Chapter Text
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Katniss turned to Gale and scowled. “This is not going to go well.”
He pushed open the car door and motioned for her to follow him. She had to jog to catch up with his long strides on the sidewalk. “We’ve been over this, Catnip. Star Dance Challenge is the biggest stage in Panem. Everyone watches.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she muttered as he opened the door for her.
“I will shove you inside,” he threatened when she hesitated. “The more people that see us, the more records we sell when we drop the new album. It’s the best exposure we could ask for. And besides the weekly stipend alone is worth it. We’ll be able to eat something other than squirrel while we wait for the money to roll in."
She sighed not bothering to admit that she knew he was right. She’d never give him that kind of satisfaction. The idea hadn’t sounded great to her from the beginning, but she’d let Gale convince her with talks of a fresh start and maybe even a little fun after all the bad that had seemed to pile up on her life in the past few years. She knew Prim would have been ecstatic she’d agreed to be on the show. It had been her favorite before the accident. The thoughts of her sister made her square her shoulders and step through the door.
“Welcome, welcome!” a woman with bright pink hair and skyscraper heels bustled towards them. “I’m Effie,” she smiled. “It’s so nice to meet you both. I just can’t believe they found two stars from the wilds of District Twelve to be on the show. We didn’t know you people had civilized talents. But look at the two of you. Striving past your humble beginnings and making it to the capitol. It’s like a movie.” Katniss scowled at the woman as Gale attempted to stifle a laugh at her ridiculous accent. “Well…” she said, looking them both over. “We better get you over to Haymitch.” She led them down a long hall that was filled with pictures of past winners and so much glitter that Katniss’s eyes crossed by the time they made it to an office at the end.
Haymitch looked up as she ushered them inside. “Well, well, well look what the cat dragged in from The Seam,” he grinned. Katniss scowled at him. “Whoa sweetheart, put that thing away. Nobody wins a tacky mirror ball trophy by scowling.” She scowled even deeper. He laughed at her. “I guess we know who’s getting kicked off the first week,” he laughed up at Effie.
She nodded. “He’s right, Katniss. Manners matter. The Capitol voters want to see people having fun. Smiles on and chins up. Bright eyes and bushy tails. Just try it, dear.” Katniss gave Gale a withering look before forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. Effie frowned. “Well…don’t worry dear. We’ll work on it.”
“Alright,” Haymitch took a swig from his glass. “I’m going to level with you kids. You’re underdogs. Long shots to make it past the first week. The other dancers are all going to come in with built-in fan bases. The only way you’re going to move forward is if the audience connects with you. That means you need to be likeable.”
“I thought this show was about dancing,” Katniss groused.
He chuckled. “It’s a television show, sweetheart. You have to dance well, but how the audience reacts to you will influence your story lines. And yes,” he held up his hand, “this show is as scripted as any soap opera. Each couple has a story line. Sometimes they’re organic. Sometimes people are so boring that I have to make something up. And sometimes the network wants to play up a certain angle and that’s where the editing goes. There’s always a showmance, there’s always a wah wah wah inspirational story. You may not like your edit, but that’s life."
Gale sat up. “So what about us? What are our storylines?”
Haymitch bowed his fingers. “To be determined. These interviews today will help me determine your partners and who I think you are within the puzzle of the show. Then I’ll be observing rehearsals for the first week to firm up the plans.” They both nodded. “Now I’m going to be asking you a lot of personal questions and I need you to answer as honestly as possible. You aren’t going to like it…especially you,” he pointed at Katniss. “But I need as much information as possible in order to create a strategy that gives you maximum exposure. Got it?” They nodded again. “Now you get out of here,” he waved Gale off.
“Come along, Gale,” Effie took his arm. “We’ll have you meet with a prep team to get you camera ready.” Gale grimaced as she pulled him out. Katniss and Haymitch both snickered.
“Don’t worry, they won’t do much to him. He has that tall, dark, and woodsman thing that the Capitol idiots go crazy for.” He eyed her. “They’ll have their work cut out with you though.”
She sat back and crossed her arms with a glare. “Obviously they haven’t gotten their hands on you yet,” she smirked.
He laughed. “Oooh, I like this one. You’ve got spunk. Not that I’d expect any less. I know all about you Katniss Everdeen.” The smirk fell off her face, and she shifted nervously. “Yup, I know all about you losing your dad in a mine explosion years ago. And how your mom checked out and you raised your little sister on your own for years before your mom finally woke up. And how two years ago little Primrose and your mother were both lost in a horrible car accident. It took awhile for you to rejoin society, but you threw yourself into music with your old friend Gale and the song you wrote for Primrose was picked up for one of those sob story movies. I miss anything?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about those things.”
