The hunger games continued

Chapter 22- the interviews

We are woken by Melinda shouting at the top of her lungs, "it's the big day!" I dress and go to breakfast, I don't remember what we had because I wasn't really paying attention, I just remember eating, the whole day was practising what I was going to say for the interview, trying on dresses and make up, "no no no, you must be bolder, speak up, sound like you actually mean it" prods Melinda, "I can't " I whine, "if I say it like I mean it any more I'll be screaming at Ceaser Flickerman's replacement" I say, raising my eyebrows at her, "his name is Narvolious-oh never mind" she waves her hand, "from the top" we take it "from the top" about a hundred times, I have to walk around the living room in high heels a hundred times too, I am so tired, all I feel like doing is flopping down and sleeping for about three weeks straight, but after my incessant practice I have to meet up with my prep team, they are supposed to be doing my hair and makeup but mostly they tut at my split ends and dry skin, it takes a looooong time, I sit there for hours and hours, listening to their frustrating gossip and annoying comments, after they had finished they took a mirrors down off the shelf above our heads and held one in front of me and one behind me, I stare with disbelief in the mirrors, "is that really me?" I breathe, "yes!" they giggle, and play with my hair, fluffing the light curls that sit gently on my shoulders, framing my face, my now long feathered eyelashes tickle my eyebrows, making my red pointed lips curves at the ends, I look even more beautiful than I did on the presentation night, which I honestly didn't think that would be possible. "Well don't you look gorgeous" a voice from behind me comments, "hi Loraille" I laugh, turning, "Hey sweet pea, you know, you can call me Lorrie, seeing as though we're friends now" I smile, then return my thoughts to why we're here, "ok, so what will I be wearing tonight?" She smiles and walks over to the closet, she pulls a cover off what looks like a dress, "this" she steps back from the closet to reveal a beautiful grey and white dress with delicate straps, it's beautiful I gasp, "but wait there's more"

"What do you mean?" I ask, puzzled, "try it on" I put the dress on and Lorrie makes a few adjustments, "ok, spread your arms out" I do as she says and a pair of magnificent wings stretch between my finger tips, "it's beautiful Lorrie, really"

"I know, now when your time is nearly up, tell Narvolious that you have a surprise for him, then I want you to flap your arms as hard as you can" I nod, "well, we should start heading over to the auditorium now" we take the lift down and walk down long corridors until we reach backstage of what I assume is the Auditorium, I don't pay attention to any of the other tributes, I barely notice Sonny I'm so nervous, but I do notice that her hair is pinned up behind her head with a few curls cascading around her head, her dress is covered in what looks like roses and fades into a black glittering substance, coal dust I suspect, the roses must stand for the roses in the meadow back home, and the coal dust is kind of obvious, "you look gorgeous" I tell her, she smiles at me weakly, "I wish I look as beautiful as you" she answers, I shake my head at her and pull a funny face in an attempt to cheer us both up, it doesn't really work. before I know it, it's my turn, "now every one give a warm welcome to Forest Mellark, one of the daughters of our favourite victors, Katniss and Peeta Mellark!" I walk on stage and the crowd roars, I look around, dazed, every one is clapping and cheering for me, me! "hello, hello, hello!" pipes Narvolious, he's quite an odd man, quite short, but scrawny, his tight fitted green suit doesn't help, he puts his arm around me and chortles loudly, "welcome to our home!" he laughs again, "thank you for having me" we sit in the white seats and the interview begins, "so how are you feeling?"

"Good, yeah, it's do exciting to visit the Capitol"

"Now, your mother, she-" he pauses and looks like he's looking for another word other than died, "passed away" he says finally, "on the way here, how are you feeling about that, tell us about it"

I pause, my mind numbing, not wanting to reopen the scars that it had tried so hard to heal, "it hurts" I begin, "I mean, a gilt needs her mother, my sister and I need her, and we miss her so much"

"Indeed, indeed, now, are you excited about the games? and be honest" I hesitate, contemplating whether or not I should infact, be honest, "no" I say finally, "and why not?"

"Well, because I could die, I think it unfair that we should have to participate just because if the family we were born into"

"Yes, I can see where yo are coming from, I-" I glance at the clock and realise that I only have 5 minutes left, "I have a surprise" I blurt, cutting him off, "ok" he nods, "go on" I stand and walk into the middle if the stage, I do as Lottie told me and stretch my arms wide, hearing the crowd gasp, I smile and flap hard, my wings burst into bright orange flames and I lift about 3 inches off the ground, I stare at the ground beneath me in amazement, this is amazing!