The next day, Cinna and my prep team come to get me ready for the Tribute parade. This year, my outfit was a black dress that was mid thigh length in the front and floor length in the back. My hair was left down in curls with a black crown.
"Calla Lily!" I looked up at the sound of yelling when I left the elevator, the crowd waving down at me. I walked over to our chariot, petting the horse.
"How'd we get here?" I asked him even though I knew he wouldn't answer.
"Calla Lily." I turned my head. Finnick Odair was walking my way with a smirk on his face. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Odair." I responded in kind.
"Do you want a sugar cube?" He asked me. I furrow my brow before nodding. I held out my hand and he dropped one into my palm. "It's supposed to be for the horses, but I mean, who cares about them, right?" I pop the sugar cube into my mouth. "They got years to eat sugar, whereas you and I? Well, if we see something sweet, we better grab it."
"Thanks." I look at his outfit. "I would love to borrow that outfit someday."
"You look pretty terrifying in that getup." He told me. "What happened to the pretty little girl dresses?"
"Outgrew them." I sassed.
"You certainly did." He grinned at me. "Shame about the Quell thing. Now, you could've made out like a bandit in the Capitol. Jewels, money, anything you wanted."
"The thing I wanted was freedom from Snow offers." I told him, his smile slips slightly. "What did you do with all your wealth, anyway?" I asked.
"I haven't dealt in anything as common as money in years." I look at him curious.
"Then how do people pay for your company?" I asked. He stepped towards me.
"Secrets." I backed up a bit. "What about you, Girl on Fire? Any secrets worth my time?"
"I'm an open book." I lied.
"Unfortunately, I think that's true." I glance over his shoulder. Peeta and Cinna were walking our way. "I'm sorry you had to cancel your wedding. I know how devastating that must be for you." He said not sounding a bit sorry. "Have a good day." He ate another sugar cube, snickering and walked away. "Peeta." He greeted him as they walked passed each other.
"Finnick." Peeta said, watching him before turning to me. "What'd he want?"
"To know my secrets." I chuckled.
"Hmm." Peeta smiled. "He'll have to get in line." I smiled a bit. The fact that he could tease about it now was amazing.
"Tributes, mount up. Tributes, mount up." We moved to get into the chariot.
"No waving and smiling, this time." Cinna told us. "I want you to look straight ahead as if the audience and this whole event are beneath you." I smirked.
"Which it is." I said. Cinna handed me a clicker.
"Press this when you're ready. Good luck." I take it and Peeta helps me into the chariot. The chariot begins to take us out to the crowd. Peeta and I glanced at each other before I placed my hand in his. It was like deja vu as we passed the drummers and the crowd. Snow and I connected glances, I raised my chin up in defiance and clicked the button. Our clothes began to burn with fire.
"Calla Lily! Calla Lily! Calla Lily!" The audience began to chant. Peeta and I just stared at Snow as we passed him, his shock written across his face.
"Nice. Way to make friends out there, you two." I rolled my eyes at Haymitch as we hopped down from the chariot. District Eleven Tributes behind him.
"We learned from the best." I retorted.
"I wanna introduce you to some special friends of mine." He motions to the woman. "This is Seeder." Then to the man. "And Chaff." Peeta and I nodded in greeting to them. The man moved froward and kissed me. "From District Eleven." I jolted back in shock. Both Haymitch and Chaff chuckled. "He's very friendly." I turned to Haymitch with a 'Really?' look. "Don't invite him over. He'll drink up your liquor. I'll see you guys soon." Haymitch made way to the elevator. "Let's get some of that makeup off you and talk about these other Tributes."
"These Tributes are insane." I said to him, looking back at Eleven.
"No, not all of 'em. He's a good guy." I just give him another look as we get into the elevator. "Carry on." Haymitch sassed to the Peacekeepers. A woman in a green and black outfit follows us into the elevator.
"You guys look amazing." She said.
"Thank you." I told her.
