Dye Jobs and Parties
Yuffie and I walked down the gold inlay streets of the Capitol, gossiping about other people we knew. I met Yuffie in lower school around year four. There are, as everyone in the Capitol knows, twelve years of school-six in lower school, six in upper school. At first, I did not care for Yuffie. She demonstrated a particular vulgar demeanor toward the less fortunate girls in our class. And by that, I mean she was a bully.
Yuffie had short, spiky blue hair-a common favorite among Capitol citizens. She was skinnier than I was, and resolved to make this a symbol of status in our friendship. However, she lacked the beauty that I acquired. Men around the Capitol called her "sexy" or "hot", but they saved "beautiful" and "attractive" for me.
Around this time, I had hair of an unusual yellow nature. My body type resembled that of an athlete, yet I possessed no real strength. Yuffie was delicate in her build, skeletal at times. We walked on this particular Saturday into the City Circle. Our destination was the dye job shop.
"Flavius!" Yuffie shouted to a boy holding an aerosol can, "Come over here."
Flavius walked over, and I took note of his light purple skin and orange corkscrew curls. He was in upper year five and one of the most stylish men around. In a few years time, he would go on to own this dye job shop.
"What can I do for you beauties?" he asked with a high-pitched intonation.
"We want dye jobs," responded Yuffie picking up a magazine.
"Well, lavender is all the rage this season. Sea foam green is making a comeback," he flipped his hand as he spoke.
"Lavender would be just heavenly," I answered, fluttering my eyelashes.
Flavius led us over to two large tubes. He held open a rounded, glass door and we stepped inside. Yuffie picked up two goggles from a container outside the door. She gave me a pair and we put them on. Then we stripped.
Nudity may have its fashionable moments in the Capitol, but the only way to authenticate a dye job is to indulge the whole body. I exhibited no embarrassment about being naked in public. After all, if I were to look fabulous, then this became a necessary step.
Once our clothes were protected in a leak-proof container, I gave Flavius thumbs up. He set controls outside our tube and pushed a large button. Immediately, a purple mist pervaded the tube, overtaking the air supply. The mist clouded my body and a dew settling sensation occurred. After about five minutes, the mist evaporated out of the tube.
Yuffie and I examined our lavender bodies, satisfied with the results. Skin dying was all too common around the Capitol. I tried to change up my colors once every three months as to prepare for the changing seasons. There was nothing more embarrassing than wearing last seasons' color.
"So, I got us in!" whispered Yuffie as we paid Flavius for his services.
"Yes!" I squealed in excitement.
"I had to pull a few strings and do a few things I'm not too proud of," she admitted with a regrettable look on her face.
We had been trying to procure invitations to an inauguration party for the Sixtieth Hunger Games. After one completed upper school, they could choose to attend Game school, an institution that landed Capitol students with positions within the field of Hunger Games. Anyone who wanted to be an interviewer, escort, stylist, or Gamemaker went there. I had considered applying, but with two years of upper school left, I had time to make a more concrete decision.
Yuffie was seeing a boy in Game school year one. He had connections to many important people within the Games franchise. Yuffie, who wanted to be a politician, had no interest in Game school. I, however, had many discussions with her partner about his studies.
"So, where is the affair going to be held?" I asked as we exited the dye job shop.
"At Seneca Crane's mansion!" Yuffie answered excitedly.
Seneca Crane was an attractive young man who had graduated upper school two years ago. While in upper school, he excelled in warfare studies and crushed the competition in academia. He aspired to be Head Gamemaker one day. Everyone who was anyone knew of Seneca Crane.
"Yuffie, we have so much to do!" I commented.
I was a master of timekeeping and schedule making. My punctuality was envied by my peers and coveted by my enemies. In my bedroom, I owned a large wall-sized calendar on which I keep dutiful track of all my happenings.
"Let's meet up later to shop for outfits," suggested Yuffie.
I agreed and headed home. My goal was to convince my parents of a few things. Firstly, I needed to get permission to go out for a party. Secondly, I needed money with which I could purchase a respectable outfit. Lastly, I needed transportation to get to Seneca Crane's. Yuffie's boyfriend owned a stylish car, but sometimes I made it a priority to out-do him.
With any luck, I could dance the night away and have a lovely suitor drive me home in his impressive vehicle. Oh, how I loved living in luxury. Upon my entrance, I noticed Alfie lounging in the parlor with his friends.
"You look like a grape," he commented as I walked in.
"No one asked your opinion!" I snapped viciously, daring him to further comment on my appearance.
I was very sensitive of the way I looked and the last thing I needed was my stupid brother criticizing me. He had a muscular build and an outrageous haircut, even for a Capitol eye. His unruly strands stuck out from his forehead like spikes, casting a deep shadow over his eyes. Much to my suspicion, I guessed that he fancied a girl in my year and went with her. Unfortunately, I lacked proof.
"Hey, Effie," his friends greeted me.
One boy had a massive nose and sleek silver hair. I paid him little to no attention at all times. He was very annoying and quite immature. The other boy was a different story. This man had one of the most impressive jaw lines around. Additionally, he possessed light grey eyes that peered into your soul. He was soft-spoken and very well known around upper school.
"Hello," I responded politely, "Where are mother and father?"
"Who knows? Who cares?" asked Alfie.
"I need money for a new outfit," I explained, "I need to look good for the inaugural Hunger Games party."
"You are not going to an inaugural party. There is no way a no one like you got an invitation," Alfie stated matter-of-factly.
"Oh yeah?" I snapped again, "Well, for your information, Yuffie and I are going to Seneca Crane's mansion for his party!"
The boys sat around dumbfounded. I particularly enjoyed Alfie's reaction. Under his dark nest of hair, I saw his eyebrows rise. I smirked in response and walked away.