I feel like an idiot. And I look like one too. Fiyla has designed (copied) an apple tree which does not compliment my figure at all. I understand I'm skinny, much skinnier that any Capitol person would want to be, but still. She made the costume for someone much curvier than me and taller than me. I've seen her costumes for tributes before and she always seems to think that she'll get a girl that was made completely from her own imagination that looks like a model.

On me, the costume looks completely stupid. The zip is hidden at the back of the tree trunk, covered in an extra fold of material. All the heat builds up inside the trunk and I sweat like a pig. The branches are my arms so I'll have to hold them up all through the chariot ride which will just about kill me. Apples the color of dried blood hang down from the branches and they're actually just made of cardboard or something. Most of my upper body and head is a tangle of branches and leaves, with a hole just big enough for my head to peak through. Most of the leaves flop down just above my forehead since I'm not actually tall enough to wear the costume.

I must look gorgeous.

Later I see Nook is dressed in just about the same thing except his costume fits much better. We wait by our chariot with Fiyla and Karo silently. I see District 1's tributes, the cat cousins, looking amazing in their outfits. The girl's body is sprayed golden with glitter all over and the same with her hair. She wears a tiara that's silver and a silver tunic with sandals. The boy tribute however was opposite. His body and hair was sprayed completely silver with glitter and wears a golden crown, tunic and sandals. Together they looked stunning, if not a little stiff next to each other.

Must be awkward having to kill your cousin.

I look longingly at them as their carriage takes off. The crowds are shouting their names and cheering so loudly I'm tempted to put my hands over my ears.

One by one, the other chariots shoot off and then it's us. Fiyla is telling us to smile, wave and keep our arms up. I want to block her voice out badly but it's soon thankfully drowned out by the cheers of the crowd as we draw closer. Then we're out and everyone's looking at us. I feel my face go red and then see on the big TVs that they're showing us. Nook stiffens besides me but I take his hand in mine and squeeze it. We remain with our hands held but are careful not to let anyone see. It's like a sort of unwritten rule that you can't truly acknowledge the tribute with you on the chariots.

With my other hand, I wave best I can and try to keep up a big smile. I hate my smile. When I was six a boy once told me I had a yucky smile and then ran away laughing. Later that day though I sneaked up behind him with a big stick and pushed him in the mud. At least I got even.

The chariot comes to a stop and I look up to the big balcony with President Snow watching each of us. I wince as his eyes scan over me but my attention is taken away by District 12 as their chariot comes to a stop a little way over to my left. The tributes are naked and covered in black coal dust. I can see the amusement on the careers face at this and the satisfaction of disgusted look on most the crowd's faces. It's probably safe to say that District 12 won't have any sponsors but then again, they're probably thinking that about us.

After the chariot ride and all the embarrassments over, me and Nook are taken to the penthouse. Everywhere we look we see expensive and pointless Capitol items that could have easily been made in our own district with wood at a better quality. This makes me really angry but I try my best to hide it. Why should we suffer and live in filth while the Capitol never has to know pain?

Tizzy shows me to my bedroom and starts laying out dresses on the bed for me to pick from. I sigh an choose the first one I see, a red knee length dress with black leggings. It's covered in little diamonds, which I have no doubt about them being real. I wonder if this dress is new or if other dead tributes have worn it before me...

At dinner there's so much food I'm surprised my eyes don't go pop. My mouth hangs open a little but then I shut it before Tizzy can lecture me on it. I've had enough of that for the rest of my life. My very short life.

I fill my plate up with food and look over to Nook and see him doing the same. He turns to look at me and our eyes meet, faces red with guilt. There's not enough food to go round in half the districts but we're sitting here eating like Capitol pigs.

After a while I start to feel too awkward eating in silence.

"So..." I say, catching everyone's attention. The silence was too frustrating and any small talk is better than none.

"Nice weather recently." Nook says stiffly. I know how much he hates those awkward silences but his social skills are horrific.

"Really sunny." I agree, stiffing a giggle. The corners of his mouth twitch upwards and he looks down at his hands trying not to laugh.

There's the sudden sound of a chair scraping against the floor and we all look to see Karo, glaring both of us. He opens his mouth to speak but then shuts it. I share a look with Nook and Tizzy before Karo does speak.

"You two don't understand do you?" His voice is just below a yell. And I bite my lip. I think I know what he's going to dig at and I can't blame him.

"You think it's all giggles and fancy dresses but what you don't remember is that you're both going to die. And every moment you suffer, The Capitol is celebrating and betting on your lives. And you know the worst of it?"

There's a pause and no one says anything. Tizzy seems deeply confused, as if she's never really known what the Hunger Games are all about. Fiyla, for some reason, looks very embarrassed. I don't dare make eye contact with anyone though I can feel Karo's eyes boring into me.

Nook sighs for a moment, as if sounding annoyed with Karo.

"The worst is that we die alone with people who don't care about us. That our families watch our deaths and can't even touch us again before we're dead. The very worst is that The Capitol turn us into killers before we die."

For a brief moment Karo looks surprised. He didn't expect an answer, or, at least, not that kind of answer.

"Yes." He murmurs. "That sounds about right..."

Then he leaves and, strangely, Nook follows. I stand from my seat and take a few steps towards the door they both disappeared through. I'm about to call out to Nook when Fiyla grabs my wrist. She shakes her head slowly, and pulls a finger up to her lip. I frown and look past her for Tizzy but she had long retreated back to her room. My gaze goes back to Fiyla and she moves her finger from her lips to mine then gently pushes me through the door towards hushed voices.