Hey guys, thank you to everyone who followed, reviewed, and added my story to their favorites. Some things are a bit unanswered but there is a method to my madness. A shout out to my brother for being my beta. Even though he told me to make him a sandwich to influence his decision into doing it. I will try to make a habit at updating the same day every week, but sometimes a sandwich isn't always enough. But all in all expect a chapter once a week at least. Reviews make me write faster! On with the Hayffie feels.
-Hayffiex3
Chapter 2
It was so quiet; he actually thought he had heard her breath getting caught in her throat. But all he could think at that moment was getting something else in her mouth. He may not have been a slob, but he surely was a dirty minded human being. It actually was going to get worse with her living with him. How was he going to stand to live in a house with a woman who made him feel things that he hasn't felt in ten years? Haymitch certainly did have a gutter for a mind.
Euphemia slowly started to walk to the stage. She took a hesitant breath and tried to muster up the courage to look up and show that she wasn't affected. She wanted to show that she was strong. She wouldn't care if she was chosen to be the wife. She could handle anything that the world threw at her. With everything she had been through in life, this would be a light workout. But even though this was what she wanted to show, she certainly didn't feel that way. She felt the urge to pull her dress down even more, but with her hands sweating as much as they were, she wouldn't even have been able to get a grip. She had to return the dress in pristine condition to get a refund. It had cost quite a sum of money and she needed that money. Well, it really didn't matter anymore. She wouldn't get the money back. She was getting sent to a District for a while. Way past the allotted time to return purchases. Either way, she tried to stop all the panic that surged into her chest. She began to picture things in her mind that would make her look calm, even though at the moment she felt like screaming at the world. It seemed like only she did anything bad in life. Why would God want to punish her so much? Hadn't she given up enough? Hadn't she been punished enough? It felt like that but maybe she hadn't. If she still felt the guilt maybe that meant her punishment wasn't done yet. But a thought crossed her mind: would she ever stop feeling the guilt? She couldn't afford to cry at the moment so she had taken a deep breath and started to ascend the stairs with as much grace her mother had told her before the accident. She bit her lip. It wasn't the time to be thinking of such things. She finally looked up at the man she caught eyes with. Haymitch Abernathy.
He certainly was handsome. His hair had been messy but in a way that made it look like he had just rolled out of bed. His face had an amount of stubble that she felt was just right. His body had a nice build that made her feel things she never felt before. He was tall. Even in her heels he still towered over her. Finally she reached the stage, she turned and smiled at the crowd, she could even tell it felt fake on her face. They either didn't seem to mind at the time or really didn't notice. The crowd started to cheer loudly.
While she had been studying him, he had been doing the same to her. She seemed apprehensive. She seemed to not be able to walk in her heels. Hell, he couldn't blame her. Those heels looked like death traps; he would know. But most Capitol women knew how to walk so why not her? His thoughts were interrupted when the crowd began to cheer. He glanced back at her for a moment, to see a grimace on her face, probably mirroring his own. But these Capitol fools couldn't have even told the difference.
It had been the time for the ladies to acknowledge each other and give one another a handshake. Ambrosia had a smile on her face, which actually seemed genuine. It was almost like she was happy that she got picked. She may have planned this. Not marrying on purpose to have a chance to get married to a Quarter Quell victor. While the same could not be said for Euphemia, she looked like was going to shake hands with a snake. She didn't have a right. She was from the Capitol meaning she was a snake too. But when their hands touched, Ambrosia smile turned into a grimace as well. She felt the sweat that had been on Euphemia hands. But she tried to hide her disgust. When they let go, she tried to discreetly wipe her hands with a handkerchief. But Euphemia had seen, and she had let out a snort. One that did not go unheard by Ambrosia and Haymitch. All she did was look away. She didn't feel embarrassed but when they looked at her, the situation had finally sunk in. She would either have to marry this man, or go work for that wretched Snow. She wouldn't even think about his name not wanting to feel disgust or anger. What she would have done to get her hands on that man. But to marry a stranger, she thought, that was almost as bad as working for Snow. Almost, she could get married to him and figure out a way out of it. It wouldn't be that hard. But to get him to pick her was a whole different story. She would think of a way though. Anything to not get next to Snow. But if she was to get married, she would have to reap poor children to their deaths. Could she live with that? But if she didn't do it, Ambrosia would. Better her who actually cared than a woman who would get some joy or excitement out of it. Her train of thought was interrupted when a woman with a cream colored dress had ushered them off stage.
Celeste started to pull Haymitch along. He was stuck in a trance; one of these women was going to be his wife. That thought kept running through his head like mantra. But before he could ask for a drink to try and forget a bit, he was dragged back onto the train. The tributes were sent to say their goodbyes to their families. But what he didn't expect was to see Euphemia in the train already.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be saying goodbyes to your Capitol folks?" Haymitch sneered. No matter how good looking she was she was still a citizen of the Capitol.
