Good day lovelies! I hope you all enjoy tho next chapter. :)

advancedpotionmakingoninsta: I'm so glad you like how I'm depicting the characters. There's a lot of Shark in this chapter, so I'm pumped about that. I love Harry Potter! Completely obsessed. I'm a Hufflepuff. What house are you? :)

Emmeline Phoenix12: I'm glad you liked it!I'm having a lot of fun exploring Annie's games.

Spectrobes Princess: I try to make stories with twists, so writing the story from the District partners perspective was my twist on this story. It's a lot of fun getting to explore the story with him. I wish you luck on your stories, too! I'm sure your take will be great! Warriors is one of my favorite series. I still need to read the last Selection book, but it's been a while since I read the first two. I might need to refresh myself.

edgeof4teeners: I've never read Anne of Green Gables, but I've heard it's good! Peeta is a total sweetheart. I love reading stories about him, though my favorite character is Finnick. Annie and Johanna are high on my list for favorite characters though. I'm a Libra. Why do you ask? :)

Chapter Three

"Take a look at the ocean, far as the eye can see, and think of me." -More, Matthew West

Pulling into the Capitol is like a dream. People dressed in bright outfits stand under bright lights and wave at the train, flashing bright smiles at each passing car. I hear people scream when Finnick kisses at the audience. He then takes each one of our hands and hold them up, like we're already victors. The people go crazy. The cheering makes me smile. These people are all here to see me. I flash Annie a smile, who looks like she is reluctantly enjoying the attention she's being given. I watch as a pair of kids dressed in match bright green and bright orange outfits try to follow the train, catch up to our car. I wave and them and they show me large toothy smiles. Even here, children will be children.

I distract myself. I don't feel like getting dressed up like a doll for the Opening Ceremonies. I know it'll be worse for Annie, though. Girls have to go through a lot more pampering. Gill leads me one way and Finnick leads Annie another. Suddenly I'm swooped away by what I can only assume are three very large birds. Their voices are like seagulls as they fawn over me. "Oh, he's so handsome! We hardly have to do anything at all!"

"That girl tribute is very pretty too! We really lucked out this year, didn't we?" I don't know exactly what they mean by lucked out, I don't remember any of the past tributes from our district being particularly ugly, but I will agree that Annie is very pretty. The birds continue pecking and prodding me, making me feel like an animal about to go to slaughter, which, to be honest, I am, until they are finally satisfied with my appearance. They put me in a white robe and take me to another room where I sit and wait.

It seems like hours have passed when a rather busty woman, with a waist that is cartoonishly tiny, walks in. Her hair could pass as normal, an orange-red color, but her makeup makes her skin look gray in color. Her eyes are an unnerving unnatural blue that puts me on edge. I think she's quite unappealing to look at, but maybe this is what passes for fashion here. It's like its a whole other world. "My name is Scarla, love." I'm taken aback. She has a low, drawn out voice, one that is possibly supposed to be seductive. It's quite a contrast for the usual high pitched squeaks of the average Capitol citizen.

I nod at her and give her my cockiest, most charming grin. She is the one who will get me noticed in the first place. I could get sponsors because of her. She may be the reason I can save Annie's life. "Shark Donahue."

She gives a low hearty laugh. "Wow, quite the charmer. We may have the next Finnick Odair right here." I wink at her and give her what she wants. From the moment she walked in it was very apparent she focuses on sex appeal. The costumes from years past make more sense now, the amount of skin showing on each tribute. "My partner and I have come up with a design that is going to make you and your pretty district partner look stunning. It's probably our best idea in years." She goes and pulls out an outfit, surprisingly quiet as far as Capitol outfits go. There was a large white, low cut tunic, a dull blue vest, a pair of gray trousers and knee high black boots. This won't be bad at all. I put it on, then see all the accessories. I get covered in makeup, jewelry and am even given hair extensions. I did get a sword as an accessory as well, though, so I wasn't too upset. This is all part of the game. I looked at myself in the mirror and realized what I had become. A pirate. I also had to admit, I looked pretty damn good.

I was lead to where all the tributes were supposed to wait before the opening ceremonies had actually started. I turned a few heads when I walked in, a few of the older girl tributes checked me out. I just winked at them. No point in making enemies. I looked around at the other tributes. There was a pair of train conductors, a pair of farmers, a sequined cow, a tree talking to a red headed girl lit up like a Christmas tree, but nothing too eye catching. Then I notice the tributes I recognize as the tributes from Districts One and Two. It was easy to tell who was from what district based solely off their outfits. District One was dressed head to toe in golden mesh, completely see through. There was nothing left to the imagination on either one of them. The District Two tributes were dressed in armor that covered them like knights. Apparently District Four wasn't the only district to be historical. The guy from District One was the one to speak. "Shark, right?" I nod. "Wheres your District partner?"

"Still getting ready, I guess."

He shrugged. Most of the tributes were already here, but there was still another half hour of waiting before we even needed to get onto our chariots. "Well I'm Dazzle. This is my District partner, Castle, and those two are Grant and Ebony."

"Nice to meet you."

"Yeah, you too. Anyway, we were just coming to ask about being allies. It would up all of our chances of survival, and our District tend to get together to do this every year anyway. Your District partner is welcome to join too."

I nod. "I'll definitely think on that."

We talk for a while, getting to know one another, when we hear someone yelling for us to get into places. We say bye, then go our separate ways. I look around and still don't see Annie. Where could she be? I get to my chariot, but notice a strange contraption where her and I should be standing. "What the hell?"

I hear a gasp from behind me and turn around. There's Annie, being carried in by an Avox, followed by both of our stylists. It's easy to see why it took them so long to get Annie ready. She looks stunning, but unearthly. Her brown hair is tumbling down past her shoulders, the strands strategically placed to cover her breasts, where nothing is covering her. Her face, usually soft and sweet, is contoured in different shades of blue, making her look almost like a goddess, but the centerpiece of the outfit is her legs, which have seemingly disappeared under a magnificent blue tail. Annie is a mermaid. The Avox lays her gently down on top of the contraption, which suddenly makes a whole lot more sense. I look at my stylist, unsure of what to do. "Stand on top of it." I'm hesitant. What if I fall off? My stylist seems to see my hesitation. "Your boots have magnets that will keep you from falling off. Just go out there and put on a good show." With that, she turns on a machine that produces bubbles that are so big and so colorful they seem unreal. Let the games begin.

Thank you so much for my 4 faves and 7 followers. You are all wonderful!

Question of the Day

What is your favorite joke?

With Love,

-Juliet