Chapter Twenty-Seven; Close Calls

(Haymitch's POV)

The whole way up in the lift Haymitch had an arm secured around Stephanie's waist. He had half-expected her to faint right there in his arms but Stephanie seemed to calm herself down, though she still remained deathly pale.

As the lift doors opened they both stepped out into the dimmed hallway and the sound of lively chatter drifted to them. It seemed to be coming from the main room.

Haymitch groaned as he remembered that Isa, Ficen, Alba and the rest of the stylists were currently gathered in the main room awaiting Frenkin and Stephanie's return, to discuss how the dinners went and plans for tomorrow. Frenkin had arrived some time ago and it seemed that all had gone well for him. Haymitch was happy for the kid as Frenkin stood, blushing under the praise he was receiving from all gathered.

Haymitch had waited patiently, expecting Stephanie to arrive soon. Haymitch couldn't deny that he was eager to see her again. She had looked pretty beautiful in her dress.

However the longer he waited, the more apprehensive he felt. What was taking her so long? He had watched from the window for the car to pull up. The glass of alcohol went untouched in his hand. He didn't want to feel numb now and besides it felt as if no amount of alcohol would quell the rage building up in him. If Dess had harmed Stephanie in any way…! Finally he had used everyone else's distraction with Frenkin to escape for 'some air.'

He was pulled back to the current situation as Stephanie glanced at him with a panicked expression.

Haymitch turned to her and took her by the upper arms gently so that she would face him. However Stephanie flinched and he released her with a puzzled expression and with a trace of what he couldn't deny, hurt, dealing him a swift blow.

"It is only Isa, Ficen and the other stylists," Haymitch said just above a whisper.

Stephanie seemed to be contemplating this information as she hugged her arms about her torso, her gaze averting him. Something that Haymitch was quick to notice.

"Go on to your room, I will tell them that you are exhausted," Haymitch said, reaching out to gently take her elbow to direct her to her room.

But Stephanie jerked away from him, shaking her head vehemently. Haymitch's fingers curled closed around empty air. He ignored the hurt he felt and instead looked to her questioningly.

Stephanie was still avoiding his gaze however. "Isa may be easily fooled but Ficen I know for sure, and perhaps some of the others will most definitely not, nor would they accept such an excuse," Stephanie replied.

There was a lull in the conversation down the hall as the occupants of the room no doubt heard Stephanie's voice.

Haymitch felt anger hiss through his veins for a moment. Why am I being treated so coldly?! Haymitch thoughts raged.

However the brewing anger quickly froze over as his thoughts halted at a conclusion.

Stephanie started forward. Haymitch grabbed her wrist, wincing internally when she immediately resisted, trying to tug free of his hold.

He sought out her eyes.

"What did he do to you?" Haymitch asked, his other hand cupping her cheek so she couldn't turn her head away from him.

Stephanie's eyes widened in complete horror, and tears began to mist over her golden eyes that Haymitch had grown to care about so much. He felt his heart constrict at the thought that something had happened to Stephanie and he didn't protect her.

"What did Dess do to you?" Haymitch asked, his voice almost pleading.

Confusion filled Stephanie's face for a moment, stilling her tears.

"They have to be up by now, the car has gone already!" Light flooded the hallway accompanied by the impatient and irritated tone of Ficen.

Stephanie abruptly moved away from Haymitch as Ficen glared down at them.

Ficen eyed them suspiciously for a few moments as her eyes took in a pale Stephanie and a vexed Haymitch, who now stood awkwardly beside one another.

Haymitch broke the tense air. "The shoes," he explained casually, gesturing to Stephanie.

Ficen didn't reply immediately, just turned her scrutinizing gaze on Stephanie though doubt began to filter across Ficen's face.

"Ugh! I haven't the time for this. She will never learn to walk gracefully," Ficen said and turned on her heel sharply to go back into the room and announce that they had arrived.

…

(Stephanie's POV)

Stephanie immediately followed Ficen, her heart beating wildly and almost painfully against her ribcage.

Pasting on a smile Stephanie stepped into the bright room, frowning slightly as her eyes adjusted to the lights.

Immediately Isa looped arms with hers, pressing a glass of something fizzing into Stephanie's hand.

"Now pet – tell us everything and do not spare one detail!" Isa demanded excitedly.

Stephanie suppressed the grimace, scouring her brain for anything.

"The restaurant was very pretty…there were a lot of white roses." Yes, Stephanie thought. That's a safe thing to say.

Stephanie chanced a glance at Haymitch only to find his eyes trained on her. She immediately dropped her gaze, grateful as Isa and Lashes had launched into a discussion on roses and which were the best, etcetera.

"President Snow has wonderful roses," Lashes said.

"Yes and Seneca Crane I hear has some wonderful gardens too," Isa added.

Stephanie tried to control her reactions as Seneca's name crashed through her calmness. She already had had a close call when she thought that Haymitch had somehow knew what had happened. Only that he went on to mention Dess, Stephanie was ready to break down in his arms.

Isa broke through her thoughts. "What was Dess like?" she inquired.

Stephanie faltered for a moment. After Seneca had left she had barely paid any attention to Dess. Stephanie could practically feel Haymitch's gaze burning into her. If only you knew Haymitch, Stephanie thought.

"A perfect gentleman," Stephanie answered.

This sparked another ripple of exchanged comments among the stylists and Isa on how nice it was to find a gentleman.

