The 175th Hunger Games

Chapter 6 - Alexia's POV

After Kolton leaves, we look over the list he gave us, then finish eating the food we were given, then go to our rooms. Once I realize that we each have separate rooms, I start to worry. Margo and I have always shared a room.

"Do you mind if I stay with you for a little while?" I ask Margo.

"Of course not," she responds, smiling, then opening the door.

We sit together on her bed playing with the projections all across the walls. There was a remote on the bed that controls them, and there are dozens of settings. Finally, we find a picture that turns the whole room into a meadow.

"It looks just like the meadow outside of town," Margo says.

I know what she's talking about, and I know that the tree right near the meadow is her and Lily's meeting place.

"It does, doesn't it," I respond.

We sit and look around at the beautiful meadow, with a tree line in the background and birds flying around. We're able to relax for the first time today, and we just talk about things like normal. I tell her about what happened between me and Aster, and she said that she just won a bet with Lily.

"How long have you been thinking that we would end up liking each other?" I ask.

"About a year and a half now." She says, grinning mischievously.

We continue talking for hours until we fall asleep, and sleep until we hear Vita banging on the door.

"Girls, I know you're both in there and it's time to get up. Breakfast is ready and we'll be arriving in the capitol soon!" she shouts through the door.

"We'll be right there," Margo yells, still half-asleep.

I go into my room to change into some new clothes, and find my closet stocked only with lavish Capitol clothes. I dig around a bit until I'm able to find the only normal looking thing in the closet. A baby blue sundress that looks a lot like the one I have at home for concerts and other fancy occasions. As I walk out of my room, I find Margo standing there, waiting, in a pair of jeans and a green T-shirt.

"How did you find that?" I ask.

"It was in my closet, under a pile of bejeweled jackets and boots," she says, "Somehow, they have a full closet of clothes specifically tailored to fit us yet only one normal outfit in each of them."

We walk into the dining car to find a whole new buffet filled with breakfast foods, and at the table eating are Kolton and Vita.

"Good morning," Kolton says when he sees us enter.

"Morning," Margo and I reply.

We go and grab plates of food, then sit down at the table with them. After eating a few bites of food, Kolton begins talking to us.

"So, today we arrive at the Capitol," he says, putting overdramatic emphasis the last two words, "and you will be greeted by large crowds and groups of people. You need to act excited, like this is the best day of your life. Smile and wave, blow a few kisses if you'd like, and start laying the groundwork for the role you'll be playing during the interviews and the games."

"The role we'll be playing?" Margo asks skeptically.

"Yes, the role you'll be playing. I know it sounds stupid, but you need to decide who your going to portray. Are you going to be the two girls from district twelve who would die to keep each other safe? Are you going to be the innocent siblings who need all the help they can get? Or are you going to be the strong independent sisters who won't need sponsors, but would like them? Pick something along those lines and stick with it. Remember, you need to be likeable and you need to seem like you have a chance at winning. The Games are as much reality TV as they are anything else."

"Alright then," I say.

Kolton continues, "After we arrive, you'll be ushered inside to be cleaned and polished and made to look like you grew up in the Capitol. You'll meet your make-up teams and stylists, who will then dress you up for the tribute parade. I hear they have something spectacular planned for your costumes this year, so be ready."

Shortly after he finishes talking, we feel the train slowing down. We've arrived.

"Get up, ladies, you need to meet your fans," Kolton tells us, pointing at the window, "Remember, smile and wave, and play your part."

We stand and walk to the window and see a large crowd of people waiting to see the district twelve tributes. As they see us in the window, they begin cheering, and I wave and smile. Margo waves, but can't help as a look of utter disgust creeps onto her face. These people may be cheering but us now, but we both know that soon enough they'll be cheering on our deaths.