Burning

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games.

"Ow! Why do you even have to do this? No one is going to care if I have hair on my legs." I rub the spot they just waxed.

Ella gently smacked my hand. "Hon, you're just going to make it even more red. Don't rub it. We can put you in an ice bath afterward if you like. And as for why we have to wax you: pretty tributes are happy tributes; they get sponsered more." Ella pinched my cheeks. "You have such beautiful skin. I'm sure everyone will love you! Well , if you take away that temper you have."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't have a temper."

"You keep saying that hon. It's not going to change the fact that it's a lie."

I pretty much stayed quiet while she waxed my legs, wincing every time she ripped off the white strip. When she was finished I stroked my legs. They felt smooth and I loved how hairless they were. It hurt but it was definantly worth it.

"I'm sure Zamad will like it." Ella winked at me and I sighed. Everytime I thought about him and I my stomach turned and I felt clammy and sick.

"Can we talk about something else? Anything?" She saw my face when I thought of Zamad and knew that this just wasn't her place to say anything.

"Of course hon. It's not anyones business besides you and that boy."

I rolled my eyes "He's making it everyone's business."

She handed me a robe and brought me over to a vanity to wax my eye brows.

Ella started putting the warm wax on them and began what seemed like a long talk. "There's good publicity and bad publicity. Right now, this is good publicity. But if word gets out that you are just acting like your into him, that's bad. You need to make everyone see that you love him with your entire heart. It's a necessity." She paused, thinking over what she had just said. "But don't make it look cheesy. Make yourself seem vulnerable and weak. Then just when it's too late, become tough as nails. You understand?"

"Yes. I need people to underestimate me. I need them to think I'm just a 15 year old girl from District One who had everything handed to her. It's fun to be a damsel in distress." I paused and bit my lip, not sure if I wanted to tell her. "Ella? Can I tell you something?"

"Of course, hon. It's safe with me. It's your secret to tell. Not mine."

"I like girls... And- And there's this girl back home waiting for me. I volunteered to take her place, Nayda. She's really special to me."

Ella's face softens a bit. "I understand sweetie. Back when I was in the Districts, I had fallen in love with my best friend. He got reaped and died in the Games. He never knew I loved him." I can see tears in her eyes. "I will always regret not telling him. I haven't fallen in love since then. I just can't find anyone else like him."

This somehow made Ella seem more real; like she wasn't just a person in the Capitol sending me off to the Games. She was someone I could relate to. She understood.

"I need to get back to her."

"Darling, do everything in your power to get to her. I'm betting on you."

"There are 24 competitors. Only one lives. The odds are not in my favor."

"It's all confidence, honey. You have to go in there thinking you're going to be the one coming out. But don't underestimate the other players. That is always the death of the best of them." She put her hands on my cheeks and looked in my eyes. "Tyanna, get back to her."

I nod a bit. Her harsh eyes dig into me and I fight the urge to look away. "I will."

What I hadn't thought about though was what if after seeing me all lovey over Zamad, she wouldn't trust me? Or, what if I actually fell for Zamad? No. That wouldn't happen. I need Nayda. But what if one day I didn't need Nayda and I actually needed Zamad? I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. We'd cross that bridge when we got there. I just couldn't handle that right now.

Ella had finished my eyebrows and got my dress for the chariot rides.

Piling my hair on my head, she stuck diamonds and jewels into my hair. They seemed to shine as I turned; they were absolutely beautiful. The dress was sleeveless and studded with diamonds. The top came up just bellow my collar bones then made a steep decline to a point between my breasts. It was tight at the waist then burst out into a full skirt, pure white. I felt like a princess, like Cinderella, only lacking the small waist and stick arms and legs. Being a curvy girl, I had never been quite skinny. I was a nice size I supposed, not too bony, proud to say I actually had some fat on me. That's why the dress worked to me; I actually had something to put in it.

Maybe this was what it would be like to be a bride at a wedding, walking down the aisle to a handsome man or a beautiful women. Hopefully, I'll be able to know one day. Trying to picture myself walking down the aisle, I was wondering if it would be a man or a women at the alter. Snap out of it. You're getting ahead of yourself. One day at a time. Remember ? I thought to myself. But no matter how hard I tried to stop, that's all I could see in my head.

Ella looked at me, tears in her eyes. "You look so beautiful!" She ran and hugged me tight and I awkwardly hugged her back. At that point I made a choice, maybe not everyone in the capitol was horrid. Maybe some are just good people that are marked with a bad reputation because of everyone else around them.

"Thanks, Ella. I've never really had anyone call me beautiful."

"Well you should because it's true! Now come along! We can't late to the big parade!"

"Ella," I laughed, "I need shoes."

She blushed. "Yes, those are quite important. I can't believe I almost forget them!" She scurried over to the couch, opened a box and pulled out two white stillettos, flowers covering the top.

"They're perfect!" I had never felt like such a girl but Ella brought out my inner fashionista.

I slipped them on, trying to walk. I could only shuffle and take small steps but if worst came to worst I would hold on to Zamad to keep from falling.

Ella shooed me out the door and I practically fell on Zamad who was waiting outside.

His mouth dropped open a little and then closed quickly, regaining composure. I blushed a bit and smiled. "You look prefect."

"Why thank you. You look handsome youreself." I grabbed this right hand with my left and started following Ella to our chariot.

We passed trees from District 7 and coal miners from District 12. District four wasn't that badly dressed. They had pearls put in their hair and wore strings of pearls around their necks. But then you saw the tails they had. The girl had a sea green 'mermaid tail' protruding from her back of her dress. I laughed a little when I saw. She turned to me, glaring and I quickly turned my head as if something in the other direction was hilarious. They were all envious of our clothes. Zamad, with his white tux studded with diamonds and specks of diamonds in his short hair, was handsome and seemed full of pride. Perhaps he was proud that he got to hold me during the chariot ride and show. Or maybe I was way off and he was just excited to wear bedazzled suit. I first seemed more likely than the second.

I turned to look at him after we were both in the chariot.

"You ready, Tyanna? You look kinda pale."

"This dress is just kinda hard to breath in." It was a lie but it worked. Honestly, I was scared out of my mind. "Don't let me fall." My eyes searched his with total desperation. If he wasn't here I wouldn't be able to stand.

"I wouldn't dare." He wrapped his arm around my waist and it comforted me knowing that he was there. He was truly there and I was just pretending. He's too good for me. He will always be too good for me. It hurts to know that in the end I'll have to break his heart… Or will I break mine too?

AN: I'm not even sure about that to say about what it has been forever since I've posted. I won't make up some lame excuse and say I was busy with home work or something. I'm just sorry for not posting. I fell in love with the series again after seeing the trailer and I'm psyched to write more. Thanks for reading guys and I wish you a happy Thanksgiving! r&r. :DD