Rio and I were taken into the Remake Centre. I was made over for two hours. Considering District Four is a moderately well off District with decent supplies, my Prep Team didn't need to worry about 'remaking' all of me like they had to do with some other Districts.

"All of you District Fours smell like seawater." Charm, a member of my prep Team commented in her weird Capitol accent, whilst she lathered my hair with very expensive District One Shampoo. Charm wore the brightest red lipstick and eye shadow that I had ever seen. It complimented well with her kind grey eyes that smiled down at me on the table.

Living by the sea my entire life had made me immune to the scent of seawater. My hair had become permanently damaged and dry from all of the salt that had soaked in to it. Charm tugged at all of the small knots that had embedded themselves into my scalp. I gritted my teeth and screwed by eyes together from the pain.

"Well at least you don't have her calloused hands and chipped nails." Another member of my Prep Team, Tercius said, rubbing a whole tube of moisturiser into one of my hands. Like Charm his eyes were grey, but he decided to go for a simpler white hair with indigo highlights that curled down to his shoulders. It contrasted well against his dark blue skin.

"My goodness, deary," Tercius cooed. "What did you to get your hands in such bad condition?" I didn't know if the question was rhetorical but I decided to answer anyway.

"I make nets for a living." I said with my eyes still screwed up in pain.

"Oh I see," He answered with fake interest now moving on to fix my nails; like tying knots all day wasn't even seen as an optional career to them.

I still attended school, but in my spare time I either went to the beach or helped my mother make the nets for the fisherman. Over the years of tying knots, my hands have turned rough and leathery but still quick and steady in movement.

I also have never bothered to do my nails because they would only become chipped and broken again, but Tercius did a great job in making them look naturally smooth and perfect. Was there anything that the Capitol couldn't do?

"Lita, are you done with her feet?" Charm called to the other side of table. There was no reply. "Lita!" She called again, more firmly this time.

"Y-yes, Charm. I'm sorry."

Lying flat on my back I could only glance my eyes down at the girl at my feet. Lita was the youngest out of the three, looking in her early twenties. Her hair was a plethora of neon colours, with matching lip-gloss. Her eye shadow seemed outrageous for any Capitol inhabitant.

"Are you finished with the nails yet?" Tercius asked cocking one of his purple eyebrows.

"A-almost." Lita stuttered.

"Well hurry up! We don't want to keep Azula waiting." Charm cut in finishing up with my hair.

Lita gave a scared, quick nod and got back to doing her work. I had heard them talk about Azula a lot, about what she'd make of my 'gorgeous' brown hair or how last year the District Four female Tribute was nearly six foot and how different it would be to work with me. There was also a lot of complaining which I didn't want to repeat.

A few minutes later I was stood up and stripped completely naked. I flushed bright red and crossed my arms over my breasts with shame. My hair fell in front of my face and I peaked at Lita between the strands, she almost looked as embarrassed as I did. I assumed that this was her first time at this as well, whilst Charm and Tercius looked completely unfazed, removing the last bits of hair from my body.

I only imagined what my parents would have thought this they knew about this. My father would be in fits of hysterics and my mother probably would be stunned into silence.

With a clap of Charm's hands the other two removed themselves from my body and stood silently by her side. A pair of smooth hands gripped onto my arms and I glanced up to Charm's face. Once again her eyes were kind as she tucked my wet hair behind one of my ears but left my arms around my chest. I respected her more for doing that.

"You look beautiful. You don't need to hide it." Charm smiled to me.

I didn't necessarily wanted to believe her in my current situation, yet I smiled back and mouth a small 'thank you', which seemed to make her smile a lot bigger. Charm looked around forty, which meant that she was just a tad younger than my own mother. Through the thick layer of made up fakery I saw my own mother in her eyes and bit my lip to fight back tears. Charm nodded to me again and made her way to the exit, the other two following like lost puppies. Lita looked back at me one final time and waved a goodbye, I nodded in return and she left. The room was so white and clean that it made my stomach churn. All attention would be on my naked body; a thought that I wish that I had never considered.

A couple moments later a harsh looking angular faced Asian woman with cyan hair walked in and trained her attention on my face. With no introductions Azula began to stalk her way around my body, mumbling notes to herself like 'thin', 'weak chin' and 'tanned', the latter being normal for anyone of District Four. She occasionally lifted up my arm that I reluctantly removed from my body for her to inspect. Or she twirled my hair in her hand. However when she got to my hands an expression of disgust crossed her face and raised her dark eyes at me.

"A net maker I presume?" Her tone was flat and sounded expectant.

"Yes ma'am," I answered trying to sound polite.

A small smile blinked onto her face. "No need for formalities dear, you can just call me Azula." Her eyes went back to my hand. "I have been a designer for District Four for seven years and I have never seen hands so calloused." She sighed. "I guess gloves will have to do."

Azula let go of my hand and threw the robe over to me. She beckoned me with a finger to follow her into the next room. I was more than happy to slip the robe onto my body and I trailed her. The room was nicely lit and overlooked the Capitol. We sat in comfortable leather sofas that faced each other in the centre with a bare table in between us. Azula quickly scribbled something onto a hologram of a dress. I tried not to look, a little afraid of what I may see. After a couple minutes she was done. Azula closed the hologram and pressed a button at the side of the table. Food instantly appeared as the top split open and I raised my eyes, obviously impressed. The food was similar to the one on the train and at the sight of it my stomach growled.

"I have a few designs to discuss with you." Azula said, eager to get back down to business.

I picked up my fork and start prodding at a piece of steak on my plate.

"What are they?"