"Shouldn't you be drowning yourself in a bottle?" She remarked.
"Touché, I should be. Now with all your Capitol graces, get the fuck out."
"And with all of your District graces, go fuck yourself." With that she had left the room with her head held high. Haymitch chuckled. She did have a mouth on her. She did have enough balls to challenge the man who had the ability to decide her future. With that little remark he could have made his decision. But instead of deterring him, it only seemed to interest him further.
Euphemia walked into what she thought was her room, but it was that of the other tribute from earlier. Ambrosia looked up. She had been thinking of the little one while in her room. What luck? Well it wasn't luck, it took a long time to get daddy to bribe the people in charge to make it so that her name that was the second picked, Euphemia. She wouldn't have wasted all that planning and money for nothing. When she saw who walked in she smirked. A little intimidation never hurt anybody. Maybe it would even push her further to work for this. Ambrosia thought, nobody wanted to work for Snow.
"Hello little one." Ambrosia said in a sickly sweet voice.
"Hello big one." Euphemia responded triumphantly. Ambrosia smirked dropped. This one certainly had a slick mouth, she thought at hearing her response.
"Ha, you're merely just a child. He wouldn't want someone so inexperienced."
"And you're nothing but an old hag. Why would he want you, you're almost as old as him, if not older? He would want someone younger, so he can teach her what he likes."
"Please he would like someone who can match his skills in bed." Euphemia started to laugh after Ambrosia said this.
"Did you not know, most people prefer young and tight to old and loose?" Euphemia smiled.
"Didn't you ladies know that it isn't good manners to be discussing such a topic in public?" A voice sounded behind them. Celeste had been standing there for quite a while. "It also isn't good manners to just assume Haymitch would only pick a wife based on looks and the advantages one of you might have in bed," Ambrosia smiled at this, Celeste was always the polite one. "He is looking for a woman who can challenge him, who wouldn't let him go bored. He doesn't need a woman with a pretty face. He's a Victor he could have anyone he wanted. So be prepared, because this won't be an easy challenge."
"And what makes you so qualified to know such things?" Euphemia asked snidely.
"I am a very close friend of his and your mentor." Celeste replied. Euphemia face dropped. She disrespected her mentor. The one person who would be helping her win. How was she going to expect help from her now? She knew she needed to watch her tongue but Ambrosia got her so riled up; it wouldn't have helped at all to keep it all in.
"I thought his mother was supposed to the mentor." Ambrosia piped up. She had to play up a role.
"My mom is dead, not that it was any of your business and I suggest you never speak or ask of her again if you want to keep that pretty little face how it is." Haymitch was standing by the door, answering Ambrosia's question. "Celeste, may I have a word?" He continued.
"Do you not see me talking to these women Haymitch? Whatever you need can wait." Celeste responded.
"Les, it's the first night. Neither of them is going to win me over until I'm at least drunk."
"How much did you drink so far?"
"In the past hour, I drank a bottle of vodka and a flask of whiskey."
"You like spirits?" Ambrosia asked.
"Obviously, I wouldn't drink it if I didn't like it. Don't they teach you anything in the Capitol?" He answered.
"Didn't the Districts teach you manners?" Euphemia responded for Ambrosia. Even though she didn't like it, she was from the Capitol. So the question also pertained to her in a way. Haymitch turned to her to respond, but Ambrosia's annoying voice sounded again.
"Haymitch, did I tell you that my father is Daniels Stellar? As in the major alcohol distributor."
That comment caught the interest of Haymitch. Free liquor for life to just be married to his daughter. That would be good. But if she obviously had a lot of money why would she need to be reaped to get married. The thought moved to the back of his head, when she pulled out a bottle of very expensive liquor that cost a lot of money to spend on just getting wasted.
"Oh really, why don't we have a chat about that with a couple of glasses of that." With that they left the room. Leaving a shocked Celeste and a furious Euphemia. That old slut bag. How can he take her only because she had liquor? Is that all he cared about? When the next bottle was coming? Where it was coming from? With what or should I say with whom? Euphemia couldn't help but feel even angrier.
Celeste noticed her fury, but before she can say anything Euphemia walked out of the room and passed the "lovely" couple to reach the door. Celeste ran out the room, and started to chase after the girl. While Euphemia passed, Haymitch couldn't help himself. He really couldn't help but look at her, and he didn't know why. But he could tell she was definitely pissed for sure. She had a green and white carton in her hand with a metal square. She felt his gaze on her but she didn't even glance back to look at him. All the while Ambrosia was smiling genuinely at Haymitch looking curiously at Euphemia. Her plan was working perfectly. Celeste reached her outside and saw her with a lite cigarette.
"So you smoke?" Celeste asked.
