"Hello, Peeta. As you most likely assumed, I'm your stylist, Portia. I have big plans for you." She pulled out a black suit and a cape. "Do you have issues with fire?"
I gulped. "No, um, not that I know of."
She smiled. "Perfect."
She explained to me that instead of being naked and covered in coal dust, or dressing up like coal miners, that we were going to be coal. We would be lit up and on fire like coal is. Portia and Katniss's stylist Cinna developed a synthetic fire so that we wouldn't be burned.
As soon as I was dressed in the all black suit, I was rushed out. I saw Katniss in a suit like mine as we were approaching our chariot. She didn't have the "cool" cape though. Our horses were just as black. They had hats made of the flammable material with single horns on them. Katniss actually did get a unicorn. I thought.
They went in order of districts, so we were last. Katniss and I looked up at the screen to watch the other chariots. District 1 came out looking stunning. The girl was in a sparkly dress and wearing as much jewelry as she could. The boy was in a suit covered in rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.
He's pretty hot. I thought. Although, he's nothing compared to Cato. Whatever, I need to stay focused. All these distractions will literally be the death of me.
Soon the chariot was followed by another. Clove, the District 2 girl, was modeled after Nicki Minaj, the greek goddess of war and sex. I saw a statue of her in the train looking exactly like Clove.
Cato was also dressed like a greek god. His tight outfit showed off his huge biceps. His butt was being hugged by the fabric, showing off all of his leg muscles as well. I assumed he was using his good looks to gain sponsors, like Clove. He had a cape, but it wouldn't be on fire like mine. By the way the crowd cheered his name, I could tell it worked.
No one else compared costume wise. District 5 dressed their ginger, Foxface as Katniss called her, up like a solar panel, but it made her look like an alien. District 11 went for the farmer theme, and I could see that Rue was holding a small pig while Thresh held a pitchfork. The edges were obviously dulled and the whole scene looked boring.
As soon as District 11 came on, Portia and Cinna walked over. They started by lighting the horses' horns on fire. It looked so real. The stepped towards us as they lit us up. Katniss and I were freaking out a first, but by the time we came out we had calmed down. I grabbed Katniss's hand as we took off, to show her that I wanted to be allies.
My strategy was to smile, wink, and blow kisses as they cheered our names. It was obvious that we were the most loved. I looked over at Katniss as she seemed stupefied. I lifted our hands up, and the crowd roared.
I saw myself of the screen. I looked so much better than I remembered. The fire looked amazing as well. The horses looked fierce, just as my cape made me look.
As we pulled to a stop, I looked at the other tributes. Most were awe-stricken. I saw the District 1 pair smile in reverence of our beauty. I reluctantly glanced at the District 2 tributes. Clove was glaring at us, mad that we showed her up. Cato, unfortunately, was not even looking at us. Does he not care that we just outdid him? Does he even know? I wondered.
While President Snow talked, everything was dark. Our fire lit up the area, drawing more attention to us.
As we listened, I kept sneaking glances at Cato. He finally looked at me halfway through. We made eye contact, but neither of us could look away. I saw his eyes travel up and down my body inspecting me. He turned back to the front, but I made out a smirk. He was grinning. Is he thinking of the ways to kill me? Is he making fun of me? Is he admiring me and my costume? Probably one of the first two, I pondered. I saw him sneak another glance at me, and I could have sworn that I saw him lick his lips.
After the ceremony, we met up with Effie and Haymitch and walked to a new building. This was the building that we would stay in for the time leading up to the games. There was a huge glass elevator, as Effie called it. It would take us up to our floor. Our floor was called the Pent House, according to Effie. It was the biggest of them all.
As soon as we got there I saw trouble itching for release. Cato was screaming at a game maker. I could tell that it was a game maker by the sash he wore.
"They don't deserve such a luxury! I have way more right to it than they do!" Cato growled.
They glanced our way. Cato smirked and narrowed his eyes. The game maker looked scared as he approached us.
"Excuse me, District 12 tributes. May I speak to Effie and Haymitch? Alone," he asked. I nodded as I pulled Katniss away from them. We went around the corner, out of sight.
"Peeta!" She whispered. "We need to know what's going on." She sneaked up closer towards the wall to hear them.
"That's not fair! They have just as much authority as him. This is discrimination, and when the Capital and Districts hear they will be outraged." Haymitch argued. He sounded as sober as he could get, meaning he kept up his side of the bargain.
"I know, Sir, but the District 2 male insists on this. I must make a compromise." the game maker responded.
"Compromise!?" Effie shrieked. "That's hardly fair to these poor kids! The demand was unreasonable to begin with, and you should tell him to follow the rules!" She stormed off furiously with Haymitch close behind. Her pink wig almost fell off a few times, but bounced back in to place as if it were glued on.
