Chapter 3- Roses
I decide within seconds of meeting my stylist, Mercedes, that I don't like her very much. She's got bright pink hair, gold skin and freakishly long eyelashes. To the Capitol citizens, she's probably considered very fashionable but to my untrained eyes she's just plain scary. There's no way she's doing anything like that to me. I don't actually think she's allowed.
The chariot we have to ride in is gold and shiny and our outfits are equally as shiny and bright. Marina doesn't look too happy in her dress.
"I can't believe we have to do this the second we arrive in the Capitol." She mutters when Bernard (her stylist) and Mercedes have gone off.
"I can't believe we have to do this at all." I reply, prompting a small smiled out of her.
The doors open and the chariots start moving. The crowds are hugh, even bigger than they seemed on TV. They're louder too, almost deafening me.
Marina is stood still, staring straight ahead. I glance around, taking in all the alien faces, some are more scary than Mercedes. We eventually come to a stop under Presidant Snow's balcony. He walks forward to make his speech and a salty smell invades my nostrils.
I can't quite place it but it's I've definatly smelt it before, back in District 8. The textiles factoires smell of it and I've smelt in in Dean's house too, on the day he lost his first finger. Blood. But it's not just blood, there's a fragrant smell too. "You okay?" Marina whisperes and I realise we're back inside.
"Fine." I lie.
Snow is one of the men- along with Franklin and Coby- who I hold responsible for Sephy's death and he reeks of the blood of a thousand dead triutes, dead because of him. The rose he carries in his pocket is a representation of them, reminding me that he carries that around with him in his pocket wherever he goes and giving me hope that Karma will get revenge. I take satisfaction in that.
...
Dinner that night is the first time I really see Coby since the Reaping, (I dismissed myself when Priscilla brought him to my carriage on the train). Marina and I have gotten changed and I sit inbetween her and Mercedes at the table. Priscilla is at one head and Trake the other with Coby facing Marina and Bernard facing Meredes. I get to stare at some blank wall, possibly the only thing I want to look at right now.
Coby tries to meet my eyes but I look away quickly. At some point, Marina nudges me and gives me a confused look, I shake my head at her.
"So, how are you finding the food?" Priscilla asks me and Marina.
"It's great, really," Marina smiles, "Different that what we're used to."
"I bet Coby's used to it," I speak for the first time since sitting down, "He probably eats like this every night in his big mansion in Victor's Village."
"Coby, haven't you invited Griff to dinner? He's your friend." Priscilla asks and I wonder how she knew I used to be friends with Coby.
"Yeah, Coby," I interupt him as he begins to speak, "Why haven't you invited me? To good for me now?"
"Griff." Marina warns.
I know she's right and I should stop, I don't even know why I'm being like this but I can't stop, it feels good.
"I'm sure that's not it." Mercedes says.
"Uh, Mercedes, he's not protesing." I point at Coby who's staring at his plate, "He's not denying it."
"Griff." Marina again.
I hold up a hand, silencing her.
"You wouldn't have agreed to come if I invited you." Coby mutters in protest. He's barely audible.
"No, I wouldn't," I say, "You know why? Because you sat there and watched my girlfriend die."
My voice is calm but the discust is evident.
"I didn't kill her!" Coby snaps.
"No, but you could have stopped it and that makes you worse than the one stabbing her! That makes you a murderer!" I'm yelling too.
"Griffin!" Marina's voice snaps me out of it but Coby and I glare at each other for a few seconds.
"I'm going to bed," I dismiss myself, "Thank you all for a great meal, it was great. Priscilla, I'm sorry for ruining the evening. Good night everyone. Coby." I spit Coby's name and he jerks his head in recognition to my goodbye.