The Boy With The Bread

Chapter 54

A/N
okay well i wrote this yesterday and DIDNT PUBLISH IT sorry :/
Prims POV

It was evening, and everyone was eating dinner at our house. Yes, the whole Capitol crew, plus Peeta and Sali and a surprisingly sober Haymitch. I planned on telling everyone what had happened today with the dogs. Maybe Lessa or someone would know what to do with the "robots". From now on, I was calling the creatures robots, because that's what they were.

Peeta and Katniss are talking in hushed voices, and gesturing excitedly. I'm sitting in between Haymitch and Sali. "It's as if they are a couple already." Haymitch grumbles quite loudly.

"Oh, Haymitch," Funia squeals, even though he's a full grown man. "You are so funny! Just because they are a couple in the show doesn't mean they are in real life. Katniss and Gale are! Although Katniss and Peeta would be adorable." I groan internally, then see if Katniss or Peeta heard what Funia said.

Nope. When those two lovebirds are together, it's as if nothing else exists. Seriously. Earlier, I tried to talk to Katniss about the dogs, but she was smiling at Peeta like a clown and nodded at me absentmindedly. But I think I kinda know how Gale feels...

"As Katniss's uncle, I declare her too young to have any boyfriend at all!" Haymitch suddenly stands up from his chair. Okay, never mind what I said about him being sober. He's definitely drunk. Uncle? Where did he get that from? Everyone stares at the former victor confusedly. My mother's blue eyes are wide and her hand is covering her mouth. Of course, Katniss and Peeta are oblivious to the whole thing.

"Haymitch, you're drunk, you don't know what you're talking about." My mom says, walking over to him. She grabs his wrist and drags him away, while feeling his forehead. "Yes, you must not be feeling well. Come on, now." I know that Haymitch was just drunk and not really our uncle, but now that I think about it, his hair is more blond than brown, and his eyes are more blue than hazel. And he has high, hollow cheekbones like my mother, and her thin nose. I shudder. Haymitch? My uncle? Must not be true. Everyone else at the table went back to happily eating and chatting, so I get up and tell Sali that I'm going to the restroom.

If it isn't true, then why did my mother take Haymitch out? I'm sure he isn't sick. Being the daughter of the best healer in all of 12, I think I should know if he was sick or not. I go into the living room where my mom led Haymitch.

"Haymitch Abernathy. What the hell was that?! You could keep a secret for more than twenty years but now you have to tell everyone? I can't believe you! You're not even drunk!" My mother whispers harshly. Like screaming, but quietly if you know what I mean.

"It just slipped out. I don't know what came over me. Just... I have been trying to stop drinking to save your daughter!! It's been stressful! I helped your daughter, then I realized I had to help MY daughter, too!! Can you imagine what I felt when I saw her in the Capitol as an Avox! Then when she entered the arena? I had to choose one, you know. And I chose Katniss, because I knew I owed you a favor since...well, you know. And now, I'm not myself anymore. Sure, I'm not drinking as much, but I used to be good!"

"Good?"

"Yes! I used to try to help save the kids. It's like going through hell and back, getting close to innocent children, only to have them be murdered! You don't know what it's like to be a tribute, to be a mentor. In the beginning, I thought Katniss had no chance. She proved herself, as did I. But it's not like that. After ten years or so, I stopped trying. I pretty much killed my mentees. I didn't help them, I let them die. And it's awful, I know, but I just realized. And I remembered, when I won the Games and Snow didn't let me see you, and killed Mom and Gregory..." Tears fall from both Haymitch and my mother's eyes. Who was Gregory though? "I had already been through so much. He basically killed Maysilee, too." Who was Maysilee? "I lost everything. So did you. And when I lost Maysilee, I was reduced to nothing. I was like you when Dave died, but worse. You remember." Dave was my father's name... "I can't allow Katniss to go through something like that. If you can't tell, Snow is capable of anything, and I'm sure he knows what's really up with Katniss and Peeta. And it wouldn't surprise me if something happened to the boy. You're daughter would be devestated."

"But doesn't she love Gale?" My mother asks confusedly.

"God, you really are clueless aren't you."