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Three hours later, we had entered the building where we could possibly be spending our last days alive, and Mariana had us all together in the main living area.
"Alright. We may have had a, uh, rough morning but let's not have that ruin tonight! The Tribute Parade! This is the time to show yourselves to the entire Capitol and all of Panem! So, without further ado, here are your stylists, Hendria and Ventro. Cato, you will be going with Ventro and Clove with Hendria. Enobaria and I will be seeing you later!" she chimed, her smile never faltering throughout the speech.
I walked over towards the female stylist, who I assumed was Hendria. She wore everything silver and purple, the same metallic purple as the buildings I first saw when we entered the Capitol. She had on a dress that reminded me of an overturned cupcake, purple and silver like everything else. Her makeup was a bit extreme, fake silver eyelashes and purple eyeshadow that shimmered and made her green eyes pop. She looked me over then nodded as if saying that I was acceptable for her to style.
We took the elevator to the underground level, where we would be poked and prodded, waxed and tweezed, and all that other stuff that the prep team would have to do to get us ready for our outfits, and eventually get us on carraiges to do the Tribute Parade.
My prep team consisted of three people- two men and a woman. The woman wore a shirt that looked like the top of a tuxedo, but bright green, and a flowy, deep blue skirt that stopped just above her orange high heels with probably twenty straps across them. Her hair was auburn, and styled into a ponytail on the side of the top of her head, stick straight. Her lips were puffy and dark red.
The men seemed to be twins- they both had the same round face with corkscrew hot pink hair. They wore matching orange and white striped suits and thin eyebrows, with makeup I couldn't even begin to explain.
They spent about an hour on me, and I zoned out most of the time. I didn't even notice they were speaking to me until they said my name for the third time.
"Clove," the woman said, peering at my face oddly.
I cleared my throat. "Sorry," I said, although I wasn't.
One of the men said in a shaky voice, "We were just wondering about this ring, dear. Where ever did you get it? It's so simple- yet gorgeous!"
"Oh, um, it, ah, it was...my mothers," I lied.
The other man piped up, "Pity you don't know where you got it- it's beautiful," he said, sitting it on a table next to him.
"Please don't loose it," I said. "Holds a lot of sentimental value."
"Of course, dear," said the first man.
"Thank you," I said, but I wasn't looking at him. I was looking at a girl at another station, the one right across from mine. She seemed to have had a sudden interest in our conversation about my ring. Glimmer, I remembered her name was. From District One. Seemed like a complete idiot to me, but I couldn't be so sure. She smirked at me, not showing her teeth, a sadistic smile, like she thought she knew something that I didn't. I glared at her, then returned my attention to my prep team. I would have to keep an eye on her.
Once the prep team seemed to think that I was ready to be dressed by Hendria, so they led me to another small room where I waited for her. When she arrived, she was pushing in a rack with my outfit for the parade on it.
It was so... majestic. Even I was taken with it and I'm not one to appreciate clothing very much. It reminded me of some sort of higher power, and when I put it on I simply looked like a goddess. It was gold and shimmery and beautiful. Even the ridiculous headress added to the outfit, and I stared at myself in the mirror in awe.
Hendria's swollen lips turned up into a slight smile.
"You like it, huh?" she asked.
I nodded, and her smile grew a bit.
"And you don't even have the makeup on yet," she said.
The makeup was gorgeous as well. A dark eyeliner with a light golden eyeshadow. Deep red lipstick.
I looked into the mirror again, speechless.
"Th-thank you," I stammered.
She smiled again, and said, "Now remember. When you get out there, be serious. No waving, no smiling. Intimidating. I saw that stare of yours earlier. Now use it. Look deadly."
I nodded again, and she led me to the chariots. I caught a glimpse of Cato. He looked stunning. Our outfits matched. He saw me and came over.
"You look...beautiful," he said, his face in an almost comedically shocked expression.
I giggled a little. "Thanks...you don't look too bad yourself," I said with a teasing smile.
"Come along you two!" Mariana chimed, motioning us over to our chariot. We stepped in, just as the District One chariot took off. They were dressed in ridiculous pink and blue feathered-looking outfits.
Cato grabbed my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. I gave him a quick smile as he let go, and we charged forward. The light was temporarily blinding, but I remembered to keep my face deadly and serious, just as Hendria had told me. I didn't wave, I didn't smile, I didn't even acknowledge the crowd- just stared forward. I could feel Cato's tenseness next to me, could practically sense his tense jaw and steely gaze.
We were almost to the stopping point, where President Snow would speak to the tributes and all of Panem, when all of a sudden the crowd got louder, the screaming became defeaning. Ceasar Flickerman's voise boomed over them, "Would you look at that Claudius! Holding their hands up, saying 'I'm from District Twelve and I'm proud of it!'" he chuckled, "Wonderful!"
I looked up at the wide screens and saw them. Peeta and Katniss from District Twelve. They were...glowing. On fire. Stunning. And united. They were holding hands, holding them up in the air, and smiling brightly to the crowd. Roses rained down upon them, and cheers of admiration filled the stadium. They had completely stolen the show.
I saw Cato's knuckles, white on the front of the chariot and knew he was not happy about this.
District Twelve finally came to a stop with all the other tributes, and President Snow got the attention of the group for his speech, which I really didn't pay attention to. When it came to an end, the chariots went back under the stadium to be unloaded, and the tributes escorted back to their floors.
"Oh, you two were wonderful!" Mariana squealed, rushing over to us.
"Apparently not as wonderful as Twelve," Cato said coldly, glaring in their direction. Their mentor caught Cato's gaze, and ushered his tributes to the elevator. I looked at Cato worriedly. He shouldn't be so mad about this!
"Yes, well, every district had their own way to stand out! You two looked so intimidating! So deadly! Great!" Mariana continued brightly, gently pushing us towards the elevator.
When we arrived to our floor, Cato stormed back to his room.
"Cato! Cato, what's the matter with you!" I called after him.
He ignored me and tried to slam the door in my face, but I slid into the room at the last second.
"It's just the Tribute Parade! It's no big deal, just calm down!" I said, trying to grab his arm, but he just pushed my hand away and ran his through his hair.
"You don't get it, do you?! Clove, you need to get out of that arena alive. And if you don't have sponsers, and everyone wants Fire Girl to win instead of you, that's not going to happen!" he shouted.
"Cato, I...I don't want to win. Not without you. My life would be unbearable back at home if you're not there." I couldn't bear to say the word "dead".
"And you don't think the same goes with me?! I'd rather be dead and know you got out alive than being the winner myself any day. Don't you see?! I need to keep you alive!" he ran his hands through his hair again.
He wants to keep me alive? So that means...that means that wheather I like it or not, Cato is going to be dead. He's going to be sure of it.