There's Nothing More Important than Family, chapter 11

The minute I see Kerany, I know I would take four hours with Palana any day.

Today, we are still preparing for the interviews, but not in the same way we did yesterday. Today, it’s Kerany’s turn. I won’t see Nathan until the interviews, because he will be with Moray and his prep team.

Kerany’s super high eyebrows furrow when she sees me. “I can already tell you didn’t use any moisturizer yesterday.” She snaps. “Are you trying to make my job impossible? If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m trying to help you! I have only three hours to make you look stunning; you have to be ready by 1:00 you know!” She throws the toast she was eating onto the table violently, and wipes her greasy hands on her aqua skirt. “What are you waiting for?” she screams at me. “We need to get you to your dressing room!” She pushes me into the elevator and we descend to the main floor, where she pulls me outside, and into a car.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“The Capitol had an auditorium built for the interviews ten years ago.” Replies Kerany. “The dressing rooms are quite nice. Hallie, Mara and Ziza will meet us there. When we get there, we must hurry and start right away, got it?”

“Got it.” The car stops. An avox opens the door for us, and Kerany leads me down many hallways, until we get to a door that says ‘Kerany, 9’ on it in pinky sparkly letters.

“In, in, in!” she nags.

I close my eyes and let my prep team do what they want. I am waxed once more, and I can feel them put lotions and moisturizers on my skin. They lay me down for some procedures and have me stand up for others. I wish they could make up their minds, because I don’t enjoy how forcefully they move me.

“Get her in the dress!” Kerany orders. I feel fabric slip over my head roughly, and the prep team carelessly stuffs my limbs in to the right openings in the dress. One set of hands adjusts the dress, another does my makeup and a third dries my recently washed hair. I wish they’d be gentler; their sharp, long Capitol nails are constantly digging gashes into my flesh. When my hair is dry, I hear Hallie ask Kerany what she wants her to do with it.

I assume Kerany shows her a picture, because Hallie squeals and says, “Oooh that will be stunning!”

“Of course it will, I came up with it!” huffs Kerany. “Now get on with it!” Hallie’s manicure scratches my scalp painfully.

Three hours have nearly passed. Kerany tells me to sit, and someone jams shoes on my feet. “Don’t be lazy, stand up!” Kerany demands. “Open your eyes, seriously! We’re done. Go look in the mirror.”

I obey, and the first thing I notice is the incredibly high heels. Thank goodness Palana taught me how to walk in them. I wobble a bit, but eventually regain my balance. My gown is knee length and sparkly. Its deep brown, but the sparkles shine yellow in the light. The neckline in front is very high, but the dress has no back, just a few strings holding the sides together. The shoes are bright yellow, as are my nails. My makeup has been done in earthy tones, but the best part is my hair. My token is on my head, but my hair has been braided numerous times and wrapped around my skull too. My token blends in. Tiny yellow flowers are sticking out of the braids here and there. I look at least four years older. I’m speechless; it’s so pretty.

“You don’t have to thank me, darling.” Kerany smirks. “It’s my job to make you look beautiful.”

I ignore her and say, “Thank you” anyway.

“You’re welcome.” Kerany says, and this is the first time she sounds human. “I know we fight, but I’m on your side. I’m just trying to help you.”

I smile and say, “I know.”

“Now, go out there and show Panem how loveable you are! Win them over, for me.” Kerany gives me a hug and the prep team squeals and joins in. I am led backstage, to where the other tributes are waiting. They all look fancy as well, but I know I look better than all of them. Kerany shows me my seat, and then goes out to her seat in the audience. Capitol producers scramble around checking equipment and making sure all the tributes are there.

Suddenly, I hear someone whisper in my ear, “I’m looking for Zania Roberts. Have you seen her?” I laugh, turn, and see Nathan sitting beside me. He’s wearing a yellow dress shirt, black pants and dark brown shoes. I’ve never seem his hair flattened down like it is now, but I think it looks great. Not as good as my hair, but still pretty good. I notice a yellow flower pinned to his shirt and smile. I love that most of all; it symbolises that we came together.

