A/N: Hello everyone. This is the weekend update and I'm hoping that I'll be able to keep on posting a chapter every Saturday or Sunday. This is chapter 4 and it's not as long as the previous chapter. It's also not my favourite chapter as I felt I kind of rushed through it, but anyway, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games, however all the characters in the following chapter are of my own creation.


Chapter 4 - Tribute Parade

"You have the most beautiful hair I have seen on a tribute ever!" Gavriella exclaimed, brushing out the tangles in my hair. "I love the colour! I think the next time I dye my hair I'm going to go with this shade!" I forced a smile. What these people did for vanity was ridiculous. Gavriella's hair was purple and cut into a jagged shape. She had no eyebrows, a small forehead and cat whiskers. "Lennox, what colour would you say this is? You're more of a hair expert than I am" She spoke to the black haired man that was ripping the hairs off my legs. He looked more normal than Gavriella did, with his coal coloured hair and normal facial features. The most striking thing about him was his red eyes that felt as if they were burning into my skull whenever I looked at him.

"Well Gav, I would say it is a tawny colour. It's very beautiful and is definitely going to be in style as soon as you wear it!" Lennox replied. I winced as he tore another strip of fabric from my leg. I had been in the Remake Centre for about two hours, letting my prep team remove all the hair from my body and eliminate any blemishes from my skin. My stylist Tavius had been in a couple of times to check on their progress. He was a small man with dyed white hair that was styled like a flame on the top of his head. He had a gold tattoo on his face that curved around his left cheek and wrapped itself around his left eye. He was young, probably in his late twenties, and had been a stylist in the games for a few years now. He came in and clapped his hands.

"I have to congratulate you both, again! You have done a remarkable job on yet another tribute! She looks presentable now!" he cried. Lennox pulled one last strip from my leg and then stood back, admiring his work. I felt uncomfortable laying there, completely naked, whilst these people stared at me. I desperately wanted to cover myself up with my robe but I couldn't see where it was. Gavriella finished combing through my hair and then joined them as they gazed at me. I watched the ceiling, wishing that I could turn invisible. I was so preoccupied following the lines in the ceiling that I didn't notice Gavriella and Lennox leave.

"So, Avery, tell me, how do you want to be styled?" Tavius questioned. I frowned. I thought he was supposed to choose how I was styled, not me.

"Um…well…first things, can I please have my robe?" I said. Tavius laughed and threw it to me. I sat up and quickly wrapped it around myself, liking the concealment.

"Thank you" I said.

"You're welcome, but you still haven't answered my question"

I thought for a moment. How did I want to be styled?

"Um…I guess I want to look natural and like myself. I don't want to be changed much"

"Ok, that's good. I can work with that. In fact, the natural thing works very well with how I was going to dress you for the tribute parade"

I started to worry. By natural I meant no alterations and no outrageous makeup. I hoped that Tavius hadn't thought that by natural, I meant naked.

"Do you remember last year, when the tributes were dressed like trees?"

I nodded. The tributes from last year wore brown, bark patterned clothes and headdresses.

"Well, this year, we're going to focus more on the paper side of your district"

I frowned.

"Don't worry! You'll look fabulous!"

I wasn't worried. Just curious about what I was going to be wearing.

I found out a little while later.

"You look stunning!" Gavriella cried, positioning me in front of the mirror. I stared at myself, shocked. I had never really been that pretty, but the way I was styled I thought that I actually looked good. My prep team had me decked out in a white, papery material, knee length dress that hung off of one shoulder. The dress was plain but had layers of paper overlapping to make it more interesting. I wore a pair of matching white boots and an impressive folded headdress. My hair was left to float by my shoulders under the headdress and my makeup outlined my eyes and highlighted my cheekbones. My white clothes had also meant that my golden hair really stood out; making it the focal point. I was glad I still looked quite natural.

"It's understated, however you still pop! I especially love your hair! It's amazing!" Lennox exclaimed. "It was such a good idea of yours to leave it how it was, Tavius!"

"Well, I can't take all the credit" Tavius replied modestly.

"That's right! I helped too! And I have to say I did a great job!" Lennox admired. I rolled my eyes at his conceitedness.

"Avery, what do you think?" Tavius questioned.

"I think it's wonderful! Thank you so much Tavius" I answered. "I really appreciate your help"

"You're welcome! Now, let's get you downstairs!"

