The Boy from my Dream

Chapter 9

The rest of the afternoon I spend with Cinna sketching, measuring, and laughing, really laughing for the first time in a while. We both agree dressing up in silly coal miners outfits will get us nowhere with sponsers.

After three hours of designing Cinna says he is done. I still don't know what I'll be wearing but I have faith in Cinna.

My prep team comes in and starts to get me ready. First they wash my hair again. Next they use this round brush with sharp black thisthles and a blowdryer to dry my hair. After 20 minutes of doing this my hair is soft and straight. I've never really seen my hair this straight before and it feels diffrent. They take two small braids and wrap them atop my haid so it looks like a braided headband.

My prep team seems nice and as much as I hate to say it I actually like them. I don't know if it's because I always find the good in people or if it's because their personalities reming me of my dog but whatever it is I don't mind them around me. I could complain about the hair pulling or the occasional poke in the eye but I know they are just trying to help and to be honest I am actually enjoying it.

Next makeup. They take some cream and rub it into my skin. It evens out my skin tone. Next they brush a powder all over my face saying it will make the cream last longer. They take black "eyeliner" and put some on my top lids and create a little wing at the end. Finally they put a nude lip stick on my lips.

Once they're done I look at myself. I'm surprised to see that they havn't really changed how I look. No dyes or tatoos or anything that extreme. I really like it. I thank them and say good bye.

 I walk into my room and see a black unitard laying on my bed with a note. It reads:

Nikki,

Put this on with the black boots in the closet. I know it's not much but trust me.

-Cinna

I am kind of confused. I thought we'd spent the whole day thinking of stuff and this is it? But I do trust Cinna and I know he's got something big coming. I put the unitard on. Its very tight sticking to my skin. I put the black boots on and lace them up.

Effie and Cinna bring me down to training center where all the other tributes are. This is my first time seeing them in person. Most of them are bigger than I am, me only being 5,3". Some however don't look all that powerful. The biggest ones are from districts 1 and 2, the careers.

I see Peeta, his stylist Portia, and Haymitch across the room and we walk over to them. Peeta is wearing the same outfit as me. His hair is its natural waves and they've done some highlighing to his face. Just like me he looks like himself.

"I wanted the sponsers to be able to reconize you guys in the arena." Cinna explains.

It's time to get on our chariots and ride in. Peeta and I, being from District 12 are last. We get on and Cinna shows us something that startles us both; flames.

"This isn't a real fire."

"It looks pretty real." Peeta says.

"I know." Cinna replies."But you'll just have to trust me."

"I trust you." I tell him. he smilies and again I return it.

The anthem begins and the doors open to the first chariot. I start getting nervous. Finally there's only us and one other chariot and my breath starts to speed up. Peeta grabs my hand and I look at him with a confused look.

"Don't worry." he says. "I'm right here." He intertwines his fingers with mine.

"Oh and.." he starts. "You look beautiful."

I open my mouth to thank him but before I can our chariot starts to moves. Right before we exit into the audience Cinna lights our boots on fire.

Peeta and I squeeze each others hands expecting to be burned but we feel nothing. The minute we ride in the first thing I notice is how the huge crowd that was just so loud, goes quiet for a moment. I'm confused when finally I see myself on one of the big screens.

The fire that strted in my boots is climbing up my leg. as it burns up my body it leaves not the unitard but little sparkly diamonds on my legs. The glitter from them falls off my body and finally I know what Cinna has created. The black unitard is the coal. Lighting it on fire is creating us, the diamond.

The aundience is back to screaming cheering our names. They throw flowers and blow us kisses. I don't know what to do so I just smile and wave. I look at the screen and see that we are still on it cameras not wanting to break away from the moment.

By the time we reach the other chariots the fire has burt out and Peeta and I stand there shining. Other tributes look our way. I notice that they seem not even awknoliging each other while Peeta and I are smiling at each other.

President snow a scary looking man approaches a podium and the crowd quiets down. I look up and see the cameras still on us but quickly flash to him as he clears his throat.

He's got a full white bear with eveil snake like eyes and a twisted smile. He is dressed in a simple black suit with one white rose in his shirt pocket.

As he speaks his voice is deep and scary sending chills down my spine.

He tells us about why we have the games, how its pulls our country together, and how we have so much courage. The audience stays silient hanging onto every word he says.

Once he is finshed we're pulled back into the training center. There Haymitch, Effie, Cinna, and Portia are waiting.

"That was amazing we are what anybodys going to be talkng about!" Effie cheers.

"Good job you two." says Cinna with a pat on the back.

"Haymitch and Peeta start to talk when I look over and see the boy from District 2. He's huge, 6 foot at least. He's got big muscles the size of my head and short pale blonde hair. He's staring at me. Not like the other tributes did. He smiling at me. I look away and shake it off but when I look back he's still smiling at me. I even notice him wink.

Peeta notices too cause when I look at him he's staring at the boy angrily. Haymitch notices and tell us we should head up to our room. Probably so no trouble is started between Peeta and the boy. Were at the elevator and I step in not before turning around.

He's still smiling.