Rye

That night, Rye and Rosemary visited the roof to stare at the stars again.

Rye could not begin to explain how proud he was of Rosemary. She showed the Gamemakers how hard she had been working. She must have performed really well to get an eight, and Rye had to mentally pat himself on the back for being such a good teacher.

She had also stood up for herself, and that was huge when it came to his sister. When it came to standing up and protecting someone she loved, she never hesitated. But when it was her who was being talked down to, or beaten, or teased, she wouldn't say anything. Rye had always wondered how she could stand it and she had simply answered with, "It doesn't bother me that much."

He didn't know how it didn't bother her, because it would bother him, but they had always been different. It was why they were able to get along so well.

And he scored a ten! That was more than he could have hoped for. He was proud of himself and his hard work and he knew sponsors would be lining up to help him during the Games. From there, he just had to figure out how to get Rosemary out of there alive. He had already talked to Haymitch, but there were so many unknowns in the Hunger Games that nothing was guaranteed.

"Rye," Rosemary's voice broke him out of his thoughts. "Can I ask you a question?"

He grinned. "You already did."

Rose laughed lightly. "You're such a dick."

"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me, Rosie," he cooed sarcastically at her before chuckling. "All right, fine. Ask away."

Rosemary was quiet for a moment and he knew she was gathering her courage. What was she going to ask him?

"Do you have a thing with Kline? Like a...romantic thing?"

Well, he certainly hadn't expected that. "Yeah," he didn't even try to hide it. His feelings for Kline were real and they had been weighing him down since they arrived at the Capitol. If all went to plan, he'd never see her beautiful face again. "I really like her, Rose."

He looked over at her just in time to see her smile. "I think she really likes you too."

"Well, she won't actually let us call it official," he informed her, looking back up to the sky, absent of stars.

"When you get back, you should ask her," Rosemary told him. His heart thumped heavily and his stomach churned, wishing that he could go to Kline and ask her to be his. "And when you get married and have a baby, you should name her after me."

Tears stung Rye's eyes and he swallowed heavily. "Rosemary the Second? That's a weird name, Rosie."

"You can drop the Second if that makes you feel better," Rosemary laughed and he could hear the shake of emotion in her voice. "I think you two are great for each other, you know."

"I think so too," Rye whispered. "What about you, huh? Anyone you've got an eye on?"

"No," Rosemary laughed once, as if the thought amused her. "Can I ask you something, though?"

"Of course."

"So, I know this girl back home who has never shown romantic or sexual interest in any boy or girl before." Rye hid his smile as she very obviously tried to hide that she was talking about herself. "And then she went on a trip and she met a guy and suddenly she has those feelings. Do you think something's wrong with her? She's not broken, is she?"

"No, she's not," Rye reassured her, turning his head to look at her. Her head was already facing him, her brown eyes glazed with vulnerability. "Sexuality is a spectrum and no one is ever going to have themselves completely figured out, okay? There's nothing wrong with her, she just has a new side of herself to explore."

"Yeah?"

"I wouldn't lie to you, Rosie," he matched her soft volume while making sure that she knew he was one hundred percent serious. "Everyone is different, everyone is special, and everyone is important. No matter who they are, what they do, or who they fuck."

Rosemary giggled, nose wrinkling in amusement. "You speak pure poetry, Rye."

"Thank you," he stuck his tongue out at her. "Hey, I love you no matter what, all right?"

A serene smile crossed over her lips. "I love you too."

Rye faced the sky again. They were silent for a moment before he spoke up again. "Hey, is this guy you're attracted to Kyler?"

Rose was quiet. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

-

Rosemary

They got to sleep in the next morning, since there was no official event happening that day. They had training for the interview with Haymitch and Effie, but otherwise they were free. As a result, Rosemary emerged from her room around nine in the morning and Rye followed suit two hours later.

"I'm glad you two got some good rest," Effie smiled at them from behind her coffee mug, having joined them for brunch. "You both deserve it, truly, but we still have a lot of things to get done today."

Rosemary hid her smile as Rye groaned softly, tiredly leaning his forehead against the table next to his plate. Effie ignored him and took out her mobile, reading off the agenda for the day.

