Chapter Fifty-One; Chaos with a Capitol C

(Stephanie's POV)

They were seated in front of the TV screen much as they had been for watching the past Hunger Games, only there were a few added to their company.

Alba sat beside Frenkin, alternating between practically bouncing up and down on his seat in excited anticipation and murmuring reassurances to Frenkin, who was trying to discreetly edge away from Alba the whole time.

Frenkin's other three stylists; Tess, El & Mirr were chatting giddily with Bright, Lashes and Silver. They seemed more excited about the possibility that they might have a few camera shots than anything else.

Ficen, cold and severe as ever, sat stiffly with her eyes trained on the TV screen. Although she appeared to be engrossed in the droning Capitol report, her gaze was unfocused as she listened intently to the buzzing conversations in the room.

Isa had managed this time to rustle up a big bowl of popcorn that sat perched on her knees while she munched contentedly, waiting impatiently.

Stephanie fidgeted on the sofa, trying to appear careless but looking a nervous wreck all the same.

Haymitch dropped down beside Stephanie, startling her and she shot him a glare which he ignored.

Isa hushed everyone noisily and the stylists rushed to grab seats, waiting eagerly.

"Ladies first," Haymitch said.

"No," Stephanie practically growled. "Frenkin's."

Haymitch looked at her with a bored expression. "You are going to have to watch it eventually," he told her while Ficen rolled her eyes, the faintest ghost of a smirk on the stylist's lips.

Stephanie frowned. She knew she was only delaying the inevitable. But hell, she was going to delay it for as long as possible! She thought, folding her arms stubbornly.

With a resigned sigh Haymitch conceded and Frenkin's video began to play.

A smile tugged at Stephanie's lips as she watched Frenkin at his dinner date. It was clear he was overwhelmed as he glanced about him, blushing furiously but still appearing so very serious.

It was obvious from the outset what angle they were going for in Frenkin's; innocent and childlike. There were a hundred shots that ended with stills of Frenkin with either a look of bewilderment or adorable confusion on his small face, then zooming in to his wide, blue, bespeckled eyes. Stephanie grinded her teeth together, digging her nails into the leather sofa beneath her as she felt disgust and hated brew a potent mix in her.

She also watched with growing dread how the shopping at the boutique was supposed to have gone, unlike her disastrous trip.

At the end of the video Flickerman appeared dressed in gaudy colours and with a sparkling, white smile in his interview chair. He addressed the camera and began to speak.

"Well ladies and gentlemen, that was District 3's Frenkin Handalriss. Such a serious boy! Maybe he will give us a smile in his interview tomorrow and some of that charm. However next, is something I think we have all been a little eager for, and you'll see why in a moment…its District 3's female tribute, Stephanie Trindlesworth!"

Flickerman laughed, flashing his perfect teeth at the cameras while the invisible crowds cheered in enthusiasm.

And then Stephanie's video played.

…

"Sweetheart…take a deep breath." Haymitch's voice broke through Stephanie's stunned silence as her video ended.

"Stephanie pet, I had no idea you were so…scandalous! You have been keeping so much from us!" Isa cried, trying to appear upset but evidently buzzing with excitement.

"Bu...but that's not me. I mean it is me…but it's not true!" Stephanie tried to defend childishly. Her tongue felt as though it had gone to cotton in her mouth as her words stumbled over one another.

There were a series of high-pitched laughs as both teams of stylists exchanged furious whispers, with not so discreet glances in her direction.

Stephanie had thought that the Capitol would try to string together the best shots of her; the few good parts, avoiding little discrepancies like missed hours at parties and expensive necklaces at boutiques, while providing viable excuses covering for her missed interview.

But it seemed their angle for Stephanie was to embrace the chaos!

It had started showing her Reaping and Chariot ride as Frenkin's had, Flickerman's voice commenting on the stylist's choice of outfits and calling her "innocent, sweet Stephanie."

Then onto the screen exploded herself at the boutique right at the moment when the rumour of her 'two lovers' had begun, and she had been trying to angrily defend herself.

Then the real chaos began. There was a blitz of images, all of Stephanie either on the verge of collapse or generally sick looking. There was even one of Stephanie coming back from the disastrous meeting with Seneca at the photo-shoot with blood staining her neck. It looked like it had been gleaned from security footage.

Stephanie had almost felt like fainting all over again as she caught glimpses of herself being carried out, unconscious and with blood pulsing from the gash on her forehead to the car after the crowd hounding at the boutique. Flickerman hinted at a lover's quarrel and then it cut to the necklace giving at the boutique.

And the questions kept threading their way throughout; Who is her Capitol lover? Who is her District lover?

It cut to the dinner date and Flickerman hinted that it might be Dess and then Stephanie had to really constrain herself that time. However the next scene was the party and it pointedly showed Dess there and then went on to show her absence.

Flickerman's voice continued… "Where was our Miss Trindlesworth? Where had she disappeared to? Or rather to who had she disappeared to?"

