Wizards of Waverly Place
Waverly Shores 3: The Hunger
Part 1: The Spark
It was October 4, 2012 ADD, and the Russos were sitting in their living room/loft, in their house on Waverly Place, on the Seam of New York. It was a day, much like any other, but little did the Russos, or anybody, know that today, today, of all days, things would change, just as they had on August 7, 2011, events would occur, which would incite other events, and things would never be the same again
The Russos were sitting in their loft, until Jerry walked in. "Oh, ha ha ha, uh, alright guys, I just heard, the funniest joke from out neighbor's magazine, and I also remembered two other jokes that I never got to tell you before." He said, laughing so hard he could barely walk or talk.
"Dad, it's not right to steal people's mail, it's illegal, you could get arrested, have your tongue get cut out, be thrown in a river, or get shot." Said Justin.
"Ha, all I did was pick up the mail from the ground, in their mailbox." Said Jerry, admittingly.
"Oh Jerry." Said Theresa, who was wearing a ratty, white and brown dress, made out of patches of old clothes, had her hair pulled back in a pony tail, and was washing clothes on a, old washboard in a rusty bucket filled with water.
Alex then ran, frantically, down the stairs. "Oh, dad, I had the dream again, it was me." She said, sobbing.
"It's always about you isn't it?" Asked Justin as he sat down and drank some coffee.
"Jerry, how many times do we have to tell you not to take people's mail, you cannot take whatever, or whoever, you want, whenever you want, you're not the president." Said Theresa.
"Ya, but our neighbors always get all the good mail, like, the Capitol Post, and the Tessera, and all we get are these stupid, fucking napkins." Said Jerry as he threw them on the coffee table, and the table collapsed.
"What, dad these are bills!" Said Justin, shocked.
"Oh, yya." Said Jerry as he tapped on the table, another one.
"Pieces of paper, that tell you how much money you have to pay, and if you don't they'll burn our house down, and us." Said Theresa.
Alex was leaning on a table, crying, holding her head with one hand. "Uh, dad, can you hand me a napkin?" She asked through her tears.
"Sure Alex, here's the squirrel bill." Said Jerry as he handed it to her.
"It's okay, I'll just trade some of the goat's cheese at the Hob." Said Max as he walked in.
"That's my son, resourceful, go get em!" Yelled Jerry.
As Max walked to the door, it was kicked open, and hit him in the face. "Oh!" Groaned Max as he fell on the floor.
A group of people, wearing white, bulletproof, jumpsuits, black boots and gloves, and white helmets with glass covers over their faces walked in. "Out of the way!" Yelled the men as they ran in. They took their club, and began smashing lamps and vases, upending furniture, throwing stuff off the shelves, busting open cabinets and throwing the contents on the floor, dumping out huge barrels of grain, one man hit Justin with his club and he fell on the floor, then they took out guns and started shooting sulfur all over the house.
"Uh, excuse me, may I ask just what the hell is going on." Demanded Theresa.
The men moved aside at the sound of a voice. "Hello!" Lights lit up the hall outside, and were murked up with smoke, and purple and white glitter, and in walked a purple haired, somewhat wrinkly man in a fancy blue suit, with his arms out wide. "Ha, woo, ya." He said, excitedly as he looked at the family. As Justin got up off the floor, he grabbed his shoulders, and kissed him on the lips.
"Uh!" Groaned Justin.
"Ha, how's everybody doing?" He asked, enthusiastically.
"...Are you fucking kidding me?" Asked Max.
"Alright, what the hell is going on here?" Asked Alex as she got up from the table. "Who are you?"
"My name is Caesar, and I am proud to announce, that your city, has been chosen to provide the North East District's tributes, for the 74th annual Hunger Hunger Games!" Yelled Caesar.
"Wait, a minute, what's the Hunger Games?" Asked Jerry.
"You mean you've never heard of it, why the Hunger Games is just the biggest event in the country, it brings all the Districts together to celebrate out great nation, in a competition like no other." Said Caesar.
