The Hunger Games « Niam/Ziam

Chapter Five: The Prep Work

-Liam-

Lynna and I were rushed into the nearest building by Maralie. Lynna was guided, by a capitol women, to the left. I was taken to the right by an outragous looking blue haired woman.

I walked in and spotted only curtains and even more strange looking people walking around. The lady who ascorted me in pointed to one of the curtain covered stations. I walked in and sat on the bed in the middle of the area.

"My name is Amalil, I will be preparing you for your stylist," She said to me. Two other capitol residents walked in,"This is Ugard and Kyper, they will be assisting me." 

Ugard looked very harsh with his large, built and muscular arms. He had orange hair, which looked completly unnatural with his dark skin. Kyper, on the other hand, was skinny and pale. Her hair was practically white, and her eyes were purple and almost cat like. 

"Nice to meet you all," I didn't know what to say, my mum always told me if I don't know what to say just go for politeness. That didn't seem to help with this crew. Kyper smiled, but Ugard and Amalil just looked me over. Amalil pushed me down on the hospital bed... I didn't like where this was going.

By now I was in a hospital gown and waiting for my pedicure, of all things, to be over with. I was just sitting there watching Amalil file my toenails when a rather interesting character caught my eyes. He was being ascorted my way by one of his prep team I guessed, he was another tribute. He was definetly quite a good looking lad, too. I watched him as he sat down next to me, and I tried to place which district he could be from. His coloring gave him more of a district nine look, but his upper body didn't look that of a grain farmer. I saw him look me over with, what seemed like, flirtatious eyes. I almost returned the glance, but then I thought of my Niall. 

Eventually, after sitting in an increasingly awkward silence for a few moments, I decided I would talk to him, but only as a friend.

"Are you gonna eat those?" His voice spoke before I had the chance. I looked down at the peanuts that I hadn't noticed were there.

"Ah...no, I'm not," I respond.

"Good, I'm starving! To think they want to put us through all this without any snacks!" He exclaimed, outraged. I laughed for the first time since Niall's name was picked.

"I'm Liam, District twelve, you?" I ask him.

"Zayn, Distict four," He answered.

"I thought you to be more of a district nine, but district four is cool, makes sense," I say mostly to myself, but Zayn overhears.

"Making guesses on me already, I see. Well, I thought of you to be a district one or two," He said.

"Really, am I that intimidating?" I asked, kinda surprised.

"Not really, well... kind of. Just wouldn't suspect you as a miner s'all," Zayn replied.

"You got that right, I don't want to do that stuff, seems like District four would be an 'okay' place to grow up," I said.

"S'not bad if you know where the bests spots are," He said, with a wink at the end.

"Mr. Payne? We need to take you back now, Cera is ready for you," Analil cut in.

I wanted to slap her for interupting my conversation with Zayn, but she did bring me back to reality. I had forgotten where I was for a second. They were preparing me for the Hunger Games...not to long from now I will have to fight for my life. I saw the same expression on Zayn's face when I looked at him. I waved goodbye and was taken to a room that had 'District twelve- Payne,' on the door. 

"Cera will be waiting," Analil said as she opened the door and guided me in.

"She should be here soon," Kyper added as she walked in then.

"Kyper, will you please organize Cera's items, I don't want a repeat of last year," Analil said, while walking out of the room.

Kyper went to the metal tray and started organizing the things there.

"You're the one who volunteered for that boy, right?" She asked.

"Yes, Niall," I answered.

"Is he your brother?" She asked.

"Uh...no, he is my...uh...," I trailed off, not sure how to answer.

"He's your boyfriend isn't he?" She almost giggled.

I didn't know how to respond, so I didn't say anything. 

"Don't worry, I don't care," She said, smiling.

Someone walked in at that moment and Kyper scurried out the room.

It was a woman who looked to be in either her early forties or late thirties. She was the first normal looking person I'd seen so far. Her look was pretty average, only with a nose peircing to set her apart from a district member.

"I'm Cera, and I'm sorry that this happened to you, but I'm here to help you in anyway I can," She says in a motherly manner.

"Most people just congradulate me," I say back.

"I don't see the point in that, I'm not going to congradulate someone for being forced to kill others for their own survival," I could feel the anger in the harsh tone she held. "Tonight is the chariot parade, they are going to bring you out and broadcast you to the world. I'd hope someone as brave as you wouldn't want to be put in some silly costume," She said in a more playful tone. 

"No, I don't," I say.

Cera unexpectently gave me a hug,"That's for you volunteering for that boy, very sweet of you."

 I smiled and she smiled back.

"Well, let's get to it then," She said, brightly.