Bright, Lashes and Silver had given delighted squeals as they appeared on the screen being interviewed. Stephanie noted that they were most helpful in describing everything they knew about the necklace incident. Stephanie couldn't contain the curse that escaped her lips as Bright held up the necklace and the cameras zoomed in on it. She turned to currently look at the three stylists gob-smacked. Little, betraying airheads! But they were too engrossed to notice or pay much attention to Stephanie, who was slowly turning a very sickly colour.

The video closed with Flickerman promising the cheering crowds that he would get some answers from her at her interview tomorrow.

Stephanie's breaths were coming out in little spurts and her hands were trembling, though from rage or shock she wasn't sure.

Isa's bright, green eyes were sparkling with mirth as she practically demanded answers, when Stephanie vaulted from the room, her vision already swimming before her and a nauseous feeling overwhelming her.

Tears were gathering in her eyes, pricking stubbornly at the corners but she pushed them back as she staggered down the hall.

She felt angry and humiliated. They had made her out to be something she wasn't. Storming into her room and flinging herself prone onto her bed she hid her face in her hands, flushed scarlet with embarrassment, thinking of her family watching it back home and people from her District. What would they think of her? Her family would know it wasn't true. But would others? And what did she care? She was going to die soon, what did it matter? But in the end, she didn't want that to be how people remembered her.

Stephanie could only hear the blood pounding in her ears, her chest heaving with frustrated cries.

So Stephanie was a little startled when she felt the bed next to her welcome a new weight.

She turned ready to fling herself into Haymitch's arms but it wasn't Haymitch, nor was it Frenkin, who was her second guess.

Bright, green eyes looked at her sympathetically. The sobs caught in Stephanie's throat as she sat up, hastily scrubbing at her face.

Isa waited a few moments.

"Oh pet, it really isn't that bad. You got noticed – that's good! I snuck a few quick previews of the other tributes and none of their videos is like yours!" Isa beamed happily, giving Stephanie's hand a little pat.

Stephanie groaned inwardly at Isa's words. Despite Isa meaning them as words of comfort, Stephanie couldn't imagine anything worse. She was going to stick out like a sore thumb.

"Isa, is there any way to amend the videos before they're released or shown publically?" Stephanie pleaded hopefully.

Isa frowned a little. "No pet. They have already been released."

Stephanie dropped her head into her hands with a muttered curse.

"Oh pet really! I promise you it's good. Out of all my tributes you have been the most exciting," Isa whispered conspiratorially. "My Little Isa loves you. All her friends are jealous because her mammy is a District escort," Isa added thoughtfully.

Stephanie sat up, glancing at Isa curiously.

"Little Isa?" Stephanie inquired.

Isa nodded vigorously, whipping out her phone and with a few taps of her claws she turned and shoved the thing impatiently under Stephanie's nose.

Stephanie steadied the object, throwing a bewildered look at Isa before glancing down at the small screen.

Immediately Stephanie features softened and her lips formed a small 'oh' of surprise.

It was Isa. The wig on her head was surprisingly normal in shape despite the bright orange colour. She was pointing at the camera, nails as long as ever, and even from the distance her bright green eyes were still startling. But it was a smaller pair of eyes, just as greener as green as Isa's, that held Stephanie's attention. In Isa's arms was a little girl with high, dark pigtails, a wide, bright smile; a few crooked teeth betraying how she hadn't yet been modified to Capitol standards. Her small arms were flung lovingly around Isa's neck.

Stephanie stared at her. She looked so…normal? Granted the girl was wearing a dress of so many colours and sparkles it almost hurt to look at but…she was innocent.

"My Little Isa," Isa repeated.

"She's your daughter?" Stephanie asked for confirmation.

Isa nodded, smiling brightly as Stephanie returned the phone to her. Isa glanced at the picture, smiling fondly to herself before she returned it to her pocket.

"She just turned seven and she is a complete doll!" Isa exclaimed.

Stephanie couldn't help but smile.

"She looks a lot like you," Stephanie commented.

Isa gave a delighted little squeal. "I always thought so too," Isa agreed, "That's why I named her Isa."

Stephanie couldn't help but laugh and when she looked at Isa she paused for a moment.

Isa; Escort for District 3, Capitolite...Mother?

"Thanks Isa," Stephanie said earnestly.

Isa smiled. "Now, now, don't thank me just yet. We still have so much work to do missy! Now hurry and fix your face up pet, so we can prepare for the interview." Isa gave her hand one last reassuring pat before skipping from the room.

Stephanie stared after her, not quite sure what to think.

Isa seemed so much more…human, and not the different Capitol species she had viewed her as earlier.

But in the same thought there was a bitterness that Little Isa would grow up safe without the fear of the Games hanging over her head. While Little Eldi back home would fear each year for her life and then for the life of any of her siblings that would follow, scraping and sacrificing just to survive.

Stephanie sighed resignedly. The lines that divided the Capitol people from the District seemed insurmountable at that moment.