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7. behind curtains

Etta stared out the window at the manicured lawns of Capitol citizens as her father drove her to the Academy for the interviews that night, holding a hand up to bite at her nails, a bad habit she'd been doing for a long time whenever she was anxious. Even though she wouldn't technically be on the stage for the interview, she was still obviously worried for Treech. What if he froze up? Said the wrong thing? Etta brushed the thoughts off as petty overthinking, but the thoughts continued to swirl in her mind.

Many of her classmates had decided to dress in dull colors, grays and blacks, perhaps a silent sign of sadness for the possibility of seeing their tribute for the last time. Instead, Etta wore a silk, soft pink dress with her hair in a half up-half down hairstyle, curled at the ends. A matching pink bow decorates her hair, clipped onto the back of her head.

Her father slows down the car into the U-shaped driveway of one of the student entrances to the Academy, letting Etta adjust her hair once more before fully stopping. She steps out of the vehicle, the glow of the streetlights illuminating her silhouette as she walked up to the building, the soothing July breeze running through her hair. The second she walks in, Persephone is already at her side. "Did you hear? A couple tributes died in the bombing, and Felix and Gaius are in the hospital! That's why Livia isn't here; her tribute is dead." she exclaimed, an upset expression on her face. "The District 1 boy? That's good. Its less competition for our tributes." Etta replied, hoping to look on the brighter side of things. She spoke to Felix and Gaius on occasion, but couldn't recall much friendship with either of them; however, they were still her classmates. Hopefully they'd be okay.

Dean Highbottom strode out of another room into the entrance hall, eyes scanning the crowd in a way that seemed emotionless, almost bored. "Students, please gather to sign in. Write your real first and last name next to your tribute's name. We don't want a repeat from last year." he explains, giving Festus a directed glare. Last year while on a field trip, Festus didn't write his real name down for attendance and the chaperones went crazy looking for him.

She discussed several topics with Persephone while waiting to sign in, writing her full name in pink pen. The Capitol, odd as per usual, asked for middle names as well. Adaline was hers. She had always wished that could have been her first name instead of Odette; to her, that sounded like a species of duck.

Once everyone had finished signing in, Dean Highbottom came back to explain further directions. "You will have 30 minutes to prepare with your tributes for their interview, if they're doing one."

Etta peered over Pup's shoulder to watch the participating tributes be led inside in a single file line, positioning themselves on the side of the stage. She immediately spotted Treech standing with Coral, while Lamina still stood near him, finding a sense of comfort in her District partner. She was doing an interview? Must have taken Pup days to convince her.

The familiar voice of the District 4 boy sounded behind her, and she turned around to find Mizzen a little too close for comfort. She took a step back, raising her eyebrows in surprise. "You're finally here! Now Treech will finally shut up... he's been talking non-stop about you since you left earlier today. It's the most happy I have ever seen him! Did you guys kiss or something?" he questioned, a smirk on his face. Perhaps he had learned it from Treech.

Etta scrunched up her nose. "No, what are you talking about? Persephone's somewhere over there, if you wanna talk with her." she suggests, gesturing towards where she saw the girl last. Mizzen shook his head. "I wanna stay and talk with you, well, until Treech comes and makes me leave."

Mizzen had seemingly predicted what was coming next. Treech came up behind the boy and nudged him in the side. "Capitol's right. You should go talk with your mentor." Treech agrees, glancing up at Etta.

The District 4 boy furrows his eyebrows and kicks Treech in the shin before heading off to find Persephone. Treech scoffs and rests his gaze on Etta, the annoyed look in his eyes fading. "Hey, uh.. you look very formal." he grins shyly, a blush settling across his face. Etta smiles and laughs a bit. "You're great at compliments, I'm flattered." she replies sarcastically. Juno's words from earlier fill her mind. Was Juno on to something? Did he like her? Did she like him? The thoughts fluster her face and she looks back up to him, immediately changing the topic. "You're fully ready for tonight, I presume?" she asks. Treech nods. "I've got it."

Etta smiles and nods, and the two walk over to join Festus, Coral, and a couple other mentors and tributes, though not many were participating in the interviews. Lucky Flickerman seemingly came out of nowhere, adjusting his gelled hair. "Good evening, tributes and mentors! Interviews will begin shortly, starting off with District 1. If you are participating, please take your tributes backstage to prepare." he states before going back to fixing his hair for the upcoming interviews.

