(please please review because I'd love to hear your thought. And opinions of where you'd like me to go with this! Thank you for reading !)
When our tributes are sent away to be capitalised, I decide to make myself look presentable. Blacks practically my signature colour. Black and deadly. I go with a tight fitted leather number which goes all the way to the floor. I'm beginning to get good at make up so I do it myself. I get the aim my stylists go for. They get my face really pale to draw attention to my smokey black eyes. Blight dresses in a black suit with a deep red tie matching the shade of my lipstick. He muffles with laughter when he notices.
I won't lie I hate the Victors Parade. I hate it because we always look so god damn stupid! I have a feeling 12's gonna pull something good out the bag this year though. They've got a new stylist. Gaia showed me some of his work and he is unbelievably good.
We're escorted over to where the Victors/Mentors and stylists stand and I try my best to avoid eye contact with anyone. It's always the hot spot of the camera's before the parade starts. Comments like 'ooh look at Glimmer's dress' and 'Chaff and Haymitch are already drunk' fly about the place. It's funny because people think they know us. They act as if they love us. Even though not so many years ago they were awaiting in our deaths. Betting against us.
When my head does snap up, my eyes catch with a pair of warm soft brown eyes flicked with gold. I haven't seen him before. He's already in front of me smiling sweetly before I can think any further. "Hello Johanna. I'm Cinna." He greets me taking my hand and kissing it. Compared to the usually vulgar kisses planted on my hand between sponsor gifts, his lips feel sweet on my skin. "The new stylist right? I hope you've dressed them in something pleasant this evening. Hate to see 2 giant coals again." I smile devilishly. He suppresses a small smile.
"It's true what they say about you then." He remarks in an almost metallic voice. I thrill with laughter as I clasp my fingers around the metal barricade.
"Charming I know." I smile waving my delicate fingers and moving away.
I can hear the whistle escape his lips as I thrill with laughter and make my way over to where the others stand. Charmer.
I'm tempting my lips with a glass of champagne, when I'm looked upon again. I eye him up and down a few times before either of us speak. He looks no different. No more phased than the last time I saw him.
"Hey." I say but it comes out all weird.
"Since you ignored me coming in, do I at least get a hug?" Finnick asks accusingly his eyes falling over to wear Cinna and the others stylist stand.
"One I didn't see you and to two not like I'm taken jeez." I say about to turn around. I haven't seen him for a year and in our last phone call he had promised to not be protective or possessive over me or act like I was his.
"Sorry. Jo don't go." He sighs taking my arm and pulling me into a hug. It takes numerous attempts to pull away. I'm aware of the camera's on me but I'm pretty sure they'll be too occupied with Gloss and Snow's assistant looking friendly near the bar.
"I watched the reaping. You look as if you've got a pretty average batch." I say quietly as we part. He gives an indifferent shrug. Like me, he's past working up too much hope.
"How've you been? Not got married since I saw you last?" I ask him as he stares at me judging my every move. He gives me a look that makes me realise my comment was repugnant.
"Forget it. So we've both piss each other off in the space of ten minutes. Cheers." He sighs clinking his glass on mine. We seem pretty good at that. We silence when the chariots come down the isle.
District 1 specialises in jewellery so they're practically draped in fine beads from head to toe. Pretty but not rememberable. In fact by the time we've got to 4 I've forgotten them.
The girl from 4 is dressed like a mermaid with her long thick brown hair weaved in a net. Again she looks pretty but has little impact on me. The boy is quite young though, so he has very little chance. The next two tributes skip quickly and now I'm faced with my district. I swear Gaia just reuses out outfits. They look pathetic and to be honest I barely even cast more than one glance at them.
Erin looks reasonably confident but misery by her side looks as if he wants to puke.
I'm still sighing in frustration when a see a glowing light in the corner of my eye. I look up to see fire. Not just any fire, flames! Burning flames! I almost let out a shriek. They're on fire! Finnick's chuckling to my side at my reaction. "It's not real." He assures me.
I relax slightly now taking a good look at the wonders of District 12. I get a good look at her face and for the first time in four years I see something in them eyes. Not fear. Not giddiness. Hate. Pure hate. She knows she's beautiful yet unlike other girls she hates it. I'm just hoping she hated it because its Capitol made. Interesting character though. A character that's hard to read. The Capitol ravish stuff like that as does Snow.
Perhaps things are hotting up after all this year. I turn my head to give a drunken Haymitch a thumbs up. He just gives me a crinkle of his nose. 'Stubborn.' He mouths over the blares of music. Ah perhaps not a good one. Those who can't take instructions are doomed to death.
My eyes catch again with Cinna and I give him a nod of approval. A lot of thought and passion went into that outfit and he ought to be rewarded for it.
I can't help think there's something iffy about this year but I haven't yet put my finger on it. Earlier I saw one of the morphlings from 6 talking with one of the games makers. That does not happen. I don't know why but I feel as of I'm walking in very fragile, dangerous grounds.