A/N: Okay, this is basically Haymitch's story, It starts on his reaping day, and will end when I lose reviewers. I hope you read this and review. I don't like negative reviews, but constructive reviews are good. I am going to edit this soon, but I am busy. If I do not get about five I will just delete it. I am so glad you like the hunger games like me too, 'cos It's amazing. Thanks for looking at my story now please R&R. I love reviews, and they don't go un-noticed I will review you in return. I'm nice like that :)

Sorry for the mistakes, I will edit soon!

Disclaimer; I do not own the hunger games :'(

I wake up, the sun pelting down onto my body; which is sprawled out on the mud floor. A pillow of grass supports my neck, and the twigs and the bracken are holding up the flowery blankets, that are seeped around me. I groan and flex out my fingertips. Just to check I still have life within them. I lay here, letting last nights words absorb into my mind. Last night me and my father got into a fight, not just the small fights we occasionally have, but a big one. About my mother, my mother who passed away a few weeks ago. He was drunk last night, not just slightly, he was drunk. He threw me out of my own home, and I have no intention of going back. I came out to the woods, to hide. I don't know what from though. Anyhow I will have to be in the justice building at two. Surrounded by a sea crying kids.

I climb up unsure of where to go. There always seems to be more electricity in the gate on reaping days, so I have to move. Quick. I desert my bed, and I walk up to the gate. I don't usually come into the woods, so for me squeezing under that gate is terrifying. Just the fact that if someone sees you your life is over. But today, if anyone caught me I would be more then dead, I mean I slept a night outside of the district. When I reach the gate I lie flat on my belly, near the lose spot, which close to the meadow. I crawl under and out into district twelve.

The district is deserted, everyone indoors, petrified of the outside. Today is not just reaping day, but reaping day for a quarter quell as well. Two weeks ago we found out what was happening. Like for the twenty-fourth games, people voted who went into the arena. But two weeks ago we found out for the fiftieth hunger games, that not two, but four people will be picked for the arena. The day we found out, was the day Mother died.

I trail around the district and up to Tom's house. Tom, my only friend. I knock on the door, and his mother quickly opens it. Her face is a blotchy red, and so are her eyes.

"Haymitch," she says. She has always liked me, and always loved helping me. She knows what an evil drunk my father is, so she is always welcoming.

"Susie," I begin. She made it clear that she wanted me part of the family, so I call them all by the first names, "Hows Tom?" I ask,

"He's fine, It's just Charlotte who is not coping," she says in her motherly voice. Charlotte is Tom's twelve year old sister, I guess It's hard having your first reaping a quarter quell, especially when the odds are not in any body's favour. "Your shirt, It's dirty," observes Susie.

"Yeah." I stall, trying to think of a reason my shirt could be dirty, other than sleeping in the woods.

"Come in, I'll wash it for you,"

"Okay,"

"Pass me your shirt, Tom's in the kitchen." Susie explains as I step into the house. It always smells nice, like the baking of bread. I strip of my shirt and head straight into the kitchen. The soft cream room, is my place to relax. Sometimes when father's drunk, I am allowed to just sit here, and block out the rest of the world.

"Haymitch," Tom says, giving a half smile, some how knowing my father is drinking. I guess this is my real family now though.

"Tom, how you feeling, 'bout today?"

"Dunno, one-hundred per cent more tributes, but can't really see it happening." he smiles.

"I don't care what happens, either way I've got no life." I spit.

"Haymitch, stop talking like this." Tom says, he can always keep me strong when I brake down, but I think this time, I've broke down into too many pieces. Too many pieces to possibly fix.

"You don't know how hard It's been since mother passed. Father just drinks like there is no tomorrow, but when I think about it, there is no tomorrow. My mother is not coming back. I think he drinks to escape the endless nightmares. But it means leaving me to fight the reality. Maybe I should just turn to the drink too." I say harshly, nearly in tears, but I can't cry. Tom's hand is now on my back.

"Every one feels it on reaping day. But nothings going to brake us down. I promise." Tom says, unsure of whether or not he is helping. But I like the us part, me and him.

"Haymitch?" Susie calls from the next room.

"Yeah." I say, quickly dabbing at my eyes, just to make sure no tears will flood through.

"Your shirts ready, it might be a bit wet, but I'm not magic."

