A/N: Heyy guys :) Sorry this chapter is a little late; I've been putting up my Christmas decorations all weekend! Anyway though, here is chapter 7 :) I think you guys will like it ;)
I am stood admiring the spectacular displays of food on offer when I feel a powerful pull on my arm. I whip my head around risking my wig shifting slightly, it's Haymitch. Of course it is.
"What on earth do you think you're doing?" I hiss over the music, yanking my arm free.
"I need you to dance with me. Right now." He replies leading me over to the dance floor that is now crowded with people. "You could've just asked me nicely you know, it's really very ru-" I begin but he cuts me off.
"Not my biggest concern right now, princess." He says putting one hand in mine and the other round my waist all the time scanning the room for something unknown to me. His eyes stop dead at some point and he looks back down at me so I guess he found what he's looking for. "What is it?" I ask attempting to look over his shoulder discreetly and failing miserably.
He spins us round so I am now facing the direction he was a moment ago. "The one in the purple dress," He says, his head half hanging, half leaning on my shoulder. I have to stand on my tip toes to see over his shoulder (even in high heels, he is a fair amount taller than me) and eventually I see who he is talking about. A woman who looks to be in her mid-thirties is stood at the top of the marble staircase looking round anxiously, her mint green curls bouncing every time she moves. "What about her?" I turn back to Haymitch who is trying to hide behind me and also failing.
"She's… uh," He makes a noise, trying to think how to word his answer "Let's just say she has a bit of a thing for victors. Me in particular."
"Like a stalker?" I say trying to supress a laugh.
"Yes, like a stalker. She just happens to be wherever I am." This sends me over the edge and into a full blown fit of hysterics. It's the thought of this woman looking at him through binoculars and tapping into his phone calls, well I'm sure she would if he hadn't torn it from the wall. He stands on my foot deliberately and I stop laughing, "why did you do that?"
"Because it's not funny…"
"Well it is, otherwise I wouldn't have been laughing."
"Shut up Eff- Oh God she's coming this way." He looks back down to me and I smirk but he glares at me so I decide now is not a good time to start laughing. My thoughts are interrupted by high pitched squealing and the clatter of high heels across marble. "Haymitch!" The woman squeals as she sort of attempts to run in her ridiculously high heels.
"Ahh, Opal! What a complete and utter surprise to see you here!" Says Haymitch, his voice dripping with sarcasm. She seems to not pick up on it though I'm not sure how, this man's sarcasm is about as subtle as a gun, and continues to beam obliviously. I laugh a little but stop abruptly when I see that Opal is staring daggers at me. "Oh…Effie is it?" She says her smile faltering a little when she realises that I am dancing with Haymitch and she isn't. "Yes, Escort from twelve. Perhaps you've seen me on the television?" I say not knowing how stupid I sound. Of course she's seen you on the television, every damn citizen of Panem has.
It takes her a little while to speak again but she eventually manages to say something. "So are you two…" she starts and Haymitch finishes.
"Together? Yeah." He grins cockily down at me and I shoot him a disapproving look, wondering exactly where this is going to go. Time I had some fun of my own. "Oh well, it's nothing serious. A very open relationship." I say smiling
"Really?!" She makes a jump for Haymitch which he dodges rather well.
"Well I wouldn't call it open sweetheart." He says raising an eyebrow, questioning my judgement but I just smile back sweetly.
"Sweetheart?" She says her face growing hard and tears threatening to spill at any moment.
"I don't want to be with anyone but you." Haymitch elaborates making me smirk.
"Well I'm not sure if I'm ready to make that kind of commi-" I begin but I am cut off by his lips on mine.
I stagger back a little not too sure what to do. My first instinct would be to slap him in the face for having the audacity to take advantage like that without a proper explanation but oddly I can't find myself able to tear away from his lips. Instead, I allow myself to sink deeper into his arms my hand travelling up from his shoulder to his cheek , his stubble tickling slightly while the other is still held in his.
