A/N: I hope you liked the last chapter, and I'm sorry that I haven't updated in awhile, but I've been very busy lately! However, I'll try to update a little more often!!! ^_^
Chapter 2
Haymitch's POV
For three days straight, Katniss ingnored everyone, she just blocked them out. I know that she has every right to be angry. After all, everything she once had was gone. But she wasn't the only one who had lost people she loved. I decided that a convesation was in order.
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The minute I walked into the room, Katniss had already shut me out. I pulled up a chair right next to her bed, "So, sweetheart. Why are you being stupid? Why are you being immature?"
She turned to look at me, fury in her eyes, "What? You're asking me why? You know the answer to that."
"This is about Peeta?" I asked. Silence was all I recieved in return. "You don't think that I care about him? Well, I do!"
Katniss gave me a stony glance, "Then why did you let him get captured? You've only gained from this!"
This comment blinded me with rage, "What?! UI've lost much more than you think! Myself! My family! My sanity! I'll never see Chaff, Peeta, or Effie again! Effie..."
Then, it hit me. I'll never see Effie again, I couldnt' possibly...Not with the rebellion. Sure, she irked me at times, but she always knew how to make my heart skip a beat. I even remmeber the last day I spoke to her...
They were in the aena. Only a little while to go. I rubbed the plush couch, it's still the same after twenty five years. I turned when I heard sniffling behind me. It was Effie, sitting in a chair behind me.
She looked up and noticed me staring, "Oh, Haymitch! I didn't know...I'm sorry, it's just..."
I shook my head, "No, it's fine, really. Why are you crying?"
"No, I'm fine, really."
"C'mon, tell me," I prodded, happily knowing that I was annoying her.
"None of your business, Haymitch," Effie replied, hiccoughing.
I pretended that she had hurt my feelings, "Oh, right in the heart! Oh, how you do run on, Miss Trinket!"
You're despicable!" Effie muttered, closing the distance between the two of us, "I have despised you ever since we first met! Do you remember that day? You can't,of course! You were drunk!"
"I do, in fact remember that day, Effie," I muttered, "You, all frilly and ridiculous. A stupid, shallow person of the Capitol!"
Effie snarled, "You are positively barbaric!"
I spread my arms out wide, "Guess who made me so?"
"That's not fair, Haymitch! You were the ones who rebelled," Effie exclaimed.
"Us? No, not us, Effie! My ancestors! Seventy five years ago!"
"It's to remind you. The districts would never have survived without us!" she defended, her entire body was quivering.
"And now Katniss and Peeta will die because of our valient leaders in the Capitol," I said, gruffly, knowing that I had won our argument.
This, however, set her off. Effie started sobbing, "You're right! I can't believe-" She thrust herself into my arms, and started beating her fists against my chest, "Haymitch, I'll never see them again! They were the best tributes that I've ever had to escort, and now they'll die! Oh, Haymitch!"
Pity was what made me stand there with my arms around her, for who knows how long. For some reason, I felt comforted with her in my arms. In fact, too comfortable. I released her, and headed towards the exit, "By the way, Effie, Katniss and Peeta send their love."
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I really wished that my last words to Effie had been something else. Maybe, "Thanks for everything," or "You've been a great escort," or even "I love you." I love you?! Where did that come from?
I stood there, shocked as I addressed Katniss, "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I know the pain you feel. Love."
"What do you mean?" she asked, confused, but still not letting her guard down.
I spread out my arms, "I'm in love, Katniss. With Effie. Did you know that she might die because of what I did? Did you know that I will never see her again? I bet you didn't know how much fun we had pissing each other off. I bet you couldn't see the love that we shared. A love so secret, that even we didn't know it."
She stared at me, "Peeta will die too, Haymitch. Because of what you did."
I nodded grimly, "But many more will die if I didn't do what I did."
"Haymitch! An entire district was destroyed! Peeta, Johanna, Enobaria, Cinna, and many others are probably being tortured right now for information. And it's all because of you!" she said accusingly.
I hung my head, defeated, and sighed, "You're right Katniss. I'm sorry. But what can I do now?"
"Go back, Haymitch. Go back and save them. Go back and get Effie and Peeta. Undo what you did."
I stared at her in disbelief, "Go-Go back to the Capitol? That's a death sentence!"
"It's a death sentence for Peeta, Effie, Cinna, and Portia if you don't."
I weighed my options carefully, before sighing, "OK, sweetheart. Let's go back to the Capitol. Let's go save Peeta and Effie."
A/N: I'm sorry that Haymitch seemed out of character, but originally there was a better version, but it was deleted, and I didn't have a written copy of it! Anyways, please R&R, and constructive criticism is accepted! ^_^
