Chapter 3, The Parade

Snow's P.O.V.

Enobaria sat on my bed and faced me. "We're going to arrive at the Capitol tomorrow." she informed me.

"Great," I said absentmindedly playing with my hair which had just been dried using some Capitol machine.

I bet half of the tributes were gawking at the high tech Capitol technology. 

"The stylists are planning something special, since they want you to stand out." 

I smiled. "Great."

"You want to win right?" Enobaria asked.

No.

"Of course." I answered.

"During training, watch that District 3 boy. Beetee's going to try something with him, he looks pretty strong. See if he's any good at hand to hand combat or with weapons." 

I nodded. 

I was planning to watch him anyways. I wanted to learn more about his family.

Enobaria left my room.

I stood up and paced around my room.

My fingers wrapped around a pin in my hair. I pulled it out and examined it. Given to me by the mother I never knew. 

It was gold with a white orchid on it. My mother's voice echoed in my head.

"Your father and I must leave to fight." she said softly. 

"We're sorry we'll never see you grow up. But you'll be someone special. That I can gaurentee."

My mom took the pin out of her hair and placed into my small, baby hand. She curled my fingers around it. "So you'll always remember me. You know, orchids are my favorite flowers." she whispered laughing sadly.

She kissed my forehead. "Good-bye my dear Snow." 

That was my only memory of her. That's why the pin meant so much to me. 

I stared at the train window and watched the sun go down.

***

My stylist stared at me for a second.

"I'm Cinna." he had said holding out his hand. "Snow." I said shaking it. I vaguely remembered Cinna being Katniss's stylist. One of the best.

"Enobaria told me you were going to try something special this year." I said watching him walk around. 

"She said that, did she?"

"Yes." I said to him. 

Cinna sighed.

"Get her makeup done!" he yelled. Three Capitol people ran in. Cinna left the room as they started applying nail polish and eye shadow.

I had said something to make him mad.

***

My dress made loud clanging sounds as I moved around.

It was a simple gold dress with a layer of chain mail on the outside. 

Cinna looked at me. "Good."

He pressed a button.

"Move around. I want to see if it works." he murmured.

As I walked around, sounds of small explosions filled my ears. Every time I moved, the dress would create a small fiery explosion. 

"You're part of the armory district after all. The explosion is created from small decorative bombs in the chain mail." Cinna said sighing.

My hair was up in some type of Capitol style, my face was relatively clear of makeup. The pin my mother gave me was in my hair too. I insisted on it being there.

Isis came in and ushered me outside. 

People stared at me as I walked into the room where we would prepare to go into the parade.

I examined the tributes around us. The small girl from District 3 stared at me.

Orchid.

I smiled at her and she smiled back.

Everyone else avoided me. 

I leaned against the wall of the room. A boy walked up to me.

"Hello Ambassador." he said bowing slightly. I could see a smirk on his face.

"I'm pretty sure Ambassadors are supposed to be civilized and they aren't supposed to punch other people but you're making it pretty tempting." I said grinning.

The boy laughed and looked at me for a second.

"Jerome." he said sticking out his hand.

I shook it. "Snow."

"Well Snow, I'd say you're a lot warmer than your namesake."

"President Snow isn't that bad." I said.

He laughed. "Of course you'd think that! You're name doesn't have to go into the reaping!"

"I volunteered." 

"Yeah, we all know. My mentor got so mad when he saw you. Started screaming." Jerome said smirking.

"No one wants me here." I said tugging on my hair.

"Well I do. You look nice."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks.

"Thank you. You look, uh, nice too." I said smiling.

He was wearing a pink outfit with jewels all over it. 

Jerome laughed. "I make it work don't I?"

"You're from District 1 right?" I asked.

He nodded.

He was the one who volunteered for his little sister.

"I can't wait to see you in the training room, see if you're as good as everyone says you are." Jerome said.

"I'm better." I said cockily, hoping to convince this boy that I was as cruel as he thought I was.

He grinned. "I'll bet."

His district partner called him over and Jerome smiled at me one last time before leaving.

I felt a smile stay on my face.

The boy from District 3 caught my eye.

I waved at him.

He looked away.

The parade started. 

"Places people!" a Capitol attendant yelled.

I walked up to my chariot and stood on it. 

Jerome turned around from his chariot and smiled at me.

I smiled back.

Kern stared at me.

"You're so weird." 

I turned to him. "What do you mean?"

"You always change your personality. One second your sucking up to our mentors, the next your insulting me, then your being sweet to another Career."

I rolled my eyes.

 The music started and the first chariot rolled out.

"Smile and wave!" Brutus said as we rolled out. I put a smile on my face.

As we exited the room, Capitol people started cheering.

When I waved my hand the explosions started. Kern looked at me jealously. They hadn't done anything for him.

I remembered what I was also known as.

The Capitol's spoiled brat.

"Snow! Snow!" people screamed.

I smiled and waved. Some people threw roses as we passed. I caught one and smiled even wider in the direction from which it was thrown.

Winning over sponsors. That's all I was doing.

The chariots circled around the center square. I saw the District 3 tributes watch me as I waved and smiled at the crowed.

"The 80th Hunger Game's Tributes!" a voice called over speakers.

Ceasar Flickerman.

The chariots wheeled into the Training Center and the doors shut. Our chariot stopped. 

Jerome walked over and offered me his hand. I took it and stepped out.

"Thank you." I said smiling at him.

"Quite the show you put on there. Your stylist is definitely smarter than mine." he commented while smirking.

"Are you kidding? I'd wear that outfit anytime. You'd could see me in the dark from a mile away!" I said grinning.

Jerome smiled at me. 

His mentor called him over. 

"I'll see you in training." he said before walking away.

 A girl walked up to me and matched my stride as I moved over to the elevators.

"Hello Snow." she said.

I glanced at her. She smiled at me.

"District 4, I'm a fellow Career." she said while we walked.

"Thalia, isn't it?" I asked while stepping into the elevator.

She nodded. "How'd you know?"

"I memorized the list of tributes." I said shrugging while pressing the number 2 on the panel of buttons.

"So you are as smart as they say." she murmured while pressing 4.

"Sure." I said as the elevator zoomed up.

"It's nice to meet you." 

"You too." I answered.

"I saw you talking to Jerome. Do you like him?"

Once a girl, always a girl, even in the Hunger Games.

"Even if I did, we'd never be more than allies." 

"Don't jump to conclusions. Maybe you can pull a Katniss and Peeta."

We laughed in harmony. The whole "berry suicide" was a joke in our Districts. Those two were killed, and Cato from District won. The Capitol people somehow managed to revive him using their technology.

"So you don't?" she asked as the elevator doors opened for her floor.

I smiled. "Perhaps." 

I heard her laugh one last time before the doors closed leaving me alone. The doors opened again on my floor and I stepped out.

Jerome's P.O.V.

I sighed and sat on the couch. "I did what you asked, I think I won her over." 

My mentor stood above me. "You want her as an ally. She can be the difference between you living or dying."

"And then after that?" I snapped.

My mentor stared at me.

"She would kill me in an instant. I'm no match for her." I said roughly.

"Well, then find someone you can beat. Team up with them to kill her. There is strength in numbers."

I crossed my arms.

I like Snow. She wasn't much like everyone said she was. She was actually pretty nice if not just a bit cocky. 

Snow was also really pretty.

My mentor turned around and walked away.

"Earn her trust! Then betray her. Kill her." he called.

Betray her.

Kill her.