Chapter Fifty-Four; Storm

(Stephanie's POV)

The styling had of course gone on for hours, so much so that Stephanie had fainted. However for once, it had been because of a lack of sustenance rather than from nerves, though they were in abundance also.

Stephanie reluctantly swallowed down the bowl of food they had brought her and washed it down with a glass of something that was far too sweet.

However it allowed her to stand through the rest of the styling. Ficen had picked a halter neck, green, silk dress for Stephanie that fitted tightly until her knees where it flared out and trailed behind her. It took Stephanie at least a half hour to master walking in the gold heels without falling over the dress' train. Stephanie suspected Ficen had picked it purposefully, but she was too worried about other things to try and argue with her.

The car ride to the destination where the interviewing would be taking place was a mixed one.

On one hand there was Stephanie, Frenkin and Haymitch sitting tense and silent, and then there was Isa, Alba and the rest of the stylists who were giddy and excited. Ficen seemed to be thoroughly bored, offering only minimal input.

The car ride wasn't that long thankfully, or what felt like no time at all to Stephanie and Frenkin.

The car door was opened and even though they had been warned for it, the sudden onslaught of camera flashes almost had Stephanie fainting. Haymitch got out first while the stylists and Isa jumped out eagerly from the other side.

Haymitch leaned in, holding out his hand for Stephanie. She took it, giving it a grateful squeeze and trying to draw as much strength from the gesture as possible.

As soon as she stepped outside from the safety of the car, the Capitol media storm hit her. She tried to stand as close to Haymitch as possible. A few yards ahead, Bright, Lashes, Silver, Isa, Alba, Tess, El & Mirr stood basking in the media glory. Ficen was there too, though she stood out as aloof, looking down at the photographers with contempt.

Stephanie had never felt so small in her life. She really did feel like she had been caught in a storm.

The photographers and reporters beat against the guards, raining down questions at her and Frenkin. She tried to ignore them as per Haymitch's instructions as they made their way forwards. The noise was deafening like thunder and all around her the camera flashes were like lightening that struck out unexpected and blinding. Stephanie tried to keep a pleasant smile on her face but she had an inkling suspicion it looked more like a grimace. She felt the only two things keeping her secured to the ground were Haymitch's hand on the small of her back guiding her and Frenkin's hand clinging to hers.

After a moment or two of posing for photos they finally moved on and disappeared behind huge doors that shut automatically behind them.

Before them fluorescent lights lit a cold, white staircase that led down. They descended it and followed another long corridor that split into two at the end.

Stephanie swallowed as she recognised the now familiar registering station.

"Haymitch." His name had slipped from between her lips before she could stop it.

He glanced at her, slipping his hand from the small of her back to grasp her hand tightly for a moment.

They reached the end of the corridor.

"Tributes to the right, all others to the left." The woman in Capitol uniform instructed in a monotone.

Isa clapped giddily, rushing over to Stephanie and Frenkin and speaking so fast it was impossible to understand her. From the few words Stephanie managed to glean from the onslaught, it seemed like advice or words of encouragement. Isa dabbed at her eyes, overcome with emotion after a few moments that her 'little pets' were getting ready for their first big interview.

If Isa was emotional then Alba was downright hysterical. He fixed Frenkin's collar once more and then broke down, only to be ushered down the corridor by Frenkin's three stylists who all wished them luck.

Bright, Lashes and Silver seemed to have forgotten that things had been a little distant between themselves and their tribute recently and Bright even went so far as to throw her arms around Stephanie for a brief moment.

Ficen of course was not so sentimental. She checked Stephanie's dress was in order and then without a word turned left followed by Bright, Lashes and Silver.

Isa waited as Haymitch gave last words of advice.

Checking to make sure Alba was out of sight, Haymitch ruffled Frenkin's hair. "You'll be alright kid, just remember what we practiced," he reassured. Frenkin blushed a little, pushing his glasses up on his nose and nodded, promising that he would.

Next Haymitch turned to Stephanie. He met her eyes, his hand brushing against hers for the briefest of moments. There was little they could express here with Isa and the Capitol guards standing watch.

"Remember what I said," Haymitch's words were nothing but a quiet murmur. Stephanie nodded, breathing in shakily.

"I remember," she promised.

"Then you have nothing to worry about," he replied.

She smiled at him then and nodded.

The Capitol official behind them cleared her throat pointedly and with reluctance Haymitch turned left with Isa.

Stephanie and Frenkin were registered in the usual way with a prick of their finger before they moved on down the corridor to the right escorted by a Capitol guard.

Stephanie gripped Frenkin's hand almost painfully as they followed the guard dutifully, their steps echoing off the walls.

Finally they reached another door and the guard opened it, standing to the side to let them pass.

When they entered the room, it seemed to be a waiting room of some sort. On one side there were huge windows that stood wide open. However they were far too high up in the wall to pose any risk of escape. And besides, as expected, the room had guards stationed in it, standing silently at the two doors and around the perimeter of the room.

Through the open windows Stephanie could still hear the media storm raging outside, highlighted even more so by the silence that had suddenly fallen over the occupants in the room as Stephanie and Frenkin entered.

Stephanie felt her stomach flip nervously; her palms go sweaty and her mouth dry. She tried to steady her nerves, knowing that this was definitely not a time to faint, if ever there was one.

She vaguely recognised their faces as they stared at her and Frenkin unashamedly, sizing them up. And from the look of smugness and even hints of relief in their faces, Stephanie knew what they saw. Stephanie and Frenkin were nothing to them and the look terrified Stephanie more than if they had of looked interested. But they hadn't. Barely a look and they had already set Stephanie and Frenkin aside as unimportant and nothing to worry about.

It was the tributes from District's 1 & 2: The Careers.