"Okay, but what exactly is this all about?" Asked Theresa.
"I'll leave it to him to tell you." Said Caesar as he moved aside, and in walked a main dressed like all the others, but they recognized him, as the mayor of the Tribeca section of New York.
"Cray, what are you doing here, what is this?" Asked Justin.
"I've been asked by the President to inform you of this great honor." Said Cray as he pulled out a piece of paper, and cleared his throat. "Your city has been selected to provide the representatives for the North East District in the annual Hunger Games. If selected, you will be brought to the Capitol to participate in this great ceremony, to fight to death, with all other competitors, until one lone victor remains, who will bring great riches and honors to their District." Said Cray.
"Wait, you want us, to go to the Capitol, go into an arena, and kill each other, on television?" Asked Max.
"Well, we really want anyone from New York, but you as well as anyone else." Said Caesar.
"Ha, I've heard of this, that thing they have on every year where the Western Districts kill everyone from the Eastern Districts." Said Alex.
"Uh, I'm not sure of the specifics, but ya, that's it." Said Caesar.
"So you're saying we might have to be part of this?" Asked Theresa.
"Possibly." Said Caesar, nodding, still happy as ever.
"Cray, do you have a chance to be chosen?" Asked Jerry.
"Uh no, I got out of it by reading the note." Said Cray, shyly.
"So who's gonna be in the drawing?" Asked Max.
"Oh, everyone in New York City, I have to say the odds of your names being chosen are quite low, but I wish the best of luck to all of you." Said Caesar.
"Uh, what does that m..." Started Justin.
"Wait a minute, if you just wanted to tell us we might be in this game, why did you trash our house?" Asked Alex.
"Oh, I couldn't stand this design, I mean, white wall paper, hard wood flooring, ugh." Said Caesar.
"But just for a few min..." Started Theresa.
"We'll see you tomorrow at nine in the City Square for the reap, drawing, good luck." Said Caesar as he left.
"Yep, ha, good seeing ya again sweetie." Said Cray as he patted Alex's shoulder when he walked out.
"Oh." Groaned Alex as she held her face in her hand.
"Wow, I can't believe we might get to be on T.V." Said Jerry.
"Well we have al..." Started Justin.
"Ya, on T.V with people trying to kill us." Said Max.
"Well, ya." Said Jerry.
"Well, like that guy said, all of New York's gonna be in the drawing, that chances that one of us gets picked are pretty slim." Said Theresa.
"Ya, we'll believe that." Said Alex, quietly and sarcastically.
"Well, we'd better prepare for tomorrow." Said Theresa.
"Yep." Said Jerry as he sat on the couch and started eating some rice off the floor.
"Here's a napkin." Said Alex as she handed him a bill."
"Thanks." Said Jerry as he took it. Theresa just stood there, Max walked out the door, and Justin went back to his book.
The next day, the group had arrived at the City Square, which had formerly been known as Time Square, and were checking in, with all of fifty goddamn people, they were in a line, which a person at a desk was taking blood and putting them in books under the person's name. "Give me your finger." Said the woman.
"Why do you need my finger?" Asked Justin.
"To prick it for a blood sample." Said the woman, briskly.
"Wha, but the guy didn't s..." Started Justin.
"Sir, please comply with us!" Yelled the woman.
"Fine, ya prick." Said Justin as he held out his finger and had the blood taken, by means of a needle, which came out of a tube, very quickly and subtly.
"Next!" Yelled the woman.
"I can't believe this, first we have to come here at nine, now we have to give some of our blood." Said Theresa.
"Ya, I do needle point, my blood is precious." Said Jerry.
"Next." Said the woman and Max walked up. "Give me your finger."
Max held out his finger, and she stabbed the needle, very quickly, into his finger. "Oh, ah!" He groaned.
"Next." Said the lady.
"Wha, why did you stab me when you just..." Started Max.
"Please move." Said the lady as she pushed him along.
