AN: Sorry about the short chapter. I'm slowly editing the stuff I already have written but it's not a lot. I've also been writing a fanfic for House, M.D. House and Cameron are like the pre apocalypse Hayffie! 3 Anyway... enjoy.
The next morning, during breakfast, the other unfortunate tributes for this year's Games are announced. Effie, Katniss, and I sit on the couch and watch the television over mugs of coffee- and, in Katniss's case, hot chocolate. Many of the tributes look much more physically and mentally ready than I am. Also, many of them are friends of mine. As I watch, I find names sticking in my head. Finnick Odair, Johanna Mason, and my drinking buddy, Chaff from District Eleven. That one hurts the most. Then, of course, the television shows me and Katniss being reaped. From beside me on the couch, Effie gives a small sigh. I try to lighten the mood by asking, "Does my hair really look like that?" as on the television, I walk up the stairs to stand on the stage.
Katniss laughs, but I can tell she just does it for me. It's strange, having her owe me. She's never been so readily at my command before. Effie, on the other hand, doesn't laugh at all. "It looks worse." she tells me slowly. "At least you combed it then."
I stare at her for a second, but then she cracks a smile. "Ah. You got me." I say, smiling back at her.
"You two seem happy." Katniss remarks. She's sitting with her knees drawn up to her chin, her dark hair falling around her shoulders. Obviously she's as horrified by the prospect of going back into the Games as I am, but her mood has been considerably lightened by the fact that Peeta's safety will be guaranteed.
"We're trying to spend as much time together as we can before Haymitch has to go into the Games." Effie tells her proudly.
"Oh." says Katniss. Effie is the only one that does not realize the true implications of what she is saying. She still thinks I'll come home to her. As much as I would love to win for a second time and feel Effie's lips on mine once more, it's Katniss that has to be the victor. She will be the Mockingjay, with or without me there to throw fuel into the fire.
Just then, I feel the train start to rumble. "We're slowing down." I announce. Immediately Effie jumps up and runs over to one of the many windows.
"The Capitol!" she squeaks. "We're here at last!"
Katniss and I exchange a harried look. Effie has always been the only one of us to ever be excited to arrive in the Capitol. Even with the prospect of me going into the Games, she's happy to be home.
Peeta comes out just as the train stops. Katniss gets to her feet, dark grey eyes wide. "Good morning!" she exclaims awkwardly, trying to sound chipper and welcoming. She's good at neither.
"Good morning, Katniss." he replies icily. His blue eyes travel over to Effie, and then to me. "Good morning, Effie. Good morning, Haymitch."
"Hello, Peeta!" says Effie brightly. "It's nice to finally see you!"
"Hey." I add on. "Ready to be a mentor?"
Apparently neither Effie nor I warrant a reply, because Peeta turns around and heads out the doors as soon as they open. As he leaves, a group of Capitol attendants come in. "We're here for Ms. Katniss Everdeen and Mr. Haymitch Abernathy." one of them tells us.
Katniss puts down her hot chocolate and goes over to them. I kiss Effie on the cheek and then follow Katniss over to the group of assembled attendants.
"I'll see you soon, Haymitch!" Effie calls over to me, waving. I wave back to her, and then we are separated. The attendants lead Katniss and I into a tall building, and we start down a long hallway.
"Being victors, you both know the drill." says one of the attendants. "You'll meet with your prep teams and stylists now."
"What about me?" I ask. "I won twenty-five years ago. I bet my prep team's all dead by now."
"Peeta Mellark's prep team, led by Portia, has offered to take you on." the attendant assures me. "Now, Mr. Abernathy, come with me. Ms. Everdeen, you will be going with the others."
Katniss goes down a hallway to the left with a few of the attendants, while I head to the right with the rest of them. The attendants lead me into a large room. When we enter, I see that three grotesque Capitol citizens are standing there with humongous, forced grins on their faces. This must be Peeta's prep team. Then the attendants leave, and the prep team starts their work. I don't listen to a thing they say as they tug at my tangled, dark hair and poke at my gut. I know the remarks well; I've heard everything they can throw at me a hundred times from Effie. Once they're done complaining, they rip off my body hair and shave my chin. I ignore them as they call me hopeless, and an ugly drunkard. Then, they leave and Peeta's stylist, Portia, comes in.
"Hello, Mr. Abernathy!" she greets me brightly. "It's nice to see you again. This may be difficult, but I'll do what I can with you."
"Don't make me look too pretty." I joke.
"Oh, don't you worry. That won't be a problem." Portia replies distractedly. I roll my eyes at her remark. Ouch, that one hurts.
When Katniss and I find our way back to Effie, Peeta, Cinna, and Portia for lunch, the escort is pleasantly surprised by what Peeta's prep team has done to me. "Oh, Haymitch, you look so handsome with your face shaved like that!" she cooes, running her hands all over my chin.
"Thanks, Eff." I reply dryly, gently removing her hands and sitting down at the table with the rest of them. Effie sits down beside me.
"Did Portia tell you what we're wearing tonight?" Katniss asks me.
"No, she didn't. Why, is it bad?"
"I don't know. Cinna didn't tell me. I was wondering if you knew." she says. We both look at Cinna, who smiles.
"It's a surprise." he tells us, winking. "Just wait."
Effie squeals and claps her hands excitedly. I groan. "I don't like surprises." I say.
"You'll like this one." Portia replies. "Trust me."