A/N: Oh my goodness! I'm sooooooooooo sorry! I know it's been ages but I just want you guys to know that I would NEVER ditch this fic, I love you guys too much :) it's just been crazy, we got a new laptop so all the files had to be transferred and yeah… it took a while and then I've had so much homework and also this chapter took me ages to write. But anyway here is the long awaited chapter 4 lol…..
When I wake the next morning, the sun is streaming through the pathetic excuse for curtains. I moan and roll over almost hitting my head on the bedside table; I lift my hand up and tilt the clock so I can see it from where I am lying.
6:27am.
Perfect, I can get up and dressed just in time for breakfast. I unwillingly manage to drag myself from the cosy realms of my bed and meander over to the window. I pull back the curtains, my eyes instantly closing as the bright white sun bathes the whole room in light. I only remember that I am on a train to district 11 when I see the lengths of crop fields passing by the window at a rapid rate. I sit on the edge of my bed just watching the miles of fields, orchards and workers pass, the whole landscape like a patchwork quilt.
Eventually I tear my eyes away from the beautiful landscape and walk over to the closet, opening the doors and seeing the array of dresses – just as bright as district 11. I have quite cleverly selected my outfits to match each district so, for example; a blue and green dress for district 4 and a silver dress for 3. I grab the hanger with the gold and orange dress draped across and then the gold shoes to match.
Once I am dressed and prepared I make my way down to the dining car. To my surprise I see Katniss already sat at the table still wearing her dressing gown but eating a piece of toast looking like she is lost in some deep thought.
"Good morning." I say brightly only to be answered with a mumble. I take a bowlful of fruit and sit opposite Katniss at the mahogany table. "Anymore high heels today?" she says after a few minutes silence between the two of us making me laugh lightly. "Well, I don't know you'll have to ask Cinna," I smile, getting one in return. "However, one thing I do know you're getting today is the full works from your prep team." The look on her face is priceless and she lets out a groan.
"Why? It's too cold for anything to show," She grumbles, tearing off another piece of toast.
"Not in District 11," I say brightly. Katniss looks back over her shoulder at the landscape and seems as lost in it as I was only minutes before.
"Where's everybody else?" She asks when she turns her head back to the table.
"Oh, who knows where Haymitch is," I say. Haymitch. I feel a little flutter in the pit of my stomach but I ignore it and carry on speaking. "Cinna was up late working on organizing your garment car. He must have over a hundred outfits for you. Your evening clothes are exquisite. And Peeta's team is probably still asleep."
"Doesn't he need prepping?" She asks, a hint of jealously in her tone.
"Not the way you do." I reply. After another awkward silence, Cinna enters the car looking understandably tired and tells Katniss that her prep team are also tired but ready for her. She gets up and exits, leaving me alone in the dining car with nothing but the sights of district eleven accompanying the train on its long and tiresome journey. I realise, when he doesn't come, that I have the delightful job of rousing Haymitch from his drunken stupor.
I make my way down the train to Haymitch's room and after knocking a few times, decide that it is probably going to be more productive if I just walk in and hope he is decent. "Haymitch, I'm coming in so you'd better be presentable." I give him a warning through the door, not that he has probably heard it. When I push down on the handle I am met by probably one of the biggest shocks of my life. Haymitch is stood in front of the mirror in a dark navy suit with a matching waistcoat and indigo tie. He has actually got dressed without persuasion and/or shouting.
"I thought I might as well make an effort. After all, I won't be going on another one of these." He says, unsuccessfully tying the tie round his neck. I cross the room and take the tie from round his neck and place it round mine. He watches as I tie it swiftly and efficiently round my own neck and hand it back to him in a perfect knot. "Where'd you learn to do that? I know Capitol fashion is weird but I never imagined women walking round in suits and ties." He says placing it back round his neck and tightening it accordingly.
"No, but I've had my fair share of boyfriends believe it or not." I say matter of factly
"It's hard to." He says smirking and I slap him on the arm lightly though I am smiling myself.
"Right, come on. Victory tours don't organise themselves you know." I say hurrying him along.
