Chapter Two
"UP! UP! UP! We have a big day today!" screeched a shrill voice that belonged to none other but Effie.
My eyes instantly open and I realize where I am. I'm currently lying on Peeta's chest who is still asleep beside me. I jump up and his eyes open when I'm standing.
"Good morning." I say.
"Good morning Katniss." He replies.
"I'm sorry I fell asleep on you."
"It's okay, that was probably the best sleep I've gotten so far."
We left it at that and walked over to eat breakfast. I didn't even notice how much time had passed since we got on the train at District 12. We were now arriving at a very grand district with bright lights and huge buildings.
"We are at the capitol! And we will arrive at the building soon!" Announced Effie.
I eat my breakfast in silence looking around at the people and started to wonder if they truly did like to watch 24 kids try and kill each other every year. Just after I finished my meal, the train came to a sudden halt and I looked around.
There was a huge crowd around the train trying to catch a glance of the new tributes. Well that's weird there's a lot of people around our cart. Now what could they possibly want with a scrawny girl and a baker from District 12?
I was confused as I was pushed through the crowd crying my name into the centre for the tributes. The building was big like any other and the inside was very luxurious. I turn to Peeta and he was looking around in awe. I was looking around and I catch the sight of other tributes also entering the building at the same time.
District One definitely had a weird combination. The male tribute who's name I forgot from the recaps was smirking at the crowd and the female tribute Glimmer was blowing kisses at the crowd. Careers. They always knew what they would do in a crowd.
I focused on the next district when I catch a glimpse of the male tribute from District Two. He was staring at me and was sizing me up and down and I glare at him.
I remember from my nightmare what had happened this boy was holding me down from getting to Prim when she was dying. I glared at him as if he was the only one in the room. If looks could kill he would have a whole in his head but he smirked and looked away and smiled at the crowd.
Who does he think he is.
"Katniss! Play the crowd." Whispers Peeta in my ear.
So I smile and I wave politely at the crowd not knowing what to do but apparently that was the right thing to do as a million flashes went off at my eye and I fell back in shock.
Something was squeezing my hand as I realize I was grabbing onto Peeta's hand.
"Don't worry. Flashes won't kill you." He said.
I smiled at him. Thank god he was here or else I wouldn't know what to do. So we continue to wave and smile while walking towards the centre where there were 12 elevators arranged in a circle to take us to our room.
We finally make it into the glass elevator with Haymitch and Effie and Effie quickly shut the door and pressed 12.
"Good job you guys. The crowds love you. Especially the hand holding." Haymitch winked at us and I realized I was still holding Peeta's hand.
I quickly dropped his hand and I blushed and turned to glare at Haymitch.
Arriving in our apartment we arranged all of our stuff into place.
My room was painted gray and there was a big bed in the middle along with a dresser and a washroom connected. I went into the washroom and decided that I wanted to take a shower after a long trip from District 12 to the Capitol.
At first all the buttons were confusing but I finally got it right and took a quick shower and dried myself and put on some new clothes from my dresser. They were surprisingly comfortable. Hunter green shirt and leggings would do for tonight. I put my hair into a quick braid and left to go find Haymitch and Effie.
"So what are we going to do today?" I asked as I plopped down onto one of the couches.
"Today is the day that the capitol will meet you! There will be a huge ceremony to introduce all the new tributes and President Snow will make a speech!"
Fantastic. That bastard who brought me into this mess will be introducing me to the crowd who will be watching me die. Great.
I ponder all the ways that I could probably sneak a bow in and kill the president before I'm interrupted by Haymitch who says we need to meet with our stylists.
WHAT. Stylists? I don't need those. Why should I care about what I look like when I die?
Haymitch must have noticed my scowl.
"Sweetheart, you need sponsors to help you in the arena. Please look likeable at least."
"What did you just call me?" I growled.
"Sweetheart. Or did you prefer darling." Sneered Haymitch as he got up to leave.
Whatever. I'm much more angry about this stylist thing. The last thing I need is somebody to doll me up.
I march into the hallway when I pass by Peeta's room. I wonder what he's up to because he probably doesn't need a stylist. He's a boy.
I sneak over to his room and he's singing? Woah. I sneak a peek through the crack in the door and he's humming to himself. The Valley Song. It's so close to home that I almost start to cry. I remember him in kindergarten now.
"Does anyone know a song for the class?" asks Ms. Brindley my teacher.
