Note: I do not own the Hunger Games. All characters belong to Suzanne Collins.
A/N: It takes place in the compartment after the Hunger Games.
Haymitch's POV
What was one more drink?
I stared at the open bottle. Before, I never had any problem chugging the whole bottle in less than a minute. I was supposed to be drunk. After all, if I wasn't drowning my sadness, it was for a celebration. But it's about high-time I start trying to be sober. Maybe this is my way of celebrating. I don't remember the last time I have been so sober. It was years and years ago, before I was the winner of the Hunger Games. Many people thought I was just a drunkard but I'm not. I never had a drop of alcohol before I won. My compartment was empty. Of course it was spacious but to me, I could only feel empty. I was thankful, thankful that none of the kids had died but I was also sad. Would they have to suffer what I did? Would they too have to resort to drinking, just to drown their past? Suddenly, that bottle looked really good. I swiped it off the table and took a big gulp. The familiar drink seared through my throat for the first time in a while. Maybe the kids had some effect on me. I was never going to look at alcohol the same way again.
The kids won. Damn the gamemakers for waiting that long. Those kids were about to kill their selves! I was furious but then again, they won which was more than enough for me. I had stayed sober long enough; perhaps it was time I went back to drinking. I reached for a bottle but someone had already placed a full bottle into my hands. Odd. Many disapproved of my drinking. But as I looked around, I saw many people drinking, perhaps in celebration. The crowd was wild; the two star-crossed lovers were allowed to live. I smiled at that thought. Who knew the gamemakers could be so soft?
"Could I have another bottle?" I asked the attendant. I don't know why I asked for it. Perhaps I only wanted to stare at the full bottle for the rest of the ride. Nothing better to do anyways, right?
"Here you go." The attendant kindly held me three bottles. She must have heard about my notoriety. Well, it was going to be awhile before my reputation changed.
"Thanks," I muttered, not bothering to tell her I only needed one. She kindly left the compartment. For the next hour, I kept moving the bottles into different patterns and positions. Once I found one I liked, I stared. There was still time before we arrived in District 12. Nothing better to do!
The kids must have been in pain. As their mentor, I should have been the one to comfort them. But I couldn't, not like this. This was supposed to be the most difficult time and I couldn't be there. All of a sudden, that drink suddenly seemed appealing. I chose a bottle and took a swig. Ugh. The alcohol still burned. It was definitely going to take awhile.
This is a one-shot but I still want reviews! Criticism welcomed! *creates a flashy sign*