My mother always told me that with beauty comes pain. 

But what is pain, if you feel it all the time? 

When I first meet people, I divide them into 4 categories:

1. The Pitiers. They treat me like a fragile beauty, like I'm a helpless 15-year-old that can't do anything.  One that's stupid and can't understand the world around her.

2. The Admirers. They're just disgusting little leeches, suck ups that want to use my beauty, riches, family, brains, talents for their own good.  It's all kindness with strings attached.

3. The Haters. They think I cheat my way to the top, that the only reason I'm where I am is because of my background. I've had to work to get where I am. They do everything they can to break me down.  Wow, jealous much?

4. The Others. The people who actually see me as one of them, as human. They're not ready to manipulate me, or ride off my success, or tear my reputation apart.  And it always pains me to think that I've only met 4 people who fall into this category.

So now I ask myself: who will the Capitol people be? 

The interviews are today.  Once I complete this, it's all over. No more chances to prove myself. No more first impressions.   

Tomorrow morning, I'll be in the Arena.  

Yesterday we already decided on my strategy. Most District 1 girls act sexy and wear provocative clothing, but I'm trying a different approach. I want to show everyone I can win these games without relying on my physique. 

My method will be charismatic, mysterious, witty. And I'll never directly answer Caesar's questions.

"Darling, do try to stay still!" Roxie frets. She fluffs her peach colored hair, pulling on a chain of pale pink cherry blossoms she wove into a single braid of it.  

"Sorry!" I squeak. "I'm just nervous." 

"Nervous! Girl, you are gonna rock it out there! Why are you nervous?" Iggy exclaims, wiggling her hips to an imaginary beat. "Just rock it, rock it! Mm mm mm!" 

The room falls silent, and Orpheus drops his makeup brush (he was taking a break to redo his black/lime green eyeliner combo).   

He swoops down to pick it up, caressing it and cradling it in his arms. "I'm so sorry! Are you ok? Don't worry, you're still beautiful and perfect." 

"Am I the only sane one here?" Roxie demands, yanking on Iggy's oversized disco ball earrings. Iggy's a giant disco ball herself, with her lips and eyelids glittering silver, clad in a rainbow sequined minidress.  

Iggy yelps and leaves to get more makeup, while Orpheus follows her out.

 "No, Roxie. You have me," I comfort her. 

"Thanks, Cashmere. " Roxie smiles almost sadly, blowing on my nails.  She sighs in dismay and takes my hair out of its argan oil hair mask.  

I paint my face into a mask of curiosity and sympathy.

"It's nothing, I'm just so lonely, sometimes, you know?" Roxie asks. 

"Yeah," I reply.  My mom, dad and brother have all won their games. None of my friends are at my level of fighting or intellect. Jasper, the one person who is, is my enemy. 

"Iggy and Orpheus are nice but kind of absurd. My family....." Roxie trails off. 

"Go on," I whisper. 

"They're all too busy with work so I don't see them often. My friends too," Roxie adds. "Sometimes I feel so alone I could just...." 

"Cry? Scream? Throw a knife at somebody?" 

Roxie laughs. "You get me! You're just so easy to talk to!" 

"My family members are all victors, I'm not super close to my friends, and the one person I'm very similar to, the person who kinda gets me is my enemy," I tell her. 

"Oh. Well, we have each other in the mean time," Roxie says. "It sounds corny but I just want a friend!"

"It's not. I'll be your friend," I suggest. 

Her face temporarily lights up until a black cloud paints the room in misery.  For dangling friendship in front of Roxie's face before I'm whisked away to the arena is simply torment. 

******** 

In front of me stands a girl.  

Her eyes are dramatically lined with deep black, while her lips bleed red.  

Her hair is twisted into an elaborate updo, while a few loose curls cascade down her shoulder, threads of heart-shaped rubies swimming through a river of gold. 

Her dress has a plunging neckline embroidered with garnet hearts. Her belt and bracelet are woven of the same jewels, dancing under the bright lights. 

Her skirt is a waterfall of scarlet fabric, staining the floor with colors of love and heartbreak. A high slit in the material shows off crimson stilettos decked with jewels.  

But all is partially obscured by a red lace veil covering her head to toe. 

"Cashmere, the Queen of Hearts," Quintus announces. 

"All hail the queen! All hail the queen!" The prep team chants eagerly. 

"Thank you," I stammer, so in awe of my own beauty. And yes, it's shallow, but I know this will be gone in a day, so I might as well try to enjoy it while I can.  

"Also, Cashmere? At the end of your interview, stand up and take off your veil," Quintus adds.

******* 

The interviews are about to start. 

All of us tributes stand in a long line, with me at the front. 

Beatrix, who wears a sleeveless leather jumpsuit and hood scowls at me. The other Careers whisper, all putting on a spectacular act.  "Here comes Survival Bitch!"

"Hey Barley! Hey Rose! Hey Poseidon!" I greet my team, ignoring her. Barley wears a gold suit, Poseidon green, and Rose's yellow high-low dress hugs her curves beautifully. 

