Chapter Forty-Nine- Black and Bronze

Gaia arrives at 5 o'clock with a suitcase straining at the seams.

"Lalaney said you needed some help getting ready tonight." She wheels the case into my room and unzips it. "I didn't know what you were going to wear and Lalaney said you might consider some hair extensions, finally!" She shakes her fist triumphantly and starts unpacking a host of small furry animals. Oh wait, no those are the hair extensions.

"I don't want to look like myself," I tell her, sitting down at the dressing table.

"What are you wearing?"

"Black and bronze."

"Can I see?"

"No. Just black and bronze," I say sharply, remembering Cinna's advice. "There's a big hat that covers my left eye. So I don't know if that helps with anything."

"Ok, shush shush. Let's get to work, we haven't got long."

It takes me back to my Tribute days sitting there still and quiet while Gaia tries to find a look for me. She sweeps something violently blue across my brow and then tuts and wipes it all off again.

"Would you like a tattoo?" She holds up a sheet of what looks like scribbles.

"No, no thank you," I reply. "I would like to come back to being me at the end of the night thanks."

"Don't be silly, they're not permanent!" Gaia chides. "They're stencils, I go over them in whatever colour you want and they wash off later."

"Fine. Do it. Just don't ask me what colour."

She places the paper over the side of my face and tickles my temples with a few flicks of a tiny brush.

"A bit of purple on the lips annnnd…." She paints my mouth with a flourish and turns me around to face the mirror.

I'm deathly white, all over my face and down my neck too. My lips are a dark and brooding purple, painted in a heart shape giving me an effortless pout. There's a brush of shadow in the hollow of my cheeks, making my cheekbones look more prominent. More dark purple dust over my brow making it look thicker set. My face looks a completely different shape.

"I don't think you've ever looked less like yourself, Johanna. You look positively decent now," coos my stylist.

"Thanks Gaia," I say sarcastically.

"Oh you're welcome dear. Now finishing touches." She shoves something down over my head and attacks my scalp with pins. It's an enormous curly black wig, which makes my face look tiny in comparison. Gaia pushes my head to one side and clips in a bronze streak.

"There! You said black and bronze!" She claps her hands together. "I'm going to get Lalaney!" I've never seen her so excited.

Lalaney gasps and claps too when she sees me.

"Oh Johanna you look stunning! And oddly like my roommate from college, Marney…"

"Ooh!" Gaia clicks her fingers as if trying to recall something. "Marney…Marney…Marney Bushell!"

"Umm no…" Lalaney frowns and catches my eye.

I stifle a laugh.

"Look I'll see if I can find one of my old yearbooks and show you her picture, Gaia." Lalaney leads the older woman out so that I can get dressed. It's now quarter to six and I have fifteen minutes to get down to the lobby.

I struggle to get the jacket around my shoulders properly. It catches in my hair and I almost lose my temper and leave it behind. Then I think about Cinna's face when he was gathering together these extravagant shoulder puffs, serious and concentrating. I can't leave it behind.

I use more of Gaia's clips to fasten the bow to my head. I hardly need it to hide my face, it's hardly my face anymore.

At five to six I put the scanner into one of my gloves and hold the ID chip in my hand. I totter to the living room in some ridiculous heels borrowed from Lalaney.

Just before I get to the door, I hear my Escorts voice.

"Where's your handbag?" she hisses.

I shrug.

"You've got to have a handbag, every woman has a handbag! Every female person in the whole Capitol will be wondering what you're up to going out without a handbag! Here!" She flings something black and tiny on a thin string at me. It's barely big enough to put the ID chip in! Really what is the point in having a handbag that's too small to put anything in?

I get in the elevator and undo the clutch on the bag. I'm about to put the chip inside when I see a tiny square of paper. It unfolds to the size of my hand. On it is a hand drawn map, the labels say words like 'Entrance', 'Bureau of Distribution', 'Escort Headquarters', 'Population Division'. It's a map of where I need to go! Lalaney Lilac I could kiss you!

