Chapter Twenty-Three; Dinner Dates

(Stephanie's POV)

They watched a few of the other games after that and Stephanie noticed that Haymitch tactfully avoided his own games, despite the choosing meant to have been at random.

The last thing they watched was the announcement of the Fourth Quarter Quell; their Games that had yet to come.

President Snow stepped forth to the podium with a sealed white envelope and a clear '100' marked on it.

Stephanie clenched her teeth as he opened the envelope with an almost bored expression.

"To show the Districts that no matter how long a rebellion may last that the Capitol will always win, the Hunger Games will be extended."

A cheer went up from the crowd and Stephanie swallowed down the nausea feeling.

The television screen went blank and Haymitch dropped the remote on the sofa.

"It didn't mention anything about the training being extended?" Stephanie realised, turning to Haymitch questioningly.

Meanwhile Isa was receiving a call and after alerting everyone in a five metre radius of herself with her incessant squeals, went off to take said call.

"No. That was his son's idea." Stephanie noticed that Haymitch couldn't even say Seneca's name.

She looked around at Frenkin who avoided her gaze and was unusually quiet.

"Why?" she pressed.

"It's like I said before; for longer Games you need more tributes to survive for longer. So his son came up with this idea. You're lucky they didn't come up with some quack notion like mutating you to make you stronger."

Stephanie looked at him horrified and Haymitch swigged generously from a vodka bottle.

"I'm going to get a glass of water," Frenkin suddenly piped up and then he rushed from the room. Stephanie stared after him with a puzzled expression.

"Poor kid," Haymitch remarked.

"Yea, watching the Games must have really scared him," Stephanie added, biting her bottom lip.

"I'll go after him," Stephanie added, getting to her feet to head for the kitchen.

Frenkin was just filling up a glass of water when she reached him.

"Hey Frenkin," she prompted.

He turned to her, beginning to greedily gulp down the water.

She waited until he was finished watching him with concerned eyes.

He didn't meet her eyes, instead glancing sheepishly about him.

"You alright?" she asked softly.

He nodded vigorously, a few blonde locks concealing his eyes.

Without a second thought Stephanie pulled him into a hug, ruffling his blonde hair.

He didn't protest and was silent and then she felt the dampness at her shoulder where his face was pressed against.

She gently pushed him back to meet his eyes that were rimmed with tears.

She gave him a weak smile. After all what words of comfort could she offer him?

Just then they heard the sound of something smashing and Haymitch cursing wildly. Exchanging worried glances Frenkin and Stephanie rushed back into the main room.

Isa was standing with her hands on her hips and her face a mask of pure horror.

Stephanie looked over at Haymitch; his bottle of vodka smashed to smithereens on the floor.

"What the heck happened?" Stephanie demanded.

Isa started to snivel. "Well I was just coming in to tell you all about this afternoon's events and…and," Isa trailed off and Stephanie turned to Haymitch crossing her arms sternly and an eyebrow arched.

"It was a knee-jerk reaction," he replied. "A bit like you sweetheart."

She rolled her eyes.

"What is the 'event'?" Stephanie asked a little bitterly.

Suddenly finding herself the centre of everyone's focus seemed to cure Isa instantly and she turned to them with a bright smile.

"Well out of all the elite sponsors last night, you and Frenkin will be lucky enough to go out with some of them. Well every tribute will be going with their selected sponsor."

Stephanie and Frenkin both looked at her in complete confusion.

"You have just won yourself a lunch with the highest bidder sweetheart," Haymitch elaborated.

Stephanie felt anger swell up in her. "Why does it always sound like I am being bought?" she asked with as much calmness as she could muster.

Haymitch just shot her a look, that clearly warned her not to push him.

"Fine," Stephanie said gruffly, folding her arms.

"Who are we having lunch with?" Frenkin inquired sensibly. Stephanie feeling very immature dropped her stubborn stance and turned to Isa once more.

"Well Frenkin you will be having lunch with dear Mrs Ara and her two friends," Isa replied and Stephanie just caught Frenkin's barely contained shudder.

