Becoming Adamant [#1]

Chapter 11 - Who The Hell Needs A High Score Anyways?!

As I walk out of the elevator, I have a slight look around as I want to do everything I can to avoid Dess and Lavio. That duo is not two guys I want to be stuck with on my own. I see them in front of the hologram discussing something fashion related. I’m not the slightest bit interested in that and I’m happy to say, I make it to my room without them seeing me. I take a quick shower and change into something comfortable that doesn’t remind me of that weakling I’ve had to act like the last couple of days. It’s ironic how I less than a week ago talked down one of the biggest jerks, and yet here, I play the weakling who supposedly doesn’t talk back. Oh, how the irony has made an appearance in the Capitol.

As I walk out of the room, apparently I’ve been taking my time as I see the rest of the guys sitting in front of the hologram screen. Even Talon is there. I guess I lost track of time…that or the fact that I really don’t want to see my score. I know it’s horribly bad so I won’t really wanna sit with the guys and see it on the screen. “And look who decided to come out of hiding?” Blight says as he sits there with a glass of…wait for it, water! Yeah, he’s sticking to his end of the deal. No alcohol…at least he’s sober. I’ll give him that. “You know, I’m not that hyped to learn what my score is. I know it’s horribly bad and I don’t want to know how bad it actually is.” I let out as I throw myself on the couch in front of the screen, right next to Talon. “How about we just see how bad that score is and go from there, alright, Feisty?” Blight then answers. I roll my eyes at him as our attention is over at the screen.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the moment we’ve been waiting for. The moment where we find out what talents this year’s tributes have kept away us!” Kellerman starts. I shrug lightly to myself at that last part as I have not shown a single thing in this session to prove them what I am…what I really am. Whatever score I get is a pure and utter lie. They go by the districts of course so we get the chance to see the Career’s scores first, and as usual, they’re pretty high. I take specific notice to the girl from 1…she scored a 10! The boys scored 11’s respectively as the other Careers were around 10 and 11 as well. It doesn’t really matter though. High scores don’t usually mean that you win. It just means that the Gamemakers think you can win. Well, here’s a little surprise to you Capitol-morons: the girl from 1, will not!

All of these high scores however are dangerous to the rest. ¼ of this year’s tributes are from the Career districts and it’s clear that they plan on working together. Of course it had be this year…my year! My luck doesn’t get any better with everything that has already happened. And now it’s our turn, and they’re starting with me. Oh joy!

“And now, the teeny tiny female tribute from District 7, Sylvia Mason…” Okay, now I’m officially disappointed with Kellerman. I mean, fine teeny and tiny are the right words because that’s what I am, but he forgot to put lethal in there! I’ll prove him wrong, just you wait. “A very shy score for this tribute, with a score of…” I sit forward on the couch, even though I don’t really want to hear this next part. I already know the score is low by the way Kellerman reads it up. “…4!” Okay, I know that’s a terrible score normally, but that’s actually higher than I expected. Perhaps being a danger to myself is better than being no danger at all. Funny how that works.

I look over at Blight briefly as he nods his head at me approving, but I on the other make sure to tell him by my facial expression, that I’m not. That I could have done way better than that. “And now over the male tribute from the same district: Talon Branch!” Kellerman then says he puts the paper with my score on away. I can see that Talon’s really paying attention here. Perhaps he’s had a great session and that he’s actually expecting something good. We’re both relying on his score so I’m kind of curious as well. “…with the more impressive score of: 8!” We both sigh deeply. Kellerman goes on to District 8, but nobody is actually watching. With an 8, Talon and I will have enough sponsors hopefully. That was what we were aiming for. The ones we truly need to worry about are the Careers, the rest is just…what do they call it, collateral damage?

The screen goes off anyways and all the attention is around me and Talon…well, Talon mostly as it is his score that will save us both in there. “Well done with your score, Talon! It’s above average as you saw the rest of the tributes after you. Your main competition will be the Careers.” Blight says before he turns to me. Oh crap! Good job at sucking I imagine he’s going to say. “And you, Feisty…well, when you’re told to go low, you go the lowest.” Blight then says with a slight hint of irony in his voice. Perhaps he didn’t want that low of a score. What the hell, I did as I was told, and it’s done! “Well, if you had told me to go the other way, I’d guarantee you I’d score the highest.” I answer back.

Oh, but that’s when I remember something. I turn my head towards Talon. “Oh, and by the way Talon, the bitch from 1, she’s all mine! If it ever comes down to it I wanna put her down for good.” I then let out. Talon and Blight smiles at the request I just made. “I can promise you, she’s going to be all yours.” Talon answers as we shake hand on it. Blight then appears to turn curious. “What is it about her, Feisty? She too pretty for ya?” He then teases me. I give him a sarcastic smile first. “No, she’s not nearly pretty enough.” I point out at first. “She’s targeted me since the chariot and…well, I guess she didn’t like it when I called her bluff in the first session. She tried to scare me but I think I left her rather shaken.” I say rather confidently. “She didn’t expect a ‘weakling’ to talk back.” I can see Blight grin lightly as well as Talon.

Lavio and Talon’s designer don’t say much. I can tell they are rather stunned, especially the moment they heard my choice of word regarding the girl from 1. I simply enjoyed myself at that point. To watch them squirm for once. Eventually they leave us, and it’s just me, Blight, Dess and Talon left. “So tomorrow is the last day before the Games truly begin. The interviews are important for both of you as you need to sell your version of yourselves one last time.” Blight starts. “It’s Talon acting like him normal self on rather loose ties, while you, Feisty, you need to tone your attitude down quite a bit.” Blight then adds.

I sigh deeply as I know I’m not gonna like tomorrow at all. “I know you hate this and I know it’s going to be very hard for you not to spit out any fancy lines so tomorrow, you’ll get to be as grumpy and feisty as you want up till the interview. For five minutes, you’re gonna have to be someone you’re not.” Blight points out. “Do you think you can handle that, Feisty?” He then asks me. I take a deep breath as I nod, but he knows I hate it. Five minutes in front of Panem as someone that I’m so far from being in real life. That’s going to be the longest 300 seconds of my life for sure!

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Sorry if it's a little short. Then again, I make up for it in later chapters! Hope you enjoyed! ;-)