"Right, right I'm coming." He says hurriedly and I can't help but think how weird he's acting, especially seen as A. he hates work. B. he hates me and C. he hates mornings.
I brush it off and we end up in one of the smaller cars discussing various elements of the victory tour. The timing, the parties, the outfits, the ceremonies, the dinners. The list is endless and we just about get everything covered before lunch. "Right, I don't know about you princess but my stomachs talking to me." He says patting his belly. I roll my eyes but also feel hungry so we go to lunch early.
Katniss and Peeta are already sat at the table and looking fabulous and shortly we are joined by Cinna and Portia. We all tuck in to the wonderful meal laid out in front of us and talk about anything to pass the time. Weather, outfits, planning and other small talk fill our conversation but I think everyone notices that Katniss is a little quieter than usual so we try to include her as much as possible only to get replies of nods, shrugs or undecipherable muttering.
We are just talking about the wonderful outfits that Cinna and Portia have slaved away on throughout the past few months, when one of the train's staff comes into the room and awkwardly addresses us. "Ladies and gentlemen we will not only be stopping for fuel but a vital part of the engine has malfunctioned and needs to be replaced. The operation won't take too long – approximately one hour and we shall be back on track to arrive in district 11 this afternoon. Thank you." He says and exits just as quickly as he arrived.
Back on track. Back on track?! How can we possibly get 'back on track' if we are already off it. I pull out my schedule and begin scrawling things down. Working out how one hour could affect the entirety of the tour because I can guarantee – it will!
I don't realise I have been thinking out loud until I am brought out of my thoughts by Katniss who speaks for the first time in the entirety of lunch. "No one cares, Effie!" She snaps, a look of complete rage on her face. They don't call her the girl on fire for nothing. "Well, no one does!" she says, and gets up and leaves the dining car.
"Do you want me to go?" Haymitch asks after an awkward silence.
"No, it's alright I'll go." Offers Peeta getting up and following behind.
We spend the rest of the meal in silence, the only sound metal on china. After a while Peeta and Katniss join us again and Katniss apologises graciously, not only to me but to everyone on the table. I accept and thank her for her apology before they leave the car again.
I bustle about for the rest of the afternoon making sure everything is in order for the first stop on the victory tour.
I don't often attend the victory tours in the Capitol, though I am usually invited the party at the presidents mansion I never attend. I have been to one, maybe two victory tours in my life. The 64th, I think, and one that I can remember clear as day. The 50th. After Haymitch had won, I begged for my mother and father to let me go to the square and see him in the flesh. Being only seven, they were reluctant but being the only daughter they couldn't refuse. I remember sitting on my fathers shoulders and looking out above the crowds of the Capitol and onto the paved avenue that he was about to come down any minute. The crowd cheered and he came into sight. I thought at the time how different he looked when he wasn't in an arena fighting for his life. I waved manically almost wetting myself from excitement, grinning from ear to ear when he looked me in the eye and waved back. It was then really that I knew what I wanted to be. I wanted to work as an escort for district 12. I wanted to work with him, the handsome young victor.
I thought it would be fun at the time, being one of the faces of the games especially while I was dating Seneca Crane through high school. But hell, how wrong I was. I remember the first time I lost both my tributes, Thalia and Talon, in the bloodbath and I cried for hours on end. Each year it has become harder to watch but now I have not only one, but two victors and I couldn't be prouder of them.
It is not until I look at the look at the clock that I realise I have whittled away almost the whole afternoon. I get Katniss and Peeta together in one of the compartments and go through the schedule of the day.
I see the sight I have been waiting almost all day to see. The station. I allow myself to breathe a sigh of relief as we gather near one of the doors which will soon open onto the streets of district 11. I have never been here before but Haymitch has, so I look over to him and see the sadness in his eyes. I look away before he sees me staring but he catches my gaze anyway so I offer him a sympathetic smile before we are bustled out of the train and into the balmy, summer like air of district 11.
A/N: Phew! Lol we finally got there haha. Again, 1000 apologies and thank you's for all your amazing feedback and reviews! I promise I will try to update more frequently. I can't help but feel this chapter is a little rushed so I'm sorry if you see it that way but thank you anyway and continue to review etc.
Love you all ~H x