Chapter 11: The Games that Changed Everything
Every nerve of mine is on end as I listen to the two men talk. I have no idea what they are talking about, so I haven't said anything since the meeting started.
"What all did Plutarch say?" Haymitch asks our new stylist, Cinna.
"He said that special help was needed, that only I could offer. So of course I took the job. Anything to help the cause." Cinna said. Haymitch nodded and motioned to me.
"I'm assuming you know of Effie Trinket." Cinna nods and smiles, reaching out to shake my hand. I smile and shake it. He comments on how pretty he thinks I am, and I blush.
"Trust me, the more you work with her the more annoying she gets." Haymitch says, to which Cinna laughs. I'm a little more hurt by his comment than I should be, but I shake it off. I realize it's just Haymitch being Haymitch.
"I think that's the case with everyone for you, Haymitch." Cinna adds, giving me a reassuring smile. I agree in my head. "Now, let's get down to business. I want to set Peeta and Katniss on fire." I give him a strange look, but Haymitch's expression doesn't change from the serious one he's had the whole time.
"Connection?"
"District 12 produces coal, coal is used to light fires."
"Consequences?"
"I'll force the Capitol to recognize the District everyone forgets." Haymitch nods and motions for Cinna to give him his sketch book to look at. I contemplate looking at the designs, but I figure it's time for me to speak up.
"So Cinna, when you mean set them on fire, do you mean–"
"I mean set them on fire." I raise my eyebrows, making Cinna laugh.
"It sounds far fetched, but trust me, I know what I'm doing. They'll be fine, and everyone will love them." he tells me calmly. His demeanor and tone of voice makes it easy to believe him, but the look in his eyes makes me slightly nervous. I smile politely and poke Haymitch's arm, and without a word he slides the book into my lap, not taking his eyes off the designs. Looking over them, I'm quite impressed, and I give Cinna nothing but compliments the whole time I'm looking through the book. He takes them graciously, and Haymitch gives him advice on the two tributes, but more on Katniss than Peeta.
"I think this is exactly what 12 needs. It'll put us up there with the Careers, maybe even past them if the vision I have in my head of the designs come to life. I have nothing but faith in you, Cinna." I say warmly. He thanks me as Haymitch and I get up to leave.
"You better not screw this up, kid." Haymitch tells him. I roll my eyes and tell Cinna not to worry about Haymitch, but before I can finish talking, Haymitch grabs my arm lightly and drags me out.
"Haymitch Abernathy, never do that ever again!" I shout, slapping his chest. He smirks, but whe he looks down at me his face grows serious.
"Effie, do you still have that golden bracelet I gave to you?" he asks.
"Yes." I say simply, after thinking about where I last put it.
"When I tell you to put it on, put it on without hesitation. Also, don't ask any annoying questions about it." he says, and I pout.
"Why?" I ask, mostly because I want to know, but partially just to annoy him. It works, and he gives me an annoyed look. He grabs my arm again, this time more rough, and leads me down the hallway of our hotel until we reach a dead end, to which he corners me and puts his mouth up to one of my ears.
"Do you know why we just had that meeting with Cinna, Princess? Or why I meet up with Plutarch?" he says angrily, talking so fast I have trouble understanding him. I squeak out a no.
"There's an underground rebellion going on, sweetie, and one of these kids is going to start it." I gasp, and he puts his hand over my mouth. I hit his hand until he lets it off my mouth, then I start talking.
"Why? Why am I involved with this? What if I don't want to? Do Katniss and Peeta even know about it?" I ask, my mind racing. Rebelling against the Capitol? Why would anyone want to do that? The Capitol is too strong anyways, anyone who takes part in this would surely be killed. Why bring two tributes who already have to fight to the death into this, or me, an innocent Capitol citizen?
"Shut your mouth, Effie. I'll tell you later." he growls. When he says that, I get angry. How many times has he told me he would tell me later?
"I want to know now, because you never tell me later." I tell him.
"No. Now shut up." he says. Then, someone comes down the hall. They're talking to another person, and I can tell by their speaking that they're from the Capitol. I suddenly get scared that they heard us, that they're going to kill us and take us away, but all of my worrying goes away when Haymitch places his lips on mine. It's so sudden that my eyes grow wide and my mind goes blank. Two of Haymitch's fingers reach up and push my eyelids down just as the people see us.
"Awww, how cute." one of the people, a girl, says as she opens her door. I'm kissing Haymitch back now, his hands on my hips and my hands on his chest. I taste the alcohol on his breath as I deepen the kiss. The other person, who sounds like a girl also, agrees and they close the door behind them. As soon as they close the door, Haymitch pulls away. I instantly get sad, because I was starting to really enjoy the kiss.
"What was that?" I say incredulously. He doesn't even look phased with what took place, while I can't get it out of my brain.
"I had to improvise, Princess. There were people coming." he said with a shrug. I'm speechless, and also hurt. Did that really just happen? Why did I like it so much? Why does it hurt to know it was just so people wouldn't think we were suspicious? Amongst my inner turmoil, I hear Haymitch's voice calling me back to reality.
"I'll explain everything later. Just not now."
"And what if I don't want to?" I say, knowing he knows exactly what I mean by that.
"Then we'll have to kill you." he says, and starts walking away. I don't hear any type of playfulness in his voice, so my nerves grow cold. Would he really? He has killed before, I think. Well he didn't really have a choice, I reason. I touch my lips, millions of questions forming in my mind. I guess the only option I have now is to go on like nothing's wrong until later comes, something I do not want to do in the slightest.