I'm sitting at breakfast with Zara, ever since that first dinner she has stopped being so shy about eating; but I still haven't spoken to her. She is incredibly reclusive and stays in her room all the time. I am glad, it makes everything easier for me; I don't want to get too attached to her because I know she will die. That's the harsh reality of the Hunger Games. Just as I'm helping myself to my 6 roll that morning Prema comes into the room, "Ok, guys we'll be arriving in 3 hours. You'll have the rest of the day preparing for the opening ceremony." She turns on her heel and leaves us alone once more. She never eats with us, always before or after. It's like she is too good for us. I don't mind, why would I want to have such a shallow woman in my company, I get enough of that from Rosalie.
Yet, five minutes later, we are joined again: this time, by Fenix Tarin. "Right, we need to speak about how you want to appear to the public, cause the second you step off this train you need to be a memorable character to the Capitol, from the get go we need them to be thinking of you, rooting for you, wanting to sponsor you." He tells us. I'm really worried for Zara, she is so easy to forget, so small and meek. No! I must stop caring for her, in order to return to my Nessie she must die, she is a player in the Games, and she will never survive." Zara, I want you to be very polite and sweet. You'll appeal to all the woman in the Capitol." He says with a sincere smile. "Jake, I want you to be your usual, confident self, people like to sponsor people who they think will win, make them think their money is going to the right place."
xXXx
We step of the train, Prema Howe and Fenix are book ending Zara and I. There are tons of people wanting to see us, the District 12 tributes; we are the last to arrive. Now the Hunger Games have really begun. We are ushered in to a car and are driven to our home for the next week. It is a large hotel with many levels. Prema leads us to an elevator and presses the 12 button. Each district gets their own level. "The first room is mine, the second is Mr. Tarin's, the third is Zara's, the fourth is Jacobs and the fifth and sixth are where you will be prepped for any public appearances." Prema explains to us. She points us in the direction of the prep rooms, " Go, now your teams are waiting for you, we don't have much time." She says and gives us a small push.
I enter the room, a man is sitting in a chair, and he stands up when he sees me. "Mr. Black, come sit down, I'm Tye and it's my job to prepare you whilst you are in the Capitol." I sit down in the offered chair. "I want you to go into the bathroom and have a bath. Wash your entire body with this,this and this. Dry off and come back wearing this." He says as he hands me the three bottles and a pair of boxers. I go into the bathroom and run the bath, Tye seems nice enough and for a Capitol beautician not too weird looking. Sure, his hair is the most unnatural shade of red and he is defiantly wearing makeup and his arms are covered with black tattoos, but he doesn't seem too bad.
xXXx
It's time for the opening ceremony. Prema takes us down the elevator, into the car. As we drive to the stadium I can tell that Zara is nervous. She is staring down at her perfectly manicured hands. We are wearing gold outfits covered in black sequins and our skin had been dusted in black and gold, even our black hair had been streaked with gold. Tye explained to me that the inspiration for our costumes is that people refer to coal as 'black gold.' "You look great!" I assure her, even though I don't see girls that way since I imprinted on Nessie; its what she needs to hear.
When we get to the stadium I don't look at the other tributes, not even to admire their costumes. I don't want to see their eyes, I don't want to know these people who are going to die.