The Hunger Games

Chapter Six

ROSE'S POV
I don't speak as my stylist Dameon rambles on about how District 12 was once coal. I knew that being from the district itself. "That's great." I interrupt rudely, sounding more tired than I meant to let on. "Well anyways, your dress is fabulous. I'll show you." The shorter man shuffled into another room, and I followed, though interested acted bored. I mean, Dameon wasn't that short, but he was definitely more than a few inches shorter than me. I'm around five foot six. He's probably five feet at the most. But his hair makes him seem taller. I laugh as I imagine his fluffy hair deflating into a floppy brown mess. "Come along." He displays a navy, glowing dress, decorated with flashing blue and white bead designs. The one sleeve draped over the mannequin's shoulder perfectly, the bottom gracefully cascading from its left waist to its right knee. I gasp as I see the perfect jewelry embedded with sapphires, earrings and a tiara and a necklace. The white sandal shoes Dameon picks up have straps that crisscross. I slip them on before admiring their amazing fit in the mirror as they glowed with our district 12 underwater floodlight technology.
"Wow. Dameon, you've outdone yourself." I felt honored to get to wear this dress for even five minutes. The sassy stylist nodded at his work. "Now put it on and come back for hair and makeup." He says, sauntering out of the room with his stylish boots. I look after him. He never fails to impress me, especially after that amazing bracelet he gave me carved with the words my father used to say.
I'll be with you on your way, following with you night and day. I'll keep watch over you, now go do the things you were meant to do.
Now that I read the words I had so many questions swimming through my head. Was I meant to die? How would the Capitol even know about the words? How long had they spied on us?
I pull the dress on, feeling the soft fabric drape against me. The earrings and tiara are easy to place on, and I adjust them in the mirror. I struggle a little with opening the necklace and I hear Dameon for me. I manage to quickly clip it on and dart out of the room, curtains swishing behind me. The room is full of cheers and clapping from Dameon my makeup artists Leona and Feona. The hair stylist Arateal nods slowly as she examines my hair. I know it's unusual, my hair color. It's so light it's almost white. "Okay, hon, come sit in the chair." Arateal chirps, patting the seat. I'm not a child.
My hair is knotted since I haven't brushed it in awhile. As the comb pulls through my tangles a cringe. Arateal sprays some weird stuff in my hair before braiding the two stripes of hair near my ears, letting the braids and my hair fall straight to my elbows like silk. "Look, look Arateal, hair sparkle." Leona says in her thick accent. No offense to her, but she sounds like she's chewing food all the time. She might even be, this is the Capitol, where the food is endless and they're throwing up to fit more in. I wouldn't be surprised if she was chewing something right now.
"Yas, put it in her hair. Ze crowd vill love her." Says Feona, sounding much different than anyone I've ever met. Her words rolled off her tongue in such a strange way. I stiffer end as they rubbed something rough into my hair. I itched but I could cope for a few minutes with it.
"Look in the mirror, darling." Dameon says, holding out to me a small pocket mirror. I can't help but smile at my sparkling hair. "Yeah, I like it." This provokes laughter.
"It only matters zat de crowd likes it." Feona says loudly. I frown. These people were nuts but I'd let them do their thing. Arateal stood in front of me, her green hair framing her dark face with shadow. I realized that she wasn't all made up like Feona with her fancy dress and pink streaks or Leona with her rainbow contacts and zigzagging blue extensions. "I'm glad you like it, hon. You comfortable?" She says, brushing off a little glitter from my shoulder. I nod with a small smile. I really liked Arateal, even if she was from the Capitol. She was actually decent.
After the makeup twins Feona and Leona had applied their mask on my face, adding spiraling patterns with face paint on my arms and cheeks, I was ready to get to the chariot. Arateal, Dameon, and the makeup twins followed me to where Jay was standing, wearing white bedazzled pants and a fancy navy shirt that glowed like my dress. I couldn't help but giggle how little they had done with his messy ashy colored hair. I stepped into the decorated chariot for District Twelve, hearing the anthem play, the roar of the crowd, clopping of horse hooves. Our white horses coated with garlands with gems and glitter whinnied. I couldn't help but feel sorry for them.
I step up into the chariot with Jay. Dameon began to say something but Arateal cut him off. "Don't make this uncomfortable. Smile and wave, okay, but don't look fake." It was nice of her to say that but how would I not fake happiness right now? I mean, I'm about to die. Jay pressed closer to me. I scooted away. "Jay, we don't need to look like we need each other. We both know we don't." I say. He nodded and we watched in silence as the golden dressed District 11 tributes emerged into the stadium. I swallow as the horses start to walk into the huge arena. I put a smile on my face and start to wave as the crowd cheers.
I'll be with you on your way...