Sorry it took so long. I've made it longer! : )
Perfect.
Everything seemed to be perfect today. The skies were blue, the sun was shining, and today was the day I got to meet Katniss. Today was the day of the ceremonies. The opening day ceremonies. Because of it Portia and I had hardly slept for the past couple of days. We had been making a costume, altering it, and then doing it all again. It had taken us weeks to perfect the synthetic fire. Then, when test driving it yesterday we had found out that it actually burnt. We had re-made it (thankfully it had only taken a couple of hours), but hadn't found the time to test it. Maybe we'll get lucky and they won't burn.
My prep team now surrounded me. Well, they weren't my prep team, but Katniss'. They were to "clean her up" (as Flavius often put it). This basically meant removing excess hair, and making her "normal" and "less barbaric" to the Capitol citizens. My official job was to make her look appealing and to help her stand out, among other things.
"Are you sure we can't dye her skin pink?" Venia asked.
"Yes. I'm sure." I said hoping my voice hadn't come out irritated. "She'll be here soon, so I have to get a few things ready. You know what to do. Right?"
"Of course!" Octavia trilled.
One by one they exited the room chattering excitedly about what was to come. I myself was nervous. This was my first time as a stylist, and I was absolutely sure that something would go wrong. What if she didn't like the costume? What if she ripped her cape off? Or worse, What if I actually DID burn both of them? Then, what would happen?
Giving in to my drooping eyelids, I lie down and let sleep overtake my senses.
***
"Cinna! Cinna! Wake up!" I felt a hand gently shaking me.
I open my eyes just a crack, and see Portia standing over me.
"The teams are almost finished; it's time to meet them. Here, I'll give you a hand." Portia says looking anxious. She extends a hand for me, and I take it, pulling myself up from the sofa.
"How long was I out for?" I ask Portia.
"I don't know, I got here an hour ago, and you were asleep." She says, looking down.
"Let's go." I take her hand and we walk out the room and down the hallway. We drop each other's hands and down the different hallways that lead to our rooms.
"Good luck." I call down the hallway, hoping Portia can hear.
"You, too." I can almost hear the smile in her voice.
I stand at the door, and wait.
I decide to count the seconds, until my prep team comes to take me in.
One, two, three……
I'm at three hundred and eleven, when I hear footsteps approaching the door. I turn around and talk five big steps, and then I turn around again and turn towards the door. By doing this, I create the illusion that I've just arrived. Sure enough, the door opens and I'm a couple feet away from the door.
"Cinna! She's all yours!" Octavia says in her high chirpy voice.
I walk in the room, trying to look confident.
"Hello, Katniss. I'm Cinna, your stylist," I say in a quiet voice.
"Hello," She says cautiously.
"Just give me a moment, all right?" I ask.
Katniss is standing in the middle of the room, completely devoid of clothes. I circle around her, seeing what I have to work with. She seems fit, and is more beautiful in person. Her hair is elaborately braided in a style that I have never seen before, it is perfect for her. While observing, I'm careful to keep my distance. For the disgust in her eyes is obvious. I'm surprised. I would've that that she would have at least made an attempt to hide it. Well, either that or she's a really bad actress. Probably the latter.
"Who did your hair?" I ask intrigued.
"My mother," She replies,
"It's beautiful. Classic, really. And in almost perfect balance with your profile. She has very clever fingers." I say.
I can tell that she's shocked. Apparently, I'm not what she expected at all.
"You're new, aren't you? I don't think I've ever seen you before," She says.
"Yes, this is my first year in the Games," I inform her.
"So they give you District 12," She says, making an assumption that I would've made if I'd been in her place.
"I asked for District 12. Why don't you put on your robe and we'll have a chat." I say, not bothering to inform her on my District choice. She'll know soon enough.
She pulls on her robe (I'm sure she's thankful for it), and follows me through a door to the sitting room. I sit down on one plush red couch, and invite her to sit on the other. I can see her staring out the huge window (it's a wall made out of glass). I press a button on the side of a table, and food pops out. I look at Katniss, who has already tucked into her food. And the look on her face is disgust.
