Okay, just a warning: If the process of getting ready for the Games is different than the book, that's because the rebels didn't want it to be the exact same as Snow's games, but still close. I think I have it correct, but I'm not sure. Umm... yeah. Continue.
Disclaimer: Look. I know I don't own THG. You (hopefully) know I don't own THG. So why do I keep having to say this?! Suzanne Collins owns THG. :P
We were silent until the doors opened and we stepped into my new home for a couple of days.
"Well?" I asked, harsher than I had been with Octavia before. "What happens now?"
"Now?" Octavia asked. "Well, now I show you your outfit!"
She was back to her perky self; I was not. I followed her glumly down a hall, and into a room.
Octavia scanned me, seeming to be taking measurements. "This will work," she muttered as she all but ran out the room. I looked around me. There was a table, a plush chair, and two doors - the one that I had come in from, and one opposite from it.
I had just sat down on the chair when Octavia came walking in. I could tell she carried a hanger, but I could only see a sheet after that. Octavia ordered me to change. I slipped out of my dress, and Octavia helped me into my new outfit - I was closing my eyes. Octavia's orders.
"And... OPEN!" Octavia called. I blinked a couple times, and then realized I was standing in front of a full-body mirror. It was quite like my own. And then, I saw my outfit.
Octavia had used full advantage of my pink hair; my dress was the exact same color. It went down to just below my knees, and the sleeves just before my elbows. The neckline was decorated with tiny, flashing lights that blinked in every color imaginable. I twirled. Octavia grinned. "That's not all," she said with a smile. I smiled back.
She handed me a pair of nylons, then, as I put them on, fastened a headband onto my curls. When I looked up, I noticed that the headband also had flashing lights.
Finally, Octavia handed me some black, combat boots. I looked at them in disgust. "Are those my shoes?" I asked.
Octavia nodded bravely. "Just try them." I sighed, but put the boots on.
The first thing I noticed was that the room seemed brighter. Octavia gently turned me back to the mirror, and I gasped.
The dress, which I thought was just plain material, was glowing. I didn't know how, until I looked closer at it. Everywhere, there were little yellow lights embedded into the dress. They were so small that if you didn't look right at them, you didn't know they were there. The yellow was just what the colored lights needed. And you could still see the pink of the dress too. It was wonderful.
"It's wonderful," I said, forgetting that I was supposed to be mad at my clever stylist.
"I'm glad you like it," Octavia replied, blushing slightly.
Then, glancing quickly at the clock, she told me to go to the dining room; it was dinner time.
I hadn't noticed that much time had passed, until I realized my stomach was rumbling like a hovercraft. I dashed to the dining room, careful not to ruin my dress. Octavia follow.
-o-O-o-
The three of us, Beetee, Octavia and I, finished dinner with minor talk. After Octavia finish her last bite, though, Beetee began to really talk.
"Okay, Katrina. There are 13 chariots, 12 double ones and one single one. Commander Paylor told me she wanted you to be in the front; in the single chariot."
Beetee stopped, waiting for me to digest the information. I nodded, waiting for him to go on.
"Let's see..." Beetee trailed off, deep in thought. "Oh! Make sure you look as appealing as possible for sponsors. Wave, smile, blow kisses, whatever. Sponsors give money, money gives gifts, and gifts help you survive," Beetee said, nodding slightly; it seemed like he was remembering his two games.
I coughed to bring him to the present, and he blinked.
"When do we go?" I asked. I was already ready for the chariot rides, of course.
Beetee looked up, then at the clock. "Now," he replied, and wheeled himself into elevator.
I carefully stepped in after him; Octavia followed.
-o-O-o-
I stepped out of the elevator. The scene was exactly as Beetee described it. After I waved back at Octavia, nodded at Beetee, I made my way to the front chariot. It was a pretty chariot; snow white horses, light gray chariot, with gemstones around the edge of the chariot and on the horses' reins.
I stepped in. Just then, I heard voices behind me. Familiar voices. I turned.
There, standing behind me, were my two best friends ever: Sheeshey Garlenia and Uniqua Jade.
"Sheeshey? Uniqua?" I asked in amazement, gasping at them.
"Katrina?" They asked in unison. All three of us got out of our chariots, and hugged each other.
"Oh, Katrina! I just met Sheeshey when I came down here; both of us were down early. We hoped you wouldn't be here!" Uniqua exclaimed.
"I knew I was going in, with Grandpa and all, but this is worse than the actual Games!" I moaned.
"I know!" Both my friends exclaimed at once.
"Hey, did you know that instead of Districts, 'cause we don't have any, we're going to be... known partly by our number on our hand," Sheeshey said.
"What numbers are you guys?" I asked, looking at them carefully.
"Twelve," Sheeshey said, sighing.
"Thirteen," I said, because I knew they would want to know.
"Fourteen." Uniqua.
We all stood there for a moment, before I exclaimed, "Our numbers are all next to each other!"
"Hey, they are!" Sheeshey said, grinning at me.
"We could visit each other!" Uniqua said, smiling.
"My floor, after these rides?" I asked them. They both nodded.
Suddenly, there was a voice telling us to get in the chariots; the first one - mine - would be leaving soon. I waved once at my friends, then climbed onto my ride. The doors opened slowly, and I looked up to the Capitol lights shining brightly, and tons of cheering fans.
Yeah! Next chapter will be the rides. Oh, and if you have exactly no clue how to pronounce Katrina's friends' names, look below. Yeah!
Sheeshey Garlenia: She-shay Gar-len-e-ah
Uniqua Jade: You-knee-qua Jade
Just another warning: It might take a bit longer to write the chariot rides, but who knows? Maybe the Fates will be kind.