Disclaimer: I don't own the hunger games, but I'm working on it ;P
A/N: IM SOOOOOOOO SORRY FOR THE WAIT! I really am! I have been kept up with a lot of assignments and tests, and im still not finished them yet! I could only write little bits at a time, so this chapter isn't very good, and is quite choppy! Sorry, sorry and sorry again! Please don't be too tough on me! enjoy
Training flashes by in a blur. I've taken in all that I can, and I feel fairly confident. Maysilee and I wait for our private sessions o begin, and I'm holding her hand. I push back the blush that threatens to creep on my face.
"What if they don't like me? I mean, what will they score me?" she whispers. She's biting her lip and shaking her legs.
"You'll do fine. I promise, okay?" I say. My name is called, and I give her hand one last squeeze, and walk in.
"Hey." I say to the Game makers. None of them pay attention; instead they are all talking to each other. I clear my throat.
"HEY!" I scream. They all stop and look down at me. "Thanks," I say arrogantly.
"Haymitch Abernathy, District 12." They watch me as I walk to a tree.
"Today, folks, you'll have the honor of watching me make a trap," I say and wink to the young female Game maker, who blushes.
I pull out a thin branch and break it in half. I take the pointiest half and sharpen it with a knife. In five minutes, the branch is pointy and lethal. I attach it to the tree took it off of, and tie it to two different branches, allowing the stick to swing. I hide the stick, and with the left over rope, make a tin line just near the tree and only millimeters of the ground.
I stand back and walk to a bowl of berries. I look at it curiously. An arrogant smirk creeps onto my face. I take a handful of berries and pick at a few. Only eating the non-poisonous ones.
"That was a smart move, putting in poisonous berries with the non-poisonous ones." I collect a handful of non-poisonous berries and throw them in my mouth. With my mouth full, I continue to talk.
"Too bad I'm not stupid enough to fall for it," with the remainder of the berries, I crush and slather it on the pointy end of the hidden stick. I run back and collect a little ball. I stand back and throw the ball. When it hits the string that's on the ground, the stick swings forward. I turn around and look at the Game makers faces. I collect and apple which is set on the table and bite into it. I chew loudly with a smile on my face.
The Head Game maker looks down at me with an amused smirk. "You may go now, Mr. Haymitch Abernathy of District 12."
I give them a lazy two fingered salute, and saunter out of the room.
…
That night, we all wait eagerly for our scores. We haven't told each other what we did in the private training. Over the past few days, Janice and Connor have grown distant to me. It scares me, but the less attached they are to me, the better.
Quill hushes us as our faces begin to show on the television. Janice is first with an amazing score of 7. We all smile and congratulate her. Next is Connor who receives a 9. No one expects this, but we still smile encouragingly at him. Maysilee receives a ten and a huge smile illuminates her face. I am the last person, and when my score shows, everyone is flabbergasted. I received an eleven. More than the Careers. The highest that anyone in District 12 has ever gotten, and a first to ever beat the Careers training score.
I feel Mayze squeal and hug me. She and the others seem happy for me, and I smile at all of them.
I look to Connor. He is smiling and appears to be happy, but looking into his eyes, I can see the deadly gaze he is sending me. I look away immediately, and when the celebrations end, I run to my room and think about the nights to come.
…
I wait in backstage of the interviews. Everything had gone by so fast. I look over and see Janice, Connor and Mayze. Janice looks adorable in a baby blue sundress, and Connor looks good in his metallic blue suit. But Mayze, she is the most gorgeous by far. She is wearing a white halter- neck dress with very fine red thread at the bottom. Her makeup is simple, but makes her features stand out amazingly.
I hear Janice's name called, and she skips to the stage. My mind jumps back to what Mags told me in our Private Planning Sessions.
"Remember, be a smart arse!" I chuckle and roll my eyes.
"I know, I know. And besides, I already am one!" Mags gives me a long meaningful look.
