Sorry about the wait. It's amazing how sidetracked school can get you.

I want to give a small shout out to Anolirak for giving me my first review! Reviews make me happy, and when I'm happy I like to post more chapters quicker (cough, cough, hint, hint). I definitely want to keep this story going as long as possible, although the ending is still a little shaky. I haven't completely figured out where to go with it, but have no fears! I will find an ending no matter how long it takes!

Anyways, this chapter is once again short (unfortunately), but don't worry. Once the story gets a little further along the chapters will start to lengthen.

One more thing: in case it isn't obvious, the little 00000 in the middle of the story means there's a time skip.

Now, on to the overdue update.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hunger Games

My stylist looked me up and down in the dress he had designed. I think his name may have been Majoris, but I wasn't completely sure. I had been more focused on his bright green hair than on listening to him introduce himself.

Majoris clicked his tongue. "You look beautiful, every part of you is ready for the parade. All except your arm." He glared down at my scarred limb. "I'll have to do something about that." He hurried out of the room.

I turned around and stared at myself in the mirror. I was dressed as a tree, but it wasn't as ugly as some of the costumes in previous years. The dress was brown with a bark type design on it that faded to a green up at the top. At the bottom, the fabric splayed out like roots. The top was sleeveless and green with leaves printed on it. My hair had matching green streaks in it which my prep team had assured me were temporary. The makeup on my face was natural looking. A small green leaf was drawn at the corner of each eye. The same design was drawn along both arms. The finishing touch was a golden leaf clipped into my hair.

I spun around when Majoris walked into the room. He was holding a glove that matched my dress, green at the hand and brown further up.

"Here, put this on," he said. He glanced at my right arm and shook his head. "On second thought, let me do it."

He slipped the glove onto my right arm and fastened it to the dress so it wouldn't slip down. Majoris smiled. "There, perfect. You'll take their breath away."

00000

I stared gleefully at the beautiful horses attached to the chariot. They were palominos with bright eyes. I shuffled over to them and rubbed their necks.

"You're so beautiful," I breathed.

"Why thank you!" a smug voice interjected.

I jumped and spun around and almost tripped over my dress. When I finally managed to stand up straight again, the first thing I saw was a pair of sea green eyes. They were crinkled up in a mischievous smile and were staring right at me.

"Um…," I managed to say.

"Finnick Odair," he said, holding out his free hand. His other hand was holding a small pile of sugar cubes.

I stared down at his outstretched right hand in dismay before awkwardly grabbing it with my left hand. "I know who you are," I said, making sure I squeezed as tightly as possible. His hand was cool and calloused.

Finnick stared down at our linked hands with a small frown on his face. After a moment, he let go and cleared his throat. "And you are?"

"Alona Keene," I answered, a bit ruffled that he hadn't bothered to remember me.

"Well, Alona Keene," he said, emphasizing my name, "good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor."

Like I said, a pretty short chapter, but at least Alona and Finnick have met. Even if it was a short, strange little meeting.

I hope I did an okay job describing the dress that Alona wore for the parade. I stink at coming up with outfits.