Chapter 7- Dangerous Eyes
Esme's POV
My prep team made quick work of me- pulling the hair off my skin until I felt like a plucked turkey. I silently wondered if Edward was going through the same treatment. Probably. The tears pricked at the side of my eyes at the thought of poor Edward. I shouldn't be crying over him. I know I shouldn't, but he's like...like...a son to me. I know I'm 17, and the thought of a son shouldn't be in my head, but it is. Edward is the type of kid who seems like he needs constant care and protection, someone to look after him when everything else in the world is already being so cruel.
''There!'' Alice Chimes ''You're ready for Irina now, I think!'' She looks to Emmett and Jasper for support, and they nod in agreement. ''She almost looks like a human being now.'' Jasper says. I'm still afraid of him, of the way he talks, the way he acts, but then he gives me a reassuring smile, and I find it hard not to smile back.
Alice is already gone, having pranced out of the room a few seconds ago, calling Irina. Emmett laughs a low, rumbling laugh and Jasper rolls his eyes. Maybe they think she's overly happy too. ''Thank you..'' I manage to murmur, but I don't mean it. I feel naked. I know I am already, but the prep team pulled that much hair off of my body, it makes me feel worse. Emmett grins, and Jasper smiles a little wider than he already was. ''Our pleasure.'' Jasper says, and both men glide out of the room.
Now, I wait.
I wait for Irina to come in. I want to put my clothes back on, but what's the point? She'll just make me take them off again, no doubt. So I just stand and look around the room. The walls are pure white. The light on them makes them look like they're shining. Ha. Shining walls. Now, I'm losing my mind. The room is very simple, but I expected nothing more for a tribute. There is a long mirror on the other side of the room. Across from it, there is a closed wardrobe, which appears to be locked. I assume my outfit for the opening ceremony is in there, and it's being kept as a surprise. In my head, the surprise is that I'm naked. They do it nearly every year for our district, since no one can work out what to put us in. It's humiliating.
I'm still considering how naked I'll be when Irina walks in. At first I'm shocked... she looks normal. It sounds strange to be shocked that someone looks normal, but in the Capitol, normal people are few and far between. She has pale, snow white skin, but it hasn't been changed to be so pale. You can tell it's natural. Her hair is golden blonde, glistening as the light hits it. It isn't dyed, that's obvious from the minute you look at it. Her eyes are ocean blue, the only thing about her I doubt is real. The blue doesn't suit her, but I don't tell her that. Tell my stylist on the first day I think her eyes aren't their natural color? I don't think so. Her silver dress hangs just below her knees. It glistens just as brightly as her hair.
But her face is set in a grimace, as if being her displeases her. I go to introduce myself, but she cuts me off, launching into a speech. ''Don't speak. I know who you are Esme, so you don't need to tell me. I'm Irina, but of course, you already know that. I'm your stylist, meaning that I get to decide what you wear this evening. Which brings me to the next subject- the ceremonies are tonight to celebrate President Snow's Birthday,'' she says dreamily, making me feel sick to my stomach, '' and that means you have to look your best. So don't complain. I won't hear it.'' She finishes, more stern now. I manage to nod, and she sits me down in a chair, facing the opposite direction of the mirror. She then starts working on my hair, tying it tightly up, but I'm not sure exactly what she's doing. She's fast, but I can tell she's being accurate. Then she starts doing my make-up. I'm not exactly sure what she's doing, because I've never had make-up on before. She puts lipstick quickly on my lips. The she gets me to stand up, as she walks over to the wardrobe, unlocks it and lifts out a gorgeous, sparkling red dress.
So I won't be naked after all.
''Arms up.'' She says, not giving me a chance to admire the dress. I raise my arms and the dress slides over my head. It's heavy. Heavier than I expected. Irina nods in approval, clearly proud of her work. She then grabs my arm and pulls me out the door. I guess we have to leave now then.
''Smile. Make them love you.'' Tiberius whispers in my ear. I hadn't heard him come up behind me, but then, I didn't realize Edward had started walking beside me. Edward looked adorable. In red, and sparkling like me. He wears simple black pants, but he still looks adorable.
We make our way into what I can only describe as the stables of the remake centre. The second we walk in, Edward and I are looking at the tributes. Studying them.
From the corner of my eye, I see Edwards head moving, looking at every single one of the tributes, but my eyes are frozen on the boy from district 2. He's already in his chariot, the only way I know he's from 2. He hasn't got a shirt on, and you can see the muscles on his arms and back glisten, even in the dim light of the stables. His hair is golden, shining like the sun. He wears grey pants, simple, but it enhances his appearance. He looks stunning.
Suddenly his eyes are on me. Like he knew I was staring. I feel my heart speed up, and I know exactly why.
He's glaring at me.
