Hey guys! I know its been forever since I updated, but I've been busy with homework, Girl Scouts, Band and Choir... So... School. xD Well, here you go! Enjoy chapter 7!

I woke up panting, my face read and damp with tears. I could barely the silent sobs that racked my body. My father... Dead. It was a reoccurring nightmare that had plagued my mind for the last week.

I shakily brought my knees to me chest and took deep breaths, eventually calming down. My body slowly stopped shaking and I could finally think straight. I opened my eyes and looked out the window. The sight had passed noon point, but was still high in the sky. Thank Goodness... I took a few hesitant steps towards my dresser and washed my face again, then getting re-dressed. I was beginning to forget what happened at the end of my dreams, but since the dream always seemed to happen every night, I always go a fresh memory when I woke up. I usually scream in my dreams, so I was surprised when no one came into my room this morning. Suddenly, I felt a giant wave of fear sweep over me. What if I got this nightmare in the middle of the Hunger Games? Of course, screaming would follow any type of nightmare I had. The rest of the tributes could easily find me and kill me…

I always seemed to the short end of the stick. My father was murdered, I scream in my nightmares, and I was put into a horrible killing game of murder. Can't get any better than this, eh?

I finally finished getting ready when I heard another pounding on my door. "NIKKI!" Screeched a voice. "YOU'RE LATE FOR PREP! GOD, DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU?! YOUR GOING TO MAKE ALL MY IDEA'S GO TO WASTE IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR SLEEPING BUTT OUT OF THERE SOON!"

"Fran!" I yelled back. "I'm up!"

Her screaming died suddenly and I could hear a smile in her voice. "Oh, alright! We'll be out in five minutes, will you? You and Raven are going to go to your prep team! Tonight is when you'll be showed to the presidents!"

"Okie dokie…" I grumbled, pulling on a shirt. I knew I surprised her when I jumped out of my room a minute later, "I'm here…"

Fran smiled at me and Raven stood next to her, dressed in her normal attire. "Okay girls, let's go and get you pretty!" She gave us a large grin and grabbed both of our hands, pulling us to the other side of the building.

We soon arrived to where we were being dragged, where Fran no sooner threw us in with absolutely no hesitation. I squealed as I fell onto the metal floor, rubbing my tailbone. "Ow…" I mumbled, not amused. Raven snickered at me from a standing position. I rolled my eyes and stood up. Looking around, I saw about 25 or so rooms with nurses standing outside of them, each of their skin tones a different color than the next. Raven and I walked up to a desk nearby, where a young woman who looked no older than 30 sat, plucking her eyebrows.

She suddenly noticed us and forced a large grin onto her face. "Oh hello there, girls… What do you need?"

Raven and I both looked at each other awkwardly, waiting for some explanation to spurt forth from the other person's mouth. Raven cleared her throat. "Uh… I'm Raven. This is Nikki."

I waved and the woman nodded. "Oh yes, tributes! We've been waiting for you, ya know." She smirked and pointed to two separate rooms. "Nikki, you will be in room 11. Raven in room 4. Good luck you two!" The both of us nodded and we headed into our rooms.

I slowly opened the door to mine and smiled at the few people inside. One woman was African-American, her eyes a bright blue. Her hair was mostly natural, with a few gold streaks in it. Two girls were identical twins, and the only way I could tell them apart was that one was in a green outfit and one in a red. Last, there was a man dressed in blue, his skin shade to match. "U-uh… hello…. I'm Nikki and I—"

One of the twins squealed and ran over to me, her sister following suit. "Oh my gosh, it's Nikki! We've been waiting for you, like, FOREVERRRRRRRRRR!" She pointed to herself and smiled, "I'm Georgetta and this is Loretta! We're twins!"

Okay, so Loretta was in the red, and vice versa. I would have to remember that…. I could already tell these girls were airheads. Annoying, yes… but they were like those little puppies that ran into things and you couldn't help but laugh.

"This girl is so adorbz, Georgetta!" Loretta yelled, pulling me out into the middle of the floor, "Here! Put this on!"

Georgetta handed me a light blue silk robe, and I awkwardly stripped down and changed into it. The silk was soft and smooth on my skin, and I smiled.

The African woman walked up to me and set a hand on my shoulder, "Hello…. I'm Maya. I'll be helping you get ready…" her voice was soft and smooth, almost serene. "You said your name was Nikki? You are partners with Raven, are you not?"

I nodded, "Yes mam…."

She laughed at my formalness and tussled my hair, "Come on now… let's get you ready. Claude? Go get the wax, please…."

The man in the blue moved swiftly out of the room and into another door to the left of where I was, quickly returning with a few sheets of paper covered in sticky yellow goo. Maya took a few and set them on my legs, having me sit down prior to this. The wax was hot, but cooled quickly in the cold room.

Then without hesitation, she ripped them off. I bit my lip and winced, the pain a sudden stab. My skin was red and raw, and I shuddered. "Ouch…." I mumbled, lightly touching the ever-growing-darker patch of skin.

"Sorry honey…" Maya said, smiling, "We kind of have to take all the hair off of you….."

I nodded and went tense braced myself for more pain. Not long after, I felt more and more of my hair being ripped off of my body, strip after strip.

Eventually though, they finished taking all the hair off of my legs, arms, stomach, back, armpits… I was so sore I really just wanted to sleep. But nooo…. Gosh, I had to do about a million more freaking things with my prep team. Georgetta and Loretta continued to dot over me, and talking about some Capitol by the name of Gerry Marvalo…

"He's just so freaking HOT!" Georgetta squealed, putting some oil on my legs, while her sister soaked my arms with some cold sticky stuff.

Loretta rapidly shook her head in agreement, and pulled my cheeks, "You're so adorable…." She giggled. Maya stood back and sighed, rolling her eyes.

After I had finished being waxed, soaked, and oiled down like a machine… They plucked my eyebrows, (Which I had never even thought of doing before today… apparently, they were like giant raccoons on my face [According to Loretta]); they also did something to my eyelashes to make them longer…

They continued to pluck, pull, and stretch my face for a few hours. They did not allow me a mirror, saying that they wanted me to see the finish product when they were all done. I rolled my eyes and agreed, sighing.

We took a 30 minute break, which consisted of me drinking about 3 cups of hot chocolate, and then they forced me down into another chair. They started to trim and polish my nails, constantly commenting on how horrible it was to chew your nails, (a bad habit I have.) I have no idea how they did it, but by the end of THIS session, my nails were long and perfectly cut. Same with my toes. I wasn't allowed to walk for another 30 minutes, though… The polish apparently had to dry and walking was what always messed it up.

The twins let me go after my 30 minutes were up, and pushed me into a different room, "Here! Now you get to pick out something to wear!" Both of them said simultaneously. They giggle and closed the door, and I heard the click of a lock.

I glanced around and saw Maya and the other guy smiling at me. "Alright dear," Maya said, "We're here to pick out something for you."

Okay. This is part one of 'Prep'. I'll post part two when I finish it. I hope you liked it!

By the way, did you hear about the shooting in Conneticut? *whimpers* taht was so horrible... I almost felt like crying. I did, actully. My hearts go out to those affected. *does the Hunger Games sign, kissing her fingers*

Also, I started up a Maximum Ride Fanfiction, along with Ouran High School Host Club one, (For all you anime freaks.) :3 Oh well, I hope you like this! Please review, re-read, and share! I love all of you guys that read this.

Jaa ne!

P.S. Happy 2012! ;) I really don't think the world is going to end today, but hey. One last chapter if it does... oh well. Its a beautiful day... No sign of the sun burning up.