Boy Next Door | Interview
Rye sucked air deep into his lungs, trying not to pass out. The roar of the crowd was deafening even from backstage. He hated being the last one to do everything; the suspense was torture. After his score he had cheered up a little. Sure there had been higher, but he had made an impression. James, his mentor, assured him it would greatly help with his sponsor points. Now all he had to do was to go out there and make them fall in love with him. It wouldn’t be easy of course but he had to try his best if he was ever going to get home.
Watching the games had taught him a lot about what the capitol did and didn’t want see, however, it also would have helped the others too. Somehow he had to make them like him without being too boring. Praying Caesar asked him all the right questions, a final cheer went up for Caitlyn before he felt himself push on stage.
Light; that was the first thing he registered. Light flooded his vision making his sight blurry at the edges. Hurriedly, he put a hand up to shield his eyes, but changed his mind and turned it into a wave to the crowd. As he reached out a hand, he felt for Caesar’s arm. Rye felt vulnerably disorientated, wanting to lean on him for support but knowing full well it wouldn’t look good. Instead he cheered loudly, hugging the man tightly as if an old friend. Of course Caesar played along, never caught off guard.
Rye sat down in the oversized chair. Slowly his eyes adjusted and his stomach flipped as he saw the thousands of capitol citizens, their eyes hungrily focused on him. He wasn’t entirely convinced by the way they looked at him, that they didn’t want to eat him! Still he smiled so wide his cheeks ached until the deafening roar dulled to a quiet mumble. “Hello Ryan, how are you doing?” His first question was simple and open, starting easy before he threw him into the lion’s den.
“Fantastic Caesar!” he exclaimed, his voice a little louder in the hop of conveying confidence, “But please, call me Rye. That’s what my friends call me and we’re all friend here.” Chuckling he was pleased to note the crowd’s reaction. Keep going; just say what they want to hear.
“That we are! Those pictures you had with Pate Hamming made quite the impression on Panem. Mind explaining them a little bit?”Rye was glad he was so busy trying to smile he didn’t give a chance for his face to register his surprise. True, he knew that the Capitol loved nothing more than some juicy gossip but the question blind-sided him a little. How was he supposed to answerer that? It wasn’t like he could exactly make out like they were having some sort of secret affair!
“Well Pate and I have become fast friends” Rye hoped he wouldn’t pry too much. It was a little awkward for him to talk about this to the whole of Panem. But Caesar didn’t seem to be done talking about the topic.
“The fans are all calling you two Ryte! Do you think the both of you would have ended up being an item if the games weren't happening?” Yup secret affair is what they want to hear, damn it. When in doubt make them laugh.
“An item?” He teased waggling his eyebrows at the crowd. “Well obviously it’s a private matter and all,” Rye leaned in towards them all as if indulging them with a secret, “Though I do think we make a good team, the two of us.” Smiling he threw up his hands and added, “It’s a shame he’s out of my league!” Citizens burst out in laughter. It was infectious and he found himself laughing with them. He was thankful and he relaxed a little into his seat, not so much the deer caught in headlights any more.
“Now you know just how to work the camera. Do you think you’ll have any problems with sponsors in the arena?”
“Work the camera?” He put his hands to his face, pulling a dramatically shocked face. “You think so Caesar?” Rye twisted in his chair and pulled some mock poses: looking over his shoulder; pouting at the crowd; crossing and uncrossing his legs. “Maybe I should look into modelling! As for sponsors, I guess I’m a bit of a wildcard, wouldn’t you say? But I’ll tell you something Caesar,” placing a hand on Caesar’s shoulder, he winked, “I’m not just a pretty face.” And with that, he was pulled to his feet, his hand locked with the other man’s as they raised their intertwined fingers to the sky.
“I wish you the best Ryan. Have fun out there! Ryan Brookes: District Eight!”
Rye was panting slightly and his heart pounded like a jackhammer as the adrenaline coursed through his veins. With the crowd chanting his name, he felt unstoppable.