"Ha, don't shove him." Said Alex.
"Just shut up and give me your finger." Said the lady.
"Ya, I'll give you a finger." Said Alex.
"I've heard that one a million times." Said the lady.
Into the town walked the representative from the Capitol, she was a short lady, she wore a pink dress, pink shoes, had white hair with pink hughes in his, eyelashes bigger and pinker than eyelashes should ever be, hot pink lipstick, and pink eyeliner, and not to mention the whitest skin you've ever seen. All of this, under a pink umbrella, and she had a disgusted look as she walked down the street, looking at the houses, all full of sulfur, and the people, as she made her way to the City Square. Everybody noticed her. "Uh, Capitol people." Said Alex.
"I'm glad they only come once a year." Said Max.
The woman, her name was Effin Trinket, walked up on stage, and joining her was Cray, his teenage "guest," and two security guards. "Welcome, welcome all, Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor." She said, happily.
"Hu." Sighed Theresa.
"Before we select our competitors, we have a special film, directly, from the Capitol." Said Effin.
"Yya." Said Theresa, dully.
On a huge screen came a film, showing a bunch of people getting shot, blown up, and bleeding, and was narrated by an old man. "War, terrible war, brother turns on brother, and blood is spilled, for no sensible cause, we celebrate our great nation, its freedom, and the Capitol that holds it all together, but freedom comes at a cost..." Started the man.
"That doesn't make any sense." Said Max.
"...as tribute to the Capitol, each year, the Districts of Panem shall offer up its own citizens to compete in a competition of skill, bravery, and wit, in a fight to death, until a lone victor remains, bathed in riches, and bearer great honor to their District, henceforth, this event shall be known, forevermore, as the Hunger Games, your city has been chosen to represent its District in this year's event, so may you serve with valor, courage, and may the odds, be ever in your favor." Finished the man, the president.
Effin mouthed the last words. "Ah, I just love that." She said.
"That was the worst thing I've ever seen." Said Justin.
"Now, the time has come, to select our tributes, for the 74th annual games, first, do we have any volunteers?" She asked.
Nobody said anything, somebody coughed. "Anyone, anyone at all?" Asked Effin.
"No!" Yelled Jerry.
"Alright, let's get to the reap, drawing, here we go." Said Effin as she walked over to a glass bowl, holding a bunch of names on pieces of paper. She reached in, and ruffled the papers around for a while before pulling one out.
"Uh, I know it's gonna be one of us." Groaned Alex.
"Shut up." Said Justin.
"I hope it's you." Said Max.
"Well it won't be." Said Justin.
"Our first tribute, Justin Russo." Said Effin.
"Ha!" Laughed Alex, Max just looked shocked.
"Justin, I'm so sorry..." Started Jerry.
"Quiet dad!" Yelled Justin as he pushed past him. "Mom, you'll have to take care of the family when I'm gone." Said Justin.
"Oka..." Started Theresa.
"No, I mean it, you can't blank out again, not like when the wine ran out." Said Justin.
"I know, I won't." Said Theresa.
"Good, hmm." Breathed Justin as he hugged her, really hard.
"Our next tribute, Theresa Russo." Said Effin.
"Ah fuck!" Yelled Theresa as she pushed Justin on the ground.
"Oh!" Groaned Justin.
"Jerry, listen, you have to take care of them, you can't blank out like when the beans ran out." Said Theresa.
"Don't worry Theresa, we'll be fine." Said Jerry.
"Next, Jeremiah Russo." Said Effin.
"Ah man." Said Jerry as he stomped his foot.
"This is crazy." Said Max.
"Ya, at least it wasn't one of us." Said Alex.
"Ya." Said Max.
"Next, Maxwell Russo." Said Effin.
"Hu, what?" Said Max, shocked.
"How many are they gonna pick?" Asked Theresa, confused.
"Well, come up here dearie." Said Effin.
"Uh, kay." Said Max quietly, still shocked.
