I tap my foot as I wait. Eight people in front of me, and most of them Careers. Alice and Sam, District 3, aren't, of course, but the others are. Glimmer and Marvel, Cato and Clove. And Nicole. Ethan doesn't seem to be part of the alliance. Odd.

Yesterday was exhausting. Saria drilled me on how to conduct myself in the interviews until lunch, and then Claudia and I debated how I should act for my three minutes with Caesar. We- or rather, she- decided to go with I coming off as quiet and intelligent.

Glimmer is up first. She talks about her training, and flirts with the audience. Caesar asks if she is prepared, and she answers "Yes, Caesar, I am very prepared."

Then, Marvel. He jokes with the crowd, and they seem to like him well enough. He doesn't give much hint as to what he'll be like in the arena.

Next up is Clove. She is sarcastic yet sweet, but I know that she's dangerous. A ten in training? With those knives? She flaunted them during the three days. The crowd better watch out.

Cato swaggers onto the stage in a black suit, obviously attractive to the audience. He brags about his ten in training, and his capability. I saw him with the swords. And he threatened Jason in the training after an altercation with a stolen knife.

I didn't pay much attention to anyone after that. Nicole looked anxious, and Ethan barely talked. No one after the Careers seemed like much of a threat besides Districts 11 and 12, considering their training scores. Sure, some people might have chosen to go the way of Johanna Mason and fool people into thinking that they were weak. But I wasn't too worried. I was planning to avoid everyone else in the arena.

My turn came.

"Fenna Whicks, District Five!"

I smile, and walk onto the stage. I shake Caesar's hand, and sit down.

"Fenna, welcome. How are you liking the Capitol?"

I take a deep breath. "I haven't seen much of it, but the view from my window is amazing. Much different than the view at home."

"What's the view at home like?"

"It's pretty enough. I can see the square and the school. But the skyscrapers here far surpass it."

"I see someone's not afraid of heights." The audience chuckles. "Speaking of back home, what about your family?"

A wave of bitterness washes over me. But I can't mention anything Madelle told me. It'll definitely throw off the angle I'm trying to present. "I help my parents run the apothecary, and I have a little sister, Fawn."

"Fawn and Fenna. Beautiful names."

I blush at the compliment.

"And you volunteered at the reaping. Care to tell us why?"

I give a sly smile. "Just repaying an old debt."

"It must be a steep debt, then."

"Yes. A friend saved my life, so I save her sister." At the cost of my own, I don't add. But the audience eats it up. Wilda is Madelle's cousin, not her sister, but sister will get more sympathy.

Caesar goes along with crowd, before shifting gears. "Do you have a plan for the arena?"

"I find that if I can apply myself to the situation present, I will be able to figure it out."

Caesar nods. "Wise idea. You'll do well."

"Thank you," I say, trying to seem modest. Is is working?

"Do you have a sweetheart at home, Fenna?"

I shake my head. "No, I don't. I just don't have time, with work and all." I shrug.

Caesar nods, pretending to understand. "Thank you, Fenna." The buzzer goes. "Best of luck to you, Fenna Whicks of District Five."

I stand with Caesar and curtsy, before leaving the stage and finding Claudia.

"How did I do?" I ask, in a near whisper.

"Forgettable," she says, but she looks proud. That was what we were aiming for.

***

Once in my room, I take a deep breath and undress from my interview dress. Slipping on a nightgown, I take a final look at the outfit. The mint green dress that went to my knees, with several rows of ruffles. The woven choker, not really matching the outfit. The slightly heeled shoes, the odd bracelet. I sigh and leave all of it on a shelf in the bathroom. I wash off the makeup, and climb into the cold bed.

Although I pull the covers up to my chin, I can't seem to fall asleep. Nerves, I suppose. Tomorrow... will I live or die? This time tomorrow I could very well be dead. Or I could be alive, with murder on my conscience. I don't know.

I'm not sure how long I lay there, but the next thing I remembered was Claudia shaking me awake the next morning.