Just as I find myself beginning to enjoy it he pulls away and I become aware of my surroundings again. I drop both my hands to my sides and start to feel a blush creeping on to my cheeks so I quickly turn back to Opal before the heat can reach anywhere else. She has a look of complete repugnance on her face and all the colours on her face are mixing together making a horrific shade of brown. "As I said, not open." Says Haymitch grinning cockily as we position ourselves into the hold of the dance and begin to sway inattentively. She makes a noise between a squeak and cry and turns on her heel before stalking back to the entrance, shoving past several people as she goes.
I exhale and turn back to face Haymitch "she was so scary." I say not much louder than a whisper.
"And bipolar." He adds making me laugh.
We continue to sway to the music almost completely forgetting that we are actually doing it. At some point our eyes meet again and for a moment I think he is going to kiss me, but he doesn't. I kiss him. I pull back almost instantly and bring my finger tips to my mouth. I look back up to him and see that he looks a little confused and shocked to say the least.
"Shit," I say a little louder than anticipated "I-I mean, I'm sorry." And with that I begin to walk away. I weave my way through the dancing couples, though I can hear Haymitch shouting my name from behind me, telling me to come back. I take a flute of champagne from a passing server, downing the whole thing in one surprising myself and her. I replace the glass and head out of one of the french doors and out onto a balcony. The cold air hits me and I grimace but carry on walking slowly to the edge of the balcony.
I prop myself up on my elbows and put my head in my hands. "Stupid girl," I think out loud, pushing my palms against my eyelids making tiny flecks of colour appear. I wish I could just shut out the world and disappear all together. Why did I do it? I shouldn't have kissed him. Maybe I could just avoid him for the rest of the tour, I mean we only tonight then twelve. Meals might be a little awkward but- "You'll catch your death out here y'know." A voice cuts me off mid thought making me jump. I turn my head and see the exact person I didn't want to talk to. Haymitch sighs and comes to stand beside me.
"Why'd you run away?" He asks breaking the silence
"Because I kissed you." I rely a little icily
"Okay…" He pushes
"I kissed you and I shouldn't have – I am just tired and, and stressed and I'm kind of at a point in my life where I just," tears are running down my cheeks and I'm finding it quite challenging to speak "I don't know. And I don't know how to know…" I let the sobs overtake me and make no effort to stop them. Haymitch pulls me into his arms and I lean my head against his chest and wrap my arms around his waist. "I'm sorry." I say not much louder than a whisper, a few tears still falling down my cheeks and onto the fabric of his jacket and shirt. He pulls away and the warmth leaves me again. I look up at his seam grey eyes but before anyone can say anything I avert my gaze down to the floor. Almost immediately his finger catches my chin and I'm gazing hopelessly back into his wonderful grey eyes.
He wipes a stray tear away with his thumb before resting his hand on my cheek. "You look beautiful tonight," he says and I can feel a blush creep onto my face so I look back down at the ground but he catches my gaze again "I mean it." I can't stop the smile playing on my lips and I can't believe that I am being called beautiful by a sober Haymitch Abernathy.
He slips his hand round the small of my back, pulling me a little closer until there is almost no distance between us. He begins to move towards me and instead from moving away I feel my body lean in to him, my face just inches from his. "Uh oh," I say when our lips are just about to meet for the third time this evening. He moves away a little and looks me in the eye but I put my arm around his neck pulling him back again. "Am I about to kiss a man I've hated for five years?"
"I sure as hell hope so." He smiles and leans in to kiss me once more.
I let his lips tangle with mine and his arms wrap strongly around my waist, protectively holding me close to him. My heart is speeding with adrenaline – my mind lost in the arms of the man I am indubitably falling in love with.
A/N: Awww! I'm sorry this chapter is a little short but I kind of wanted to cut to the chase, as it were. I'm sorry if there are some spelling, punctuation and grammar issues but I'm tired and quite frankly, too tired to proof read but anyway, I hope you guys liked it and continue giving feedback etc. Look out for chapter 8!
Much love ~ H x