3
Katniss
We're at the Capitol now, and are getting 'beautified' as my team put it. All of the hair has been ripped off my body, and they've washed the hair on my head so many times I thought that was going to come off too. They've given me a dressing gown to wear and left my hair down and sopping wet, and sent me off to eat lunch before I meet my stylist – I think his name is Cinna. As I sit down to eat the weird coloured food in front of me, I see a tray placed down opposite me and I look up to see Clove sitting there. "I've been sent," she begins, but I interject, "Go away, Clove, I'm not in the mood." She rolls her eyes and beckons to Cato and the others who hurry over and surround me. Cato slaps me on the back, and murmurs, "So 12. Who would have thought you clean up so well? Now listen to Clove, there's a good girl!" I crack a smile and she seizes the opportunity to speak, "Ok. Listen, we've been considering your offer and subject to how he performs in training, we're going to take him into the pack." I smile at them all gratefully, but she continues, "On the condition. You join too." I shake my head immediately and out of the corner of my eye, I notice Cato's face fall, as I say, "Oh no. What can I offer you? I'm rubbish. Plus, I told you. I work alone."
Marvel shakes his head and Glimmer puts in, "Now, one of those statements just isn't true, now is it scum?" Cato slaps her round the head and sends both the district 1 tributes back to their table. Then he leans and whispers, "She's right. If you're rubbish, why would you wanna work alone? When we can help you? If you're good, we need you. So what's it to be?" I look into his eyes and assess him for signs of him making fun of me, but they seem to be earnest. His face breaks into a smile and I can't seem to break eye contact, until Clove waves her hand between us, "Earth to scum. Look, we need an answer?" I shake my head, and reply, "I need some time. To talk to my mentor and stuff, ok? I've barely even seen Haymitch yet." Cato squeezes my hand and mutters, "Take all the time you need." Clove clears her throat and he coughs, straightening up and saying loudly, "We need an answer soon, Seam Girl." With that they walk away, and strangely I find myself feeling sad. I miss him. Damn, I said I wouldn't let him get to me.
Cato
She didn't say yes. But she didn't say no either, which is good. Ok, we're meeting with our stylist. He explained quickly that he wants me to go for a military god look and now I have to sit here for hours while they try and work out what they want to do with Clove. She's always been difficult to style because her looks contrast with her personality so harshly. Anyway I'm not listening because through the glass window, I can see Katniss talking to her stylist. He is strange and looks completely normal, except for the sheen of gold eye shadow he is wearing, nothing like the normal type of person you would expect of the Capitol. He is talking earnestly with her and the normal suspicious look she has in her eyes is gone, like she trusts him completely already. I've never seen her like that. I can't wait to see what they have planned for her tonight.
She totally outshone everyone. Clove is angry but I've never seen anyone as angry as Glimmer is right now. She's shouting and screaming, swearing at anyone who goes near her. Being beautiful is the only thing Glimmer has going for her, and Katniss totally stole that from her tonight. Her stylist is genius, he had her in a black unitard, which looked totally average but as soon as she entered the arena, she was on fire. The crowd was screaming and she held Peeta's hand, waving and even blowing kisses. I must admit, when I saw her gripping his hand like that, I felt angry – I thought she hated him. Anyway, the girls don't want her in our alliance any more, but I'll give them some time to cool off before I broach the subject again. We can't take the offer back now, it's rude, and it's so not her fault she's stunning.
Katniss
The parade went well; Cinna did really great with our costumes. I think the crowd liked us, and Cato even gave me a thumbs-up after… Not that that matters. Now, I need to talk to Haymitch. I found him but I don't know how to start, "Um… Haymitch… I need to ask your advice on something…" I stutter but Haymitch interrupts, "You have been asked to join the Career pack and want to know if you can trust them." I gape at him, and then nod, "Yes. I asked them to take Peeta in, but they only said yes on the condition that I join as well. It's safest for Peeta to join but I don't like or trust them. Will they break their deal with me?" Haymitch shook his head and explained, "Look. They won't break their alliances early on in the Games but don't trust them too much. Join the alliance, but sleep slightly away from them, or with one eye open. Ok?" I nod and against my instincts, I hug him, before running down to floor 2.
Brutus, the district 2 mentor, opens the door and his eyes widen when he sees me. "Are you sure you want to be here?" he asks quietly, and I nod, confused before saying, "I'd like to speak to Cato or Clove please." He nods curtly and slams the door in my face. When it opens again, Cato is standing in the doorway, shirtless, and he ushers me out of the way before closing the door behind him. "Hey," he says, "Nice show earlier. Clove and Glimmer are pissed at you." I smile and then he asks a question, "Well? What do you want?" "I just came to tell you … I've made a decision… About the alliance." He leans against the door smirking, "And?" I simply nod, and he moves in, slipping his arms around my waist, picking me up and spinning me round. When he puts me down, I step away and set my conditions, "Cato. Calm down. I've decided to trust you for now, but I need to get to a bow. Can you ensure that?" He nods and sticks his hand out, declaring, "Deal?" I shake it and then high-fives me. "By the way, Katniss. You can trust me, ok?"
I'm just about to leave when Clove emerges. She looks angry and her eyes flash as she sees how close we are. "Cato. We need you inside. Now." I step away but she grabs my arm, "Oi, 12. I need a word with you." As Cato goes back inside, she slams the door and pins me up against the wall, whispering, "Look, princess, I don't know what you are trying to pull here, but I don't like it. Glimmer is fuming about that parade, and I'm not very pleased myself. But you better not try anything with Cato, or I will kill you." Then she steps away and shouts, "Bye!" before disappearing back inside the room. I walk back up to 12, thinking over what she said. Why would I try anything with Cato? Although I suppose it didn't look great, me and Cato in the hallway, alone, him shirtless…