I'm Only Playing with Fire
Chapter Three

DISCLAIMER
I do not own the Hunger Games as it belongs to Suzanne Collins.
I only own the original characters; Emerald Kalfeen, Sapphire Kalfeen and their parents.

Emerald's POV

Marvel and I had just gotten to the Capitol and as we stepped out from the train, we were faced with hundreds if not THOUSANDS of civilians all cheering us on. We didn't let them get to us, still holding our ever stoic faces showing to the whole of Panem that we were not afraid of what is store for us.

"They just clap and don't think about what we are about to face…"

Marvel said, a scowl starting to show on his face but I had to make sure they didn't see that.

"Marvel, calm yourself down. Remember what Cobalt told us."

I said to him, hoping that with my words that he would calm down and not show his frustration.

"Right."

And with that, we were then again led by Peacekeepers to an area where we were supposed to undergo some appearance checking. We were told to wait by the doors as there was already another district inside getting their groom done. It may not have being exactly loud but from outside, whimpering could be heard.

"Probably someone getting some hair removed or something rather, not a big deal."

I thought to myself whilst leaning against the cold concrete wall that separated the waiting room and the grooming room. I looked over to Marvel who was biting his lips slightly.

"Is something wrong?"

I said looking over to him causing a chuckle to be omitted through his lips.

"Well, I don't see why they need to groom us. I mean come on, aren't we perfect enough?"

Marvel said, loosely slugging his arms around my shoulders.

"Well maybe we are and if we are, then they won't bother doing anything to us."

And with that, the door opened revealing the tributes from district eleven. They didn't exactly look like much competition but as Cobalt said, we should never judge a tribute by their appearance. Both of the two looked malnourished and that made me frown slightly. The capitol should never place the districts in areas that they may suffer within.

"Hi…"

The girl tribute from district eleven said towards us.

I look back over to the other tributes, smiling gently towards them, which shocks them. Before I could get a chance to talk to them, the people within the room call out district one and with a sad look, I follow Marvel into the room. It's too bad I couldn't get to talk to the other tributes. Truly I didn't really want to be here.

"You shouldn't be socializing with the enemy Emerald."

Marvel said at me, a scowl visible on his face.

"Well haven't you heard that saying; keep your friends close and your enemies closer? This would be good for us…well more for me."

Marvel dismissed me off as we were separated by the workers who decided to try and "perfect" us to the limit.

"Do I really need to undertake any more of this stuff?"

I said towards the workers as they decide to look over me once more.

"Well…I guess you meet standards. You may go but you must wait for your district partner."

The worker said and with that, I walked out of the door and into the waiting room where a set of other tributes sat. Nodding over to them slightly, I sat down crossing my legs as I did and taking in a good look at the tributes that sat across from me.

If I were correct, these tributes belong to district twelve…meaning that girl was the one to volunteer herself to the games for her sister. I commend her for her bravery but I can't commend her fully as it was a stupid choice to choose.

"But then again, she most love her sister more than her life...I wish Sapphire was the same with me."

I thought to myself, a frown finding its way onto my face.

"No…I can't frown…emotions are forbidden during these games…"

Once I finished surveying the two tributes, I notice that their eyes are also planted on me and I had to reluctantly stop myself from rolling my eyes. It was obvious that they knew who I was but I decided to try and become friendly with the enemy hoping that maybe they would trust me in the games.

Stretching my hands outwards towards the two tributes, I smile over and say,

"It's nice to you two! My name is Emerald Kalfeen, district one's female tribute."

For a second, I thought I saw a glimmer or shock pass by both of the tributes eyes. It's not every day that someone from district one would talk to a district twelve tribute, so I could kind of see why they were shocked. They though seemed hesitant in whether to reply for not but in the end decided to do it.

"It's nice to meet you Emerald. My name is Katniss Everdeen and I'm sadly the district twelve's female tribute."

She said, seeming hesitant to shake my hand, but she did causing her other tribute mate to gasp slightly and grab her back making me frown. What was wrong with making friends in these games? In the end we have a set task to do and that was to kill everyone.

"And you must be the Peeta Mellark I've heard about right?"

I asked towards the boy. His structure wasn't as lean and mean as Marvel but he was still buff enough to probably carrying a ton of weight with those lean arms of his.

"How do you know who I am?"

"Who wouldn't?"

I reply back quickly, tilting my head at him. It was true though, our mentor Cobalt was always talking about this kid. He kept on saying on how we should treat him and Katniss as top priority killing because of the unknown talents they may hold but luckily those talents would show during training.

"…"

The boy just looked at me, his eyes widening as he took in my appearance. Hm, did I have something in on my face or something? Looking back at the door which lead to the Capitols "torture the tributes by making them pretty" are was, I noticed that Marvel was done and walking towards me.

"Well it was nice meeting you two but I got to go now, you wouldn't know how bad Marvel's temper gets."

I said giving the two a wink, hoping that they would take in my hint and use it in future uses during the games.

And with that I walked over to Marvel who did not look happy one bit.

"Those people are horrible. Hair is hair; they didn't need to remove it."

He said rather grimly, his hand brushing through his blonde locks taking in a sigh of relief.

"It's okay now Marvel! Now all we have to face is our stylist but first we need to prepare for training today. I can't believe that they'll be giving us a grade but no matter what, they'll be no more hair picking for today."

I said grinning at Marvel which caused him to grunt out.

