It's interveiw time

" ...And that concludes the 75th Hunger Games Rankings! We have a a-lot of competition this year, stay tuned for interviews tomorrow and the Grand show following! Have a good night!" Caesar cheers with tons of excitement before it goes to the next commercial.

And like that it was done, I think we were all in shock on how good everyone's rankings were. We all just sat there looking around at eachother.

" Well, everyone is above average. it's been a blast and the tension was thrilling...but I want to sleep. Good Night." Johanna says sarcastically walking out.

They wasted no time getting up, not bothering to pick up anything they might've left.

I was the last one out I wanted to say something to River, Cato grabs my arm keeping me in the room.

" What do you want." I say bluntly pulling my arm away.

" To talk let's go." He says grabbing me again, but I push out of his grasp.

" Cato." Finnick butts in, he must have looked back to see Cato grabbing me.

" Let me talk to her." Cato says lowly staring intently and Finnick.

" No." Finnick says simply. " She was coming out here for a reason."

Cato turns to Aspen, Cashmere and 1 All looking back into the room. " Can you guys give us some privacy? Leave." He demands. They waste no time getting to the elevators or Aspen to his room.

He looks back at Finnick, " Now will you let me talk to her?" He asks.

Finnick looks down at me.

" I was just going to tell him goodnight."

" I'll relay the message." he lets me go looking at Cato before he walks out.

" You can let go of me now." I say looking unamused.

He looks at his hand before letting go.

" Is this the conversation?" I ask.

He roll his eyes. " yes, the deal."

I scoff, " A deal?"

" Yes, a deal." He says plainly.

" Oh this should be good." I say giving a little laugh.

He doesn't laugh or chuckle or even give me his signature smirk, just straight face. I know he's serious,he wants something and I feel like he wants it bad.

" You wanted to take Aspen back."

" I do."

" Well, ok. Take him back, he doesn't stand a chance with those two."

I take a moment to smile, enjoying he admitted he was wrong. " I know. Who was right about them, But you know.. I was the dumb one."

" Well now I'm saying your right. Now, take him back."

" I want to.. but I don't think it'll be that easy. We need to talk this all through but not you sent him back to his room."

" I didn't want him knowing yet, especially if we can't get this to work." Cato says.

" I'll talk to my team. I just can't have him fight or kill River."

Cato chuckles, " I don't blame him, I would kill River too."

" Why? Because he respects me? Because he actually cares about me?"

He studied me for a second before answering.

" Quite frankly yes, and that's Aspen's reason to. We don't want him around you."

I chuckle, " I guess you two should've thought about that sooner. Now I need to play this out, in attempts not to get killed."

Cato doesn't say anything.

I sigh deeply, " I need to talk to 4 and 7.. I'll let you know. And please, go talk to him so he knows what's going on."

He sighs " Ok."

I nod shortly. " Are we done with..this?"

" Yea." He looks like he wanted to say something else.

" I'll be back." I tell him going to the door.

Ok, we have the first step of this plan in motion, now we just need to convince 4 and 7. This will definitely be a make or break moment in the alliance.

I'm nervous to see what everyone will say.

Maybe it might just be me and Aspen yet. Though I really hope not.

I knock on their door going in. I see everyone was there they all look at me when I come in.

" I'm almost hurt you guys didn't tell me you were meeting after that."

Of course they were.

" We figured, you'd be occupied with Hadley." Colin said giving an innocent smile, I couldn't tell if he was sincere or not.

" What did he all say?" Finnick asks intrigued.

" Promise not to be mad?" I ask.

He looks at me then back at two's door. " Should you be telling me or should I go ask him myself. Let's go out to talk about this.

He opened the door leading me out.

Here we go.

" He asked me to take Aspen back, and with some reasoning..it resulted to me asking you and the kids."

Finnick studies my face, his lips were a fine line.

" We don't-"

" What do you want to do?" Finnick asks.

I shrug, " I don't know. He's been my best friend, until here.. Cato got into his head not he's acting like this? But.. I couldn't live with myself if he died and I know I could've done something about it."

Finnick nods, thinking. " And if it's close to the end? Our group is left..what then?"

I know this was some type of trick question, putting any loyalty on the line. But I am loyal, they took me in. Well, to a certain extent I will be.