The elevator doors open suddenly and someone else gets on so I shove the map back into the bag.

It's Cashmere, probably on her way to relieve her brother from The Hub. I don't think she recognises me.

"Nice hair," she says snidely.

I play Capitol and beam.

"Thank you dear."

We stand in silence until the elevator bings its bell at the lobby and the doors open.

I turn to her before I leave and deliver my killer line,

"Lovely to meet you Mr Abernathy," and quickly get out of there before a laugh bursts out of me. That will have slayed her! Being mistaken for a man, and a well-known drunk too! I wish I could applaud myself!

I look around the lobby to see if anyone looks like they might be waiting for me. I can't say there's anyone wearing an obvious 'I'm part of the rebellion. Ask me how' sign.

I wobble towards the entrance, waiting for a Peacekeeper to stop me and ask me where I'm going. As Victors we are allowed to leave the Training Center, most of us for 'dates' or to go to events in the city, but we always get stopped at the door and quizzed about our intentions. I wouldn't be surprised if someone follows us to make sure.

No one approaches me. It's probably because I look like a regular citizen; they probably think I'm an Escort on my way out for the night. As long as I walk with that busy stride that people seem to use here.

I get out to the street without any fuss and then I run out of ideas. What now? A car was supposed to be here for me at 6. The giant clock above the enormous television screen in the square opposite me reads: 6:06pm. Have I missed my ride?

Uh oh. I'm lingering. An armed Peacekeeper is moving towards me.

"Everything alright Ma'am?" he asks.

"No, no it's not." I try to mimic my old Escort's voice and tone. "I was supposed to be picked up at 6! The car is now six minutes late! Punctuality is something I hold in the highest regard. I have to go back to the Escort Headquarters before I go out tonight, I'm going to be so late!" Hopefully if the Peacekeeper sees fit to follow me, he'll see that I do actually go into the Escort Headquarters building, there's nothing like hiding behind the truth.

"Could I get someone to call you a cab?" he offers.

"Err…" I think about it. If I have missed my ride then a cab would be a good idea. All I'd need to say is 'Escort Headquarters on Diamond Avenue' and it would take me there but I don't have any money with me.

As I ponder my next action an enormous black car with darkened windows pulls up to the sidewalk.

The windows roll down and Cinna's gold-lined eyes look down at me.

"Hello, have you been left behind?" he says cheerfully. "Didn't Effie tell you? The Escort drinks got moved forward an hour."

"Oh…bother!" I fold my arms grumpily.

"Hop in, I'll take you there." He presses a button in the cockpit of the car and the back door nearest me slides open.

"Err I have to go to the Escort Headquarters first." I stare at him and then flick my eyes at the Peacekeeper. "As I was just telling this helpful man. Would that be alright?"

"Sure thing." He tilts his head. "Can you climb up? Or can this helpful man help you up?"

The Peacekeeper almost drops his weapon to put his hands on my ass. He puts it to one side to boost me up into the back of Cinna's monstrous car. He doesn't remove his hands once I'm up there either.

"Thank you, I'm in," I call back to him, trying to resist the Johanna urge to kick him in the face with my sharp heels.

"Shutting the door!" Cinna announces and the door begins to whir closed. The Peacekeeper quickly retracts his arms and stands back, picking up his gun again to resume his watch.

"This car is like a tank!" I exclaim, looking around at the black leather seats that could easily hold at least ten people. "Is that an echo? I'm feeling positively lonely here in the back."

"I could come join you back there if you want Miss Mason?" Cinna says to the rear view mirror.

"That's going to be your second strike if you're not careful," I warn him.

"Yeah, I don't know what that means."

"It's just a game we play in District 7. You get three chances then you're out."

"If you tell me to stop, I'll stop." I see his eyebrow rise in the mirror and I purse my lips.

"I knew it." He smiles. "So why are you heading to Diamond Avenue?"

"You don't know?" I'd already guessed that Cinna knew more than he was letting on but I wasn't sure whether he was officially part of the rebellion or just aware of it like Lalaney.

