The Scent of Roses || Coriolanus Snow

Chapter I

The air was cold and dry as the wind beat against your face. The walk to class had seemed much longer today, most likely because the wind pushed you back a few inches with every stride. Your gray scarf did its best to cover your face, but even the piece of fabric wasn't able to avoid the winds power.

It had been only a few days since you were tasked with mentoring someone from the District's reaped for the 15th annual Hunger Games. What a privilege and an honor to mentor a possible future victor and turn them into a star.

As you entered the Academy doors, a rush of heat flew over your body, causing sweat to form on your brow. You unwrapped the scarf around your face and headed towards the bathroom to freshen up. Today was the reaping. Today, you would discover which tribute you would turn into a spectacle. Who would you use to put on a show for all those watching the games and benefit significantly from the reward? Even if you got stuck with someone unable to perform or last even five minutes inside an arena, you knew you could get the people of the Capitol and all eyes to fall helplessly in love with them. Maybe if you got a boy, you could make every girl in the Capitol blush over him. Or if you got a girl, make every boy in the Capitol wish he could lie in bed with her.

You finished fixing up your hair and makeup as the door opened. One of your classmates, Alice, walked into the room. She gave you a grim smile before passing to talk to you.

"I see you're all dolled up for the reaping," she said timidly. "Hoping to get a victor today?"

You hide a smirk as you returned to the mirror, adding the finishing touches to your look—a few fake tears adorned with jewels. "I'm hoping to get a showstopper," you said politely, a devilish look filling your eyes. You looked back towards Alice as a smile struck across your face. "I'm looking to make the people fall in love with them so desperately, they'll riot in the streets to stop the games!"

Alice laughed awkwardly, though her face showed more fear than humor. You shoved your belongings back in your side purse and sashed it back across your shoulder. Alice was left standing in the bathroom as the door closed behind you. No matter what happened today, how strong, competent, or skilled your tribute was, or even if they won the games. They would win the people.

The room was already packed full of your classmates. Each anxiously waited in their seats, staring at the screens before them. It was only a few minutes until the reaping would begin. You hoped Alice would make it in time. Only a few classmates were missing, but none from the top 25 of your class. They were already sitting, staring as you walked into the room. None of them had made themselves as eccentric as you were, even though you wore the same uniform. Thankfully, there weren't any guidelines on how you could style yourself. After all, how could a tribute ever dress to impress if you didn't yourself?

You sat quietly, trying not to give in to the staring around you. Only a few more minutes until the reaping began, and then all eyes would be on the tributes. The tension was building up in your stomach as you stared at the screen, the waiting screen for the 15th annual Hunger Games in its washed, tan color. Soon, the faces of so many people, children, would be shown during the most terrifying and depressing moment of their lives. It was always interesting to see how they would react when their names were said and who would cry, scream, or freeze. This being your first year as a mentor, it would be strange to see these tributes so up close and personal. You hoped you would be assigned a tribute who wouldn't cry when they were reaped. It would not be easy to get them back in the favor of the Capitol citizens after such a scene.

A light touch brushed against your shoulder. One of your classmates, Cedar Almighty, had a smirk across his face as you turned towards him. "You look lovely," he jeered, stroking a finger across the sparkling tears under your eyes. He leaned in, his lips pressed against your earlobe as he whispered. "I missed you last night."

Red flushed across your face. You pulled away from him as you cleared your throat, trying to hush him before someone heard. "Well, you didn't come to see me, so that isn't my fault." You tucked your hair behind your ear, hoping no one else saw that interaction. His eyes were still on you as he put his hand over his mouth, trying to hide the look on his face. Cedar was one of the most stuck-up people you knew, maybe even in Panem. He had short, dark black hair with a pair of hauntingly brown eyes. If you stared into them long enough, which you had, there were flecks of gold inside them. His skin was of mocha, and many other parts of his body were excellent, but that was not something to think of when watching the reapings of all 12 districts.

"You should quit staring," Cedar said, snapping you out of your maladaptive daze. You shook your head, trying to brush him off, but he just kept grinning as he tried to silence a laugh under his breath.

The speaker's noise kicked in, causing everyone to bring their attention to the screens. Before you knew it, the reaping had begun with the first names being read from District 1. The girl was picked first; she was short and skinny, but her face sent a shiver down your spine. She had her jaw clenched as she walked through the crowd. Her eyes burned with a rage you had never seen in a person before. The boy was next, and he hardly impressed you. While tall and looked somewhat firm, he was petrified as the peacekeepers dragged him up to the stage. Your classmates assigned to them looked fine. The girl's mentor was beyond pleased, while the one for the boy was not too impressed. They stayed seated, awaiting the next District to be reaped and to see the rest of their competition.

The announcement began for District 2. Cedar yawned beside you, preparing for a long wait for his tribute to be selected. You rolled your eyes at him as the girl for District 2 was announced. She was quite striking, tall, and decently athletic-looking. She didn't react really at all, other than shaking her head as she waited on stage for the male tribute to be said. It almost looked as if she was fighting back tears. You zoned out for a moment, succumbing to Cedar's boredom yourself, when you heard her mentor's name said.

"The female tribute from District 2, Arabella, is assigned to Cedar Almighty!"

You felt your cheeks burn red as your head whipped to face his. Of course, he got assigned such a beautiful girl around both your ages, and he couldn't help but like his pleasure in that. One of his friends behind him smacked him on the back, congratulating him. You rolled your eyes, trying not to lash out and say something you'd regret. You had no reason to be angry with him. You two weren't even exclusive. But, with how close you two had become, how much you'd seen of each other, it was hard not to be jealous. You shifted your sullen expression back to the screen when the male tribute's name was reaped.

"Garnett Daybreaker."

The camera shifted to a boy around your age, and you rose slowly out of your seat. He was tall, very tall, and looked to be incredibly strong. He had light brown hair, from the looks of it, hazel eyes, and was covered in freckles. He turned to someone beside him, a younger boy, and warmly embraced him. Maybe a sibling? A friend? Whatever may be, you were infatuated with him. You heard Cedar scoff beside you, but you didn't care. You just kept staring at the screen as he walked to the stage, turning to face the crowd and pumping his clenched fist into the air. The people in the crowd joined him—a silent but powerful gesture. You smiled brightly as his mentor's name was read.

Your name.

Not only did you manage to gain a tribute who was strong, but he was attractive and daring. Virtually everything you would want in a tribute. This wasn't just going to be easy; it would be perfect.

Cedar rose beside you, whispering again into your ear as he grabbed your arm. "I'd sit down if I were you," he said, glaring at you rather alarmingly.

You turned to him, shocked he said such a thing to you. "Why is that?" you questioned, batting your eyes dumbly at him. "Jealous that you didn't get the only attractive tribute?"

He scoffed, shaking his head at you. "Don't be like that. It isn't like that." His grip tightened around your arm, looking at you more annoyed than longingly. "You don't need to act like you just got assigned your future husband."

You shook him off you, standing square in his face with little hesitation. "I'll make the Capitol fall in love with him, including you," you smiled, facing back towards the screen as it flashed with the next set of tributes. "If I do, too, I will have done my job."