Chapter 3
For a few moments Katniss and I Take in the scene of out mentor trying to get up out of the slippery vile stuff from his stomach. The reek of spirits and vomit makes me want to throw up too, but i hold it in.
"I tripped?" Haymitch asks. "Smells bad." He wipes his hand on him face only making a bigger mess.
"Let's get you back to your room." I say. "Clean you up a bit."
we half lead half carry Haymitch back to his room. Since we can't really Set him down on his bed, We take him to the bathroom and put him in the tub and turn the shower on and it sprays cool water on him. He must be really drunk because he doesn't even notice.
"It's okay I'll take it from here." I say. I guess i kinda think it would be awkward for katniss and from the look on her face she seems like she was waiting for me to say that. Plus he's so drunk he won't even remember this tomorrow.
"Alright. I can send one of the capital people to help you." She says.
"Nahh i don't want them." I kinda want to talk to Haymitch about the games. Even if he is drunk. As she leaves i close the door behind us.
"Listen Haymitch." I start. "I want to do everything I can to protect Katniss even if it means to take my life."
"Woooow" Haymitch says. "You must really love her"
"yeah I do."
"Well if you want to protect her then you need to..." He pauses to throw up again. "You need to join the people who are the strongest in the games."
I understand what he is saying.
"So you want me to join the careers?"
I say just to make sure. He nods his head more times than i think he wants to.
"But how will i get in with them? You saw me at the reaping. I was a freaking mess!" I exclaim.
"Just show them your strengths and you'll be fine boy" He says.
He gives very good advice for a drunk guy.
He leans his head back and passes out.
I clean him up and as weird as it was, i put him in new clothes and put him under his covers.
When i get back to my room i notice that the train has stopped for fuel.
I decide to just head to bed and as I'm trying to fall asleep i start to think about my family back home in district twelve. Rye is probably just playing video games on a small console my father got us as a present with his friends not bothering to think about me and Evan is no doubt with his girlfriend. My father will be closing up the bakery just about mother will be staring at the photo of her mother and father.
From what i know, Her mother was in one of the previous games and she died because she was so eager to get her hands on a weapon the she stepped off her plate early and was blown to bits.
Unlike my mother, she was kind but deadly. My mother told us that if you did something bad, You are not going to get away without a slap on the wrist or worse. I guess thats where my mother gets her fierceness from.
I drift off thinking about what Haymitch said.
"Up up up! It's going to be a big big big day!" Effie says as she knows on my door.
I groan as i sit up and rub the sleep out of my eyes.
I ruffle my hair and just slide my hand back on my head and my hair looks okay enough for me to wear. I put on a black shirt with gray jeans. As i get ready i wonder if Haymitch has woken up yet. When i go to the dining car i see that he is already there. Effie orders coffee as i sit down next to Haymitch.
"So boy since you loove Katniss." Haymitch says in the way that a teenage girl would. "We need to talk strategy."
Shit. I was hoping he would have forgotten that. Effie looks over at me with her eyebrows raised as i blush, looking embarrassed. I am served a huge variety of meals and i see this brown liquid and i drank it dipping bread into it as Katniss walks in.
"sit down sit down!" Haymitch insists.
As soon as she sits down she is served with a hug plate of different foods. She stares at the brown cup.
"they call it hot chocolate." I say dippings more bread into it. She takes a sip and doesn't stop until l she has drained the whole cup.
As im dipping the bread into the cup of hot chocolate I notice That Katniss sits back and starts to eye Haymitch. Did he tell her about what i said? I think.
No. He could not have. There was no time where haymitch and Katniss were alone after i told him.
"You're supposed to give us advice." Katniss says.
"Here's some advice. Stay alive!" Haymitch says as he bursts out laughing.
If Haymitch is going to help me keep Katniss alive then he need to be useful and not so drunk he can't even stand the hell up. Katniss and i exchange a look. suddenly i feel so enraged that i say, "That's very funny." In a sarcastic voice and lash out my hand and his drink crashes to the ground soaking the carpet with red. "Only not to us."
Haymitch looks at me for a second then punches me in the jaw. I am knocked to the ground. As i struggle to get up i see that as Haymitch reaches for the bottle of spirits Katniss has driven her knife between the bottle and his hand, barely missing his fingers.
"Well whats this?" Haymitch says. "Did i actually get a pair of fighters this year?"
I rise off the floor and scoop up a handful of ice from the fruit tureen.
"No, let the bruise show. The audience will think you mixed up with another tribute before you even made it to the arena." Haymitch says.
"But isn't that against the rules?" I ask.
"Only if they catch you. The bruise will say you fought and you were not caught which is even better."
"And you." Haymitch says to Katniss. "Can you hit anything with that knife besides a table?"
I know that katniss is very familiar with knives because Ive seen her hit the squirrels she trades with my dad dead in the eye.
She stands up and pulls the knife out of the table. She throws the knife into the middle of the two seems of the wall.
Wow she's good i think. Even though i already know that.
"Stand over here both of you." Haymitch says. Maybe he thinks we actually have a chance to win the games. Well Katniss that is. I'll be lucky if i even make it past the blood bath.
"You seem fit. But once the stylists get a hold of you you'll be attractive enough." Haymitch states.
"Okay. I'll make a deal with you." Haymitch says. "You don't interfere with my drinking and i will stay sober enough to help you."
Sure, its not much of a deal but is alright.
"Fine." I say.
"So help us. When we get to the arena, whats the best-"
"One thing at a time. We will be in the capital soon and do not resist your stylist. no matter what." Haymitch says.
"But-" Katniss starts.
"No buts. don't resist." Haymitch says as he walks out of the room.
Suddenly we are in a dark tunnel and i see katniss start to look worried.
When we get out of the tunnel We both run to the window as we see the capital, For the first time, In real life instead of on our TV's.