Welcome to day two of my Hayffie Christmas countdown! As always, feedback is much appreciated!

NOVEMBER 2ND

If it had been any other time of year, Haymitch wouldn't have assumed people would be working more than one day in a row. However, he knew that stores tended to extend their employees contracts around thanksgiving and Christmas, so he knew there was a good chance Euphemia would be working the next day.

Chaff had been harassing him over the woman the previous evening, to the point where Haymitch had switched his phone off at 10pm to block the incoming messages from his best friend. He was thankful Chaff was on shift that day, otherwise Haymitch would have risked being spotted heading back into Macy's.

He made it to the first floor, but was once again hounded by employees trying to sell him ridiculously overprices items for the special woman in his life. Haymitch just rolled his eyes and pushed past them.

As he neared the counter, his heart was pounding, and he prayed Euphemia wouldn't realise his true intention in coming back. He had a whole story mapped out in his head and he hoped she wouldn't see through it.

He could see her behind the counter and he breathed an audible sigh of relief. However, the relief was extinguished when a customer got to her before he did and Haymitch was accosted by another sales assistant.

"May I help you?" The assistant asked with an overly-enthusiastic grin on his face.

Haymitch's focus had been on Euphemia when the assistant's voice snapped him back to the present.

"Uh…yeah…" he grunted. "I was here yesterday…saw a necklace I liked and your colleague over there helped me. Came back today to reserve it."

"I can do that for you," the man smiled. "Do you remember which one it was?"

"I'd…really rather she does it," Haymitch said sheepishly. "She helped me out so it should really go on her sales."

"I could easily-"

"No, I'd really rather speak with her…" Haymitch said, before internally cringing over how desperate he must have sounded.

If Chaff were here right now…

With a nod, the man shuffled off, mumbling something in Euphemia's ear and prompting the woman to look over at Haymitch with a smile. When she'd finished her sale, she came over to him.

"Haymitch, isn't it?" She smiled brightly. "What brings you back here?"

"That uh…that necklace you showed me yesterday. Thought I'd come back and reserve it."

"Oh, of course," she nodded, before disappearing down behind the counter. "It was the pearl one, wasn't it?"

"Mm," He said, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

After a few moments, Euphemia re-emerged, a sorry smile on her face.

"It appears that the necklace has already been sold," she said quietly. "I do apologise, Haymitch. Perhaps if you tell me who the gift was for, I could find an alternative?"

"I uh…it's for an old friend," he said. "She's from this small fishing town so uh…the pearl thing was a real nice idea."

"Oh," Euphemia nodded, before ducking back below the counter. Minutes later, she emerged again, holding a black velvet box. Opening it up, she revealed a simple silver chain with a seashell charm dangling from it.

"This one's a little pricier, but I'm willing to take off a little discount for the inconvenience," she said, only to be met with Haymitch shaking his head.

"Don't worry about it, it ain't your fault," he said. "But if you're really desperate to make up for it, you'll let me take ya out for coffee."

The words were out of his mouth before he could stop himself and his mind was screaming at him to walk away, never coming back. But one look at Euphemia's smiling face told him it wasn't such a bad request to make.

"I'd like that," she nodded, before gesturing for him to follow her to the register.

"I finish work at two on Friday," she continued as she rang up the necklace. "If you'd like to meet me then?"

"Sure," Haymitch nodded, still unbelieving that he'd found himself in this situation as he handed his card over. "There's uh…a real nice place a couple blocks away. I can meet ya here and we'll walk down together, unless ya wanna meet me there?"

"I'll meet you here," she smiled. "I'm afraid I'm still somewhat unfamiliar with the city."

"Okay," he smiled, accepting the back once he'd paid. "I'll see ya at two on Friday, Euphemia."

"It's Effie," she called after him, prompting him to turn back to her with a smirk.

"Effie," he repeated, waving at her before heading for the escalator.