Early the next morning, I jumped awake. I looked at the clock and groaned. Five a.m. is too early. I got out of bed anyway. We hadn't left until late afternoon when everyone was gone. I walked to the breakfast car. Milano and Blossom were there. Blossom was the first to notice me.
"Good morning, Rosetta", she said.
"Morning, Blossom", I said. "Morning, Milano."
Milano only nodded. I saw the nerves running wild in his dark eyes. I sat down with a plate of food and orange juice. Eggs, bacon and toast were all I had. After eating, Milano and I went over things we could do. He was good with knives. I was good with a bow and arrow. We agreed to form an alliance there and then. We wouldn't leave each other until there was only four left.
Blossom listened adding things at the right points. Three hours later, Haymitch stumbled in. He looked like he had a hangover. Or he was just tired. He sat down and pushed some orange juice toward him. Haymitch grabbed it and downed it. Blossom shook her head.
"Have you been up drinking again", she asked.
"You know it, sweetheart", Haymitch replied.
"Nightmares", Milano asked.
Haymitch nodded then winced. Yep, he had a hangover. Headaches didn't hurt that bad. I had quite a few from Maury. The sheer thought of my family made my heart sink. By two that afternoon we were at the Capitol. Blossom led me to a room where I'd meet my stylist. Axel had dark skin, blonde hair and violet eyes. Brunhild had yellow skin, flaming red hair and ice blue eyes. Dagmar had gray skin, black hair and chocolate eyes. I listened as Axel, Brunhild and Dagmar circled me. I was stripped down and placed in a chair. Dagmar cleaned, buffed and polished my nails. Brunhild waxed my arms, legs, underarms and eyebrows. Axel cleaned, cut and dried my hair. He then braided it again. I was pulled up and rubbed down with lotions and oils.
Ambros entered the room with a dress. He helped me put it on. Looking at the mirror, I was taken aback. The dress was yellow, orange and red. It had blue crystals all over it. I watched the light bounce off the crystals.
"Spin around slowly, Rosetta", Ambros said.
I did so and heard a trio of soft whistles. Axel, Brunhild and Dagmar were admiring me. I looked to the doors as they opened. Milano, Blossom and Haymitch entered the room. Haymitch nodded his approval as Milano whispered, "Wow".
"Oh, Rosetta", Blossom said. "You look stunning. Milano, go stand beside her."
"Okay", Milano replied.
"You two look wonderful", Blossom said. "What do you think, Haymitch?"
"Very nice", Haymitch said, nodding
His eyes never left me. I felt my face go red. Haymitch was three years older than me. Somehow I started falling for him. I remembered something Maury told me years earlier. He'd said, "If you fall in love, don't go all mushy on me." I'd only laughed and told I wouldn't. My gut told me otherwise. Before I could dwell on it more, I was whisked upstairs to where I would be interviewed.
After the first eleven Districts were done, I was called to the stage.
"Please welcome from District 12", Caesar said. "Rosetta Cambridge."
The crowd cheered as I stepped onto the stage.
"Hello, Rosetta", Caesar said. "How are you today?"
"I'm fine, Caesar", I said. "And yourself?"
"Wonderful", he replied. "Lovely dress by the way. Now, are you nervous about the other tributes?"
"Not at all", I said. "Having a little brother, I've learned to run like crazy. My brother loves to chase and fight me. He thinks he's a toughie."
"Does he now", Caesar laughed. "What weapons? Are you good with anything?"
"I'm good with a bow and arrow", I said.
After my three minutes, I left the stage. I walked to the waiting area as Milano was called. I watched his interview. I was surprised to hear we were hoping for an alliance. I nodded when the camera showed me backstage. I mouthed, "It's true" with a grin. I patiently waited for Milano's interview to end. Soon it was and we headed to our rooms on the twelfth floor. I stopped to speak to Haymitch and felt butterflies fill my stomach. Yeah, I fell in love.