Treech looks down at Etta, waiting for her approval. She nods and the two join the other tributes and mentors heading backstage. "Io and Urban's tributes from 3 are up first, then Coral from 4, the girl from 5, Lamina and you, Tanner from 10, and ending with Lucy Gray from 12." Etta reads off her list. "It's not very many, so the Capitol will be sure to remember you."

Circ is led onstage for his interview and the lights go dark, only the spotlights remaining on. Etta blinks a couple times to get adjusted to the almost pitch black darkness backstage, but she still strains to see Treech in front of her. The other mentors took their tributes somewhere else backstage, making it silent besides the muffled chatter and applause coming from the stage. "Hello, great citizens of Panem! I am Lucretius," Lucky begins, flipping a coin into the air. "'Lucky' Flickerman, a man who needs no introduction." Treech furrows his eyebrows. "Yet, he still has one?" he asks slowly. Etta rolls her eyes. "Ironic, isn't it?"

Tributes went by quickly, one after the other. A broom was given to Coral, a mock trident, and she spun in around in the air, leaving the audience gasping when they pictured her with a real trident in the arena. Obviously, she was not someone to play around with. Many tributes skipped their interviews for different reasons; sick, nervous, difficult, injured, to support others, and well, some were dead.

Lamina's interview rolled around, and it sounded like she was having trouble communicating with Lucky on stage. "That's an example on what not to do." Etta notes. She can tell Treech is anxious. He's fidgeting around with his blue handkerchief, and he's breathing way too fast. Etta sighs and turns to him, taking his wrists gently and pulling them down from his neck. "It'll be okay, you'll do great. I know you will." she reassures, smiling. In this lighting he seems to look even more gorgeous somehow, though Etta would never, ever admit it. "I really hope you're right, Capitol." he whispers, his eyes softening.

Lamina's interview looks like it is finishing up. Etta tugs at his jacket, adjusting it once more. "Okay. Don't look annoyed, keep smiling, talk about something emotional, family for example, use charm, mention axes." she says, brushing some of his loose curls out of his face. Treech stares down at her, almost mesmerized in a way, though you can still tell he is apprehensive. "I've got it." he smiles. The two stare at each other, in an admiring way but also anticipation. The butterflies in her stomach are getting worse by the second, feeling a way she hasn't truly felt in a long time. Was this love? Applause from the stage signals the end of Lamina's interview, and without really thinking, Etta stands up on her tiptoes, giving Treech a quick kiss on the lips, pulling away and blushing after. "For good luck." she grins, looking down at the ground.

Treech seems shocked at first, but it melts away back into his usual attitude, just this time much more flirty. He moves one hand to her waist, using the other to tilt her chin up, pressing his lips to hers. Etta's mind is telling her to shove him away, but her feelings cause her to do the opposite, placing a hand on the back of his neck and another tangled in his hair, angling his head to deepen the kiss. Treech smirks into the kiss, moving his hand upwards to cup her face. Etta wishes this could never end, but she knows it has to. She pulls away, gasping for breath, staring wide-eyed up at him in astonishment, but also a slight feeling of guilt. Nobody could ever know what just happened. "You need to get out there!" she whispers, pushing him towards the curtains. "Just so you know, I am fully committed to winning the Games now." he laughs, ruffling her hair as he walks out.

Etta can't help but smile, smoothing down her hair as she watches him sit down next to Lucky. "Treacherous Treech from District Seven!" Lucky introduces the boy, earning applause from the crowd. "Let's hear it! Anything you would care to talk about?"

Treech leans back in his seat, thinking for a second. "As you already know, I'm from Seven. I live with my mother and little sister Lilah. I have older siblings as well, Conifer and Daphne. I haven't seen those two in a while though." he explains. Lucky nods. "I'm sure they're all watching from back home right now. The Capitol has provided limited access to television for the tribute's family; just to see how well their family member is doing! It's just all so extraordinary, isn't that right, everyone? Now, just go out there and win those Games, and I'll bet my lucky coin that your siblings will be right there to see you."

The crowd cheers and applauds, making Etta sigh with relief. Everyone's enjoying it so far. "Carrying on, what else do you have to share?" Lucky prompts.

"I'm decent with an ax. Outside of school I work a lot in the woods, that includes cutting down trees. Not very big ones, though. I can be really fast, light-footed, you know." Treech says, glancing to the side to check how he was doing with Etta. She catches his eye and gives him a reassuring smile.

Lucky nods and looks to a watch on his wrist. "And with that, our few minutes with Treech have ended. We'll be keeping an eye on you in the arena, for sure- everyone, give it up for Treech from Seven!" he exclaims, beaming as the crowd erupted in cheers. Treech waves to the crowd, winks, earning multiple screams from random other Capitol girls, and then hurries off backstage to find Etta.