It's still the Games.

" It'd be a miracle if all of us were left. But.. We seperate...if we see eachother again." I pause. " I don't think I could kill them.." I laugh to myself, " That's so not district two of me." I try to look pathetic.

I look back at Finnick, " If something happens to Aspen of course I'd be with River, like wise if something happened to him. If they both are..alive... I'm not going to be the reason they kill eachother. I'd have a mutt kill the other one before they could touch eachother."

Finnick smiles lightly. " I appreciate that. But it's not my decision, like you said you'll need to talk with the others."

And that's what I do. I know they aren't thrilled but I explained, the same I did with Finnick.

" I'd Aspen gives any of us problems, I'll talk to him. If that doesn't work. We leave." I say.

" We might need anyone we can get, it is quell. It won't just be tributes." Colin commented looking between all of us.

" I agree." Lilli says.

I look at 4, they look blank.

" If your not 100% we don't need to." I add.

" Any suspicion and he's out." Prim says.

I nod. " River?"

He didn't look happy, " I'm out numbered aren't I?"

" We don't-"

" No. It's fine. Colin made a good point. And I believe you. And it is true, not all of us will be alive when the end comes if any of us. That's just the reality."

" Ok, I'll let Aspen know."

River nods, " See you tomorrow?"

I smile, " Yea."

He gets up walking to his room. I look at Finnick. "I-".

" Don't worry about it. He just needs to think." Finnick says.

I nod walking out, feeling a little uncertain.

I reach two, going in.

Cato was talking to Aspen, both turning their faces a little nervous.

" Hey." I say quietly.

" Hi." Aspen says giving a little smile.

Cato glances at him then back at me.

" What did they say?" Cato asks.

I look at him then at Aspen.

" Your damn lucky I'm a good talker."

He smiles picking me up, I don't hesitate wrapping my arms around his neck.

" Thank you." He says relieved.

He sets me back down. I look at him serious " You need to behave do you understand. They aren't completely sure yet."

" Ok. I'll convince them."

I nod smiling, " Ok."

I happened to look at Cato, he was looking between the two of us. I couldn't tell what he was feeling but he pushed himself off the cupboard.

" Rest well, last day tomorrow." And with that he went to his room.

Soon after I went to sleep. Feeling even more stressed then before, hopefully I didn't lose any loyalty.

But now, if it comes down to it, I need to figure out when to seperate. And when they will need to die.

                                          —

Last day in the Capitol, where did these 2 weeks go? Last morning of assurance, this time tomorrow I will be going to the ring possibly dead, but unlikely. I wake up to go get some last minute training in.

When I arrived I saw just Prim, She was practicing on a dummy.

" Hey." I say softly.

" Hey."

She sits on one of the combat mats, mentioning me to come by her.

She looked a little pale, her expression contained so much worry or fear.

" Are you ok?" I ask.

" Want me to answer that truthfully?" She says twirling her large knife around.

" Yea."

She sniffs, " I'm terrified truthfully. I'm realizing I'm not coming back."

My face falls, " You don't know that."

" I heard River talking to Finnick about you. He wants to win with you. I know he'll help you until his last breath. Now with Aspen protecting you, No doubt you'll be the girl leaving the arena."

I feel bad, I mean I do. I'd hate to be in her position. I swallow picking some lint off my shirt. " There's been girls I thought would win die. We have mutts in there along with the other tributes. I think I'm at the top of everyone's list."

" They won't let anyone touch you." Prim said a little more sourly.

" I told River we're giving every one a fighting chance. I plan to keep it that way." I assure.

She smiles but I can see the tears in her eyes. " I know. And I thank you for that."

By this time both of us are crying, this is really happening, we are going to kill and die in harsh conditions, who puts kids in to kill? How am I supposed to do this?

" We all deserve to go home an I'm going to fight for all of you." I tell her though I half lie, making me feel like a shitty person.

Prim sniffs, " I know, I think that's why people like you, you fight for people and defend them, not just your district or partner but for anyone. At least if you do win you deserve it."

Prim.. Your not making this any easier.

I give her a big hug. I really wish I met these guys in a different scenario.