"Uh, wha, hu, Max, Max." Said Alex as she walked out into the square. "Ha, ha I volunteer, I volunteer in his place." Said Alex.
"Well well." Said Effin.
"What, Alex, you don't have to do this." Said Max.
"No, it's fine, you'd do it for me." Said Alex.
"Ya, thanks Alex." Said Max.
"No problem." Said Alex, flustered.
"Come up here sweetie." Said Effin. Alex walked up to the stage. "So, what's your name?" Asked Effin.
"Alex Russo." Said Alex.
"Well, I bet my eyelashes that was your brother, right?" Asked Effin.
"Yes." Said Alex.
"Well, I commend you on your bravery, let's all give Ms. Russo a round of applause." Said Effin as she clapped silently.
Everybody just stared. "Whore." Coughed Justin.
"Well, let's move on." Said Effin. "Our next contender..." She pulled out the paper and opened it. "Alexandra Russo."
"Ah shit!" Yelled Alex.
"Come on up here Maxwell." Said Effin.
"Uh." Groaned Max as he walked up to the stage.
"Oh, aren't you just thrilled to be competing alongside your sister Max?" She asked.
"No, this really sucks..." Started Max.
"Wonderful, and, the North East District's final tribute..." Started Effin as she reached into the bowl, pulled out a piece of paper, opened and read it, and threw it aside. "Peeta Mellard." She said.
A blond boy walked out, looked terrified, and walked up to the stage. Alex looked at him, and remembered back to the last time she saw him, years ago, out in the rain. "So, here we have it, the North East District's competitors, for the 74th annual Hunger Games, of course, the most recent victor will also compete alongside these brave souls, Happy Hunger Games to all, now off to your quarters." Said Effin.
"Ha, get in there!" Yelled two men in white as Alex was thrown on the dark, rotted wooden floor of her room in the Justice Hall, which had equivocally dark and rotted wooden walls, dirty, streaky windows with metal bars placed over them, for the safety of the tributes, and was handcuffed to a filthy, broken, rusty radiator. "Uh, oh." Groaned Alex, as she sat there. Later some visitors came in. "You have three minutes." Said the man.
"Alex, that was a really nice thing you did for Max." Said Jerry.
"Ya, it's not like it did any good though." Said Alex.
"Well, ya know." Said Jerry.
"Ya, but why didn't you do it for the rest of us!" Yelled Theresa.
"Well would you have done it for me?" Asked Alex.
"Well, no." Said Theresa.
"Yep, look, before all this, I just wanted to say..." Started Alex.
"Well, see ya." Said Theresa as she got up and left. Jerry opened his mouth to say something. "Jerry!" She yelled.
"Coming." Said Jerry as he waved and left.
"Two minutes." Said the man.
"Ha Alex, I just wanted to thank you for volunteering for me, I know it didn't work out, but at least you thought to do it." Said Max.
"Ya, either way, one of us wouldn't let the other go into the that thing without trying to get them out." Said Alex.
"That's true, but, now that we're all in there, what's going to happen?" Asked Max.
"I don't know, I guess we'll just have to wait and see." Said Alex.
"I guess, thanks Alex." Said Max.
"No problem." Said Alex as they hugged.
"See ya." Said Max as he left.
"By." Said Alex.
"Ninety second." Said the man.
"Alex, that was a really sweet thing you did for your brother, I just want to say, I'm rooting for you." Said Peeta.
"Uh, thanks, why're you..." Started Alex.
"I mean it, if any of us has a chance out there, it's you." Said Peeta.
"I have no chance in that arena, living in the city all my life, why..." Started Alex.
"No, you do, you can hunt, forage, you know what my mom said, she said the District might finally have a winner, and she wasn't talking about me." Said Peeta.
"Hu, she, why..." Started Alex.
"Look, your strong, you can do this, I know your whole family's in there, but, I just hope one of you can come out alive." Said Peeta.
"Thanks, but don't count yourself out, I mean..." Started Alex.
