One
There are several rules that govern my life. As the only daughter of Seneca Crane and his wife, Collette, my life was governed by certain standards that my brother's was not. In that way Alexandre was the lucky one. He had completed his apprenticeship a year ago and was now working in a technology department out of the sight of Capitol publicity. That meant I was the only child left to follow the rules.
The rules were simple enough;
1. Don't do anything that humiliates the family
2. Don't air the family laundry in public
3. Respect those in power
I've followed the three rules all my life, even before deciding where I want to take my apprenticeship. Mother would have loved to have me become a stylist for the games but I've always been a little too tomboyish for that. Instead I decided two years ago that I wanted to become a trainer for the games. Last year my father arranged for me to begin my apprenticeship a year early at seventeen under Atala, the head trainer. That was when I made some rules of my own.
1. Don't get attached to the tributes. They're only going to die in the games.
2. Don't let the tributes know who you are. They'll only waste time hating you for it instead of letting you help them gain skills to survive.
3. Don't tell anyone about what goes on during training.
4. Don't fall in love.
Little did I know that this year I was going to break all four of my rules. This is how it happened.
I was training when the messenger came. Zuzanna had been with our family since I was four and despite being a servant she could be considered one of my best friends. "Your mother requests you meet her at the station," Zuzanna said with a quirk of her lips. "She requires your assistance."
"Again," I groaned, tossing down the practice sword. Zuzanna's face exploded into a real smile as she struggled not to laugh.
"Yes," she said, composing herself. I moaned and snatch the sword up, promptly decapitating the dummy and then stabbing the sword through it's gut.
"Do I really have to?"
"Yes," Zuzanna said, half laughing at me. "Now get moving or you'll be late. Don't change."
"You're evil," I said, smirking at her before running out of the private training room. I sprinted out into the Capitol sunshine. The walk to the station wasn't very long but I got strange looks for my training clothing. I was dressed in dark colored capris and a loose black skirt along with sparring hand guards that I hadn't taken off earlier. My hair was as dark as my father's but my eyes were my mother's mint green. Over all my looks were rather distinctive.
"Darling," Mother cooed the instant I came in sight. "I just have to get caught up with the Capitol gossip. Would you mind taking these two to their stylists?" My mother had lavender highlights in her massive golden poof and her wide green eyes were both cunning and pleading. I held in a groan as I glanced at the tributes from 2. My mother was a escort for District 2, a prestigious position that most would have loved to have yet it was this very duty that she pawned off on me as often as possibly. The girl was small and dark haired. The boy was massive compared to her and handsome enough to make my best friend Macy swoon. Zuzanna would have snorted and said pretty was fine but it didn't do a thing when the man was stupid. Personally I thought Zuzanna was right.
"Fine," I said. "But be back before the parade or I'll report you."
"Fine, fine," Mother said, waving me off and rushing off into the crowd. As soon as she was gone I sighed and turned toward the tributes.
"Well come on then." I led the way out of the station and down the steps to the car waiting. The driver, Jacques, smiled at me and opened the back door for the tributes to climb in. I sighed and followed them, knowing it was expected of me.
We sat in silence for a moment then. I was staring out the window when the girl spoke. "I'm Clove."
"Reese," I said, not bothering with my real name. Mother had named me Theresa Marie Crane but I used Reese as often as I could. Theresa was far to girly for my taste.
"So where are we going?" Clove asked awkwardly. That was when I really looked at her. She was young, probably around fourteen, and had no idea what was going on.
"To the Remake Center so your prep team and stylist can prepare you for the parade," I explained, mentally considering how I could annoy my mother for doing this to me.
"Honestly Clover don't you pay attention to anything," the blond boy scorned.
"I told you," Clove snarled at him. "It's Clove and if you persist in calling me Clover-"
"I will cheerfully kill you," I finished with Clove. She glanced at me and, seeing my smirk, grinned.
"You two?" she asked and I nodded. "Don't ever tell Cato your real name," she continued, jerking her head at the blond next to her. "He'll make you regret it every moment for the rest of your life."
"It's good for you Clover," Cato said, smirking widely even after she punched him.
"We've arrived," Jacques announced before Clove could murder her district partner.
"Good," I mumbled. "Let's get this show on the road." I opened the door for myself and Jacques stood beside it until both tributes were out. Then he shut it, patted me lightly on the shoulder, and got back into the car. I walked into the Remake Center with the tributes from two behind me as he pulled away. The Peacekeeper just inside the second set of doors stopped us.
"Names," she droned and I held in an exasperated sigh. Marlene had close cropped black hair in a buzz cut and though she was old she was far from senile. She knew exactly why I was here and who I was with but I was forced to announce myself anyway.
"Reese escorting-" I began but Marlene held up her hand to stop me.
"Full first and middle name Reese," she said, looking up from her check in tablet and glare at me. "You know this."
"Fine," I grumbled. "Theresa Marie here to escort Tribute Clove Felix and Tribute Cato Marcellus to their stylists."