I hear the crowd cheer as Caesar Flickerman takes the stage. I direct my attention to the live feed monitor in front of me. Caesar opens the show with a few jokes, and since the interviews are ladies first, he calls out Satin. Her dress is revealing and her blonde hair hangs straight down her back. Once Caesar begins to talk with her, it’s clear what her angle is. Sexy.
Mahogany is next. His windswept hair and gleaming blue eyes tell me all I need to know. He is cocky. It’s obvious he thinks he’s going to win.
Vella is aloof, and I wonder whether Olivia sounded like Vella does during her interviews. I know I should know this, but I hardly remember last year’s Games, let alone Olivia’s Games. I try not to watch the Games at all. As she plays her part, Vella flips her raven-black hair over her shoulders and glared into the crowd with her sharp, brown eyes. I wonder if she should really be intimidating or hostile as opposed to aloof.
Dane’s out next, and his angle is brutal. He flexes his huge muscles as he explains (in detail) his fantasies about killing every tribute present tonight. The Capitol audience cling to his every word. They sicken me.
The tributes from 3 are forgettable. They’re too nervous to play their parts right, so Caesar does them a favor, and lets them go early.
Kelly is hostile, picking fights with Caesar and talking smack about the other tributes. I can see some of the audience smiling slyly. She looks so much like Jason (they could be siblings), but Jason would never talk about other people like that.
Next, Jason comes out. He plays the ‘excited’ tribute. He’s smiling and laughing throughout his entire interview. I can’t help it; I smile with him.
 The girl from 5 doesn’t speak, and the boy from 5 doesn’t seem to be playing any character at all. I notice he’s missing three fingers on his right hand, and I think that the odds are not in his favor.
Payla’s stylist did a horrible job. She’s wearing a strapless dress, which emphasizes her abnormally broad shoulders, and her hair is pinned messily on the side of her head. She looks insane during her interview, but that may be due to the fact her angle is bloodthirsty.
The boy from 6 is incredibly stupid. Sure, he’s big and strong-looking, but he has trouble stringing two words together and Caesar has to repeat his question twice.
Sahra, the girl from 7, is sweet. She’s tiny, but she has a strong, clear voice and a dazzling smile.
Xavier is cocky, but he doesn’t pull it off as well as Mahogany did. He has to think a lot before he says anything. He seems dimmer than the boy from 6. When Caesar starts talking about Sahra, Xavier adopts a wicked smile and promises he will be the one to kill her.
Georgie’s usually frizzy hair is pulled into a sleek bun and her stylist used fake tanner on her skin, because it’s a billion times darker. She doesn’t smile during her interview. She is fierce; realistic about her chances, but prepared. Her eyes pierce the audience and she seems more intimidating than the Careers ever could be.
One of the Capitol producers taps me on the back and whispers, “Miss Roberts, you are next. Come this way.” He directs me to the stage entrance and has me wait there until Caesar calls me out.

“...Ladies and Gentlemen!” cries Caesar. “Give it up for District 8’s Carter! Now, next up is one of our youngest tributes, but so far, she is doing so well! Please welcome out Zania, from District 9!” The crowd goes wild, and I nervously make my way to my seat, smiling and waving as I go. I remember what Palana said about sitting like a lady, and adjust my posture accordingly. “Well, well!” says Caesar. “I must say, you don’t look twelve tonight!”

I laugh. “I owe that to my stylist. Did she not do a great job?” I ask the crowd, and they go beserk.

“I’d take that as a yes.” Chuckles Caesar. “Now, tell me, what do you enjoy most about the Capitol?”

“All the wonderful people!” I exclaim. “They’re so friendly and helpful. I love it!”

“How could they not be helpful towards you; you’re a delight!” Caesar says, and more cheers erupt from the crowd. “Tell me now about your skills! It’s very rare when a twelve-year-old gets above a 5, so give us an idea of what you can do!”

I grin. “I’m saving it for the arena! Don’t worry, I won’t disappoint you!”

“Oh, I know you won’t! Our time is up; let’s give a round of applause for Zania, from District 9!” I curtsey and leave the stage. “How can we follow up such a pleasant young lady? How about with her brother! Here is Nathan Roberts, also from District 9!” Nathan swaggers onto the platform, shakes Caesars’s hand and takes a seat.

“Great to be her, Caesar!” he says.

Caesar smiles, showing his overly white teeth. Then he begins, “You and your sister have made history this year, because siblings have never been Reaped together before. What is your game plan?”

“I don’t want to reveal it all, but let me just warn the other tributes; if you see one of us, the other is close by, so watch your back.”

Nathan and Caesar talk back and forth about our family, and then Caesar introduces Addalie, whose angle is bubbly. Mark is funny, cracking jokes at every opportunity; good jokes too.
Breah is mysterious, never giving a straight answer. Never revealing too much about herself.
Harvey exudes arrogance. I can tell he thinks he’s the best, but even I got a better training score than he did.
The tributes from 12 are quiet and humble, but no one is listening. We are all just anxious to get some food. When Caesar closes the show, Sean and Olivia pick us up and take us back to the Training Centre.

“How were we?” I ask them nervously. Sean replies.

“Perfect.”