Welcome welcome in this second part of my Christmas story!
As usual, I really hope you'll enjoy it! xxx
October
Effie is in her best mood on this Sunday afternoon.
It's pouring rain outside, she is in her comfiest outfit, chilling, watching her favorite show while letting her nail polish dry when Portia suddenly barges in, all excited.
"Hey what's going on? Is everything alright?" She asks her friend as she jumps in the armchair in front of her.
"I was at the grocery store and… Remember that guy I told you about?" she nods. The famous guy in his leather jacket on his motorcycle … "Well, we met there, we talked and he asked me out. On Tuesday!" She stops waiting for Effie's reaction.
She stares at her with her mouth gaping for a second but then they're both screaming like teenagers.
"Oh Portia that's great!" she says. But then she takes in a deep breath as panic comes over her – why her? She isn't the one going on a date that's ridiculous… "But what are you gonna wear? Your makeup? Hairstyle? And what are you gonna do? There is no fancy restaurant… The best one out there is Haymitch's diner…."
They spend the whole evening debating over clothes and hairstyles and taking care of themselves. Imagining how their dream date would go like. She gathers a few information about her friend's crush along the way. His name is Cinna, he works in town as a mechanic but he takes correspondence courses in management to launch his own brand of clothing, and Portia insists all that it must mean he's very good with his hands...
xxx
It's the big day.
It's Tuesday afternoon, and at 3:30 she is already sitting at Haymitch's counter with her mug of coffee. They had to close the shop early because the water from the rain had flooded the kitchen floor. Fortunately they had managed to stop it at that.
So there she is, trying to forget her dreadful day by reading a fashion magazine and trying to be happy for her best friend. But she knows peace usually doesn't last, and her phone rings. That's really not her day…
"Hello Ez, to what do I owe the honor?" her brother rarely calls her, and it's never for pleasant matters.
"Hello Euphemia. How are you doing?" he asks politely but she knows it's more a matter of propriety and he doesn't really care.
"Absolutely great, thank you dear." she answers trying to make him hear her hypocrite smile. "I doubt you are calling to inquire about me though."
And here it goes… of course she knew, but she answered anyway…
She hangs up with a deep sigh. Haymitch is watching her with an eyebrow lifted in question, but Portia appears beside her before she has time to explain.
"Let me guess, Mr Perfect again?" she tells her with a smile.
"How did you know?" she laugh sarcastically.
"Your face." she guesses it's a good enough clue... "So, what was it this time?" Portia asks. Always eager for new gossips.
"Who's Mr Perfect?" Haymitch's asks. The two girls turn toward him, Portia with a hardly hidden grin and Effie with a kind smile. He lifts his hands to defend himself "Just to know..."
"My brother." she laughs, putting him out of his misery. She ignores Portia's chuckles and continues. "It was about one of his associates, a brilliant manager, who saw a picture of me and wanted to meet me." she explains with a fake smile.
"Buuut..."
"But he's over forty, divorced -three times-, certainly potbellied and half-bald." she answers flatly. "Oh! And with two complaint for domestic abuse and harassment against him."
"But she was completely crazy and only did it for the money, of course." Portia adds with faked seriousness.
"Naturally!" she responds in the same tone before they burst out laughing.
It had become a private joke between them. Her brother would always call her to match her with some guy deemed good enough to give her her place back in the family, and they would laugh of him afterward. A way of dismissing the tension and making her forget she wasn't welcomed there anymore. Except as an exemplary trophy wife.
"So I imagine you said yes, darling."
"Absolutely! Exactly my kind of man!"
She can see Haymitch smirking and shaking his head at their antics further down the counter. She isn't sure, but she thinks she can see a hint of relief on his face. He had seemed a little worried with his earlier comment.
"Anyway. You're the one that matters today. It's date night!" she says, bringing back the conversation to a real subject of importance.
"Oh yes, I was on my way home, I just wanted to take a quick coffee." she answers winking at Haymitch who immediately goes get her a to-go cup. "You'll come to help me later, right?"
"Yes of course! I won't be long."
"Thanks!" she squeals as she takes the cup Haymitch is handing her. A peck on Effie's cheek and she's out.
"Who's she going out with?" Haymitch asks her.
"Cinna. Do you know him?" she inquires after seeing his understanding smirk growing on his face.
"Yes, he works with a friend. Handsome guy, quite a seducer..."
"What do you mean?" She frowns. She doesn't want Portia to get hurt by some Don Juan.
"Oh no, don't worry. Not like that. He's great. Real gentleman." she hums but she isn't entirely convinced. She's a little worried now. "No, Chaff's the only Don Juan around here." he adds thoughtfully with an amused smirk.
"Oh maybe you should introduce us then. I happen to be in need of husband apparently." she's joking but his laugh sounds a bit bitter and strained. She takes a sip of her coffee. "How do you do it?" she sighs.
"Do what?"
"Your coffee! What's your secret?" There must be something, she had tried but she had always failed to make something even slightly resembling to his coffee.
"Never cleaned the pot." he shrugs. Then he lifts his eyes to her mouth gaping in horror and laughs. "Relax princess, I'm joking." she breaths and feels a little silly to have believed him. "I don't know, I don't do anything special. Just like Sae taught me, that's all."
"You're an idiot." she laughs but still sulking a little.
"You're way too easy to tease. Too tempting." he winks with his infuriating smirk.
"Rude..." she mutters with a pout and finishes her coffee. Just as she stand and rummages in her purse to find money, Hazelle comes in with the children, all soaking wet.
Effie says Hi to everybody and then sighs, looking by the window, thinking that she'll have to walk back under this downpour.
"You can wait here until it calms down." Haymitch says behind her, as if he had -again – read her mind.
"I can't, I need to help Portia. Cinna's coming at six thirty." she reluctantly refuses. She wouldn't have refused staying a little longer in his company.
"That's in two hour." he replies, as if she was stupid.
"Precisely!" she answers with the same 'duh' tone. "Bye!" she says as she takes her impulse before going out. She can see him shaking his head from the corner of her eyes while she tries not to fall in her absolutely not weather adapted boots.
She helps Portia getting prefect for her date and spies Cinna when he comes to get her on his shiny bike. She declares him very handsome and looking like a nice man, she encourages her stressed friend to go and have fun.
Once she is alone, she settle in her living room, with TV as a background noise and decides to do some online shopping. It's only when she wants to pay for her purchase that she realize she doesn't have her wallet.
She tries to reason before panicking and the most likely is that she lost it at the diner. So she takes her phone and calls there.
"The Hob diner."
"Haymitch? It's me, Effie."
"Hey Princess, miss me already?"
