"Let's just focus on the present issue, which is your upset stomach." He stood up, cracking his knuckles. "My grandpa taught me a massage to help with it."
Wren went even redder, if that was even possible. "O-okay.." she said.
"Roll onto your side," he said, walking over to her side. While the situation was still very amusing to him, he held in his smile and tried his best to look concerned. "It doesn't matter which."
Wren nodded briefly and rolled into her left side, trying not to groan from pain.
He gently put his hands at hip level, his left on top of his right.
"It's not gonna hurt, but you'll feel a bit of pressure," Kaz explained, then pressed against her side.
His hands traveled in small circles. After about 5 circles in one spot, he moved his hands up her side slightly and repeated the process until he reached her ribs. Then he did the same, but down her side, returning to her hip.
"Any better?" he asked.
Wren let out a sigh of relief as Kaz's steady hands eased the pain away. "A lot. Thank you." A brief smile curled up her lips but she tried not to show it.
He pulled his hands away and nodded, sitting back down in the chair. "Next time when I give you advice, you better listen."
"I'll decide on that when the time comes. You're not always right." She smirked, sitting upright again.
"That's a big assumption to make about a person you met 4 hours ago," he said, settling into his seat and crossing his arms.
Wren scoffed. "Well, nobody's always right! I was just saying that it depends on the advice. I'm not going to listen if it's a load of bullshit."
"I don't speak bullshit," he said, sticking his chin out indignantly. "If I give you advice, it's trustworthy."
Wren shrugged, a smile visible on her face. "How would I know? I've only known you for four hours."
He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it and frowned. "I…..hm. Fair enough, I guess. That massage won't ease the pain for very long, by the way. Tell me if it starts hurting again."
Wren nodded. "Okay, but I think it'll be alright. I can ride it out. Thank you, though," she spoke softly.
Kaz shrugged and stood up, rubbing his hands together. "The offer stands if you need it. I'm gonna take a shower though. I smell like shit."
"Gotcha," she spoke, leaning back again. "See you tomorrow. When we're at the Capitol." She made a mock face of excitement and a fake "yaay!", which she exclaimed unenthusiastically.
He threw up a piece sign as he left the room, gently shutting the door behind him. The sound of the shower floated softly into the room about 15 minutes later, along with the sound of singing.
Wrens ears perked as she heard soft muffled singing from the room next to hers. She smiled, laying back in her bed and closing her eyes.
At around 6 in the morning, there were 3 knocks on the door.
"Wren!" Kaz called, "We're here! Wake up!"
Wren groaned, rubbing her eyes and sliding out of bed. She had fallen asleep in her clothes so it was acceptable to come out in those clothes. "We're here?" She asked tiredly.
"Yeah, we are."
He was surprisingly well dressed. His brown hair was slicked neatly back in contrast to the rat's nest he had yesterday. His suit was cream colored, with a bright red bow tie and shiny black shoes. He looked like a young businessman.
"Wow, you look nice," she observed, and turned on her heel. "I'd better get dressed." She shut the door, and came out a few minutes later wearing a nice dress shirt and black pants, her shoulder length hair braided on one side.
The man that had announced the reaping was talking to Kaz when she walked out, looking very pleased with the way he dressed.
"Now that's style!" the man said then turned to Wren with a frown. "Why not wear a dress? There will be cameras everywhere. You'll want to look your best."
"I think she looks great," Kaz said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Wren scoffed. "This is my best. Who said a girl had to wear a dress to look her best?" Her eyes met the man's curly green hair. "Maybe you should consider changing the color of your hair. Makes you look like a god damn cabbage." She walked past, hitting shoulders with the man on the way.
Kaz followed her with a smile as the man gasped and put a hand to his hair.
"I think you look great," he repeated just before they reached the train door.
Wren smiled. "Thanks, so do you." She opened the door, yawning, as hundreds of cameras were practically shoved in their face. She squinted at the flash, the brightness hurting her eyes.
"Okay, okay, back up!" Kaz said, putting a hand out to cover his eyes as he began to bulldoze a path out of the mass of people for him and Wren.
As they made there way along the narrow path of cameramen, Wren turned to the cabbage-haired man, asking "Where are we going now? The Remake Center, right?" He still seemed offended about her remark she made, but still answered her. "Mhm! They're gonna make you look good as new!" Wren breathed out a sigh of relief as they finally made it out of the crowd.
Kaz paused to straighten out his suit before following Cabbage man and Wren. "Am I allowed to keep the suit after they do…whatever they do in the Center?"
Cabbage-man shrugged. "That will be up to your stylist." The two were led into the Remake Center, where they had to part ways. Wren's prep team had spent at least two hours cleaning her up, stripping everything but her head of hair and scrubbing her down with some sort of soap, washed her hair, cleaned and clipped her nails. A couple of hours later, she arrived downstairs at a stable where the horses and chariots stood ready for the opening ceremony. Wren was dressed in a long, red dress, freckles with little black seed-shaped dots. Of course. District 11, the farming district. Of course they dress me up like a watermelon, of all things.