"I don't remember meeting them," Stephanie realised.

"That's because you didn't sweetheart," Haymitch answered.

"Well then I have a chance to make a good first impression," Stephanie thought aloud.

"No," Haymitch replied bluntly. Stephanie arched an eyebrow at him questioningly.

"Isa dear would you do the honours of elaborating," Haymitch said sarcastically, again to Isa's oblivion.

"Well Stephanie pet you will be having lunch with Dess," she said.

As recognition dawned on Stephanie's face Haymitch got to his feet seeing the tell-tale signs of anger begin as Stephanie's jaw tightened and she clenched her fists.

How am I meant to sit through a whole lunch with that arrogant prig?!

…

(Haymitch & Stephanie's POV)

A few hours later and Stephanie was dressed up in a flowing, deep blue dress and to her utter dismay and Haymitch's amusement, a pair of silver high heels.

"This isn't funny," she had complained when Haymitch had dropped by to see her progress.

He met her eyes in the mirror she was standing in front of.

Haymitch felt a feeling of apprehension come over him. The dinner date would be Stephanie by herself with Dess. He was worried that with Stephanie's snarky remarks and pride that it would be a disaster, and without him to kick her under the table to stop her.

Then there was another feeling about letting Stephanie have dinner with someone like Dess.

"You have to watch what you say."

"Yea, yea I know," Stephanie replied dismissively, tugging at her hair.

"Stephanie," Haymitch's tone was serious and she turned to face him.

"You have to be careful," Haymitch warned gently.

Stephanie gave a sharp nod feeling panic rise up in her.

Haymitch watched her for a few moments as she began to tear up a little, trying to hide it by twisting the material on the front of her dress.

Haymitch sighed and then walked over to her and with a brisk tug of her wrist pulled her into a tight embrace.

Stephanie didn't cry this time. She was just frustrated.

"I'm going to mess this up, aren't I?" she groaned.

He smirked and gave her waist a reassuring squeeze.

"Maybe keep talking to a minimum," he recommended with a small laugh.

"Shut up." She pulled back a little to look at Haymitch.

"What?" he asked when she remained silent.

She shook her head slowly but her eyes were trembling slightly. "I don't know. What if I mess this up or hit him and the Capitol arrest me and torture me and my family and you an– "

Haymitch silenced her panicked rambling by pressing his lips against hers. She froze for a moment before relaxing into him, her fingers sinking into his sandy hair to angle his head and get as much as she could out of the kiss.

His lips moved against hers with deliberate slowness, until the last knot of tension left her rigid back.

They parted and she leaned her forehead against his, her eyes fluttering open dazedly.

"What was that for?" she asked quietly.

"I told you not to speak much sweetheart," he said with a smirk.

"Yea, well I just hope Dess doesn't try the same technique," she said, leaving his arms to smooth down her dress in the mirror again.

Haymitch clenched his jaw tightly.

"He better not," Haymitch answered darkly. Stephanie immediately noticing the change in Haymitch's demeanour turned to face him.

"Of course not," she reassured with a small smile. She made to pass him when he grabbed her wrist roughly. Stephanie turned to face him with a ready frown, when she saw the look on his face.

His eyes were burning fiercely, mouth set in a firm line. He looked conflicted and there was almost a pleading to his features. His grip on her wrist slackened but he still held her in place firmly.

Distantly the sound of Isa approaching sounded to them as she hummed away to herself.

Stephanie glanced at Haymitch once more before flinging her arms around his neck and kissing him fiercely for the few moments they had, before tearing themselves apart as Isa rounded into the room. Stephanie and Haymitch stood, shoulders brushing as Isa inspected Stephanie approvingly.

"Ready pet?" Isa asked finally, green eyes bright as usual, dusky skin glittering softly.

"Ready," Stephanie answered, and as she made to follow Isa she felt Haymitch grab her hand behind their backs and give it a tender squeeze.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and give him what she hoped was a reassuring smile before they both followed Isa.