"Enter," Marlene said formally and then tapped something on her tablet that made the doors swing open for us. I walked inside, followed by Clove and a snickering Cato.
"Theresa Marie?" he asked and I knew without looking that he was smirking.
"My curse to bear," I informed him with dry humor, tapping the up button for the elevator. The door hissed open and she stepped inside, flats tapping slightly on the glass floor. As soon as the tributes were inside it rose with a whoosh, leaving me almost breathless.
"Wow," Clove gasped, sounding stunned, just before the doors opened. I grinned at her and knew at that moment I was breaking the first of my rules; don't get attached. I liked Clove. Enough that I would miss her if she died.
"Now what have you brought me tonight?" a voice suddenly gushed as a crazily dressed figure came zooming toward us. We stepped off the elevator and Umbria practically smothered me in a hug. Her high hair was pitch black with gold glittery spots everywhere that matched her makeup and her knew eye color. She was also as tall as Cato without her heels. Clove looked overwhelmed and Cato rather stunned. Behind Umbria was Zen. He was about Clove's height with green hair that would hair made a leprechaun proud and silver makeup that shimmered like he was a star.
"These are Clove and Cato," I told Umbria, wrinkling my nose slightly when I said Cato's name. Umbria laughed and winked at me before turning to the tributes.
"Hello darlings," she cooed at them with a wicked smile. "I'm here to make you look pretty." She winked at Clove who suddenly grinned.
"You don't have to worry about Cato," she chirped. "He's already pretty enough to be a girl." Clove, Umbria, and I started laughing and Zen, lost in his thoughts as usual, managed a dazed smile.
"Very good," Umbria said cheerfully. "Clove dear, why don't you go with Zen and I'll take care of our pretty boy." Clove was still snickering when Zen led her away and Cato was glaring as he trailed after Umbria. The two stylists compared notes while the prep teams washed and waxed the two tributes. Four years ago I had taken to asking them questions about being a stylist, something that had delighted my mother to no end. Umbria and Zen had answered them by putting me to work. Even now after announcing my intention to become a trainer they still often put me to work.
After an hour of hushed whispers one of Cato's prep team came out with a black hit. "He hit me when I tried to work on his makeup," she squeaked indignantly and Umbria rolled her eyes at me.
"Rhea," she began but the tiny girl glared at her.
"No. I'm not going back in there," Rhea snapped.
"Reese would you mind?" she asked and I shook my head. "Fine," Umbria continued, turning back to Rhea. "Get Kesha and Laurent out of there two. Reese I'll be over in twenty minutes to check on your work." I nodded and followed the still ticked Rhea back toward the room they had Cato. She ushered Kesha and Laurent out of the room, sparing a glare for Cato before snapping the curtain shut. I turned to the makeup table immediately, picking up the base Kesha had abandoned. Some of it was spilled about on the floor so I assumed this was what they had been planning on using. I had just picked up a brush when he spoke.
"If you think you're putting that on me you can forget it." His deep voice tried to send shivers down my spine but I forced myself to be still.
"Listen here," I told him calmly, turning to look into his blue eyes. "Do you want sponsors?"
"What kind of a stupid question is that?" he hissed.
"Answer me," I demanded and he stood. I tried not to flinch as he cornered me against the makeup table. Even simply wearing a towel he was intimidating.
"Do I look like a fool to you?" he hissed. "Of course I want sponsors. I'm not stupid enough to think I don't need them to win."
I resisted the urge to push against his chest in a vain attempt to gain some breathing room and nervously licked my lips before replying. "Then you must do as your prep teams says and let your stylist and I enhance your looks. Otherwise you'll lose sponsors to other districts that wouldn't normally have any."
"Fine," he said almost sullenly and backed off, giving me room as he sat back down on the chair. I walked over to him and brushed the makeup over his face. Then I returned to the table, searching until I found the gold eyeliner. It would work with his skin tone, making his eyes pop without really showing up on camera. I made my way back over and then hesitated, unsure how I was going to get it on evenly without practically sitting on top of him. "Problem sweetheart," he said smirking at me. I growled and then actually gave in settling on his lap and working on the eyeliner. He didn't say anything but I could see him smirking and I had to resist the urge to punch him or poke him in the eye with the eyeliner. I had just finished when an arm slid around my waist, pressing me tight against his body. I felt my cheeks flush pink and I fought the urge to squirm uncomfortably. Why did he have to be so handsome and such a jerk. "Like what you see?" he said cockily and I suddenly smirked. Two could play at this game.
"Maybe if I was blind." I tapped him lightly on the nose with the eyeliner pencil just as Umbria began to pull open the curtains. He released me and I jumped off his lap, dropping the pencil on the table before waving at Umbria as I sauntered out of the room.
Author's Note: So quick question here. Would any of you be curious enough to read a side story in Cato's point of view? Let me know what you think. I own nothing of the Hunger Games that your recognize.
