Hello, sorry just before we get on with the story , I forgot to add last time, that unfortunately I do not own the hunger games! Only the characters and events that aren't in the books are mine, Ok now that that is cleared up on with the show!

Chapter 3 - The Capitol

As I am ushered off the train into a car, all I can do is gawp at the towering buildings over head. They're impressive but intimidating to look at. It's not long before we arrive at the training centre, a huge tall building as well as being very wide. We drive into the training centre and are taken to a lift as soon as we step outside of the car. Finnick, Peter, Ethan and I end up in a lift alone, Peter presses number 4 on the lift and we are taken to our designated floor. I step out and, as always when it comes to capitol decorations, I am amazed by the decor and design of the floor. Light blue wall paint on all walls, with the occasional dark blue shimmer to make it look like waves are rippling, a huge semi-circular sofa occupies one part of the room in front of a flat-screen TV. A huge window fills one of the walls which looks down on the capitol city below, an amazing sight to behold, as it is evening time now and all the city lights are gleaming as if they were bright orange fireflies. A glass dining table, seated for six, fills another part of the room. It dawns on me that I see no place to get food from, I voice my question and am told by Finnick "you order your food from the avoxes" he motions to two people standing at either side of the table, I notice they are the same ones that were on the train, the sisters, Finnick continues "or it is set out on the table as a buffet" I nod in answer. I am lead to my room by Finnick, which is the same design as the train; but much bigger, with a king sized bed and a huge window on one of the walls. I slowly walk in and find two remotes on my desk side table, as well as a lamp, a pen and some paper. I pick up one of the remotes which only has numbers on it, no on/off button, or any volume buttons. I press number 3 out of curiosity, and suddenly the window view changes from the capitol below to the sea, slowly rippling waves with just half the sun peering over the edge of the water with a soft orange background, that recedes to a dark blue as the colour climbs up the sky. I am instantly much calmer upon seeing my home again, well what feels like my home. I walk over to the window and sit in front of it, with my back against the wall; completely absorbed by the view my window is giving. How long I sit there I don't know, but I only get up when I am interrupted by Peter saying it's diner time. I grudgingly get up and follow him slowly to the main room.

When I reach the main room, everybody is already seated, it is clear that Ethan is not happy about me being late to dinner and scowls at me as I walk deliberately slowly to a chair next to Finnick who winks at me when I sit down. The buffet is already on the table, and I put a chicken leg, chips and Yorkshire puddings on my plate to start off with. Ethan then starts "how are we playing the parade" Finnick smiles and I can tell his answer won't please Ethan "Just smile and wave nicely, but do not show that you two" he points his fork between me and Ethan "are anything less than civil to each other. Save the fighting for the arena, we don't want you to appear to think that you are better than your district partner, as the public and the sponsors don't like those types of people." Finnick concludes with an obvious glare at Ethan, clearly showing that he is suspected of thinking this, he continues "do exactly as your stylists say, they will help you create the best image of our district and of you two" I look at Finnick worried about what he might say next, but he winks and says "don't worry, we're not passing you two off as lovers or anything" I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in, as does Ethan. "They will just make you seem nicer than you are" he looks at Ethan again, I smirk, it is clear Finnick doesn't like Ethan's egotistical attitude. I think that is why me and Finnick get along well, we never play down our strengths or big up our weaknesses but we don't boast, we're both honest about our abilities. Ethan retaliates with a raised eyebrow and a boastful smile "how can they make me seem nicer than I already am, I'm outstanding in every way possible". My head snaps to Finnick to see how he will handle this, an enraged Finnick then stands up, hands firmly planted on the table and towers over Ethan "your attitude will not help you in the arena kid, it will ultimately be your downfall, you'll be too busy showing off to realise you're about to be killed, if you think your perfect, you won't improve in your weak areas, and yes you have weak areas, your only weapon is your strength, you can't run fast, you're not agile, you can't handle any sharp weapon and you're as dumb as a pile of bricks. I suggest you stop boasting about your only strength and start working on improving your weaknesses, if that's at all possible. If you want any advice from me on how to stay alive, as I am the experienced one here, you need to lose your ego." Ethan turns a bright red scarlet colour and lowers his head and eats quickly from then on, I lower my head too, but only so they won't see me laughing at the well deserved dressing down Ethan has just received. As soon as Ethan has finished his food (which wasn't long after Finnick's 'talk' with him) he walks to his room without a sound.

"I can't stand him, ever since I first met him, his ego has ruled his head, it was clear from the train ride when I spoke with him that he had not a lot going for him other than his strength, and to be honest, districts one and two will be stronger, I doubt he'll last, if he isn't killed by his own stupidity, someone will kill him because he's so arrogant." Finnick states in a rather angry voice. Me and Peter glance at each other, not sure what to say, as this is so out of Finnick's character. After what seems like hours Peter asks "what will you do? how will you mentor him" I look at Finnick curious for his answer "I can't mentor that, I told him what to do on the train in his training days, he felt he didn't need to train, he thought he would win hands down, I hope he now tries to learn at least about edible foods, but I doubt he will, there's nothing else I can do, I will mentor him if he asks, but only if he asks." He sighs "Taylor don't worry I'll help you to the best of my ability, here's some advice now, do not pair up with Ethan in the arena, be civil with him outside of it, but go nowhere near him in the arena, he is walking death." Finnick then gives a small smile looks me in the eye and says "I'm betting on you love" he then gets up, kisses me on the head and walks in the direction of his room. Peter then informs me that breakfast is at 8 and leaves the table too; I ask for a hot chocolate and go to my room too. I am stunned by the view when I walk into my room as I had forgotten about the breath taking ocean view I had on display earlier, and I take my original position I had before dinner, and eventually fall asleep there.

