The ride to the Capitol was eventless. I stayed in my room the whole time, the only time the cabin door opened was when Seef wanted to check up on me or send me some food. But the Ritch conversation cannot be postponed any longer. We are almost to the Capitol.
Seef knocked my door early in the morning, "wake up kid," he said opening the door with his all pass key, "we will reach the Capitol in a few hours, make sure you are well dressed and ready to impress potential sponsors."
"And walking down the platform in my birthday suit won't help."
Seef gave me an angry look to which I instantly replied, "Kidding!"
After he left, I went and took a long shower and took my time putting my clothes on, the less time I spend with Ritch the better. I left my room around the time the train was docking. Ritch was waiting for me at the door that separates our compartment from the girls', the red light still blinking. He was slowly tapping the light looking at me expectantly. After a minute passed I realized he wanted my answer.
"Fine, I'll do it," I said. His smile widened, he hit a few buttons on the keypad and the door opened.
The girls were waiting at the door to the platform, Seef was with them, "we should exit the train together," he said, "I will go first, the tributes will follow then the coaches. I will lead you to the prep rooms for the parade where you will meet your stylists get dressed and dazzle the Capitol." The door started to open, "I will see you tonight after the parade on the fourth floor of the tribute tower, and will give you further instructions when we get there."
The door was fully open now, "big smiles" said Seef before he started to walk.
The platform was filled with cameras and jumbo screens. There were two cameras fixed on us, one following my every move, the other on Rama. A huge crowd was forming around a path laid out for us. The people were cheering and holding signs, most had Ginger's name and picture with the number 1 on it. Others held signs with the number 25. It looks like many people are expecting one of us to win!
The first game was won by a kid from district 4, the first Quarter Quell should go to the same district. A weird feeling took over me, they want us to win! But I don't want to, I don't even think I can!
I look at Rama to see if she is sharing my fear, but no. she is enjoying this! She is waving at the crowd, blowing kisses even shook some people's hands. I look at the Jumbo screens and find that my camera is not filming me anymore. Both cameras were fixed on Rama and Ginger rousing the crowd.
This is not a good start. But my first impression is almost over. Seef was at the building we are supposed to enter, holding a door for us. When we got in, all hell broke loose.
"Come on people," Seef said, "we don't have all day, the tributes from district 7 are almost here and the sooner we see our stylists the better." He broke into a run and we followed hastily. Later I learned that tributes are supposed to ride in cars to get to the prep rooms, but Seef would rather walk down through a crowd on the day of the parade, and he schedules the reapings and train trip accordingly. We ran through a series of corridors and some doors until we finally got to our destination. We were in a huge prep room divided to different compartments most occupied by a tribute and a group of people around them working on them like lab rats.
"Jeen, Karr!" Seef was calling, two tall men in expensive looking suites turned around to answer, "meet your tributes this year, Rama and Lunar."
"Lunar!" the one with short red hair said, "like the flower!" he tried to hold back a chuckle but failed miserably, "the hair needs some fixing," he continued, "but the rest is perfect." He sounded impressed as he started to walk away. Seef pushed me to follow.
"So tell me Jeen, how do you find your tribute this year?" Seef was talking to the other man as I followed Karr.
"She is perfect!" I can barely hear him say, "it's the first time since Ginger I get a girl that needs no work at all…"
"Don't worry about your friend," Karr somehow noticed I am not walking as fast as I should be, "she is in good hands, as are you now that your snake coach is busy elsewhere."
I look around, and see that Ritch was leaving the prep room. "where is he going?" I ask.
"I don't care," answered Karr, "as long as he is not anywhere near me as I work on you, I am happy. Now, shall we?" he said pointing at an empty compartment ready for me to enter.
The makeover was not as drastic as I expected. Karr had his hair dresser Itika cut my hair and dye half of it blue. Karr said this year the Capitol will celebrate the diversity in the districts, and to show it they want the tributes to dye their hair with colors representing their districts. He also said that this year they are celebrating the 25 year anniversary of the hunger games by making the tributes wear expensive suites and night gowns of the color of their districts.
"Great!" I said when I saw my expensive new blue suit, "that thing matches my hair!"
Karr laughed before leaving to get us some food. When he returned I was done dressing. He was disappointed because I should have eaten before getting dressed. So I told him that I was not hungry.
"But what are you going to do for three hours!" he replied pointing at his watch.
"I don't know," I said, "I guess I'll walk around, pat the horses or something."
"Suit yourself," he said holding the huge food platters, "more for me…"
I walked around aimlessly for the first hour or so, but got bored easily. So I decided to go see the horses. After all, living in district 4, fish are the only animals you see.
I was patting one of the friendly horses (two were quite angry when I walked near, but this one walked towards me when I was close enough) when I heard her voice.
"So, what do you think of my new dress?"