I'd like to thank everyone who has stuck with me. I PROMISE this will get exciting! Just stick with me for another chapter and we'll be in the games, throwing knives, dodging spears and... oh my, wait until you see the arena!!

"Everybody please welcome Cornelius Censur! Your favourite host!" There's a round of wild applause. I look down the line, and the majority of the teens look nervous. Especially Mao, because she's up first. Genus remains expressionless. I can tell he's going for the manly approach.

I look behind me, where Leia remains stony-faced. She glances at me before scowling. Her face seriously looks almost attractive with a scowl. She's pretty whatever expression is there, although I've yet to see her cry.

"Soooooo, Mao! Is that anything like mayonaise?" Cornelius laughs, while the Capitol crowd roar. He pats the terrified girl on the shoulder. "I'm just kidding, sweetheart. Got to love parents who have a knack for naming their kids." He winks at the camera.

"So, Mao... how do you feel about the Games?"

"I... I'm not sure." She says carefully. 

"Scared?" He grins. "You look it."

The crowd laughs again, while she blushes. "Let's just say if you were going for the teary, sorry approach, then you had me at go."

This makes the poor girl squirm in her seat. Cornelius is thoroughly enjoying the moment. He grins at her, trying to look appeasing. "I suppose it's all for the best. Good luck, darling."

She makes her exit hurriedly, and I see her run into her mentor's arms, sobbing. This makes the whole line shiver. All I think, is that I must get through these next few minutes. No sponsors equals no food.

Genus' interview flies by. Cornelius feeds on fear, which Genus seems to have none of, so old Corny ends the interview pretty quickly, slightly disappointed. My heart's thumping as I take a step forward. And for a moment, I'ts me in that chair, welcoming the tributes. If I had his job... man, I'd sure not be as harsh as he is.

"Hellooo Ceasar!" He croons, noting my obvious lack of macho-ness. "Well well, what were you thinking, that this interview was a fashion show?" He glances at the audience, then points at me. "Go on, spin. I know you're dying to."

"Uh..." I try to ignore a blush. Spinning is so not a guy thing to do.

"Oh, go, go on!" He literally shoves me off the chair, and I try to do a manly turn that fails epically.

"So, all that aside, Ceasar, what are you most looking forward to? The killing? Or being killed?" Laughter sweeps the audience. He soaks it all up, the brute.

"No, I'm just looking forward to... going home." I say. This takes him aback. Going home would mean that I would win.

"Not much chance of that, folks, but good luck. We'll enjoy watching you." He slaps me rather had on the back and then pushes me out the door to make room for the next tribute.

The tribute interviews fly by. I can see that the people who get the most reaction are those that are in stony defiance of Cornelius's prying ways. Gem, from district 6, is a giant, and his district partner Reeve is exactly a mirror image of them. They could probably crush me with a look. The only other nervous person is the girl from 12, Cressida. She's a tiny child, thin and pale, about 12, by the looks of her. I feel sorry when Cornelius starts barraging her with questions, and I turn away.

"Come on, up to bed. You've got a HUGE day ahead of you tomorrow!" Genie says. Oh right. The games. I had forgotten about them. Not.