Hello, everyone! As of Monday, I officially have finished compulsory (sort of) schooling! I just finished year 13, and next year (hopefully) I'll be going to university! :D
So now, I have loads of free time to write for you guys! Here's the next chapter, I hope that you guys enjoy it! :D
Effie
The next morning, I awoke and lay there, watching Haymitch's face as he slept. I could see his arm curling under his pillow, his hand probably clutching that damn knife that he sleeps with every night. He could do himself, or me, serious damage with that thing! But still, it made him feel safe, and that was all that mattered, I guess.
As I had recognised before, sleep took years off Haymitch's face. He looked younger, less troubled, more at peace. He seriously needed a shave; after that, he would look like a teenager again.
I kissed his forehead lightly, and then got up. I pulled on my robe and slipped out of the room, registering that it was about six in the morning here in the Capitol. The lights were still flashing away merrily, but there was the orange tint in the sky that indicated that the sun was coming up. I liked sunrise, it reminded me of the times my family went to the beaches in District Four.
I got back into my room and set about getting ready. As I yawned into my wig, I realised that my life would be so much easier if I didn't have to wear all of this makeup. I could roll out of bed at seven, quickly shower, style my blonde curls, throw on a dress and be ready to wake the kids up at half past. But instead, I had to spend an hour and a half putting on makeup and fancy clothes, just to fit in with the Capitol fashions. Maybe life would be easier in District Twelve, where women didn't care what they looked like.
At half past seven, I was dressed in a peony blue blazer and shirt combination with a flared, puffy skirt, and golden shoes. I thought I looked rather cute, and that made me take back what I had thought about earlier. In District Twelve, they didn't have such fineries as this.
I walked down the corridor, banging on Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch's doors, reminding them that today was a "big big day!" It was a big day, the day of the interviews. I let the styling teams in, and left them to do their work.
Cinna and Portia came in and we go through the interview outfits. Again, they both have outdone themselves, especially Cinna. Katniss' dress is fantastic, covered with gemstones that shimmer in the light, making her seem engulfed in flames. I squeal and clap when Cinna twirls it around; the dress flickers and seems like the flames are moving. Haymitch seems impressed too; he even gives Cinna a slap on the back for his efforts. Peeta's suit follows the flame design too; sleek and black, with flame designs on it. He'll look dashing, I just know it!
In the early afternoon, much to Haymitch's chagrin, his own stylist, Lizella, comes calling, along with her own prep team.
I giggle softly as they leave him away, and he looks over his shoulder and pulls a face at me, which only makes me laugh harder. I get a look from Cinna, but it's not a confused look, more of a knowing look, like he understands what's going on. I blush scarlet, surely he can't know, right?
At four, Cinna and Portia are called away, and I go to get dressed. I decide to wear the long red dress that Cinna designed for me, to fit in with the flame theme going on, and I put on a blonde wig that isn't too dissimilar to my own hair.
When I walk out of the room, Lizella is standing in the living room, adjusting Haymitch's bow tie, by the looks of it. Her eyes flick over to me, and she squeals.
"Oh Effie! You look divine! Where did you get that dress? I love it!" She left Haymitch and bounced over to me, feeling the material of the sleeves in her fingers.
"Silk! Oh, I'd die for this dress!" She babbled on, but I wasn't listening. I felt a pair of eyes burn into me, and I looked up to see Haymitch looking at me. His eyes ran up and down my body, and then his eyes met mine and he gave me a lopsided smirk.
Lizella was clamouring around my dress, trying to work out measurements, and I couldn't help feeling uncomfortable. Haymitch, sensing my discomfort, pulled his bow tie out of alignment and coughed loudly.
"Oops." He announced, and Lizella turned to look at him.
"Oh Haymitch! Stop doing that!" She immediately left my side and started tightening Haymitch's bow tie again. I mouthed "thank you" to him, and he winked.
