Disclaimer: I do not own Hunger Games Series. This is the property of Suzanne Collins.
A/N: Oh gosh, this one was a hard one to write but it is done! I'm not exactly happy with a few especially Friend and Cheat. Those were racking my brain and beating the crap out of me. I would love to thank Seph Meadowes for being an amazing friend who would chat with me even though she should be sleeping. Check out her stuff, it's amazing! And remember to read and review!
If Only: Collection #2
#6 Hot
Today was unbearable hot in District 12. Haymitch could feel the sweat gather at the collar of his scratchy t-shirt. Luke, his brilliance and idiotic best friend, had dragged him to the town square with the intent to cool off at the fountain. Though, Haymitch should have realized his friend had a different agenda all together. Because right now, Haymitch was nowhere near cool.
"Quit scowling." Luke ordered as he dipped his hand into the fountain like the other Seam boys. Haymitch barely heard his friend's voice as his eyes were fixed on the candy shop where the twins were cleaning the windows. Marigold, the meeker one, clenched the broom handle tightly as she chatted with the Mayor's son, Markus. She wore a long loose dress that looked uncomfortable and cool at the same time. Her blond hair hung loose around her face as she smiled and twirled her finger around her hair in an attempt to flirt. She wasn't the cause of Haymitch's discomfort. Her sister on the other hand…
Maysilee stood there, wiping the huge front window with a cloth. Her white t-shirt was long which explained why it was tied up, revealing her midriff and lower back. That was only half of it though. Every single time Maysilee would bend down to rewet her cloth, the dangerously short length of her jean shorts would pull up, revealing another inch of smooth creamy skin. Haymitch tried to turn away from the alluring sight the girl unknowingly created but his eyes would turn right back against his will. Damn you, girl. He thought as another Seam boy almost tripped at the sight of her.
"Glad you came?" Luke asked as he nudged Haymitch's arm. Haymitch turned, ready to yell at his friend but Maysilee tilted her head, causing her high blonde ponytail to sway. Her azure eyes looked at him, not the town boys who stood beside Marcus looking at her with their blue eyes, not the boys who had enough money to treat her like a princess. Maysilee's eyes singled him out, the boy with only rough words and mildly attractive face. Haymitch leaned back, tucking his hand into his shorts and smirked at her, waiting for her revealing blush to spread across her cheek. Instead, she licked her lips and reached down to pour her pail of dirty water out and sauntered away.
She's doing this on purpose. Haymitch's mind supplied him as he stood up, ignoring Luke's comment and followed the cunning candy girl.
#7 Friend
"We're not friends." He growled into her ear before giving her a hot kiss, branding himself onto the forbidden girl. Maysilee leaned into the kiss, taking the bruise lips, insistent tugging and possessive scratches in stride. "We're not that simple." He whispered, leaning back a fraction. She could feel his breath against her lips, his burning hands on her sides and his solid frame pressing her.
"Friends don't kiss friends." She whispered back as his hands dug into her hips. Something was wrong… Maysilee's eyes flashed open and she stared into the darkness, searching for warm gray eyes. Instead, dark eyes void of any emotion stared back. The dagger tip brushed against her stomach, threatening to gut her open. His kissable lips curled into a murderous smirk. "Haymitch?"
"No hard feelings, sweetheart." He said before plunging the dagger into her unprotected belly.
Maysilee Donner shoved her fist into her mouth to silence the scream. Her eyes searched the darkness for her crimson blood to stain the ground. She gasped for breath and stared at the crackling fire in front of her, groping her stomach for the wound. It was just a dream. She reasoned, slowly pushing herself up and look for the second star of her dream.
A wood above her creaked and she glanced up, spying a leg hanging from the tree limp. Another second and a face from her dream appeared looking down at her with a questioning look. "What's go you all worked up, Donner? You're sweating." He asked, swinging himself down with a cat-like grace.
You got me worked up, she thought in her head, hating how aroused and paranoid she was after a dream. "I'm taking the watch now. There's no way I can go back to sleep." Haymitch gave her a concern look – please don't look at me like that, like you care – and shrugged his shoulders before closing his eyes. Maysilee stared at his frame and flinched at the dagger clenched tightly in his hands.
#8 Floor:
"You loosen that tie once more and I'm going to snap your fingers." Haymitch was tempted to challenge the stylist's threat but the gleam in her multi-colored eyes stopped him. Grumbling, Haymitch tucked his hands into the soft pockets of his suit. The woman visible brightened up and moved to help the second male tribute of District 12. Everything felt wrong on Haymitch. The suit was too soft made out of the finest fabric he has seen in his life. The black charcoal shade mimics the appearance of coal almost too close. He wore a white button-up underneath the suit with a skinny solid black tie. Haymitch's tangled hair was cut and styled so it fell right over his steel gray eyes. He didn't feel like himself. Everything was too Town-like.
"My, my, don't you clean up nice?" Haymitch slowly turned his head towards the voice, watching as the male stylist appeared with both Maysilee and Amber behind him. He winked flirtatiously at Haymitch who's eyes widen at the sight of Maysilee, barely noticed the man's advances.
Unlike the Seam kids who appeared out of place in the flitter and glamour of the Capitol, Maysilee seemed to fit in flawlessly. Her dress was midnight black with tiny sequins at the end that shimmered when she moved, mimicking the starlight skies in District 12. The dress hugged her subtle curves just right, hinting enough to draw male sponsors in but keeping a classy aura. Maysilee wasn't a cheap girl anyone could buy with a few coins. Her golden spun hair was half clipped up, drawing attention to her slender neck and slopes of her exposed shoulders. A few teasing strands tickled her pale cheek, accenting her rosy complexion and sapphire eyes. She was breathtaking, a diamond in the rough.