"Ya, right." Said Peeta. "Ha, I wanted to give you this, here." Said Peeta as he handed her a golden pin, of a circle with a bird in the middle, attached only by its wing tips.
"Thanks, what is it?" She asked.
"It's a mockingjay, it was my dads, he says it's a symbol for freedom and hope, and as long as you have it, nothing bad will happen to you." Said Peeta. "Here."
"Thanks, why are you giving me this?" Asked Alex.
"Because, I've seen you around, you're a good person, and, I just wanted to do something for you, before we get to the arena." Said Peeta as he put it in her hands. "There, now you can't say I never did anything nice for you." Said Peeta.
Alex held the pin in her hand. "I can't." She said.
"Okay, have to go, see you at the station." Said Peeta as he got up and left.
"By." Said Alex, looking at the pin.
"Ten seconds."
"Stupid bitch, left your fucking arrow heads in my coat!" Yelled Justin as he threw the arrow heads all over her, she didn't move. "When we get in the arena you're the first one I kill." He headed out the door. "Holy shit!"
The group was riding in a car with Effin, she was talking, but hardly anyone was listening. "Oh, you are going to love the train, it's full of foods, an..." She started, everyone was either sitting there, looking out the window, and Max, sitting right next to her, was just rolling his eyes.
At the train station, there were tons of people, with cameras, taking pictures, and filming. "We're gettin' on the train, go to the Capitol, pretty far, I didn't even know it was that far, till we got on the train." Said Justin, stupidly, in an interview.
"Ya, get on the fucking train, ya." Said the men in white as they shoved the six on the train, and Effin got on on her own free will. The interior of the train looked like it was made of stainless steel, and all over were fancy chandeliers, tables set with the richest, most expensive foods one could imagine, and fancy seats. Everyone looked around, in awe.
"I think, that even though your here, and that it's just for a short time, that you should savor, all of this, which the Capitol has so proudly presented to you." Said Effin. Everyone looked at her, trying to figure out just what the fuck she was saying. "Well, I'm going to get Haymitch, he's probably in the bathroom." Said Effin as she got up and left.
"Have you ever met him?" Asked Peeta.
"Who?" Asked Max, looking at him.
"Haymitch." Said Peeta.
"No, no I've never heard of him." Said Max. "Who is he?" He asked.
"He's the only living person from the District to win this thing, he's supposed to mentor us on how to win." Said Peeta.
"Wait a minute, he was the last person from our District to win?" Asked Jerry.
"Ya." Said Peeta.
"And when did he win?" Asked Theresa.
"I think, twenty-four years ago." Said Peeta.
"...Ya I'm sure we're in good hands with him." Said Alex, sarcastically.
"Ha, there's nothing wrong with getting some help." Said Justin.
"I didn't say there was, but from a guy, whose tributes have lost twenty-three years in a row." Said Alex, and Justin just sat there.
Haymitch then walked in, he was a tall man, he had brownish blond hair, hadn't shaved in a while, which was okay cus he hadn't bathed either, and had on some nice, wrinkled clothes. He reached, and grabbed a glass bottle of vodka. "Uh, where's the ice?" He asked.
"Uh, I don't know." Said Justin, frantically.
"Uh, fuck." Muttered Haymitch, under his filthy breath, as he poured vodka in his glass, and slammed the container in a bucket. He walked over, and sat in a seat right across from the others, and went on drinking.
Everyone just sat there. "So, how ya doin'?" Asked Theresa.
"Uh." Groaned Haymitch as he held his head in his hand. "I been worse." He went on drinking.
They just sat there for another minute. "So, let's get down to it, h..." Started Peeta.
"Whoa, slow down, last year's tributes weren't so, eager, to die." Said Haymitch as he leaned back and drank more.
"Oh my god." Said Justin.
"Ya but, you're our mentor, you're supposed to tell us how to get sponsors, tell us how to win." Said Max.
