Our escort, whose name I learn is Ciana, is completely oblivious to the icy tension that envelops the train car at dinner. Clove and I don't speak, or even look at each other, and our mentors take notice. Ciana doesn't, though, and spends the whole dinner prattling on about the latest Capitol fashions, unaware that nobody is paying attention to her.
I want to go to bed after dinner and escape the daggers that Clove is shooting me with her eyes, but the adults force us to watch the recap of the reapings. I take a seat and notice that Clove chooses the farthest possible seat away from me. I sigh and turn my attention to the TV.
I carefully watch the Career districts to see who my allies will be, and am pleased that they seem formidable. I drift off into a daze after District 4, only half-watching the program. The boy from 11 catches my eye, though, and I wonder if he would accept an offer to join the Career pack. Then a girl from 12 volunteers, which is completely unheard of. I make a mental note to keep an eye on her, although she is even smaller than Clove, making me doubt that she will actually be a threat.
I wake up the next morning dreading the Opening Ceremony. Not only will I have to pretend to love the Capitol to gain sponsors, but I will be forced to remain in a tiny carriage next to my (ex?)fiancé, who I'm fairly certain hates me. I groan at the prospect, but roll out of bed prepared to face it.
Clove is just as icy at breakfast as she was the night before at dinner, but this time the mentors completely ignore her attitude and talk to us anyway. Brutus and Enobaria tell us to shamelessly suck up to the crowd, much to my displeasure. I have never been a fan of kissing peoples' asses to get what I need, but acting aloof in a situation like this could be the difference between life and death. I resign myself to doing what my mentors say, telling myself that I will be glad I listened when I am living in a mansion in the Victors Village.
Clove and I are handed over to our prep teams and stylists after lunch. While I'm not exactly looking forward to being prepped by President Snow's puppets, I am grateful for the break from the ice princess. But as my prep team begins to work on me, I reconsider my position. Clove might radiate hatred, but at least she doesn't talk and giggle like an idiot. And from the little I know about her, I do know that she is intelligent. Even though she was two years behind me in school, I knew that she always got top marks. Everyone did. She was the favorite of every teacher, meaning they raved about her to any class that would listen. My biology teacher was notorious for being easy to get off subject, so it was often a game to mention Clove and see how long a class could get him to talk about her.
After what seems like hours, I am finally deemed ready for the ceremony. My stylist turns me to face a mirror, and I take in my Roman gladiator costume. I must admit that I'm impressed. Maybe I was wrong about the idiocy of my mentor.
I walk down to the carriages to find that Clove has already beat me there, cooing at the horses that will pull our carriage and dressed in an identical costume. She looks up after a minute to see my watching her.
"What are you looking at?" She snaps. I note that these are the first words she has spoken to me since we were named tributes. I shrug.
"Just wondering what it feels like to actually be tolerated by you. Those horses know better than I do." I expect a snappy retort, but apparently she's done talking to me. She just scowls and returns to her beloved horses.
Clove becomes a completely different person once we leave the stable and enter the parade. Instead of being icy and hostile, she waves and blows kisses to the crowd, giving the impression that she is actually likeable. Maybe she is to other people. I ponder the fact that maybe it's just me she hates. Unfortunately, that's probably right. I just have no idea what I did. I push her out of my mind and beam at the crowd, drinking in their cheers.
Most of the attention is focused on us until District 12 comes out. And suddenly, they are on fire. I watch them on the big screen that shows the tributes joining the parade and wonder if their costumes accidentally malfunctioned or something before I realize that neither tribute seems surprised. The fire is part of the costume. I wonder vaguely what got into District 12 this year. First a volunteer, now they are actually making an impression at the Opening Ceremony. Still, I doubt that they will stray too much from tradition when it comes time to enter the arena. They will most likely be in the sky on the first night.
After a final cheer from the audience, we are led back to the stables to disembark our carriages. The likable Clove is gone. She jumps off the carriage as soon as it comes to a stop, apparently eager to get away from me as soon as possible. Brutus and Enobaria are waiting for us at the entrance to the training center, and envelop us both in hugs. I can't help but be afraid that Enobaria will bite my neck with her pointed gold teeth to ensure that her tribute will have one less competitor. While Clove and Enobaria head up to our floor, Brutus holds me back and pulls me aside.
"What's going on between you and Clove?" It is not a question, but a statement.
"Well nothing because she won't actually talk to me," I reply.
"Stop being a smart ass." I had forgotten that Brutus had little sense of humor. "Obviously, if she refuses to talk to you, she has something against you. What is it?"
"We're sort of engaged," I mumble. Brutus stares at me, openmouthed. The engagement had not been common knowledge in District 2, as Clove's family wanted to wait until she was done with school before she was married off and because they wanted to make sure I actually came back from the Hunger Games alive.
"I take it she wasn't particularly happy with the arrangement," Brutus says, apparently finding his ability to speak again.
"Neither of us were. Our parents arranged the whole thing. But I never actually hated her, I just didn't want to marry her. I thought she could let it go seeing as at least one of us will end up dead and that makes marriage kind of hard, but I was wrong."
"Well she needs to get over herself. Find a way to get on her good side, because you're going to need her in the arena. You two need to work together; I don't care if she hates you. She can kill you once the Career alliance breaks up. But until then, I want you to stick together and help each other survive." And with that, he stalks off, leaving me wondering how I am supposed to get on Clove's good side.
So there's Chapter 2. Reviews would be much appreciated!