"How did I do?" he asks nervously once he finds her. Etta takes his hand and squeezes it gently. "You did so good. Better than I could have ever imagined." she smiles. Treech nods and grins. "Thanks. I was so scared up there, I'm glad it was over quick." he says as he gives Tanner a reassuring pat on the back as the boy passes by to take his place on the stage.

Etta giggles. "I'm glad you didn't look scared. The whole Capitol is convinced fear makes you weak." she says, rolling her eyes playfully. Treech shakes his head. "The Capitol's wrong for that. There's an old saying from Seven; embrace your fears, for they are the raw materials from which the architecture of your strength is built. My father taught me it before he died, so it's pretty much engraved into my mind."

"Your father sounded very wise. Mine is a complete idiot. Rich, but an idiot." she scoffs. Treech laughs. "Sounds like you're a lot like him." he teases, nudging her in the arm. Etta shoves him back, hard. "Oh, shut up. Lucy Gray's starting to play anyway, I wanna hear her."

The girl in the rainbow ruffles took a deep breath, standing up and clearing her throat before beginning to strum her guitar.

"When I was a babe, I fell down in the holler
When I was a girl, I fell into your arms
We fell on hard times and we lost our bright color
You went to the dogs and I lived by my charms,"

Etta pursed her lips. Lucy Gray was a wonderful singer. She thought back to what Dean Highbottom had said. Spectacles. Not survivors. Why did someone so ignorant and stupid as Coriolanus get rewarded with a spectacular tribute?

"I danced for my dinner, spread kisses like honey
You stole and you gambled, and I said you should
We sang for our suppers, we drank up our money
Then one day you left, saying I was no good.
Well, all right, I'm bad, but then, you're no prize either
All right, I'm bad, but then, that's nothing new
You say you won't love me, I won't love you neither
Just let me remind you what I am to you..."

Etta frowned, suddenly feeling bad for Lucy Gray. This song had to be about a boyfriend, particularly an ex. It made her think that there were many similarities between her life and Lucy's, and maybe Capitol and District lives weren't so different after all.

"'Cause I am the one who looks out when you're leaping
I am the one who knows how you were brave
And I am the one who heard what you said sleeping
I'll take that and more when I go to my grave...
It's sooner than later that I'm six feet under
It's sooner than later that you'll be alone
So who will you turn to tomorrow, I wonder?
For when the bell rings, lover, you're on your own."

The pure emotion in Lucy Gray's voice pains Etta and she slips her hand into Treech's rough one, hoping to stop the uneasy feeling flooding her body. Treech could be dead tomorrow, and there was nothing she could do about it. With the sponsor money, she could send things like food and water in to keep him going, but what happens if he was attacked? Even with an alliance, tragedy could strike. And what could she do? Send multiple drones to scare off and possibly hurt the attacker? That sounds like something Coriolanus would do.

"I am the one who you let see you weeping
I know the soul that you struggled to save
Too bad I'm the bet that you lost in the reaping
Now what will you do when I go to my grave?"

Etta glances up at Treech who looks solemn, the lights from the stage illuminating the tears forming in his eyes. She couldn't stand seeing him like this. "It'll be okay." she whispers, using a hand to rub his back. He looks down at her. "Promise you won't let me die in there tomorrow?" he mutters, his voice quivering.

"I promise."

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HEYYYY YALLLLL!!!!! i'm so proud of myself, i didn't take 15 days to write a single chapterrr! only 7 this time. it's like 2 AM rn, and i am soooooo tired i was cheering when i finished this. guys i can't flipping believe christmas is TOMORROW!?!?!?!?! like no way how is it christmas eve rn....????

lol i have been so excited about writing this chapter for ages bc like they kiss hehehehe but then when i actually wrote it, it was SO rushed and bad like guys are u kidding. i wanted to go to sleep so bad. anyways, here is what i pictured for like etta's pink silk dress.

pretty, righttt? moving on, thank you SSOOSOSOSOSOOSOSOOSOSOOSOSOSOSOSOOSO much for reading, and if you are still currently reading this PLEASE vote if you haven't!! i really wanna try and get to 100 votes on this book! so grateful for all of you and love you all sosooso much! NEW CHAPTER COMING HOPEFULLY SOON, PLUS ILL POST A CHRISTMAS HAUL TOO! LOVE YOUUU!

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- julia!! (ettarivers), december 17th - december 24th 2024

- published; december 24th 2024