Innocent Girl - A Hunger Games Fanfiction

Chapter 4: A Good Look at the Others

"Nice to see I'm not the only one dressed like this." I jump and spin around, and see Alek behind me, looking almost as ridiculous as me. Apparently, our stylists idea of what a coal miner looks like is a giant helmet, baggy pants and a gray top smothered in coal dust. Well, it wouldn't look too bad if they had just kept it like that, but they wanted to "glam it up". When they pulled out the typical miners outfit, it was fine. But after that, they went crazy. Apparently, they thought that coal was glittery, so our clueless stylists stuck fake coal all over our costumes, despite Lena advising them not to. Lena normally inputs lots of suggestions to the stylists, and most of the time they listen to her. But not this time.
"This helmet is so annoying!" I grumble, as it tips forward, covering my eyes. This is about the hundredth time it has done this since they told me to wear the helmet. Alek grins at my annoyance, and I glare back at him. But the helmet ruins the effect by tipping over once again, making Alek laugh.
"C'mon, get on the chariots you two, it's starting soon," Alek's stylist says. We climb on, and the horses start to move, following the District 11 chariot. I make a mental note to myself that the two look quite similar. Perhaps they could be siblings?

When we get close to the entryway, we can hear cheers coming from outside. Probably for 1, their stylist is actually good. The girl was dressed in an emerald dress with jewerly all over her, and the boy dressed as a fancy jeweler, also wearing jewelry. When we roll out, the crowd seemas alittle confused, but not really knowing how to react clap politely. Alek and I wave  at a few Capitol citizens who spot us, but mostly nobody notices us. I mean, it's better than if we became the laughing stock of the Capitol. And anyways, we can get sponsors during interviews. Well, Alek can.

All the chariots pull to a stop at the end of the parade, where President Snow and his granddaughter, Celestia await us on the balconey.
"Welcome, everyone, to the opening ceremony for the 94th annual Hunger Games," President Snow says in his frail voice. If he were in the districts, he would be dead by now, but in the Capitol the average age to live to is around 123 years old. Crazy, right? President Snow suddenly coughs into his hankerchief, and gestures to his grandaughter to continue on for him.
"We look forward to the coming weeks, and to see who will be the victor-" Celestia pauses, and her gaze shifts from the District 1, 2 and 4 chariots to me, "-and who will not survive." She grins slightly, sending a chill down my back.
"As always, tributes, may the odds be ever in your favour." With that, the horses spin the chariots around and we all head back to where we came from. But the whole way down, all I can think about is the president's grandaughter looking directly at me, clearly positive I will be the first to die.

A little while later, Katniss, Haymitch, Dean, Alek and I are all sitting in front of the television in the flat provided for us.
"Didn't they used to show the reaping recaps to the tributes before the opening ceremonies?" Asks Alek, as Dean gets the recaps up.
"Yeah, but a few years after the 75th games there was a boy from district 9, he was around 17, 18? Well, he cried during the reapings and the careers saw it. Thought it's be a funny idea to push him off his chariot before the opening ceremoney. Broke his arm, he did, and was in pain the whole ceremoney. Because of that he was at a disadvantage and was the first to die." Replies Haymitch, after taking a swig of a drink in his hand. Probably alcohol. Then the reaping recaps start.

From district 1, they are both volunteers as expected. But the girl catches my eye. First, a girl who looks around my age called Crystal Bonli was called, but the volunteer, Star, volunteered just before their escort was about to move onto the boys. She was quite distressed, assumingly scared she didn't voluntee in time for her sister. District 2 is predictable, two overly confident careers. District 3 consists of two 17 year olds, and District 4 this year surprisingly has two volunteers. Normally they only have one, I guess to ensure that if the two tributes disliked eachother they wouldn't have an advantage having known what they work with. Districts 5 and 6 are pretty typical, miserable tributes that got reaped, but the boy from 6 is quite large. We might have to look out for him as well. From District 7, they are siblings, by the names of Blossom and Cedar, ages 16 and 18. Blossum volunteered for her twin sister, Ivy, and Cedar volunteered for his 14 year old brother. Since the rebellion, district 7 have been trying to 'reignite the flame', so almost every year their tributes are young or of relation to eachother. Districts 9, 10 and 11 are all around the same, nobody really stands out. And then comes District 12. Thankfully, I don't look like I'm about to cry, if anything I look neutral, only a bit surprised when Alek's name is called. And that's the end of it.
"That's good, you two composed ypurselves well. Though you two are definitely the youngest tributes, besides that 14 year old girl from 8. I think the only ones you really need to look out for are the careers and the boy from 6," comments Katniss. Alek and I nod, before wishing goodnight to everyone and heading to bed.