HAYMITCH
I was in my room going over the events of the day in my head. I was surprised by Leila's words to Plutarch. After that, he rushed out of her room and I doubted he would try to talk to her again. I didn't take long to leave either, there was nothing else I could talk to her about.
I turned in my bed again. I knew that I was going to spend the night awake again. I hated this place, it was so stifling. In here there was no difference between day and night. damn! I missed alcohol, my mouth was watering thinking about it. I would give anything for just one drink.
I woke up around 10 in the morning. I dressed up in the ugly gray clothes of this district and decided to go to the command room. But according to the schedule tattooed on my arm, now, I had the right to enjoy my time in the sun, and I wasn't going to waste it. Any excuse was good to get out of this cage. Around 11, I went back to the hospital and saw Leila. Her eyes were still red eyes from crying but at least she was no longer handcuffed.
-Hey Leila- I said walking into her room.
-hey - she answered me with a weak voice.
-It's good to see that you're not tied to the bed anymore-I said jokingly.
-Not everyone here thinks the same- she said resigned.
- Well what does it matter what they think - I said downplaying it - can you leave the room?
-I think so, why?
-I thought you might want to change the scene. It's almost time for lunch, we can go eat with the rest of the people in this district-she looked at me doubtfully
-I don't know if it's a good idea, that's going to bother the nurse who's in charge of me.
- the nurse who was starving you and has brought you cold food for more than a month? - I said sarcastically.
-I don't care, I already told you- how exasperating this woman is.
-Well, whatever you want, see you later then.
-No wait! -she told me pleading- it's okay I'll go with you.
Maybe Leila was right and it wasn't a good idea. The looks everyone was giving her weren't the kindest. Walking with her was like walking with a plague, everyone was getting as far away from her as possible. The poor thing walked next to me with her head down, ignoring the gossip as she passed by. The only advantage of eating with her was that since they didn't want her near them, I didn't have to share a table with any of these people. I brought her tray and mine to the table. I wanted to make sure she didn't get cold food or worse.
The meal passed in silence. At times I saw the girl's eyes water but she held back her tears, she was still grieving, I reminded myself. I noticed several peculiarities of the girl while we ate. She ate slowly, very slowly I would say. I was almost finishing my meal and hers seemed untouched. Also, she used to eat in a sort of order, first the meat, then the vegetables, and the puree barely touched it. Also before she started eating she rearranged all the contents of her tray, putting the cutlery in the right way, she reminded me a bit of the Capitol style. But I kept confirming my theory, Leila was weird.
-Don't do that- Leila scolded me when I took a piece of vegetable with my hand. She jumped on me, taking my hand with the napkin and cleaning my fingers, as if I were a child -is not proper for a decent person to eat with their bare hands, use the cutlery -she ordered me.
- What is not decent is getting into the bed of sleeping people - I told her while I snatched my hand from hers. She blushed profusely and lowered her gaze-I eat how I want, I'm not a child to be given orders
- I have seen children with more manners than you at the table - she replied
We didn't talk anymore for the rest of the meal. She just limited herself to watching me at times, and giving me disapproving looks. I could have finished the rest of my plate with my hand to annoy her but I wasn't going to be so childish. As soon as she pushed her half-eaten plate away, I dragged it over to me and finished what she left. It was lukewarm, and this didn't surprise me, with all the time it took her to eat. Then , I accompanied her to her room and went to the Command room. Nothing in particular had happened, the team was still focused on making new Propos commemorating the dead tributes.
In the evening a new broadcast from the Capitol came on the screen. Again Peeta and Caesar Flickerman. His condition looked a little more deteriorated than a few days ago. But what was most impressive were his words, he was asking Katniss not to trust us, for her to realize who was really manipulating her. These words would have repercussions on some of the people in the districts but he hadn't said anything that really surprised me, it would be very naive of us to totally trust the higher ups of 13. Everyone was moving for convenience and I knew that Katniss wasn't such an idiot to put all her hopes in them. However I hoped that she would not show it. Plutarch ran off with Fulvia to check on Katniss to make sure she hadn't seen this interview.
The next day, I got up almost at noon. I decided that I would go look for Leila again to take her to the dining hall. In this way I'll do my good deed for the day, and I would be rewarded with her leftovers and a nearly empty table. As I approached the room I heard the voice of a man speaking.
-You understand that you have screwed up everything! You only had one job Leila, nothing more. Kill the girl and finish off the rest. But of course, as always, you're a bloody disappointment. - said the voice angrily
-Please dad, let me go, you're hurting me- Leila begged between sobs.