"Don't remind me of that, please."

"Oh! The great and strong Marvel is saying please now? Since when did he ever have manners?"

I said deciding that teasing him would be at least fun for I. But I was wrong. I shouldn't have ever turned my back towards him because it only ended up with him deciding to sling my form over his shoulders.

"Marvel let me down this instance! I don't want to have to stare at your back side! Let me down!"

I said screaming at him and pounding on his back. It must have being a good look for us. The favourite district one tributes acting like little kids.

Peeta's POV

With Katniss besides me and Haymitch sitting across from us, we wait for the tributes that were currently occupied in the room; they didn't tell us what room it was, I started to feel nervous and unsure.

"They're not going to kill us in there are they Haymitch?"

This caused Haymitch to laugh. Did I say something wrong?

"They won't kill you kid, that's the reason why they have the other tributes to do the dirty work for them."

"Then what room is that?"

I said to him; my eyes glinting. I wanted to know what was in there. It was so quiet…too quiet…and that's what worried me the most.

"The grooming room of course."

Haymitch said grinning at Katniss and me. I didn't really like that grin but decided that it meant no harm.

"Grooming room?"

Katniss said kind of on my behalf, she was amazing…

"Yes the grooming room where you two will be waxed pinched and everything else to make sure you look representable to whole of Panem during the games."

You can't be serious…

With that thought in mind, I start to slump down in my seat earning a laugh from Haymitch. Once we get in there, it will be like pure torture. Letting my mind drift off, I gaze over to Katniss who doesn't look at all affected by this information given.

"So pretty much it's just; get pretty, look good and die looking good right?"

Katniss said to Haymitch, her mouth forming an all too amused smile.

"Pretty much, but hey dying whilst looking good is a good thing."

"And how is that?"

"Because then people will still "dig" you in the future cause you look so good of course!"

Haymitch said causing all three of us to laugh out loud, not really caring in the world if it was shown to anyone else. Even if we die during these games, we would probably die with a smile on our face. The laughing and joking around continue for minutes until a girl, no doubt from another district came out of the door and sat in the waiting room chairs. She probably just got her "grooming" done.

The laughing between us district twelve people stopped as soon as she sat down which made her send us all a curious glance before diverting her eyes back to the room where she was probably waiting for her district partner.

"It's nice to you two! My name is Emerald Kalfeen, district one's female tribute."

As soon as I turned my head away from she spoke that sentence, directing it to the three of us sending shivers done both Katniss' and I's spine. She was the one who we had to look out for, one of the favourites to take out these games.

Emerald was a stunning girl, well in eyes she is. She has black waist long length which accompanied with her hair really nicely. Her eyes were of a shimmering green which I know is quite rare to see in district one. I was spellbound by her beauty but narrowing my eyes on her, I knew that she would kill me whenever she would get a chance to.

"It's nice to meet you Emerald. My name is Katniss Everdeen and I'm sadly the district twelve's female tribute."

Katniss said from besides me, she seemed a bit reluctant but continued shaking the girls hand gently. After she let go of Katniss' hand or vice versa, Emerald turned towards me and asked,

"And you must be the Peeta Mellark I've heard about right?"

How did she know about me…? Wait…she probably watched the same show that Katniss, Haymitch, Effie and I watched the other night. I decided to not reply back hoping that she would leave me alone.

From the corner of my eye, I see her tribute partner Marvel walk out from the room; his eyes glinting with something that made him look evil. He did not look happy at all and I guess what they did to him in the room would be the reason why he was so grumpy. With that, Emerald decided to stand up, waving slightly at us as a goodbye gesture.

"Well it was nice meeting you two but I got to go now, you wouldn't know how bad Marvel's temper gets."

And with that she was off and going alongside her partner and as Katniss and I were about to enter the room, screaming between the two was heard. Not the bad argument type of yelling but the yelling of children when they're having fun.

"I wish I could be so laid back compared to them…"

Katniss started to say.

"But in these games, being laid back isn't going to get us anywhere; it'll only get us killed."

Nodding in agreement, I walked into the "grooming" room along with Katniss where we were separate and "fixed up" to the Capitol's standard for tributes. To tell you the truth…that room was definitely the room of total torture. Katniss was right to say earlier what she had said.

"So pretty much it's just; get pretty, look good and die looking good right?"

Once the "grooming" was over, Katniss and I exited the room looking a bit paler and redder then from when we first entered. My skin still hurt from the ripping sensation of having people pull off hair and scrub me to the point that I thought that my skin would fall off.

"I am never again in my future life to come, ever put my name down for the Hunger Games…that were total torture!"

I said towards Haymitch who started to laugh really loudly.

"Now you know how I felt when I was in the games."

And with that we were off to our rooms.

"Now I want you two to change into your training clothing. We have training practice along with all of the rest of the tributes and I expect you two to show off your strengths."

Haymitch said and with that Katniss and I were off to our designated rooms, getting changed.

"I wonder what rating I'll get…"

I thought to myself and looked at myself through the mirror. There stood a boy who was still young but here he was, placed in a situation where he would have to become a man in order to survive what was going to happen to me.

"Even if I don't get a good rating, I hope that I don't look bad in front of Emerald…and Katniss"

I caught myself at that last moment. I can't fall for the enemy…no matter how good she looks…no matter how good nature she is…she is still the enemy and those who are my enemies will have to be killed off either way in order for Katniss and me to survive.