"First, you both will be taken in for fittings with Vina and Larkin. This won't take long, they just need some last minute measurements in case anything has changed in the week you've been here."

Consistently eating big meals three times a day, plus snacks and dessert, had changed Rosemary's body in the short time they had been in the Capitol. She didn't hate it by any means, it was only a small change where her waist's curve changed slightly.

"Then you'll be with me, Rosemary, for four hours. Rye, you will spend that time with Haymitch, getting ready for your interview. We'll have an early dinner and afterward, Rye will be with me and Rosemary will be with Haymitch. Any questions?"

Rosemary had absolutely no idea what Effie had to teach her that would take four hours, but she didn't protest when she was whisked away to her bedroom after she finished eating. The moment they stepped through her door, Effie had pushed her toward the closet so she could change into a floor-length ball gown and high heels.

Effie showed her the correct way to walk in a dress and heels, how to sway her hips seductively as she moved around the room, and how to fetch something from the floor without bending over. When she got to sit down, Effie then taught her where to cross her legs, how straight her back needed to be while sitting, and where to lay her hands just right on her lap so she appeared pretty and delicate.

Once they got the basics down, Effie made Rosemary walk back and forth across her room, just to practice in heels. Before the opening ceremony, when she was put into heeled combat boots, she had never worn any type of heel in her life. So, naturally, she started off wobbly at first, almost falling with each step she took. Effie was very encouraging and gave her helpful tips and eventually, with practice, walking in heels got easier and Rosemary got better.

Once she mastered walking in heels, Effie now had her hold her dress up to her ankles while she walked. "A lady never pulls up her dress higher than her ankles, Rosemary."

Rosemary didn't have any reason to doubt her. This was Effie's thing, and she wasn't going to argue. Holding the dress to her ankles did help her walk better in heels and it reassured her that she wouldn't make a fool out of herself in front of sponsors.

"Well done, Rosemary," Effie patted her hand affectionately as their time together dwindled down to minutes. "You still have a way to go, but if you make it out of this, everyone will absolutely adore you."

Why was it when Effie was just starting to become bearable, she had to go screw it up? Her eyes narrowed in annoyance, Rosemary had to bite her tongue. She didn't care how much the Capitol could potentially adore her, all she cared about was getting Rye out of that arena alive.

"Thanks, Effie," she managed.

"Oh, no problem, sweetheart," Effie beamed at her. "Now, why don't you get changed so we can eat?"

Rosemary nodded and went back to her closet, quickly changing back into the linen pants, blouse, and flats that she had been wearing before she was forced into the gown and heels.

Vina, Cinna, and Larkin did not join them for dinner that night since they were busy with their outfits. With Rosemary, Rye, Effie, and Hayitch eating dinner so early, none of them minded their absence. There would be time tomorrow to have one last dinner together.

Throughout their meal, Rosemary and Rye spent the entire time being a buffer between Effie and Haymitch, their bickering having almost got out of hand at one point. After they ate helpings of cheesy lasagna with white sauce, garlic bread, and freshly steamed broccoli, Rosemary and Rye switched mentors.

Rosemary followed Haymitch into the sitting room and sat down on the couch, watching him wearily as he took his own seat in the comfy chair across from her. With a drink in hand, he silently stared at her for a couple of minutes. It was starting to make her uncomfortable.

Finally, she wrinkled her eyebrows, fed up with his silent staring. "What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to come up with an act for you to put on, Pipsqueak. I need to present you to the crowd and get them to love you and I'm still thinking about how I'm going to do that."

Rosemary sighed. "Honestly, I've been wondering the same thing."

"Shyness can be endearing sometimes, but a lot of Tributes are shy," Haymitch started thinking aloud. "You're too old for that to work anyway. If you were younger, maybe...Sexy is a no-go, you have as much sex appeal as a seal."

"Thank you, I guess?" Rosemary rolled her eyes.

