Author's Note: I'm sorry that last chapter's ending was terrible. I just had no idea how to end it. Well, anyway, here's chapter 3! Thanks for all the support so far! :)

CHAPTER 3: The Chariot Rides

Katniss's POV:

As soon as the train stopped at the train station, Gale and I were ushered into separate rooms in the Remake Center to be prepared for tonight's opening ceremony: the chariot rides.

Now, I am sitting on a gray counter,gritting my teeth,as one member of my prep team, Venia, yanks hair off the last pieces of hairs my legs. She has aqua hair and gold tattoos over her eyebrows.

I've been here for over three hours, yet still haven't met my stylist. My prep team has washed me, turned my nails into uniform shapes, and rid my body of hair.

They ask me to stand up and I do as they tell me. I'm completely naked but it's hard to feel nervous since my prep team doesn't really look human at all.

They circle around me, pulling out any last hairs until finally, none can be seen on my body. My prep team steps back and admires their work. "Excellent! You almost look like a human being now!"Flavius, a male member of the prep team with orange corkscrew locks, says.

I force a smile and say sweetly, "Thanks you. We don't have much cause to look nice back home in District 12."

"Of course not, you poor darling!" Octavia says. She's a plump woman whose entire body is died green.

"Don't worry. When Cinna is done with you, you'll be gorgeous." Venia tells me.

"After removing all the hair and dirt off you, you're not horrible at all!" Flavius tells me encouragingly, "Let's call Cinna!"

Then they walk out the door to get my stylist, Cinna.

Gale's POV:

I wait silently for my stylist, Portia. I don't understand why my prep team had to remove all that hair. Most of me will be covered in clothes at the ceremonies anyway.

The doors bang open and I lift my head. A lady with light brown skin and black curly hair walks in.

"Hello, Gale. My name is Portia. I'm your stylist." she says as if I didn't know who she was.

I just nod and try to conjure up a smile.

"Give me a minute, okay?" she tells me.

Once again, I just nod and stand still as she walks around me.

"You can put on your robe so we can talk for a minute." Portia says.

Pulling on my robe, I silently follow her out of the dull gray room and into another with two blue couches facing each other over a small table. Three of the walls are a pearly white, the third is a glass window that show a view of the city.

Quick Author's Note: I know in the book, the couches are red for Katniss but I changed it to blue because they are different rooms.

Portia invited me to sit and I do as she tells me. She presses a button and The top splits open and our lunch rises. It's disgusting how they can press a button and food appears. Food that they don't even have to work to get. And there's so much of it, too. But instead of transporting it to other districts, they keep it hear and eat it all, letting the rest of us starve to death.

"We must seem so despicable to you" Portia says

I shrug but give small nod.

"So, Gale, about your costume for the opening ceremony. My partner, Cinna, is the stylist for your friend, Katniss. We both agree we should dress you in complimentary outfits. As you know, it's customary to wear costumes that reflect your district." Portia begins to explain.

"So we'll wear coal miner outfits?" I ask.

Just about every year, tributes from District 12 are dressed in baggy coal miner outfits that nobody really pays attention to.

"No. Definitely not. You see, Cinna and I think the whole coal miner getup is way to overdone. Nobody will remember you in that. And we believe it's our job to do the exact opposite. You will definitely be remembered this year. So instead of focusing on the mining, we're going to focus on the coal itself." she continues, "And I'm sure you know what we do with coal. We burn it...are you afraid of fire, Gale?"

I raise my eyebrows and shake my head. Even though I just met Portia, I can't help but trust her. If she's going to light Katniss and I on fire, it won't burn us. And I don't only trust her because it's against the rules to hurt a tribute before the Games. Something about her puts me at ease.

Katniss's POV:

An hour later, I am standing by Gale next to our chariot drawn by four black horses. We are dressed similarly, in a black jumpsuit and head piece.

"Think we're going to be burned to death?" I ask Gale looking up at him.

I haven't noticed how handsome he was before. But this suit really shows it.

Gale smiles, and grabs my hand, entwining his finger with mine, "No. But if we do, I'll pull you're flames off before you can feel a thing."

I smile and say "I'll do the same for you."

I hear the trumpets and know the parade will start soon. Cinna runs to us and lights both Gale and I on fire. I wait for the heat to come, but none does. Instead, a cool substance licks my shoulders and back. Gale and I clamber onto the chariot.

Cinna taps my chin, reminding me to keep my head high, "Remember you two: heads high, smile, wave. You want the crowd to love you." This is not something Gale and I are good at, to be honest. We usually keep to ourselves and only smile when we're together in the woods. I hope I can pull this off. Cinna smiles and walks away.

The chariot gives a lurch and my hand instinctively grabs Gale's so I don't fall out. Soon, we are in the spotlight and cheers erupt from all around.

Gale's POV:

I hold onto Katniss's hand as claps and shouts become louder. I know everyone already loves us because of our flames. That was the easy part. Now Catnip and I need to win them over with smiles and waves. I try to put on my best smile and wave at the crowd. I see Katniss doing the same and a real smile appears on my face. She looks so beautiful in her costume. So happy, even though I know she's only doing it for the crowd. I can't help but think she might be dead in a week.

The crowd showers us with roses and other bright flowers. A catch one and hand it to Katniss. A blush emerges on her pretty face and she gives me a slight smile. Then she turns back to the crowd, blowing occasional kisses. The crowd tries to catch it, like it's actually there. How stupid. Even though I hate them, I continue acting like the Capitol people are my friends by smiling brightly at them and waving.

I hear them begin to chant my and Katniss's names.

As the sky becomes dark, all you can see it the flames coming from our chariot. My cheeks hurt from all the smiling and I can't wait to stop pretending to smile. It's then that I realize I am still tightly holding Katniss's hand. I loosen my grip but she grabs my hand again and whispers, "Don't let go. I'm going to fall."

I smile and nod.

Finally, our chariot rolls into the Training Center and Katniss and I disembark. Cinna and Portia come to extinguish our flames and then I realize the deadly looks Catnip and I are getting. I nudge her and she looks around.

We've made ourselves loved my the audience, but just became the other tributes' number one prey.

Author's Note: I hope you all liked it! :) Thanks for all the great reviews so far. I'm not going to update for a month-ish because I'm going on vacation and I won't have time. I'm really sorry! But I PROMISE to update as soon as I get back.