| WHERE THE FIRE BEGAN | HUNGER GAMES

3 | PARADES

MILLER STARED AT the door in front of her, she was currently sat on a bed waiting to meet her stylist for the Games. As soon as the Tributes arrived in the Capitol, they were whisked away to be 'prepped', meaning they had their bodies washed, waxed, scrubbed. Anything to ensure they looked nothing like they did at their Reapings, Miller wasn't a fan of random Capitol people touching her to make her look like them. All the dirt was washed from her skin, the hair on her legs and under her arms were gone. Her eyebrows had been plucked and her hair thoroughly washed, dried and left hanging down her body. She sat in what seemed to be a hospital gown, something she was given after her bath.

The door slowly opened to reveal a woman, she looked very odd. Her hair was sleeked back and almost made her look bald, she had tattoos all over her face resembling tiger stripes and she even had small whiskers poking from her upper lip. "Ah, Miss Miller, how wonderful to meet you."

Miller was taken back by the woman when she walked over and kissed her cheek. "Uh, hi?"

The woman chuckled and held her hand out for the girl to shake. "I'm Tigris, your stylist."

The young girl nodded as Tigris began to examine her, thinking of ideas to make the Capitol stare at her. The older woman placed her hand on her cheek as she somehow perfectly measured the size of the girl before her. "So, District Nine...grain. Do you grow wheat?"

"Of course." Miller nodded and watched as a metaphorical light bulb went off over her stylist's head.

"Perfect, I have the most wonderful idea for your parade outfit! I have to start right away, I shall meet with you tomorrow Miss Miller." And with that, the woman rushed out of the room, leaving Miller sat alone.

Eventually a silent man dressed in red came into the room and placed down some clothes, they were simple and comfortable. After Miller changed into them she peaked her head out of the door and found the man, who then motioned for her to follow him. The man lead her to a nearby door which brought her straight into the Tribute living building where Miller quickly spotted Barley and Fabian as they spoke to each other.

"Hey, Miller." Barley smiled, a slight blush appearing in his cheeks.

"Barley." The girl nodded towards him. "What's going on?"

Fabian smiled as he walked towards the elevator, the two teens following behind him. They hopped in and just as the doors were about to close a hand stuck through and they opened again. Miller's eyes landed on a very well known man, Finnick Odair.

"Finnick." Fabian nodded towards the young Mentor.

"Fabian." Finnick smirked back. "These your Tributes this year?"

The older man nodded. "This is Barley and Miller."

Finnick let his eyes wander over the pair, lingering slightly longer on Miller as she held a small glare, clearly she didn't like that she was being looked at like a piece of meat. "You think they have a chance this year?"

Fabian's look turned into a glare at the cocky boy, who had previously let one of his Tribute die in the last Games. "Who knows." He shrugged.

The elevator dinged at the fourth floor, Finnick once again smirked at the small group before leaving through the doors and onto his floor. The doors closed once more and it headed up another five floors to the floor for District Nine. The two teens followed Fabian to their living quarters for the remainder of their stay at the Capitol before the Games.

"Do you think we should ally with District Four?" Barley suddenly asked as Fabian began to make himself a drink.

The man turned to him, looking very confused. "What? You think it's a good idea to ally yourself with a Career District? They'll kill you as soon as you give them a chance, they won't see you as useful."