So here it is! The final chapter! Really hope you like it guys! It's all for you...and a little bit for me ;) oh and maybe some to the love of *hayffie* xx
She wouldn't go she wouldn't go she would not go!
Effie sat slumped at her vanity desk she couldn't even look at her self in the mirror any more. Her wig, yellow, pin curled and prissy rested back on her head. It felt strange, like a foreign item.
She had planned to busy herself today, she had a stack of paperwork to deal with. Phone calls to make, check lists, things to sign, sponsors to thank. All for her wonderful victors.
Her heart sank
Katniss and Peeta.
She never said goodbye, she wouldn't be with them on the long journey home or waving them off at the end. She wouldn't be visiting for a while and It wasn't fair on them.
But she just couldn't face Haymitch. It hurt too much. It would hurt even more waving goodbye to him too.
She shook thoughts of him from her mind and set to work.
Later on...
Haymitch stood on the platform, the final whistle was about to blow.
'Whats he doing?' Katniss asked. She and Peeta where already on board and sat in the lounging cart peering at Haymitch through the window.
'He's hoping' sighed Peeta
'For what? The sky to open and to rain down whiskey all over him?' She chuckled but Peeta did not.
'Cmon Kat, give him a break. He's upset that Effie decided not to come today'
'Oh...ah...really?!'
Peeta turned to her
'He asked her to come live in 12, with him. I think she hoped that he would stay here instead. Can't imagine Effie slumming it in 12 with the likes of us or even Haymitch living her glamorous life style either, I think they argued and she refused to make the journey with us'
Katniss was about to speak but the final call whistle blew. They watched as Haymitch made his way onto the train. The hurt expression was saddening.
'Peeta, I'll be back soon ok!'
'Where you going? Haymitch will probably come sit with us soon'
'Ah...I need to...ah. Cramps! I have cramps! Girl stuff ya know, I'll be in my en-suite' she smiled at Peetas cringe face and punched his arm. 'Stop being such a girl Peeta!'
She made her way out of the lounge cart, down past the kitchen, then the dining cart, she passed her room, then an empty one that was made for an escort. She passed Peetas room then Haymitchs and then down another two corridors until she came to the Avox cart. The first two rooms were occupied by two female avox's she got to the third room, knocked once and entered.
'Hi, only me. Can we talk?'
Effie looked up from her suitcase and smiled
'Of course dear, come in'
Peeta and Haymitch had sat in silence for the past 10 minutes. All the while Haymitch had been eying up the whiskey cabinet.
He went to stand but Peeta took his arm and guided him back to the couch
'Dont do it Haymitch. It's not worth it, your doing so well'
Haymitch sighed
'She was worth it. Now SHE ain't here!'
he stood again, pulling himself from from Peetas grasp and making it to the cabinet. He took out the biggest bottle and no glass. Seating himself away from Peeta he said 'cheers' and put his feet up.
'Its not the answer Haymitch!'
'Nope, but it definately blocks the questions'
Meanwhile...
'Its ok, he thinks you never came. I won't say anything. I'm just glad you did'
Katniss patted Effie's hand. Effie had snook onto the train before the crowds had diverted. A large fur coat pulled up to her chin had made a suitable disguise as she had dodged Haymitchs eyes.
'Thanks Katniss. I couldn't not see off my wonderful victors. I'll let you tell Peeta later on in our journey. I'd like to see him before we arrive at 12, it'll be chaos'
'Well...when your ready I'll let him know that your here'
Effie took ahold of Katniss's hand suddenly
'He won't tell Haymitch will he? He can't know that I'm here. I won't see him'
Tears began to form in her eyes again
'Hey, hey, shhh don't get upset. I trust Peeta. He won't tell Haymitch. Not if you don't want him to. He cares for you you know?'
Effie calmed and smiled
'He's such a sweet boy. He'll take good care of you back in 12'
'Yes I know I'm very lucky'
They sat in silence for a minute. Before Katniss continued.