Before Lizella could return to me, I looked at the clock. "Oh, look at the time! We should be getting to Katniss and Peeta now. Goodbye, Lizella. Oh, and by the way, this dress is a Cinna original; ask him for one if you want." I smiled at her, and I grabbed Haymitch's jacket, pulling him out of the room.
"Ugh, that woman." I growled, smoothening out my sleeves. Just to annoy me, Haymitch placed his hands on my arms and ruffled the sleeves up again. I slapped his hands away, but he caught my hand and pulled me in for a kiss.
"Later." I whispered, placing a finger on his lips.
We walk out of the penthouse suite and into the elevator, which already holds Katniss, Peeta, Cinna and Portia. Katniss looks stunning, and I make sure to complement her on that. She thanks me humbly, smiling, and I notice that she's avoiding Haymitch. They must have had words. I also remark on how handsome Peeta looks and he returns the complement.
When we get down, the tributes are being lined up. Haymitch goes up behind the kids, tells them something, and then pushes them forward. After that, he leads me to the booth where the escorts and mentors sit. Cinna and Portia go to the front of the seating section, where the stylists are situated, so that the cameras can focus on them when the Capitol admires their handiwork. I have to say, the tributes all look amazing this year. There are no serious flops, like last year, when a girl from Four was dressed as a mermaid.
I watch as Katniss sits exactly like I told her to, and pride fills me. She's doing as I said! The interviews fly by, each tribute only getting three minutes to impress the citizens of Panem.
By the time it's Katniss' turn, the crowd seem to be getting bored. After sweet little Rue floated on stage in her gossamer gown, and moody Thresh scared everyone, they seem to be wishing that it was over. I hoped that Katniss and Peeta could grab their attentions.
Katniss shakes Caesar's hand and sits down. Haymitch's hand suddenly clasps mine and squeezes. I look up at him, and I can see that he's nervous. I squeeze back encouragingly, and go back to the interview.
"So, Katniss, the Capitol must be quite a change from District Twelve. What's impressed you most since you arrived here?" Caesar asks, and I can tell that Katniss is trying hard to think about something suitable to say. Come on Katniss, I think, think of something!
"The lamb stew," she says, and the crowd laughs. She's funny without meaning to be. I can tell that Haymitch is relieved. At least she hasn't screwed up this one.
Her interview goes on without an incident. Katniss twirls in her dress, and she looks breathtaking. She gets dizzy after a while, and Caesar steers her away from the stage.
"Don't worry, I've got you. Can't have you following in your mentor's footsteps."
It takes every ounce of my being not to laugh, and to look disgruntled. The cameras instantly find Haymitch, to get a reaction, and I want to seem like I'm disappointed and annoyed that he made me look so foolish, just in case they get me too. He waves the cameras away, and points to Katniss. I can tell he's a bit annoyed; he's pretty famous for his nose-dive off the stage, and Haymitch does not like attention.
The interview resumes, and Katniss makes the best of her situation, even addressing the Gamemakers balcony when asked about her training score. However, the best moment was when Caesar asked about Primrose. Everyone was eager to hear Katniss' side of things, how she volunteered for her sister. She handled it well; although I could see that she was uncomfortable talking about Primrose in front of all these strangers. When the buzzer went off, she looked relieved to be going back to her seat. I would be too, if I was in her position.
Peeta's turn now. Here was where the bomb would drop. If Haymitch's plan worked, we could have twice as many sponsors by tomorrow morning.
Peeta was a natural on stage, joking around with Caesar and making the crowd crack up. But Haymitch and I both pay close attention when Caesar asks whether Peeta has a girlfriend. We clasp hands, squeezing tightly. We both know how important this is, and how important is it for Peeta not to screw up. He leads the crowd on with the story of a girl he liked that didn't even know he was alive, and then Caesar told him to win, and then she would go out with him. Here is was. The moment of truth. Would Peeta reveal his feelings for Katniss in front of Panem?
"I don't think it's going to work out. Winning... won't help in my case." He mumbles, and you could hear a pin drop in the City Circle. Everyone wants to know who this mystery girl is.