She must have sensed my stare, for she looked up.
"How despicable we must seem to you," I say, watching her reaction carefully.
I can tell that I'm right.
"No matter," I say, when it's clear I'm not going to get an answer out of her. "So, Katniss, about your costume for the opening night ceremonies. My partner, Portia, is the stylist for your fellow tribute, Peeta. And our current thought is to dress you in complementary costumes. As you know, it's customary to reflect the flavor of the district."
I study her face as she mulls this over in her head.
"So I'll be in a coal miner's outfit?" She asks apprehensively
"Not exactly. You see, Portia and I think that coal miner's thing is very overdone. No one will remember you in that. And we both see it as our job to make the District 12 tributes unforgettable." I answer
"So rather than focus on the coal mining itself, we're going to focus on the coal," I pause for dramatic effect.
"And what do we do with coal? We burn it. You're not afraid of fire, are you, Katniss."Then I smile for the expression on her face is truly funny.
A few hours later she is dressed in a costume that will be the most sensational in the history of the Games. I watch as she looks down at her black unitard and boots, she gently fingers a cape made of streams of yellow, orange, and red.
"It's not real flame, of course, just a little synthetic fire Portia and I came up with. You'll be perfectly safe." I attempt to reassure her, even though I'm not all that confident myself.
"I want the audience to recognize you when you're in the arena. Katniss, the girl who was on fire." I say to her
We walk down to the bottom of the Remake Center, and I see Portia. Her face is absolutely full of excitement. Seeing her like this puts a grin on my face.
It quickly disappears.
Everyone surrounds us, congratulating us in a frenzy. I accept warily. I'm suddenly reminded of why I'm a stylist, and why I'm here.
Flashback
"You are here for a reason," Plurtach Havensbee says in a solemn voice "As a gamekeeper,I have varying duties. This year one of them has been to choose the district 12 tributes. I have chosen a little girl, and the bakers' son. I am sure that the elder sister will volunteer for her. The boy, Peeta, has feelings for Katniss, the girl's sister."
"How do you know this?" Cinna asked, his brows furrowed
"What doesn't the capitol know? You're job is simple. Become a stylist for district 12, I'll make sure you get a partner that is understanding. Get to know the boy, Peeta, talk to him. Plant the idea of announcing his love in his mind. You will be the Instigator of the Rebellion, something your late brother would've done if not for his accident." Plurtach continued
" Did my brother refer me for this job?" Cinna inquired
"His death wish." Plurtach replied, his voice depressed
End of Flashback
Shaking myself out of the memory, I gesture to Portia and we start to adjust Katniss and Peeta's body positions in the chariot. Next, we drape their capes accordingly.
"Peeta's in love." Portia says to me, when we've moved a bit away from the chariot
"Really?" I ask, playing the part of one that's surprised
"Yes, look. Even when they're talking he looks at her with an adoring look on his face. It's so sweet."
Actually surprised this time, I look at Peeta. And sure enough, Portia's right. He is looking at her in an adoring fashion. Do I look at Portia in such a way?
The rest of the conversation is lost as the opening music begins. We walk over to the chariot.
'Here we go then," I say, about to light Katniss's cape on fire.
She gasps, as she finds out it doesn't burn her. I climb up to light her headdress.
"It works." I say, relieved myself.
I tuck my hand under her chin.
"Remember, heads high. Smiles. They're going to love you!" I tell her
Suddenly, an idea hits me. I shout to them what it is, but they don I shout to them what it is, but they don't seem to hear me. I gesture to them, and they get it.
I want them to hold hands.
The crowd goes nuts, as they go out. Katniss actually blows a few kisses. While Peeta smiles at her. He IS in love.
As the chariot stops for the anthem, Portia leans over and does something I 'd thought about, but never done.
She kisses me.
