Warning: These one-shots feature heavy subjects, including alcoholism, drug abuse, and torture... so far. Now adding: depression, cheating, heartbreak, underage, implied prostitution, suicidal thoughts, someone having acid thrown on them, smut, implied rape/non-con. I'll add more as the story wears on, just in case.
Disclaimer: Credit goes to HannahSongla for the story idea. Please go check out her Hayniss story similar to this - Sweetheart. Credit goes to Suzanne Collins for the verse and the characters. I don't really own anything but the text of these one-shots. And no, that doesn't mean the song lyrics or the playlist. Enjoy c:
AN: I don't know, man. I don't... what happened here, you ask? I don't know. Try to enjoy it, because I'm so sorry.
Song: High by Young Rising Sons
So tell me is this low, or is this the high?
Just let it go enjoy the ride
Without the low there isn't a high
It was supposed to be a prank. They were not supposed to get caught. Not to mention it wasn't even their idea, so they weren't supposed to be the ones in trouble for it. But somehow, Haymitch Abernathy and Katniss Everdeen were sitting in front of Headmaster Coriolanus Snow, with their hands under their bottoms and their eyes on their feet. Haymitch would rather be sitting comfortably - with his feet on the Headmaster's desk and a sly smirk on his lips - but it's Katniss' first time getting in trouble and he - although he hates himself for it - doesn't want her to get in anymore trouble than necessary.
Although that doesn't stop him from having brutal flashbacks of his own years in high school, sitting in this very chair in front of this very man. Haymitch actually winces at the idea of his sixteen year old self- nothing but braces, pimples, and poorly thought out plans.
This misfired plan started out with a few bottles of cheap alcohol and Johanna's Uncle's old firecracker warehouse. It had been Finnick's idea to set off firecrackers in the Headmaster's office after hours. Looking back, Finnick was very stoned and very drunk, but so was everyone else who thought it was a good idea. Haymitch, being the only one of them out of high school, offered to go with the new freshman of their group, Katniss - to assist in her 'initiation'. Everything would have gone smoothly if he didn't light the fuse just as the stupid Headmaster walked into his office. He could have played it off and gotten Katniss less of a punishment - maybe a few hours after school detention.
"I'm surprised at you, Miss Everdeen. You were one of my best students. Being around this troublemaker must have spoiled you," Snow says, forcing both pairs of grey eyes on the withering man. Haymitch narrows his eyes at the old Headmaster but keeps his mouth shut. He's tempted to say a comment about the man being a damned Vampire - running this school for what felt like a hundred years. "And Mr. Abernathy. It is a shame to see you back on my campus. Although I hoped you'd grown out of your childish ways. It appears not."
"You know what you can suck?" Haymitch questions, not one to be talked down to. Katniss whips her head to glare at him, despite the fact that the corners of her mouth twitch up into a smile. He smirks at her.
"I cannot punish you, Mr. Abernathy, but I am close friends with the Dean of your College, Ms. Alma Coin. Don't be mistaken - I'm not afraid to get you expelled."
Haymitch scoffs - he could care less about going to the prissy college that his mother's family friend paved his way into, he hated everyone there anyways - and Katniss glares at him. His mouth clamps shut, biting the tongue he was about to get himself kicked out of college over. The girl had known him for about a month now, but she apparently cared for his education a lot.
"Very well then," Headmaster Snow says, clearing his throat. "I am a generous man, Miss Everdeen. I'm sure a call home can be avoided with a few weeks lunch detention? And I do expect you to be here for after school detention for everyday until winter break?"
"Yes Headmaster Snow," replies Katniss easily, although her jaw is tight and she looks ready to cry. Haymitch pities her, he does, but the look she sends him tells him that she doesn't want him to plead her innocence - she wants her poison just like him.
"And Mr. Abernathy - next time I see your face on my campus, I will not hesitate to call not only the cops, but the police, for your trespassing."
Haymitch considers firing back a snarky reply, but he relents with a submissive, "Yes Headmaster Snow." Nodding, Headmaster Snow dismisses the two of them with a few more ignored warnings. Unsurprisingly, Johanna, Finnick and Annie are waiting in the office for them.
"So? What happened?"
"Are you expelled from school?"
"What about you Haymitch?"
Haymitch clears his throat and grabs Katniss' arm, guiding her towards the school exit. The triage of teenagers follow them out, but Haymitch is only worried about Katniss. Her face is buried in her hands and she shakes - with sobs, most likely. As soon as they're out in the parking lot, she looks up at him.
She's laughing. Not crying, but full out laughing. Tears drizzle down her cheeks and she shakes, and Haymitch chuckles too. Even though he's confused, it's nice to see her loosen up. No one in their group had ever seen her laugh this hard, and although the others were weirded out, Haymitch himself thought it was cute.
Damn, he thinks, catching himself in the thought. It's weird to think that about another person, he hasn't thought about a girl like that since Maybelle, and that had been almost six years ago.
"What's so funny?" Johanna asks, placing her hands on her hips and bringing him out of his mind. Katniss exchanges a look with Haymitch and he grins wildly at her. For them, nothing was funny. The entire situation was nothing to laugh at, seeing as he was on the brink of expulsion and she'd spend the rest of this year playing secretary for the President and eating from Styrofoam trays at lunch. For some reason though, it felt like a shared joke between them.
It would be the first of many.
'Cause all we need is love
and love means sacrifice
But it's sure worth the prize