Happy Hunger Games, Haymitch.

Maysilee and Snow.

I choke on my breath. Maysilee Donner. My Maysilee. Maysilee that died.
I clench my fists.
"Maysilee" I repeat.
Laven is silent.
"I'm sorry" she whispers.
I feel winded, I realise it's been 2 days and I didn't think about Maysilee. That's why I was focused. For once in 25 years, I wasn't plagued with guilt.

The doors open, and I walk out, fast. I'm practically running.
Effie shrieks, looking back and fourth from me and Laven. I walk to my bedroom.
I hear clacking, fast clacking, coming towards me. I realise it's Effie's high heels.
I'm stopped when she grabs my arm, very tightly. I spin towards her, to face her. She has a forced smile on her face.
"Haymitch. We have visitors." She says, through gritted teeth. Her eyes are wide. She waves her arm towards the table, giving a slight flick of her wrist. I see Laven, she's looking towards the table, her mouth slightly open, it's a look I recognise from the reaping. Terror. Whoever is at the table, is very important.
I slowly turn my head towards the table.
I see white hair, groomed, and neat.
I finally realise who it is.
President Snow.

"Haymitch" he says, with an eerie grin, as if we're friends.
"President Snow." I say, tucking my hands behind my back.
"Take a seat, please." He insists, gesturing to a seat two to the left from his. He's sat at the top of the table, two Avoxes and two peacekeepers perched behind him.
He thinks there's going to be confrontation.
I walk to the table, and sit down. He moves his gaze from me to Laven. I turn my head, and she's still stood, frozen, staring at President Snow.
"Laven, dear, sit down." He says, gesturing to the seat across from mine. She looks at me. I raise my eyebrows, and nod my head in the direction of the chair. She slowly walks forward.
"What a lovely dress." Says Snow.
"Th- thank you." She says, looking down.
"Cinna designed it." She adds, in a more confident voice.
"Cinna. Lovely chap." Snow says, as Laven sits down.
Laven looks at me with a pleading look in her eyes. I nod.

Snow gestures to the Avoxes and they walk out, they come back with 3 glasses of what I assume is water. I'm not drinking that. I hope Laven has the sense not to drink it, too. I don't know what he would be angry at us about, but knowing Snow, it's something. The Avoxes place the water in front of us, and walk back, looking down.
I look at the Avox.
She shoots me a look of dread, then returns back to normal.
I know the water is poisoned now. I look at Laven, and realise she was looking at the Avox too. She looks down, running her finger along the table.

"That was quite a reaction you got at the parade today." Snow says.
Laven looks up, looking at me and then at Snow.
"I wasn't expecting something quite so... enthusiastic." I say.
"Maybe it's because Laven was the only child there. The rules of the Quarter Quell went down nicely."
He looked at Laven. She was looking at him, her head to the side slightly. She looked at him with rage. He raised his eyebrows and she returned her face to normal.
Suddenly, he's dismissing the Avoxes and peacekeepers, who grab Effie by the arms and escort her out of the room. I look around, uneasy.
Laven looks around for a weapon, I assume.
Snow leans in, a solemn look on his face.
"Listen to me, you two." He demands, in a gruff voice.
"There have been repercussions in the districts. Katniss lit a spark, and you are kindling. It's your job to subdue the districts."
Laven gasps. My mind spins and I finally speak again.
"How"
Snow looks at me.
"To hush the problem, you need to know the cause."
"And what is the cause?" Laven asks, clamping her hands together on the table.
"The people of the districts see cruelty in your reaping." He informs us.
Laven nods.
"You need to show them that you're equal." He says.
"But if she's strong, a child, then the districts are going to see and take the chance to rebel." I say. I regret my words, I wonder if we will be killed right now because there is no way out of it.
"I have considered the possibility." He says, holding up his water, examining it.
He's silent as he places the water back down.
"I have decided that this is a sound course of action."
"So, Laven, Haymitch, do you understand?"
I nod. Laven sinks her gaze but still nods.

"Do you understand how many people will die if you fail me?" He asks, rising up.
"Yes." Laven says.
"I'll train. I'll try my best."
"Good. Good." He says. The smile is back. He saunters to the elavator, pressing a unique code into the number pad, and the doors open.
He steps in, and chuckles.
"She is just like Katniss."
Then the doors close, and he's out of sight.