He ignored her. “You and Gale an item?”
“NO!” she made a face. “He’s my best friend.”
“Never?” he grinned.
“God no. Gross.”
“Okay…so are you dating anyone?”
“What does that matter?” she slunk back further in the chair.
“No boyfriend…” he made a note on his pad. “And no friends either I assume.”
“Like you have friends,” she muttered.
He laughed and threw back the rest of his drink. “Effie,” he hollered.
She came tottering back in on her ridiculous outfit. “You screamed?”
“I’m done with her. Take her to Cinna.”
Effie put her hands on her hips. “Please.”
“Please what?” Haymitch made a face.
“Manners, Haymitch. Say please when you’re ordering people around.” He made a face at her. “Come along dear,” she took Katniss’s arm as she rolled her eyes at Haymitch. “Cinna is our costume designer extraordinaire. You’ll love him. But first you’ll meet with the prep team. They’ll make you a clean slate for Cinna to work with.” She led her down a hall where three people were waiting. “Katniss this is Flavius, he’s an amazing hair artist. That’s Venia, she’ll take care of the waxing and your skin, and Octavia makeup and nails. I’ll leave you in their capable hands for now. They’ll take you to Cinna when you’re ready.”
Katniss looked skeptically at the oddly coiffed and dressed team who was waiting eagerly in front of her as Effie bustled out the door. Venia ushered her to a small dressing room and pointed out a cushy white robe. “Go ahead and strip down and put this on. There’s slippers there as well. Come out when you’re ready.”
She heard them chatting animatedly as she changed. She cursed Gale under her breath one more time before stepping out. She was sat in a chair and made awkward conversation as she was plucked, waxed, polished, and brushed. When they finally deemed her ready she turned to face the mirror expecting to have green hair or no eyebrows, but was pleasantly surprised to look like a fancy version of herself.
“Gorgeous,” Octavia smiled. “Cinna will be pleased.” She took her arm. “Are you alright?”
Katniss nodded. “I look…pretty,” she said in awe.
“Of course you do,” Flavius said. “You’re a dish.” They led her down the hall into a huge room full of sewing machines and dress forms. Every surface was covered in glitter, rhinestones, and feathers. She looked around wide eyed and her eyes landed on a mannequin that was wearing just enough rhinestones to be considered not naked. She eyed it warily and jumped when she heard her name.
“Katniss Everdeen. I’m glad to finally meet you. I’m Cinna.”
She mustered up a small smile. “I’m not wearing that,” she pointed.
Cinna laughed. “No, that’s for Joanna. She’d rather be naked, but we do have some standards. I haven’t started on yours yet. I like to get know people first. So I can make the right dress for them.”
“So you’re here to make me look pretty.”
“I’m here to help you make an impression.” He looked at her. “The most important thing is for you to stand out. Standing out will get your votes. And votes are your lifeline in this competition.” She nodded. “So do you trust me?”
She studied him. “Yes. I think I actually do.”
He grinned. “I’ll take care of you Katniss.” He spent the next half hour holding color swatches up to her skin and taking her measurements. “Alright, I’m done with you. We’ll meet again once you have your partner and your first dance.”
“Okay,” she nodded. “Thanks, Cinna.”
She headed back towards Haymitch’s office to find Gale. Just as she was about to knock, she caught sight of a large group from the corner of her eye. She ducked back around the corner to watch them. They were laughing loudly and joking, and Katniss knew immediately they were the pro dancers. She even recognized a few from the times Prim had forced her to watch the show. She skimmed her eyes over the women who were all gorgeous with perfect bodies to the men who were no less gorgeous. Her eyes landed on a mop of curly blond hair and she gasped softly when he turned. She’d know those blue eyes anywhere. The boy with the bread. The baker’s son who had moved away at some point during high school never to be heard from again. She blushed deeply when she thought about how she hadn’t thanked him. She meant to, really she did. But she wasn’t good at saying things. She could remember the feel of his eyes on her from across a classroom, and the guilt that wracked her each day she stayed silent. And then one day he was gone. The rumor was his father had gotten the opportunity to open a higher class bakery in the Capitol. But here he was. She groaned and let her head hit the hard wood of Haymitch’s door. Before she could gather her wits the door swung open and she fell backwards into Gale. She turned around and glared at him.
“Don’t get mad at him, Sweetheart,” Haymitch chuckled. “You’re the one who’s beating down the door.”
She ignored him. “Are you almost done? We need to go.” Gale shrugged and looked at Haymitch.
Haymitch hit a button on his phone. “Effie? Sweetheart and the Woodsman are ready to go.” He looked at both of them with a smirk before Effie came bustling in.