I wake up at 7, I shower and put on some comfortable clothes and gaze at the view for a while before 8 o'clock comes. I head to breakfast and see two new people at the table, one had shoulder length purple hair, with popping purple eyelids and a slight blue tint to her skin, the other is in an all white suit with a golden tie and has his golden brown hair gelled back. "This is Ellen, Ethan's stylist" Finnick says motioning to the blue tinted person "and this is Marcus, your stylist" he says motioning to the white suit man, Marcus nods his head towards me and smiles a genuine smile. "They will be eating and staying on this floor as your personal stylists from now on" Finnick concludes. I smile at Marcus and Ellen and sit down to eat a light breakfast. After we have all finished, Ethan and I are taken to the re-make centre, we are taken in different directions (thank god) and I am told to wait on a white table/bed for my prep team. Three people come bouncing up to me, one has striking blue hair and 3 green stripes on each cheek, with green eyelids and a light blue tinted skin, one had a pink short cut for hair and light pink freckles on her face, and the other has yellow spiky hair with a lightning bolt down his nose. I am told by the blue one that his name is Jabane, the pink one is called Trippa (she curtsied at her name) and the yellow one is called Zion. This rainbow was my prep team.

They all talk excitedly about the upcoming games, I just sit and listen, occasionally agreeing with them when my opinion was sort out by one of them "it's a shame, we can do so little with you, Marcus insisted that we get you to beauty base zero" Zion sighs "so much potential" as he continues to rip out my leg hair. After a full two hours of this torture, they leave me saying they are allowed to do no more and good luck for the games. So I am left alone on a bed in a white pristine room to wait for whatever comes next. Marcus then enters; he sees my expression "sorry about them, they're a little bit jumpy when they receive a new tribute, they did a good job getting you to base zero though" he says whilst smiling slightly. He walks around me, inspecting me and then concludes "Ok let's do your hair" he works on my hair for three hours and when I see the finished result I am shocked. It's straight yet slightly wavy, I suppose to give a rippled effect of waves, when I move my head, the waves get choppier, and it's an amazing result. As I'm admiring Marcus's handy work, he orders lunch, we sit and eat for an hour, talk a lot about the games and he gives me some advice about how to stay sane in the arena "think about your home, although it makes you home sick it keeps your mind at peace, allowing you to think about the situation you're in and how to get further or get out of your current position in the games." He says solemnly. After we finish lunch, he does my makeup, only adding slightly to my eyes, and helps me get into my dress and shoes (which I stumble in at first so he helps me walk about in them, telling me to keep my chin up). He puts a mirror in front of me and I gasp. I'm a graceful waterfall. A simple fitted, sea-green dress that touches the floor, with a cape over my back that ripples as I stand there, I touch it to see if it is actual water, and feel a similar texture to water, but not quite water, it isn't wet, and it disappears at the bottom instead of creating a puddle at my feet. "How did you do this" I ask in a small voice. "Me and Ellen spent a lot of time watching waterfalls" he simply states. He presses something on my back and the water – not- water stops, and it is now just a simple sea-green cape, I show a curious expression but he holds up a finger and says "I never reveal my secrets darling".

He then leads me to an elevator down to an underground area, where we meet Ethan (who is in a sea-green suit, white shirt, sea-green tie, and a similar cape to mine) and Ellen, Marcus helps me onto our chariot, turns my waves on and reminds me to keep my chin up as the district 1 chariot pulls out into the crowd. A roar of screams and whistles can be heard when the gates to the stadium opens, as our chariots move into view of the audience, we receive a bigger applause, which districts 1 (dressed in what look like designer capitol outfits) and 2 (dressed in silver armour – to represent strength I guess) looking back out of envy. Me and (surprisingly) Ethan smile and wave as instructed, I blow a kiss or two, and Ethan occasionally winks at some one. I see our faces covered by the screens of the stadium, even president Snow looks impressed. As our chariot comes to a stop, so do our waves and all the chariots form a half circle at the base of the presidents 60ft podium he is standing on. Snow makes a speech about the games and how the tributes look promising, as well as reminding the tributes (and all the districts) about why the games came about. Our chariot then leads out into a courtyard where Marcus, Ellen, Finnick and Peter are waiting. "you did Brilliantly love" Finnick says as he kisses my head, Marcus takes my hand and compliments me as well, Ethan and I are then lead up to our floor, Ethan (still not having said a word) storms into his room. Finnick and I exchange glances, but say nothing. He is probably still annoyed about hearing the truth about himself, I smile at that thought. Peter tells me breakfast is at 8 and retires to his room. "Tomorrow training begins and I want a few words with you and Ethan if he'll listen, before you go. Night Taylor" Finnick hugs me and leaves, as does Ellen. Marcus simply says "leave your dress hanging on your door, I will collect it tomorrow, night darling" and leaves too. I go back to my room, change into comfortable pyjamas, and watch my sunset from bed as I slowly drift off, dreaming of waves.