"I do!" I yell.
"Great! Come on up Katniss and let's hear that song. What's the name?"
"The Valley Song." And I start to sing the words just as my father would.
After I'm done everyone isn't paying attention but one boy's eyes seem to be looking at me so I walk over to him and I ask why he's staring at me.
He told me that was the most beautiful thing he has ever heard and asked for my name.
"I can't believe you still remember." I said interrupting him.
He jumps and turns around and blushes before he goes back to looking through his closet.
"It reminds me of home and my innocent childhood I guess." He says after a while.
I go back to my room and I'm filled with temporary warmth as I remember the times when my dad used to bring me to the woods and he would sing himself. But singing could never be a part of my life anymore. When he left he took a part of me with him and I guess singing was it. I couldn't find my voice to sing to anyone but Prim anymore.
Effie's voice once again interrupted the silence as she told us to go get ready for our stylists. Great here we go but I heard Peeta had one too so I decided to go through it all. He was a boy after all but that didn't stop Effie.
Effie brings me to a new room in the apartment where I am met with three Capitol women who are talking about the mess I am. This is definitely going to be a long night.
They shampooed my hair and conditioned it over and over again until it produced a shine in any light. My skin was scrubbed and waxed and then layers of lotion were piled on so that I looked like I glowed. My nails were filed down to perfection while another woman worked on my make up. I sat there naked feeling slightly awkward when I sensed another presence in the room.
"Hello Katniss, my name is Cinna and I'm your stylist this year." Cinna says with a smile.
I instantly jump up and feel slightly embarrassed to have man look at me naked so I jump behind the nearest thing. A comb. I tried to cover myself with a comb. All of them starting laughing so I ended up laughing too but not after I gave them each a death glare.
"Katniss, don't worry about it! I'm your stylist you'll be fine." Cinna says.
I kind of like this man. He wasn't all Capitol-y with the fake wig and the weirdly coloured skin. A simple man dressed with simple clothes.
"I'm new here and I requested your district so I was thinking to myself what I should do with coal from your district and I instantly thought of fire. So you are becoming a flame not yet a fire but a small flame." Says Cinna thoughtfully
"Why did you choose my district? When you could've styled a district with Careers?" I questioned.
"Well that's because it's time to showcase other districts and as soon as I saw you in the reaping I knew you were the one to do it."
"Wow…you really think I can do this?"
"If I could bet, I would bet on you."
I stare at this man. He thinks I can do this? I'm a skinny girl from one of the poorest districts, and I think he's secretly plotting something evil. There's no way a girl like me is going to beat those damn careers so he must have some other motive. Maybe he's working with them and this dress will suddenly stab me when I'm least expecting it.
Cinna seems to see my unease and tells me to relax and that he will go and grab my dress. I'm left alone in the room and I realize I'm still naked but I no longer really care. When he's back I slip on the dress and it fits perfectly and even shows off some of my curves. It's quite heavy but I'm guessing is because of all the fabric on it. I look in the mirror and groan as I see him pull out the heels.
"The dress is amazing Cinna but do I really need to wear those?"
"Don't worry you can practice walking around in them but before I forget. I received something from the mayor of your district's daughter to give to you."
He pulls out a mockingjay pin and clips it on under my dress. My unease goes away. Madge told me she would give me something through a person I can trust entirely. I guess it's Cinna.
"Thank you." I whispered.
"Now I know that you're scared but remember, you need to get all the sponsors attention and with my dress and your growing popularity, I don't think that will be a problem. Just twirl when I give you the signal."
I nod at him and he leads me to the area behind the ceremony.
Peeta is sitting on the couch and I catch him staring at me.
"Peeta, stop staring at me, it's making me uncomfortable."
"You look so beautiful."
"So I don't normally?" I act offended.
"No! It's just that tonight… I mean you always look amazing…But like it's different tonight…but not in a bad way at all –I mean." Stammers Peeta.
It's actually really funny so I just go and hug him and he blushes.
"Let's goooo lovebirddss. Time to take some sponsors." Slurred Haymitch.
Not again. How is this drunk supposed to help me. I take his bottle and slam it on the ground again. Déjà vu as Effie screams at us again and Peeta just laughs. I grab Haymitch and scream at him to sober up. I do not have time for this. Luckily for us he just mumbles that he had just one bottle.
Whatever. Let's get this stupid ceremony over with.
