Interview
(Aspen, the character telling story, has a known temper that causes her to say what she's thinking and feeling no matter what, it tends to come out when she is stressed out)I slip into a small, light blue dress that is tight around my torso. It has a heart neckline, and from my waist, it poofs out slightly, giving me a small and innocent look. It's very cute! But it's kind of hard to breathe in it. The prep team does my make up, they do a mixture of light and dark blues with hints of white. Then they added very pale, glittery pink lipstick. I barely recognize myself.
I'm super nervous. Tonight is the interview. In about an hour I will be facing a thousand Capitol citizens, and even more will be watching me on a TV screen. Peeta and Katniss give Zorran and I quick pointers, like don't talk about the sick, dying, or hungry people at home. Katniss tried to teach me how to walk in uncomfortable high heels, but after about 10 face falls to the floor, she called in Semmi, who agreed to grab some simple flats for me.
The interviews blur together. I study my light blue dress with the tight torso and heart neckline. It's gets poofy below my waist. Suddenly District 11 boy goes out to the stage, and Peeta ushers me close to the curtain because I'm next. I am panicking. The boy comes back and my fear is wild in my eyes and my hands are shaking.
"Now, please give a warm welcome to this year's District 12 female tribute, Aspen Quista!"
I hear Peeta whisper in my ear for the hundreth time: "Don't be forgettable!"
I step past the curtains and into the light shining on the stage. It blinds me for a second, and when my eyes adjust, I see an endless crowd of screaming people. I freeze right up. Right there on the stage. I awkwardly look down, blushing, I shuffle my feet to the seat next to a waiting Ceasar. I can feel tears threatening to spill over. I quietly sit down.
"Aspen, right? How are you?" Ceasar asks and the audience immediately holds it's tongue waiting for my response.
"Uh- All right, how about you? Ceasar, right?" I softly stammer out. I try to be charming, but my voice comes out jittery. Ceasar's laughter echoes throughout the vast room.
"Yes, ma'am! And I'm doing pretty well. So, what did you think of that gorgeous dress you wore at the Parade?" He asks.
"It was quite lovely, sir. Well, at first I wasn't sure about the fire, but everybody assured me that it was safe. Wasn't it pretty?" And it was. I'm all ready forgetting about the people watching. I'm just staring into Ceasar's dark blue eyes.
"Haha, 'sir', I like it! So, is it pretty neat here in the big city?" He asks.
"Yes! My hometown is very small, it's population is probably smaller than half the number of people in this very room. Here you have heated mattresses in bed, and soft feathery carpets. The showers have weird controls. The sink has a weird machine that does the dishes. Ceasar, I've got to say it, it's crazy here!" I am suprising myself at how much I am saying! It's incredible, the audience is eating it up! They laugh along with Ceasar, but suddenly Ceasar's face grows serious.
"What? No 'sir' anymore?" Uh-oh. Have I offended him? I didn't mean t- "That's good, I think you and I really get each other. I think we are all ready on a first name basis, Aspen. Oh, I do love that name. How did you feel when the announcer pulled that name from the Bowl?" I smile as he says my name, but it quickly disappears as I understand his question.
"Oh- I- I- went through 3 stages, it seems. First, I was shocked, couldn't believe it! That Quarter Quell is awful! Forcing children," I emphasize the word "to kill each other? It's sick. Then I panicked, I just knew I would be picked. When my name was drawn, I froze up again." I shouldn't have said that much! The Capitol hates those kind of thoughts!
"I see. But it will make your job all the easier, won't it?" He asks, trying to still make me look good.
"Not really, Ceasar. How am I supposed to murder and fight against kids that are just like me? Forced to do this. Forced into these... these," I can't think of the word! What am I going to say? "Games! Do any of you realize that I may never see my mother or father again? Do any of you even care?" I am facing the audience. Somewhere along my speech I stood up even. I was practically pointing my finger at them. I am standing in silence. The buzzer goes off. Still, nobody says anything. Great. My temper probably just shortened my length of life. I will probably die some awful way as punishment for my personal rebellion-sounding remark. "I'm sorr- Uh, good night, thank you." I whisper. My tiny clenched fists are shaking again as I exit the stage, I am outright crying now. And I've made an awful setting for Zorran to go into. Grr! Why am I so terrible at everything it seems?
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