"Why ever not?" Caesar asks, bemused.
Peeta blushes, and then says the line that Haymitch and I so desperately were waiting for. "Because... because... she came here with me."
And that's it. That's the moment. The cameras hold on Peeta for a moment, while everyone works it out, and then Katniss' face is illuminated. She looks shocked, and she lowers her eyes to stare at the floor.
"Perfect." Haymitch mumbles and I realise what he means. It's a perfect reaction. She looks shocked and embarrassed, and I can see the blush creeping across her face. Does she love him back? Or is it just a look of embarrassment? I can't tell.
Although, I can tell that Haymitch is very happy with the situation. The crowd mumbles in sadness, some people even scream at the horror of it all. Two young lovers, forced to go into the arena to fight each other.
"And the star-crossed lovers are born." Haymitch mumbles, and I squeeze his hand some more.
The crowd want Katniss to come back, and I'm happy when they don't allow it. I don't know what she would have said, probably refused Peeta's claims. And then she would have ruined everything.
As soon as the tributes filed off stage, Haymitch was up and walking away. I stumbled after him, knowing that he was going to talk to the kids.
Haymitch
That was perfect! It couldn't have been better! They loved it.
Effie, Cinna, Portia and I step into the elevator and go up to the penthouse suite. We're all eager to see them, to talk about what had happened.
Nothing could have prepared me for what we saw once the elevator reached our destination.
Peeta was slumped on the floor, with blood gushing out of hands. By the looks of it, he went into the ugly urn of flowers that had been sitting here for as long as I could remember.
"What's going on?" Effie asked, but she sounded hysterical. "Did you fall?"
"After she shoved me." Peeta commented, as Cinna and Effie helped him up.
I rounded on Katniss. What did she think she was doing? "Shoved him?"
"This was your idea, wasn't it? Turning me into some kind of fool in front of the entire country?" She growled, her eyes narrowed. I could see how alike we were as she said that. I had hated to look like a fool too, in my youth. Now I just didn't care.
"It was my idea." Peeta said, pulling pottery from his hands. "Haymitch just helped me with it." He winced in pain, and I groaned mentally. Well this was great. I had one tribute injured, and the other heated up with rage.
"Yes, Haymitch is very helpful. To you!" She shouts, and I snap. She's insufferable. Can't she see that I'm trying to help her here?
"You are a fool." I spit, in disgust. "Do you think he hurt you? That boy just gave you something you could never achieve on your own."
"He made me look weak!" She whines, and I sigh.
"He made you look desirable! And let's face it, you can use all the help you can get in that department. You were about as romantic as dirt until he said he wanted you. Now they all do! You're all they're talking about. The star-crossed lovers from District Twelve!" I hope that I can get through to her now, but again, she disappoints me.
"But we're not star-crossed lovers!" She snaps, and I have had enough. I know that Effie would be horrified by my behaviour, but I don't really care.
I grab Katniss by the shoulders and push her against the wall. She needs a good talking to, and I guess I'll have to be the one to do it.
"Who cares? It's all a big show. It's all how you're perceived. The most I could say about you after your interview was that you were nice enough, although that in itself was a small miracle. Now I can say you're a heartbreaker. Oh, oh, oh, how the boys at home fall longingly at your feet. Which do you think will get you more sponsors?"
I can see that I repulse her. She can probably smell the alcohol on my breath, but I don't care. I need to get through to her.
God, she's so stubborn.
And with that thought, another face popped into my mind. Nadyah was stubborn too. Thinking about it, Katniss looked just like Nadyah. The same Seam looks and same defiant expression. The same personality too. God, how many people was this girl going to remind me of? First Maysilee, and now Nadyah.
Katniss pushes me away, and I let her. I can see by the look in her eyes that what I have said hits home. She's considering it now.
Cinna interjects with "He's right, Katniss."
Thank you! She'll listen to Cinna. They seemed to have bonded in the time that they had spent together, which was great.
