The peacekeepers lead us to a car, it's set to bring us to our living quarters. I'm actually excited, it will be a nice change from living in squalor. I just wish that my family could enjoy these next few days of bliss with me. The car pulls up to a tall ornate building, all I can do is look in awe. We arrived pretty late in the day, just as the sun started to set, this illuminated our surroundings quite beautifully. Stone lions greeted us at the entrance, very ominous. Being that Peeta and I are from District 12, we get the pent house. For once being in District 12 has its perks.
"Welcome to your new home for the next week or so!" Effie practically runs to the entrance of the building.
"This place is pretty sweet!" Peeta is all smiles.
"You think the bar is stocked?" I hear Haymitch grunt. Always thinking about the booze… how typical.
"Let's just get unpacked, I need to shower." I smell disgusting, the heat is too much and the stress I am under is immense.
The ride up the elevator is a long one, especially because we were sharing it with District 2. The stares I was getting from the boy tribute were terrorizing. I could tell that he would enjoy my death if he were the one to deliver it. He was huge, not just in girth, but in height. His muscles were defined, and large, I'm sure he could snap necks like twigs. He towered over me, I didn't show any weakness but I felt intimidated. For some reason they did not get off on their floor, much to my dismay.
I started to shift around, getting stares from Peeta. I mouthed to him, 'what's happening?'. To which he replied, 'I don't know'. Haymitch and Effie didn't even seem to notice what was happening, they were bickering with each other. The elevator was quiet, and that made for a fairly awkward environment. It was an agonizing journey we were all taking together.
The elevator came to an abrupt halt, opening up to our private floor. We all exited the elevator at once.
"Peeta, Katniss. There seems to have been some sort of trouble with District 2's suite, and since District 12's is so large… we shall be sharing it with them. The Capitol has made no indications of fixing it any time soon. I know you kids can get along, so don't make this difficult." I could see a hint of remorse coming from Haymitch.
"No fucking way." I quickly covered my mouth. "I mean, where will they sleep…" Hopefully on the floor, far away from me.
"Look, 12, we don't like this any more than you do." Barked the girl from 2.
"Do you think we want to be with the scum of Panem? I suggested that we take the penthouse and you take our shit hole, but they thought that was somewhat unfair. Unless you want to take me up on that offer?" The boy inquired, winking at me.
Before I could even say a word Effie was breaking up our soon to be fight. I'm glad; I don't want to be near 2 any more than they want to be near us. I'm sure the tributes from District 2 could sense my fear anyway. Haymitch probably didn't even know what was going on, as a matter of fact he was nowhere to be found.
"Children, save this for the Games! You will have plenty of time to tear each other apart! But I am so happy that are so enthusiastic to start fighting this early, this will prove to be an interesting games I am sure! Who knows, I could get moved to a new district as soon as next year!" Shocked by Effies words, I look for somewhere to sit. I make myself comfortable on an oversized couch and grab some grapes to pick at.
The District 2 boy runs over to me, practically knocking me off of the couch.
"Hey 12, we call first pick on rooms. Though, if you want to share my room…." He points behind him. "I'd be happy to make your acquaintance."
"In your dreams, I'd rather die than sleep with you." I actually would.
I can hear the girl screaming at an avox for not putting her clothes away fast enough, how ridiculous. I don't know how I will get through the day let alone training! Why can't the Capitol just fix the problem? They're never good for anything.
"I could arrange that." And with a wink, he struts to his bedroom and shuts the door.
I mutter some obscenities to myself. Who does he think he is?
"That's Cato, a career. Don't piss him off or he will murder you before the games even begin." Peeta whispers behind me, he practically read my thoughts.
"That's not allowed! He'd be executed if he tried anything. How do you know him though?"
"You think they would? No, the Capitol loves the careers. And Katniss, I know him because while you were sulking on the train I was reading up on the tributes. It's going to be a tough Games without help from careers… we should start making alliances soon."
"I don't even want to be associated with them, they look down upon us. They think we're nothing. They laugh when they murder District 12's tributes, they laugh."
"I'm just saying, if you get in with the careers you're almost guaranteed a spot in the final ten. We all want to go home, remember?" Peeta is getting louder, maybe he wants Cato to hear him. An avox stands behind Peeta carrying his bags to put into his room. "Think about it."
After walking around our new home, more of a mansion really, I find a nice room that I can see myself spending the next few weeks in.
"Over there." I point to the door, showing the avox where I wish to sleep. "Please."
The room I chose is far away from District 2, they would have no reason to stray off in my direction. I'm even far away from Peeta, truly secluded from others. At least I have a place where I can gather my thoughts. I like to think about things a lot, I'm trying not to make rash decisions anymore. With the Games starting soon there's no need for unnecessary error. I don't have to be all smiles if the cameras aren't around, I can relax and keep to myself.
"Katniss, everyone is ready to eat, where are you?" Haymitch shouts from across the hall. I hear a loud slap.
"We do not shout!" Effie angrily says. "It's so unbecoming."
"I'm on my way!" I'm starving.