'He stood on that platform until the last whistle you know? You can't just hide in here for the full journey'
'Yes Katniss, I can. I'll be fine'
Katniss pulled her into a hug. Effie stiffened at first. Non of her friends ever hugged her. She suddenly felt very special.
'Ill see that the avox's bring you dinner ok?'
Effie smiled and nodded as Katniss left
It was going to be along and lonely journey. Perfect to get all her work done though.
The day the train pulled into 12 was incredible. Familiar faces and never seen before faces had all gathered around the station with flags and banners, celebrating their return home to 12. Katniss ran to her family and Peeta eventually saw his. He was worried at first but as soon as he saw the tears in his mothers eyes and a sorry smile on her face the natural love for his family came flooding back. He felt so lucky.
He saw Haymitch stood alone, still on the platform still lost in lost hope. But it wasn't lost. He called out to him. What did he have to lose?
'Haymitch! Haymitch! She's on the train!'
Haymitch followed the sound of Peetas calls and suddenly the departure whistle blew.
'Haymitch! She's on the train! In the Avox suite! She's been there the whole time! I'm sorry I didn't tell you I sorr-' Peeta was pulled into a hug by some of the district folk
In a panicked flurry Haymitch ran to the Avox suite cart, the train had set off and was moving slowly along the track
He caught up to the cart and banged it with his elbow
'Effie! Effie!'
He stumbled but got back up as fast as his body could and continued the chase
'EFFIE!'
A window to the Avox suite cart opened and she stuck her head out. Her wig blew off almost immediately but she made no attempt to grab for it she just watched, saddened as Haymitch fought to keep up with the moving train, her pearl pink natural curls whisping about her face in delicate tendrils.
'Why Effie?' He yelled, now breathless.
'I came for them Haymitch'
He couldn't see that she was crying
'Effie won't be coming back Haymitch'
Why was she speaking in third person, he was confused
'What?!' He could barely hear her now
'My letter! Read it! Katniss has it! I'm sorry! Goodbye Haymitch. Goodbye!'
It's the last thing he heard from her lips again 'goodbye' he stopped running and watched as the train disappeared into the distance, he waited until he could no longer see the pink curls blowing in the wind before falling to his knees in breathless defeat.
'Katniss...'
A week had gone by, then two then before she knew it a whole 3 months.
She had exhausted herself with meetings and parties thrown by sponsors, shopping and dining. It was a Sunday. She planned to meet her good friend Lola for coffee at their usual swanky place in the center of the Capitol.
Before she left her apartment she caught her reflection in the mirror. She looked colourful but tired. The parties and drinking and dancing had taken it's toll on her in the past few months, Change would be a good thing. she rolled her eyes and pulled the extravagant wig from her head. It itched today and she was in no mood for it. She ran a comb through her locks quickly, they had grown quite abit in a few months, her hair was now more of a faded champagne colour and her curls had turned to waves that hung nicely down past her shoulder blades.
Understated yet surprisingly, she found it made her look younger. She tried a smile but it didn't reach her eyes and left to meet her friend.
At the coffee place she sat and waited, it wasn't long before Lola arrived. Her dress was a garish merlot and fuchsia pink, with white stockings and a white heavily curled wig to match, it almost made Effie squint.
'Lola! Over here!'
Lola looked over. Her smile fading suddenly as she slid her oversized sunglasses off her nose to get a better look
'Oh, Effie...darling...are you ill?'
Effie tried not to pull a face
'No I'm perfectly well thank you Lola, nice to see you too!'
Lola sat, not taking her concerned eyes off Effie once.
'Darling, your hair! It's...well it's on show!' She was looking about the crowd now whispering like she was almost embarrassed 'Effie, dearest! Your wig! You've misplaced it! And your face? It's positively bare!'
Effie had to laugh at her ridiculous friend
'Lola I haven't misplaced anything, I'm...well, I guess I'm trying a new look. Don't you like it? It's more natural don't you think?'