“Oh, don’t you both look amazing. Those prep teams do beautiful work, don’t they? You look positively civilized.” Their lack of response did not seem to deter Effie. She handed each of them a folder and a set of keys. “Directions to the show’s apartments you’ll be staying in are in the packet along with any information you might need. Here are your keys.” She walked them out of Haymitch’s office and to the front door. Thankfully it seemed the group of dancers had moved elsewhere in the building. “Now, you should be here at ten on Monday morning. Please don’t be late. We hate latecomers. It’s just bad manners. Get some sleep this weekend, Monday is going to be a big big day!”
Katniss glared at Gale as they got into his car. “It wasn’t that bad. And you do look pretty, Catnip.”
She punched his arm and decided she’d ignore him for the rest of the drive.
***
Of course they couldn’t do anything the simple way. They couldn’t just tell her the name of her partner and let them get to work. Nope, they had to spend an entire day getting all fixed up and then meet their partners live on tv after hours of talking head interviews and a photoshoot. She had been made up, interviewed, and dressed by Cinna. She looked down at herself. Cinna was good at his job, she couldn’t deny that. Not that she was happy in the rhinestoned dress she was currently sporting, but even she could admire the handiwork. The neckline of the black bodice swept down modestly and made the most of her less than ample bust. She actually had cleavage for once in her life. The epaulet style cap sleeves showed off her toned arms, and the chiffon skirt swirled around her legs when she walked. He and his crew had covered the entire thing with fire opal rhinestones, and if she moved quickly enough it looked like she had burst into flames. She spun around a few times in front of the mirror. She looked over when she heard a knock on the door. Gale poked his newly clean shaven face through the door. “Ready, Catnip? We have to be in the holding room in three minutes and I honestly don’t want to see what Effie does when someone’s late. That woman is terrifying.”
Katniss laughed. “I think you can take her Gale.” She gave herself one final look and joined him in the hall. “You look like a goob.”
He scoffed. “You don’t like these high waisted pants?!” he struck a pose.
“Goob,” she repeated and stalked off down the hall. She led him into the holding room which was currently housing the other stars.
“No way,” she heard Gale mutter beside her. “That’s Thresh Andrews. The greatest linebacker of all time,” he said pointing at the very large man sitting in the corner glaring at his ballroom shoes. “And oh my god, Catnip, that’s that model…the one that eats tacos and drips it all over her ti…well you know,” he said making a motion in front of his chest.
“Sounds like a fine lot they’ve put together here,” she said, looking around at the group that looked pretty ragtag if she was being honest. She jumped when a perky blonde girl with a bouncing bosom-real, she guessed- unlike Gale’s porno girl-scooted up to her.
“Hello! I’m Delly. You must be Katniss, it’s so nice to meet you. I just love that song. It’s so beautiful. Are you excited? I’m so excited. I’ve wanted to do this show for ages but my manager wanted to time it with a new project coming out. It finally lined up with one of my movie premieres. I can’t wait to find out who my partner is. I hope I get Rye Mellark, he’s so dreamy!” Katniss’s eyebrows shot up. So there were two Mellark brothers on the show. She had very little memory of Rye other than seeing him wrestle once. She’d never even noticed him on the show. She snapped back to attention when she realized that Delly was still talking. She seemed harmless enough, so Katniss decided to return the required pleasantries. Delly didn’t seem to mind her lack of enthusiasm. She filled Katniss in on the gossip: Thom, the millionaire businessman who was on some tv show, was going to promise his partner an expensive car if they won. Cato, who Delly had been in a movie with last year, had already tried and failed to hook up with Glimmer in the ten minutes they’d been in holding. Delly suspected he’d come after Katniss next. And the tiny little bird like girl standing near the crafty table was only fourteen. Katniss’s head swam with the onslaught of information, and she was more than glad when Effie pushed her way into the room to hustle them into a line backstage.
Katniss stood next to Gale in the back of the line. She couldn’t decide if she was annoyed that she wasn’t going to get it over with sooner or happy that she was going to get to see how everyone else handled themselves. The show’s host, Caesar Fliickerman, stood on a balcony that overlooked the ballroom that they would be dancing in on the show. His blue hair bounced as he straightened his tie, and Katniss wondered briefly how many surgeries it had taken to make him almost look younger than the fourteen year old who was just ahead of her in line. Her attention was drawn away from him quickly when her stomach flip flopped to the floor as the credit music started.