"No, hum… Did you find a wallet this afternoon? A red one?" she asks, full of hope. If it's not there it's lost forever. Ruined somewhere in a ditch.
"With glitters and big fake flowers? Yes I did. I figured it was yours. Could have been Prim's but I doubt she would need what's inside though."
"Oh my god! Did you look inside?" she gasps in horror, blushing crimson thinking about the old pictures and the condom Portia had forced her to take 'for precaution' months ago. It might even be out of date now…
"Didn't mean to pry." he laughs. She hates to hear his mocking voice and not being there to punch him in person. "I needed to know whose it was to return it. No judgment."
"Yes well…Could you give it to Portia tonight? They're coming to eat at your place." she is too embarrassed to put even a toe there. Not for ten years a least.
"You're sure you don't want to come get it? Or I could bring it back to you..." she can hear and picture his infuriating smug face.
"Haymitch..." she scolds him without much heat. She's mortified and it sounds more whining than angry. She can hear him laugh from afar.
"Alright Princess, I will, don't worry." he reassures her in a kinder voice. "The offer was genuine though."
"Goodbye Haymitch..." she says as she lowers her phone to hang up.
"Bye Princess." she hears him laugh before hitting the button.
He can't stop playing this half flirting game lately and she doesn't know what to do with that. Since the accidental 'baby sitting', she can feel something changed in his mind about her. A part of her really wants to enter the game, but the other is too afraid to screw everything up and ruin her life here. Maybe he just want to be friends and nothing more.
She has to keep her expectations under control. She doesn't want to misunderstand his intention like she used to do before, and feel like the idiot again.
xxx
The next week, autumn truly begins to settle in town. The weather is cold, rainy, the trees are taking warm colors and peoples are decorating their houses.
It's the season of soft blankets, big scarfs, hot chocolates and pumpkin spiced things.
It's her favorite period of the years and nothing could taint her good mood. Not even Haymitch taunting and teasing.
That in this state of mind she makes her way to the diner on that fine Friday morning. The sun isn't completely up yet, and she follows the puffs of her breath escaping in the deep orange sky. She is sporting her happiest smile when she reaches Haymitch's door, thinking about the hot coffee and sweet blueberry muffin waiting for her inside.
This smile fades quickly when she hears the shouts and spots Haymitch in a screaming match with an older man. The others customers do not seem disturbed by the fight, but she feels her heart tighten at seeing Haymitch red with fury. She had never seen him like this, even when Snow or Coin were purposely trying to get on his nerves.
She slowly gets in, not wanting him to remark her and become the prey of his wrath.
"Fuck off, Plutarch, I don't give a shit about your damn decoration thing."
"Haymitch come on, this is not such a big deal..." the man, Plutarch – the name rings a bell but she cannot recall where she heard it- doesn't seem shaken by the furious man screaming on him. He even looks amused, keeping a nice commercial smile on.
"I. Won't. Do. It!" Haymitch screams with an end of the conversation tone, and disappears in the kitchen.
The man refuse to be defeated and tries another time to convince Haymitch of she-knows-what.
"Come on Haymitch, maybe it's time to..."
This time Haymitch's face is colored a deep red when he emerges from the kitchen and he seems completely mad. Even Plutarch recoils, aware he has crossed some kind of line.
"OUT! NOW!"
This time he lifts his hands in a gesture of peace and retreats out of the diner. "I'm sure you'll hear reason one day Haymitch."
The glass he was holding shatters in tiny pieces in his hand. He runs in the back with a string of profanities.
She waits until she can't hear him before moving. She had been frozen next to the door the whole time. She goes, sits carefully at the counter and waits.
He comes back a few minutes later with his hand wrapped in a cloth. She can see that his hands are still slightly shaking, from the anger of the pain of the cuts.
"Hey, sweetheart." he grumbles after taking a few deep breath to calm down.
"Hello." she answers softly. Not wanting to trigger a new outburst. "Are you okay?" she asks nodding to his hand.
"Yeah. It's nothing." he waves her concern away. "I'll get your order."
She hadn't ordered anything yet but she always asks for the same thing.
He comes back with her coffee and her muffin. She thanks him and eats silently, paying more attention to her phone than to him to hide her uneasiness. She wouldn't go as far as saying she's afraid but it's quite close, she's really shaken.
Apparently she fails, or he gets better at reading her mind, because she feels his hand on her arm. She lifts her head to his concerned face.
"Hey.. sorry about that. Didn't mean to cause a scene but… It's the same every year and..." he has a hard time choosing his words. Like if he really wanted to apologize but doesn't know how.
"It's okay, really." she smiles. She knows it doesn't hide the fear in her eyes but it seems enough for him. "Who was he? I've heard his name before but I can't remember when or where."
"The mayor." he answers. "He's a nice man. But he cares more about his own interest than about peoples opinions." he adds bitterly, his eyes lost in the void.
She nods. It makes sense. She must have read or heard his name somewhere, but she had never met him.
She keeps distracting him from his anger with some stupid small talk while she finishes her breakfast.
By the time she leaves the dinner, they're bickering again like if anything had happened.
Her day goes as any other day. She bakes and takes care of the customers while Portia jumps everywhere, all excited because Cinna invited her for an other date.
At the end of the day, she closes the shop and climbs up the stairs to her apartment when she hears the phone ring. She gets back downstairs to answer it, cursing whoever cannot read their hours of opening.
"I'm really sorry but we're closing and..."
"Yeah, I'm sorry princess but this was the only number I had so..."
"Oh, Haymitch! How can I help you?" she wasn't expecting him to call her so late.
"Well, I need to ask you a favor. Katniss came back from school sick and I can't close the diner like that. I would have called Hazelle but her kids are sick too, and Sae she's too old so..." he's stammering, not knowing how to ask her help. She finds that cute and decides to tease him a little longer.
"Soo… You need me tooo…." she begins but waits for him to fill in the blanks.
"I need you to keep an eye on the girls. It won't be long, I'll close as soon as I can I promise." he's practically begging her, like if she could refuse.
"Don't worry, I'm coming. I'll be there in fifteen minutes!"
"Thanks sweetheart." He sounds like if he had admitted something huge. Maybe trusting her enough to entrust her the girl was a huge thing for him.
She hangs up and runs upstairs. She gives food to Lady and exchanges her dress for some more comfortable clothes. She opts for some black leggings, a sport tank top -that allows her the happiness of not wearing a bra- and an oversized white sweater.
Then she drives to the diner to win some time. When she arrives, Haymitch leads her upstairs, thanking her again for coming, looking all embarrassed and flushed. He shows her around quickly around the apartment and then goes to tell the girls she's going to stay with them tonight. She uses this time to inspect his flat.
