Jared is watching me. I turn my head towards him and whisper,
"You wanna team up?" He nods his head slowly.
"Okay," I say, "Follow my lead and I'll tell you the strategy once we're on the train." I can tell by his thoughts that he'll comply.
There are camera men swarming the station, I can see us on the monitor, being filmed live. I take Jared's hand in my right one and interlace my fingers with his. I tilt my head up and whisper in his ear "Don't let go." I keep my eyes on him and listen into a camera man's mind. It looks like I'm whispering words of encouragement. He believes we're an item. In his mind I can see us. Me, in my white dress and sandals clutching Jared's hand, and Jared, in khaki shorts and a button down shirt, I give the crowd a confident smile. We look strong. We look in love.
Once we're on the train, we're introduced to our mentors, Jewel and a man named Robert Smith. I let them all in on the strategy I had been planning since Jared's name was read off that little slip of paper. The plan is to pretend that Jared and I are best friends turned lovers, it's heart wrenching, not to mention brilliant. The Capitol people will eat this up. We'll get so many sponsors. We're both strong physically and not to sound narcissistic, but we're pretty attractive too.
"It's a good plan." Says Smith, albeit a little reluctantly. Jewel thinks we'll be the first to win. I mean, she's not thinking about our personal safety, she just wants to be on the winning team. Well, I'm feeling confident. I'm strong and I'm good with a trident. I also read minds so I won't get backstabbed in any alliances.
Jewel shows us to our rooms and I decide to take a shower before dinner. I head into the bathroom. I stand in front of the mirror. I take in my face, my tan skin, my big green eyes. I undo the two French braids my mom had pulled and twisted my hair into this morning and my dark red locks fall down to my waist, all wavy from the braiding. I strip off my clothes and turn on the shower. It's lovely. We don't usually get hot showers at home. Soon I'm dressed in soft jeans and a white t-shirt and it's time for supper.
The food is delicious. After we finish, Jewel leads us to another compartment where we're going to watch the recap of the Reapings. Most of the kids look scared but a couple stick out as competition. The two from District 1 are both beastly kids and could probably snap my neck if they had a mind to. District 2 was a strong boy and a ditzy looking girl. District 6 produced a crafty looking girl. I can't wait to search her thoughts, she seems devious. The others fade into the recesses of my mind. I'm tired from the stress of today and I can't concentrate. I let the others know I'm going to bed. I manage to pull off my jeans before I collapse into the clean white sheets and I'm out a few seconds after my head hits the pillow.
My mind slips into the compartment next to mine sometime during the night and I'm sucked into Jared's dream. It's a nightmare and I'm frozen on the sidelines as he watches his family members die one after another. It's horrible and it's not till he wakes up in a cold sweat that I am released. He's crying, so I slip out of his head and back into mine. I have enough to worry about without having to watch his dreams.
The next morning, Jewel is knocking on my door, promising a big, big day! I peeked in her mind and I know for a fact she's only like this after her morning espresso. I feel like maybe she should not have so much caffeine. I pull another pair of jeans out of a drawer and slip on a red tank top. I wash my face and throw my hair into a messy ponytail. When we get to the Capitol later the stylists will dictate what I'm to wear to an opening ceremony according to Jewel's thoughts, and hopefully they'll do something about my leg hair. Hmph, I rather like my leg hair, thank you very much. Although I probably won't have much say about it. This notion is confirmed when I reach the dining car and Smith tells us that tonight are the opening ceremonies and we will not argue with our stylists. I decide to practice by not arguing with him now; after all he'll be controlling what gifts I get from sponsors which means I want him to like me.
Ten minutes later, we're pulling into the station. Jared and I stand close together near the window, not forgetting our lovers strategy, and wave at the crowd.
After about three hours in the Remake center I'm scoured raw and there's almost no body hair left on me, save my red head and carefully sculpted eyebrows. Finally, my prep team decides that I'm presentable and they send for my stylist. A young woman with light blue eyes and white hair comes in. Her name is Analeigh. I don't search her mind. I'll let her tell me what I'll be wearing herself. I listen while she explains that our costumes are supposed to reflect our district's industry. She says she wanted to focus more on the element so I'll be water.
Twenty minutes later I'm dressed in a blue dress. It has a round neckline studded with pearls and floats down to my knees. I start to think it's the softest thing I've ever worn, but that's not right because it's not soft, it's smooth and cool, it feels like water. My tan skin is dusted with light gold and blue shimmer, like sunlight dancing on water. My hair is dyed blue at the tips and there is gold dust in it. Somehow they managed to string pearls into it that are so tiny they kind of look like water droplets. My green eyes are lined with blue eyeliner and as I look in the mirror I can't help feeling beautiful. I look like some kind of sea nymph or something.
Jared shows up dressed in blue slacks and shirt that are the same material as my dress. He's also dusted with gold and blue glitter, his dark blond hair has shimmer powder in it. We're both practically glowing and we really do look like sea creatures. We're loaded into chariots and I slip my hand into Jared's, and listen in on his thoughts. Aww, he thinks I'm pretty, how cute. I smile endearingly at him.
"Looking good." I say. He looks kind of startled before he replies with a
"You don't look so bad yourself." I mentally roll my eyes.
"Okay." I say, "Remember, you love me and the Capitol will adore us."
"I know the plan, Megan." He counters. Ooh. Tetchy. I think he's just nervous. I eavesdrop on what he's thinking. Yep, definitely nervous. I give his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"It will be alright." I tell him. He just nods as we roll into the City Circle and the national anthem plays. I smile and wave with my free hand and I can see Jared on a big television screen doing the same. I can hear the crowds screaming our names. They love us! They can't get enough of us and I sure as heck hope some of them are rich! The cameras sweep the loop to get a shot of each of the tributes before we're lead into the training center.