I'm so sorry I haven't got this up sooner – school really is getting to me. I have another FIVE reviews to do for movies; I think I'm going to collapse. But I was determined to get this up for you guys. Right, I am amazed that this story is still getting put on alert and been added as a favourite story, I say this all the time but it really means a lot.
This also passed a hundred reviews. So this is officially the most successful story! Thank you to all the Hayffie shippers out there who have read this and took interest in this. I love you all! xx .side xx: I'm sorry this wasn't quicker in the slightest! But enjoy. Magyk-girl200: I think I may have said this before… but I really try hard to get characterization correct, so this comment that I'm doing this well means a lot. Thank you! DoCtOrWhOlUvEr11: Maybe… maybe not. You'll have to wait and see! I'm glad you are enjoying this enough to think of just why Effie is acting the way she is. And no hating at this end! I'm happy you are giving an opinion on what you think is wrong with her! Shikabane-Mai: I'm glad you like this. I'm glad you felt that way about Effie; I was trying to get that across – that she feels better away from thirteen, so I'm glad you picked up on it! District11tribute: I'm glad you're still loving this! And its okay! Enjoy this!
And without further ado, onto chapter 12…
"The mission was a success, yes?" Coin asks as we step of the hovercraft. Boggs is the one who replies, I am determined not to look at the president. Instead I spend more time than necessary checking Effie over for any injuries she may have gotten on the journey. Effie, who didn't do anything more than sit down and walk next to me, does the same with me. And it must look convincing enough because when Coin leaves, she doesn't say a word to me or Effie.
"Come on, let's go and get lunch" I whisper to Effie, who nods slowly. It isn't until I observe Haymitch staring at us that I remember I need to tell him about Effie not eating, "Haymitch! Coming for some food?" I ask him, turning around suddenly and managing to make Effie jump. He glowers at me for a second, then nods his head and walks up to us. I'm pretty certain he knows I'm after more than just a nice lunch with him.
"What food do you miss from the Capitol Effie?" I ask when we walk inside the walls of District 13 and head towards the lunch room. Trying to make conversation for a change.
"Um…" Effie mumbles, pondering over what to say. "I don't really miss much" She tells me quietly with a small shrug.
"Really? What about all that food we had at Snow's mansion that time? On the Victors Tour" I ask her, not liking the memories that resurface about the days of the tour. But I'm determined to get something more than a shrug and a hasty reply out of Effie.
"Well, I guess… no actually" Effie says, stuttering over her sentences and changing her mind mid-speech. "I don't miss much about the Capitol" She adds quieter than before. She doesn't miss much about the Capitol… I'm guessing she isn't just on about the food they produced there when she says this. Which is strange. Despite the fact I feel the need to protect Effie, an Effie who is weak, vulnerable and who has grown on me – I always imagined her to be longing for Capitol fashions and parties and the lifestyle she once lived in.
"Nothing?" I ask, I think Haymitch is glaring at me.
"Nothing. Well, I guess I miss my parents, but that's it" She says quickly. I want to ask more, but Haymitch is shoving my arm slightly. I look to him and he is shaking his head. I don't intrude any more, despite wanting to find out more about Effie's family. It's strange really; I never imagined what Effie's family would be like. I never really thought she had one until today…
"Hazelle!" I say when we almost bump into the woman when we are walking in to get our food.
"Katniss, hi" She replies with a warm smile, "Gale told me you went to District 12. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine" I tell her, managing a small smile back. "Haymitch, can I have a word before we eat?" I ask him. He nods, a little confused. Effie stands in the middle of us, looking smaller than usual.
"Effie, do you want to come with me? Posy, Rory and Vick are already inside, and we can save Katniss and Haymitch a seat whilst they talk" Hazelle asks turning to Effie. Slowly she nods, and I can't thank Hazelle enough as she leads Effie to the food. Haymitch and I just stand there in silence watching as the two women walk away, then when I'm not expecting Haymitch tugs me to the side.
"Watch it!" I say when he finally releases his grip on my arm.
"Hurry up Katniss, what do you want?" He whispers to me, leaning in a little when two soldiers walk past us. I remain silent until they have gone.
"It's about Effie"
"I guessed"
"She isn't eating" I said, ignoring his comment.
"You sound surprised" He says
"You sound like you couldn't care less" I snap back. I wish I could take the words back as soon as they come of my mouth. "…Haymitch… I" I stutter when I see something flare up inside him.
"Do you know why she isn't eating Katniss?" He asks me, his voice shaking in anger.
"No" I mumble back, ashamed to find myself looking to the floor so I'm not looking at him.
"Well. Let me enlighten you" He tells me with a snap "There's more to torturing someone that using whips and fists you know" He begins to say. I don't want to know the rest. "When they gave her food, they put something in it… I don't know what. It made her hallucinate… made her nightmares worse. Made the pain so bad she wished she was dead. Do you know why I know that? Because she told me. She told me she wished she was dead sometimes. So don't tell me that I don't care less" He spits at me, his eyes beginning to water over. I feel a drop of something fall from mine, and wipe it away quickly.