Four hours later I am dressed in a baby blue sleeveless silk dress. Multiple shades of blue and green ruffles ornamented the bottom representing the waves of the sea. The top of the dress was made out of sequins that changed from blue to green in certain lights. My lips were shaded teal. Purple swirls swamped my face, which I was told complimented my green eyes and tanned face perfectly. Connected at the bottom of the dress was see-through sheer fabric, cut into the shape of fins that attached to a ribbon around my wrists and folded out whenever I raised my arms. The fabric was stitched to the matching lace ruffled gloves, there to cover my ugly hands. Rio's outfit was similar, except for a dress he wore an open sequined vest and ruffled baby blue shorts with the same sheer fabric fins, yet without gloves. His designer probably wanted to show off as much as Rio as he could to have sponsors interested in him. I had no idea what Azula's plan was with me. We both were bare foot to keep the 'authenticity' of people not wearing shoes in a real ocean. Although we had the same makeup, I didn't mind it very much but Rio seemed slightly anxious about it. A guy like Rio would have looked good with fish skeletons draped around his crotch. I couldn't understand what bothered him so much.

The prep team did their last jobs on us whilst Azula and Rio's designer Ivo gossiped about the other tributes outfits, trying to stifle giggles and pointing like little children. They especially mocked the District 12 Tributes, who were only covered in coal dust. They looked utterly ashamed and a twinge of sympathy and anger surged through me like a sea current. The designers could have all of the fun that they liked. They weren't being sentenced to their deaths for the enjoyment of others.

"Lita!" Charm huffed loudly, which seemed to bring the designers back to us. She fiddled with my hair that was in a tight bun. "Damn it! She tied the knot too tight with her stupid stubby fingers," Charm kept on tugging at it but it wasn't budging.

"I can do it." I said reaching back behind my head.

"Don't you dare!" Azula gasped and I snapped my hands back down by my sides. "The fabric doesn't stretch that far. It'll rip."

"I can do it." I turned to see Finnick with one of Mags' arms looped through his, wearing a confident smile.

"I'd thought you'd be busy Odair," Rio commented with a look of slight disgust, "all the rich women are outside."

I couldn't believe what he had said. I was expecting Finnick to rip out his throat but he still looked just as smug.

"I am here by order, Ellwitt. It's mandatory for mentors to be with their tributes before the Parade." He unhooked himself from Mags and strode over to me. Every step closer he got my heartbeat quickened. He was inches from me and I just stared at his beautiful face, the soft curve of his lips. It seemed like forever until he cleared his throat ushering me to turn around. I turned and waited for his hands to grasp my hair. It was not what I expected. His hands are soft and gentle. It was the real way to untie knots. Aggresion was the worst way to handle something as simple yet complicated as a knot. I tried not to turn red with the thought of Finnick Odair with his hands in my hair.

It only took him a moment before my brown curly hair cascaded freely down my back. I even thought that I heard Finnick suck in a breath. I took a look over my shoulder but his expression was the same as before. I must have imagined it.

"Thanks," I said and smiled nervously at him. To my surprise he seemed to return it.

A few feet away I saw the other Careers giggling at me and feverishly whispering together. Like Rio, the boys were muscular. Yet both having dark brown hair, whilst the two girls looked nothing like me. They were both tall and flawless porcelain dolls with bright crimson and ice blond hair. They were glaring at me. Finnick seemed to see too and just cleared his throat. His expression returned back to his previous smug one.

"Any fool could have done it. I just happened to be here. No offence Charm." He said and placed a delicate hand on his shoulder. She just rolled her eyes at him and fluffed up my hair a little more until the music started playing and the doors opened.

"Time to mount up kids," Finnick said. "Smile. Wave. Whatever you want to get the sponsors to favour you above everyone else." He shrugged and waved his hand in a dismissive manner at us. "Have fun." He added sarcastically for good measure but was quietly chastised by Mags. I chose to ignore his comment and stood in the chariot with Rio standing on my left. Our chariot finally moved and proceeded out of the doors. The crowd erupted at the sight of the Tributes and I raised my arm to wave with the fin waving in the breeze. Rio did the same and the crowd cried in appreciation of Azula's design. I spotted us in the large television screen and I smiled reassuringly to my parents back home, signalling to them at I was okay. I could only pray that they saw that, even though that it was so far from the truth.

At the continuing sound of the cheering crowds that echoed like roaring waves, I suddenly gained a burst of confidence. I began blowing kisses at a few individuals whilst Rio flexed his muscles. It was a big success and the crowd went crazy and actually started calling us by name.

"Go, Annie!"

"I love you, Rio!"

"Oh my gosh, Rio is so gorgeous."

"Spear me with your trident anytime Rio!" Okay that was just said…

I didn't really mind that people were cheering more for Rio than they were for me because I was hoping that people would associate us together and sponsor us both.

Finally at the City Circle, in front of President Snow's mansion, everyone was silenced as the music and the chariots grinded to a halt. At one point during Snow's welcoming speech the screen on the television cut to us. Rio winked to the camera. The crowd erupted again. I thought that it was some felony to interrupt the President so I just kept my gaze steady.

At the end of the ceremony the chariots were brought through the Training Centre. The doors closed and we were once again consumed with our prep teams, singing our praises about how well the crowds responded to us, but I knew that they mostly meant Rio. I was coming down from such an adrenaline rush that I started to shake. This caught Lita's eye and she let out an exaggerated breath for me to follow. I did so and the shaking slowly ceased. I nodded to her in appreciation and she gave me a thumb up in return.

One thought continued to swirl through my mind. I couldn't believe that I actually enjoyed one of the events leading up to my eminent death.

But I knew that the show wasn't over yet.

Not by a long shot.