Elle Lester, Victor
Elle tried not to fidget as her prep team worked on her. She shouldn't have been complaining. She did the impossible. She survived the Hunger Games. What was a little pain at the hands of people who weren't actually out to kill her? She knew what it was. It was perfect. She was safe. And so was Paxton.
She'd been told that morning that she would be able to see Royce after dealing with her prep for the day. He and Kitty were going to stop by the apartment before Elle and Paxton went to the City Circle for the Victor's ceremony. That meant that she'd been right in the arena. That hadn't been her brother, or Paxton's sister. Just mutts. Royce and Jaclyn were safe in their homes, and soon Elle would get to see them.
"Okay, Miss Lester. Just one more, and I'd call you ready." said Hazel, as she ripped the last bit of hair from her legs. Pride started working on her make-up, while Sally did her hair and Hazel sat at her hands, buffing the nails. THis part of the prepping was a lot more calming to Elle than hair removal.
When they finished, Elle was led into a room with Paxton. She immediately clung to him, before Flair and Alejandro could pull them apart. Flair told her to stand straight and smile, and speak only when addressed by President Linough or Wayland, but she had to make it look natural. After the ceremony, she was to go with Wayland to the interview room, where Finneon would interview her and Paxton for their second time. She noticed Alejandro make reference to the last time there had been a dual Victor interview. Flair glared him down, and Elle understood why. It was a time no one was supposed to talk about, especially Paxton and herself.
Paxton held her hand in the elevator as they rose up to the balcony that sat above the City Circle.
"Are you nervous?" He asked her.
"A little. It is the President, after all. You?"
"Not at all. I knew I'd win all along." Elle laughed when she saw that he was smiling, just joking. When they reached the balcony, Wayland took Elle by the arm and lead her to her seat.
"Congratulations, Miss Lester." He whispered in her ear. Despite her happiness for the moment, Elle struggled to hide her hatred for this man. It'd been his idea to make her think her brother had been killed. She had suffered at his hand. But she had to play nice.
"Thank you." she replied to him. Wayland left her at her seat, to the left of the podium where the president would give his short speech. She looked over at Paxton, but his eyes seemed to be focused on the Square below, where throngs of Capitol citizens were craning to see them. They were Panem's newest celebrities.
The roar of the crowd was silenced instantly the moment that the president took to the balcony. Everyone stood, as was law, until he motioned for them to seat themselves. Elle brushed out the skirt of her bronze colored gown, which had been Flair's idea.
"Welcome. Welcome, citizens of Panem. It is with great honor that I introduce you, today, to our newest Victors. Rise, Paxton Luke, Victor of the 100th Annual Hunger Games." Elle watched as Paxton stood and stepped forward, so that he was in rank with President Linough. "Rise, Shantelle Lester, Victor of the 100th Annual Hunger Games." Elle got to her feet and moved to stand next to the president, who motioned for someone standing off to the side of the balcony. A young boy, hardly older than Elle herself, came forward with a glass plate, which held on it two crowns. The President placed the larger one onto Paxton's head, and then the smaller onto Elle's. Funny, she'd expected it to be heavier.
"May I present, the Victors of the Fourth Quarter Quell! From District Two, Shantelle Lester and Paxton Luke!" Elle was shocked by how loud the crowd was able to cheer. Wayland ushered them bother forward. The height of the balcony was dizzying for a moment, but Paxton's hand on her shoulder steadied her. Elle waved for the crowd beneath her. Despite the distance between them and the balcony, some even tried to throw gifts. Flowers and such. After about another minute of waving. Wayland took them both and they left the balcony. Almost instantly she was whisked away from Paxton and thrown back into the hands of her prep team. Flair had them scrub the makeup from her face, the polish from her nails. The replaced it with a different palette. Lighter, more natural. Her dress for the interview was a deep blue, with the bronze tied in through a sash across her waist.
As they waited outside of the interview room, Elle noticed the similarities in Paxton's clothing compared to her own. His suit was the same shade of blue, the bronze accent lying in his tie and cuffs. For the Capitol, they both looked demure. Thankfully, the prep team had left her hair alone, so her scalp wasn't in pain anymore from the constant tugging.
"Please Welcome," called Finneon from the stage. "Paxton Luke and Shantelle Lester. This year's Victors of the 100th Annual Hunger Games!"
The Interviews will come in the next chapter. What do think of Elle's side of being back in the Capitol? Please Review! We're almost to the end!
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