Hey guys! I feel like an idiot because it's been, I don't know, 3 months since I've updated! I'm really sorry to everyone who wanted an update, and even to those who didn't. If you're not fuming with steam coming out of your ears, please R&R!

"Up, Haymitch, it's going to be an exciting day!" Gloria Chalice trills, smiling her sickening smile as she enters my room. I grab a pillow and cover my ears with it. I do not want to wake up to her voice screeching in my ear.

"Come on, now. You need to meet your prep team! They'll make you look fabulous!"

"I prefer how I look now."

"Haymitch… that is not the right attitude!" our escort's face darkens. "If you look your best you'll get more sponsors. More sponsors equal a better chance of winning. Do you want to win? Do you want to stay alive? Well then, get up!"

Gloria's voice rings in my ears even after she's left. My head throbs as I climb out of bed, choose some simple clothes from the Capitol collection and leave my room. A small brown-haired boy knocks before coming in and beginning to make my bed. Avox.

"Hello."

The Avox shakes his head quickly. I take that as a 'you're not supposed to talk to me' shake, so I nod and leave the room. I avoid glancing out of the window as I walk through the corridor, because I don't want to see how close I am to death. On the way, I bump into Maysilee, who looks just as annoyed as me about being woken up if not more.

"Morning," I grumble, still making my way through the corridor.

"Err, hi, Haymitch."

I don't know how, but we end up walking together to the prep room. Her ash blonde hair is loose for once. It tumbles past her shoulders, down her back and bounces slightly when she walks. She wears a pair of cropped trousers and a blue and red plaid top. On her feet is a pair of tan shoes. Her face is fairly calm, yet her hands are clenched up into fists. I can tell she is holding something.

"What's that?" I ask, gesturing to her hand.

"Oh…nothing, really, it's… it's my pin. It's the shape of a Mockingjay," she replies, holding out her palm so I can see it. It's a bronze-ish colour, and is quite charming in its own little way. She holds it like it's made of solid gold and is brand new. It must have a lot of meaning to her.

"It's nice," I say simply.

She chuckles under her breath. "It doesn't really look like much, but when you look closely, you can tell it was made with a lot of care." Tentatively, she holds out her hand closer to me, and gives a small smile, nodding her head once. I carefully reach out and take it from her, holding it up to my face. The Mockingjay itself is carved with a lot of detail; I can even see a sort of dignified expression in its eyes. The wings are the best part. Each feather is so realistic it's like you could touch the wing and the feathers would ruffle. I'm not one to appreciate beauty or care, but, it is really something.

"Wow, that's really nice," I remark, handing it back to her. She smiles again, and nods once. It seems she's still a little unsure when it comes to conversing with people from the Seam. Oh well, she'll get used to it. We're almost at the prep room when we see Kyle Rolland. Maysilee desperately looks for another passage to escape from him, but there's only one way to the prep room. Kyle casually saunters over to us and gives Maysilee a grin. He pushes in between us, looks back at me, and then turns back to Maysilee. She clears her throat and looks the other way.

"Hey, May," he winks. I nearly choke laughing at the tone of his voice.

"Kyle," Maysilee replies curtly.

"You excited about the makeovers? I mean, I don't really see what they need to do to change you. I don't think you could look any better." Kyle tosses his hair to add to effect.

The corners of Maysilee's mouth turn up, but her look is one of pure venom. Kyle apparently doesn't notice, because he edges closer to her.

"Thank you, Kyle."

"No probs."

I think that's no problem.

Maysilee looks away quickly, spending the rest of our walk staring at the walls. Kyle eventually turns towards me.

"Hey there, Mitch. I suppose all of this fancy Capitol stuff is new to you, right? Our family gets a taste of it every once in a while, since we're, y'know, one of the richest families in district 12. My Dad ships all of the coal to the Capitol, and gets to keep some of the diamonds they crush them into, or, whatever."

"I prefer Haymitch," I answer.

There. That's stumped him. He probably expected me to give an angry comeback which he could use to embarrass me in front of May. Even if I did, I wouldn't feel an ounce of embarrassment. I rarely feel anything nowadays. But I guess that's better for my mentor, so he can work the 'he doesn't care' angle.

"Alright, Haymitch, no need to get snappy," he finally retorts. Maysilee struggles to repress a laugh. Kyle notices, and gives her a pained look. Maysilee reaches out and reluctantly pats his shoulder, giving him what I think is a smile.

"There, there, Kyle."

I can't help but smirk slightly as Kyle tries to trap her hand and hold it. Maysilee dodges presses her right shoulder against the wall, trying to get as far away from Kyle as she can. Kyle shrugs it off. Nothing can shatter his ego. It's like a mini Sean Mandolin right in front of me. As we enter the prep room, we see a grinning Sean Mandolin leaning casually against the wall, one arm wrapped around poor June's shoulders. He is clearly telling her his life story (as if everyone back home doesn't know- it's been told over and over at reapings), because June is looking like she would fall asleep right there and then if she wasn't so polite.

"Oh, look, June, it's the others!" Sean calls out as we enter the room. June looks up immediately and sighs with relief. I laugh and walk up to her, giving Sean a brief smile as I pass him. Kyle dashes to his side straight away, shaking his hand but trying to remain cool at the same time. June is wearing a knee-length skirt, white socks that reach the middle of her shins and a white blouse made of silk. Her hair is in a ponytail, making her look more grown up. She still has that adorableness though, that will clearly work for her.

"Hi, June," I smile.

"Hey, Haymitch! Could you have come any later? He was already talking me through his teens!" June shudders.

"Sorry, I woke up late. I imagine that was a good story, though."

"Oh, please," June giggles.

"Are you excited about makeovers?" I ask drily.

June's brow furrows. "I hope whatever they do doesn't hurt. Haymitch, I'm kind of scared…"

"Oh, don't worry, June, everything will be fine. Even if it does hurt, you have to grin and bear it, and act like everything's fine. Get the prep team to like you, okay?" I say calmly, giving her arm a quick pat. It doesn't really look like a gesture of affection, but June has grown up with me patting her arm, and knows what I mean. If I ever get out, I'll miss her. I'll miss June.

"That's some good advice, June, you listen to that," Sean remarks, clearly having listened to our conversation. "Hey there, Haymitch, I'm Sean."

I take his outstretched hand and shake it. "I know. Hi, Sean."

He ruffles my hair gently. "I was only one year older than you when I won, so don't count yourself out, Haymitch."

I straighten my hair again, slightly annoyed, but I smile when he's finished speaking.

"Thanks."

"It's okay." Sean suddenly gathers us all round. "So, are you ready for your prep team? I'd like you to meet Wanda, Patricia, Leonardo and Carl!"

I hope you liked it! I owe you a really good chapter after not updating for so long but I hope you all forgive me :-) Oh, and I was reading through the first chapter, and I realised I made a mistake. Haymitch is sixteen. I just put that the past winner won at the age of seventeen, the same age as Haymitch. But that is wrong, sorry.