"My stylist is such an idiot." She turned around and began to undo her hair. "District Seven, lumber. Trees." She takes her bracelets off. "I'd love to put my ax in her face." I shot a look to Haymitch which he just smirks at. "So what do you think? Now that whole world wants to sleep with you?" I flinched back for a moment before turning a glare at her back.
"I don't think that's —" She turns back to me.
"I wasn't talking to you." She sniped. I frown and my glare intensify. She turns to Peeta. "Will you unzip?" She asked him.
"Yeah." He said and unzips her clothes. I watched for a moment in jealous before turning a venomous glare towards Peeta. He just gives me an innocent look before going back to helping Seven. She lets out a sigh and turns back to Peeta. Peeta gives her a smile while she begins to undress herself in front of him. Both Peeta and I look away while Haymitch watches. The doors open on her floor.
"Thanks. Let's do it again sometime." She said as she walked out.
"Thank you." I crossed my arms and glared at the floor. "Johanna Mason, District Seven."
"I don't like her." I told Haymitch, glancing up at him.
"Sweetheart," He started.
"No." I said and walked out of the elevator once it reached our floor. I went straight to my room, changing into pajamas and washing the makeup off. I crawled into bed, falling asleep before my head hits the pillow.
~o~
I jolt awake when someone bangs on my door.
"Rise and shine, sweetheart!" I heard Haymitch yell from out in the hallway. I groan as I roll over onto my back and glare up at the ceiling then the door, 'Smart man.' I hop out of bed and get dress in my training outfit, french braid my hair and head to breakfast.
"Ah! Calla Lily, we're having some of your favorites for breakfast." Effie said as I walked into the dinning room. A Avox placed a plate in front of me once I was seated.
"Thank you." I whispered to her and picking up my fork. I mostly picked at my food then eating, listening to Effie prattle on about this and that. Soon we were rushed off to the training center.
"Remember, Callie, today's about making allies." Peeta told me. Just as we walked in a man started retching. I wrinkled my nose at the sight.
"I'm not overwhelmed by our choices." I said as I looked around.
"I guess we just try to figure out who we trust least and work our way backwards from there." We both look over when a man started grunting. One was throwing knifes together. On the other side of the room, Johanna was swing and slicing her ax around, smirking at me as I passed. Brutus threw a spear that hit both of the holograms at once. Enobaria snarls at me as I stopped to watch her. I turn my head slightly and spot Beetee and Wiress at the fire station. They were obviously trying to build a fire but not having any success yet.
"Friction generates heat." I heard Beetee say as I walked over to them. "Heat generates fire. In theory."
"You should move your hands downwards." I spoke up, they both glance up at me. I do the motion to show them. "And faster, too." I crouch down beside them. He did so and a spark of fire started.
"A little brute force . . ." Wiress started.
"Is always helpful." Beetee finished. I smiled a bit at them. He turns to me. "Thank you." I nod my head.
"By the corner of the table." Beetee and I glance over to were Wiress was staring.
"Plutarch?" I asked her.
"No. Next to him." I look at her confused. There was no one else near him and the table.
"Force field." I hear Beetee say.
"How do you know?" I look back over to the table.
"The shimmering. Top left hand side." I look around for it, still not seeing it. "Look." He moved my head just a bit. "There. You see it?"
"Looks like glass." I whispered.
"To separate us and them." Wiress said.
"My fault, I guess." I look back to them.
"Uh-huh . . . Electromagnetic." Beetee placed his glasses back down.
"How can you tell?" They both start laughing. "Is it obvious?" I asked confused. They continue to chuckle.
"They might as well have a sign." She told me with a smile.
"Look around you. All the holograms, the lights, every now and then they flicker. Why?" Beetee asked me.
"Because the force field is taking up too much energy." I said to him.
"There's always a flaw in the system." He smirked. I nodded and look back to the table, staring at the force field for a few more moments then went to the camouflage station. I took out a small canvas and just painted for the rest of the training day. When the trainers tell us to leave, I pack up the paint and take the wet painting with me. As soon as I got off the elevator with Peeta a jittery Effie met us at the door.
"Something wrong, Effie?" I asked her concern. She looked everywhere but at me, Peeta and I shared a look. "Effie?" I placed my painting on a table beside us.
