The Victor

8

My arrival back home is effortless and quick. The snow is just beginning to melt and buds are appearing on the trees. Haymitch has managed to break three windows and the inside of his house is filthy. I spend the better part of the afternoon cleaning without him ever waking up. Repairing the windows has become second nature to me; I keep spare panes in the closet at this point.When he finally wakes up after sunset, I've made dinner, not that he can taste it through his stupor."You're back." He grunts before going to the sink and splashing cold water on his face."I am." I say as I take a bite of food."How was your getaway with the famous Mr. Odair?" Haymitch asks crossly as we sit down. He begins eating, every muscle in his arms stiff."Haymitch, he needed my help. And it was nice. He's the only friend I've got.""What about me? What about Peeta?""You two are family. You're different.""Damn right we're family!" Haymitch slams his knife into on the table. I draw back at the look in his eyes. "And I need you too, Piper, did you think about that? Or was it nice forgetting about your drunk guardian for a few days?"Unexpectedly, tears rush to my eyes as my face grows hot. "I'm sorry, Haymitch. I'm sorry I can't be here all the time! Do you know how hard it is watching you drink every day to forget who you are! I'm sorry I left, but I'm not losing Finnick. So you'd better just get over yourself because I won't stop being his friend because you want more time with me!"There's a ringing silence over the table. I stare across at Haymitch, suddenly looking very sober, and then tears begin splashing down my cheeks. Every ounce of exhaustion in me begins to spill out."Pigeon, stop." Haymitch says softly, and I feel his arms around my shoulders. "I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have overreacted, I just…I don't want to lose you to the Capitol. Like him.""What if he's not lost?" I clutch onto his hands. "What if I can save him?"Haymitch presses a kiss to the top of my head. "He's long gone, Piper. He's broken. Just like me.""Just like me." I say softly."Yeah." Haymitch says. "We're all pretty screwed up."I look up at him. "But I helped you. You can't deny that. And I can help him to, I don't care how messed up he is."Haymitch retreats to his seat, but I don't let the silence drag."What's the Victor's Ball?" I ask, and he presses his palm to his head."A chance for the Capitol to gawk at all the previous victors." He says. "Anyone who's anyone in the Capitol tries to wrangle an invitation. It's a fashion-party extravaganza.""Prep team?""Unfortunately."I suppress a sigh."More than that, President Snow will be there. Potential sponsors will be there to scope out that year's mentors, so as a general rule it's usually that year's mentors who come, along with a few old favorites. I'll get to see some old friends." A twinkle came into Haymitch's eye and I suppress a smile."When is it?" I ask."Well, the Games are in the middle of summer. It's spring now. I'm guessing it'll be in a couple weeks, maybe a month."I just got back and I'll have to go so soon.At least I'll be able to see Finnick.Haymitch passes out as the sun rises. I can't help but climb the stairs to my old room. He hasn't moved a thing, and I feel a rush of affection towards him as I pull back the silken sheets and slip in. The huge bed feels empty without someone on the other side and I shiver.I wonder if I've gotten too close to Finnick, if I've become too dependent. I miss his legs splaying out over the entire bed, the way he looks so young when he's asleep. I miss his morning breakfasts.Maybe I have grown too dependent.(Finnick's POV)I fall into the bed, exhausted. For a while I toss and turn, feeling like something's wrong. Then I realize what's missing.Piper isn't filling the room with her gentle breathing. For a second my arms long to hold her, then I shove the feeling down. It's been so many years since I've had a friend that I've forgotten what it was like, and now I crave it. It's another reason to keep doing what I do; now I have to protect her too.I roll over and stare at the empty place she occupied only a day before. Then I force myself onto my other side and close my eyes.(Piper's POV)Days pass, then weeks. The snow melts quickly, and the hunger that grips District 12 every winter begins to abate slightly. I force myself not to see Peeta, even as preparations for the Victor's Ball become more and more frantic. The invitation comes two weeks after I get home, all prim and fancy over the telephone. My prep team shows up a few days before we leave at my house to wax, pluck, and lotion my body into submission. When Haymitch emerges from his session the same day, he's hardly recognizable, though in a fouler temper than ever. Zenobia gets here the day before we get on the train."I wanted to make sure I didn't need to make any more adjustments." She says, and I slip the gown over my head, wondering when this routine will ever end.The gown is a peachy red, the hem a foot or two above the ground, seeming simple at first, but I know Zenobia too well."Walk." She says, and I do. When I do, the gown allows a peek of a myriad of colors under the gown, orange, dark red, purple, and black-blue."Sunrise?" I ask knowingly, and she grins before lifting the dress off of me."This is a chance to begin networking for sponsors." She says. "Meet as many people as you can. Be friendly. With any luck, the Capitol loves you so much they won't look at your tributes twice before contributing.""Well, with you to dress them, the Capitol will definitely notice." I say, and Zenobia shakes her head."I'm not assigned to District 12 anymore." She says. "You're my last tribute, in fact. I'm retiring.""Oh." I'm not sure what to say, but then she grins."We had fun showing them how brilliant you could be, didn't we?" She says, and I smile."Is this the last time?" I ask."After today, you'll never see me again." Zenobia says. "This is it."With a rush of affection for the crotchety old woman, I hug her tightly. "Thank you for making me a canary.""Thank you for making the canary a phoenix." She answers before releasing me. "I've got to go. I'll leave the gown on the train for you."I watch her leave from my window, already hearing the sounds of the Capitol ringing through my head.The next morning, I make sure Haymitch gets into our car. He's managed to drink himself into the ground the night before and is barely coherent as we board the train. I tuck him into bed and put a bucket under his arm, and lock the liquor cabinet in the dining car.Then I retreat to my own bedroom.I don't think I see Haymitch until our train stops. When it does, we meet at the exit. He's staggering around. It didn't occur to me that there's probably more than one liquor cabinet on this blasted train.My prep team meets us at the train station. Pleione goes on board and retrieves our clothes and they drag us off, Haymitch growing increasingly jumpy and angry. I keep one hand on his arm.Throughout the entire time my prep team gets me ready, they're incredibly disappointed and excited all at once. It appears none of them got an invitation, but the way they carried on, it was as if their lives were on the line. That's when I realized how big this was, how crucial it was to the success of my tributes. According to them, everyone who was anyone would be there, except for, thankfully, President Snow himself.My one salvation was that Finnick would also be there. Haymitch was sobering up in the adjacent room, but he'd be falling over drunk as soon as he could manage to find enough alcohol to get him through it.I have to pick the gown up off the floor as I walk. Haymitch looks sober and strangely sophisticated in a simple tux. As we get into the car, I feel my nerves multiply."It'll be alright," Haymitch says. "They're already all in love with you, so you can't go wrong.""That's not exactly reassuring," I answer, but minutes later when the car stops in front of a massive skyscraper, I compose myself to face the Capitol.