I take a breath, before laughing. " Well, now I don't feel like training."

" Sorry." She giggles.

I get up, " Rest up. I'll see you tonight."

" Yea. Bye." She says though she still trained, she knows she'll need it.

I go back up to my floor, re- running the conversation we had in my head. She's just not giving up is she or was that another tactic to let my guard down?

I don't know if I'm over thinking these things, but it's making me crazy thinking about it.

I just want to go out and do. See who had the true colors and kill the ones that don't.

" Long time no see stranger!" A voice says as soon as I walk in the door.

' Neffy!" I go to give her a hug.

" Where have you been?"

" I've been getting you sponsors, but I guess I didn't need to you have a record amount, and getting inside scoop on all you've been doing." She says with a stern eyebrow raise." How are you and Mr.Hadley?"

" Less then normal but still can be in a room with eachother I guess."

She nods. " Well, I needed to bring the news for all of you guys...Interviews start 7..sharp. Go through those then it's the games!"

Mention of the Games make my skin crawl it doesn't seem like this is it.

" It's at 5 a.m tomorrow they want to see everyone in action. Rest up and don't be late!"

And with that she left,  to do whatever she needed to do, probably help Elsie with our outfits.

We just rested for the rest of the day until it was time. For once it was 'normal' me and Aspen talked like we did before. Cato though was quiet, still on edge from the hospital and all the things I've proved since then. He knows to keep his mouth shut now.

I'm more then prepared for this. I just need to remember that.

Neffy comes awhile later discussing what we are to wear.

" So we are going with a golden look, for the golden girl here." I look down feeling the heat of Aspen's and Cato's eyes as Neffy talks.

" And your approach is obviously confident but NOT cocky." Enobaria added looking at the two of us. " I know how you guys are."

Soon after we got whisked away by the style team.

They did my makeup super smokey with gold highlight and they even put gold blonde in the front of my hair.

Then they put me in a tight black and gold dress with long sleeves. Then again I look good, black is definently my color.

Kay's dress

After they got me all ready and admired their work they brought me down to the room behind the stage, I see tributes and their mentors buzzing about.

I skimmed the room to see if I knew anyone, my eyes met with Cato's for a second we just held eye contact, but then I felt an arm snake around me.

" You look good Kay." River said looking all over my body.

" Thanks." I look all around, it's so fancy. I can hear all the people coming in for the interviews and by the sounds of it there's a lot.

" Don't be nervous they love you, even if you just stood there they would still throw roses and say it was the best interview of the century, just be yourself." River said giving me a slight squeeze for reassurance.

I give him another nod, I looked back at Cato who was still looking at me, then at River.

" What's he staring at?" River spits.

" Don't worry about him, probably planning how he wants to sabotage me." I say turning around to face River.

River was still looking at him with a clenched jaw, but finally he relaxed when he saw I was staring at him.

" You better go take your seat, it'll be starting soon." I say giving him a smile.

" Ok, if Hadley gives you trouble-"

" He knows better then to do that. I let Aspen tag along with us because he begged me."

We both give a little laugh and go to our assigned seats.

I sit down and wait for my turn.

" Mel!" That's all I could hear, the crowd went crazy, seemed like everyone was cheering. How could they like her?

" Elsie must think black is your color." I hear from behind me.Cato.

" I think it is too, don't you?" I say still looking straight forward.

" I think red would be."

I turn giving him an amused smile." Red?"

" Yea." He takes a pause of my hair twirling it around his finger. " It would go with your hair."

I glance at the hair then back at him, " I think the black is better."

He stops twirling the piece dropping it, looking down my body cocking his head slightly to the side "I guess it looks good too. Don't mess up. Or trip..that would be embarrassing." He says flashing a small cocky smile walking away.

I didn't even think of that, thanks Cato..

Aspen was watching which I didn't even realize was there. He looked rough, tired. And stressed, maybe he's finally realizing. I smile walking up to him, which he returns.

" I'm so nervous." I mumbled.

Aspen just looks at me. " We'll both be fine." He assures.

" How did One take the news?" I ask.

" I wasn't planning on telling them. Thought it'd be safer that way." Aspen says giving a half grin.

I give him a nudge, " That'll be a good thing.. to throw them off right away."