CHAPTER 3: The Chariot Rides

I sit in silence as my prep team plucks the hairs off of my legs. I grit my teeth as the last square of hair is yanked off my legs. My prep team pushes me off the counter but after 2 hours of sitting, my knees buckle and I collapse on the floor. A snarl escapes me and I hear three snickers come from above me. I dislike them so much. I stand up and fold my arms over my chest.

"Really? Would it be that hard to just help me to my feet instead of pushing me? Wow. What a great prep team." I say.

Their eyes narrow at me but I just look back at those mean faces. One member of my prep team, Alina, walks up to me. Her bright pink dyed skin looks out of place in the dull gray room. She extends her arm and slaps me across the face.

"Do not talk to us like that, you little brat!" she screams at me.

Great. My prep team hates me, for some reason I'm not sure of yet, my mentors don't get along, and I'm scared of my district partner. What's next-a three in training?

I stare at Alina for a moment, then my eyes dart to the blue hair that belongs to Hian and then to Fenia's flashing green makeup. After a moment, I pull on my thin white robe then run out the door. I hear my unsuspecting prep team yell at me but I keep running. Great. Now I've done it. Now they totally hate me. I'm sure no other tribute has been this much of a pain. So much for not resisting.

Suddenly, I'm on the floor and I realize I've bumped into someone and tripped over them. A pair of blue eyes stare down at me.

"Hello. My name is Felix. Are you, perhaps, Clove?" the man, Felix, asks me.

His kind blue eyes make me feel less nervous about tonight's events and his warm smile actually makes me feel wanted here in the Capitol. My prep team never made me feel that way.

I nod and he extends his arm to me. After placing my hand on his, he pulls me up and escorts me towards the room I had run out of.

"You may all leave. Your work with Clove is done." Felix says to Alina, Hian, and Fenia as I climb on the counter again.

They walk out the room with their heads high and not taking a last glance at me.

"Now...why did you run out of the room?" Felix asks as he shuts the door behind them.

"They...well, they pushed me off the counter and I fell. Afterwards, I, um, said some things to them and Alina slapped me..." I explain, trying not to go into detail about what I said to them.

Felix just nods and gently pulls me off the counter. I pull off my robe and stand there, naked, in front of him. Felix walks around me, inspecting me. To my surprise, I don't feel too uncomfortable. Something about this Felix calms me down.

After a minute Felix hands me my robe and sits me on the counter once again.

"Well, Clove. I must say you seem very in shape. This will obviously be to your advantage once you enter the arena. For the chariot rides, I have made your costume as eye catching as I can." Felix tells me.

I nod and he turns to walk to a door. Felix reaches his hand inside and pulls out what must be my costume. It's a shiny brown suit, lined with metallic golden feather-like shapes. A helmet goes along with the costume. It's golden, with matching metal extending from the sides.

I smile. The viewers will love it.

Felix laughs and helps me into the costume. Afterwards, we walk out the door and to the chariots. I find Cato dressed in a similar outfit. We nod at each other then stand in silence as we inspect the other tributes. Well, look at that. District 12 seems to have rid themselves of the coal minder outfits this year. They have black jumpsuits on. That's it. How boring.

The trumpets sound and Cato and I jump into the chariot. The District 1 chariot rolls out onto the street and cheers erupt. 1 is always dressed in beautiful outfits and always win over many sponsors. But this year will be different.

As our chariot rolls into the darkening streets, cheers come from every direction and a grin spreads on my face. I smile and wave at the clapping crowd. Yes. They love us. I even blow them a kiss or two. The gold metal on out costumes reflects the lights of the Capitol and spreads light all around us.

Suddenly the cheering becomes deafening and the crowd's talking becomes so loud I press my ear against my shoulder, try to block out some of the sound. I keep a smile on my face, though. Of course, the cheers are for us.

I couldn't be more wrong. After a moment, I turn around and see the District 12 tributes, Katniss and Peeta, are set ablaze. Their capes and headpieces are made of flames. I spit in disgust. How dare they take the spotlight away from me!

I stand frozen next to Cato in the chariot. We have stopped trying to win over the crowd by now. It's obviously pointless. Instead of my smile, a scowl has replaced it.

I look up at Cato, who is a little more than a head taller than me. He looks menacing and I gulp at my competition. Hopefully the sponsors will see how dangerous I look and send me a parachute in the arena.

The sky becomes dark and all anyone can see anymore is the flames from the District 12 chariot. An occasional glint of light reflects of Cato or my costumes.

After almost 40 minutes, we pull up into the Training Center and Cato and I disembark. I shoot Katniss and Peeta an evil look. I hate them already.

I can't wait to kill them in the arena.