When I wake up, I feel cold, and I reach out to pull Clove closer to me, but I find myself grasping air. Carefully, I open one eye, and find the bed perfectly made on her side. Giving a huff, I roll over to get off the bed, and recieve a heart attack when I see Jayo standing with hands on hips by the bed.
"OH MY GOD," I scream, as I crash onto the floor in shock.
"CATO! We've been waiting to start lunch for 20 minutes! Get down to the dining car now!" Jayo points a finger at the door, so I stretch and yawn before going out the door, with him close on my heels.
Later on, we're in the dining car, eating a light meal of soup and bread. Magix is constantly complimenting the meal, but she doesn't seem to be eating anything. Perrie is eating slowly, and trying to act all posh, while Jayo is practically slurping down the whole bowl. Considering soup only requires a spoon, me and Clove use one hand to eat, and use the other to hold hands under the table, where no one can see.
After Jayo finishes a very noisy meal, he throws his spoon down on the table. "So. Have you guys decided how you want to approach the games, considering you're careers?" He doesn't give us a chance to answer. "Cato, personally I think you should go at it with an arrogant, but deathly if anyone messes with you approach. That will win you sponsers. You girl, now you're face is screaming two words at me- Hostile and Lethal. That's how I want you to play. Now, I've had a look at District 1 tributes. The girl... basically a blonde bimbo. Shouldn't be too hard to eliminate. As for the boy, he doesn't seem very smart, but he's strong. Not quite as strong as you Cato, but strong. The girl is 16, and so is the boy. They both volunteered, so they are both going to be very prepared for this. Don't expect them to be idiots." Clove nods, and I notice how she's avoided eye contact with Perrie for the whole of dinner. She must hate the living guts out of her. All of a sudden, light pours through the window, and Clove drops my hand from under the table and stares at the mirraculous, tall buildings on the sunny skyline. I nudge her arm, and she gasps in amazement.
"Looks like we've been missing out on alot for all this time," she says with a wink, still not taking her eyes off the window.
"Yeah, I guess we have."
I'm waiting in my 'private dressing room' so I can meet my stylist. I've supposedly been pre-styled my by prep team, but the only thing they did is go gaga over my hair and muscles. To be totally honest, I could have done without it, because I have been trying to concentrate on the games lately, and that didn't help. After a while, a young girl of about 17 years walks into the room, in a frilly pink dress, with two spiral bunches, each one accesorised with a big baby pink bow. She reminds me of a doll, or maybe little bow peep- with extra peep.
"Hi," I sigh. "Wheres my sylist, I've waiting for ages-"
"I am your stylist Cato. It's nice to meet you," she says calmly.
"But..." I say with my eyebrows raised. "Aren't you a little young?"
The girl shakes her head at me with a smile. "My name is Mercury-Angel. I already know yours." I can't help but laugh a little. Mercury-Angel? What kind of name is that? I laugh in my head at all the wierd names back home- Knight, Glitzy, Merco, Robo, Diamond... it just goes on and on, doesn't it? But Mercury-Angel... what on earth is that? Capitol names must be even wierder than 2- I mean Magix? Really?
"So Cato, you're costume has already been determined- if you'd like to follow me and we can get you ready." Mercury-Angel leads me to a small walk in closet, and hands me a golden gladiator outfit. She walks out of the room so I can get it on, and when I'm ready she adds a wierd powder to my face and a creamy thing, before using a gel to spike up my hair. Finally, she looks my up and down and says "I think you're ready."
When we're waiting by our horse and cart, I watch Clove, who is thankfully wearing the same thing as me, storm up to me in a huff.
"Whoa, what's up with you?" I add a laugh and a smile, but she still looks annoyed.
'My stylist, Hanna. I walked right into the room, and she looked at me in disgust and said 'Wow! Aren't you a piece of work! For the last few years, we've had all the already naturally pretty girls, the easy ones! I'm sure glad I've got some real work to do!'" Clove tries to replicate Hannas voice by speaking like a drunk chipmunk. I laugh a little, but I feel shameful, because I was only laughing at the chipmunk voice, when she's really hurt.
"Come on Clove, she was just messing with you. Im fact, just about every one is; first Perrie, now Hanna!" I say reasurringly.
"They weren't just messing, she hisses dangerously.
"Clove come on. You're beautiful, and you and I know it."
"You know, I think it's only you in the world who knows it Cato," she says emotionlessly. I open my mouth to say something, but Hanna comes and rushes us into the cart.
"Heads high, wave a little. You'll be fine." And with one pat on the back from Mercury-Angel, we're off. Clove and me stand tall in the cart, and once we're out in view of the freakish Capitol citizens, we wave without a smile at each side. After we're about half way there, everyone starts cheering like mad. Clove looks at me and I look at her. I look back, and it's clear all the other tributes are confused too. We all look back, and are shocked to see the District 12 tributes in a black suit thats been lit on FIRE, and they're holding hands, while holding them up in the air. I watch as the girl is tossed an actual red rose, and she sniffs in and blows a kiss. Clove scowls at her, bur I'm still staring in disbelief. The District 12's... have litterally taken all the attention away from us and stolen it all for themselves. Clove shakes her head and keeps staring, but I ignore them and keep looking forward, hoping it will be over soon.