She was met with silence 'I'm still Effie you know!'
'Lets get you a coffee' smiled Lola but the smile didn't meet her eyes.
Effie felt uncomfortable the whole afternoon, her 'friend' would barely look in her direction, would laugh at her stories and jokes but then look over her shoulder to see who might be watching them. It was getting on Effie's nerves.
'So Effie, where have you been anyhow, collecting these crazy ideas for new trends!we barely see you anymore'
'Well, actually...I've been studying!'
Lola looked like she'd just been vomited on my a districtee
'Studying? You mean like, reading god awful long books?'
'Yes! Before I became an escort I practiced as a nurse, I'm thinking of getting back into it, you know, between the games I have little to do but socialise and shop and quite frankly I'm tired of it. I need something to do!'
Lola grabbed Effie's hand
'Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?! Are you mad Effie? A nurse? Do you know how many diseases there are out there nowadays? What you could catch?! Your willing to give up your fabulous lifestyle to potter to and from different districts being spat and bled on?!'
She made it sound so glamorous! But truth be told, seeing the disgust in Lola's eyes made Effie more determined. After all, it was always Effie's nature to go above and beyond all overs in her social circle and when she led, others usually did follow which was more of a curse than a gift. She didn't want to be followed anymore. She wanted to follow a new path, a familiar one but a new one. Lola's frosty nature angered Effie so she made her excuses.
'Well Lola, this has been fun but I have A LOT of work to catch up on, we should do this again soon?' But her friend didn't answer that, she just smiled and said
'Lovely to see you Eff!'
Saddened. Effie tried one more time to reach out to her friend. She opened her arms.
'Effie what are you doing? People are staring at you... At us!'
'Lola, your my friend, I'm giving you a hug! Who cares who sees'
But Lola stepped back and laughed
'a hug? Oh Effie! You know we don't do that sort of thing here, especially in public! My my, folk will think we've been raised in a district!' She laughed again and chirped on 'lovely to see you darling! Call me...ah...maybe in a few weeks? I'm awfully busy, you know how it is! We can head down town, do a little shopping and get you some new wigs yes?' She smiled bright and replaced her sunglasses 'Ciao dear ciao!' And with that Lola left Effie standing there, alone and wigless with her arms open wide.
'Still not opened it huh?' Katniss said bitterly as she picked up yet another whiskey bottle from the floor of Haymitchs home. He sat quietly next to the fire. Effie's letter placed on his mantle un opened and gathering dust.
'Cant' that was all he ever said. Can't, won't, don't. Katniss was fed up of it. She was fed up with him!
'You don't even wanna know her reason for writing it?'
'Its just
a fancier way of saying your scum, I'm a princess, goodbye forever blah blah blah'
Haymitch took a sip of his whiskey.
'Fine! I'll read it to you!' Katniss grabbed the letter.
'Dont you dare!' He went to take it from her but fell to the ground in his drunken stupor. Katniss ripped it open and began to read.
"Dear Haymitch,
I may as well start with being honest. I never told you this but I have been in love with you since my first day as an escort."
Katniss paused. But Haymitch nodded for her to continue.
" I remember that I tripped and fell during my first reaping, do you remember too?"
Haymitch let out a laugh. 'Do I remember? Jesus of course I do! She had the most ridiculous pair of heels on I've ever seen, she didn't stand a chance on those steps...continue'
"The crowd were hysterical, I felt like the biggest fool until a strong hand helped me up and whispered in my ear 'let them laugh now, your about to ruin some of their lives, but they will thank you for abit of laughter before the tears come'
Oh Haymitch it made me feel so strong. So aware of who I was and what I was doing and it made me wiser. Wise to what I'd actually signed up for, wise to the districtees feelings, You made me wise to all of it. For that, I will always be greatful and I've loved you everyday since.
Over the years, wanting to be the best, look my best, it was mostly for you. How I longed for your acceptance, your heart. But slowly and surely I got swallowed into the Capitol world and all it's glamour and I lost sight of myself, along with that I lost you.
