The lights hit her face and temporarily blinded her. For a moment Wren couldn't breathe. The host of the show stood five feet away with a large smile plastered on his face when he saw the girl. His hair was bluer up close than on the television. He held his hand out and Wren took it. She sent a smile to the crowd which seemed to go on forever. Caesar twirled her and the crowd gasped at her dress. Wren had accidentally hit the button on her bracelet mid-spin.
"Now that, ladies and gentlemen, is some dress!" Caesar gushed. Wren's cheeks blazed. "Wren you look absolutely fabulous. Can you explain to the audience what is on your dress?" Her mouth went dry. A few of the brightly colored people held up glasses to see clearer. "Stars," she squeaked out.
"Just stunning," Caesar complimented.
"Thank you, Caesar," she sat down in the white chair. It was softer than she had imagined. Her ankles crossed as she glanced at the crowd.
"Back home, my little brother and I would watch the stars. It's incredible." She grinned. The crowd clapped as she continued, "I find peace with the stars. They're with you no matter where you are. They help you find your way back home." Her hazel eyes scanned the crowd. The people sat in silence eating up her every word. The blue-haired man looked at the crowd.
"Isn't that just the sweetest thing?" he asked turning back to the girl.
"Wren, I think we all want to know how did you score a ten on your individual session? It's rare for someone of District Ten to score so highly. Can you tell us?" He asked wanting to know the girl's secrets. Wren put a stray hair behind her ear.
"Well, Caesar, you'll have to wait until the arena," she winked, "I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve." She paused for a moment before saying, "There's more to me than what meets the eye."
"Did you hear that ladies and gentlemen? It seems Ms. Eldrid here has a secret. Well, my dear, we can't wait to see what you do in the arena." He shifted in the chair and the familiar somber music began playing.
"At the Reaping," Caesar began. Wren knew exactly what he was going to bring up. "The camera cut to your family- that was your family right?" Wren nodded, "Yes, my mom, dad, and little brother." Her heart hurt as she spoke about her father as if he wasn't dead.
"Did they visit you before you left?" Wren bit her lip. Flashes of blood on the wall and the gunshot hit her hard.
"They did Caesar. They told me to win. My little brother told me I should win so I could go back home to him. I have to play with him and the chickens when I get home," she briefly joked. There was not a dry eye in the audience. She had even heard someone let out a sob.
"Wren we can only hope that you can see your brother again." She took a shaky breath before facing the people.
"As much as I miss him I will miss you all dearly. The Capital has become like a second home to me. Not only am I going to win for my family, but I win for you all. You guys are now my family." Wren lied straight through her teeth. She didn't give two shits about the Capital citizens. When the crowd burst into applause she knew she had sealed the deal; she was getting the sponsors she deserved.
Hundreds of people stood as she did. Many cheered and clapped while some others were crying. Wren's eyes met Ariana Galde's. The woman in red shot her a wink and a smirk which signaled that she had done a good job.
Caesar slid his hand into hers and raised her arm high.
"Ladies and gentlemen I give you Wren Eldrid. The Capital's very own Supernova! With stars in our eyes, I send her off. Thank you," Wren walked to the other side of the stage with a large smile on her face. She had won over the Capital. Her team had met her once she was further from the stage. Serena had on a green dress that actually wasn't horrible.
"Wren, you looked stunning and you did amazing!" Serena complimented the girl.
"Thank you. I told you I could wing it." She giggled as Serena rolled her eyes. The woman in red turned the galaxy girl towards her.
"You did an amazing job, Wren! We can all talk more once Roman's interview is finished."
They all turned their attention to the TV. Roman had just sat down in the chair and Caesar began his questioning.
"Roman, I've got four questions for you, are you ready?" The blond from Ten leaned forward a tad. "Yes sir." He gave a short nod. Caesar held up a finger after each question.
"How are you liking the Capital, what did you do to score a nine at the private sessions, what do you think of the competition, and do you have a certain someone in your life?" He asked at rapid-fire. They were basic questions he would ask anyone, and he did. Caesar mostly stuck to those themes when he spoke to the tributes. Roman gave him and the crowd a boyish grin.
"I think the Capital is amazing. It's certainly different from back home; I mean, the food and the people," he looked at the crowd, "are incredible." The blue man took the mic back.
"Please say more," he teased, "keep going." He batted his eyelashes.
"It's true, Ceasar! I find the Capital to be extremely beautiful as well as a certain someone, but I'll circle back to that." He winked. The women in the audience were in awe. "As for my score, I'm pretty good with a hunting knife, a dagger, and an occasional sword. I worked in a butcher shop back home, so I'll be in my element in the arena."
"How lovely," Caesar commented. Roman wiped any fake dust off his pantlegs before talking about the tributes.
"Now, the competition, I see no threats," he said bravely.
"And why is that?"
"Because, Caesar, if you see them as a threat then that puts a target on your back. They know you're scared so they'll come for you. So I'll tell you now that I'm not scared. I'm going to win." He said it casually.
Cato Hadley couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He knew Roman felt threatened by him. Not only feeling threatened for the glory, but for the heart of the girl. He half paid attention to the boy's next answer but was quickly brought back once he heard a familiar name.