"Snow sent you an invitation." She muttered and handed me the envelope. I took the envelope from her and read the letter. After I finished reading it, I glanced up at everyone.
"But, my training . . ." I trailed off. He wanted me to entertain some peers of his until early morning. Haymitch walked forward, placing an arm around my shoulders.
"Let's go get you ready, sweetheart." Haymitch walked me to my room and left me in Cinna's care.
~o~
I stood in my spot by the elevator for a few moments after Callie left with Haymitch. I glanced over to the canvas Callie had set down and gently picked it up. My eyes widen a fraction when I saw all of us smiling back at me. Effie came to look over my shoulder to see the painting.
"It's beautiful." She gasped and it was. We all looked so happy, like the Hunger Games didn't exist but Callie wasn't in the picture.
"Yeah." I whispered and walked off to my room, painting in hand. I went over to my easel and put the painting on it for it to dry safely. I sat down on my bed and stared at the picture, skipping dinner. This painting told me everything Callie had going through her mind. Her one main thought was making sure her loved ones were safe and happy. I jolted when the door slide open, I look over to see Callie standing in the door. I frowned in confusion and looked back at the clock. It was four in the morning. Callie walked over and crawled into my bed, I smiled softly at her tense movement and laid down beside her. "Your so beautiful." I whispered to her while brushing some of her butter blonde hair behind her ear. Her eyes began to water and I brought her into my arms, letting her cry her heart out until we both fell into a fitful sleep.
~o~
My head was pounding when I walked into the training area that morning. The lights were too bright and the tributes were too loud.
"Late night, Calla Lily?" I groaned and looked over at Odair leaning against a rack of various weapons.
"Look, I'm not in the mood pretty boy. Go stab some manikins or something." I quipped, rubbing my temples. He scoffed and pulled a trident off the rack.
"At least I had a good morning face." He said under his breath. I shot my head up and glared.
"Oh, of course the great Finnick Odair would because you're the picture of Capitol perfect!" I snapped. "You don't know anything about me so quit pretending that you do!" My voice cracked. I saw something flash behind his sea green eyes but stormed away before I could actually register what it was. I looked around at all of the other Tributes again, trying to pick out more allies to go with Beetee and Wiress. The Career pack was out of the question, as well as, Mason and Odair which left me with Eleven, Ten, Five, Six, Eight, Nine, Mags and the male from Seven. I eliminated all of them but Mags after watching each of them for a few minutes. I walked over to the tool making station where Mags was. I looked at the fishhook she was making, it was a work of art.
"It's beautiful." I said to her. She looked up at me. "I saw you volunteer for that young girl. It was really brave." She shakes her head then points at me. I think she was trying to tell me I was the brave one.
"Thank you." I bit my lip for a moment, then looked at the hook. "Could you teach me how to make that? I could teach you how to hunt in exchange?" She smiled and nodded, I returned her smile.
"Yes, yes." She said and began to teach me how to make a fishhook. After awhile, I took her to the archery station. I placed a quiver of arrows on my back and handed one to her in question.
"Do you want to try with me?" I asked her. She shook her head and pointed at me. Which I think it meant she wanted to see me do it by myself. "Okay." I chuckled. "I'll go first." I put the extra quiver back on the rack and took one of the bows. I walked into the shooting chamber and punch in the training sequence I wanted. I notched my arrow and waited for the hologram to show. I turned to my right, shooting the arrow through the middle of the hologram. Then another up into the left hand corner. I dodged a spear and fired off another arrow and then another. I followed a running hologram until I had a clear shot, I shot another arrow after at a ground one. I ducked and rolled to miss an ax, releasing an arrow. I jumped up and shot off two arrows into a double sword hologram before turning around to shoot an arrow into a hologram with a trident that jumped off the ledge. I lowered my bow when the holograms disappeared and the lights came back on. I looked down at the matt I was standing on, breathing heavily. All of the holograms had weapons that my fellow Tributes favored. I look up when I hear clapping. Everyone turned to look at Wiress weirdly as she clapped for me.