"Not around her, you're not," she says. My body stiffens and I feel my heart beating through my ears.
"What do you mean?" I ask, trying desperately not to show my uneasiness. Mags smirks.
"You've got it hard for her, boy! I see the way you look at her, the way you act! Hell, even the way breathe! Boy, you love her. It'll be your salvation. But it'll be your curse," she whispered the last word.
"What are you talking about Mags?"
"Go get ready, boy." And with that, Mags walked out of the room.
…
Connor's interview is about to finish. I didn't pay attention, but there is one thing that stands out that he had said.
"I'm gonna prove that I'm not a gay, Caesar,"
"And how is that, Connor?"
"By killing the guy with the highest training score." He said with a smirk.
"District's Twelve's other female tribute, Maysilee Donner!"
Maysilee saunters to the stage, and as she does so, I see the head's of many guys turn to watch her. My blood boils and I grit my teeth.
"Oh, Maysilee, you look divine!" I hear Caesar say.
"Oh, thank you! I could barely believe it myself when I looked in the mirror!" Mayze says.
"Well, Maysilee, I don't believe you! II mean, a gorgeous girl like you must know how beautiful you are!" Maysilee blushes and she gives a slight wave of her hand.
"Now, I know this question is getting repetitive, but tell me, how do you feel about 48 tributes in the arena instead of 24?" Caesar asked.
"Well, um, I guess I feel, um, nervous? Sorry, I haven't really thought about it before!" Mayze laughs. Soon, Mayze's time is up, and I walk onto the stage.
I wink into the crowd and sit on the seat lazily. I give Caesar and arrogant smirk and he asks the first question.
"So, Haymitch, what do you think of the Games having one hundred percent more competitors than usual?"
I shrug. I try to act natural and easy going, but in my mind is buzzing, trying to find an arrogant and witty reply.
"I don't see that it makes a difference. They'll still be one hundred percent as stupid as usual, so I figure my odds are roughly the same," the audience bursts out laughing, and I smirk arrogantly again.
"So you believe you have a good chance of winning?" he asks
"Well, mathematically speaking, the chances of me winning would be 1 out of 48. But, then again, I did get the highest training score, so that'll increase my chances by, I'd say, a good forty percent. So, now I have 1 out of 12 chance. Give or take a few,"
Caesar looks at me with a surprise look on his face. He didn't expect a smart tribute, especially a tribute from District 12. We chatter on about the games this year, and I talk about the probability of winning, and then, we talk about my family.
"So, Haymitch, any family?"
"Well, Caesar, I have my mother, who I love very much." I say simply.
"Any siblings? A special girl in your life? Or boy, for that matter?" Caesar gestures over to Connor, and I give him a quick glance. Connor does not look ashamed about his sexuality. In fact, he seems proud.
"No siblings, and no girls, or guys. I have my best friend, and that's about it." A bell rings to signify that my interview time is up. I shake Caesar's hand, and he tells me the same old about the odds being in my favor.
…
We don't go to bed immediately after the interviews. We sit on the sofas in silence. I sit next to Mayze, holding her hands, and Janice sits next to me. The three of us a bunched closely together, but Connor is opposite to us, not wanting to have any interaction with us. When Connor leaves, Janice speaks up.
"I'm scared, Haymitch. I don't wanna die." Her eyes tear up and I hold her to me.
"Your not gonna die in the blood bath, I promise." I say
"Haymitch is right. We in this together. We're allies now, and we'll protect each other," Maysilee soothes. I nod my head.
"Tomorrow, where ever we are, I want you two to run away. I'll get a pack and some weapons, and then meet up with the two of you. Understand?" I ask. The two nod their heads and I squeeze their hands one more time.
"Get to bed, guys. Tomorrow's gonna be a long day." I stand up and kiss the top of Mayze's and Janice's heads. I walk off to my room and spend the night thinking about the arena, and how I'm going to protect Mayze and Janice.
...