"I'm Y/N.." He releases my hand.
"I'm sorry that this had to happen to you, I watched the reaping. It was very noble what you did." He pauses. "Most stylists will dress their contesters in outfits from their districts; but I want you to look memorable. Have you guys talked about sponsors yet?"
"No. The only tip I've gotten is to be likeable, but I'm kind of bad at that."
"I think you're doing great." Cinna smiles at me.
Time passes in a blur as he dresses me for the opening ceremony, until I'm with Peeta and him standing in front of District 12's horse carriage. "Your suit and Y/N's dress are designed to be lit on fire."
"Wait, what??" Peeta backs up a step.
"Don't worry, the fire is fake. Heatless." Cinna smirks.
"It looks pretty real," Peeta mutters.
"Good. That's the point." He faces me, "I know you won't be scared, right?"
"No, I won't."
"I'm glad." He hands me the control that will light our outfits on fire when turned on. "Flick the switch when it's your turn. I trust you will get the timing right. Peeta, don't forget to do what I told you."
Peeta nods, "I won't."
"Good luck, you guys." Cinna walks away, off the path for the horses, along with the rest of the mentors and stylists.
Peeta climbs up onto the carriage then offers a hand down for me. I take it and he lifts me up.
"Over 100,000 people craning to get a glimpse of this years tributes. And the sponsors get to see the tributes for the first time! The importance of this moment cannot be overstated." Caesar Flickerman's, a reporter on Capital TV that we watch every year for the Hunger Games, voice pours into the stadium. As soon as he stops talking, our carriage starts moving. District one tributes are the first to enter the room in which citizens of the Capitol are screaming and clapping and cheering.
The districts tributes pass through quickly and I can finally see the whole room that we will be in soon enough, including President Snow sitting in the front looking down at everyone. I switch the fire control and flames quickly cover my dress along with Peeta's suit. I see Snow's face change as he sees us. I look around at all the bright colors that are Capitol citizens clothing. They point, clap, laugh, smile, give us thumbs up. I look back, plastering on a fake smile for publicity. As I spot a banner with live video footage of me on it, I feel something or someone touch my hand.
I look down and see Peeta's hand reaching for mine. I pull away and look at him. He whispers to me, "Come on. They'll love it."
I trust him, seeing as he's better at making friends than me, and let him hold my hand. We raise our hands together into the air and the crowd somehow gets crazier. We smile at each other, then look away. I catch a red rose and I hold it in my other hand. We pull into the circular room that the President is in and our carriage pulls to a stop. Our flames go out and we out down our hands.
Snow stands up and walks to the microphone, "Welcome. Welcome. Tributes, we welcome you. We salute your courage and your sacrifice. And we wish you happy Hunger Games," he ends the speech with the trademark phrase for the games, "and may the odds be ever in your favor. "
Carriages start pulling away as soon as he finishes. We get out of there and are brought back to another room where mentors and stylists are waiting away from the crowd. Cinna, Haymitch and Effie approach us as we jump off the carriage. Cinna is the first to speak, "That was amazing."
"We are all anybody's going to be talking about!" Effie grins.
"So brave," Haymitch says. He's obviously drunk.
"Are you sure you should be near an open flame," I joke knowing that straight alcohol is flammable although he's probably, hopefully, drinking distilled alcohol with flavors added.
"Fake flame." He flaunts his head. "Are you sure you-"
He looks behind me and sees something that causes him to immediately stop talking and act sober again. I look back as well and see the District 2 male tribute staring at me.
"Let's- uh- let's go upstairs." Haymitch signals his hand to the elevator. I look back another time to see the boy smirk at me as we leave.
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The Games We Play
FanfictionY/N was born in the District 12 of Panem. She grew up next door to the Everdeen family. She became close friends with Katniss, though she's a few years younger. Her life was going pretty good despite the peacekeepers, her family being poor, and havi...