"And Haymitch drinks and Ambrosia can provide all the liquor for the rest of their happy lives together. Wouldn't that be perfect for everyone who matters?" She replied bitterly.
"You do matter, and it could be worse."
"How could it be worse?"
"She could have been actually pretty."
Euphemia snorted. "You can't even say that. She might look pretty under all that garbage." She wasn't afraid of being heard because of the wind whipping fast around them.
"I was wondering why you didn't have any of that on."
"Well we all can't have rich daddies to pay for everything, now could we?"
"Oh."
"Plus all that shit just makes them fake. Like all that money you wasted on makeup and your hair could've fed a family for a week. Districts need certain things. The people in the Districts are just like us, they are human. Maybe if she stopped being such a bimbo she would notice that. Almost everyone in the Capitol is like her. It seems like no one cares for each other anymore. Only what shoes are going to come out. What new styles are in for the upcoming season? Does my hair match my outfit; it would be horrible if the shade was off. They may not know it but I do, life is becoming a harder struggle. We need all the help we can get."
Celeste, at that moment could feel the respect grow for the young woman in front of her. She was glad that she was a tribute. Haymitch was going to have an easy decision. Unless the liquor sways him another way, and we all knew with enough liquor Haymitch will certainly sway. Celeste shook her head at the thoughts in her head. She asked a question that had been itching at her since she walked in. "Honey, why did you come straight to the train? Didn't you have anyone to say goodbye to?"
"I haven't had anyone to say goodbye to in a while." Euphemia took one last drag and flicked the filter. "Wouldn't have expected it right?" She said while she chuckled dryly. "You know what I don't get? I don't get why they keep Capitol citizens and District citizens at different levels. I didn't have anyone to say goodbye to, but a tribute from a District would. We should be lower than them. They are close, they fight through, what about us, we go buy clothes and talk about shit loads of crap. Now I'm going to have to serve the biggest idiot of them all. The one who busts a nut off of watching kids kill themselves. And I'm not even like the others. I don't find any joy in that. I give up."
"Well Euphemia, don't give up. You can still have a chance. Just be yourself."
"Being myself is the one thing getting me in trouble the most."
"Well the only thing I can say is don't stop. If you were to, Haymitch would be missing out on a really great woman."
"Thank you for the talk Miss…"
"Call me Celeste dear."
"Then call me Effie, Celeste."
"Will do, have a goodnight."
"You too," Effie replied with a smile then went in the direction of her room.
Celeste turned to go back into the liquor compartment with distaste, she loved Haymitch as a son, but he can really screw things up. He could have a chance with a decent girl and he's messing it up because of liquor. She walked into the room and caught Ambrosia's hand on Haymitch's thigh. Celeste cleared her throat, making her presence known to the other occupants in the room. Ambrosia had a really funny way of showing her intentions with the main objective. They jumped apart, well Ambrosia did, and Haymitch just took another sip of his drink.
"Ambrosia, I think it's time to get ready, we will almost be at District 12, possibly your new home." Celeste said with a tight grin. Ambrosia left the room, but not without sending Celeste a sheepish grin.
"Haymitch, it was really disrespectful how you ignored Effie, just because Ambrosia had liquor."
"It was really good liquor. Wait, what did you say?"
"That it was very disrespectful, you shouldn't be influenced by drinking," Haymitch interrupted again.
"Not that, what did you call her?"
"How did you forget her name so easily Haymitch? It wasn't that long ago."
"Celeste just answer the question." Haymitch growled out.
"Effie, Euphemia 'Effie' Trinket. She told me to call her that. Is that a problem?
"No, her name just sounded familiar." A million thoughts were racing through Haymitch's head at that moment. Effie, that was the name Maysilee said. Oh no, Maysilee. His thoughts started to drift towards the dream and her dying. He needed another drink. So he took another shot, shot after shot. The liquor Amber brought was really getting him there. If he ever had a special occasion, this would be the one he would drink. A special occasion, like his wedding for example. That thought making him even more desperate to finish the bottle. The only thing that would make him happy was seeing the bottom of it. But he didn't, he tried and tried until he couldn't stand another one. Haymitch eventually passed out from the drinking and all of the things that happened. Celeste just sat next to him. She watched the destruction of her husband and didn't do anything about it. But she was damn sure she was going to do something for Haymitch. She couldn't lose another. She didn't that think she could handle it a second time. She couldn't. She wouldn't. She was determined to accomplish this for Clint, for Haymitch, for Panem. She sighed softly. "Oh Haymitch, the things I'm doing for you. The things I'm doing for the both of you. What we're doing for you both."
This is it for Chapter 2. Thanks for reading and review guys, you don't know how much that meant for me when you did. Keep with me and pm me if you have any questions. I'll answer no matter what.
-Hayffiex3
