Zoya was terrified of people of the capitol, truly.

The way they wore fake nightlock around their necks to honor her made her entire body feel queazy, like she'd puke any second. She thought about the way they'd mix blueberries in their cakes and drinks to make it appear like her tricks did in the games, as a prop of course because no one was allowed to touch actual nightlock berries. Zoya couldn't help but wonder if the berries were free to the people, what they'd do with them.

Katniss' interview rolled around rather quickly, mainly because Zoya was stealing sips of Haymitchs flask every few minutes to get her through these twenty-four interviews. She was introduced as The Girl On Fire, walking out with astonishing looks in her eyes, seemingly shocked by the audience and lights.

"Oh god." Zoya mumbled, sitting on the edge of her seat as she heard Caesar question Katniss, being ignored as she took a seat again.

His questionable look made the Everdeen girl frown her eyebrows, "What?"

The audience laughed, Zoya even had to snort despite knowing Katniss truly wasn't trying to be funny.

"I think someone's a little nervous." Caesar confirmed into the mic, "I said that was quite an entrance that you made at the Tribute Parade the other day. Do you want to tell us about it?"

"Well, I was hoping that I wouldn't burn to death." she said honestly, again, not meaning to be funny but had the entire audience laughing in their seats. Katniss looked around as if she was a deer in headlights.

"When you came out of the chariot, I have to say, my heart stopped." Caesar said honestly, one of his blue eyebrows rising her way, "Did any of you experience this as well?"

Katniss grinned when the audience flooded with cheers of agreement, "So did mine."

Caesar laughed, "Now tell me about the flames. Are they real?"

"Yes." Katniss spoke, looking out at the audience to catch Cinnas eye from next to Haymitch, "In fact, i'm wearing them today. Would you like to see?"

Once more, the audience cheered in hopes of seeing her in them. Caesar pulled a questionable look across his capitol, worked on face, "Wait, wait, wait. Is it safe?"

Katniss laughed, "Yes."

"What do you think, folks?" the man asked, the audience yelling and cheering louder then before, just to fuel his teasing even more then what it usually did, "I think that's a yes."

Katniss rose from her seat, walking forward and spinning quickly. The ends of her dress erupted in flames, bright red and orange flames dancing away at her feet. The audience ate it up, yelling and having their own share of astonishment. When Katniss stoped, Caesar caught her arm before she had the chance to fall, helping her sit back down. Zoya grinned, not only at Cinnas amazing work, but at Katniss taking her advice in working the capital in the interview.

"That was really something, Katniss, that was something." Caesar complimented her with a grin once they both regained their spot in the chairs, "I have one more question for you. It's about your sister."

Caesar faked a look of morning as he grabbed Katniss' hand. Zoya realized she should have warned Katniss about this. He always pushed deeper to the sentimental and emotional parts toward the end of the interview, he always had. Zoya just figured, at least, they wouldn't question her on her little sister.

"We were all very moved, I think, when you volunteered for her at the Reaping." Caesar patted Katniss' hand softly as he looked to the audience for a moment, "Did she come and say goodbye to you?"

"Yes." Katniss mumbled, sadness in her words, "She did."

"She did. And what did you say to her in the end?" Caesar took a breath, as if it was painful for him to ask such a question.

"I told her that I would try to win. That I would try to win for her." Zoya realized, in those moments, when her eyes watered for Katniss, she had been too close. Too close to a pair of tributes, that weren't even hers, when only one, if either, would make it home.

"Of course you did. And try you will." Caesar gave Katniss a small smile, kissing her hand as they stood, "Ladies and Gentleman, from District 12. Katniss Everdeen. The Girl On Fire!"

The audience clapped for her, grinning. Haymitch stood, nodding to Zoya in telling her he'd be going to Katniss now. Zoya wanted to go, watch Peetas interview from behind the stage. But she'd known Snow was watching, and Zoyas job was not to run off and check on another district tribute.

"Please welcome Peeta Mellark!" Caesar announced Peeta seconds after Katniss was off the stage, the boy walking out. Zoya then realized, and slightly panicked, that her pantsuit and his suit were the same colors. A coincidence it was, but would Snow see it that way, "Peeta, welcome. How are you finding The Capitol? And don't say with a map."

Peeta grinned as he sat down, "It's different. It's very different then back home."

"Different. In what way? Give us an example." Caesar pushed at him. Zoya wanted to smile at Peetas stage presence, like he had done this plenty of times before and was a natural by now.

"Okay. Well, the showers here are weird." Peeta admitted, Zoya then actually her to crack a smile as people around her laughed at his words.

"The showers? We have different showers." Caesar confirmed as he looked at the audience.

"I have a question for you, Caesar." Peeta spoke up once again, "Do I smell like roses to you?"