Gale’s porno crush (Glimmer, she soon learned) was the first called out. She was the kind of gorgeous that made every man drool. Cinna had draped her perfect body in a thin gold netting that left next to nothing to the imagination. She literally glimmered when she moved, and came across much more competently than expected. She looked thrilled when Finnick O’dair was announced as her partner. Finnick was one of the most popular pros with his unnatural good looks and dreamy green eyes. Katniss had always rolled her eyes at his flirtatious nature and golden boy title, but grudgingly admitted that he was an amazing dancer. He had always been Prim’s favorite. Katniss drew in a quick breath and turned her attention back to the interviews before thoughts of her sister took her out of the moment.
Next up was Boggs, an Army veteran who had lost a leg in battle. He was a stern looking man, but smiled brightly and gave his partner Clove a high five. An older lady named Mags shimmied her way out onto the floor as Clove led Boggs off. She looked regal in her long sleeve gown, and Katniss knew immediately that she was going to like her. Gale nudged her. “That’s the lady from those old movies our moms always watch.” The lady had to be nearing eighty, but she was still beautiful. A handsome dancer that Caesar introduced as Gloss joined them on stage. Gloss was clearly one of the oldest of the professional dancers, but he was still only half his partner’s age. Mags made the audience titter with laughter when she gave Gloss a big smacking kiss on the lips when he went to shake her hand. Yup, Katniss definitely liked her.
Delly looked back at her and held up crossed fingers. “I’m next. Here’s hoping for Rye!” she bounced out. Katniss looked over at the pros who were lined up on the opposite side of the stage. She realized suddenly that there were only two male pros left. Rue, the tiny fourteen year old, had been paired with some kid named Marvel, so that meant that the Mellark brothers were the only ones up for grabs. She crossed her fingers behind her back, but for the opposite reason Delly had requested. There was no way she could face Peeta and his deep searching looks every day in rehearsals. Absolutely no way she could dance the rumba with him. She put every ounce of her mental energy into willing Cesar to announce Peeta’s name as Delly’s partner. She let out a long breath she didn’t know she’d been holding when her wish came true. She saw Delly’s smile drop the tiniest bit when she realized she wasn’t going to be dancing with Rye, but she flashed an even brighter megawatt smile when he came on to the stage. Thank god, Katniss thought. At least she wouldn’t have to throw the competition the first week to get away from him.
“Peeta Mellark?” Gale said. “Didn’t he grow up in Merchantown? He was in your year at school wasn’t he?”
She nodded. “Yeah. He moved away in high school, I think. I only spoke to him a couple of times.”
“Wow. Small world. I’m so calling him ‘Townie,’” Gale grinned evilly. He jumped when Effie grabbed his arm. “I guess I’m next. See ya after, Catnip,” he waved as he was pulled away. Katniss watched him get paired with a classy looking blond named Madge who gave him a sweet smile. She hoped that the girl had some spunk hidden under the good girl looks because Gale would walk all over her otherwise. Gale was her best friend, but he could be stubborn and annoying when he felt like it.
She watched the last few people get paired up before Effie finally called her over. She had no idea why they’d saved her for last, but at this point she just wanted to get this over with. She wiped the permascowl off her face and stepped out onto the stage. The hot lights glared down on her and the audience cheers buzzed in her ears. She took a deep breath, thought of her sister, and stepped up to Caesar with a smile on her face. Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Peeta standing with Delly. His mouth had dropped slightly open and his eyes were full of a million emotions. She had to force herself to pull her eyes away from him. She glanced back at Ceaser and only then realized he had been speaking to her. “What?”
Caesar chuckled. “I think someone’s nervous,” he laughed with the crowd. “I said…that was quite an entrance you just made. That dress is amazing. Will you twirl for us?” Katniss had never in her life twirled before, but if she was ever going to twirl tonight would be the night. She turned in a few circles making the dress fly around her legs. On her third time around she could suddenly feel Peeta’s gaze on her just like they were back in school. She stumbled a bit. “Careful there!” Caesar took her arm to steady her. “You look positively on fire!” Caesar proclaimed. “Do you guys want to find out who our firey songbird’s partner is?” The audience roared to life once again. “You all know him as the bad boy of our ballroom, big brother to our newest pro, and three time Pemmy Award nominee…Rye Mellark!”
Rye jogged out, shook hands with Caesar, made a bit of small talk then offered his arm to Katniss. He led her off the stage waving to the crowd and just like that the show was over. All those nerves that had been eating her insides all day disappeared as the lights went down. They were herded back into the holding room. Katniss had lost hold of Rye’s arm in the shuffle, but had stuck close behind him. As much as she wanted to go and change into some yoga pants and a tank top she knew she needed to make nice with Rye first. She turned on her heel to the spot she had last seen him and put her hand on his arm. The blond head swiveled around and she squeaked when she realized that the navy blue eyes she had been expecting to peer at her from her partner’s face were actually a pair of much more familiar bright blue eyes.