It's much bigger than she had imagined. It has a large living room, with a separated kitchen and dining room. Behind a closed door is Haymitch's bedroom and next to it a quite spacious bathroom. The most surprising thing is the mezzanine open on the living room, where are the girls bedrooms and their small bathroom. It's all clean but it feels lived in, like a real family house. There are some of Prim's toys all around the room, some dishes in the sink, a few of Katniss's books forgotten on the coffee table…
Haymitch comes back down, gives some advice to take care of the girls and runs back downstairs to the diner after thanking her for the hundredth time.
She immediately goes upstairs to see Katniss. She's reading a book in her bed, still feeling a little nauseous but she asks her something to eat so she considers it as a good sign.
She takes Prim with her downstairs so she can keep an eye on her while she cooks them dinner. She leaves her to play with her stuffed toys in the living room and she goes to the kitchen to have a look in the fridge. She goes for chicken breasts with lemon and herbs with rice and a side salad.
She eats first with Prim in the kitchen and then brings her plate to Katniss in her room along with her medication. She doesn't eat everything but she feels a little better afterwards.
The next time she goes up to inquire about her, she finds her peacefully asleep.
She gets back in the living room with Prim. She watches her play for a while, but soon the little girl begins to yawn and comes to her with a storybook and asks her to read for her.
Effie asks her to choose her favorite one and they settle on the couch. She lies in the big cushions and takes the little girl on her lap so that she can see the illustrations on the book.
She listens attentively for a while, nibbling at Buttercup's ear, but quickly falls asleep, snuggled against Effie's side. She doesn't dare to move, afraid she would wake her, so she simply holds her close, takes her phone and scrolls on Instagram and Pinterest.
She wakes up in a daze, not knowing where she is or when she is.
Then she comes back to herself and realizes the girl isn't in her arms anymore. Her heart misses a beat, but as she jumps in a siting position she feels a heavy blanket pooling on her legs. Then she hears what must have woken her up in the first place.
Haymitch.
She hears noises of someone doing the dishes in the kitchen. She feels immediately guilty, she intended to do it instead of falling asleep on his couch.
She takes her phone to check the time. Eleven thirty. She has only been asleep about forty-five minutes.
She rubs a hand on her face to wake her up a little better and gets up, heading for the kitchen. She realizes too late that she must have smudged her makeup, she considers making a quick stop in the bathroom but he has already seen her.
"Hey! Sorry Princess, didn't mean to wake you." he calls her in a low voice, smiling at her.
"No, it's me who's sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep, it's rude..." she says, coming closer to help him with the dishes.
"No big deal." he dismisses her concern, then picks up on what she's doing. "Don't worry about that, I'll take care of it."
"No, I insist! I should have done it."
He sighs and gives her a cloth so she can dry the plates. They work silently for a few minutes.
"Thank you again for tonight." he says softly, shuffling on his feet.
"It was a pleasure. They are both angels."
"Yeah." he chuckles fondly. "Apparently you're one too. According to Prim. She couldn't stop babbling about how good you smelled and how soft your hair was when I carried her to bed." he adds playfully. She blushes a little, flattered to feel his gaze lingering on her as he speaks. "Can't say 'bout the hair, but I agree on the perfume though." he shrugs.
This time she feels the heat in her cheeks and chuckles like a teenager, not looking at him.
But then she feels him closer. She can feel the warmth coming from his body right beside her.
She turns her head suddenly to look at him and their eyes lock, their faces just inches from each other. They get even closer, without noticing it, until their almost touching. She can feels his breath on her skin. He smells like coffee, soap and a bit salty from the sweat of a day of work.
They don't say anything but their eyes flutter between the other eyes and their mouth and Haymitch leans in a little. She follows and their lips are almost brushing when they are torn from their bubble by a noise upstairs.
They both startle and run upstairs to Katniss's room.
The poor girl is sitting on her bed, crying, with the basin full of vomit at her feet. Effie goes to her directly and take her to her bathroom to clean up while Haymitch cleans the mess in her room. Then she takes the girl back to bed and helps her going back to sleep. She sings her the lullaby she used to sing to her sister as she braids her long black hair, and stays with her until she falls into slumber again.
She gets up and finds Haymitch watching her from the bedroom door. They don't say anything before they're back in the living room. She wouldn't say the ambiance is awkward but there is something uncomfortable lingering in the air between them. Like something left unsaid.
She clears her throat.
"I guess I should go." she whispers.
"Yes." he replies, but he is betrayed by his body. His eyes clearly don't mean it, and his body comes closer to hers on its own volition. They are facing each other once again, attracted like magnets.
She breaks the spell by taking a step back, licks her lips and he clears his throat. He follows her downstairs without a word, and watches her while she puts on her boots and her coat, clearly enjoying the view.
"Thank you. Again. For tonight." he tells her, before blushing and adding "They really seem to like you. God knows why..." he mutters the last part to lighten the ambiance and go back to a more familiar ground.
She smirks as she hears what he doesn't say. Using the girls to speak about him is not really the smoothest move, but she can go with that.
"Thank you. I really like them too."
She turns back toward him one last time, and this time he lifts a hand to tuck a wayward strand of her hair back behind her ear. He lingers a little on her cheek and she leans in his touch.
"Goodnight princess."
"Goodnight Haymitch." she smiles before closing the door behind her.
On her way back she hesitates between telling Portia about the night or keeping that for herself for now. Maybe she had the wrong impression, maybe it was only on her side, maybe exhaustion won over her best reasonable self and she dreamed it all. Maybe he had only been friendly.
She decides to keep it to herself for now, at least until things get clearer or until something else -more – happens.
And she clearly hopes for that last option.
xxx
She doesn't see Haymitch the next couple of days, he has exceptionally closed the diner to take care of his girls. She thinks about calling to take news, but she would hate him to misinterpret her intentions and think she's too clingy.
She still believe that she might have given herself ideas the other day.
Instead, she distracts her mind by taking a walk in town and doing some shopping.
She takes her time to feel the cold wind on her face, smell the petrichor in the air after the rain, and enjoy the warm colors of the leaves in the park.
She stops a few time in some shops, and finds some pretty things to buy -a darling golden bracelet with carved little flowers, some woolen tights and socks, and a plain black blouse she intends to customize. Then she ends her day with one last detour at the grocery store.
She is on her way back home with all her bags when she passes in front of Haymitch's diner.
From the other side of the road, she can see the back door opening on Haymitch and an older woman behind him. When she spots her, the old woman's face lightens and she gives her a kind smile. Effie smiles back, a little embarrassed by the attention, but comes to them when Haymitch beckons her to approach.
"Hey sweetheart, this is Sae."