Caesar pulled an embarrassed face as Peeta leaned in, letting him take a sniff of his neck, "Do I?"

Peeta leaned over and sniffed him as well. Zoya slapped a hand over her face as laugher and gasping shocke went over the audience once more.

"You definitely smell better then I do." Peeta laughed as he leaned back, nodding his head.

"Well, i've lived here longer." the blue haired man pointed out.

"That makes sense." Peeta nodded, earning laughed from everyone once again. The Mellark boys eye met Zoyas in the crowd, trying to not make it obvious he'd seen her but gave a nod in question. Zoya nodded back in answer.

"So, Peeta, tell me. Is there a special girl back home?" Caesar pried at him, unknowingly saving Zoya after he saw the eye contact from the crowd. Caesar wasn't allowed to tell her, of course, but President Snow wasn't as secretive as he'd hoped he was.

"No. No. Not really." Peeta shook his head, the lights from above making his eyes sparkle.

"No? I don't believe it got a second. Look at that face. Handsome man like you. Peeta, tell me." Caesar pushed at Peeta once again, the Mellark boys face red as his eyes fell over toward the side of the stage, where Haymitch had been. Zoya wondered if this is the plan they corrupted moments before, the plan Haymitch hide from her.

"Well, there is this one girl that i've had a crush on forever." Peeta admitted. Zoya figured, if this was true, he'd have told her by now. Peeta told Zoya a lot in the past week he'd known her, just as she did him. She'd know if there was a girl, she'd have to know, "But I don't think she actually recognized me until the Reaping."

Zoya didn't like the fact that her brain was shouting let it be a lie, let it be all part of the act him and Haymitch put together.

"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." Caesar pointed at him with a nod, Peeta holding the same expression the entire time, "Right, folks?"

The audience cheered again, and Caesar met Zoyas eye for half a second.

"Thanks, but I don't think winnings gonna help me at all." Peeta admitted. This had to be it, wasn't it? Playing the hopelessly in love boy that was so insecure that the capitol took so much pitty into him and sent him a number of sponsors. That had to be the plan him and Haymitch put together, it just had to be.

"And why not?" Caesar question.

Peeta hesitated, and this time, he did meet Zoyas eye for half a second before looking away as if she wasn't there, "Because she came here with me."

There is was, the actual plan to play the capitol.

Haymitch was right, Zoya was proud of Peeta for thinking of such a thing. Didn't mean her face didn't fall, her heart didn't slow down, her eyes didn't differ from the stage. The audience was loosing it around her in sadness and sighs though, thankfully her reaction was just as there's was.

"Well, that's bad luck." Caesar looked down.

"Yeah, it is." Peeta admitted.

"And I wish you all the best of luck." Caesar spoke to him as his interview came to a end, "Peeta Mellark."

This time, Zoya did stand. All the interviews were over, it wouldn't look weird for her to be leaving. Though, the winner of the 73rd hunger games sprinting toward backstage wasn't something everyone took lightly.

By the time Zoya made it to the back, Peetas hands were cut and bleeding, the vase broken on the floor, and Katniss pinning him to the wall, "What the hell was that? You don't talk to me, and then you say you have a crush on me? You say you want to train alone? Is that how you want to play?"

"Stop it! Stop it!" Haymitch yanked Katniss off Peeta.

"Let's start right now!" she yelled over his shoulder toward the boy. Zoyas eyes went wide, she'd have laughed if it were anyone else in Peetas situation. His eyes were on her immediately, though Zoya seemed to focus more on Katniss, watching to see if she'd attack.

"He did you a favor." Haymitch huffed at the girl.

"He made me look weak." Katniss argued.

"He made you look desirable, which in your case, can't hurt, sweetheart." Haymitch mocked her with a point into her face, right before her nose.

"He's right, Katniss." Cinna agreed. Peeta was waiting, hoping, Zoya would do the same. Anything, just anything from her would ease his regret and questioning on if what he did was right.

"Of course i'm right. Now I can sell the star-crossed lovers from District 12-" Haymitch began.

"We are not star-crossed lovers." Katniss shot back with furry and fire in her words.

"It's a television show. And being in love with that boy might just get you sponsors, which could save your damn life." Haymitch snapped at Katniss quickly, letting a long sigh leave his lips before looking toward Peeta, "Okay, why don't you get out of here?"

"I'll take him." Zoya spoke up. Finally, Peeta thought, finally she wasn't leaving me in complete silence. As they walked, Peeta caught her arm. His blooded palms stained her wrist, making her stop. And then he really looked at her, looked at her the worst he'd ever done before.

"It was all a lie."

•

kylie speaks

sigh.
i have a tiktok ready
to go rn for them.