"Okay," I say. I head to the door, look back at Tom, then shake my head slightly. My eyes cringe up, asking him for help, before I walk into the front room.

While she smooths my shirt down I quickly comb my hair.

"Haymitch, I think I, Tom and Charlotte need a bit of time to get ready. See you down there though," She says.

"Okay, bye." I whisper, some how wishing I could stay longer.

"Bye Haymitch," Charlotte says from behind the door, while I dress in the shirt.

"Bye," I whisper back at Charlotte.

"Come here, Haymitch." Susie says. She stretches out her arms and holds me in an embrace. "Good luck." She coos in my ear.

Outside the words she said actually hit me. 'Good luck' She didn't mean good luck with the reaping, she meant good luck with father.

I stroll around for a while. I walk up to a bakers, the fresh smell lingering in the air. In the bins, they normally throw away the stale, stale, stuff. What happens is, they sell fresh, their family's eat the stale, and throw away the very stale. Still It's food and I'll eat it. I rummage through the black bin, until I find an okay loaf. It's green at the ends. But I pretend It's district four bread. Which is green from the seaweed at the edge.

When I eventually head down for reaping, I find Tom grouped with the seventeen year old males. I have never been very friendly, I only have Tom, were as he has a huge range of friends.

"Hi," I say, my voice croaky.

"Haymitch," Tom smiles, spinning around on one foot to face me. Before we can actually begin to talk, the mayors voice booms through the speakers. I guess his speech will be extra long, and extra boring considering It's a quarter quell. When he has finished ratting on, telling us of our ancestors mistakes, the announcer, Carrie begins to talk. She has short blonde hair, she is getting old but still looks okay. She Begins with,

"May the odds be ever in your favour." in her stupid capitol accent. "Laddies first," She walks up to the glass ball, her fingers skimming the pieces of paper. Her hand dives deeply into the centre of the bowl and pulls out a ripped, square of pure paper.

"Katie West," when the camera detects her face, I can tell she's from the seam, dark hair and skin, and those bright grey eyes. I recognise her face, I think she lives near me. I'd say she was about two years younger, perhaps fifteen, but she is still just as strong. She gives a little smirk and walks forward.

Carrie greets her on the stage, and whispers something to her, before then picking another girl. This time, she does not chose with as much enthusiasm.

"Maysilee Donner," she says. A young, pretty girl, obviously a merchant's child. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Two other girls, all blonde are clinging onto her arm. A look of horror and sorrow hits her like a force field. She tells the two girls something; one of the girls is identical to her, they're probably twins. Then she slowly walks forward.

I gulp hard, knowing now It's time for the men. But like I said, either way I don't exist, sooner or later I will get caught sleeping outside the district, and there is no way I'm going home.

"Now the boys," Carrie announces proudly, saying each word with equal verve. I close my eyes, when a name erupts around the speaks. But It's not mine.

"Will Punt," He's from the seam, he's only thirteen, I know him. I see him about sometimes. He hunts a lot of the time. But he doesn't get on well with his family either. His father and mine are friends, I guess that explains it all.

"And finally," I've lost the will to live, I don't care any more, what ever the out come is.

"Haymitch Abernathy," A gasping sound breaks out from behind me. Like a rocket launching into a new life. I give a little smile, then look around at Tom. I know the cameras are watching so I have to do something They'll respect me for. With out thinking, I place the three middle fingers of my left hand to my lips, and outstretch them in his direction. An old district twelve sign. Tears fill his eyes as I walk off. As I head to the stage, I think 'I need a new character, seen as though this is my new life, I need to be someone else. I need to be strong and Cocky, so the capitol will like me. My curly black hair and bright grey eyes should get the girls of their seats.' I walk onto the stage, where an ocean of bright cameras meet me. I smile and wave like I am royalty. Everyone laughs. Maybe they like me. Maybe this life is better than my old.

"Everyone, I give you the district twelve tributes," Carrie screams. As the roar of the crowd is muffled into my head. I may be a piece of the capitols games, but there is no way they are playing me. I am going to play them.

A/N: I will edit soon, sorry about that. Thanks for reading, now please review. Hope you liked it! Also If I do not have 5+ reviews, I won't continue, so the more reviews, the quicker I update:)