I was going to make this chapter about Lyn meeting her stylist and the opening ceremony, but this little idea popped into my head. Let me know if you like it!
Katniss woke me up the next morning, which was strange. Sleeping in for me wasn't a normal thing (although this was the second day in a row now). I guess I really wore myself out after everything that happened yesterday. It still shocked me that I was a tribute, but the shock wasn't nearly as bad as yesterday.
"Morning." she greeted me. "Come on before Effie comes to wake us up. She can be a little ... loud." I silently yawned and nodded, getting out of bed. After another lovely shower, I dressed into a pale green t-shirt and jean capris. Once I was all ready, we headed over to the dining room again. Well we almost did, but were interrupted by Effie's overly excited voice.
"Come on, it's going to be a big big day!" she cheered loudly. Her purple headed shifted to me. "Lynnia, are you excited to see the capitol?"
'Lyn!' I signed, frustrated. It didn't matter if she couldn't understand. Sign language was how I spoke my mind and my mind was screaming to be called Lyn. I was growing to hate the way the capitol said my name in their annoying accent more and more. Still, I did my best to keep a calm face. Nothing was going to change.
"Lyn." Katniss spoke, surprising the both of us. I was impressed by how quickly she'd caught on to sign language. She knew most of the alphabet already. "She prefers to be called Lyn, Effie." The escort frowned for a moment, before another smile appeared on her lips.
"I'm sorry Lyn dear, why didn't you tell me?" I mentally face palmed. Never had not being able to speak been so ... annoying.
"She's a mute. She can't speak." My mentor told her. I mouthed a silent thank you to her.
"That's terrible! I thought she was just being shy." Effie gasped. I guess not being able to talk would've been like a death sentence for her. Anyway, breakfast was delicious. There weren't as many forks and knives to puzzle over and quite a few of them were finger foods.
I think my favorites were the apple turnovers and the strawberries. Still, the croissants, pancakes, waffles, breakfast biscuits, eggs, toast, sausage and orange juice all came in pretty close seconds. Once again, Russell and I found ourselves a little green from taking in so much wonderful food.
Once Haymitch came to breakfast, Katniss glared at him. I could clearly tell she must have spoke to him about something earlier.
"I like my method better." he told her, finding some interest in the ham, sausage and pancakes.
"At least try to help." she insisted. The older mentor sighed and rolled his eyes.
"You were an exception, sweetheart. Not everyone is like you."
"Maybe they could be if you helped more often." Katnis fired back. Russell and I glanced at each other nervously. We didn't need a war between mentors right before we entered the Capitol. Effie seemed to be happily ignoring this, saying that she had some important arrangements to see to for my interview since I could talk. What an excuse.
"You're just trying to avoid the inevidable." His voice rose a little, making me inch back in my chair. He whipped his finger over to Russell. "Do you honestly think they're going to win? You were a one in a million chance. That's not going to happen for a while and these two aren't the slightest bit of fighters!"
Katniss's eyes shot daggers. Mine hardened. I normally tried to avoid these fights. I hated being around angry and loud people. I was nervous around Haymitch's anger, but his words stung. Did anyone honestly expect me to make it past the bloodbath? Was I the only person in the Capitol who thought I might possibly have a shot at getting to the final eight like Rosa?
I quickly signed at them. Hamitch looked at me like I was crazy.
"She can't even talk. What makes you think she'll last ten minutes in the arena." I signed again. This time, Katniss saw.
"Because that's her greatest advantage." she told him. "That's what she signed."
The older mentor paused for a moment, eyeing me carefully. His gaze turned to Russell.
"What can you do?" he sighed.
"I do alright with spears." the boy replied. Haymitch turned back to me. I stood up and made an archer's stance.
"bow and arrows?" he guessed, only to receive a nod. Turning back to Katniss, he smirked. "Fine. Let's make a little deal out of this." Her eyes widened and she looked vicious.
"Are you crazy? Two kids' lives are on the line and you want to make bets over it! You're almost as bad as the Capitol!" she almost yelled. Thank goodness Effie was out of the room. Haymitch snickered, like she was missing an obvious point.
"You forget that their lives are going to be on the line anyway. And if you win this bet, I'll help every little tribute for the next five years." he smirked. She went silent, so he continued. "Look, if you can get at least one of them through the bloodbath, I'll start doing something productive." She pondered this for a moment, glancing at Russell and I.
"By something productive, it has to help them." she clarified. He hesitated, but then nodded.
"I'd start helping now if you told that Gabe guy you're madly in love with him-" he never got to finish his sentence before Katniss glared daggers at him and threw an ice cold cup of water at his face.
"It's Gale and I don't care about him that way." she growled. Wait a minute, Gale Hawthorne? I made a mental note to sign to Katniss about that later. After all, I promised Gale I would give her his message. I wasn't going back on that promise. He'd done so much for me.
"So do we have a deal?" the now soaking wet Haymitch asked, holding out his hand.
"Fine." she gripped his hand like a cobra.
"Alright then. Let's go." he grinned, wiping himself with a towel.
Katniss wasn't kidding when she said crazy reporters. There were dozens of them, swarming the train stop like bees to honey. It didn't help that they were mixed in with a bunch of capitol people. Just staring at them made my head spin. I felt my mentor take my hand and lead me through the crowd of chaos.
People were yelling, cheering, asking a million questions at once, trying to grab my hand and whisk me away. So many different colors, so many accents, all focused on me. I stuck close to Katniss, too nervous to do anything else.
It took forever until we reached the car that took us to the training center. I was so stunned from the crowd that I didn't even take the time to remember that I'd never been in a car. Oh well, I'd worry about that later.
'That was insane.' I signed staring at the floor of the car, numb. Katniss sighed.
"Welcome to the Capitol."
So to clear things up, the deal is that if Katniss can manage to get Russel or Lyn to survive the blood bath, Haymitch will start actually being a mentor again. Sorry, not my best chapter, but the next ones should be a little better.