"Hector, I am impressed. They look stunning." The female stylist commented as she skipped over to Maysilee and adjusted the bodice of her dress. "Especially this one. Sponsors are going to be gawking over her." She stepped away, revealing the Maysilee's pin which was dangled on a simple golden chair. "Now, how's my handiwork?"
As the stylists twitted between themselves, Maysilee carefully descended the stairs. A shy smile blossomed on her face as Haymitch blinked, regaining his senses. He smirked back as she approached, few feet away from him before tripping. Instinctively, he moved, catching her as she pressed her face into his chest, inhaling her sugary sweet scent. "Damn shoes…" She cursed, looking down at the footwear.
"Already falling for me, Donner?" He whispered into her ear, ignoring how her soft curves felt so nice against his hard planes. She peeked up and wiggled her nose at him, reverting back into the sixteen year old he knew back home. Haymitch smiled, unable to keep his eyes off her.
#9 Cheat
She was flirting with death when she survived the blood bath. Maysilee knew she was supposed to be one of the twenty cannons that sounded that day. But she wasn't. Instead, she was crouch in the shadows, stalking the careers. She knew, in her heart or soul, that when her name was pulled out of the glass ball, her days were numbered. She was going to die in this beautiful godforsaken Arena but not without a damn fight.
Haymitch knew he has screwed himself over when he agreed to the golden girl's offer. Allies. What a simple word that can cause a mess of problems in the future. But, he won't admit it she kept him sane. Her sapphire eyes silently encouraged him to move forward. Her steady steps behind him kept his head clear and focused. She did something to him, something Haymitch would hate to admit. She grounded him.
Fate officially hated Maysilee Donner. She decided that when Haymitch nodded his head and turned around, walking with a destination clear in his head and she foolishly followed. Allies. What a stupid brilliant idea. But Fate hated Maysilee and she couldn't just die a horrible death in the Arena like the other 47 kids here. No, she had to fall in love too.
He was playing a dangerous game here. Haymitch acknowledged that when he looked across the flames at the pretty blonde, trying to control the skip in his heart when she smiles at him. Their pact can't last much longer. There were six kids alive in this hell hole. Five lives he had to outlive to get out of here and return home. A home where she won't be. Haymitch grimaced and turned away, cursing the voice in his head and its damn logic.
They were cheating in the Hunger Games. In the mist of the despair and gore, one girl fell in love with one boy. And he fell for her. But the Capitol always wins and no amount of cheating would change it.
#10 Think
He wasn't drunk as the girl slipped her fingers expertly underneath his tuck shirt, dragging her fingers across his lower abdomen in a very suggestive manner. Her lips pressed firmly against his, backing him away from the celebration into a dark corner. Everything is wrong, Haymitch's mind thought as the girl tried to coax his lips to move against hers, sliding her tongue in between.
The girl in his arms hair wasn't the right color. Her eyes, if he seen them, weren't the right shade. Her skin wasn't as soft as he remembered. "Stop thinking…" she hissed, digging her nails into his forearms, trying to drag his mind away from whatever thoughts. It didn't work though because all he could think about was how her voice – sexy and demanding – wasn't the right.
Haymitch pulled back, opened his eyes as she moved her insistent lips towards his exposed neck. He bit back in instinctive moan and stared at her flaws. Her hair was straight and midnight black. Her eyes as she opened them and gave him a sultry gaze were stormy gray. Her fingers were rough with callous from working at home washing clothes for a living. Haymitch's hands dug into her thin wiry frame which lacked curves from frequent meals.
"This isn't right…" Haymitch whispered as she toyed with his belt buckle. His eyes fluttered closed and he cursed his raging hormones. He couldn't be with this girl. She wasn't the pale, blue eyed beauty he wanted. Like she somehow read his thoughts, her eyes narrowed and she pulled him into another desperate kiss, sending his mind back into a different place and time.
"God damn it, Haymitch!" Maysilee screamed as she smack the dark berries out of his hands. "Are you even thinking?" Haymitch sat there against the tree trunk, staring longingly at the scattered berries on the forest floor. Her azure eyes flashed dangerously at him as she gestured to the berries. Her voice, high pitched and frantic, echoed through the forest like a siren, revealing their position to anyone who was listening. But by her annoyed body language, she could careless right now. "Those are freaking nightlocks!"
He looked up as she hugged herself, trembling despite the warm air. She looked like a wreck with dark bags underneath her eyes, hair twisted into a messy ponytail and a frown marring her pretty face. "May…" In a flash, the trouble expression shifted into a ferocious one. She moved quickly, grabbing his collar and straddling him, forgetting the cameras and the whole nation watching them. Her soft body with subtle dips and curves a healthy teenage girl should possess pressed against his unnaturally thin but solid frame. Her face was pressed against his neck, forcing Haymitch to inhale her scent of sugar and vanilla that clung to her ever since they left District 12. Her golden hair tickled his nose as he closed his eyes, allowing his tense body to relax for once.
"You can't die, Haymitch." She whispered for only him to hear. "You can't die just yet. Only by my hands." She looked up at him; blue eyes met his gray ones, forcing him to see the promise. "I am the only one who's allowed to kill you." Haymitch opened his mouth to argue but she leaned forward, sealing his words with a searing kiss. "Let's go." She ordered, grabbing her blow gun and jogging off. Numbly, Haymitch nodded his head and jogged after her.
"She's gone…" Haymitch turned away to hide his hurt expression as the Seam girl in front of him backed off. "She's not here anymore." The girl's footsteps disappeared as Haymitch clenched his eyes, praying Maysilee would appear in his dreams and keep her promise of sweet death. Because life with you is unbearable.