-Well I don't fucking care. Did you think of me when you decided to send everything to damn shit. I remind you that it is your fault that your bitch of a mother has escaped with the brat. If they're dead, it's your fault. - Ugh! It was horrible what I was hearing
- I did not know! I didn't think- she was trying to excuse herself
-Of course you never know anything, you're stupid, you've always been an idiot- I had heard enough, so I decided to make myself noticed in the room. Leila's father held her tightly by her arms, as soon as he saw me he released her- and who is he? Ahh I know, the drunk from 12. Go away nobody gave you permission to be here- he barked at me.
- Dad please don't say those things - she looked at me embarrassed with tears in her eyes. I didn't care, I had heard worse things. I decided to ignore it and go directly to Leila.
- Leila, I have some information for you.
- Say what you have to say and get out- Leila's father growled at me again
- It's private information for her, unless you're also called Leila. - I said sarcastically. He glared at me.
-Later we will continue this conversation Leila.- he said threatening her and left the room. WOW! Plutarch was right. Leila lived with the enemy.
-Are you okay?-She nodded, holding back her tears.
-He's just stressed, everything that's happened has taken him by surprise, he'll calm down later- she poorly tried to excuse him, but she didn't even sound convinced of her own words. She was trying with all her might to appear normal, but still looked upset with her hands shaking.
-If you say so- I said seriously, looking into her eyes. She immediately lowered her gaze from mine. I could see that he had left his fingers marked on Leila's white skin. This girl could kill a giant mutt effortlessly but she was afraid of an old man like her dad -You and your dad don't look alike- I remarked. He was quite tall and stocky, I suspected that in a better time he had been athletic, with dark blonde hair and hazel eyes. I estimated that he must be around 65 years old.
- Yes, I think I look like my mother, I don't know - she said evasively. I knew that when she didn't want to talk about something she would get very nervous so I didn't push her anymore.
-Ok let's go?
-Where?- she asked me, confused.
- to eat, obviously- I told her
- So what was the information you had to give me?
-none, I just wanted your old man to go away and stop shaking you
-Nothing was happening, Haymitch.-She tried to convince me.
- I only know what my eyes saw and my ears heard. Let's go before lunchtime passes. I don't live from air like you
On the way neither of us spoke. Everything happened the same as yesterday, resentful looks, rude murmurs against the girl. When I brought the trays, Leila began her ritual of arranging the cutlery, the crockery on the table and the napkin on her lap. She reminded me of poor Effie when she tried to teach table manners to two starving children chosen as tributes. As if knowing how to handle a spoon and fork well would help a lot in death.
This time I didn't take anything with my hand. Leila had been upset enough since her father's visit, and I didn't want to stress her out any more. After more than half an hour waiting for her to finish eating, she passed me the plate with her remains, which I devoured in less than 5 minutes.
We collected our things and left. I felt a little bad leaving her in the hospital knowing that her father was going to come back and make good on his threat. So I told Leila that she will accompany me to the command room.
-I can't go there, Haymitch- she told me nervously -you know, they banned me, since I tried to assassinate her star ally- she told me sadly. I let out a laugh. Maybe she hadn't tried to sound funny but she did.
- It's okay, yes, I understand, wait for me here then. - I left still laughing
When I got to the room I found Plutarch, and I called him to talk in private. I explained Leila's situation to him, something I was sure he knew better than I did.
-Yes, I had thought about that. But assigning her a room of her own would be rewarding her. Nobody would see it with good eyes
-Anyway, no one wants to share a room with her, so what does it matter?
- Give me 5 minutes, I'll talk to the president and I'll see what I can do. -after 10 minutes, Plutarch returned- she agreed, she said that she would give the order for Igride to assign her a private room, however she will have to be in an almost empty wing of the complex. The president fears for the safety of her people. You could accompany her to the assignment department, there they will give her all the information.
- okay!
-By the way Haymitch, tomorrow we are planning to film another Prop with Katniss in District 12, I count on your company?
-No, not without a bottle.- I didn't want to see the remains of 12. Snow had taken everything from me, including the graves of my loved ones, I had nothing left of them except my painful memories of them.
-I understand, I'll make sure that Katniss is safe tomorrow.- I nodded and turned to leave but Plutarch's voice stopped me. -It's very kind of you, Haymitch, to help Leila- he told me in a kind tone even though I know that his words meant something else
- Well, it's the least I can do for her. She left Katniss alive at the cost of the lives of half of her family and her friends.- I replied in the same tone. He only looked away and nodded.
