I wake up to someone banging on my door. “It’s the morning, what could you possibly want?!” I yell. I don’t care who’s at the door. They need to have manners. Soon, someone opens the door and Finnick steps in my bedroom, closing the door behind him. Sitting on his palm is a small box. “I bribed your stylists for this,” he says, handing me the box. I begin to lift it open but then he stops me. “No,” he quickly says. “Don’t open it. Not until the interviews.” I nod my head. I place the box in my drawer as Finnick exits my room. After getting ready, I walk down to the food court. Well, it’s not actually a food court, i just call it that because there are so many options. In front of me sits my breakfast, bacon, eggs, a croissant, cheese, and tea. I take a sip of the tea and immediately set the cup down. It tastes terrible. How do adults drink this stuff? I eat slowly this time, taking in all the delicious tastes of all the different foods. This is most likely my last day or second to last day eating the scrumptious Capital food. I can’t lie, they taste so good. Once I’m finished, my stylist team preps me for the interviews, which are in about an hour and a half. They pluck my eyebrows, wax my body hair, scrub me clean. Then comes the makeup and dressing part. The results look good in their opinion. In my opinion, it’s like im a whole different person. Glittery aqua boots, glittery pastel makeup, glittery aqua dress. I look way different. Everyone leaves but then Hark comes in with the box Finnick gave me. Looks like i forgot it in my drawer. But it’s not like I could even retrieve it because right after i finished eating, my stylist team took me away. “Finnick told me to give this to you.” he hands me the box and i open it this time. “Put it on, just don’t open it.” he then leaves the room. How can i put it on without opening the box? But then i look down at the opened box and realize it’s a gold heart locket. I try my best not to open it, so I quickly put it on. I’m escorted by Hark, Sierra, and Finnick to the interview waiting rooms. Finnick waits with me, while Nabil is nowhere to be found. Finnick nods at Sierra and Hark and they quickly leave. Did they plan something? I look around and am confused but scared at the same time. “Sit down,” Finnick says gently. I sit down beside him. “You have to get sponsors. And to get sponsors you have to make people like you.” “Why?” I ask. “If they don’t like me then okay good riddance no one likes them either.” “Okay, well…” Finnick says, trying to think of how to explain it. “Just be yourself. Be genuine.” “‘Myself’ would stab a trident in President Snow’s heart.” I say, annoyed and irritated. “If i get a chance to.” “Good.” he says. “Good? What’s good? To kill their beloved president?” I ask, shocked. No.” he laughs. “They’d like your temper.” “No, they’d hate me for wanting to kill Snow.” I say. “Did the Gamemakers hate you for throwing a trident at them?” Finnick says. “No,” I whisper, irritated that he’s right. Then, Caesar calls my name. “Next up is our beloved Zaryiah Vale, District 4!” As i walk to the stage, Finnick stops me for a second. “Promise me you’ll at least try to make them like you,” he whispers. I hesitate before responding. Then, i finally respond genuinely. “Promise,” i whisper back.
