Chapter Seventeen; Fresh Air
Haymitch entered the vast room and was grateful when Isa bounded off somewhere. The woman had a grip like vice.
He lifted two glasses of champagne and downed one immediately, ditching the empty glass on a nearby table. Haymitch went to stand near the back of the room so that he would have a good view of the doors which had just opened.
A small girl bounced in first with a wide smile and beside her a sombre looking boy with a shock of fair hair. The boy briefly made Haymitch think of an older version of Frenkin but when the boy in the suit grinned hugely he discarded the idea.
Next was a tall girl in a long pale pink dress and dark blonde hair that just brushed her shoulders. She waved at the crowd with a flirtatious wink and even blew a few kisses. The boy beside her had jet black hair and had swaggered in casually with his hands in his pockets and an almost bored expression on his face, as if this whole thing were beneath him.
Then there was Stephanie and Frenkin.
She glided out somewhat uncertainly, looking at first overwhelmed. Her golden gaze swept over the room for a moment. Haymitch had no idea if she had seen him or not, and then she broke into a dazzling smile. Frenkin beside her remained serious with his wide eyes, but that was enough as the women had already began to coo over him.
A moment, and then they were gone as they descended the stairs. Haymitch released a breath he didn't know he had been holding and swiftly made quick work of the second glass of champagne.
Haymitch walked over to the crowd and after the initial chaos that had ensued quietened down, he was able to catch Stephanie's wrist and Frenkin by the back of his collar. He half-dragged them over to a secluded part of the room; well as secluded as it could be in a crowded Capitol room.
"Right Frenkin, Isa will take you over to some of the women and I will take you sweetheart around the room," Haymitch began.
Stephanie and Frenkin just stared dumbly barely even registering Haymitch's words as they took in the room.
The entire walls were made of glass that gave a complete circular view of the city below. The room was modern and stylish with soft lights and a chrome spiral staircase that lead to a second level. A cool breeze entered the room from the many balconies.
As if on cue Isa immediately came over and dragged Frenkin off to a group of middle-aged women at the other side of the room.
…
Stephanie obediently slipped her hand into the crook of Haymitch's elbow when he offered his arm to her and allowed him to support her and guide her.
She resisted the urge to run as those around her stared at her without restraint. Stephanie grinded her teeth together as she caught wisps of some of the comments being exchanged of shock and disbelief that she actually could be considered pretty for a simple district dweller.
Haymitch placed his other hand over hers around his arm and she loosened her grip with a muttered, "Sorry."
She glanced around. Some of the other tributes were already in the midst of gathered Capitol people with cameras trained on them. Stephanie felt a tightening in her stomach as she glanced at the girl with glossy, black hair speaking with ease to those surrounding her. I will never be able to do that, Stephanie thought.
Suddenly a waiter passed them and Haymitch slipped his arm from hers to lift two glasses of champagne.
"Here," he forced one glass into her hand.
Stephanie stared at it in shock.
"I've never drank alcohol in my life," she hissed as Haymitch finished his.
"It will help settle your nerves. One glass won't hurt," he assured.
She hesitantly rose the glass to her lips and took a long drink.
She swallowed the fizzy liquid after the initial alarm that her mouth was somehow exploding, and felt warmth begin in her empty stomach.
Haymitch dragged them over to three men and a woman who seemed to be staring at them expectantly.
"Oh Abernathy darling, I never got the chance to thank you. You see at the 90th Games I accidently bet on you and well, as you know, no one expected you to win. So when you did, I won quite a lot!" The woman burst into laughter as did the three men.
Stephanie was about to interject when she heard Haymitch laughing and he gave her a look and so she laughed too.
"Happy to help Miss," Haymitch said, a charismatic tone to his voice that he had never used in her company before.
Stephanie shot him a look, eyebrow arched before finishing off the glass of champagne. It is quite nice once you get over the need to snort, Stephanie reasoned as the liquid began to warm her stomach.
The woman burst out laughing again and Stephanie was about to do likewise, thinking it was like last time, when Haymitch nudged her.
"Oh Abernathy, you dog..."
Stephanie's head shot up, ready to protest, but Haymitch had a huge grin on his face.
"You flatter me. I am no Miss! I'm too old to be considered a Miss anymore. These three grown boys are my sons." The woman appeared to be very flattered.
Stephanie stared at the woman. The faint lines and the thinning lips furthered the woman's statement.
"Yes Haymitch, wha…" Stephanie began to agree with the woman but never got to finish because Haymitch conveniently stepped on her foot.
"Champagne?" A deep voice came from Stephanie's right. It was one of the woman's sons. He had dark red hair that was immaculately styled. He was offering a glass to Stephanie.
Remembering manners just in time, Stephanie took the glass from him, "Thank you ever so kindly," she said in a sugary tone. She imagined she could almost hear the audible sigh of relief from Haymitch.
A band started up music somewhere nearby.