-Leila, here Igride will assign you your room and explain how everything works outside the hospital, ok?
-But Haymitch, the doctor still hasn't released me and I'm still undergoing rehabilitation therapy for my leg- she told me worried
- I think you already have the discharge. As for therapies, you only go to the hospital when you have them and that's it. So you can have your space without anyone bothering you
-Okay- she said, accepting with resignation. Before leaving I turned around and told Leila
- I don't think it's your fault what happened to your sister and friends, Leila. There is only one culprit and you know very well who he is. Don't let anyone make you believe otherwise- Tears filled her eyes as she nodded.
In the early morning of the next day I found Leila wandering the halls. It wasn't a surprise for me to find her awake, I knew that she, like me, had a hard time sleeping at night. At least here outside the hospital, no one would yell at her for taking late-night walks.
-hello haymitch
-hey- I greeted her- how about the new room?
-Pretty good, I have no complaints- she told me with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Those emerald green eyes that looked overshadowed by the reddish in them from crying so much.
-Well, at least you'll enjoy the privileges of having privacy, so no one can enter your room- I told her, referring to her father. She fell silent at my comment.
- Thanks Haymitch for what you did for me, even when you didn't have to.
-It was nothing- I said, shrugging my shoulders. -What is your plan from now on?-
-I don't know- she told me, bowing her head -I don't dare ask anyone, I don't want to bother them, you know I'm not very loved here.
- yes, I know - I laughed. I didn't want to make fun of her situation but it was ridiculous that leisure was not tolerated here and yet Leila had that privilege without asking for it. - well that's better than being forced to do something you don't like
-It is worse punishment to stay without doing anything all day. I don't want to have to stay locked in my room. It's maddening to have such an unoccupied mind.
-Yes, I understand you, but well, you don't have many options. You closed the doors with the high commands at the moment you knocked out Plutarch, well deserved, of course - she smiled guiltily at my comment - and well, I doubt that even if they were open you would help with something, or am I wrong? -she shook her head- that leaves you with the option of some mundane job in the district but since you don't know how to do anything you're not very useful and if we add to that the fear that the majority here has of you, well your options are null.
She didn't refute anything I said, she just sighed with resignation. I understood why she wanted to occupy herself with something, having her mind elsewhere would at least help her think about something other than her grief, and I also imagined that she wanted to be busy to avoid encountering her father. But finding a job for Leila was difficult. Who could overlook years of bad reputation, among the districts, and give it a second chance? Suddenly a person came to mind, although I was not sure if she would accept.
-Do you at least know how to cook?- I asked.
-cook what? - she told me nervously
-Shoes, Leila. Well, food, what else is cooked? - I replied sarcastically. She didn't answer me, she just lowered her head. I felt guilty for being rude to her, but I couldn't help it.
- no no I don't know. - she told me softly.
- See you here tomorrow at 11 and I'll take you to the kitchens. I know someone from 12 who works there and maybe she can give you a place there. But I don't promise anything- she nodded energetically and I turned to go back to my room- ok, I'll see you tomorrow then.
-See you tomorrow Haymitch, and thanks again- she replied.
The next morning, Leila was waiting for me very punctually in the same place as I indicated. She looked with a better countenance although she still had traces of tears on her face. She was wearing the gray outfit that we all had to wear here, and her hair was pulled up in a simple but pretty updo. I nodded for her to follow me and once we got to the kitchens I asked her to wait for me outside while I talked to Sae. It only took me a few minutes to convince her to accept Leila as her assistant. The only obstacle was the other people who worked with her in the kitchen, they were all from 13 and no one wanted Leila, much less in the kitchen, where it was full of knives and objects that could serve as weapons. Yes, I understood them, I wouldn't trust her either, but I assured them that she wasn't dangerous and Sae, to my great surprise, backed me up, telling them that she would take responsibility for the girl. Reluctantly they accepted but warned that the slightest strange action she did, they would kick her out of the kitchen and report her to the security officers in the district.
Once I left Leila in the kitchen I went to the command room. Spend the rest of the day with them, hearing plans and strategies for action against the Capitol. Leila crossed my mind a few times even though I was sure that everything was going well for her. I didn't look for her at lunch or dinner, there was no point anymore, if she was working in the kitchens it was impossible for her to get cold food or worse. Maybe now that she had found something to do, I would stop feeling bad for her. I still had Plutarch's comment on my mind, and I didn't like that kind of insinuation at all. However, I didn't know what the girl had but she always managed to make me worry about her well-being.