"Oh, okay, uh, embrace, all time you have in the Capitol's luxuries, before you're sent in to your certain deaths." Said Haymitch, actually looking at them. "And know, that there's nothing I can do to help you." He said. They all stared at him. He took another sip of his vodka. "Ah."
"That's it?" Asked Jerry, in shock.
"You must have some tips, you won this thing once." Said Alex.
"Ya, don't feel like talking about that, just leave me to my..." Started Haymitch as he took another sip from his cup.
"Okay, that's enough of that." Said Peeta as he leaned over and knocked the glass out of Haymitch's hand, and Haymitch punched him in the face. "Oh!" He groaned.
"Hmm, made me spill my drink, all over my new pants." Said Haymitch as he got up from his chair. "I'm just gonna finish this in my room." He said as he left, then came back and grabbed two more bottles of vodka, then left without looking back.
"I'm gonna talk to him." Said Peeta.
"What, it's no use." Said Theresa.
"He'll come around." Said Peeta as he followed Haymitch through the door.
Later, Alex was sitting around, watching old Hunger Games on video. One in particular showed a black guy beating someone to death with a really bloody brick, then held his arms up as a victor. Theresa was sitting there, watching, interested, eating popcorn. Alex rolled her eyes, got up and left. She walked, slowly to the door and looked in. To the left was Effin, passed out from drinking some indiscernible drink, and to the right was Haymitch, sitting at a table, talking to Peeta, Max, and Jerry. She walked in. "No, you'd freeze to death." Said Haymitch as he ate.
"Then I'd start a fire." Said Peeta.
"Fire doesn't solve everything, it's a good way to get killed." Said Haymitch.
"Why would it get you killed?" Asked Max.
"Because, other tributes see smoke, they see another victim." Said Haymitch.
"But what if I started the fire at night?" Asked Jerry.
"Then they'd see the light from the fire." Said Haymitch.
"But what if I lit it in a heavily forested area..." Started Jerry.
"Oh would you shut up!" Yelled Haymitch.
Alex then walked in. "Ha, what're you talking about?" She asked, lightly.
"Oh, I was just telling these three about how to find shelter, which would come in handy if you were still alive." Said Haymitch.
"How do you find shelter?" Asked Alex.
"Pass the jelly." Said Haymitch, Peeta handed him the jelly.
"How do you find shelter?" Asked Alex, pissed.
"Listen, sweetheart..." Started Haymitch.
"Don't call me that." Said Alex.
"This mentoring stuff is hard work, need to, sit back..." Started Haymitch.
"You've been sitting, all day." Said Jerry.
"No, I took a bath, after I vomited on myself." Said Haymitch.
"No, you were unconscious and I gave you a bath." Said Max.
"Oh ya, thanks for that." Said Haymitch. "Uh, pass the butter..." He started as he reached for the butter, and Alex stabbed a knife between his fingers.
"Hu, that is mahogany!" Yelled Effin, as she woke up.
"Hmm, impressive..." Started Haymitch as he pulled the knife out of the table. "If there are any, place mats, in the arena, you'll do just fine." He said, wryly. "Look, skill is just one, small part of this thing, you wanna know how to win, you get people to like you." Said Haymitch. Alex stared at him. "Ya, not what you were expecting hu?" He asked.
"Wha, you didn't tell us that." Said Peeta.
"Oh, well." Said Haymitch as he went on drinking.
"Why do we need people to like us?" Asked Max.
"Because, people like you, you get sponsors, and sponsors send parachutes, which could mean water, food, or some matches, which would help you stay alive out there." Said Haymitch.
"Ya, but how much of the game could that be?" Asked Alex.
"A lot, all the Districts East of The River call it the Ice Games, you know why, cus all their tributes freeze to death." Sad Haymitch.
"Freeze, what if there isn't an ice arena?" Asked Jerry.
"Well, or they starve, of dehydration..." Started Haymitch.
"Is it because they all get killed, that's why they call it that?" Asked Max.
