Katniss clung to Peeta's waist. As she did, she felt him relax into the bike, as if he trusted himself. She saw that Finn and Jo were tense as they stayed close. As she followed his movements, she felt him slip from the grasp of tension and start to worry about something fiercely. He sped up, which elicited a squeal from Katniss and a race with Finnick.
Peeta kept his eyes front and center as they sped through the lanes. Swerving around the cars and darting from lane to lane, they approached their exit, Peeta took a swift turn into the lane and then gently slowed to the stop light. He didn't miss a beat when he turned the corner, and he sped into the agency parking lot.
Katniss was still clutching on to him as he turned the bike off. Finnick and Johanna weren't far behind. They all jumped off and made their way to the front door. As they entered, they were greeted by Thresh.
"I heard your bike roll up- glad to hear it," Thresh commented as Peeta walked by. Peeta responded with his signature goofy grin. Finnick shoots a similar smile at Thresh.
"How are you, though, really?" Katniss asked Peeta. Peeta looked at her, gauging how he should respond.
"I'm fine, a little uncomfortable though. Honestly." Peeta said, grabbing Katniss's hand. Jo smacked Peeta's ass as she sped passed them to get to the elevator.
"You guys are going to be late." Jo called as she reached the elevator. "You coming, brainless?"
Katniss gives Peeta's hand a squeeze. She hops in the elevator and presses the button with a C on it. Once they have reached the Capitol floor, Johanna runs to the 7th room, while Katniss approaches the 12th.
"Hey darling," Cinna says, reaching out to her. She happily hugs him back.
"What do you have planned for today?" Kat asks.
"We're doing themes; each room drew out of a hat. 12 is coal." Cinna says with a gleam in his eye.
"Oh goodness, I can't wait to see what you have." Kat says, looking to Portia.
"Fire, smoldering at first, then catching, going into a full blown blaze," Cinna finishes. Moving his hands where he sees his design.
"Awesome." Kat says as Portia grabs the dress that Kat will be wearing. "It fits perfectly, Cinna."
Portia gets started on her makeup almost before she has a chance to sit down. It takes what seems like hours to prep her for the shoot. They pluck and primp, smudge and smear makeup all over her, creating an illusion of soot and dust. They highlight her gray eyes and draw attention to her cheekbones.
Over in room 7, Johanna took in her outfit.
"Really, lumber?" Jo said with a sigh, "And you chose trees? Very original."
The stylist looked hurt, but took the insult. Jo quickly said "At least it's well done," she watched as the stylist's eyes lit up a little.
"How long until the shoot?" Jo called as she headed to the door.
"Fifteen," The stylist yelled back before the door closed.
Jo made her way to the elevator and jumped in to see Katniss standing flawless in her outfit.
"Brainless, you are looking smokin'." Johanna said creeping up to Katniss.
"Shit, Jo. You look awesome yourself," Katniss took in the timber makeup on her friend.
"Let's go check on Finnick," Jo said, pressing the button for the fourth floor. "I wonder what he got, it can't be worse than lumber." She said laughing, Katniss joined in. On the sixth floor, a girl in metallic silver steps in with a silver boy behind her.
"Steel," was all the couple said before entering.
"Lumber," Jo replied.
"Coal," Katniss stated afterwards. "Your outfits are amazing," she says as she glances at their platform boots and sharp edged outfits.
"Thanks," the boy said quickly as the fifth floor door opened.
A girl stepped in with nearly white hair and a bright yellow hat. She reminded Katniss of a light bulb.
"Electricity?" Jo asked, watching the girl nod quietly as she jumped in.
The elevator crew filled her in on what they represented. When the elevator stopped on the fourth floor, it opened to several people all similarly dressed in greens and blues. The girl wore a long mermaid skirt and a shell top, and Finnick wore a sexy fisherman's outfit. The others filed in all dressed in various sea-inspired costumes. Finnick moved closer to Katniss, and Johanna before the doors closed and the elevator proceeded up the floors.
The third floor was the most interesting to Johanna. They walked in with flashing lights, and metallic clothes lined with what seemed to represent cables.
"Technology," The very tall boy said, as he walked into the elevator. "Looks like you might be my partner," he said to the electricity girl.
They reached the second floor and saw a group of five.
"It's getting claustrophobic in here," Katniss said adjusting to lean on Finnick.
"I need elbow room," Johanna said nudging her neighbors away.
Each new person seemed to be made of a different type of stone, she saw what she believed was marble on one girl.
"I like their's," Jo commented.
"Me too," Katniss agreed. "One more floor,"
The final floor rung out, as a few people walked in with the most luxurious items slung around them. Katniss saw pearls, diamonds, emeralds and sapphires. She saw gold and silver and ball gowns.
"That's fitting, as this floor is Snow's favorite," Finnick said as he watched people gawk at the new models' clothing.
They reach the photo shoot floor, nicknamed the Arena. All the models quickly file out of the elevator, leaving Finn, Jo, and Kat to be the last ones out.
They headed to the scenery and watched as everyone waited for their shoot. As Katniss reached her photographer, she saw a familiar face all decked out in smoldering clothing.
"Peeta? What are you doing here?" Katniss asked, approaching Peeta with a watchful eye.
"They told me to suit up for a shoot," Peeta began, "I tried to deny, but Snow wanted me to try it. Haymitch bribed me with staying sober for a day!" He laughed.
"Okay; you look amazing, by the way." Katniss snickered, as she thought of their manager sober for even five minutes.