Stephanie nearly screamed when she felt someone touch her hand. She looked down into Frenkin's wide, blue eyes that were filled with concern. Clearly I am not being as persuasive as I thought, and with that Stephanie glanced about the room panicked…and sure enough Ficen's dubious gaze was watching her closely.

Stephanie smiled widely, placing a chaste kiss on Frenkin's forehead before wrapping her arms around him in an attempt to mask her emotions that were slowly spiralling out of control.

Isa seeing the encounter went on to tell Stephanie how well Frenkin had done. Stephanie ruffled his hair affectionately as Frenkin flushed scarlet.

What if Seneca plans to have my family punished? Stephanie's mind was in turmoil. Her legs began to feel shaky.

"What was the food like?" one of Frenkin's stylists leaned in eagerly. The stylist seemed so normal in comparison to Capitol standards.

"Wonderful. I tasted soufflé," Stephanie replied, remembering the name from the menu.

The stylists began to offer up their opinions on the food.

Stephanie's throat was dry. Ficen had moved and was fast approaching Haymitch.

Haymitch was still looking at her with a mixture of emotions on his face; anger, hurt and pleading. He was drinking generously from a bottle of vodka.

Stephanie couldn't help the yelp of distress that escaped her as Frenkin took her hand in his. However it went unnoticed by most as they were still talking about the food.

Haymitch started forward and Stephanie shot him a warning look but there was no need for Ficen had reached him.

The lights in the room were beginning to hurt Stephanie's eyes and a dull throb was beginning in her head. Had the room always been this bright?

She felt a small sense of comfort from the steady presence of Frenkin beside her and her cold hand held tightly in his warm one.

"Did Dess like your dress?" The question came somewhere from Stephanie's right.

"Yes. He commented numerous times that it was beautiful," Stephanie answered.

Stephanie glanced wildly over at Haymitch and Ficen who seemed to be in deep conversation.

I can't tell Haymitch about Seneca, Stephanie thought frantically.

She caught Haymitch's eye for a moment. His eyes were wide, almost shocked. Ficen walked away, leaving the room, her face tight and drawn.

Stephanie felt dizzy. It was as if clammy hands were pawing at her as her stomach twisted.

"Was Dess waiting when you arrived? Did he pull out your chair?" The questions were being fired at Stephanie from all directions. She had barely time to answer one before another was asked.

"Yes he was waiting when I arrived, yes he did," Stephanie answered meekly.

"You had a very long dinner," one of the stylists commented before breaking into giggles with her friend.

Stephanie nearly missed the comment as Haymitch was approaching her.

"The restaurant you went to is only ten minutes away, so that means you were at dinner for nearly four hours!" The faces around Stephanie began to become blurry.

Stephanie merely nodded with a weak smile.

"Are you are alright pet?" Isa's voice drifted to her somewhere from her right.

Stephanie staggered back a few steps until she felt familiar arms holding her upright, supporting her like they had been from the very start.

No! We can't be like this anymore. Seneca knows now – He saw from the car! He will harm Haymitch; I have to stop this now! Stephanie thought desperately as she tried to struggle from Haymitch's arms.

She tried to stand upright on her own as Haymitch's words sounded somewhere from behind her. She could feel his breath. "She's just exhausted, that's all,"

Frenkin's hand slipped from hers. Stephanie tried desperately to claw her way back to consciousness but her sight was fast blurring as if a veil was being pulled across her vision.

…

(Haymitch's POV)

Stephanie slumped in Haymitch's arms to the distressed cries and yelps of the stylists and Isa and even Frenkin.

Haymitch reassured them briskly that Stephanie was just tired, scooping Stephanie up into his arms, trying to ignore the clawing at his own heart and appear objective.

Haymitch left the room making swiftly for Stephanie's bedroom.

He heard a soft moan and looked down to see that Stephanie was regaining consciousness. He breathed a sigh of relief – she had just fainted after all, but his apprehension still stayed.

Haymitch immediately felt her stiffen as she looked up at him.

"What did Ficen say to you?" she asked, her eyes trembling.

"She said that Dess was on Capitol News at 5 today live. He was on his way to the restaurant and he was saying how he couldn't wait to have dinner with you," Haymitch replied quietly, eyes hard.

Haymitch stopped to let her down when Stephanie had made it clear her wish was to walk.

Stephanie sagged against the nearest wall, barely feeling strong enough to stand upright as she looked at him perplexed. "I don't understand," she remarked, meeting Haymitch's eyes as he stood across the darkened hall from her.

"You arrived at the restaurant at 4."

…

(Stephanie's POV)

Stephanie immediately blanched as she realised the implication of Haymitch's words. When that idiotic Dess had given his interview she had already been at the restaurant having dinner with Seneca. Haymitch might not have known the particulars but he was smart enough to recognise that there was an unexplained hour in her story.

And then what of Ficen? What did she know? What conclusion had she come to - surely she could not have guessed the entirety of all that had happened.

Stephanie glanced up at Haymitch and her heart wrenched painfully when she seen his grey eyes that seemed to be so full of hurt and …betrayal?

She hadn't betrayed Haymitch by not telling him about Seneca – had she? Stephanie's thoughts were muddled and confused, her head was hurting.

Stephanie tried to swallow the tears. It was better this way she told herself. Seneca would only destroy them anyway for revenge on Haymitch or for her own bold words.

It's better this way…no will get hurt, Stephanie reiterated firmly in her head, even as her heart ached.