Haymitch's Bangle

Chapter 1: The Reaping

Effie looks around slowly. "Ladies first.." She crosses the stage in several clicking steps, her face twisted in an attempt to smile. The glass bowl containing the female tributes looks huge, with only one slip of paper inside it. I risk a look down at the forlorn crowd, Katniss's family among them. Primrose, standing strong as ever, while her mother clings to her arm. I try to unclench my fists but it's harder than it seems. "The female tribute, of the seventy-fifth hunger games... Katniss Everdeen." The longer I look, the longer I get the sense that I'm being watched. I look to my left, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Katniss looking at me, warning me with her eyes. Protect him, they say. I nod my head in earnest. I will protect Peeta, but Katniss... She was the key, the key to the revolution. Everyone seemed to realize that except for her. "And now, for the boys." Effie looks over at Peeta and I, and she reaches her hand into our bowl. Her nails tink against the glass as a slip of paper is pulled out. Heels clicking against the pavement, Effie opens the paper slowly, almost as if she was afraid of it. "The male tribute," Katniss looks at me, "from District 12," I silently pray to whatever it is I believe in, "Peeta Mellark." Katniss's shoulders slump, and Peeta glares at me. "I volunteer as tribute."

I hear the words come out of me, and I know that there is no turning back now. It will be me and Katniss in that arena. In a way, I'm sort of glad it turned out like this. I force myself to stride forward, but Peeta grabs my arm. "Don't.. Haymitch..." Ignoring his smoldering plea, I stand next to Effie, facing the crowd. I can't bear to look at her. I can't, it would break my resolve to see her beautiful porcelain face, looking at me. "The tributes from District 12, Katniss Everdeen and Haymitch Abernathy." Clean and clear, Effie's voice spreads across the silence, syllable by syllable until her lips stop and purse together, like they always do before she cries. Like a slow ripple, hands start going up in the air. Three fingers, pressed to the lips of the people and then placed towards the sky in a silent prayer, in a silent reverence that made the eyes watching me seem that much more forlorn. Katniss smiles out at the crowd, while I glare at the nearest Peacekeeper. Despite their name, it had been a really hard week to love them lately. Gale had been whipped and I swear, I could see bone. Katniss had been struck trying to save him, and Peeta of course.. He cared about Katniss, therefore he cared about Gale. The Peacekeepers closest to Katniss grabbed her arms, "Let's go." "No, no wait! I get to say goodbye!" "Well," The head Peacekeeper looks over at me, "Plans have changed." Her cries fill the air, and mingle with her sisters. I stare wistfully ahead. It will do me no good to show any emotion to her right now. The Peacekeeper I had been glaring at put his hands on my back. "Get your hands off me . Unless you want a broken wrist." They drop to his sides.

Silently, we all board into the train. Effie first, then Katniss and Peeta, and finally, I stomp in. The door glides shut behind me, and begins to accelerate as we all begin walking to the breakfast car. Peeta has his hand on Katniss's back, and doesn't show any intention of letting go. I shake my head slightly at his affection for her. If he were in the arena again, it might cost him his life. I peek through a lock of unruly hair that is in my face to look at her. She is so strange, with her Capitol sense of style. If I look long enough, I can almost imagine her as a small child inside one of the outlying districts. With brown curly hair, and bright blue eyes, I can see her as she runs through a field in 11 or hides in the meadows outside the fence in 12. Effie looks over at me and smiles. I try to smile back, but I can't. Looking at her, it makes my whole chest hurt. For all I know, I could be dead within 2 hours of being in that arena. I look away, and walk down to the bar car. I need a drink.