PRIM'S POV
A hand shakes me gently. My eyes slowly open to find the blue-eyed Avox girl tapping me lightly, saying I have to wake up. I prop myself up with my elbows, swing my legs over the side of the bed, stand up and straighten out the silver silk. The Avox girl begins to tidy my bed.
"Oh, wait! I'll do it!" I protest. She narrows her eyebrows and shakes her head. "No! I slept in it, it's my job," I can see by her expression she disapproves of that. Quickly, I block her way to my bed, before she can do anymore and say, "Wait! What's your name?" The girl tries to carry on, but I won't allow it. "Please," She stays still. "I could have saved your life, but I didn't. I'm so sorry. But I guess I'm just like that," We stay silent. "I'm the one who should have been the Avox," Then I realise, I'm not saying that just to make her happy, I realise I really do mean it. Why shouldn't I be an Avox? What good have I done to anyone? I'm even too scared to hunt to keep my family safe and alive! How pathetic of me! I bet the girl's crime wasn't even that bad! They create people into Avoxes in the Districts for the most stupid crimes, which are not very crimimal like. For example, collecting drinking water from lakes and ponds, apparently were only allowed to trade for liquids at the Hobb where there are taps and mini water fountains. No one deserves to be an Avox, especially not this girl. She shakes her head, taps her throat with her two fingers and makes a cross motion on my chest. I think she means she wouldn't approve of it if I was an Avox too. This makes me fire up.
"But I don't approve of you being an Avox either! Please! I'm the person who allowed them to take away your life! I have to at least know your name!" Tears swell up in her blue eyes making them look even more sapphire like. My throat is tight with tears, and I'm forcing myself to keep them down. I reach for my hankerchief from Katniss and wipe her tears away with it, which reminds me of my sister, since this is what she was like when we had no food. I feel so close to her, to this girl. She reminds me of home, and most importantly, she reminds me of the person I love most in this world. I love her. She's bringing Katniss to me, so I can spend these last few days of my life with her. I love her. My throat gives in and the tears cascade out. The girl engulfs me with her warmth and softly strokes my hair, just the way Katniss does. My sister is here with me. "At least let me help you," I whisper. We plump up the pillows, straighten out the bed sheets, smooth out the duvet and carpet the bed with it. Afterwards, she exits my room and smiles at me before she closes the door. Just then, Effie bursts into my room clicking the floor with her staggering high heels.
"Primrose! Now, in a few minutes we will arrive at the Capitol! Eeeeeeehhhhhhhh! So, come for breakfast first! Then have a shower, do your hair all nice, and there is a special outfit for you in your wardrobe! Eeeeeeehhhhhhh!" she exclaims in an overly excited manner. I put on simple brown trousers, blue blouse and same brown shoes I wore yesterday. I walk over to the dining car where the long mahogany table is now layed out with what I suppose is breakfast. Two large baskets filled with bread rolls, three glass jugs poured to the top with orange juice, a huge golden plate with a mountain of hot buttered toast, a plate with a heap of juicy sizzling bacon, another with scrambled and sunny side up eggs, trays of fat meaty sausages, two baskets of succulent summer fruits and a giant basket containing little pots of chocolate spread. I sit down next to Peeta, who like me, is amazed by the wondrous variety and thinking hard about what to eat.
"Well! Look who is in an acceptable manner today!" Effie huffs as Haymitch enters the dining cart. " Listen, sweetheart. Shut up," he says sarcastically. Our escort rolls her eyes as usual and says to Peeta and I, "Exciting day today isn't it? Finally seeing the shining Capitol for the first time!" she boasts proudly. Obediently, we agree with her. I tuck into bacon, eggs, sausages, buttered toast and rolls smothered in chocolate, untill Effie finally blurts out, "Ah! At last! Tributes with good table manners! The ones last year were animals who hadn't even heard of the word "food" and went absolutely mad, like they hadn't even had decent food before in their entire lives!" I share a look with Peeta. How dare she! No one in all the Districts (apart from two) have any decent, hearty meals like this! Due to the fact we have to give it all to the Capitol! Despite the fact we spend days and weeks making quality food, supplies for them! And what do we get? Hunger! Poverty! People dying! All because of the "shining" Capitol! I roll my eyes, fortunately no one saw me. After breakfast had finished, I walk to my bedroom, strip from my clothes, and step into the shower. I wash my hair this time with shampoo with an irresistible citrus fragrance and allow myself to get enveloped in the same spring lavender and sweet honey. I dry myself with a towel and use another fancy Capitol device called a "hair dryer" , which makes a deafening growling noise, to dry out my dripping wet locks. As I open the wardrobe, I find the "special outfit" Effie was getting excited about. I carefully slip it on. It looks so beautiful! The material feels like the breeze lightly blowing against my skin, it is knee length, a soft pastel pink colour with short sleeves which look like tiny wings on my shoulder blades and a matching silk ribbon, circling my waist and tied up in a bow at the back. There are also slip-on shoes in the same pretty pastel colour with little pink roses. I brush out the tangles in my hair and intrecately fish braid it down the left side of my chest. My mother was always teaching me different braids at home. I always thought that they were so clever and beautiful, the way they were formed. Mother always used to say to me, "The more you braid your hair, to our District it brings more love and care," Everyone in our District says this, since 12 was the place where the art of braiding was formed. Then it spread to the Capitol, other Districts and as usual the home where it was created, forgotten. I make my way to the lounge area of the tribute train where Haymitch, Peeta and Effie are waiting, our escort is fussing over my mentor's stained tie.
My fellow tribute is dressed in a fresh white shirt, black trousers and perfectly polished black shoes with his ashy blonde hair neatly brushed out. Effie Trinket is wearing a mint green curly wig, decorated with a large fake sunflower with sparking thread and beads weaved through the curls, silk green shirt with sunflowers printed on, neon green tutu and staggering high heels.
"Oh Primrose! How beautiful you look!"she squeals with delight. I give her a warming smile and reply with, "You look amazing too Effie!" she lets out a small giggle.
"Now everybody! Big big big smiles for the cameras! Chins up, up, up! And lots of happy waving to the crowds!" The veichle pulls up to the train station. Peeta and I walk up to the window to see the Capitol citizens in thier bizzare fashions waving and jumping with excitment. I flash my best smiles to them and the cameras and blow them lots of kisses. Then Effie ushers us towards the exit. Here it is. The Capitol.