"Hey Cashmere!" Barley waves at me from the back of the line, giving me a thumbs up. 

Poseidon acknowledges me with a nervous smile, while Rose gives me a respectful nod. 

"Welcome, to the interviews." Caesar Flickerman's voice booms. "Now, this is the time you've all been waiting for. I hear we have an interesting group this year." At that, he laughs a deep, hearty laugh and all the Capitol citizens join in.

"First up is the girl who can charm a boy at first sight. She'll steal your heart with her charisma and intellect. You know her!  All hail the Queen of Hearts!" Caesar introduces me. 

I nearly collapse from the reverberating cheers of the audience.

My veil flies behind me as I strut on stage, flashing my most winning smile. 

The audience releases a flurry of gasps as I come on, taking a seat beside Caesar. 

"Well, well, well! I heard you were beautiful, but you're even more ravishing in real life,"Caesar acclaims. 

The audience whoops loudly at that. 

I simply smile and give a little twirl, the veil and skirt flaring out as I do.  I them elegantly take a seat on the white leather chair across from Caesar. 

"This dress...is so, so stunning!" Caesar compliments me. 

"It is, isn't it? It represents a variety of things in the games: love and war. My power. The passion and determination I have for winning this game. And the veil...." I pause. 

"What of it?" 

"We all have our secrets don't we?" I challenge. "I'm certainly not an open book." 

The crowd roars. 

"Very smart, very smart Cashmere! I did hear about your superior intellect!" 

I simply smile. "I do my best, Caesar."

"Now, onto the questions. You're from a family of victors, am I right?" Caesar asks. 

"Yes! As the 4th Tanner to enter the arena, I want to be the 4th to make it out. And we all have legacies to carry on," I answer.  

"Aw," the crowd replies. 

"What a nice answer! Now. What makes you different from them?" 

Easy. "Have you ever seen a Career at the survival stations? Have you seen one team up with the outlying districts? Have you seen one charm a boy at first sight?" 

I cross one leg over the other, leaning back in my chair to stare at Caesar.  

"No, I have not. And she's sassy too! This one's unique. Am I right?" Caesar hypes up the audience. 

They all cheer and Gloss gives me a big thumbs up. 

"Now, why do you do survival stations?" Caesar presses. 

"Do you remember the year all the careers were taken out by a volcano eruption? That was a shame. So much talent, determination and potential wasted.  If I do indeed go down, I want to go down honorably, by fighting," I answer. 

"But the forces of nature are unstoppable!" Caesar argues. 

"But I'm unstoppable with a set of throwing knives!" I counter.  That isn't a secret.  

"Ooh," the crowd murmurs, their eyes filled with hunger for more. 

"I bet you are.  Cashmere, you have blessed us with your grace and beauty and intellect. I think it's time we bless you with something as well," Caesar says, a twinkle in his eye. 

A gift? A tribute has never been given a gift before!  

"As you will be leaving us for some time, I wanted you to be able to say your goodbyes."

"My love," a rich, deep voice sounds on my left. 

And I turn to face Dominic, the boy who threw me a flower.

  His sapphire eyes are out-of-this world, so mesmerizing and exquisite.  I want more.  My dress rustles against the floor as I rise. 

He approaches me in elegant strides and bends down to kiss my hand. I blush and put my hand over his, seeing him in person for the first time.

"Mi Amore!" I gasp, noticing the bracelet-my bracelet! That he wears around his wrist. 

I don't actually love him. But I need sponsors. And two can play this game.  

"Cashmere. When I first laid eyes on you, I loved you. We are meant to be together," Dominic admits.  And I can see he's not lying.

"I just wanted to say that..even when we're worlds apart, you will always be in my heart," I reply, wiping away a tear.   Crying on the spot is a good talent. Poetry is too.

The audience sniffs a bit, couples peck each other on the cheek, fan girls swoon dreamily.  

Somewhere in the sea of people, I spot Quintus.  The signal he gives me is obvious: take off the veil. 

I take it off, letting the red lace fall to the ground. 

Everyone gasps as my full outfit is revealed: every jewel, sparkle and wave of silk. I feel exposed, vulnerable.  

And then the jeweled hearts burst, and red starts running down my arms, the dress, my face and onto the floor. 

The audience is screaming, and Caesar bellows something inaudible and stumbles back. 

It's the illusion of blood, red, hot blood running down my body. A river of words come to me, and before I know what I'm doing, I'm opening my mouth. 

"I may seem charismatic, beautiful and nice.  But don't forget I can kill.  I will destroy anyone who dares to cross me or my allies.  I will stab my knife into your heart and twist it when you come for me and my team.   Don't mistake my beauty for weakness." 

And with that, I grab my veil, give the audience a curtsy and strut off stage. 

Right before I reach the curtains, I throw three things into the audience: my veil, my bracelet, and a single jeweled heart I pick out of my hair.  

"Until we meet again!" 

What did you think of Cashmere's interview? Her gown? Vote if you enjoyed it and tell me in the comments.Feedback is welcomed!