"No I don't," he says. "They don't like to spread the information around in case someone gets caught, then they can only tell the part of the plan they know."

"You think someone would sell us out like that?" I frown.

"I think the Capitol will make them," he says darkly.

"They won't make me talk," I reply through gritted teeth.

"Yes they will Johanna, everyone will. Just don't get caught."

"Then I won't be telling you what I'm doing. It would be a shame if Katniss didn't have someone to design the dress she wears in her coffin."

Cinna takes a corner perhaps a little too sharply and I slide across the smooth backseat.

"I wouldn't talk about things if you don't know the full story behind them Johanna."

I instantly feel like I've been told off. Whatever the big deal is with this silly girl it seems Cinna's been caught in her orbit as well. He's obviously worried about her, she was still knocked out last time I saw.

We travel in silence for a while, which is a shame because I had enjoyed our flirty banter.

"Thanks for helping me Cinna," I say eventually to break the awkward tension.

"No problem hun. The sooner things change, the better. I can't stand what we've become here in the Capitol."

"Why don't you move to the Districts?" I joke.

"You think they'll have me?"

"I don't know, do you have workers hands?"

"You tell me." He holds out one hand.

I climb into the passenger seat in the front of the car, my wig getting slightly dislodged, and take his hand in my gloved one.

"Too soft." I drop it immediately, a sly smile on my face.

"Too soft? Really?" he exclaims. "I've got the calloused hands of someone who's sewed by hand since the age of six!"

"Talk to me when your hands are blistered and bleeding like my Father's, covered in splinters after a twelve hour shift felling trees by hand."

"I'll get on that as soon as I drop you off then." He winks and the car starts to slow down.

"You're not taking me back as well?" I know I sound exactly how I feel: alarmed.

"No sorry, I'd have to pay Snow for that honour."

I hold up three fingers, "Am I going to have to give you that third strike?"

The car gradually stops on the side of the road opposite a gigantic building that seems to shine burnt orange in the setting sun.

"Wow," I breathe.

"I know," Cinna murmurs next to me.

"How am I going to get back?" I turn back to him desperately. "I can't walk in these shoes!"

He chuckles to himself.

"Get a cab, not from right outside. Walk down the street a little and just stick your arm out. A cab'll come along eventually."

"I don't have any money with me."

Still smiling, he digs into his pants pocket and pulls out an iridescent wallet. He hands me some money, which I tuck into my tiny bag.

"I'll pay you back," I promise, squeezing closed the little clutch.

"Don't worry about it. Just out of interest, according to Snow's price list, what would that much get me?" He's got that mischievous glint in his gold-flecked green eyes.

"It gets you a 'thanks for lending me some money' kiss on the cheek," I laugh.

He shrugs and turns his cheek, pointing out an ideal spot for my kiss.

I roll my eyes and lean forward. Before my lips meet with his stubbly cheek he twists his head back and my kiss lands on his warm lips.

Feigning dismay I pull back and gasp dramatically.

"What? I couldn't help it!" He grins cheekily.

"That's your third strike Mr Stylist! You're out!" I pop open my passenger door and he lunges forwards at me.

"Wait, wait, your hair, your lipstick! I couldn't live with myself if you went out looking like that!"

"It's your fault anyway!" I exclaim, slamming the door again and putting my fingertips to my lips to explore the damage his silly kiss had done.

"Then come here and let me fix it!" He opens a little flap in the dashboard in front of me and pulls out a collection of brushes. A few sweeps and I'm guaranteed that my lips are perfect again. A few stabs into my scalp and my hair is good to go.

Before I get out, he grabs my hand and presses it to his lips.

"See you soon…hopefully," he murmurs, his breath warming the glove against my skin.

I have to escape the vehicle before I melt into a black and bronze puddle on the passenger seat. I try to stride confidently towards the domineering building ahead of me. The mirrored walls remind me of hundreds of glaring eyes watching me, knowing that I don't belong there.