Because I'll Win

Chapter 3

We walk into breakfast and my eyes immediately lock on my mentor. Haymitch Abernathy. I glare and sit down. He let my sister die in the second Quarter Quell. I hate him for that. He must realize it because he puts down his liquor and glares back. Some mentor. He was too drunk to even get my brother into the top eight.

"Haymitch," I greet him.

"Huntress." He nods his head towards me. "Lake." Lake remains silent. He looks kinda pissed off, his eyes are stormy, his dark hair that falls in front of his eyes seem more vibrant. And to top it off he is glaring at Haymitch. "So Huntress, let's start with you, what can you do?"

"It depends, what kind of advice can you give us?" I reply with venom.

"Stay alive." He says gruffly. I glare at him, now mad. I hate everything about Haymitch, he let my brother and my sister die in the games. "Huntress, why so angry? I'm just giving you advice like you asked." He says cockily. He turns and smiles. Something inside of me snaps and I reply with,

"Incase you didn't know, I am Huntress Donner, you let both my brother, Tristen Donner, and my sister, Maysilee Donner die in the games. Think about that for a second, and then there's me, a twelve year old girl that has a very little chance in survival, WHO YOU LET TWO OF HER SIBLINGS DIE!" He sits there quietly through my rant. When I mention Maysilee, I see hurt flash behind his eyes. Good. He deserves it.

"Maysilee was my ally, " Haymitch replies. "I tried to save her, but I couldn't, and for Tristen, he didn't rake in enough sponsor money for me to send him anything. And I wouldn't count on you getting much unless you have a damn good costume and you get a good training score."

"Tristen had a nine." Lake finally speaks up. "You just weren't letting the gifts through. The stylists were pretty good last year. So what happened to Tristen was your fault. Not his. How can it be his fault that he died Haymitch? How? Think about that and maybe you'll decide to stay sober for us." Now I'm crying. I excuse myself and run to my bedroom. Tristen, Tristen where are you? I need you. Maysilee, I need you as well. At that time I realized that I was a broken figure. Not even broken, a shattered figure at that.

I hear my door slide open and Lake comes and sits down next to me.

"Hey," he says and gives me a hug. "Haymitch is a bitch huh?" I nod into his chest. More tears. He holds me like this until I calm down. He orders food for us and we just sit there, in my room eating, talking, and more eating.

"Lake, will you be my ally?" I ask, somewhat shyly. He face breaks out into a smile.

"Of course, anything to protect my best friends little sis." He replies. Good. I've got a strong ally. Things shouldn't be too bad now...