Trigger warning: some more misogynistic comments and body-shaming in this chapter because as we know, Diamond's a dick.

Oh I'm just a girl

Living in captivity

Your rule of thumb

Make me worry some

Oh I'm just a girl

What's my destiny?

"Do I have to be in front of some many people?" I ask Rhiannon. It's lunchtime and I've got several hours before my interview tonight. I won't lie; it makes me nervous. I hate standing in front of crowds, even if it will only be for a few minutes. What the hell do I say up there!?

Rhiannon takes a small bite of her egg salad sandwich. "I know it sounds overwhelming, hun. But don't worry! You'll be great. And if you don't know where to be look, I'll be with Cheyenne in the very front. You can stare at me the whole time if you'd like. Will that help?"
"A little."

"Now, finish your lunch. The stylists will be up here in an hour to start getting you ready, if you want to eat something quick first."
"I don't think I can eat anything else right now," I admit. my stomach is a mixture of nerves and nausea. Plus, lunch was very filling. "Is it going to be just my prep team?"
"Your stylist and your prep team. They're all responsible for making you look your best tonight."

Great. I really don't want to put up with Diamond before my interview. He rarely shows up here, which works for me, but he I do see him sitting on the couch, I do my best to hide out in my room until I know he's gone. What does he have to say about me this time?

Cheyenne waits with me after lunch. She then quizzes me on what stations I visited during training, why I have no allies, and what my strategy will be come the Games. She doesn't seem impressed with most of the info I give her; I want to gently remind her that I am not Whyllis Shears, but pissing off my mentor is probably a terrible idea.

There's a knock on the door. "Helloooooo! Prep team!"
Cheyenne welcomes them inside. "I'll leave you to it," she says curtly before walking off. My prep team leads me into the elevator. One of them, the woman with curly black locks, plays with my boring brown hair. "I love your highlights; they're so red! Are they natural?"

"I think so?"
"Fabulous! We absolutely must do something with them! Do you hear me girls?"
The others nod. I feel a sudden warmth in my cheeks.

The beauty process is much easier than last time, because they've already waxed off all my body hair. Instead, they shower me with sweet-smelling washes, and wrap me up in a robe, before fetching two bags that probably have clothes inside them. The woman with the green buzz cut and purple eyes introduces herself as Kanaya and hols out the bags to me. "Diamond had a specific theme in mind, but we also made a second outfit, just in case. Would you like to see them?"

Kanaya opens up Diamond's choice first to reveal a sparkly gold dress. There's no straps or anything, which makes me wonder how it will stay on. I suppose it looks nice, but it's short. Very short. I self-consciously tug at the end of my robe. How much of me is this supposed to cover?
"Does it have to be so short?" I mumble.
"You don't like it?"

I just shrug as Kanaya unzips the second bag. "Well, maybe you'll like this one better."

The second dress is almost floor-length and a bight green. It comes with a slightly darker sash wrapped around the waist and a matching headband sitting on the hanger. Thick sleeves have been used to keep it on the hanger, which might stretch to cover most of my shoulders. It's simple, very simple. But for some strange reason that I can't explain, it just resonates with me more. It's my kind of style.

"Do you like it?" my prep team asks me.
"I love it! Green's my favourite colour!"
Kanaya chuckles. "Mine too."

My prep team quickly helps me into the dress and zip it up behind my back. As the girl with black hair adjusts my headband, Kanaya does my makeup. She adds a light touch of concealer (which makes me sneeze), some pink lip gloss, and dark green eyes shadow. I have a nice pair of dark green flats on my feet, rather than Diamond's request of ridiculously tall heels. They pinch a little, but Kanaya tells me to just relax and suddenly, I don't feel them at all.

As I admire my reflection in the mirror, I feel someone grab at my arm. "What's all this!? Why is she wearing this!?"
I try to pull back, but Diamond's grip is just too strong. "You insufferable girls! I said gold! GOLD! She's got no kind of body to be wearing something like this!"

"She didn't like the height of your dress, Diamond," Kanaya says in a surprisingly calm voice. "I told you, we shouldn't have taken as much of the bottom as we-"
"What makes you think you know how to dress a lady better than me? I'm the stylist here! And you! We better get you of this rag now! God, just staring at you makes my eyes hurt. Women around here have so sense of judgement. Do I have to babysit you all the time?"

I shake my head, blinking back tears. I don't want to cry and ruin all the lovely makeup Kanaya has done for me. Or take off the dress. Or be anywhere near Diamond.

Suddenly, Whyllis is standing in the doorway. "What the hell, guys!? I can hear you from across the hall!"
Diamond scoffs. "What the hell are you wearing, boy?"
"Well, today's a feminine day and I don't feel like shoving my ass in a suit. You got a problem with that? Or do I need to beat it into your head?"

My prep talk just smirks while Diamond looks taken aback. "How dare you! Do you know who I am!? Now I have to fix both of your outfits! This is what happens when you hire stupid little girls for an art like fashion. Nothing ever gets done right."

Whyllis purses her lips together; I notice they're a shiny black. "Alright, I've seen enough here. Come on VR, let's go."

She takes my hand and pulls me out into the hall. I finally take in Whyllis's outfit. She has on a sleek black jumpsuit with thick heels underneath. Her arms are completely bare, most of the fabric stopping the top of her chest. Unlike mine, there's no accessories in sight. Her long blonde hair has been curled again, falling in waves down her back. I notice her eye shadow is also very dark and her cheeks are redder than usual, probably from the blush she has on.

"I like your clothes..."
Whyllis doesn't respond, but rather than scowl at me like she's done for the past few days, she just gives me a look. Either of sympathy or pity.

"Don't take this the wrong way, okay? That doesn't make us friends."
Of course. I rub at the new bruise forming on my arm. "Right...I'll stay out of your way."

"You better," Whyllis huffs. She stalks off, heels clacking loudly against the floor. I awkwardly follow after her, because there's nowhere else for me to go.

There's a small room with some food set out for us to eat. But I'm so nervous that I can barely take a glass with water, without fear of spilling it all over my dress. Right, I can do this. That's what Rhiannon said, right? And I feel so pretty in this dress; am I really letting it go to waste? No. It took confidence for my prep team to stand up to Diamond so I need to be confident going out there.

I take a look at my reflection in the floor-length mirror one last time. I am ready. I can do this.

I want to be the strong-willed girl my prep team has made me out to be.

A bit of a filler chapter with not a lot going on, since the next one, which will feature all the interviews, will definitely be a long and detailed one. But I'm excited to describe all the pretty dresses and outfits! What do you think of VR's and Whyllis's outfits?

Hope you're all excited for the next chapter!

-Vr