Welcome to day 8 of my Hayffie Christmas countdown! As always, feedback is much appreciated!
A/N- this chapter is terrible, because my motivation today has been terrible. But I didn't want to not update, because that would throw the whole thing off and I really want to keep going with this. I've managed eight chapters including this one, which is the most I've managed in over three years. I just think it's important for me to clarify that writing a 25-chapter fic is difficult for me, so not every chapter is going to be fantastically written (well, no chapter of this fic is fantastically written but you get my point).
And I promise, I have some better chapters coming up. Consider this one a filler chapter while we build up to the good stuff.
Anyway, enjoy!
November 17th
"Before you ask, no, I ain't slept with her yet," Haymitch said before Chaff had even had a chance to greet him.
Chaff held up his hands in mock apology, gesturing to the beer already waiting on the table for him.
"You're late," the man observed. The pair had arranged to go out for a beer, but Haymitch had arrived five minutes after the scheduled time.
"Sorry," Haymitch mumbled. "Effie called right as I was-"
"Shit, buddy, she's takin' over your damn life. Am I second best now?"
"Fuck off," Haymitch grumbled, taking a sip of his beer. "We're jus'…friends."
"I'd say otherwise, Mitch. Whenever I'm with ya, she's all ya wanna talk about."
Haymitch hated to admit it, but Chaff was right. Effie had somehow cemented herself to him from the second he'd seen her. That's how he knew she was different, that she was meant for him.
He hadn't been in a relationship for nigh on twenty years, but he'd had his fair share of dates and one-night stands. But none of them had meant anything, not until Effie had came into his life seventeen days ago.
Yes, she was definitely different.
"Buddy?" Chaff's voice broke Haymitch's chain of thought. "You in there?"
"Huh?" Haymitch cleared his throat, trying to pretend that he hadn't just been lost in thought.
"You glazed over," Chaff smirked. "Ain't never seen you like this before."
Haymitch met Chaff's words with a scowl.
"I swear you're more obsessed with my love life than your own," Haymitch said, his scowl turning into a smirk. "Bet you ain't even got a plan on how you're gonna propose to Maggie, 'cause you've been so focussed on me and Effie."
"I'm just gonna give her the ring," Chaff shrugged. "She ain't into all that showy shit."
"Effie's the opposite," Haymitch said. "You know, we went to watch that Seattle movie the other night and she swears that the characters meeting on the Empire State is the most romantic thing in the world."
Chaff almost spat out his beer at that comment.
"She made you watch Sleepless In Seattle?!" Chaff sputtered. "Fuckin' hell, Mitch. It's like you're married already."
"What d'ya mean?" Haymitch frowned. "She liked the movie and she knew the theatre was showin' it the night we went out."
"Women eat that shit up, Mitch," Chaff shook his head. "Although...maybe it'll give you some pointers.
"Pointers?"
"Yeah," Chaff nodded. "You can tell a ton about what a woman likes just by her favourite movie. Let's see…"
"Don't…" Haymitch groaned, but he knew Chaff was unstoppable right now.
"She wants romance, that's for sure," Chaff continued. "I feel like she wants to take care of you and wants to make you happy. Does she know about your past yet?"
"That's a door I ain't gonna open for a long while yet," Haymitch grumbled, downing a third of his beer in one, trying to block out the memories threatening to surface.
"Well, maybe you'll get her to fall for you before that, so it ain't like she's just in it 'cause she feels sorry for ya," Chaff rationalised. "Yanno, like the girl in the movie hearin' his story and leavin' her boyfriend for him, 'cause she thinks he deserves happiness."
"Effie ain't like that," Haymitch muttered. "She…she's…I dunno."
"Maybe you need to get to know her, then," Chaff shrugged.
"Yeah, 'm tryin'," Haymitch sighed. "Fuck, what if she freaks out when she realises all the extra damn baggage I come with?"
Haymitch would be lying if he said he wasn't scared of losing her already. He had enough in his past to terrify anyone and he dreaded the day Effie would find out. He knew it would come out one day, but he'd try to keep that hidden for as long as possible.
"If she gives as much of a shit about you as you do about her, ya don't need to worry," Chaff gave the most helpful and genuine piece of advice he'd given since they'd first encountered Effie. "You gonna see her again?"
"'Course," Haymitch nodded, finishing his beer. "Next week at some point. We're both workin' a lot these next few days so…"
"You know, Mitch, I'm real happy for ya," Chaff murmured. "I know I take the piss but…shit, man, I ain't seen ya this happy."
"Yeah," Haymitch smirked. "Jus'…quit askin' if I've fucked her yet. She's a damn lady, so I don't think she's the type o' gal to get to that stage right away."
"If she's worth waitin' for, you'll wait," Chaff nodded.
"Yeah, she's definitely worth it."
And she was. For the first time in his life, Haymitch was determined not to fuck up. He'd never been more determined in his life.
She was too good to lose.
