A/N: Hello, my lovelies. I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season. And as per usual, thank you everyone for reading + reviewing :)

Vacationing Indefinitely

We left the bathroom holding hands and grinning. Everything felt much better and the taste of filth had disappeared. Venia lounged in the parlor, casting us a sly glance upon our arrival.

"Your clothes are in the dryer. I will bring them to you when they finish," she spoke.

"Thank you very much," I smiled.

The clock in the parlor read late evening. A pang of nervousness shot through me. I had not yet called my parents. It must have been days since the Reaping. I bolted to my feet.

"I need to use the phone!" I squeaked hysterically to Seneca.

He gestured toward the landline, which sat on the wall. I rushed over, pulled the phone off the receiver, and frantically punched in the numbers. The dial tone rang twice before mother picked up.

"Hello?" her voice sounded distant.

"Mother," I spoke into the mouthpiece.

"Effie Trinket. Where have you been?" she hollered in my ear.

"Mother, I am so sorry. I ran into a bit of trouble and ended up at Seneca's home. He and his sister have been looking after me," I explained quickly.

I did not want her knowing about any part of my escapade, least of all my drunken caper. The line was silent for a few moments. I imagined mother holding one hand over the receiver, telling father that things were all right. Finally, she spoke again.

"How rude of you to not call us. Now you and your brother had best get home this instant. Your father and I have been worried sick. Neither of you has made any attempt to contact us."

"What?" I spoke, only hearing the first part of her spiel.

"Further, you missed the Reaping entirely and made seem unfit as parents. We had to lie and say you were out at a friend's house. Well, now I find out that you actually were. However, that is beside the point."

"No, mother. What did you say about Alfie?" I ask.

"Put him on, I should just as well give him an earful. He was so disrespectful to your father, leaving like that."

"Mother, he is not with me," I spoke calmly.

The line fell silent again. Moments passed and I began to feel anxious. After what seemed like an eternity, she got back onto the line.

"Well, where is he?"

"I have no idea. He has not shown up to Seneca's. Have you tried his girlfriend's house?" I asked thinking of places he may be.

"No. He broke it off with her a few days ago. Didn't you know that?" her patronizing voice wounded me.

For people as close as Alfie and I, I knew nothing of his solitude. I assumed that things were going fine between him and his partner. Then again, mother was the gossip queen of the Capitol.

"I guess not. And he has not contacted you?" I asked, diverting the subject.

"You did not either," she pointed out.

"Look, I am sorry. What are we going to do about Alfie?"

"Well, you will be grounded indefinitely. I imagine the Hunger Games will conclude by the time you will be free. Say good-bye to Seneca and come home," she hung up the phone.

I absorbed her words with displeasure and replaced the phone. Well, now that I am grounded I may as well try to find Alfie. Seneca hurried to my side.

"What's wrong?" he asked concerned.

"It seems as though Alfie has not come home since the Reaping," I gushed.

"Do you think he is hurt?" Venia asked.

"I do not know. He never stays out late without telling someone. I need to look for him," I shout, heading for the door.

"Hold on. You are not even wearing clothes," Seneca points out.

I stop. He is right, of course. There is not much I can do, searching for Alfie in the Capitol wearing nothing but a towel. Venia rushes toward the dryer, prepared to arm me with garments. Seneca comes over to me and runs a hand through my hair.

"Do not worry, Venia and I will accompany you on your quest to find Alfie. I am sure that we will locate him in no time," he speaks with an air of knowing.

I absorb Seneca's words and find relief. Then I remember the indefinite grounding.

"Seneca, mother is most displeased with my behavior. She has banned me from social events, so I fear our time is limited. I want you to know that I care for you greatly," I look into his eyes.

"And I care for you. I will wait however long that I must for you to return to me. One day, thing will be different. We will be free," he answers.

Free? Before I can say another word, Venia returns and thrusts my clothing into my arms. I dress hastily, uncaring about other people. In a moment, the three of us have loaded into Venia's car, patrolling the streets.

"Where does he normally go?" asks Venia from behind the wheel.

I sit next to her, pointing out directions.

"Well, we could check his former girlfriend's house. Maybe she knows his whereabouts," I suggest.

I point out the way to her house, having been there once before. We arrive around sunset, pulling into her driveway. I jump out of the car and ring her doorbell. To our great fortune, she opens the door.

"Hello Effie," she says in surprise.

"Hello. I was wondering have you seen Alfie?" I ask without time for pleasantry.

"No, not since he broke up with me," she states, a look of concern in her eyes, "Why? Is he in trouble?"

I do not quite know how to answer. I simply thank her for her time and return to Venia's car.

"Nothing?" she asks, "Where to now?"

"Well, one of his friend's lives close by," I remember, directing her to his friend's home.

Again, I lunge out of the car and hurl myself at the doorbell. He answers with a confused look on his face.

"Uh, hey Effie," he glows bright red, "Fancy seeing you here."

"Yes, yes. Look, have you seen Alfie?" I ask impatiently.

"He told me that you and your family were going on vacation. My, that is a lovely dress. He left here yesterday."

"Vacation? To where?" I practically throw him against a door to get a clear answer.

"I have no clue. Really, you look so beautiful. You always look beautiful. Did something happen to him?" he talks quickly.

"Cut it out," I snap his eyes into focus, "When exactly did he leave?"

"He left at about nine last night. Said that he was going to meet you and the parents at the train station. My, your eyes are just-…"

I shut the door in his face and instruct Venia toward the train station.

"Hurry!" I pound the windshield in anger.

We arrive just as a train is departing. I estimate that it would take twenty minutes walking time to get to the train station from his friend's house. We run into the station and commandeer the front of the line, much to the protest of ticket-buyers.

"Sir!" I yell to the clerk behind the counter, "I am looking for someone."

"You and everyone else. Are you going to buy something?" he snaps over the microphone.

A few snickers emit from the disgruntled patrons. Seneca pushes forward and talks to the clerk. After a moment, and if I am not mistaken a few bundles of currency are passed through the booth, he seems to cooperate.

"You are looking for trains that departed yesterday evening, correct?" he asked, "What time frame?"

"Anything after nine thirty," I spout quickly.

"Well, you are in luck. There was only one train last night that departed after that time."

"Yes, yes. To where?" I am livid with frustration.

"A one way trip," he states indifferently, "To District 2."