One Last Game -Haymitch Abernathy-

Chapter 21

Amelia's shoulder was pressed against Haymitch's as she attempted to distance herself from the Peacekeeper beside her. They drove through District 11 in the back of a vehicle. "The mayor will make an introduction. You will have to say a few words. Commonly, you give a short eulogy for the fallen tributes. Here that would be Thresh and Rue," Effie's words faded towards the end. Amelia glanced at Katniss, watching as a faint frown appeared on her face at the mention of the young girl. "Here are the speeches." Effie handed them the notecards that contained the speech they would soon give.

Peeta took the speeches for them. "I can do the talking if you want?"

"Yeah, thank you," Katniss stared at him.

The car came to a stop, and the doors opened. Silently the group got out and walked inside the building. Amelia's eyes studied everything. From the building, which she had once entered to address the fallen victims during her Victory tour, to the fields. It felt more lifelike back then. Everything had changed.

Haymitch placed a hand on her back, silently guiding her inside with them. "Cue the Mayor," someone spoke. The doors a few feet away opened, and the mayor marched outside. Once the doors closed, the screen appeared.

"Come on," Effie pushed Peeta and Katniss forward. "Be ready."

"District 11," he spoke to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the winners of the 74th annual Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark."

The doors opened, "smile, smile, smile, smile. Stand up straighter. You are on camera." Amelia stood beside Haymitch, eyes on the screen as her Victors stepped onto the stage.

"Thank you," Peeta stared at the cards. "We're honored to be here with you today, to be with the families of the fallen tributes."

There was a long silence, and Amelia waited for Peeta to continue. She knew what they were feeling and knew how hard this was. To stare at the faces of dead tributes, dead friends. Peeta slowly lowered the cards. Effie gasped, "he lowered my cards. Why do I bother?"

"Shush," Haymitch silenced her.

"They fought with dignity and honor. Thresh and Rue were so young. Our lives aren't measured in years, but in the lives of the people we touch around us." Amelia was proud of him, "for myself and Katniss. We know that without Rue and Thresh, we wouldn't be standing here with you today. So in recognition of that, we know we can not make up for your loss. But we would like to donate one month of our winnings to the tributes' families every year for the rest of our lives."

Amelia blinked once, twice, three times before her lips parted. "Shit."

"Can he do that," Cinna asked them.

"No," Haymitch responded, "but he did."

"Why doesn't he just stick to the cards?" Amelia glanced at Haymitch, but he didn't meet her gaze.

"Thank you."

The audience clapped for him, and he stepped away. However, Katniss continued to stare at Rue's picture. "I just wanted to say that I didn't know Thresh. I spoke to him one time. He could've killed me, but he offered mercy instead." Katniss's voice broke, "it's something I'll never be able to repay." She turned her attention towards Rue's family. "I did know Rue. She wasn't just my ally. She was my friend. I see her in the flowers that bloom in the field by my house. I hear her in the Mockingjay song. I see her in my sister Prim. Rue was too young and too gentle." Katniss cried, "I couldn't save her. I'm sorry."

Amelia couldn't imagine what Katniss was feeling at that moment, and she didn't try to. A man whistled in the audience and raised his hands. Others followed in his actions. Soon, the entire crowd was saluting her.