Chapter Ninety; Silence is Golden?

(Stephanie's POV)

"Oh Haymitch pet, how could you let her go out on a sponsor date dressed like that!" Isa whined miserably as she burst out of the lift, a startled Frenkin following.

Stephanie felt genuinely terrified as she looked at Haymitch's murderous expression.

"Haymitch!" Stephanie hissed as Isa frowning, tottered over to them to see why Haymitch hadn't immediately answered her.

Haymitch looked up slowly, even Isa seemed a little taken aback by his dark expression.

"Haymitch pet?" Isa asked unsure, her green eyes widening impossibly.

There was a heartbeat of a moment, where Stephanie genuinely feared that Haymitch might possibly lose it.

But he didn't. He merely stood, his back unnaturally stiff and rigid and stalked into the kitchen.

A few moments later over Isa's babbling about manners, Stephanie could hear the clinking of glasses and a bottle being slammed onto the counter.

Despite knowing that it wasn't her fault, Stephanie still felt damn well guilty. Not for the first time she found herself wondering, if it would not just be better for Haymitch to find himself a nice girl that wasn't a tribute for the Hunger Games, and wasn't dragging around more baggage than Isa going on a return shopping spree.

Stephanie chewed at her nails absently as Isa began to recount how Frenkin's sponsor date had gone. Said boy was meanwhile in his bedroom changing out of the stiff clothes and scrubbing the heavy make-up from his face.

Stephanie's thoughts drifted, Isa's chattering nothing more than a high-pitched, droning noise at the back of her mind.

How much undue pain and sickening worry was she subjecting Haymitch to?

Since the beginning Stephanie had just naturally assumed and let Haymitch carry the burden, unloading all her worries onto him. He was always the one comforting her, taking risks for her. And it seemed the only thing she was ever able to repay him with was pain.

Stephanie felt tears rise unbidden to her eyes and then she was frustrated at herself all over again!

Why did she have to be…her?!

A fainting, yapping mess that couldn't fight her way out of a paper bag and seemed to attract trouble everywhere she went?!

Stephanie knew Haymitch had had a girl when he was younger. Maysilee Donner her name was, and Stephanie knew what end Maysilee had met. Haymitch had only mentioned her once in a 'that's life – ain't it grand,' tone of voice as he listed her with the family the Capitol had taken from him so long ago.

I bet she wasn't a damn idiot like me. She went down with a fight! Stephanie thought bitterly. And then she regretted her words. Because she could imagine very little more horrific that being sent to die with the person you loved most.

And that was what made Stephanie's heart weigh even heavier.

Haymitch had already known so much pain. He had lost the girl he loved once, watched her die in his arms.

Could Stephanie really force Haymitch to watch her die on screen? Make him suffer that pain all over again?

A cold chilling thought came to her mind then… If only there was a way to make sure I could win.

But it wasn't so much the thought as the answer – There was a way.

And that way was through Seneca.

Stephanie's cheek tingled coldly with the memory of the kiss Seneca has placed there. He had said she would win anyway, that he loved her, that he already expected her to refuse him.

Stephanie bit down on her lip, hard.

Could she trust Seneca though?

Would he really just allow her to win, knowing full well he would get nothing in return?

Stephanie highly doubted it.

Maybe Seneca thought he was doing something noble now and that she would go running into his arms. Then when he would realise no such thing was going to happen – he would get angry.

The question was who would he kill; her or Haymitch?

Stephanie gnawed unconsciously at her nails, Seneca said he would prove his love. Stephanie almost grimaced.

How did a Capitolite prove his love?

Stephanie glowered darkly for a moment. If Seneca even thought of sending her another pretty necklace she would slap him round the face with it!

Stephanie jumped slightly at the slight touch to her clenched fist.

She blinked rapidly, looking to see Frenkin sitting beside her, his blue eyes knowing behind his oversized glasses.

Stephanie attempted a smile as she pulled him close, Frenkin readily obliging as he snuggled up to her.

Isa as usual seemed oblivious to the notably sombre mood. Haymitch was busy getting drunk while nursing a death threat, Stephanie was fighting her own emotions; guilt over Haymitch and fear over Seneca, and poor little Frenkin – he was exhausted.

Stephanie glanced down at him, dropping a kiss on his honey hair. He really was the innocent party in all of this. He hadn't got a clue what was going on.

Stephanie hugged him fiercely to herself for a few moments. She had been neglecting him too much recently, she realised sadly.

She would have to amend that Stephanie thought fiercely. She would get her chance tomorrow when training started.

And with that thought a whole other tirade of problems arose.

Having to deal with the thousand and one other troubles that sprung up around her, Stephanie and Frenkin were sorely missing out on the usual talks mentors would have had with their tributes by this stage.

What were she and Frenkin to do in training?

Did they divide up to cover as many stations as possible?

What stations did they go to?

And most importantly – alliances? Did Stephanie and Frenkin even stand a chance of getting into any?

"Well pets, I really must get going. Haymitch pet, will talk to you both about what to do in training. But don't worry my little pets, I will be around early tomorrow morning wishing lots of luck!" Isa exclaimed happily as she got up to leave.

Isa looked towards the kitchen where Haymitch still was, and Stephanie almost had to do a double take when Isa actually thought better of it and went on to leave. Maybe Isa had some sense after all, Stephanie thought with a fleeting smile.

However as soon as the ping of the lift leaving reached her, dark thoughts once more crowded in on her.

Haymitch pet, will talk to you both about what to do in training.

Isa's words hung in the air.

Yeah Haymitch would help them, if he wasn't too busy planning Seneca's murder right about now.

Stephanie sighed heavily as she screwed her eyes shut tight until it almost hurt.

It wasn't fair of her to be like that. Afterall it was her who had placed that burden on him.

Stephanie rocked slightly with Frenkin in her arms.

Frenkin true to form was a silent warmth of comfort, just holding her tightly as she did him.

Stephanie hated this constant battle that was now being waged in her mind. Should she tell Haymitch things or not?

She didn't want to hurt him, but it seemed that if she didn't tell him and he found out, it hurt him more.

Stephanie sighed deeply. Damn it all, but the Capitol wasn't half complicating! It was driving her to the brink of insanity.

Every day her life in District 3 seemed further and further away, as though it were someone else's life entirely.