Chapter 13

On the day of the interviews, I slept in.  I woke up with Seeder shaking me, saying, "Rue!  Rue!  You're late!"  I squinted at her silhouette.  "You missed breakfast!  Hurry, hurry!  Today's the interview day!  You need to put on your interview outfit!"  I sat up and got out of bed.  I had no time to take a shower, so I just untangled my hair and got into a blue button-up shirt and a light brown skirt.  When I got to the dining room, I found a tray of pancakes sitting there and I shoved them into my mouth and swallowed them, then drank a glass of orange juice.  

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My prep team worked hard and Kirsti worked even harder.  They finally let me look into the mirror, and the sight took my breath away.  I was in a gossamer gown with sparkly butterfly wings and I looked so magical in a beautiful way.  I had no time to lose, and I got to the interview place just in time.  The interview had just begun.  I waited, trying to sit as nicely as I could.  I was finally called up, and a hush fell over the crowd.

The interviewer, Caesar, acts really sweet to me.  He says, "Well, Rue, when I saw your seven, I knew you were good."  He winks at me.  "I think I'm speaking for all of us," he gestures to the crowd.  "when I say that I absolutely love your dress."  The crowd murmurs agreement, and I feel my ears turning red.  "Well, that's all my stylist's work."  I pause and the cameras point towards Kristi for a moment then goes back to Caesar when he asks, "Yes, yes.  Kristi is a wonderful stylist."

He goes on for a bit and finally asks, "What do you think your strength will be in the arena?"  I say immediately, "I'm very hard to catch.  And if they can't catch me, they can't kill me. So don't count me out."  Caesar smiles.  "I wouldn't in a million years."  I smile and the buzzer goes off.  Everyone gives me a big round of applause and I walk off in a daze.  I politely pretended to listen during Thresh, Katniss, and Peeta's interviews, Caesar's words repeating in my mind.  "I wouldn't in a million years."