Oh! This is the famous Sae then. She seems like a very nice woman, in her late seventies, thin, with her grey hair gathered in a messy bun, and leaning on a cane. She is beaming at her with a yellow smile with a few broken teeth.
"Oh! I'm Effie Trinket, I'm delighted to meet you!" she smiles, giving her her hand. Instead the woman brings her closer and takes her in a short but warm embrace.
"I'm so happy to finally meet you my dear! I've heard so much about you already!" she laughs. She immediately understands why everybody in town consider her as their grandma. She is all kindness and benevolence, with this sparkle of concern in the back of her eyes.
"Good things I hope!" she jokes, glancing quickly at Haymitch and his permanent smirk.
"Oh yes, nothing but good!" she laughs, eyeing the two of them with a look that is not without reminding her of the ones Portia throws in their direction when she thinks Effie doesn't see her. "I'm gonna leave you two together now, I have a show to watch at home, I don't want to miss it! Hope I'll see you both again soon!" She says with a pointed gaze in Haymitch direction. He rubs in neck and simply waves goodbye at Sae, and she feels herself blushing again.
After a beat, she turns back to face Haymitch with a smile, hiding her embarrassment.
"Is Katniss better?" she asks to break the uneasy silence.
"Yeah, she's much better. Sae's tricks worked magic."
"Good."
A few seconds pass and she is about to say goodbye when he inhales sharply.
"Do you want to come up?" he blurts out. "Hum, the girls would be happy to see you. Prim mostly."
She wonders if he's using the girls to talk about himself again. Anyway, she'd love to see the girls too so she accepts, and minutes later she finds herself crouching in his living room with two girls hanging at her neck.
She stands back up and feels Katniss's hand taking hers and dragging her to the couch. They both sit, and the girl faces her with a very serious business face.
"Effie, I need your help."
"Oh, serious business. What do you need my dear?" she asks her back in an equally serious tone.
"Haymitch won't buy me a Halloween costume so I need you to make one for me." it sounds almost like an order and Haymitch rebukes her, asking her to be polite.
Effie is more amused than vexed, but she appreciate the fact that Haymitch cares about the girls good education. The little girl rolls her eyes and pouts but softens her face when she goes back to Effie.
"Please. Last year was lame and all the other kids made fun of me." She can see the confession costs the girl, so she leans toward her.
"Alright, tell me what you want." she whispers softly to her.
"I want to be a fire bird! Like the one in the book!" she explains, taking her book of fairy tales and showing her the illustration of the old Russian tale. She smiles and nods at everything the girl tells her, but she can feels Haymitch gaze burning her nape.
"I'll see with Portia to make you the best costume you've ever seen!" she tells the girl. It's the first time she sees her smiling for real.
Haymitch must have been waiting for them to finish their very important conversation, because it's the moment he chooses to appear with Prim in one arm and a tray full of hot beverages in the other. Black tea from them and hot cocoa with tiny marshmallows for the girls.
They talk for a while, Prim clinging to her once her cup is empty, babbling about her smelling like flowers and candies. Then Haymitch declare it's time for them to go back to their rooms. Prim is restless and wants to play, but she notices that Katniss is still quite pale and has dark circles around her eyes. He takes them both upstairs whilst she finishes her cup of tea, taking this as a clue it's time for her to leave. She is standing up and putting all the cups back in the tray when she hears him climbing down the stairs.
"You're going already?" she can hear a tinge of disappointment in his voice.
"Oh, I thought that..."
"No, I didn't mean to kick you out." he dismisses her concern with a wave of his hand, but she doesn't sit back on the couch. She stays frozen where she is as he comes closer and closer. His eyes are fixed on her face, like if he couldn't tear them off, and she feels very self-conscious. Suddenly remembering that she hadn't bothered with her usual dose of makeup that morning, only some bb cream and some color on her eyes, not expecting to see anybody important that day. He could see her freckled skin and her uncontoured features. Fortunately plain blue eyes were saved by her indispensable mascara.
She feels her whole face blushing, waiting for the usual gibe to come, but he doesn't look mocking, rather fascinated.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting to see anyone so..." she apologizes waving at her ducked head, hiding her flushed face. But he cuts her with an unexpected -but very much hoped for- compliment.
"You're beautiful." his voice is deep and loaded, like she had never heard before. He must have heard it too because he clears his throat, takes a step back and carries the tray in the kitchen. "Prim can't stop talking 'bout you now. You're her new favorite princess! At least unlike Elsa, you don't sing." he jokes.
"I am flattered!" she replies with a hand on her heart. "So I guess that is where Sae got all her information from then..." she adds playfully. He smirks a flippant "yeah" but she can see the hint of a blush creeping on his cheeks.
He walks a little closer, and they are back in the same position from a few days before. They look in each other's eyes and their hands brush lightly. She can feel electricity running through her body at his touch, and her sharp intake of breath makes him smirk.
He takes it as an encouragement and drags his hand from her hand to her arm, she can feel shivers following his fingers and the sensation of his calloused hand on her silky skin. Her heart goes on a race and she has troubles to swallow. He begins to lean in but they are startled by a noise upstairs -certainly Prim dropping something -and the spell is broken (again).
He sighs heavily, disappointed, and she hides a smile by looking down at her feet.
"Are you going to the Halloween party in the square?" she asks, hoping he'll say yes.
"I don't know. Didn't even think about it." he shrugs.
"I had thought… That it could have been fun to meet the girls there. After the trick or treating." The girls, and him.
"I don't take them trick or treating. Chaff does, with his niece and nephew." he states coldly, not picking up on her visible disappointment. "I hate the whole dressing up thing. I have enough to do with the diner anyway." he is back to putting the dishes in the sink now, all playfulness and flirting gone.
"Who's Chaff? It's not the first time you mention his name but I've never met him."
"He's… he's my best friend. Almost like a brother to me. Owns the garage at the edge of the town. That's where Cinna works too." he answers. She can feel his deep affection for his friend in his tone.
"Oh, the Don Juan then." she teases, trying to bring the playfulness back. "I hope I'll meet him there." This time she can see him frown and throw a quick glance in her direction, not really amused by what she implies. "Or..." she resumes with a little laugh, "you could come with me and make the introductions. That would only be proper."
He comes back in front of her, this time with his cunning smirk back on his face.
"I'm not really the proper kind of man, sweetheart." he says, imitating her slightly posh accent.
"I'm aware of that." she laughs, putting a light hand on his chest. As well to keep him at a proper distance as to finally touch him. She can feel the heat of his skin through the thick flannel of his shirt, burning her skin. He inhales deeply at the contact too.
