Adron.
I felt ridiculous. Honestly, if they had wanted to make me look more stupid, they couldn't have done any better. Their theme was ok- I guess- but an ancient solider uniform? For a male doll? I supposed I had better be grateful they hadn't put me in a dress. I had been kind of counting on Jolissa's support to make me feel better, but her patronizing smile had done nothing. I already felt stupid- did she really have to laugh at me as well?
I had thought the train ride- and oh, yeah, the fact that we were going to die in a few days- (well I might not) might have changed her and stopped her making me feel stupid. Last night, when we had agreed to work together, I had got the illusion that she actually cared about me as a person- not just a stupid dummy who didn't know about anything. But, apparently, not. I stared down at her coldly, and saw her face fall. Oops. Was she being genuine? Oh, well. Not much I could do about that now. She'd have to live with it. Besides, the chances that she was actually being friendly to me were slim.
We waited around for about an hour, me very conscious of the new haircut I had been given- I look like a dork with short hair- and then we were ushered down to our chariots. Rayon was by our chariot, standing next to the dappled gray and white ponies of District 8, and he gave us a thumbs up.
"My, my don't you too look grumpy?" He asked, jokingly. He received glares from both of us.
"Ok, ok, geez. Well, you better at least look happy for the crowd- may I mention that these costumes are some of the best we've had in years. This is your chance to rope in some sponsors, and no-one's going to sponsor you if you look like-" Then he said something extremely rude.
Jolissa stared at him, and then burst out laughing. I chuckled, too- I had never expected Rayon to come up with something so crude.
He smiled at us.
"You ok now? " He said.
Jolissa nodded, and I gave him a half-smile.
"Ok." He backed off.
I wanted to look around, and get a glimpse of the threats I had seen. I managed to see the short boy from District 1- dressed up in lavish robes and with a huge crown on his head. The girl was dressed like a queen, and I supposed that was the theme for their district this year- royalty. It sure beat being a stupid doll.
"You don't have to be so mean to me, you know." Said Jolissa. She sounded hurt.
I snorted, not looking at her and still scanning the trickle of people making their way into the room.
"Well, you know I wouldn't if you weren't making fun of me all the time." I told her.
She grabbed my arm. I turned to look at her annoyed, but she didn't look angry, as she usually did
"Adron, I wasn't making fun of you! I was smiling with you, not at you! I'm on your team, now, remember?"
I stared at her, trying to see if she was lying, but before I could respond, the gates at the front flew open, and there was a flurry of voices and feet, hurrying to reach their carriages in time. I looked away from Jolissa- I hadn't managed to see any of the other threats- but it was already too late. The victor and stylists were backing off, and the white horses of District one was trotting out into the street to loud cheers. I suddenly realized we were about to head out into a crowd of people, all looking at us, staring at us and I became more conscious of how stupid my costume looked. I put on a smile, though, and saw Jolissa doing the same.
Her eyes were huge under the eyeliner, and I could see she looked terrified. Under her golden make-up I could make out she was paling, and might be in danger of hurling. I caught her eye and smiled more, and she nodded. Seven carriages had to go before us, but it seemed like no time at all before our horses were trotting forward into the crowd beyond. Then, I was being blinded by the bright lights, deafened by the cheer of the crowd; it was all I could do to keep in place and hold my smile. My eyes adjusted, and I looked up at a big screen to see me and Jo. I suddenly realized how stiff we looked, how awkward. No-one was going to sponsor us like this. I forced myself to relax, my smile to turn easier, less forced, and stood up straight.
I nudged Jolissa with my foot, and hoped she got the message, but I couldn't see, because now the cameras were on District 9's tributes- a lanky ginger boy and a tall, brown-haired girl that look like Nera and Jolissa.
They were wearing golden dresses and suits with grain crowns and belts. Their costume was sloppily made, though. I suddenly realized how lucky we were.
Yes, our costumes were stupid, but they were neat, and actually, Jolissa looked quite pretty in hers. I wondered if I actually looked at silly as I felt. I decided to pretend I didn't and started waving causally at the crowd. I looked at some of the faces- near the front were children, peering through the blockades or sitting on top of parents' shoulders. Their tiny faces shone with light, excitement and wonder as they stared up at the tributes. My stomach turned as I realized these kids would never know the fear and stress of wondering if they were going to be picked for the games. I tried to imagine a life like that- a life with easy food, no hard labor, and no chance of going in the Games. The idea was alien; if it was true, then these kids lived without a huge burden that I hadn't even realized the District kids had until this point.
I reminded myself to keep it genuine, and I grinned at the little kids. They gazed up as me in wonder, amazed that I was catching their eyes, and smiled and shrieked and tugged on their parents' clothes, pointing at me. Some of them shrank back. I looked further into the crowd, trying to discern faces, ages, types. There were so many strange styles, I felt like I was looking into a child's picture book, one where they have the strange, friendly monsters that help the kids out. Except these monsters were going to happily watch me die. I couldn't help wondering who the sponsors were in the crowd, so I beam my smile in every direction I could reach.
I notice a group of girls pointing at me and giggling, and I wink at one of them, who shrieks and gets enfolded by her friends as she collapses. In my head I cringe. Ugh. Those kinds of girls never failed to annoy me- it seemed they had the same type as they did in District 8. Some parts of humanity never change. Their reaction encourages me about my appearance, though- maybe I don't actually look dumb- not to the capitol people anyway. I glance at Jolissa- she's watching me with amusement, and at my glance, turns to the crowd on her side and starts waving to them, too. The screen switches back to us- it seems to be switching on and off certain contestants, and I lift my arms up, hands clasped together in a victory signal. Flowers are being thrown from the crowd; and my signal, more come our way. One gets caught on Jolissa's curls, and I pick it off, holding it up to the air as a silent offering. We don't hold the spotlight for long- but long enough. Everyone knows the Jade twins that were picked- now they know our district, and that I have confidence.
We enter into the main Capitol square, where the rich reside, and press up to the presidents' mansion for a second before we take our places eighth along the line of chariots all lined up around the square. I continue to smile and wave as the rest of the chariots pull up. I take a long look at the District 11 girl I had noticed in the reaping; her face was hard and there was a grim determination on it. I admired her technique- the determination her face showed was to be admired, and would not be missed by potential sponsors.
We stare up at the president as he takes the balcony overlooking the square- Star is a short, fat, burly man who has small eyes and a cruel, fat smile. He's looking down at all of us as though deciding which meat to pick and eat- even besides that he reminds me of our town butcher in more ways than one. The District 12 chariot pulls up beside the 11, and the music dies down. Star welcomes up all, and as usual, the camera pans in on each and every one of our faces. I study the tributes- and when we show up, I am surprised to see we share a shot, instead of the usual individuals. I suppose this is because we are twins, but it annoys me that we were sticking out so much as a team. The anthem begins to play, and the chariots begin moving again, doing one full sweep of the town square before turning into the gates of the training center.