I looked over to Cato who was glaring at Katniss and me. He stormed off furiously as well, giving me the impression that he was not done yet.
Katniss and I walked towards the elevator. I saw a button that said twelve and pressed it, unsure of what to do.
"What do you think they were fighting over?" I asked.
"Isn't it obvious? What's the one thing we have that Cato wants?"
"A humble background leading to an overall good nature?" My attempt to ease the tension failed.
"The pent house suite," she explained.
It made a lot of sense, I guess. As soon as we stepped out Katniss's theory was proven.
"He wanted our suite! This has always been our suite." Effie screamed.
"I know. I was there." Haymitch replied.
"The audacity of," she paused as she saw us, "Now children you listen here. I will fight vigilantly for our suite. We have earned it through inheritance." It was nice to know she cared.
"So are we ready to eat?" Haymitch asked us.
I looked at Katniss who seemed to be closing herself off. "I think I'll check out the roof first. Katniss, would you like to come with me?" I asked.
She, very unsurprisingly, replied, "No."
Haymitch cleared his throat before declaring, "Yes, you will. You two are in this together and should be with each other at all times. The only person you will have in the last days of your lives is each other."
Katniss grunted at being told what to do, but she listened. We walked towards the elevator together. I was so shocked at how much she seemed to hate me.
As we stepped off on to the roof, I tried to converse.
"I'm sorry." I proclaimed.
She looked at me with confusion. "Why?"
I looked her in the eyes and answered, "I'm sorry that you were forced to go in the games with me. I'm sorry that we have to spend our last few days together. I'm sorry that I'm not going to be the best protector. I'm sorry that I'm not good enough to be your friend. I'm sorry."
She looked at me, her eyes undecipherable.
"Katniss, I know my father came and brought you cookies. Did you know that neither of my parents visited me? Instead, Delly Cartwright delivered a message from them. My mom said 'This District might finally have a victor. Keep her safe.'"
She lowered her eyes, and I heard a tear fall from her eye. She wiped it quickly and hugged me. We stood there hugging for about a minute. She was trying to keep her tough girl act, but she allowed this one display of affection. "Peeta... stop being a little bitch." she whispered with a smile. It was the first time she's said my name.
We heard someone clearing their throat towards the elevator. I looked over to see none other than Cato.
He approached us, and our height difference made me feel puny. "I'm sorry to have to break up this love fest, but actually I'm not." He didn't even look at me while he talked. His voice was directed towards Katniss.
"You can have your floor. I didn't want it anyway. All these material things are just distractions from the games, which I intend to be winning. I just wanted to show you that just because your stylists did a good job doesn't mean you rule this place."
His intimidation worked on me, but Katniss was another story. "Well, considering that we got to keep our suite, I'd say we're running things pretty easily."
He stepped forward as if to hit her. I quickly relayed the common rules. "Tributes may not injure each other before the games. If so, they will not be allowed to play and will face a slow death."
He looked at me for the first time in this whole conversation. He quickly looked back at Katniss. "You're lucky your boyfriend is here to save your ass. Now get off of my roof."
"Make me," Katniss hissed.
They were in each other's faces so much that their noses almost touched. I grabbed Katniss's hand to show that I supported her. "We're staying on our roof."
Cato sticked to one side of the roof and stared out at the city. Only god knew what he was thinking. Katniss and I did more or less of the same thing, but we were huddled up together. The air was cool.
A few minutes later, Katniss got up. "I think I'm ready to start dinner. Would you like to come?"
I glanced over at Cato who was smirking as if he saw victory. "Maybe later, we don't want to leave our roof unprotected."
She made her way to the elevator and left. As soon as she did Cato got up and stepped towards the glass elevator as well.
"Hey! Where are you going?" I asked.
"I can't spend my time sitting out here. Wasting time is not my goal."
I shrugged and flashed a wry smile. "I mean, spending quality time with me is never wasting time."
"I beg to differ." He curtly responded.
I narrowed my eyes. "What's your problem?" I demand. I walk up to him, inches from his body. "Why are so cold and spoiled?"
He got mad I assumed. He always looked mad though. "Why are you so small and worthless?" We glare at each other before I saw his face ease up. "The reason I hate Katniss is because you love her. I hate that she's your girlfriend."
I was so bewildered by that response. It just seemed so out of character. "She's not nor ever will be my girlfriend. Why do you even care?" I ask.
He leaned down and kissed me. I stood there for a moment before naturally starting to kiss back. He gently grabs the bend of my back before breaking the kiss apart. Without saying anything, he leaves, I stood there silently, thinking about what just happened. Cato, the god-like Cato, kissed me. He said he was jealous because I liked Katniss, and then he kissed me. This whole Cato situation just became a lot more complicated.
AN: Peeta's got a problem! Review!