"I said earlier that I thought someone was beautiful. She is and I believe you all agreed with me as she sat here moments before. Wren Eldrid. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl." He looked off stage for a second and made eye contact with the girl. "I wanted to say something to you before the games, but we haven't spoken since the kiss." Cato's face twisted into jealousy as he heard Roman mention that the girl he longed for had kissed him.
The Eldrid girl was livid that Roman sat on the stage and spilled her secrets- her private life- on national television. The crowd gasped at the news and leaned forward in their seats.
"Wren, I love you. I've been in love with you for years. Not only am I going to fight for us to make it out alive, but I'm going to prove myself to you. Even if it kills me." Her jaw dropped. Roman Winters just said he loved her in front of millions of people. All of Panem was silent. Caesar had to break it.
"I wish we could get her out here to see her reaction, but alas her time is up. Thank you, Roman, and best of luck to you. Everyone, Roman!" the crowd wanted more but they couldn't have it. He walked off stage. Wren didn't dare move as he tried to reach her. Ariana Galde stepped in front of her.
"Do you know what you just did? Roman, you just made her the first person everyone is going to go after. The Careers are going to slaughter her and hold it against you." The woman scolded the boy. He looked past his mentor at the girl.
"Wren, I'm sorry. Please talk to me. I had to tell you." He reached out his hand. "Wren-" He didn't finish his sentence. Cato Hadley's fist had connected with his jaw silencing him. In a split second the boy from Two had the boy from Ten pinned to the wall. Cato lowered his voice to where only Roman could hear.
"Did you really think you could get away with a stunt like that?" Cato was seeing red. Roman smirked but winced as his jaw was already bruising.
"It's true, Hadley. I love her. That's more than you'll ever feel for her," he spat. Cato's jaw clenched. "You don't know what I feel for her." Roman glared at him.
"You're right. I don't. But I do know that when the time comes in the arena I'm going to kill you and she will come running to me." Cato dropped the boy as he was pulled away by Brutus.
"You just lost your alliance. You're out of the Careers. Watch your back Ten." The blond said whilst pointing at the boy. A slight smirk was on Cato's face as he saw the purple bruise he caused. Enobaria snatched Cato by the ear and dragged him back to floor two along with the rest of District Two.
The two girls from One were angry with the brunette from Ten. Not only did she have Roman profess his love for her but Cato had hit him in anger at what he said. They set aside their petty fights over the boy and agreed on one thing. Wren Eldrid would die in that arena. Glimmer scoffed as she stepped away from the younger blonde and went back to her floor. Soon after, the other girl followed. Marvel couldn't help but notice Wren's face. It was a mixture of shock, anger, and confusion. He knew why two of them were there but he couldn't figure out why she was confused. No one could.
"Are you okay?" The boy from One asked the girl in the shimmery dress. Her hazel eyes met his light blue ones.
"I don't know," she said while letting out a long exhale. "I don't get why Cato did that. I'm mad that he did and I'm mad at Roman. The whole love triangle thing is ridiculous. Well," she chuckled, "it's only a one-sided love triangle. I like Cato. I don't love him. And I don't like Roman." She placed her hands over her eyes. Marvel patted her back.
"Cato does like you Wren. Roman likes you too. I'm not saying you have to choose one or the other, but be careful, okay?" The boy in blue left to go catch up with the two angry blondes.
Oliver Thaden was now next to Wren. He had no words. The brunette saw him but didn't acknowledge his presence. Before anyone else could speak to her Wren made a dash for the elevator. Tears began rolling down her cheeks as she picked up the fabric that felt as if it was weighing her down.
"Wren!" Oliver yelled for his tribute. The girl only slammed her finger on the 'ten' button in the elevator and the doors closed as Peetah Mellark did the same thing that Roman Winters had done. He had confessed his love for Katniss, only his was partially real.
...
The fabric was torn off of her body as she sprinted for the shower. The water was hot against her face and blended with her tears. Makeup streamed down her face. This was not the face of the Supernova the Capital made her out to be. No, this was a weak girl that had bigger problems than fighting to the death in less than twenty-four hours. This girl that sat on the cold tile of the shower was only a teenager. She shouldn't have to worry about saving her own life soon; she should be worrying about boys and other dramatic things. Wren coughed out water as she stood up feeling slightly satisfied with her time spent pruning up.
She stepped out, dried, and changed. She glanced at the clock, ten forty-five. The brunette ran a brush through her hair as she debated on going up to the roof one last night. She felt a pit in her stomach as she tried to play out possible futures. On one hand, Cato could be up there and they could get into another fight. On the other hand, they could make up and be friends again. Wren looked at her reflection as she stroked her hair one last time. She could see the stars one last time.
The brunette tried to clear her thoughts as she walked out of her room and ignored every word her fellow District partners and mentors said. The clock in the elevator told her that it was ten fifty. A hoard of butterflies found themselves in her stomach as she got closer to the roof. The doors opened. A blanket laid on the ground, but there was no person in sight. Until she saw him.
The blond boy from District Two.
The boy that sucker-punched Roman Winters.
The boy that caught her eye from the very beginning.
The boy that she had begun developing feelings for with every glance.
Cato Hadley.