"Oh Abernathy, you must introduce us to your newest prodigy!" The woman continued excitedly.
Stephanie immediately resented being referred to as a prodigy.
"Don't you mean human sacrifice?" Stephanie said under her breath and took a large sip of her new glass of champagne.
"What dear?" the woman said.
Haymitch cut in, "She said, how are you tonight? You know how it is being in the presence of Capitol people such as yourself. It can be overwhelming, and leave someone from a little District like her speechless."
"Hhhmph," Stephanie took another gulp of the champagne and Haymitch glared at her for a moment.
"This is Stephanie Trindlesworth; the District 3 female tribute," Haymitch said and placed his hand on the small of her back, half pushing her forward to present her, half nipping her in warning.
"Well Miss Trindlesworth, how are you finding the Capitol?" Stephanie had never been called anything so formal in her eighteen years and it took her a moment to realise that the red-haired son was speaking to her, and even then it was only because of Haymitch nudging her.
Taking another drink of champagne she began, remembering her rehearsals with Haymitch. "It is really wonderful, everything and everyone are so sophisticated and as my mentor Haym…Abernathy says, it is quite overwhelming for one such as I from a little, poor District." The words almost choked her and she took another long drink of champagne in an attempt to quell her wounded pride.
They seemed pleased with her answer.
"Right so dear, right so," the woman answered. "I am Sylva Landa. These are my sons; Dess, Aral and Harron." The woman gestured to each of her son's, identifying the one with the red hair as Dess. "I also have a daughter called Selwa. I have no idea where she is at the moment though," Sylva said, glancing around the room.
"Perhaps Abernathy, you would be so kind as to take my mother that way looking for Selwa and Miss Trindlesworth and I will go this way," Dess said, offering his arm to Stephanie.
Stephanie was about to point out that the room wasn't really that big and it didn't take two search parties to be sent out to find this 'Selwa', when Haymitch practically shoved her towards Dess.
She righted herself deftly and turned in time to shoot daggers at Haymitch before slipping her arm into Dess'.
Stephanie was about to ask what Selwa looked like, so she would be able to spot her, when Dess directed her over to a table where he stopped.
"So Miss Trindlesworth the Capitol impresses you?" Dess asked as he replaced her glass with a full one.
Stephanie looked at it sceptically for a moment, wondering if it was such a good idea.
"Yes, it is most impressive. It is such an honour to be here," she replied with a smile.
Dess seemed more than willingly to bask in praise and Stephanie resisted the urge to slap him and wipe the smirk from his face.
"May I call you Stephanie? And of course you may call me Dess?" he asked.
"Of course Dess," she said and smiled sweetly. Stephanie nearly dropped her glass, when out of the corner of her eye she spotted a camera trained on her. Trying her best to act casual she took another sip of champagne.
"So what is it best you like about the Capitol?" Dess asked.
"Oh I couldn't possibly choose. It is all just so…breath-taking," Stephanie said.
Dess gave a loud laugh. "Yes it is. It is indeed. I could never understand how you could survive in those dingy little Districts," Dess said.
Calm! Calm! Calm…calm. Slapping him now would not help you in the long run. Where the hell are you Haymitch?! Stephanie's thoughts raced as she tried to think up an acceptable answer, taking another drink to disguise her hesitation.
"Yes well, those from the Districts are such…simple people. We could not even dream of the life that people like you Dess lead," she managed eventually.
Dess gave another laugh and moved closer to her, one arm snaking around her waist. Stephanie could smell his cologne. It was burning her nose. Did the man bathe in it? Stephanie thought, resisting the urge to choke.
"I quite like you Stephanie. Perhaps I could show you more of the Capitol?" Dess whispered in her ear.
Well Haymitch can't complain too much. One person likes me, Stephanie thought as she downed her third glass of champagne. Dess lifted the empty glass from her hands and she allowed him to direct her through the crowds.
Her head was starting to feel a bit fuzzy and thoughts were becoming a little less clear, also her co-ordination with heels had become even less functional. If that were even possible, she thought.
Suddenly, just as Stephanie realised they were heading for the exit someone took her hand and she stopped.
"Your sister Selwa is with your mother." Stephanie recognised Haymitch's voice. She turned around, Haymitch's grey eyes were burning fiercely.
The grip around her waist was gone in a second.
"Perhaps another time Stephanie. Afterall, you will be here for a while," Dess said. Stephanie barely registered his words and looked up in time to see Dess making a direct line for one of the other tributes in a pale, pink dress. And then Haymitch appeared before her.
He focused on her eyes for a moment.
"Dess likes me," she blurted out.
"How many glasses have you had?"
"You are the one who gets drunk, not me."
He sighed and looping his arm around her waist to support her, brought her once more to the exit.
"Where are we going?" she voiced.
"To get some fresh air," he answered and even though his tone was angry, Stephanie caught the look of amusement flash across his face.