Hey guys! I know it's been a while but Junior Cert year ( can't really do much), and Tumblr, but the Halloween break finally came along so here it is!
Hope you enjoy!x
Cinna's glass shatters at my feet, soaking my right ankle in the cool liquid. Portia grabs my arm, her blood red nails digging into my wrist. It takes me approximately a minute to regain the ability to breathe. Katniss... pregnant. Of course she's not actually pregnant, but still. My ears slowly begin to register the shouting around me, returning to full function when the anthem begins to play, so loudly I feel the floor vibrate slightly. I see Cinna point to the screen and Portia pierces skin at the sight of the victors standing in a line, hand in hand before the screen goes black. We try to make our way backstage but we are pointed in the opposite direction and told to go home. "B-but..." I stammer, "I... I d-didn't say g-goodbye... I h-have to say goodbye." I know I won't see them in the morning, I never see the tributes before the games.
Portia takes my arm and pulls me away. "I'll say goodbye for you," she whispers in my ear. I don't know why I nod but I do, and I let her lead me by the arm to my apartment. It's late, so I let her stay the night in my spare room, she leaves in the early morning, or maybe the middle of this uncomfortably long night.
I dress quickly, not wanting to spend any more time in this apartment than I have to. I arrive a few minutes before the countdown, nerves boiling in the pit of my stomach. I'm sitting in the plush armchair for about five seconds before getting up to pour myself a glass of water. Caesar and Claudius are rambling on about how wonderful these games are going to be but I can tell Caesar feels a little more than uneasy about the whole thing. When the countdown begins I'm gripping my glass so tightly I wonder how it doesn't shatter in my hand. I cross my fingers as the countdown ends and Finnick, Annie, Katniss and Haymitch dive into the water.
It's an hour before I realise that Cinna and Portia haven't returned yet. They should be back, they should've been back ages ago. A piercing scream tears me from my thoughts and I whip my head up to see Finnick lying unconscious on the ground. As Haymitch tries to revive him Katniss tries to calm Annie down. After about three minutes Finnick coughs and open his eyes and three seconds later Annie flings herself on top of him, sobbing. I think I hear every woman in the Capitol breathe a sigh of relief.
A few hours later the group gets it's first gift. And no body knows what it is. Katniss and Finnick start giving random suggestions before Haymitch jumps up and grabs the object from Katniss hand.
"Idiots, the lot of you," He says driving his knife into a tree, " it's a spile."
Peeta and I sit and watch the games after dinner. It may be killing both of us but it's necessary for both our sanity. So we sit, clutching a glass of wine, staring at the television, hoping nothing terrible happens. "I'm sure he knows you're rooting for him," Peeta says out of the blue. I wipe away a tear I hand't noticed rolling down my cheek. I shake my head slowly.
"I'm was rooting for him twenty-five years ago... I'm praying for him now." I say slowly, my voice cracking. Peet places a hand on my shoulder and I place one on his knee. I silent gesture of comfort.
Peeta shakes me awake at seven, I must have fallen asleep on the couch.The second I sit up he starts to speak at an alarming pace. Starting with. "They've figured it out," and ending with, "it makes perfect sense!"
"Oh Peeta" I say, " First of all, I understood none of what you just said And secondly, you're going to hate me for this but how bad do I look right now?".
He replies with probably the most comforting word possible. "Atrocious." I can't help but laugh, that would've been Haymitch's answer if I asked him at any time of the day. Peeta gives me a quick hug before going to headquarters. I go to my room and pull on the simplest dress I can find, I don't wear a wig or make-up either. I just can't loom like that today.
Most of the screen time is give to Finnick and Annie. Just like Katniss and Peeta last year but slightly more adorable. At around three they go gathering shellfish. It's the first time I've seen Annie... comfortable. They're joking, laughing, they splash each other occasionally. Katniss seems to be watching with somehing keen to jelousy. She turns to Haymitch who's carving something out of a piece of wood.
"I may hate you Haymitch, but I wish it was Peeta here instead of you," there's a tear running down her cheek. Haymitch stops carving for a second.
"If you tried you could have that," He replies pointing his knife in the general direction of Finnick and Annie.
"You could too," she says, before hoping up to tap a tree.
Dinner in the arena seems a lot more enjoyable than dinner in the Capitol. But maybe that's because Peeta and I have already fallen into a state of mourning. Finnick and Annie are having a competition to see who can catch the most shellfish in their mouth, Haymitch is carving another piece of wood.
"Can I see that?" Katniss asks Haymitch, pointing to the locket around Haymitch's neck. He shakes his head in reply. "She gave it to you didn't she?" He nods. "Great, now I have to sing for Peeta." Haymitch looks at her questioningly. Katniss sighs before she speaks. "It started a while ago, on the victory tour. He came up to me and asked If I had noticed... you. He tried to prove it to me, that's why we asked for the dance lessons. He thought that if we could get from, "Effie" and "Haymitch", to "Effie and Haymitch" then we could get you to "Effieandhaymitch" Her hand gestures are the only thing that make her understandable. Peeta shuffles to the edge of the couch, turning to face in the opposite direction. I take his had and squeeze it whispering a thank you. Haymitch however looks nothing short of horrified, probably because Katniss prettty much announced that I broke the law live on mandatory television. "Sorry," Katniss mumbles before going off to re- braid her hair. Haymitch fingers the gold chain aroung his neck, before opening the locket, His eyes widen slighlty as he stares at it. Inside is a picture of him (I know, I know) and a picture of me and my sister. Haymitch exhales deeply before snapping the locket shut.
I excuse myself, making the excuse that I'm going to bed. I don't go to my own room though, I go to Haymitch's. I lay in bed for about twenty minutes, quietly sobbing. I run my hand under the pillow and my fingertips find a crupmled piece of paper.
Ohh! I really hope you enjoyed , I know I did! I'll try to upload again this week but I'm not making any promises. x
