Chapter 4-Peeta Mellark

I followed Haymitch and Effie down the hall, holding onto Katniss's hand. I

looked over at her as she glared straight ahead and I wonder... Does she know

how beautiful she is?

"Do you know how beautiful you are?" I blurted out. I threw my hand over my

mouth.

I saw Katniss blink and peek at me, her cheeks growing red. "Wh-what?"

"N-nothing!" I shook my head fast.

She smiled at me and leaned up to kiss my cheek. I smiled in pure ecstacy and

followed Haymitch to the area where we would watch the Chariots. Cinna was in

charge of escorting them through the Chariot rides. I began to worry how Nettie

would hold up. She didn't seem like crowd type of girl. Like Katniss.. Except

Nettie's temper is like a never ending volcano erruption..

Katniss cuddled up to my side on the little couch and pulled my arm around her

should. She seemed more accustomed to ur PDA status. I just only wish she really

understood my feelings. And I wish I understood hers. Maybe it would make this

thing easier. But for now, this felt okay.

Effie made herself comfortable as we sat back to watch the Chariots of the

Districts. The Chariot outfits this year were amazing! I'd never seen anything

like them!

District one was based off of reflections and the light. The girl, who had her

brown hair once curly, was now straight and just down to her shoulders. Her

dress was made of glass shards that didn't seem sharp as not to cut her. The boy

was in a glass suit similar to the girls dress. His was flexible for his

movements. His threw off more of rainbow beams than bright light though. Then

they focused the cameras on District Two.

The girl wore a skin tight white belly shirt and white skirt that stops on her

thighs with big clunky black boots. She also had black gloves that went up to

her elbow and a black belt. The boy wore the basic same thing except his clothes

were baggier. Their outfits ressembled a Peacekeepers uniform the cameras were

flashing between the Peacekeepers on the side lines and the tributes to show how

close the uniforms. It takes a moment for me to see the added design that their

stylist handled with great care

the carmeras do a close up on th girl and now I can see a silken see through

fabric that hangs from her hips around her skirt. I see Effie nodding her head

in admiration.

The boy and girl from District Three matched. Their outfit was very interesting.

They both had on a tight pair of bronze pants with a tight bronze shirt. There

was wires hanging off of the shirts and gears that turned every which way. And

then, something amazing happen. The and boy both took a lose wire and stuck them

together. Bright sparks illuminated from all around the causing the audients to

'ooh' and 'aah' as the gears began to spin in a frenzy.

District Four definatly got better and better each year. And the tributes from

that District got more and more attractive each year too. The girl was short yet

curvy and the dress helped bring out her eyes and made her own her curves. Her

dress was long and had splotches of orange, black and white. The bottom fanned

out like a tail of a Koi fish, which was their theme. Her lips were colored

black and her eye shadow was orange. She had white patterns on her fave. The boy

was tall and muscular with messy hair. He had black pants with an orange and

white shirt. His face was painted with orange, white and black, almost like an

indian tribal pattern.

Katniss looked up me and smiled. "That one was my favorite so far."

I chuckled. "Well, don't give in yet. There's still a lot more to go.

District Five wasn't as interesting, but still gave off a good level of

creativity. The boy and girl matched, like District Three. They both had on

golden body suits that had light bulbs all over it. They flashed every color

possible, some I'd never even seen before.

District Six was pretty plan. All I could say was they must have had a lazy

stylist or they weren't very creative. They were both dressed up train

conductors. The little hats down to the boots.

District Seven was the most impressive by far and stuck in my mind. The girl had

on a long dress that was completely made of willow leaves. The long tresses of

leaves fanned out all around her like a mini forest at her feet. Or a sea or

leaves. She wore a wooden crown that was obviously beautifully hand crafted. Dry

autumn leaves furnished her flowing golden hair. The boy had greent pants made

of vines and leaves. He had chest bare as he waved, his muscles flexing. He had

a crown on as well.

The District Eight girl wore a long thing gown. The gown was made of a shiny

fabric, almost glossy. The gown changed colors, darkening as it went up and

lightening as it flowed down. The boy wore a simple silk suit that matched the

dark color of the girls dress.

The District Nine boy and girl matched. Since Katniss and I matched in out

games, a lot of tributes have matched since then. These tributes wore short

golden tunics. Instead of boots, like most of the other outfits, these used

feminin looking flat ballet slippers. Upon their heads were wheat crowns.

District Ten, live stock, stuck very close to their district as a theme. The

girl wore a tight body suit that was black and white, appearing as a cow. She

wore a tail with horns and gloves and shoes like hooves. It may have looked

foolish on anyone else, but it suited this girl well. The boy was dressed up

like a sheep. With the fluff coming off him nd such. Now it was starting to get

darking and the lights of the Capitol eluminated the Chariots.

I held Katniss tightly as District 11 started, knowing her thoughts would

immediatly turn to Rue. She almost choked when she saw the girls outfit. The

girl had a dress made completely of primrose flowers. The boy wore a green suit

that was covered in tiger lillies.

"T-they used my...when Rue...I covered her with flowers! And they used it!" She

choked again.

I pulled her closer into my side and her head come to rest on my shoulder. I

shushed her and rubbed her back. "I know, honey... I know.."

And we all suddenly sat forward as District Twelve's chariot appeared before us.

They showed Jareth first and he looked wonderful in a black suit with a cape of

yellow, red and orange that looked on fire. Like Katniss and I six years ago,

they were only connected by their hands. What really took my breath away was

Nettie. Nettie wore a long gown like dress that clung to her body so that

afterhr hips, it fell all around her. The dress was red and strapless. She wore

a vail over her hair that fell freely down her back, that was yellow, orange and

red and seemed on fire. Nettie seemed well composed and looked aboslutely

gorgeous. Like Katniss on our chariot eide.

After a minute of watching the crowds reactions, it cut off to random interviews

of the tributes as they walked in. We all filed down to the entrance to Nettie

and Jareth. I took Nettie in my arms right when I saw her.

"You did great!" I complemented her.

"And you looked beautiful." Katniss added.

"You both looked absolutely amazing!" Effie threw in for Jareth's sake as her

eyes filled with tears. Her eyes never left Nettie though. Tonight was her

night. Effie sniffled dapping at her eyes.

Haymitch stayed quiet but was grinning in obvious satisfaction.

Next was the training...