I Bet On Losing Dogs

Chapter 2

Dottie can't remember much of the party but she knows from the sight of her heels thrown across the floor, and the makeup stains on the pillow beside her that she must have taken Ms Bloom's advice to heart.

Oh shit. Ms Bloom.

"Fuck!" She yelps as she hurtles herself out of the bed. When she rocks on her feet, steadying herself with the mirrored closet door beside her, she registers the room does not belong to her in the slightest.

"Be quiet." Jewel moans, pulling the blanket above her head.

"I Can't. I really can't, Jewelie." She pulls the curtains back, momentarily blinded by the light as her eyes adjust. She looks to her hair half done in pin curls from the night before, bobby pins sticking out at all sorts of angles.

"Shhh!"

Dottie thrusts the duvet off of her friend with a snap. "I'm meant to be meeting Gloss Sterling in 90 minutes so no, Jewel Heavensbee I will not shush." The panic in Dottie's voice cuts through Jewel's morning haze. She sits up rigidly and stares Dottie up and down.

"Well shit."

"Shit." Dottie confers, panic beginning to bubble. The clock by Jewel's bedside table glows 9:00 am, just short of the perfect amount of time she'll need to prepare herself and get across town. Jewel presses a button by her bedside as she tumbles out of bed, swaying slightly as she retrieves her bearings from the night before while the cavernous closet opens itself to them and begins to carousel a wide range of outfits.

Jewel plucks out a familiar short dress Dottie had stolen on a class trip in the Quarter Quell arena, decked out in shimmering black and orange snake scales that roll perfectly with the folds of the dress. "Take my serpentine dress, you always look amazing in that."

Dottie shakes her head and flicks her hand to whip it back onto the carousel, the items continuing on their merry way as they both peruse. "I'm about to start my replacement for a woman infinitely known for animal prints."

Jewel realises her fashion faux par and disregards her own sentiments with the wave of her head. "Nevermind, I'll have a decent enough dress somewhere, I'll task Mathilda to find it for you while you have a shower."

"I don't have time." Dottie rubs her temples as the sting of a hangover lures over her menacingly.

"Then make some." Jewel bites back at her and starts shoving Dottie playfully towards the bathroom. "Go. Go!" She chides like she assumes her mother would if she saw her right now, how she would never hear the end of her doting lectures in punctuality. The jets of water help whisk away the remnants of last night, dried and caked makeup on her face vanishing as the darling scent of vanilla and sandalwood revitalise her skin with their gentle oils. She exits the shower to find that Jewel has set a navy blue pantsuit, laced meticulously with precious stones to light the fabric like the night sky and its shimmering constellations. It's a perfect fit, both for Dottie and the occasion itself. The living area has a small plate of pastries and freshly cut fruit for her to hastily consume. Jewel carries a stunning mahogany wig, sliding it onto Dottie's head as she wipes away the last crumbs of a croissant. "I fixed your wig and put everything in a purse to match. The car should be pulling up downstairs in a moment."

Dottie sighs with relief as she looks through the purse, with all her much needed makeup to complete in the car trip across town. "Where would I be without you?"

"Good thing we shall never know." Jewel proudly quips back at her, scrunching up her face. While she makes her a cup of coffee to take along with her. "Promise me you'll describe exactly how today goes word for word while we have dinner tomorrow?"