Marley's POV

The dress and matching headpiece Cinna put me in itched like crazy and I was told not to turn around. I felt someone come up behind me and step onto the chariot. Cinna was busy arranging my cape around me so there was no avoiding talking to Jake. I knew he was upset about me talking to Cato but I didn't want to deal with that right now. I was busy thinking about the flaming torch Portia had in her hands when I heard words come out of my mouth.

"What do you think about the fire?"

"I'll rip off your cape if you'll rip off mine," He says and I laugh nervously before I can help it.

"I know we promised Haymitch we'd do exactly what they said, but I don't think he considered this angle." I start to pick at my nail polish before I remember that the prep team threatened me with another eyebrow waxing.

"Where is Haymitch anyways? Isn't he supposed to protect us from this sort of thing?" He says looking around. He moves too quickly and his headpiece tilts sideways on his head. I reach up and reposition it. He gives me a small smile and is about to say something but I cut him off.

"With all the alcohol in him, it's probably not advisable to have him around an open flame," we both laugh and there is no denying how nervous we are about being lit on fire, paraded around like cattle, and then forced to perform like the bunch of monkeys the Capitol once had to "entertain us". The anthem started to play and our horse is guided forward by a group of Avoxes. We stand in our chariot in a line behind District 11. They are dressed in a pair of overalls and have some sort of pitchfork-like thing in their hands. The tributes aren't allowed actual weapons so their designers had to be creative. The thing looks like someone fashioned some wire on top of a broom handle and then painted it silver.

The anthem cuts out to some sort of "edgy" pop beat and the tributes from District 1 are rolled out with their white horses. The crowd cheers wildly for the tributes that make all of the luxury items for the Capitol. They are always a favorite group and this year is no exception. The noise gets quieter as the tributes from 5-11 roll out in their wild outfits. Moments before District 11 is about to roll out Cinna and Portia appear beside us holding torches. I hold the cape out from my body hoping if it catches fire too quickly the slight distance I created will help me avoid the worst of the burns. To my surprise it only tickles a little as the fire sweeps up the cape and stops flaming at the base of my neck. Cinna breathes a sigh of relief. I bend down at his request and he lights the top of the headpiece. I stand tall and grab hold of the front of the chariot.

"Remember, heads high. Smiles. They're going to love you." He jumps down from the chariot as it starts to move forward. He has one last thought and says something but I can't hear him over the roar of the crowd. I turn to Jake and ask what he said.

"I think he says for us to hold hands." He reaches for my hand but I pull it away. I have a desire to look at him and see how he looks in his outfit so I shyly glance his way.

His headdress is not as elaborate as mine is but even then he is still regal looking. His eyes are glowing from the light of my headpiece. The light cast off of his own headpiece shades his face but the makeup on his face has prevented the shadows from being too dark. He looks very attractive and for the first time I notice his hair had been brightened. I tried to keep my face neutral as we pulled out of the training center but the crowd's reaction to our arrival was astounding. The people seemed to lose interest in the other districts completely and were focused solely on us. The chariot temporarily got stuck on a rock and lurched forward. I grabbed Jake's hand and didn't let go. He looks down at our hands momentarily before grasping mine more tightly and raising them above our heads. I think the crowd gets even louder but my ears are ringing and I can't tell. I think of what Cinna says about the Capitol loving me and I can only hope he's right. They may be the difference between me living or dying.

At last I can't help but smile and wave with my free hand to the audience. Someone throws a rose and I catch it. I pretend to smell it and the audience gives whoops of joy and I see a few people pass out. I bring my hand clasping the rose to my lips and blow the audience kisses. I catch a glimpse of Jake and me and see our faces blown up onto a screen as large as my house in District 12 was. It is still your home. I remind myself knowing this will not be my last few days on Panem. Pretty soon I hear people begin to chant my name and Jake's is chanted just as often but not as enthusiastically.

Once we are in the City Circle Jake begins to let go of my hand. I grasp it tighter even though I must have been squeezing it to death in the first place.

" No, don't let go of me. Please, I might fall out of this thing," I lie to him and it doesn't feel good but right now my nerves are so fried and my body is filled with adrenaline and endorphins and I can't seem to just tell him I want to hold his hand.

President Snow stands up and does his little speech about what a privilege it is to have all of the tributes here at the Capitol. The crowd cheers as he walks back into his mansion. Before the chariot can pull back into the Training Center I see our faces again on the big screen. I smile and wave some more and blow one final kiss as the door closes behind us.

It feels serial to have just spent an hour and a half standing on some chariot while thousands of people cheer my name. Our ride comes to a stop and we are rushed off the chariot and into embraces of our prep teams as soon as our capes and headpieces are extinguished. Jake and I are still holding hands but I release my grip and Jake takes his hand out of mine. We both massage our wrists trying to get the circulation back into them.

"Thanks for keeping hold of me," I say thinking carefully of what I'm about to say. "I was getting a little shaky there".

"It didn't show," He says looking at me full on for the first time that night. "I'm sure no one noticed. In fact I'm sure they didn't notice anything but you. You should wear flames more often, they suit you," As he says this my cheeks light up a bright red but thanks to the makeup job my prep team gave me you can't tell.

I place my hand on his arm and say thanks and we head off to the higher levels of the Training Center.