"Does that mean I'll have to wear a costume?" he asks her, his smirk widening in a real cunning grin.
"I think seeing the town's Scrooge at a party will be enough. I doubt they'll bother you with that." she jokes. "And you can always say you're dressed as the scruffy seductive diner owner..."
"That's a long title." he replies, lifting an eyebrow questioningly. "Seductive you said?"
She laughs and rises on tiptoes to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. She didn't mean to linger but he holds her with a hand on her waist.
"Goodbye then." it's her turn to smirk, seeing the expression on his flushed face. "Thanks again for the tea. Oh, and kiss the girls for me!"
She doesn't give him time to answer and saunters downstairs, grabbing her coat and her purse, and out the back door.
She doesn't want him to see her grinning like a cat who got the cream and give him a new reason to tease her.
xxx
For the next week, she and Portia use all their time making the most perfect costumes for the girls and for themselves.
They even have to ask Cinna's help for Katniss's costume, the fire dress, a dress made of moire silk, changing from red to bright yellow, and velvet, with feather wings attached to the included golden bangles that will move in sync with her arms. They also plan a makeup and accessories to put into her braided hair.
Effie chooses to make an angel costume for Prim, a simple glittery white dress with baby blue ribbons and a little crown like a golden aureole.
Portia goes classic with her sexy Catwoman jumpsuit, to go with Cinna's Batman, and Effie settles on a cute fairy look. She makes herself a pretty short dress, with a corseted bodice and a flowing skirt, in light pink, green and golden tones -with a lot of glitter. She also finds golden high heeled boots and a pair of golden wings in her old stuff.
All these preparations takes a lot of her time, and she barely has any left to go to the diner. Most of the time she takes her coffee to go, but there are always lingering looks and touches, smirks and loaded 'Hello princess' that comfort her in the idea that she didn't dream it all and that he is still interested.
The day before Halloween comes, and Haymitch brings the girls at the shop in the afternoon for the planned fitting.
They both immediately fall in love with their dresses and there are only minor adjustments to do. They leave the two girls in the good care of Portia while Effie prepares a little snack -made of pumpkin spice cupcakes and cute skulls shaped sugar cookies - for them on one of the tables. As she retreats to the kitchen to prepare some tea and hot chocolate, Haymitch follows her.
"How much do I owe you this time Princess?" he asks seriously, certainly refusing what he considers as charity -even if it was nothing but generosity – another time.
She doesn't want to charge him the real price of their work. They had gone a little overboard on the choice of the fabrics.
"Oh just the price of the confection and the adjustments. The fabrics are my gift for them. And the snack is just me testing my recipes for tomorrow." she says with a smile to hide what she doesn't want to say.
"Is there any other way for me to pay my debt?" he asks languidly, coming closer to her. She tries to play coy and to feign ignorance but her smile fades when he puts his hand on her waist and holds her against the counter. She can't move -and she doesn't really want to either – and she feels the heat of his body against her. She inhales his cologne and it feels like fire in her throat.
His hand tightens around her waist as he leans in. Their breath mingles and their lips brush a few times, and this time, as much as she tries to resist because of the girls a few doors away, she doesn't know if she won't cave and kiss him right there.
She is saved by a loud and thrill 'Haymitch' and the stomping of little feet on the wooden floor. They separate just in time to see a very little angel Prim running and twirling in her shiny new dress. They go back to the main room of the shop and both the girls come to show their shiny new costumes.
It's followed by a concert of congratulations, 'thank you' and 'you're welcome it was nothing', flying from all parts. Portia takes the girls back to change and Effie brings the beverage on the table.
They all settle around the table and eat the snack she has prepared. The girls unable to stop talking about the big day coming and the adults laughing and smiling at their joy and enthusiasm.
Effie tries her best to ignore the pointed looks Portia throws in her direction, but acting cool isn't that easy. Especially when she feels Haymitch's hand traveling down her thigh to end on the hand she was keeping on her lap. She glances at him and finds him watching her with fondness and a grateful smile, and also something else she doesn't dare interpret as desire.
It's an innocent gesture but it feels like a huge step between them. Even bigger than the few not kisses they had exchanged until now.
It doesn't last long, because they don't want the other to see, but it feels good and they both have to keep a smile from appearing on their face.
When Haymitch declares it's time for them to leave, Katniss is yawning in her chair, holding her stomach and Prim has disappeared in the kitchen to play with Lady. He has to take her in his arms to free the poor cat from her grip.
"If she could she would take her home." he jokes at Effie as he comes back.
"Oh! She doesn't need to, you can bring her any time. She's at home here." She did not intend to imply anything presumptuous by that, but hopefully Haymitch doesn't seem to pick up on it. Or at least he doesn't mind it.
As they say their goodbyes, he leans to kiss her cheek, the same way she had kissed him back to his apartment, and retreats with his infuriating smirk.
She is a little annoyed by his cocky attitude, but she takes the promise nonetheless.
She goes to bed with a dreamy smile on her face, but she is too restless to sleep, impatient for the day to come. Instead she goes to prep herself -skin care, masks, waxing, everything – knowing she won't have a minute to do it the next day.
Two hours later, she falls back in her bed and succumb to exhaustion.
xxx
The big big big day has come. She spends most of it selling boxes and boxes of spooky cookies, pumpkin cupcakes and animal chocolate candies, running everywhere in her -pretty but not so practical - fairy outfit.
At five sharp, Haymitch comes in with the girls like they had agreed.
They eat some Frankenstein sandwiches and skull biscuits Effie has prepared with a big cup of hot cocoa and blood orange juice, before following Portia behind to put on their costumes.
Portia leaves with Cinna right after helping the girls in their dresses. They're going to see a movie before going to the party. Effie helps the girls with their makeup and hair. She makes a braid crown for Katniss, decorating it with red feathers and tiny pearls, then simply hides the headband of Prim's aureole with a few strand of her hair, letting the rest of her blond curls free. Then she adds glitter on their faces and declares they are done and perfect.
They come back in the shop to find Haymitch red handed fishing in the box of chocolate spiders -made of chocolate covered almonds and hazelnuts - Effie had left on the table. She slaps his hand out of the box with a click of her tongue, but only to replace it with hers. They all eat what's left in it while waiting for Chaff.
The girls are restless, talking about their friends Thresh and Rue (Chaff's nephew and niece Haymitch precises), about all the candies they will get, about the old woman who always gives them big chocolate bars, about Mrs Coin who only gives them 'healthy treats' like dried fruits ('disgusting' of course), or about Mr Snow who never have candies and chooses trick every time but who never turned into a frog, to Katniss great disarray. At best they made him cough the young girl narrates with an unsatisfied pout.
