We Could Make It

3. Knives.

For a few minutes, Katniss and I look at our mentor as he struggles to get up and out of his vomit. The smell almost brings my dinner up. We exchange a look. Because we never need words to communicate, we come to a silent agreement. We each take one of Haymitch's arms and help him to his feet.

"I tripped?" Haymitch asks. "Smells bad." He wipes his nose with his hand, smearing vomit across his face.

"Come on," Katniss says. "Let's get you to your room."

We half-lead half-carry Haymitch back to his room. Since we can't lay him down on the expensive bed, we put him in the bathtub and turn the shower on. He hardly notices.

"I can't believe we're stuck babysitting our mentor," I say irritably. "Let's just leave him here."

"Gale, we can't just leave him in the bathtub."

"Why not? He'll wake up at some point."

"No, Effie was right. He's not just our mentor, he's the one that's going to keep us alive in the arena," she says, rolling her eyes at me.

"Okay, fine. You're right," I admit. "I can handle the rest. You can go if you want." I can tell she's awkward with the idea of stripping down Haymitch and washing him up without her telling me.

"Are you sure you don't need help?" She asks. "Do you want me to send one the Capitol people in here?"

"No," Just the thought of these people 'helping' me with anything is already bad enough. "I'm good."

She nods and then retreats back to her room.

Katniss's POV

I sit, looking out the for a while until I see the lights of another District. 7? 10? Who knows. I think about everyone back home. My mother. Prim. The Hawthornes. To my surprise, they came to visit me as well. They seemed so heartbroken, and who can blame them? I just don't understand how Gale could be so stupid. Why did he do this? We had a deal! If one of us got reaped, the other would make sure to take care of the other's loved ones. Now not only do I have to worry about my family, but his too. He did it for you, a voice in my head says. Did he? No, he didn't do it for me. Something is telling me that I'm wrong, though.

Shaking those thoughts from my head, I decide it's time to get in bed. This day has been endless. Could Gale and I really have been eating blackberries just this morning? It feels like forever ago. Maybe if I go to sleep, we'll both be back in District 12 when I wake up, where we belong.

I wake to the sound of knocking at my door and Effie's voice. "Up, up, up! It's going to be a big, big, big day!" I try to imagine for a moment what it must be like inside her head. I have no clue.

I put the green outfit from yesterday back on since it's not really dirty. My fingers trace the gold Mockingjay, and I think of the woods, of my mother and Prim and the Hawthorne's having to get on with their life. I think of Gale. Oh, how I wish he was safe at home.

As I enter the dining room, Effie Trinket sweeps by me with a cup of coffee. Haymitch, his face puffy and red, is snickering. Gale has a cup of something dark, not paying any mind to them.

"Sit! Sit down!" Says Haymitch, waving me over.

When I sit down, I'm given a huge plate of food. Eggs, ham, and fried potatoes. Fruit sitting in ice to keep it cold. A basket of rolls. A glass of what I think is orange juice. A cup of something brown that I've never seen before, and I'm quite sure that's what in Gale's hand.

"It's hot chocolate," he tells me. "It's amazing." He then pours me a cup and hands it to me.

I take a sip, and a shudder runs through me. Even though the rest of the meal comes, I ignore it until I've finished my drink. Gale seems pleased at how much I like it and proud that he's the one who gave it to me. He's already on his third cup.