Haymitch's Love: The Untold Story

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Haymitch: The First Time

Haymitch sits in the dark, moonlit room staring directly at the unlocked door, waiting nervously for the girl who would soon walk through. It is 11:30 pm; most of the District is fast asleep, but the last thing he wants to do right now is go to bed, at least not alone. He counts the minutes till her arrival in his head. 19…20…21... She has never been this late before, but then again, perhaps she is having her doubts about this. 24…25… What's keeping her? Maybe the community home caught her sneaking out? Haymitch makes wilder and wilder assumptions as the minutes slowly pass.

Of course, her tardiness could all come down to the reaping, because, even though she tries to hide it, the Hunger Games scare her. But it's not her family that she worries about; they are the reason that she's in the drab community home. She expresses a lack of fear even for herself, claiming to hate her life, saying that she would welcome her name being called. At least, that's what she has said up until about a year ago. For almost her whole life, she has been starving for love and attention from people who have never cared; but that all changed when she met Haymitch. He sees her for who she really is and doesn't judge her for her murky past. When they had met five years ago, they instantly clicked, becoming inseparable best friends. But as they both got older, their feelings for each other changed, and the friendly love they had felt since age eleven turned stronger and more passionate, bringing them closer together than ever before. Haymitch is the only person in the world who she loves; the only person who she can be herself around… More importantly, he is the only person who actually loves her in return. If his name was called during the reaping, she would then once more have nobody.

But he isn't sure of his feelings for the Games. Of course they are wrong, just another way for the Capitol to keep charge, but unlike her, he has a family to look after, more people to worry about; it is not as easy to treat the Games in the same manner as she does. Haymitch has absolutely no idea who is father is, though his mother has spoken most highly of him, but because of the man's absence in his life, it is Haymitch who is the breadwinner of a family that needs him desperately. His mother is a hard worker, although her occupation - cleaning homes - can only bring in so much money. Plus he has his younger brother, Melmar, to worry about. Haymitch promised himself that he will do all he can to keep Mel from taking tesserae.  

 Nemit just doesn't understand when he denies her requests to run away together; his family needs him. Needless to say, he thinks constantly of telling her to come live with him and his family, but he knows that that would never work out.

Firstly, because his mother despises her. Even though she is from the Seam just like them, his mother feels that community home children are rotten, the way they come from abusive homes, families that can no longer take care of them. He remembers how he weakly tried to explain to her that she is not a bad person, on the contrary, she's amazing, but his mother's opinion won't budge; he supposes she was merely raised old-fashioned.

Secondly, because he knows she would never accept his offer. Although she wants to be with him constantly, she also has a certain need for independence. He admires her for this.

58…59…12:00am… 'Happy Hunger Games…' Haymitch murmurs to himself.

At that exact moment, the door knob rattles and a dopey grin that he only wears in her presence stretches across his face. The door creaks open and he sees her silhouette in the frame. Nemit, his one true love, creeps through the room, moonlight shining on her prominent and delicate features, looking lovely in a tattered, short black dress with auburn polka dots; the only dress she owns. Her short, mousy hair is tousled, and she looks slightly annoyed -and rather disheveled- as she leans in to kiss him.

'Sorry I'm late…' she breathes into his ear.

He closes his eyes and inhales her scent - a mixture of honeysuckle and sweet pine needles - with much pleasure. She does not explain the reason for her delay and he does not ask, most likely it is the usual excuse; the old hag who runs the community home sticking her nose into their business.

She takes him by the hand and leads him over to where his bed, stuffed of straw, sits. They had chosen today, the day of the reaping, their one year anniversary, to do this. It will be the first time for both of them. Haymitch's heart bangs like a steel drum and his breathing becomes shallow as Nemit slowly sways closer. Her pale green eyes are wider than ever as they stare directly into his own bright, grey ones, as if searching for his soul. Obeying the moment, they press their lips together and kiss like they have never kissed before. A feeling of warmth rapidly spreads through his body as he wraps one arm around her waist, pressing her body against his own, and tangles the other in her hair. She raisers her arms and wraps them tightly around his neck. He never wants to let go…and it seems like he never does. They stand there, lips moving in time with each other, kissing for what feels like years. Finally, they are both enchanted by each other's spells and the rest of the night is a dream…