Pieces in the game. (The Hunger Games)

Chapter 4: The journey to the Capitol part 2

Lilly's POV.
For a few moments we just sit and take in the scene of our mentor trying to rise out of the slippery vile stuff from his stomach. The reek of vomit and raw spirits has me covering my mouth as I'm afraid my dinner will come back up. We all exchange a glance. Obviously Haymitch isn't much, but Effie is right about one thing: once we are in the arena, he's all we got. As if by some unspoken agreement Gale lifts me out into the hall then returns not even a moment later with Katniss in front of him and both he and Peeta half helping half carrying Haymtich. "I tripped?" Haymitch asks. "Smells bad". He then wiped his hand on his nose and, in the process, smeared vomit all over his face. Ew! "Let's get you back to your room," Peeta says. "Clean you up a bit". So that is how we ended up in Haymitch's bathroom, with him lying in the bathtub getting soaked with water and him not noticing or not caring. "It's ok," Peeta says to us. "I'll take it from here". I am all too grateful as I don't particularly want to see Haymitch naked so I offer Peeta a quick smile and escape. When I get back to my room I notice the train has stopped at a platform, most likely to refuel. I wander over to the window and look out. The first thing I see is a big patch of dandelions. That reminds me of the day Katniss brought life back into the family. After she got the bread and the day we went dandelion scavenging so we could have dandelion salad and the last of the bread from the bakery. Now that I think of it I wonder how Katniss ever did get that bread. Maybe the baker took pity on us! I don't know. For a while I stand staring out the window. I was aware I had started crying. What I wasn't aware of was that both Katniss and Gale had come into the room and stood there crying with me.

I only became aware of them when Katniss wrapped her arms around me and Gale did so too. For a while the three of us just stood there crying. I knew it had to be for different reasons. I'm crying because I'll never get to see Prim grow into the beauty she is sure to be, I'll never get to go out with anyone, not even Peeta. My days are numbered now, Katniss can't know that I have no intention of coming out of that arena, no one can! Once all the crying had subsided I shooed them from my room, forming a plan that will keep them both alive, if even only until after I die! I know they won't like it but I will have to judge this by people's reactions, so I won't tell them yet. Not yet! I get ready for bed and sleep is not far behind. I had good dreams, more like memories being replayed. Meeting Prim when she was born, going to school with Katniss and Gale, dads singing and the family hugs we used to do. I wake up refreshed but sad, knowing that these are things I'll relive when I'm dying. I was woken by rapping on the door and Effie's voice calling me to rise. "Up, up, up! It's going to be a big, big, big day!" She calls out excited. I try and imagine for a moment what must be going on in that woman's head. But I simply cannot. Making sure Madge's necklace is still around my neck I quickly dress in my outfit from last night. I slept in the hairdo mom did for me yesterday and it looks alright so I decide to leave it be.

It doesn't really matter anyway. We can't be far from the Capitol and once we reach the city, our stylists dictates our looks for the opening ceremonies tonight anyway. As I enter the dining car, Effie brushes past me with a cup of black coffe, muttering obscenities under her breath. I'm shocked by what I see. Not that I'm the last one there, but that Haymitch, his face puffy and red from the previous day's indulgence, is chuckling. Peeta is holding a roll and looks somewhat embarrassed. Katniss and Gale are just sitting there staring at the two of them. "Sit down! Sit down!" Haymitch says as he waves me over. The moment I slide into my chair, between Haymitch and Peeta, I'm served and enormous plate of food. Eggs, ham, piles of fried potato. A tureen of fruit sits in ice to keep it chilled beside Gale and I spot a juicy red apple. Gale, never once turning away from the conversation he was having with Peeta reaches over, grabs the apple and tosses it to me. I smile happily and tuck into my food. Leaving my apple till last. There is an elegant glass of what I think is orange juice, I've only had it once on New Year's Day when dad bought one as a treat. There is also a cup of coffee, which mom adores, but we could hardly ever afford it. There's also a rich brown cup of something I've never seen. "They call it hot chocolate," Peeta tells me. "It's good". I smile and reach for the cup. I shudder with ecstasy when I taste the hot, sweet, creamy liquid. I take it sip by sip, wanting to make it last. Haymitch hasn't really paid much attention to his platter, I only ate about half of mine before I tucked into some fruit, but he's knocking back a glass of red juice that he keeps thinning with a clear liquid from a bottle. I'm guessing it's some sort of spirit. I don't know Haymitch that well, but from what I do know he'll be incoherent by the time we reach the Capitol.