"Shh, I'm thinking!" he waved at her dismissively. "I can't see you being peppy enough to pull off happy go-lucky and anyone could smell the nerves on you from a mile away...Okay, Pipsqueak, what are some things that you like about yourself? Tell me like we're in a job interview."

"Okay..." Rosemary hesitated before listing off her favorite qualities. "I'm loyal and protective. Dependable. I wouldn't say I'm gorgeous, but I am pretty. I'm smart, though I do sometimes have trouble turning my thoughts into words because my brain is working too fast..."

"Okay, that's enough," Haymitch stopped her, sitting forward with wide eyes. He has an idea, she realized. "Smart, dependable, loyal...You're the girl next door."

Rosemary had no idea what that was. "The girl next door?"

"Yes! They're dependable, approachable, and kind. I can make you approachable, not that that needs much work anyway, I've heard people say great things about you. And being smart just adds to the illusion," he waved his fingers majestically before looking at her seriously. "I need you to work with me, though. Can you get through your shyness for five minutes while you're up there with Flickerman?"

She wanted to say no, but she couldn't. She had to try.

"Yes."

"Good, let's get started."

They started at the beginning of the interview. Haymitch acted as Caesar and introduced her, and Rosemary would act like she was walking on stage. At first, she didn't quite know how to act, but Haymitch gave her pointers and had her redo the entry until she was acceptable and he was satisfied. Next, he started asking her questions.

What's your favorite part about District 12? The sense of community. We really strive to band together to help out those in need.

What about your family, tell us a bit more about them. My father inherited his mother's bakery and it's been our whole lives, since before I was even born. I have a little brother, Peeta, who I adore, and of course, Rye. My best friend is named Kline and we've been friends since we were learning to walk and talk.

Do you have any boys or girls waiting for you back at home? No, not really. I've just been focusing on baking and school.

And on and on they went, asking and answering questions until their tongues were tied. Finally, with only moments left in their four hour time block, Haymitch touched on the hardest question that Caesar would bring up. Rye as her district partner, a competitor in the very same Games.

It was a hard question. She didn't know how to answer it without becoming angry or sad and it was obvious that her thoughts on the subject were not appropriate for anyone in the Capitol to hear. So, Haymitch gave her a word-by-word answer, even writing it down so she could read it and memorize it. It was a good answer, and no matter how much Haymitch tried to deny it, she insisted that he was a wonderful Mentor.

"You did great, kiddo," Haymitch glanced at her hands, which had been curled up the whole time they practiced. "Are you bleeding? We need to get some medicine on those sores."

"I get nervous," Rosemary took a tissue from a box nearby and dabbed at the small crescent-shaped cuts adorning her palms.

"Hey, we all have our things," Haymitch shrugged, not wanting to dive into a conversation any more vulnerable than what they had practiced for the interview. "Well, we have a couple of minutes. Anything else you want to know?"

Rosemary thought to herself for a second before realizing that this was the first and only time she had been alone with Haymitch. Every other time, Rye had been there and she had been unable to talk to their Mentor about the Games.

"It's more like a request," she admitted before looking at him firmly, showing him that she was completely serious. "I want you to choose Rye in the arena. Get him sponsors, talk him up, help him win. I don't want you to worry about me. He has to win and go home."

Haymitch sighed heavily and leaned back into his seat. "You know he's come to me with the same request, don't you?"

"I figured."

"So why are you asking?"

"Because you and I both know that Rye has what it takes to win the Hunger Games," Rosemary stated. "Sure, I can use a bystaff and I'm smart, but Rye is all of that times a hundred. He's strong, both mentally and physically, and I know he will survive. I know that I wouldn't be able to, so it's gotta be him, Haymitch. He has a better shot at winning and you know it."

It was quiet for a moment as her words settled but she kept eye contact with the Victor the entire time.

"Fine," he finally sighed and gulped down the rest of his drink. "I'll choose him."

Tears welled up in Rosemary's eyes. "Thank you."

She was relieved and devastated all at once. She was relieved that Rye would live and go home to their family, to protect Peeta, to marry Kline and have a couple of kids. And she was sad, because she wouldn't get those same opportunities. And it broke her heart, yes, but she knew it would hurt worse if she had to live without Rye by her side.