Chaff finally arrives -half an hour late- with a young Black Panther, who must be Thresh, and the little Rue disguised as a nymph wrapped in ivy and flowery vines. She finds herself facing a tall black pirate.
"Good evening dear, I'm Chaff, the one and only Captain Hook in this town!", he introduces himself in a deep and loud voice. When he outstretches his hand she notices his other missing hand replaced by a very real golden hook, instead of a prosthetic. He is not joking with costumes.
"Good evening, I'm Effie, please come on in!" she invites them warmly.
The two children jump on the table with the leftover sweets and Chaff immediately scolds them.
"Hey, you two! You're not savages ask the lady first!" he shouts in his scary pirate voice, then turns toward her "Sorry 'bout that, love." he adds in a lower, less impressive voice. An adept of monikers too then. Great!
"It's okay, you can go!" she laughs at the two little faces staring at her with puppy eyes. They both shout a "Thanks Mrs Trinket!" before stuffing their mouths with cookies and candies.
She turns back to Chaff and finds him gauging her, scanning her from head to toe with a really disagreeable judging gaze. She feels herself blushing but not in a flattered way. Then she feels Haymitch's hand on her shoulder and it immediately eases her embarrassment. He pushes her gently on the side to go greet his friend.
"Hey buddy!" he grumbles, giving him a quick bear hug.
"So, I finally get to meet the famous Effie Trinket!" Chaff says. It sounds innocent but she senses there is something behind that sentence.
"Famous? What makes you say that?" she laughs, trying not to show how tense she is in his presence. She can see why Haymitch likes him, but she can also feel deep in her guts that he doesn't like her. And what bothers her is that she has no idea why…
"Everybody's talking 'bout you love. My sister, my associate, Sae, the girls, Haymitch." he glances at his friend with loaded look, "You're the new celebrity here." It really doesn't feel as a compliment, and his smirk scares her more than anything else.
He acts playful but she knows he is judging her, searching for a flaw or something. She had heard strangers were not always appreciated in small towns, but now, there should prescription.
They exchange a little more small talk for a few minutes, and then he goes out with the children. Leaving her and Haymitch finally alone. As much as she loves the girls, that was the moment she had truly been waiting for, and she won't let Chaff bad influence ruin it for her.
She must have failed at hiding her discomfort because he comes behind her and runs his hands up and down her arms in a soothing manner.
"Hey… sorry about that. He is very… protective. He has some kind of... trust issues." he explains, planting a soft kiss at the edge of her forehead.
"A big boy like you needs protection?" she jokes to lighten the mood, turning slowly in his arms. He shrugs his -feigned- ignorance, and she escapes from his arms to go to the kitchen. She doesn't want to pursue that subject. She had planned much more pleasant activities.
"What are you doing? Thought we were going out." he asks as he follows her in.
"I need to finish the pie I'm bringing, I cannot show up empty handed. I should have known this makeup would take an eternity..." she mutters as she takes everything out of the fridge. She just needs to assemble all the preparations of her caramel pecan pie.
"Which part? Covering your skin in glitter or painting you hair gold?" he taunts, leaning against the counter to watch her do all the work. She deadpans a flat laugh as she begins to work.
First she pours the pecan praliné in the pie shell. Then adds a thin layer of salted butter caramel. And last but not least, she has to put all the caramelized pecans one by one on the top in a floral pattern.
"You're sure you don't want to help me?" she half jokes half chides him. It's truly a long process and two more hands wouldn't be too much.
"No thanks. I'm enjoying the view." he replies, his smirks widening. She rolls her eyes and sighs at his attitude, but he comes closer anyway. "So what do you want me to do?"
She shows him how to put them on nicely, following the pattern she had created, and they work together for a while. Then she retreats and leans against the counter, mirroring his previous position. It's her turn to enjoy the view now.
Watching him work is both amusing and arousing. She takes her time to appreciate his handsome features. His broad shoulders, his messy long hair, his strong hands and forearms under his rolled up sleeves, his shaped…
"Like what you see princess?" he snorts, tearing her from her daydreaming.
"Well, yes. Quite." she answers with a smirk of her own. "I can understand why you refused to move." he laughs at that but refuse to meet her eyes, hiding what she thinks is the beginning of a blush on his cheeks behind the curtain of his hair.
She slides back next to him, and steals a nut in the plate. He's almost done and she can see that there's more than needed left.
Then she steals another. And another.
At first he laughs, but after a while he tries to stop her by smacking her hand playfully. She pouts and stop for a moment, but soon steals one again, and leaves the nut between her lips until he looks at her, and meets her insolent gaze.
He answers with a look of his own, meaning 'careful sweetheart'. But tonight she is tired of being careful, she wants to get bold now.
She comes a little closer again, one more step and she would be pressed against his side. She takes another pecan nut and puts it between her teeth, waiting. But he only takes it, puts it in his mouth and eats it.
Disappointed but not defeated, she tries once more. This time, he takes a deep breath with his eyes closed, trying to refrain himself, then groans and grabs her waist. But he just takes the nut with his own teeth and gulps it, looking directly in her eyes with a proud smirk. In a blink he is back at working seriously on the pie.
She huffs and laughs a little nervously, feeling the fear creeping in her chest. Maybe he doesn't want it after all. Maybe he was just playing at flirting but doesn't want to go further. She's angry, at him for playing with her and at herself for being still so naive.
She tries one last time, stealing the nut he's just put on the pie and eating it staring right into his storm grey eyes.
She doesn't have time to react when he grabs her waist again with a hissed "fuck", traps her violently between the counter and his chest, and finally takes her mouth in a hungry kiss.
It's not a tender and loving kiss. It's demanding, impatient, like when you finally get something you've been waiting for a long time. They fight to get the upper hand, pushing and pulling in turn.
She feels like she's never close enough of him, she could melt in his arms. She takes in every sensation, his chapped lips, the itch of his stubble on her skin, his big hands roaming on her back and clutching to urge her always closer and closer.
The kiss doesn't take long to grow heated, and his mouth travels from hers to her jaw and to that particular point under her ear. She can't hold back a moan when his teeth nibble at the sensitive skin.
"Keep doing that kind of noise and we're never gonna make it to the party." he chuckles in her ear.
"What party?" she pants, throwing her head back to give him better access.
He laughs and moans as he kisses her again, lowering his hands to the back of her thighs. She knows what he's going to do, so she takes her hands off him to put them behind her on the counter, ready to be hauled up on it.
Her hand hits an empty plate that falls and scatters to the floor in a loud crack.
They startle and laugh, breaking their embrace and coming back to reality. He keeps her close for a moment, while they take their breath back.
"You really couldn't wait uh?" he whispers in her ear.
