Greetings! I do hope you're well! I'm a little tired. Ikea can do that to a person. So here it is. Hope you enjoy!X


I wake on the couch, the grey dawn light peering in the window. Someone's knocking on the door. What kind of horrible specimen is calling at this hour? It turns out to be Cinna. The first thing he does is pull me into his arms and I begin sobbing into his chest. We stand there for God knows how long before I realise that he's holding a shopping bag. I take it and inside I find chocolate, cupcakes and cookies, along with some real food. He hold up a finger telling me to stay silent.

"So I realise you probably feel really shitty right now so I decided to come over and see how you were, and I don't feel too fantastic so I needed someone to eat with. Portia's coming over later." He waves his hand, indicating that I am allowed to speak. Instead I go to the kitchen and emerge a few minutes with plates of cupcakes balanced on my arms. Cinna raises his eyebrows but I can't tell if he's more impressed by the baking or the balancing.

"How am I going to do it?" I ask Cinna about an hour later. "It's bad enough on normal years, but I know them, I care about we both know whose name is coming out of that bowl. I can't sentence him to death."

"You're not sentencing him to death. You know that, I know that, and everyone knows you can't help whose name you pull out of that bowl. He doesn't blame you Effie, he told you that already, so don't blame yourself." He says after a minute. "Oh and by the way, I'm almost done the dress. Very classy, very simple, you'll like it."

"Why are you even bothering?" I ask, biting into a rose cupcake. Mabye if I eat enough of these I cry. Nope, not going to work.

"Because you're my friend, and I love you... Effie, I want you to promise me something. Actually two somethings. First of all, you're going to tell him, I don't care how but those words have to come out of your mouth before he goes into the arena. OK?" I nod in reply. "And second, you're going to wear the dress, promise?" I nod again but with a tad more reluctance. Telling him isn't a problem. Mabye I could do it during the hour the tributes have to say goodbye. There is still a week after that which could be extremely awkward but it doesn't matter because I don't get the chance.


It's unbelievably hot in 12 on Reaping day, definitely the hottest I can remember but that might have something to do with the fact that I'm freaking out a little bit. Don't crack Effie, don't crack. I keep telling myself as I walk on to the stage. I find myself fighting the need to vomit as I watch Haymitch for the entirety of the short reaping. I barely mange to keep it together as I call out Katniss' name, even though everyone knew it was coming. As I walk towards the male reaping bowl everything goes silent and It's a struggle to stand. I have to repeat the name because it comes out as almost a whisper with a slightly rushed surname.

"H-Haymitch Abernathy." I feel them both stiffen beside me as the entire population of 12 presses their fingers to their lips and raises their left hand.

We are quickly whisked into the Justice Building, where we find the head peacekeeper, Thread Haymitch called him, directing us to cars at the back of the building. Katniss is absolutely devastated, she knows she'll never see her family, her friends, her beloved Primrose, ever again. This can't be right. The train station is full of Peacekeepers, no cameras, no reporters, just a lot of Peacekeepers. The Peacekeeping force here is very disproportionate. Within minutes of pulling out of th station Haymitch is slumped on the couch, Peeta is sitting with his chin in his hand, and Katniss is still staring out the window. I head to my room and sit on the bed, fiddling with the butterflies on my dress until dinner, which verges on depressing. Even Peeta barely speaks, and he can always finds something decent to say. Haymitch is a miserable sight, He plans of keeping Katniss alive for as long as he can so he's staying sober. He's an absolute wreck. I make a quick gesture to an Avox, telling them to take away my wine. It helps a little but not much. He's silent for the entire trip really, except for a comment here or there. It's a relief to get of that godforsaken train.


The moment I finish getting ready for the Tribute Parade Cinna appears beside me with a very, very loud. "How'd it go?"

"It didn't," I reply. "Surely Katniss told you they didn't get to say goodbye?" I ask , barely glancing up at him.

"No, no she did not," he replies simply. "So what are you going to do? You're not the type of person to break a promise." I shrug in reply. He hugs me until it is absolutely necessary that we leave. He takes my arm and drags me out the door. I can tell he has a plan.


Haymitch

Ugh, are these costumes really necessary? Well, at least they're better than they used to be. But that doesn't justify the fact that I am not in a fitted, black jumpsuit... that glows. And my face is itching because of all this Capitol muck. How does Effie wear this all day? Portia makes an attempt at conversation as he draws on my eyebrows. "How are you doing? And don't say you're fine because I know that's not true."

"It's worse for Katniss, there are still people se cares about, who care about her. No one will care if I die." Portia shakes her head as she steps back to give me a look of disappointment.

"You're an idiot," she says before declaring that she's finished and that I can go downstairs now.


Effie

After the parade Cinna holds me back for a while, trying to pretend to care about what he's telling me about the tributes costumes, leaving me to take an elevator up to the Penthouse alone with Haymitch. the silence borders on awkward as we make our way up, until I quickly say. "I know you hate me Haymitch, but I actually don't mind you, which is an achievement for a person so can you do me a favor? Stay alive." I decide to use his classic bit of tribute advice before kissing him on the cheek as the elevator opens. I step out, barely concealing the smile playing on my lips.


Sorry if it didn't flow properly, I don't know what's the matter with me. I just couldn't leave out the elevator, even though it wasn't much. Hope you enjoyed, I'll try to update as soon as I can!x