This was the choice she made and she would never regret it in the rest of the short time she had to live.

-

Rosemary was not as rested the next morning as she was the day before. Not only had she and Rye trained for eight almost-consecutive hours, but then they had a late night snack and went back up to the roof. They sung lullabies that their dad had taught them as kids and wondered aloud how Peeta, Sage, Kline, and Delly were doing. That made them a little too sad, so Rye started making stupid jokes that he knew she'd get, making Rosemary almost pop a lung from laughing so hard.

She had gone to bed around three in the morning and she was woken up at seven. She was hardly able to eat breakfast before her prep team was dragging her back to her room in order to get ready for the interview that was twelve hours away.

Like her first day in the Capitol, Rosemary was scrubbed down, waxed, covered in lotions, oils, and balms, and fussed over until she shined like a brand-new coin. Joss covered her body with dusty glitter that shimmered an orange-gold when the light hit her just right and then painted her nails the same color, making each and every one perfect and glossy.

During lunchtime, Rosemary was subjected to treatment for her hands. The medic who had been called up by Cinna when he saw her palms, had looked at her in disapproval as he slathered cream onto the wounds. They stung for a moment and then the sting went away, followed by a soothing sensation that made the pain ebb away. By the time she was done with lunch, with Windy feeding her very awkwardly because of her lack of hand usage, her sores were just light pink marks that would soon fade away.

It was late afternoon when Windy started Rosemary's hair. Her blonde locks were polished into neat waves before they were swept into an artfully messy chiffon at the base of her neck. A metal pin, the same gold as her nails and body glitter, secured the bun in place, the metal shaped into flames as an extra accent.

Once her hair was done, Cinna was able to start her makeup. He gave her another smokey eye, but this time he glued chunky orange, black, and gold chunky glitter around the outer corners of her eyes. Dark eyeliner was applied, followed by long eyelashes that were glued and arranged nicely within seconds. The rest of her face was fairly simple in comparison; her cheeks were highlighted and her lips were covered in shiny gloss, little flakes of glitter peeking through the sheen every so often.

Finally, it was Vina's turn to work his magic. Rosemary's dress was brought in and she stood as straight as a pin as Cinna and Windy slipped it over her head, careful not to disturb their hard work on her face and head. The material of the dress felt silky on her skin as it settled into place and when she looked into the mirror, she could hardly recognize herself.

Her dress shined like metal but flowed like molten lava down her body. The bodice clung to her curves and highlighted her modest cleavage, there were triangle cut-outs on each side of her waist showing off her glittery skin, and was held up by thin straps that left her upper back bare. At her waist was a thin metal band where the dress flared into its skirt, the fabric flowing to just above her knees. Just like the Tribute Parade, Vina went with the fire theme; the dress was made of a deep red that gradually got lighter until it faded into a beautiful orange.

"Vina," she breathed, speechless. She looked amazing. "This is so beautiful. It's better than anything I could ever imagine. Thank you for letting me wear it."

"Thank you for bringing my vision to life, Rose," Vina kissed her cheek, careful not to disturb any of her makeup. "You are one of the most beautiful young ladies I have ever had the pleasure of meeting."

Tears welled in Rosemary's eyes but Vina saw and gently shushed her, warning her about ruining Cinna's makeup. He made her laugh and she gave him the warmest smile she had to show her appreciation.

Suddenly she was overcome with gratitude. Her prep team, Vina, Larkin, Effie, and Haymitch had made going into the Hunger Games a much easier experience for both her and Rye. They helped them at every turn and she couldn't begin to put into words how much they had come to mean to her over the last week.

"Give us a twirl!" Cinna requested with a fond smile.

Rosemary obeyed, carefully twirling so the bottom of her dress flared out attractively. Windy practically squealed with excitement while Vina and Cinna shared a victory kiss. Rosemary, herself, felt amazing. Between the dress, her hair and makeup, and her prep work with Effie and Haymitch, she felt unstoppable.

"Come here," Vina beckoned her, holding up a pair of black heels that matched the straps of her dress. "Let's get you into these."