy from the same district as me. He has orange hair and freckles like pain splatters. He's shaking- so i smiled at him, my intention to calm him down, but he flushes a deep red.

My throat is dry as I look back at the stage, where Caesar Flickerman shakes hands with the male district five tribute.

I'm next.

My mind goes blank and my hands are burning under my gloves. I even feel a drop of cold sweats rolls down my back, making me shiver.

"Lara Grenwill!" They announce my name, and my body moves toward the stage.

I exit the dark and walk toward Caesar as the lights blind me and the crowd screams. Caesar takes my hand, shaking it with both hands.

He smiles, revealing his white teeth.

My mom always joked about these teeth when I was much younger saying that if saying if she got a hold of one, she would sell it as a pearl and have us live the life she promised my father and I.

"Hello, Laura, you're looking wonderful today!" Cesar exclaims and looks at the crowd, they cheer and holler. Caesar smiles the smile that has been plastered on his face for years.

I gulp and try to speak just as my mentor instructed- but nothing comes out.

The audience silences and I imagine my father watching at home, holding his breath, waiting for me to say something.

"Thank you, Cesar, you look as-as handsome as ever," I almost spit out, these words sounded different in my mouth, felt uncomfortable.

"Ah, thank you," he says, pretending to shake it off.

"So tell us, Lara, what are you wearing today?"

I try to form the words in my head quickly but I end up staring at him like he's asked me why I even exist.

He waits, still smiling.

"I-uh- my prep team did a- a great job."

I stare at the crowd, my eyes scanning for any familiar faces.

hypocritical-

20 hours ago

I only see two- Greenie and Maryweather- both part of my prep team.

Greenie did my hair, plucking strands out to, 'makes the hair symmetrical.'

She brushed my knotted hair and made me take fingernail in my palm to keep from screaming.

Maryweather- however- did my make up with plump, soft fingers.

She was gentle and quiet, hummed while she applied the makeup.

And when she was done, she smiles, pleased, and squeezed one of my cheeks.

I smile embarrassedly at Cesar, standing up and curtseying towards the crowd.

My dress was great with a frizzy skirt and a simple top.

The coolest thing about it was the train.

There were train tracks all over the dress, twirling down to the skirt. A 2d train moved along the tracks, matching the temporary tattoos on my skin.

The dress was to show my pride for district six, where most of the transportation was made.

"Wow, it's gorgeous! Now, tell us, Lara, how did you feel when you were picked?"

A replay of the shot when I was drawn at the reaping played behind us on a big screen.

"I-I was so- I was very shocked," I said, swallowing the lump in my throat, nodding.

"And tell me, Lara, how do you like it here in the Capitol?" Caesar asks, bobbing his head along with me.

I shrug, bunching up my lips, "it's not like home, that's for sure."

Caesar laughs, slapping his knee, "it's not like home!"

After he finished laughing, and the audience has quieted down- he continues.

"And your training? How's that going? Are you ready?"

I bite my lip, nodding, playing with the ends of my dress.

"What do you think of the other tributes?" He asks in a hushed tone.

I look up at him, my brain working fast.

What am I supposed to say? 'I'm ready to kill them"?

And then something takes control of me, and I blurt it out, wanting to see Caesar's reaction.

"They're nice, I like them."

Caesar's face goes dark, and for a split second, he shakes his head at me, giving me a silent warning.

Then he explodes into fake laughter, "well, good luck, Lara!"

I nod, a mischievous smile on my face, standing up.

I walk out, looking behind my shoulder as the boy from district six goes up, grinning from ear to ear at me.