"Maybe." she breathes, still panting, wiping some lipstick on his mouth with her thumb.
After a minute, they go back to their initial work, and in less than five minutes the pie is ready.
At eight-thirty, they finally arrive at the party. The park is all lit up with pumpkins and light strings, and decorated with hay bales, spider webs and fake skeletons. She puts her pie, and Haymitch his box of greasy donuts, on the buffet table and go to Portia and Cinna.
Portia introduces her to her new boyfriend, and she can see they are both very infatuated with each other, the connection is undeniable. She has to admit they are really cute, and she is truly happy for her friend.
They speak for a while. Cinna and Haymitch already know each other and it makes the conversation really easy. The man is truly charming, and he doesn't seem to be able to take his hands off Portia. She feels a little pang of jealousy seeing Haymitch always keeping a reasonable distance with her. Even if he's not cold, he's never really affectionate. With him it seems to be all or nothing. A minute he is kissing her like if it was vital and the next he walks at arm length from her with his hands in his pocket…
Chaff arrives with the kids about an hour later. Just as they begin to struggle finding a new topic of conversation and as she's watching with longing the people dancing under the tent. She tried a few times to imply she wanted to dance but he didn't seem to get the hint. Or he simply didn't want to take her.
She was beginning to believe that maybe it was only a matter of sexual tension and that once it would be out of their systems, they would only end up being two awkward friends who did a mistake.
The girls run to them, showing them their generous harvest of candies and chocolate bars. They laugh and babbles about other kids Effie doesn't know. She can't catch everything, but she understands that their costumes had been a hit and she feels a little proud for that.
When she turns she sees that Haymitch and Chaff have moved a little further and are talking quite seriously. She goes back to playing with the children but she can feel their eyes on her and her ears whistle knowing they are more than certainly talking about her.
It doesn't last long and a minute later she feels Haymitch pressing her against his side, closer than they had ever been since they arrived.
Chaff joins them and she catches him eyeing all the pretty women in the party. They make a little small talk but he quickly brings the conversation back to what seems to be his favorite subject. Her.
"So, love. Where are you from?" he asks.
"New-York. Manhattan to be exact." she replies with faked cheer. She won't let his interrogation ruin her night.
"Upper East Side?" he snorts mockingly.
"West, actually." she retorts a little harshly. She won't let him make fun of her for a former life she didn't choose. He lift his hand and hook in a mocking apology.
She feels Haymitch's hand stroking her side. He can certainly feel the tension between the two and tries to calm her down.
"Trinket… It rings a bell. Do you have someone famous in your family or something?" Chaff asks more seriously this time.
She doesn't have anyone famous in her family no. But there are some eminent personalities.
"Well, not really. But considering your work you might have heard about my brother. He's into automobile industry business." That's the only connection she can find between her family and Chaff honestly.
"Ah, maybe. What's his name?"
She clears her throat, knowing this won't be a pleasant part in their talk.
"Eusebius Trinket." she sighs. Waiting for the inevitable gibes. If her name already wasn't a piece of cake, her brother's was even worse. However he had had enough personality to make a strength of it. And now with his job, no one would dare make fun of him anyway.
Both men whistle in the same time.
"Yeah, definitely. Don't know how I could forget that one." Chaff laughs
"Does anybody in your family have a normal name?" Haymitch asks, incredulous.
"Well… my father does, William is not too bad." she'd rather have Chaff laughing at her mother's choice of names for her children than at her so she follows them on that topic.
"Come on love, how many children are you?"
"Only three, I'm sorry." she jokes, "Eusebius is the eldest, then me and my little sister, Eudoxia."
"Your mother's a historian or something?"
"No. Just from an old rich Greek family. And eager to take her revenge on us..." she adds thoughtfully. She immediately regrets it when she feels the four eyes fixed on her. She takes a deep breath and rolls her eyes.
"Chrysothemis." They both open wide eyes, before bursting out laughing. Haymitch leans and plant a soft kiss on the top of her head.
"You're doing pretty well all things considered." he chuckles, and she cannot do anything but nod. She is one of the luckiest in her family so…
"Yeah, you're a lucky girl..." Chaff snarls, with a completely different meaning. She can't believe she had to end up talking with one of those person who loathe rich people just because they are rich, refusing to see a little further than that. "So what brings you here Princess?"
She had been hiding her irritation for Haymitch's sake, but as he leaves them to go help the children, she stops the masquerade.
"I came here because I wanted a quiet life, in a pretty place, far from the City and of all the things you blame me for. Are you happy with that? What did I do to you anyway? Why do you hate me so bad?" she blurts out, letting her anger out but trying to keep her voice low enough not to attract attention on them.
"I don't care about what you did to me love, I care about what you did to him." he answers, nodding at Haymitch, who's serving the girls cups of soda. "How long do you plan to stay before you grow bored of the country life and run back to the city? How long 'til you break his heart? He doesn't need another spoiled brat to destroy him I warn you." he is openly threatening her now, she can feel his loathing spilling from every word he speaks to her. She wouldn't say she's afraid, but she feels a bad thrill going down her spine.
"I have no intention of leaving." she hisses back. "I have no intention of returning in the city, no intention of going back to what I was, and no intention of playing with him. If I were one to play with men I would have stayed in the city!" she stops for a second to breathe. "And I am not a spoiled brat. And I do not accept you insulting me that way."
"I do not believe you. But you're free to prove me wrong. I understand why he likes you, you're not dumb and you certainly have a pretty little ass." He lifts his hand at her horrified expression. "Just, don't hurt him, love."
"Who do you take me for?" she barely has time to stammer in a hushed voice, flabbergasted, that Haymitch's back at her side with a cup of coffee.
She composes her cheerful mask again, keeping for herself the whole disaster that had just happened, and takes the cup gratefully. The air is a little too chilly for her short outfit. She must not be very convincing because she can feel his hand at the small of her back all the time they continue their innocent small talk.
After a while, the girls come to ask Haymitch if they can go to dance. He asks Effie if she can go with them, and she accepts. Only too happy to have a break. Once on the dance floor, she can see the two men walking away, talking. But she can't see their faces or hear them.
She stops paying attention to them, turning back to the two little girls under her watch. She teaches them a few dance move and ends up dancing with Prim in her arms.
"You're the best adult!" the little girl laughs in her arms. "After Haymitch." she adds, sucking on her thumb. Sign, she had learned, that she was getting tired.
She takes her out of the dance floor and away from the loud music, and Katniss follows them. She comes to sit beside her on a bench.
