Welcome to the belated day 10 of my Hayffie Christmas countdown!

This (very short filler) chapter was due yesterday, but I was away and too tired to post it when I got home last night! So...expect day 11 (today's) right after I post this.

Enjoy!

NOVEMBER 20TH

"So…what are your Thanksgiving plans?"

Effie's tone was bright and optimistic, which was the exact opposite of Haymitch's mood. They'd arranged to meet for coffee and Haymitch had woken up that morning truly not wanting to go. The days were creeping closer and closer to the anniversary of the event which had caused him to run away from DC in the first place and he truly felt like he was slowly losing his grip.

Effie was a good thing to focus on at least, if only for a little while.

"Goin' back to DC," he said gruffly, sipping his coffee. He was craving something stronger, but he refused to bow to that urge.

"Oh!" Effie grinned. "You'll be staying with your parents, I assume?"

The question sent a jolt of pain through his body as if he'd been physically stabbed, and he knew by the look on Effie's face that his wince had been obvious.

The day his girl was taken from him was the same day he'd lost his parents and his brother. Those four tragedies in one period still killed him each and every day, but it was something he intended to keep hidden from Effie. He didn't need to burden her with his own traumas.

"Somethin' like that, yeah," he gave her a small smile which she quickly returned. "What about you?"

"Oh, my parents are visiting me here," she smiled brightly. "And my sister, of course. Even though she hates Thanksgiving."

"Sounds like she hates everything," he smirked, slowly beginning to feel more at ease. "Yeah, definitely shoulda dated your sister."

"She doesn't hate everything," Effie rolled her eyes, sipping her tea. "She's just…unenthusiastic. And who said we were dating? Perhaps I just enjoy your company."

"You enjoy it so much, you keep asking to see me," he winked. "You also love my eyes."

Effie groaned, making it obvious she'd wished Haymitch would forget.

"My friend got me drunk…" she murmured. "My…my words were not intentional…"

"Drunk?" He teased. "You said that ladies don't drink. That mean you ain't a lady?"

"Oh hush," Effie sighed, but her cheeks were definitely flushing a light shade of pink at his comment. That was something else Haymitch truly enjoyed about Effie- she blushed at the slightest provocation and in his mind, it was adorable.

"For real though, Effie," he said, staring down at his coffee. "I'm…comfortable to admit that we're properly dating. If you are, of course…"

"As long as you promise to never mention my drunken texts again…" she said, pointing a perfectly manicured finger in his direction. "And promise not to make advances towards my sister."

"Promise," he winked, before an idea struck him. "Hey listen…I leave town on the 23rd. We should…do somethin' on the 22nd. If you're free, I mean."

"I work till five," Effie said with a tiny smile. "But we could perhaps go out to dinner? As our own little Thanksgiving celebration?"

"Yeah, I'd like that," he nodded.

Little did he know, that thanksgiving date would never happen.