I look at the elegant mirror before me. My stylist, Maple, has made me look fabulous.
My dark brown hair hangs in loose, wavy curls, finishing at my waist. My headdress is marvellous; it is a thin, silver band going over my forehead and ending in a plait at the back, spiralling in the waterfall of hair. It is studded with shimmering, silver gems, forming a pattern, small beads at the front, and larger crystal-like things at the back. If I wore my headdress alone, you'd think I came from District 1. But as you get to my outfit, you begins to understand the concept.
My dress is a skin-tight silver, one-strapped attire. It fits perfectly at the top, but the area around my ankles flows like water. It is covered with so much glitter, that when I move even slightly, a small cloud of the stuff forms.
My outfit represents our main export. Power.
My partner, Sam, looks equally amazing. He walks into the room, straightening his tie. His suit is gold, like the wire we use, and his hair is sprayed silver.
"Not bad." He says coldly to me.
"Why?" I ask, my eyes fixed on a small dent in the marble ceiling.
"You now actually have something to get sponsored for."
"That being?" I question, turning to him. I'm beginning to not like him. He's more arrogant than district one.
"Looks. At first, you were just the small, hidden thirteen year old girl from 5. Now you are gonna be the glittering, power volt."
"Hey! Look at yourself. You're in a glittering gold suit, about to parade in the Capitol, with me. If you want sponsors, then you're gonna have to be likeable."
I stalk of without another word. I see Pixi waiting at our chariot. It has two beautiful, sheer-coated chestnut horses.
"Pixi, what do I do on the parade?" It's a question that has been bugging me.
"Smile. Wave. If flowers get thrown, accept them, maybe send a kiss to the thrower? But also, act sweet. You are the youngest tribute. If you make a good impression, they're going to feel sorry for you in the arena, and send you gifts."
"I have one small problem. Sam."
"Smile and nod to him, like you're a good team. Now come on, dear. Into the chariot."
She helps me into the chariot, as I am still unsure about wearing high-heeled shoes. Sam soon joins.
The anthem of Panem begins. Slowly, each chariot sails into the parade. We'll watch a rerun later. When our chariot comes through, I beam at the crowd. I wave to the onlookers, sending a cloud of glitter spinning around me. The crowd roars, and I receive a bunch of roses, red, blue, pink. I wave in thanks in the direction of the thrower. I remember what Pixi said and blow a kiss to the camera, like I'm sending love to my District. I look over to Sam, who is waving at a group of official-looking Capitol men. I nudge his foot slightly with the heel of my shoe. He looks at me and hoists me up in the air. He sits me on one shoulder. I see my face in the screen and see how elegant I look. We are being showered with flowers, petals, glitter from my dress, and even small, circular, pink pieces of paper. We both mouth "Thank You!" To the crown, earning a gasp of admiration.
Sam puts me down, smiling widely. But his eyes tell me:
"It's an act. In a few days, we'll be fighting to the death."
I don't care.
IOI
As the chariots come to a halt back were me started, several districts come to us.
"Hi. Flicker, isn't it?" Asks the girl from 3.
"Yeah, I like your costume. Your stylist must be creative."
The girl is dressed from head to toe in bronze. The dress is loose and covered in curls of metal. Wire.
"I'm Enya."
"Nice. I have to go. My escort wants me to view the rerun. See you in training?"
She nods her head.
IOI
"You looked glorious!" Exclaimed Carmen, my hair stylist.
I nod my head to say thanks, then seat myself between Pixi and Fia, my mentor.
District one looked quite different this year. Lat year, they were covered in rubies, but here they look more modest in emerald green silk. Their names flash on screen with their age next to it.
PEARL- 18
PARIS- 15
The tributes from 2 are dressed in shining armour, like they have for the past five years.
VALERIE- 16
MASON- 16
Three are dressed in the bronze wire I saw Enya in.
ENYA- 17
BOLT- 14
Four look like giant fish. The female has a scale pattern knee-length fitted dress, the colour of oceans and the male has a sort of toga in the same colour.
SIRENA-15
FINN- 15
District five. Us. We look impressive. Our smiles look real. The moment when I am place on Sam's shoulder brings the crowd down. They went wild with that.
FLICKER- 13
SAM- 18
District Six have jumpsuits, with a 3-D train wrapped around them.
PIPPA-16
TRIM- 17
Seven are always related to trees. This year, the female is wearing a skirt made of flowers and Palm leaves and a strapless vest made of the same. The male has the same sort of outfit- minus the vest and flowers.
EVE- 17
OAK- 15
Eight have yellow buttoned shirts with orange trousers for the boy and a mid-shin length skirt for the girl.
BOBBI-14
CREASE-18
District nine's robes look like a field of grain. Well, that is Nine's main export.
BAYLEE-15
RYE-14
Ten are dressed like cattle. Poor them. Their headwear has horns like a bull, and they each have a choker with a bell in the middle.
RHONA-17
BUCKLEY-15
The tributes from Eleven are clad with blue denim farm outfits.
WILLOW-14
BLAKE-16
Twelve are dressed like miners. Again.
CHERISH-15
MARLIN-18.
Most of them are twice my size, even the fourteen year olds. The odds most certainly aren't in my favour.