Chapter 4:

I woke up in my room to the sound of a sharp knock on the door. "Wake up, Lauren! We have a big day ahead of us!" I then heard the clicking of high heels down the hall, indicating Cresselia has walked away.

I am slightly confused as to why I'm in my room because I was talking to Kendall in his room last night. I probably fell asleep and Kendall carried me to my room. He is probably one of the greatest brothers ever, and it really pains me knowing he will most likely die in the games.

I go in to the shower and I'm actually careful about which buttons I press this time. I have hot water this time, and I use some shampoo that smells of pine, and reminds me of home. I grab the first clothes I see in my drawers to wear and then head down to breakfast.

When I arrive, only Kendall and Cresselia are there. Stefan seems to be missing, which is perfectly fine with me. I sit next to Kendall and fill my plate with a bit of everything. I then take a sip of whatever is in my mug. It tastes like heaven. I ask about it and find out that it is hot chocolate.

After a few minutes of peace while eating, Cresselia starts to go over our schedule for the day. "OK, so we should be arriving at the Capitol in under half an hour. Then you will head to the remake building and be taken care of by your prep teams. Then you'll meet your stylists and travel on the chariot ride to the City Circle. After President Xavier gives a speech, you will enter the Training Building where you'll be staying until the games."

I take all this in and think of how chaotic a day it's going to be. I didn't even notice Stefan walk in until he said something, I was so absorbed in my thoughts. "Try not to complain about what your prep team does, you won't like it."

I give him a confused look but he doesn't explain further. But I am suddenly distracted by the darkness around the train. We must be in the tunnel that leads into the Capitol, I realize. Then I am blinded by the sudden bright light, and I'm shocked by my first view of the Capitol.

Words cannot describe the magnificence of the city. Buildings in all different shades of color; it was like looking at a rainbow. People with all sorts of body alterations to make them look in style. These people looked up at the passing train in excitement, because it is a tribute train. I can't help waving at them and smiling. Besides, one of those people out there might be rich and want to sponsor me. It never hurts to think ahead.

Then we pull up to the remake building to be completely beautified for the chariot rides tonight.

I gripped the side of my chair in pain as the last bit of hair on my body was waxed off. I now know what Stefan meant about not liking what the prep team will do to me. But it's hard to be angry at them, they seem so innocent with their silly capitol accents and outrageous styles. One of them, Calpurnia, has bubblegum pink hair, and light blue skin. It took me a couple minutes to realize that she is trying to look like cotton candy, one of the Capitol's sweets. My next two stylists are brother and sister: Icilius and Emboria. Icilius has ice blue skin, a slightly darker shade of blue hair, and wears deep blue lipstick. Emboria, on the other hand, has orange-red skin, bright red hair, and wears lipstick that matches her hair. To put it simply, I probably have one of the most outrageous prep teams in the game. And I'm hoping this isn't an indication of what my stylist will be like.

After soaking in several different baths to soothe my skin, I am at what they consider Beauty Base Zero. Now they can start to make me look pretty so I can win sponsors. Calpurnia is painting my nails a deep green shade that reminds me of the forests at home. Icilius is putting my make up on, while Emboria is doing my hair. Apparently my stylist wants people to recognize me in the arena so I am at least allowed to wear my hair in its normal ponytail. They finish and leave to get my stylist.

I patiently wait a couple minutes when he finally walks in. I'm surprised by his normalness. He is dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a plain purple V-neck shirt. The only thing that suggests a life in the Capitol is an arrangement of gold tattoos on the left side of his face. He has short brown hair that is spiked up a bit in the front. "Hi Lauren, my name is Logan," he says with a gentle smile. I have a feeling that I'm going to like him.

"So, let me see what we have to work with here," he says as he starts to circle around me, examining my body. I start to feel slightly uncomfortable just standing there naked, but he is done quickly. "Alright, if you'll put your robe on, you can come with me and we can discuss your outfit for tonight."

We sit down at a table where there is already our lunch sitting there. I start to eat the delicious food when Logan starts to tell me about his idea.

"So, with your costume, I want to focus on your district, which supplies lumber," he begins to explain.

Oh no, I'm going to be a tree, like the District 7 tributes are every year.

"The people of your district cut up trees to distribute lumber all over Panem."

Definitely a tree.

"But I think previous stylists have been too focused on the lumber, and not the actually people themselves. Your outfit is something that will make people think you just got done cutting trees, but your also ready for battle at a seconds notice. But there will still be an aspect of the trees in your outfit, without you being dressed as one. So once you finish up your lunch, I'll take you to see exactly what I mean."

This idea for the costume sounds interesting so I hurriedly finish my lunch. I'm mostly happy that I won't be a tree.

We walk back into the styling room, and I see there is a garment bag lying in there, waiting for me to put on the contents. The prep team comes back in and helps me get dressed in the outfit. They finish and Logan does some finishing touches on my makeup and hair. "There, all finished." he says, and spins me around to face the mirror.

I'm shocked at my reflection. I'm dressed in dark brown khaki pants and a deep green shirt. I have a thick brown belt around my waist with an ax tucked into it. My makeup is designed to look like I have smudges of dirt on my face. In my hair, I have some leaves tucked in, and a vine twirls down in my ponytail. I really look like I could have just left the woods.

"There are still some aspects of trees in the outfit, in the colors of the pants and shirt. And the ax of course is plastic, but I wanted it there to give the look that you have been cutting down trees all day. And the leaves give the look that you have been around trees your entire life. And there will be one more surprise, but you won't find out about that until right before you leave." he finally finishes explaining.

"Logan, this outfit is perfect!" I say and give him a big hug. "I'm sure I'll be the best dressed tribute out there. Is Kendall wearing the same thing?"

"Yes. His stylist Camille and I want to present you guys as a team, since you are brother and sister." He pauses to glance down at his watch quickly. "We have to go, it's time to get ready to go on the chariots."

We head down the fancy elevator to where all the chariots are waiting. I see Kendall and his team waiting next to a chariot pulled by dark brown horses. The brown is exactly the color of the bark on trees. Kendall is wearing almost the exact same, except he has a dark green tank top instead of a shirt like me. This, I realize, must be an attempt for female sponsors to think he is attractive by showing off what little muscle he has.

"Hey Kendall, they actually made you look pretty. This has to be a first!" I can't help but joke around with him. Besides, someone as to lighten up the mood. He just sticks his tongue out at me.

"OK guys it's time to get on your chariot!" Logan says as he walks over with Camille. But before we get on, he hits a hidden button on our shirts. They start to glow in a greenish light, and I realize that it looks like leaves in the summer time, bathed in sunlight and being rustled by the wind. We really have the aspect of trees without really being trees.

"Oh Logan, it's great!" I say when I'm atop the chariot. He smiles and walks away to wait for us later. I turn to Kendall and hold my hand out for him. I realize now that there is no way I can make it through the ride without him keeping me steady, being my rock. I turn to face the opening where the first chariots are leaving. Our chariot starts to move, and I brace myself to face the crowd of Capitol people, who are hungry for our deaths.