Arriving at the dinner table a few minutes later I can see that they could not wait any longer to eat. Cato and the girl have practically eaten a whole chicken, while Peeta has made a modest dent into his food.
"Thanks for waiting." I say sarcastically.
"The pleasure was all ours." The girl sneers. Tearing the meat off of a chicken leg.
"Now children, play nice." The mentor from 2 chimed in.
"Tomorrow you will receive a makeover, your prep teams will make you look like you're worth millions. Looking your best before the games is crucial, we all want sponsors don't we?" Effie went on to explain more of what would happen with the prep team.
"Well it's really District 12 that needs it, don't you think? I mean, just look at them. It's like they've never seen a bar of soap in their whole lives." Cato said mockingly. I hear snickering coming from the girl. "How about you?" Cato looks at me. "Have you ever seen a bar of soap?
"I'll have you know-" I was totally ready to throw a punch his way. Then I was going to find a bar of soap and shove it so far down his throat he'd be choking on suds for days.
"Stop!" Haymitch shouted. "I am not drunk enough for this! After you get your pretty little makeovers you can fight each other, but not while I am eating!" He slammed his beer bottle on the table, breaking the glass. "Shit!" An avox scampered over to clean up the mess. Haymitch abruptly stood up and walked away. He has a habit of doing that.
At this point both tributes from District 2 have stopped eating.
"Is every dinner going to be like this? I think we should arrange separate meals. You know, for the safety of everyone here. I wouldn't want to accidentally strangle one of you. " The girl muses.
"Excellent idea." Their mentor says. "Why don't we retire to our rooms? I have much to talk about with the two of you." Cato, the girl, and their mentors leave the table.
"Thank God they're gone, I didn't think I'd be able to stand them any longer." Peeta laughs nervously. "What jerks."
"I think we should follow in their footsteps, it's been a long day. Katniss, I remember how you wanted to shower." Effie looked uneasy, probably humiliated by Hatmitch and us.
Effie is right, I smell pretty bad, and I said I'd shower hours ago. There's one thing I don't need, and that's the prep team scrutinizing me for my smell. Prep teams for District 12 are notorious for dressing us badly, sometimes we are even naked. I don't want to give them any reason to dress me badly. As of right now smelling nice is my top priority. I am not surprised that a cold shower refreshes me, not allowing sleep to overcome me.
The morning rolls in and I can hear Effie knocking on my door rather quickly.
"Katniss, your prep team is here! Don't bother getting dressed; they will do that for you! Aren't you so excited?" I'm thrilled…
They take me to a room on one of the floors that resembles a hospital. They handed me a robe and instructed me to put it on and lay on the table.
"Hello Katniss, I'm Cinna and that's Portia. We are your stylists! We are honored to be working with you! You were so brave, volunteering in the place of your sister! We have a look you will be stunning in for your debut for the Games, something that will show off your braveness. Well, now that we have introduced ourselves, lets get started!"
They start by washing my hair, in the seam I hardly ever had the chance to do that. It feels good to have warm water in my hair, and they make it smell amazing. Next thing I know they chopped off four inches of it.
"Hey, what are you doing?" I've been growing my hair since I was little, it's hard to part with it.
"You have so many split ends, to be honest four inches wasn't even enough in my opinion, maybe six or seven." A woman scoffs.
As if split ends matter in the Game. I can already tell that this is the start of a long day.
Pain, excruciating pain. I can hear the hair being torn from my flesh.
"Stop whining. If you kept up with a beauty regimen you wouldn't have all of this pain! I don't know how you're going to get through the bikini wax…" The woman says unsympathetically.
"A bikini what?" It didn't take long to find out.
Walking was pretty difficult after that, at least the stinging went away soon after. I met Peeta at the elevator and to my surprise he looks pretty handsome.
"You got waxed too?"
"You have no idea." I laughed for a good few seconds, at least I wasn't the only one.
"Katniss, you look really good."
"Same to you. They know how to make us look decent, and I think they might actually put us in nice clothes for the parade this year."
"I'm hoping that we impress people, you know, for the sponsors."
"I know what you mean." I press our floor number, being waxed from head to toe took a toll on me. At least the hair on the top of my head feels nice…
Peeta goes off to his room while I lounge around on a sofa. Of course the first person I have to see is Cato, one of two people I want to avoid as much as possible.
"Hey 12, you clean up nice."
"Not interested." I put my hand up to his face and started walking away. I feel a hand grab my wrist, and pain shoots through my arm as he twists it. "What the hell, let go of me!"
"I think you should consider an alliance with us." He motions to his fellow tribute. "Clove and I think it would be a good idea." So that's her name…
"Correction, Cato thinks it's a good idea. I still think you're worthless. You're going to drag us down in the end."
"Would this be for Peeta too…?"
"No." Cato snaps.
"Then I will have to decline your offer, thanks, but no thanks."
"12, not a smart idea."
"I think I'll survive."
"Do you honestly think that? Honestly? I think you might be delusional." I can hear Cato laughing as I run to find Haymitch I need his advice.