It was only the other day, at the party, when we danced, that I knew. No matter how far apart we grow each year my feelings have never changed. Just been burried I guess. I burry them behind my mask as you burry yourself behind your whiskey.
Then you said you quit, the drink I mean. It opened to eyes Haymitch. You opened my eyes again to the notion that people can change, we could change...I could change. It was like a second chance.
That evening, when I left you on the rooftop I dug out my old nursing books. Yes, before I became your escort I practiced as a nurse. You won't remember but I was there, training, when you came out of the games. I was only a young girl but my uncle was your doctor and he used to let me follow him around. That's when I first met you. I didn't love you then, I don think, I was young and you scared me but I was drawn to you. I was so curious and in awe of you, I wanted to be apart of your world so...well...you can guess the rest. I became Effie Trinket, darling of the Capitol, escort to district 12, your district. It was no coincidence."
Katniss stopped reading, Haymitch was now sat in his chair, his bottle placed beside him on the floor and his head in his hands
'Im gonna leave this on the arm of your chair Haymitch, I think you should read the rest yourself, in private'
She walked away and left. It took Haymitch a second to stop shaking. He picked up the letter and carried on.
"What you said to me this morning, that I didn't belong with you or in your world, I want to say you were wrong. I was born into your world, I left it to follow a dream that I thought would bring me closer to you. Don't you understand? Everything I have ever done was to bring myself closer to you. I just wish I could of had the courage to tell you.
But I'm telling you now. I'm only going to come back as an escort during the games, I owe that to my victors, I want to be there for them when they mentor but other than that, my escort duties during the rest of the time are done, I'm going to back to Nursing, as soon as I'm qualified enough I will leave my escort duties completely.
And lastly Haymitch. I'm never coming back to 12. Well what I mean is I'm never coming back as the girl you all know. 3 months from now I will be at your door, I will be changed, finally, back to the real Effie, And I am going to give you one last chance to prove your worth.
So I'm asking you now, to change too, for me. Haymitch Abernathy, you owe me a sober dance, so, put that god damned whiskey bottle down and at midnight on the 31st day of the 3rd month that we have been parted, I will be there, at your door. Asking you to change.
Goodbye Haymitch and see you soon,
Yours forever
Ef x"
Haymitch bolted out of his chair, the Callander said 31, the clock said midnight!
'Thank YOUUUU Katniss!' God he was glad she kept his calendar up to date.
Quickly he grabbed his remaining bottle of whiskey and poured it down the drain, he sniffed his shirt. Not too bad, he headed for the door.
On opening he was met with darkness. A few low street lamps that glowed angel white in the falling snow. He placed his boots on each foot and went out. There was silence. Only the sound of the chilled breeze and the sight of heavy snow flakes.
But he believed, he knew he just knew she was here, he could feel her. He closed his eyes and stood in the cold. Waiting for any sign, any sound, anything.
Then there were foot steps.
Gentle and slow. Crunching the snow beneath them. He kept his eyes closed. He was scared he was dreaming it was only when her small, warm hands gently cupped his face that his tear stained eyes dared to open
'You came back'
'Yes...Youve been drinking'
'Yes...but...Im ready, Ef. I'll do whatever it takes'
'Well then, let's get out of this snow so I can hold you without getting frostbite, I took a god damned craft to get here quicker'
'Well then sweetheart, let's get you warm and make us some changes'
And then
Like the sweetest dream on the coldest night. They kissed in the snow, under blue moonlight.
Now safe in her heart is his fleeting chance as is his promise to honour her with their sober wedding dance.
The End x
Authors note: *i racked my brain trying to give this story the sweetest and most satisfying ending but without being too predictable! I hope I delivered! It's always so hard to finish a story I love so much and to make everyone happy! But I ended on a little poem so what could be sweeter! Thanks again for your reviews and follows on this story. Have enjoyed writing it and reading and writing what you think! And keep writing your stories too! Lots of love Ef x