"That's probably why..." Started Alex.
"Look, whatever, just know that presentation is just as important as performance out there." Said Haymitch as he handed her the knife. "Can you do anything else with knives?" Asked Haymitch.
"Ya." Said Alex as she took it, and threw it. It hit and shattered Effin's glass in her hand.
"Ah!" Screamed Effin as she held her chest. "Uh." She groaned.
"Nice." Said Haymitch.
"What in the world do you thin..." Started Effin.
"Now, what else can you do?" Asked Haymitch.
"I'm pretty good with a bow and arrow." Said Alex.
"I was talking to them." Said Haymitch.
"I'm pretty fast, and I can climb." Said Max.
"Good, at least until you have to kill somebody." Said Haymitch, rolling his eyes.
"Wha..." Started Max.
"What about you?" Asked Haymitch.
"Uh, I can ma..." Started Jerry.
"Uh, I've had enough, leave me to my drink." Said Haymitch.
"Kay, see ya." Said the group as they left.
"Ha, thanks Haymitch." Said Peeta.
"Don't thank me, everyone I've trained in the past twenty-three years has died, not much good I can do." He said, leaning back.
"Ya, but at least you keep trying." Said Peeta as he walked out the door.
"Ya, hu." Said Haymitch as he leaned back, thinking.
In the main room, Justin walked up to the group. "Ha, what were you doing in there?" He asked.
"Piss off." Said Alex.
"We were getting tips from Haymitch." Said Peeta.
"What, why didn't you ask me to come?" Asked Justin.
"I didn't ask anyone to come." Said Peeta.
"Oh, so that's what your game is, hu?" Asked Justin.
"What're you talking about?" Asked Peeta.
"What's going on?" Asked Theresa.
"They got help from Haymitch and didn't tell me." Said Justin.
"Why did you do that?" Asked Theresa.
"Never crossed my mind." Said Max.
"Oh, ya see." Said Theresa.
"I don't mean them, I mean him." Said Justin.
"He said he didn't ask anyone." Said Alex.
"He asked me." Said Max.
"And I heard him." Said Jerry.
"Why did you say you didn't?" Asked Justin.
"Uh..." Started Peeta.
"Whatever, you wanna turn on me you'll be sorry, when we get in the arena you'll be the first one I kill." Said Justin.
"Ya, if you even live long enough to kill anyone." Said Peeta.
"Oh you're so sure of yourself, you work at a bakery, you don't have any better chance out there than I do." Said Justin.
Alex sat there, thinking, cold night raining, lying there against a tree, eyes barely opened, Peeta was pushed out, slapped by his mother, throwing the burnt loaves to the pigs in the pen, looked at her, she met his eyes, he turned and went back inside, back to the train car. "Haymitch, what is this shit, giving advice to them and not me, or my mom?" Asked Justin.
"They came in on their own will, and I can't teach someone unless they're willing to learn." Said Haymitch.
"I didn't go cus I thought he would say that." Said Theresa.
"Oh, oh I get it, you won't teach me anything, cus you don't have any tactics." Said Justin.
"You're crazy, I got tactics coming out of, uh..." Started Haymitch, as he held up his bottle. "Of this vodka." He said as he drank some. "Blu!"
"Ha, I think we're here." Said Alex as she went and looked out the window. The Capitol came into view, massive golden buildings, floods of people wearing fancy outfits, and lavishness as far as the eye could see, all surrounded by mountains. The train pulled into the station, and the Capitol people flocked in, cheering and waving at the tributes.
"Hu, ha." Said Peeta as he waved at them.
"Uh." Groaned Haymitch as he drank more, staying away from the window.
Jerry was talking in front of a screen in an interview. "Ya, we're in the Capitol, they said they're gonna give us makeovers for the show, I don't know, I haven't gotten a makeover since, uh, I got smog all over my face, when the black market caught on fire, uh." Groaned Jerry.