"Thank you for the costume. It's the best I ever had." she says very seriously, before hesitantly leaning toward her. Effie doesn't hesitate when she takes the girl in her arms and holds her tight. She feels silly when she realize that Katniss's words had made tears pool in her eyes, and she quickly swallows them back. This night is everything but what she expected. She's on edge and she absolutely hates that, she can't enjoy her time like she wanted to.
She is asking Katniss about her friends, especially about a certain boy named Peeta, when Haymitch comes back from his little aparte with Chaff.
"Come on girls, you're going to have a sleepover at Aunt Seeder tonight!" he tells them, pointing behind him at Chaff, waiting for them with thresh and Rue next to his truck.
They jump at his neck to kiss him goodnight, say goodbye to Effie, and run to the truck. Chaff waves them goodbye and they watch them leave until they disappear at the last turn they can see from the sidewalk.
As she cannot see Portia or Cinna anymore, it means that it's only the two of them now.
She had been waiting for this moment all day, and now she is stressed. Not knowing what she should or shouldn't do. Afraid of doing too much or not enough.
Chaff's word were waltzing in her head and it was making her crazy.
"You okay sweetheart?" she hears Haymitch ask from behind her. That only then she realize she had not moved from her spot on the pavement. Her arms still crossed in front of her chest and her eyes still fixed on the edge of the road.
"Yes, perfect. Sorry." she smile, walking at his side back to the party. They do not talk but she feels his hand brushing her a few times, hesitant. She decides to be the bold one again and entwines their fingers. He doesn't push her, but he puts her hand with his in his pocket. To hide it, the pessimistic option, or to keep it warm, the optimistic one. Either way, she is now pressed against his side.
She is surprised but happy that he accepts such a display of affection in the middle of the crowd.
"So, how do you know Chaff?" she asks after clearing her throat. She hopes her discomfort isn't too obvious but she has more and more difficulties to hide it.
"I always knew him, but we weren't friends when we were young." He begins, but he stops for a while, looking for words. "But when I came back from the city he… he has been a big help. He's been a pillar in my life since." It was more than she had hoped for and yet less than what she wanted.
"You lived in the City?" he waves the question away.
"Not for long..." She understands that she doesn't want to push the subject.
"And you? Why did you come here?" he asks. She wonders if it's him who wants to know or if Chaff got in his head too.
"Oh! Well… Like I said, I have been here before, and I kind of fell in love with place." she answers, looking around her with nostalgia. "And with your coffee." she adds with a wink. "And when I had to leave New York, it seemed obvious to me I would come here."
"You 'had' to leave New York?"
She had not meant to say it like that….
"Yeah, well… I had a difficult breakup. I needed fresh air and a fresh start." She doesn't even want to brush the real reason that forced her to leave the City. She isn't near ready for that yet. She knows that if she wants to progress with Haymitch she will have to one day but she can't even fathom it yet.
"And so, you bought a whole building here to start your business?" he asks with a hint of what she had felt with Chaff, disgust, hiding behind a some admiration.
But she'd rather have him disgusted at her for that….
"With Portia. I had some... saving and she completed with hers. We worked hard for this." she states more coldly than she intended.
She refuses to be ashamed of what she did. For the first in her life she feels proud of herself and she won't let Chaff ruin that and her date night.
He seems surprised, she doesn't know by what part in particular. Certainly the 'working hard' one. He could certainly not have imagined a Princess could work.
He must feel the shift in the mood because he tightens his hold on her hand and changes the subject.
"So, a hard breakup uh? Who was he? What did he look like?" He takes an annoyed tone on purpose, acting jealous to make her laugh. And he succeeds.
She decides to play the game, hoping they would get back to the romantic mood they had begun the night with. She waits until they reach an isolated corner, and leans against the truck of a tree.
"He was a successful businessman, working with my father. Also a childhood friend." she enumerates. "And he was really handsome and charming." she says insolently,
"Oh yeah?..." he smirks, daring her to continue her praises.
"Yes." she laughs. "He had short black hair and a perfectly groomed beard." She says, passing her hand in his hair and cupping his stubble covered cheek. "Neat suits and coats." she adds, letting her hand glide on his jacket and taking the lapels of his shirt. "Green eyes and… soft lips..." she finishes, kissing him to soften the blow.
He relaxes under her touch and sighs in the kiss, and she only then realizes how uncomfortable and tensed he had been during her little game. Really jealous or insecure, she couldn't say. But one thing was sure, he didn't like being compared to her picture of the perfect prince charming.
"I think I'm beginning to grow a taste for the country style." she says against his chin when they break for air.
He laughs a little before capturing her lips in an other hungry kiss. Their hands begin to roam and caress and they are dangerously skidding toward a heavy public making out session.
"Maybe we should relocate this... My place?" he manages to croak between to kisses.
She nods and follows him to the back door of the diner. It's only a few feet away, but not kissing him for those few seconds feel like an eternity.
As soon as the door is closed, he pins her to it and kisses her again.
They climb the stairs kissing, touching and getting rid of their outdoor clothes and shoes.
She pushes him on the couch and straddles him. They just kiss and touch for a while, mapping each other's body, enjoying the discovery. Then he brings her closer to his chest and she can feel his hard member poking at her thigh. His mouth travel on her neck and his hand goes up to cup her breast.
She loses control when he bites on her pulse point, letting a moan escape her throat, and she begins to rub herself against his hardness through their clothes.
He releases the skin of her throat and kisses her again, growling in her mouth as she moves.
"Damn you know what you're doing…" he pants, drawing back to look at her.
She freezes.
She had been on edge all evening, and this is the last straw. The words that shouldn't have been pronounced.
All desire desert her. Replaced by more than unpleasant memories and terrible words echoing in her mind.
She knows he ignores everything, that he didn't mean what she thinks. But she cannot help it. The shame, the terror…
She jumps on her feet, feeling ridicule in her fairy costumes and her gold painted face. She hugs herself, trying to prevent the tears in her eyes from spilling on her cheeks. He watches her, puzzled, his pupils still dilated by lust.
She stammers some excuse she doesn't understand herself and storms out before he has time to react. She takes her things on the floor and runs out, her coat thrown on her shoulders and her shoes in her hand, not looking behind her.
Once in her apartment, she bursts into tears and lets her panic attack flow over her. Portia isn't home so there is no one to hear her cry. It doesn't help the culpability she feels at what she's just done. She ruined all her chances with Haymitch and broke his heart like she had sworn she wouldn't.
She cries at the wave of fear creeping in her at the thought of him discovering what she had done. Knowing that he would never let her near the girls ever again.
She cries as how she has just broken her own heart.
xXx
And that's it with this chapter! I hope you liked it!
Leave me feedback, I love feedback! They're like fuel to me! ;)
See you next Thursday! xxx