Chapter 14: Victory Tour II
The Victory Tour fell into a predictable routine. After the evening festivities Eustacia, our escort, would sleep in until noon. Beetee and I worked on sketches for our inventions in the morning. After lunch, I was prepped and dressed for meeting the people in whatever district we were travelling to. "You know, you're more talkative today." The purple stylist said smiling.
"Thanks." I said smiling watching them adjust the shimmery fabric on my dress.
"Isn't the Victory Tour fun?" Lemon gushed.
"I – I suppose." I admitted. "I like talking to the head manufacturers –" I paused as the prep team started powdering my face. "About my inventions."
"Oh dearie – you work so hard!" another member said sighing. "Don't you like the parties at the mayors' houses? District 10 had the loveliest fondue fountain…" I smiled as the prep-team rambled about the different parties.
"Wow." Beetee said as I came out of the prep car. I was wearing a sea-green dress as we were entering District 4. I could hear the sound of the waves against the beach. "You look lovely as always." He said softly taking my hands. Every time he said that, I would blush madly.
"Ok you two! We're nearly at the station!" Eustacia screeched. I also noticed her voice didn't through my head as badly as it did right after the Games. I took Beetee's hand and we walked to the Mayor's house. It had a nice view of the ocean. I stared at it captivated before I went to the front where the Mayor would give his speech to the citizens of his district. I gave my customary speech recognizing the tributes and then including a promise to help the district somehow with my inventions. I always felt sad giving those speeches because two youth from the district had to die for me to stand here. When I walked back to Beetee, he wrapped me in a hug. I could see in his eyes that he knew exactly how I felt.
The beach in the back of the mayor's house was reserved for the victory party. After the mayor congratulated me and I talked with some of the head fishers about possible inventions, Beetee and I excused ourselves to go outside. I kicked off my shoes and waded in the water. "Beetee – look –" I picked up a shiny clam-shell.
"The other half is here." Beetee said spotting another shell a few feet away.
"It's broken." I said pointing to where a part on the wider ridge was chipped away. Beetee put his hand over mine that was holding my shell. We put the shell-halves together.
"It's still beautiful." Beetee whispered. Tears came to my eyes as I realized his double meaning.
"Like you are." I said smiling. "Like – like us." Our hands wrapped around each other, with the clam shells in our grasp as we kissed with the ocean gently splashing around our feet. Eustacia had to call for us several times, but with an opportunity to tell Beetee how much I loved him while he whispered in my ear how much he loved me back made me want to stay in this moment for eternity. We reluctantly pulled apart enough to walk with our arms around each other after a very flustered Eustacia who was trying to keep us on her schedule.
"You two always manage to wander off!" Eustacia chided as the train wound its way to the Capital. "None of that tonight! There are a lot of people that want to see Wiress, and you can't just whisk her away!" She said pointing to Beetee grinning jokingly over lunch the second to final day of the tour.
"Alright." Beetee said good-naturedly. I looked at the two halves of the clam-shells that we had picked up from District 4. I had kept them with me on the train and left them only to attend the evening events. We had to eat quickly and get prepped as the party at the Capital would be quite lavish.
"Into the tub with you!" Lemon squealed. I nodded and gratefully soaked in a flower-scented bubble bath. "We need to scrub all the grime from the Districts off you, you know!" She giggled. I was too tired to scowl at her. I fell asleep in spite of her vigorous scrubbing.
"WAKE UP! OH MY GOODNESS!" A screech caused me to open my eyes and sit up suddenly. I shook Lemon off me and nearly leapt out of the tub. I also realized the train had stopped. We were obviously at the Capital.
"What's wrong - what do you –" I began as the prep-team was running around completely beside themselves. Stay calm. Stay focused. I thought, knowing I had to keep my sensory overload at bay for as long as I could.
"President Snow!" the purple man screeched. "He wants you off the train! This minute! Oh – my goodness – we're not even half done!"
"Just let her come out. She can find something sensible to wear in our room." My knees nearly turned to jelly out of relief to hear Beetee's commanding voice. I wrapped my robe around me before running across the slippery tiles to fall into his arms. He picked me up and slammed the door in the prep-team's sqwaking screeching faces.
"What does he want?" I asked quietly, but not hiding the terror I felt.
"I don't know, hon." He whispered. He tightened his grip around me. "Silly prep-team. I'm sorry they scared you so." I nodded.
"How did you know –" I asked looking at the dress Beetee had laid out on the bed.
"You would think this dress is suitable for the occasion?" He asked. I smiled at him before putting on the simple cream-colored short-sleeved collared dress. I buttoned it up and Beetee tied the sash around my waist. I looked at Beetee in his usual slacks and button-up shirt. I straightened his pocket-protector and collar.
"We could be our own prep-team for each other, you know." I said quietly.
"I wouldn't complain, but our flamboyant crew would say otherwise." Beetee said before we exchanged a quick hug and kiss. "Let's go meet our Commander in Chief." Two peacekeepers escorted us from the train station to the entrance of the Presidential Mansion. We were led into none other than the Oval Office where President Snow was sitting at his desk. He smiled at us over a genuine silver tea-set.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Tesla. Good afternoon - Miss Carpenter." President Snow smiled at us. We slowly walked through the doorway and allowed him to shake our hands. "Please be seated." We sat in the two chairs across from his desk. "I hear you are quite the team when it comes to inventions." President Snow said. "I've captured some of your drawings on film." He smiled at us.
"Thank you, sir." I said.
"I hope it will be a privledge to invent for the Capital, Miss Carpenter." President Snow said smiling again. I was reminded of a predator that would try and lure his prey in by pretending to be harmless. "I daresay – you and Mr. Tesla are an extraordinarly close engineering team." Beetee and I remained silent. I wanted nothing more than to wrap my hand in his, but I kept my hands folded in my lap. "I am honored that Wiress has chosen to be my co-inventor." Beetee said choosing his words carefully.
"Yes, that fact has not escaped me, Mr. and Mrs. Tesla." President Snow said pridefully. "I will let you both fly under the radar, as you know victors are to devote themselves fully to the Capital and the nation of Panem. I expect – since you both have so close of a union, you will produce inventions twice as superior as what would be expected of someone inventing individually. Otherwise – I shall decide how you both will seperately be useful to the Capital." He took a drink of tea and stared at us. "Good day to you both." He said before snapping his fingers to summon the two peacekeepers. They escorted us out of the office wordlessly. My hand found Beetee's, and we walked in silence. I let my mind wander as we were marched down long hallways lined with ornate couches and colorful doors. It was only when we were led to a set of elevators that took us to the basement that I realized something was wrong. We're not following Victory Tour procedures anymore.