"Sorry…" I mumble to him, still looking at the floor. "I didn't know…"
"That was obvious" He says, a little calmer now.
"Haymitch, I really am" I say, finally looking up at him to see his eyes red raw.
"Now… I need to tell you something. So stop feeling sorry for yourself" He says, talking in a hushed tone again. "You are one of the only people Effie trusts. You, Finnick and me" He says, "She likes your sister too. So I want you to look after her when I can't Katniss. Don't leave her on her own. I don't care what anyone says to you to try and separate you, stay with her" He says, I nod quickly.
"I will" I promise him.
"I can't always be there, so you really have to mean it Katniss" He tells me.
"I do mean it" I tell him. "And I really am sorry" I add.
"Right then…" Haymitch says, running a hand through his messy mop of hair. "Best get back to her, come on"
I nod and we begin to walk to the table. I wipe any remains of dampness from my face and sit so close to Effie my elbows bang into hers when I eat my food. I notice that the only thing Effie eats is a piece of bread that Haymitch has taken a bite out. I can't help but think that the only reason she eats the roll is because Haymitch has proved it isn't laced with anything poisonous from thirteen.
"Hey, do you want to go and see Prim back in my room?" I ask Effie when we have finished. She nods, looking down at her plate of uneaten food. She picks the plate up quickly, and for a second I think she is actually going to eat the food, but instead she passes it over to Rory, Vick and Posy's hungry eyes. With loud and enthusiastic 'thank you's' the three begin to share the food out between them.
"You didn't need to do that Effie" Hazelle says warmly to her.
"I wasn't going to eat it anyway. Better to give it to them and not let it go to waste" Effie mumbles.
"Well, thank you" Hazelle says with a smile.
"Do you want to go now Effie?" I ask, looking up and seeing Boggs' curious eyes on us. She nods quickly and stands up.
"Thank you for the food Effie!" Vick says through a mouthful of the stuff.
"It's okay" Effie says, managing a small, wavering smile. Haymitch stands up now and we begin to make our way back to my room. I feel like I should have said something to Hazelle about Gale, but I can't exactly run back and ask her to pass on a message to him.
"Prim?" I whisper, poking my head into the room when I open it.
"Katniss!" My sister exclaims, before jumping up and hugging me. Reminding me of the girl back in District 12 before the games for a moment.
"Hey, guess what? Effie is joining us for a while" I tell her. Prim lets go of me and wraps her arms around Effie who has taken a couple of small steps into the room.
"Hello Effie" Prim says happily.
"Hi Prim" Effie says, wrapping her arms around my sister for a couple of seconds before they drop to her sides. Prim lets go, and grabs her arm instead, dragging her to the bed for her to sit down on it. I look over to Haymitch, who has joined us in the room. He nods to me, and our earlier conversation comes flooding back. She likes Prim, and we need to use that to make her feel better.
"Hey Prim, why don't you tell Effie about what you did today?" I ask. Prim begins to tell her about her hospital duties straight away with a grin on her lips. I walk over to Haymitch and I ask if he wants to stay a while too. He shakes his head, telling me he needs a word with Coin. I tell him if he bumps into Finnick to invite him over. After all, I promised to try and help, and Finnick is one of the only four people Effie feels like she can trust. He says he will and walks of.
"Well, am I allowed in this conversation?" I ask, joining Effie and Prim on the bed with a smile. Prim says a quick yes before launching back into conversation and I can't help but laugh a little at how eager Prim is to tell Effie about her day. No wonder she is one of the only people Effie trusts. Why she trusts me though is another matter… and I will probably never understand it.
"Someone told me you needed to see me" A voice says. And we all turn around to see Finnick's head poking around the side of the door.
"I have a real urge to slam that on you" I admit, making him laugh, then put on a face of shock.
"Violent today Katniss" He says, walking over to us and jumping onto the bed with such force both Prim and Effie get launched upwards from the bed before landing on the covers again. Making Finnick laugh again. "You need to get more food down you, I thought you were going to go through the ceiling then!" Finnick says, poking Prim in the ribs. I look over to Effie who looks close to tears, and find my hand reaching out to hers and squeezing it. She jumps a little and looks at me quickly.
"Its okay" I mouth to her, and she nods. Her free hand begins to wipe away tears that are beginning to flow. "It's going to be okay" I say quietly whilst Prim and Finnick joke around.
She does something I don't expect next. She leans into me and wraps her arms around me, and whilst it takes me aback, I find myself wrapping my arms around her in turn. I'm shocked at how small she is in my arms, but I understand why she is doing this to herself now. "It'll be okay Effie" I say once more, looking down on her tiny body in my arms. "It will" I say again. Maybe if I say it enough times it will come true. But I know that is a ridiculous thought, and just wishing for it to happen won't make it happen. If only it could be like that though…