Today is the last day before the games begin. I'm overcome with nerves. And I'm not even fighting to the death.

It is usually a day of celebration. People place bets, sponsor their favorite tribute, and forget about the whole dying thing. At night, it's the Tribute Interviews. All the tributes dress up in fancy things and are interviewed by Caesar about the games and their strategy. I find it interesting to hear the tributes from other districts, but I don't like how personal it feels. I mean, 23 of them are about to be brutally murdered, I'd rather them just be unfamiliar faces.

Music takes me away from these thoughts. The piano we have in our house is a little old, and the E flat key is a bit off, but it works. I think it's the only piano in the whole district, so I'm really the only one who can play. My mother used to be able to, but she can barely even sit up anymore. The happy notes of one of my favorite compositions, Sonatina in C Major, op. 55 no. 3, fills the house. For 5 minutes, it whisks me from my sorrows and into a world with no Hunger Games, no poverty, and with Katniss sitting on the bench next to me. Then, I'm back in reality. And it sucks.

The day dragged on and on. I spent a good part of it wandering around town, but the minutes felt like an eternity. By the time I returned home, I had kicked up so much coal that my legs were a chalky black color. The interviews didn't start for another 3 hours, so I took a longer-than-usual bath.

Pushing my damp blonde hair out of my face, I knocked on the Everdeen's door. It was an hour too early, but I'm sure they weren't doing anything. The door didn't open, so I stood there awkwardly before realizing that they were probably around the back of the house, close to the fence. Sure enough, there sat Prim and Mrs. Everdeen, milking Prim's goat who was somehow snow white despite there being coal everywhere I looked.

"Hello, Madge!" Prim said with a smile.

"Hey."

"Is it time for the Interviews, then?" Mrs. Everdeen asked anxiously. "I've lost track of time."

"Nah, there's still like half an hour," I said. "Is that your goat, Prim?" I asked the girl.

"Yes! Her name's Lady," Prim grinned up at me. "Isn't she beautiful?"

"Uhhh, yeah, she's really beautiful."

Prim then proceeded to tell me the story of how Katniss got her the goat, and how she had saved it from dying. I tried hard to listen, but my mind wanders to other things.

"Girls, come inside. It's about to start." Mrs. Everdeen says quietly. Prim and I jump up from the ground and rush inside, her excited and me scared. Katniss has never been one for public speaking. Actually, Katniss has never been one for speaking at all. Mrs. Everdeen seems to mirror my thoughts.

"This'll be interesting," she says thoughtfully.

"Yup," I reply.

"Guys, shush! It's starting!" Prim exclaims.

Sure enough, it is. Caesar cuts right to the chase.

"Welcome, welcome, to the 74th annual Hunger Games! Tonight, tonight is the Tribute Interviews. Let's see if she does indeed shine. Let's have a warm round of applause for Glimmer!"

The audience bursts into whatever a "warm round of applause" is. Glimmer, the girl from District 1, struts out onto the stage, wearing a translucent gold dress. The audience sucks in their breath. Everyone can easily tell this girl's claim to fame; she's sexy all the way. Next up is Marvel, who can only be described as a ball of confidence. He makes jokes and talks to the crowd, but he doesn't sound all that intelligent.

District 2 is one of the main threats standing in Katniss's way. The girl, Clove, scored very high in training and has an air of confidence about her. Then Cato, wearing a sharp black suit, steps up, proclaiming how he's going to win for his district. I can imagine this boy killing people with a smile on his face, and it's terrifying.

The next districts blend together, none of their tributes standing out in my mind. The girl from 5 speaks very fast, but she sounds smart. The guy from 10, who has a crippled leg, seems outlandishly shy, his words mimicking his boring gray suit. Next comes District 11. Rue, the girl who reminds me of Prim, floats up to the stage. Her gossamer gown adds to her aura of innocence, but her words are strong.

"If they can't catch me, they can't kill me. So don't count me out." Caesar seems impressed with her, as does the audience.

The boy from 11, Thresh, is sullen and angry-looking, answering each question with as little words as possible. If Katniss was a guy, she could get away with that angle, I think to myself.

Finally, Katniss.

"From District 12, you know her as the girl on fire," Caesar says as the audience screams their heads off, "but we know her as the lovely Katniss Everdeen!"

Katniss slowly walks out onto the stage, looking a bit frantic. She relaxes a bit as Caesar guides her into a chair.

"That was quite an entrance you made at the Tribute's Parade the other day."

Katniss looks lost. "What?" she asks. The three of us groan. Pay attention, Katniss!

The audience laughs, while Caesar repeats his statement.

"Well, I was just hoping I wouldn't burn to death," she says wittily.

"Now tell me about the flames," Caesar says, referencing her parade outfit, "were they real?"

"Yes... In fact, I'm wearing them today. Would you like to see?"

The audience screams in joy once again.

"Of course, as long as it's safe, of course," he jests.

Katniss stands up from the chair, and twirls. Flames immediately swarm up from the bottom of her dress, engulfing the material.

"She truly is the girl on fire," Mrs. Everdeen mumbles.

"Incredible. I have one more question for you. It's about your sister," he says. I look over at Prim, who is staring, speechless, at the screen.

Caesar asks Katniss if Prim came to say goodbye to her after the reaping.

"Yes, she did."

"And what did you say to her?"

"I told her that I would try to win... That I would try to win for her."

The audience is quiet. No one whispers. The silence reflects here, too.

"Ladies and gentlemen, from District 12, Katniss Everdeen, the girl who was on fire!" Katniss exits the stage, leaving everyone speechless.

That was incredible. I wonder... I don't get to finish my thought. Peeta comes onto the stage. He makes a few jokes, and says how weird the showers are there. It's a bit random, but he's handsome I guess, so it works.

"So Peeta, tell me. Is there a special girl back home?"

Peeta tries to tell Caesar no, but he doesn't believe it.

Peeta smiles. "Well, well there is this one girl that I've had a crush on since forever. But I don't think she actually recognized me until the reaping."

"Well, I'll tell you what, Peeta. You go out there and you win this thing, and when you get home, she'll have to go out with you."

"I don't think winning's going to help me at all." He looks nauseous.

"And why not?"

He sighs deeply.

"Because she came here with me."

Oh my god I was cringing so hard when I wrote the last bit. If any of you guys want to listen to the piano composition, it's at the top of the chapter. My friend (@mixednutss) played it during our solo and ensemble concert for band. Hope you're having a good day!

-YourLocalSwimmer