'Wake up' I hear my brother's voice whisper in my ear, but I don't want to, not today. I roll over and pull my pillow over my ears. I do my best to ignore him as he lightly keeps shaking me, his shaking gets harder the longer I ignore him but I refuse to relent in my silence. I wish I could sink back into my mattress and not exist, I wish I could just skip over today and it will be tomorrow and I can go on with my life. My brother always assures me it won't be me but we both know that's not true. The lies help though, but you can only lie to yourself for so long. The Capitol will do anything to cause more drama, to stir the pot. Picking me will do that, cause an outcry, cause a scene. They're going to love that.

'I'm not going to say it again, WAKE UP! Your stylists will be here soon and you need to look perfect..' I still refused to move, "Three, two, one…" I hear him sigh through the pillow, the next thing I know the blankets are being ripped from my body. He wraps his arms around me pulling me from my comfortable bed and dumping me on the floor.

'HEY! WHAT THE HELL FINNICK!' I grumble under my breath, 'I was getting up.'

'Sure you were, now go downstairs and eat. They'll be here soon and like I said you need to look perfect for today.' He folds his arms across his chest and motions towards the door with his head.

'Why do I always have to look perfect? Wasn't it you who said that they're never going to pick me? So by that logic I can look like a slob.'

'It's just in case, but I will never let them take you from me.' He kneels down and wraps his strong arms around me holding me close. I lean my head against his chest and sigh doing my best to hold back the tears, I can tell he was trying to do the same. 'Now downstairs, breakfast, shower, stylists, go.'

I shove him away at this and roll my eyes. I pull myself up from the floor in a huff, stomping towards the stairs of our house in the Victor's Village. I was used to the fuss especially when it came to today, the day of the reaping. I was the angel of the Capitol ever since my brother was in the games. I was allowed to stay in the Capitol for the whole time and I'm the only person who wasn't a mentor or citizen who's ever done that. They only let me because Mags pretended that I was her aid so I didn't have to stay home alone as my parents were dead and my only family was about to be involved in a fight to the death.

I was seven at the time and they thought I was the cutest thing ever, I was constantly interviewed and they even let me sit next to my brother during his interview once he'd won the games. They changed him, he used to be so happy and carefree and now he hardly ever smiles when the cameras aren't around, that's why I'm glad he found Annie, she brought a part of my brother back. He worries now that I'm sixteen that they'll want to put me in the games as it's more exciting when previous victor's family members are selected so it's only a matter of time.

Reaching the kitchen I see that Mags and Annie are already sitting and eating, I slip into my usual seat and Mags pats my cheek clumsily whilst Annie stares blankly into the distance. Even though everyone thought they were crazy I loved them because they were my family and I couldn't live without them. I gulp down my food even though I wasn't really hungry but Finnick would kill me if I didn't eat. He's always talking about keeping your strength up and not knowing when you'll be able to get your next me. I guess I should keep that in mind if I - when I get sent to the games. I was just about finished when I heard the sound of a hover-craft. 'Shit, they're here.'

I leap out of my chair and race to my bedroom, ignoring Finnick telling me off for swearing. I strip at the speed of light and jump in the shower ignoring how freezing the water was, I quickly washed my hair and got cleaned up and was finished by the time I heard a knock on the door and Tatiana's heavy Capitol accent asking if she could come in.

I drape a towel over my wet, naked body before opening the door and letting my three very excited stylists in. 'I have a feeling today's the day my dear.' Cooed Tatiana as she cups my face in her hands, tilting it to see all the different angles. 'It's too bad that we don't get to see you everyday, whenever we aren't here you hide this beautiful face away behind that hair of yours.' As if on cue Georgiano runs his fingers through my damp, bronze hair and tutts.

'It's just so lovely my dear why use it to hide something equally as beautiful when it can be used to make it even more so, hmmm?'

'Can we just get this over with please,' I mumble the words under my breath, I'm not good with people, they make me nervous. Then again a lot of things make me nervous.

'Snippy, snippy. Honey when we're done with you, you're going to look even more fabulous than last year but of course once again your brother has quelled our talent and says the natural look is best so people let's get to work.'

I sit still for at least 2 hours while they make me over, so much pulling and prodding, waxing everything and making sure there wasn't a hair out of place. When they are finished I looked beautiful, I hated looking like this, it made people look at me and I hated when they looked. I preferred to blend into the background, baggy clothes and long hair that fell across my face. But even then it didn't work; Finnick says no amount of dirt can make a diamond blend in amongst the coals. I was wearing a tight-fitting white dress, with a large silver belt that sat high up on my waist just under my breasts. My hair hung loose but my fringe was pinned back framing my face which was covered in make-up, dark eyes and lips as red as blood. High, black heels pinched my feet but I was used to it, it was one of the many things that Finnick made me practice.

'All done my dear, we'll go get your brother so he can check you over.' They left the room and I plop down on my bed next door, I could easily be picked today anybody could. I thought about all the kids in all the districts thinking that this year could be theirs.

The year of the 74th Hunger games.