“Oh you do flatter me” She added back, inclining her head a little flirtatiously to the side. She then ran her hands down the bodice of her gone and over her hips before looking back up. “Never hurts to look your best. Especially if you want sponsors” She added. Of course he would know the game, they all knew the game. They were all previous winners of the Games. They all knew how it worked, they knew it inside and out, they knew what the audience wanted. Finnick, Cashmere, Gloss, blimey even Joanna was wanted by the people of the Capitol. But this time, they would all need them. At his next comment she raised her eyebrows a little, and there was a flicker of burning hatred in her eyes. “Yeah… I was requested at more private functions” She said as she turned and walked with Finnick over to his chariot. Cash and Finnick had sometimes been at the same Gala’s. The guests of the rich and powerful, a trophy on their arms and then something to entertain them in the bed. Cash hated them! Every one of them sickened her, the way they poured over her and leered at her and it repulsed her. It was for that reason, she had other plans for these games.

Stopping beside the chariot for District 4, Cashmere ran her hand down the neck of the black horse before she caught sight of Katniss Everdeen walk in. The smile fell off her face, Katniss annoyed Cashmere. They would never be friends, and yet here Cashmere was preparing to put her life on the line to defend her. Katniss was the face of the rebellion yes, but it didn’t mean Cash had to like her. The blonde looked back to Finnick and she wondered if Finnick was in on the rebellion. Haymitch had spoken about it only to those he knew had suffered at the hands of the Capitol. To those he knew wanted the Capitol to suffer. Finnick would be amongst those numbers too, wouldn’t he? Cashmere’s position was going to be very difficult. She was a Career tribute and an extremely powerful one. She hadn’t won her games by outlasting the rest, she had won it by fighting and killing. Her abilities with a blade where second to none. She will be targeted and feared by everyone in the arena besides the other Career’s. And well, Enobaria tore out someone’s throat with her teeth, she wasn’t exactly someone to double cross. Haymitch said it all had to be kept quiet, Cash was definitely going to have to learn how to keep her mouth closed.

The gong sounded and Cash looked around to see it was time to get into the chariots, and she looked back to Finnick. “Don’t forget to make them swoon” She said to him with a wink and a dazzling smile, before she slinked off back to her own chariot, but not before playfully smacking his behind. Oh Finnick was certainly good looking. She arrived at chariot 1 and after some quick last minute adjustments she mounted. She straightened her shoulders before taking a more seductive stance, and she hitched her breath taking smile upon her face. The music started and their horses walked, and before she knew it the deafening roar of the crowd . They chanted and they screamed, and Cashmere blew kisses to the crowd and gave them smiles. It was all false, she hated them all. But who knows, she may need food in the arena or something else, who knows what sort of arena they would be in this year! The parade eventually ended and they stood before the president, the sun scorching down on Cash’s bare shoulders.

. . .

Peeta seemed unable to keep his eyes off of her, she was breath taking! She looked formidable and deadly, which he knew she was, and beautiful, again which she was. And as she eyed the competition, he took the opportunity to take her all in. He would cherish every last minute he had with her and would make memories to comfort him in the arena. The moments shared on the train, those stolen nights where they would hold each other and she would sleep in his arms. After all they had been through, it was a shame she couldn’t feel the same about him as he did her. He sighed and as she turned back to him, he made it look as if he too had been watching the others. “Me maybe” He said to her with a light smile. “You, not so easy” He said shaking his head. With her hunting and tracking experience, she had an advantage over this lot. But in saying that, what would the arena be? Snow had rigged these games, so he would probably make sure that the arena would not give her an advantage. Would he insist there be no bow? But surely the game makers would want to give the best show they could! They’d lose viewers if they made it too easy for some all the time.

“Do you think we’d have ended up like this?” Peeta asked her, changing the way of conversation. “If only one of us had have one? Just another part of the freak show?” He asked again. She had just enough time to answer before the music began, and Peeta watched everyone step into their chariots. He looked around to see if Portia or Cinna where anywhere, but he could not see him. “Guess it is up to us” He said. He helped her into the chariot, which she seemed to hate, and then the horse started moving. “Remember… try to look like you hate everyone” He said to her. There was a note of jest in his voice. She wouldn’t need to pretend or try, she did hate the Capitol. He could see the hint of amusement in her face before it straightened. He too straightened up and leant to the side a little, placing his hand on the side. Now his face was cool, his act was on. As they excited out of the centre and greeted the crowd, Peeta ignored everything. He was staring straight ahead, ignoring them all and looking slightly bored.

And then he guessed that Katniss decided it was time, and their costumes once more ignited. However it wasn’t the flames from last year, it was something more. Their black costumes were like burning embers, maybe it was their way of showing that fire still glows no matter what! He continued to pretend there was no audience, there was no one else aside from Katniss. But then again, there never was anyone else aside from Katniss. Throughout the speech of Snow, Peeta did not listen but eyed the other tributes. A lot of them looked towards him and Katniss, especially the Morphlings from district 6. The speech eventually ends and they wait until they are back in the centre before relaxing. “Glad that’s over” He said, knowing that was the last parade he would ever see. And there are Portia and Haymitch, waiting for them. Or Haymitch not so much, he was locked in a jolly conversation with those from 11. And from what Peeta could remember, Haymitch was good friends with Chaff. “Here” Peeta said, offering a hand to Katniss to help her down from the chariot.