At the Hall of Cosmetology outside of the City Circle, the stylists were making over all the tributes to look presentable for the show. They were spraying hoses, washing hair, combing hair, waxing, pulling out unsightly facial hair, pulling hair back. "I hate working on the Eastern Districts." Said Octavia.
"Me too, I was on the Plains until they caught me pocketing eyeliner." Said Flavius. By the way, each stylist looked just as, if not more stupid than Effin, with eyelashes longer than any of us could ever imagine, pink and blue eyeliners so bright they could light up all of the West, hair with equivocally bright, flamboyant colors, and hot pink lipstick burning from within and without.
"Ha, I can hear..." Started Haymitch.
"Shut up, oh why do we get him every year?" Asked Flavius.
"I don't know, I'll fire up the listerine jets." Said Octavia as she left.
"Oh, I hate the listerine jets." Muttered Haymitch as he leaned back and had a large tube shoved in his mouth.
Two stylists were whispering to each other. "Ha, what's that, what's that?" Asked Alex.
"Oh, we were saying we'll have to hose you down before we take you to Cinna." Said the stylist.
"Uh." Groaned Alex.
Venia had just finished. "Uh, my masterpiece, complete." She said, clapping her hands together.
Theresa's face was flawless, with longer, darker eyelashes, and hot pink lipstick, but not nearly as hot as those in the Capitol had the privilege of wearing. "Thank you, I don't have many chances to look pretty in my District." She said, smiling, meaning every word of it.
"Oh, poor dear." Said Venia, hugging her.
"Uh." Sighed Theresa.
A stylist, Portia, who had huge blond hair with brown highlights, brown eyeliner, pretty large black eyelashes red lip stick, and overall looked disgusting, to anyone who doesn't get Capitol style, was working her comb, waving it all over the place, with one hand, barely whisping the hair, and using the other hand as a sort of portrait frame. "Uh, oh, ah, yes, perfect." Said said, admiring her work.
"Uh, thanks." Said Max, awkwardly, standing clothless in front of her.
"You're welcome, put some clothes on doll." She said as she patted his shoulder and walked on.
"Hu." Max sighed out.
Alex was lying on the table, motionless, when Cinna walked in. He had dark brown skin, short, black hair, some light green eyeliner, just enough to show that he meant style, normal lips, some gold earrings, and, wait for it. Normal eyelashes. "That, was the bravest thing I've ever seen." Said Cinna.
"Why, I was screaming the whole time, I only stayed cus they strapped me do..." Started Alex.
"No, not that, I mean when you volunteered for your brother at the Reaping..." Started Cinna.
"Reaping?" Said Alex.
"Ya, there hasn't been a volunteer from an Eastern District in years, especially from the North East, you've got a lot courage agreeing to into this thing." Said Cinna.
"Ya, well, I wasn't going to stand by and watch someone from my family be thrown into that death sentence." Said Alex.
"You let the other three." Said Cinna.
"Ya, but regardless we're all here, it doesn't make a difference." Said Alex.
"You don't know that, the second volunteer the North East District's ever had, anything could happen out there, you and your family could really make an impression in this thing, Alex." Said Cinna.
"Ya, in the Ice Games." Muttered Alex.
"Didn't think you'd know about that, but I'm sure this year'll be different, anyway, my name's Cinna, your stylist." He said, shaking her hand.
"Nice you meet you, so what, you're here to make me look pretty?" Asked Alex.
"Here to help you make an impression, I'm gonna see to it your District makes this a year no one's ever gonna forget." Said Cinna.
"Oh, so how're you gonna do that?" Asked Alex.
"You'll see, now, it's my first year as a stylist for the games, and I have a great idea for what your District's going to wear at the opening ceremony." Said Cinna.
"Can't wait, you know you aren't nearly as flamboyant as the other stylists." Said Alex.
"Ya, but that won't stop me, now get dressed, I'll see ya in the City Circle." Said Cinna as he left.
"By, hu." Sighed Alex as she went to put on her robe.