Author's note: All of my stories are based on the movies/actors, not on the books.
Wake Me Up Before You Go
Chapter 1
"Another?" The bartender asked, his hand hovering over the empty martini glass.
Haymitch nodded.
"Coming right up."
Haymitch's gaze was on the delicate box in front of him, running his fingertips slowly over the tasteful, velvet ribbon, asking himself if he'd made the right decision.
"Your drink, Mister." Skilfully, the bartender placed the full cocktail glass in front of his guest.
Lost in thoughts, he reached out for the colorful toothpick in his drink and gnawed the green olives off it. One more and he could lay out a perfect E from his collection of toothpicks.
"Is this seat free?" A small female asked voice next to him.
His tired eyes looked up into a tear-stained face, hiding behind dark long locks. Surely too young to be served at a bar, he thought. But what did he care, he had his own demons to fight. Haymitch nodded slightly, starring back into his martini while the young woman collapsed onto the old-fashioned bar stool, snuffling her nose noisily.
"You want something?" The barman asked impatiently behind the counter.
Her dark eyes run over the countless bottles behind the bar, lingering on each for a moment. Overwhelmed by the apparently never-ending display, her eyes moved on, to her neighbor's cocktail glass.
Her sad eyes clung to Haymitch's half-full drink, before wiping the wet tip of her nose with the back of her hand.
"Could I have the same?" she asked.
"It's a Martini on the Rocks, Miss." The bartender said, putting his hands on his fat hips. "If you could show me your ID card, please."
The young woman nodded, fumbling around in the big pockets of her oversized parka and finally passed her card over to him.
"Okay?" she asked hopefully.
The barman took a long glance, nodding shortly.
Haymitch decided to end the evening in his quiet apartment, at the side of his collection of exquisite Irish whiskey. Slowly, he slipped from his bar stool and his gaze shifted to the young woman beside him. She looked as if she hadn't slept in days; her long dark hair was ragged as if she had wandered through a storm and her reddened eyes made a strong contrast to her pale face while he took notice of her slightly shaking hands.
Reaching behind the bar, Haymitch grabbed a handful of paper napkins and passed them to the sorry-looking girl. Puzzled, she looked at the napkins in his large hand, as if she didn't know what to do with them, wiping her nose on her hand again.
Haymitch rolled his eyes, looking meaningfully at the napkins in his fingers.
"That's what the paper towels are for."
Not listen to his words, she gave him a look that could kill. "All men are shit!" she hissed.
"Could be." He shrugged nonchalantly, half-amused.
"All of them!" she said, glaring daggers at him.
He couldn't help himself as he chuckled deep in his throat. "Haymitch Abernathy." He held out his hand.
Hesitantly, she looked down at his fingers beneath her thick, dark eyelids. Finally, she reached for his hand and shook it faintly.
"Katniss..."
"Only Katniss?" he demanded.
"Everdeen." she added lamely, pulling her small hand out of his.
"Listen, girl, whatever happened, the guy isn't worth it, okay?"
A deep wrinkle of anger appeared between her brows and her eyes flashed dangerously. "He betrayed me!" Furiously, to underline her words, she slammed her clenched fist on the wooden counter.
What else, Haymitch thought; it was always the same old song….
"He put a ring on my finger and then, just three months later, cheated on me with my best friend!" Katniss hissed while her sparkling eyes found the full martini glass in front of her, ready to drown her grief in it.
Haymitch followed her gaze, reading her thoughts. "Careful, girl, that's liquor, not a coke." He pointed out, ready to pat her on the back if she swallowed too quickly.
His well-intentioned advice earned him another scowl from her unhappy eyes before she took a long sip from the elegant glass.
The combination of vermouth and gin did the perfect job. Burning like fire in Katniss's throat, the painful evening appeared in her mind, and she experienced again the moment when she had found them both on his kitchen table.
As loudly as her fiancé proclaimed his innocence - it was not what it looked like - she threw his precious ring right back into his face. Running home to her dormitory, gathering all of his clothes together in a rush, she threw everything out the window, after ripping them fiercely into small, fine pieces.
Seeing the pain on her face, the gathering tears in her glittering eyes, Haymitch cleared his throat and put on his dark coat. She was young, she was beautiful; she would get over it. He had to take care of his own problems.
"It was nice to meet you, Katniss, but I have to go." he said, reaching for his jewellery box and putting it deep into his coat pocket before setting a generous 50 dollar note on the counter.
"If I ever see him again I'll shoot an arrow right into his arrogant head." she spat.
"Of course you'll do." he mocked, patting Katniss carefully on her slender arm.
"Why do men cheat on women?"
Sighing, Haymitch ran his hand through his light hair, searching for the right words even as he knew there was no answer to the question.
"Listen, Katniss," he said, taking a step toward her. "Maybe this guy was just an idiot, okay?"
The young woman looked up, caught by surprise. "An idiot?" She didn't seem convinced as she looked deep into his piercing eyes. "Gale?"
"Be glad you're rid of him," Haymitch drawled. "You'll find someone better, and that Dale guy will realize what a fool he was to let you go!"
"Gale." Katniss sniffled. "His name is Gale."
"Whatever," A crooked smile appeared on Haymitch's thin lips. "He was a fool to let you go. You'll find someone who deserves you. Trust me, okay?"
Katniss nodded hesitantly. Deep in her broken heart she hoped that this stranger knew what he was talking about.
"Now be a good girl and empty your glass and go home, sweetheart; tomorrow is another day."
Thanks for 'Katniss & Haymitch – Irresistible' on YouTube for inspiration.