Tavius began to lead me out of the room to an elevator, where we met up with Ashton and his stylist Henna. We rode the elevator down to the bottom level of the Remake Centre and I was taken aback by how busy it was. Pairs of tributes were dotted all around the room, being ushered around by their stylists. Horses and chariots were lined up, ready to leave. Ashton and I were pushed to stand next to our chariot. Ashton was dressed similarly to me, except instead of a dress, he was wearing a white paper suit.

"You look nice" he smiled at me. I blushed slightly.

"Thanks. You look good too" I replied. He smiled wider.

"I thought I looked like a walking fire hazard but um, thanks" he joked. I laughed.

"I guess I'm a walking fire hazard too"

"Yes, but at least you're a pretty one"

I looked down as my cheeks burned.

"Tavius! Henna!" Shouted a voice from across the room. I looked up and saw Gavriella sprinting towards us. She was carrying a pile of white material in her hands. I had a feeling it was something to do with my outfit.

"You forgot these!" She said, out of breath, passing the pile to Tavius.

"Oh! How could we have forgotten?" Henna cried, throwing her hands into the air. Her too straight, black hair bounced by her shoulders.

"What is that?" Ashton questioned. Tavius smiled.

"These" he answered, "Are your capes"

Capes? What did we need capes for?

"They're going to complete your outfit" Henna responded to my questions without even knowing I had asked them. She grabbed a cape from Tavius' arms and began to place it on Ashton's shoulders. Tavius held mine out. I turned around so that he could adjust it. I got a good look at the other tributes whilst I waited for him to finish. The girl from District 1 was stunning in a jewel studded, floor length dress that reflected the light. The boy from District 2, the other volunteer, was dressed in golden armour, probably to represent the strength and brutality of the district, and a golden crown, probably to represent the fact that one tribute from District 2 was going to win. I watched him, watched how he moved, and wondered whether the armour was heavy. It looked like it could be quite lightweight as he was moving fluidly and easily. Just as I was about to look away, he locked eyes with me. I felt my cheeks begin to burn again, and quickly looked away, not before I got a glimpse of his deep brown eyes and furrowed brow.

"There you go" Tavius said, brushing my shoulders with his hands. I could feel the cape flowing down my back to my ankles. It was made of a papery material too.

"When are the chariots going to be leaving?" I asked.

"The first chariot is just about to leave" Tavius replied. I looked to the front of the queue and saw that it had already begun to pull away. The second chariot followed closely behind.

"Henna, enough adjusting! They need to get onto the chariot now!" Tavius exclaimed. He was looking at Henna who was still fumbling with Ashton's cape. She tugged at it one more time, and then Ashton stepped forward onto the chariot. I followed him. I didn't get much time to position myself and find my balance before the horses began to pull away. Luckily, I managed to grip hold of the front of the chariot, just as I was about to fall. We moved forward and exited the building, entering a wall of sound. Cheers and screams filled the air and I couldn't help but smile at the thought that it was all for us tributes.

"This is amazing" I heard Ashton observe. I had almost forgotten that he was standing next to me.

"I know" I said. We continued down along the avenue of tributes, heading towards the President's mansion. I got a few glances of myself on the giant screens. I thought I looked dazed and full of excitement.


When we arrived at the mansion, President Cane stepped out onto a balcony. His signature orange hair was bright as ever as he began his annual speech about the games. I couldn't help but gaze around me at the lights and sounds of the Capitol. When I had first arrived it had seemed too shiny and colourful, but tonight it had a differentness about it. It still seemed fake, but maybe it was because of all the excitement that I found it quite beautiful.

Once the President had finished, we began to make our way to the Tribute Centre. I smiled and waved as people dressed in strange clothes with wacky hairdos called to me. We pulled into the building and I felt Ashton relax beside me. He had been quite stiff during the parade and had only waved a couple of times.

"You did amazing" he said to me.

"Thanks. So did you" I lied.

"No I didn't. I was terrible. I just freeze in front of people"

"I'm sure you'll get better"

"I hope so. The interviews are in a few days and if I don't make a good impression then I can forget about sponsors"

I felt sorry for Ashton. He had no faith in himself. I doubted I'd do any better, sponsor wise, but still, I felt like I wanted to help him in some way. I didn't get a chance to come up with something before we were bombarded with our stylists, prep teams and mentors.

"You did so well"

"They loved you"

"You could have smiled and waved more" This comment from Sigourney towards Ashton made me really want to deck her again. She was just so infuriating.

"Oh, hush Sigourney! Just because you're a show off, doesn't mean everyone else is!" Bryony cried. Her sudden outburst made me like her even more. It also shut our escort up. Sigourney didn't say much for a little while after that.