Chapter 7
Ruby woke up next to Haymitch. She stared at his face until he stirred. He opened his eyes and stared back. A knock on the door brought them back to reality. The Hunger Games.
"Come, come, come." Effie chirped. "We must have breakfast before we get to the Capitol." She called and walked away.
Ruby and Haymitch walked into the dining hall. Tano stared at their joined hands and sighed. Effie looked too but apparently decided to ignore them altogether.
Rupert didn't join them for breakfast, but soon after, they arrived at the Capitol. Ruby has seen the sight, but it was always a marvel. As they came to a stop, Ruby suddenly started freaking out again.
"Sweetheart, it's better if you just do what they tell you to do." Her father appeared as she nearly ran into him. She nodded. She knew he was right.
She went to the assistants and was scrubbed, waxed and primped. Her long red hair was the talk of the hour.
"Well, well. My beautiful Ruby baby!" Her designer walked in. She knew him. Hartwood, Armee Hartwood. When she used to come with her dad to the Capitol for the games, Armee loved to dress her up. He wasn't the only one who loved her. But he was the only one still working for the games. She was glad she got someone she knew. However, she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or bad.
"Armee." She greeted him as they did in the Capitol, with a kiss on both cheeks.
"My assistant's told me my girl didn't have that much prep to do and I knew it must be you." It astounded Ruby how excited he was about this.
"I kept up your work. For the most part." She mumbled.
"I'm so proud." He clapped his hands together and she snorted.
"Armee, I don't want to look like a clown. And I don't want to look like a mine worker, please tell me you're more creative." She stuck on a Capitol act. All fashion crazy and all.
"Oh my darling. I have the best costume for you yet!"
Some time later, Ruby stood ready by the chariots. She was wearing a black dress that had tiny gems on them. A bit too much glitter, but it gave the look of coal. Her red hair was curled and more extensions made the hair hang to the floor. Her face was covered in make up that brought out her beautify big eyes. She had refused to see what she looked like before she left the dressing room.
"Wow." Tano said when he walked up. His hair had been dyed red and gelled up into messy spikes. He was wearing a black suite that looked like a pimped up workers uniform. He looked rather ridiculous.
"Wow to you too." She said.
"You look like someone." Tano stated.
"A girl from your school, remember? Ruby." She joked. Tano smiled.
"Right. I remember now. That girl with the accent who happens to be too beautiful to look at. That's why I forgot. I never really looked at her." Tano joked.
"You can't see an accent." She said. "Can't hear it either if she never speaks."
"Come, come, come." Effie danced over and motioned for them to get on the carriage. Ruby twisted around, looking for Haymitch and her dad. When she couldn't see them, she climbed up and stood next to Tano. The carriage started moving immediately.
Ruby packed her thoughts in neat little packages and packed them away. She kept her mind empty for the carriage ride. She didn't think of anything. When she reached the end she laid eyes on the President and ignored the fact that he's looked the same for year already. She got back inside the building and switched her mind to finding Haymitch. She laid eyes on him and ran over. She kissed him and her father quickly pulled them apart.
"You can do that upstairs." He stated and the four members from District 12 got in the elevator and rode up to the twelfth floor. They sat down with Effie and watched the repeat on the large television. Effie was going on about the great publicity they've gotten already. With Ruby being Rupert's daughter and allegedly attached to Haymitch, the rumors are flying around like Jabberjays.
After the ceremony was done and all the commentary was finished, the TV switched off. Ruby stared ahead of her. The TV, which looked like a black mirror, was a blur to her.
"Are you sleeping together?" Effie asked for the second time before Ruby heard her. The question made her blush and she looked away. She saw Effie's reflection in the TV stare right at her. She was blushing too. Ruby frowned and Effie did too. It took her a second to realize she was staring at her own reflection. Ruby gasped and snapped her hand over her mouth.
"Alright, don't answer me if you don't want to." Effie complained and got off the couch.
"Yes. Yes we are." Ruby replied. She stood and stared at Effie's face. And back at her reflection in the TV. She cringed at how Capital she looked and set out to remove every bit of make up. The reflection haunting her all the way.