"I should have been told, so I didn't look so stupid." She mumbles, and I can see that she knows it now.
"No, your reaction was perfect. If you'd known, it wouldn't have read as real." Portia said, and she was right. That was why I didn't tell her. Katniss couldn't fake embarrassment, or any emotion for that matter, to save her life. I chuckled mentally at how ironic that statement, that clichéd statement, was in this situation.
"She's just worried about her boyfriend." Peeta remarks, tossing away a piece of the urn. Poor kid.
"I don't have a boyfriend." Katniss says, but her cheeks are burning with blush. Whoever this guy is, he must be pretty pissed right now.
"Whatever. But I bet he's smart enough to know a bluff when he sees it. Besides, you didn't say you loved me. So what does it matter?" He brushes himself off, and goes to stand beside Portia, who tidies him up some more.
I can see that the girl is taking it all in now. She understands that I'm right. She knows how big this is.
"After he said he loved me, did you think I could be in love with him, too?" She asks, and I waver. It didn't look like it to me, but I knew her. The Capitol didn't.
"I did." Portia saves, "The way you avoided looking at the cameras, the blush."
It was true. Effie came in saying that yes, she saw it too.
"You're golden, sweetheart." I say, hoping to get her spirits up. "You'll have sponsors lined up round the block."
Katniss smiles warily, and then turns to Peeta. "I'm sorry I shoved you."
"Doesn't matter." Peeta shrugs. "Although, it's technically illegal."
"Are your hands okay?" She asks, ignoring the last part.
"They'll be all right."
After that, we go to dinner. However, Peeta has to be taken for medical treatment, as he's bleeding too heavily. I make sure to glare at Katniss as Portia leads Peeta away; she's done him great harm that could cost him his life tomorrow. But the Capitol will fix him all up tomorrow, so he should be fine.
When we watch the replays of the interviews, I see how right I am. Katniss is forgettable, silly and frilly. But with Peeta's declaration of love, she becomes desirable.
After the interviews, Effie and I look at each other. This is the time for us to say goodbye to the kids. We can't go with them tomorrow, and goodbyes must be said here.
Effie goes first. With tears in her eyes, which I know are genuine, she thanks them for being the best tributes ever, and she wishes them well. But then, because she has to remain Capitol, she adds "I wouldn't be at all surprised if I finally get promoted to a decent district next year!"
I glare at her, and she ignores me, kissing the kids, and then running away, consumed with emotion. She's always scared for the kids, but she has never made such a connection with a pair of tributes before. It must be hard for her.
I cross my arms and look over the kids.
"Any final words of advice?" Peeta asks.
"When the gong sounds, get the hell out of there. You're neither of you up to the bloodbath at the Cornucopia. Just clear out, put as much distance as you can between you and the others, and find a source of water. Got it?" I say, and I know it's pretty good advice.
"And after that?" Katniss asks.
"Stay alive." I say, and I remember the reception I got the last time I said that. However, here there is no glass smashing or fighting, only nodding of heads.
I want to say a proper goodbye to them, but I can't. I hate goodbyes. They're the worst part of life. But then again, what's worse than saying goodbye is someone leaving without saying goodbye. Without those final words of encouragement.
I move over to the kids, put my hand on Peeta's shoulder, and the other on Katniss', and say "Good luck."
That's all I can stand. I leave the kids with Cinna and Portia, and go to find Effie. She's sitting in her plush chair in her room, crying her eyes out. When I walk in, and she looks up, I cannot help but laugh at her face. Her makeup has smeared down her face, and she looks like a sore-eyed panda.
Before I go over to her, I grab a face wipe from her desk. I kneel before her and start wiping her makeup away, breaking through the layers of pasty white to reach her peachy skin below. She sniffs while I work, and sometimes tears fall onto my hand.
"You upset?" I ask.
She snorts, as if it's obvious; which I suppose it is. "Yeah, of course. I really like them. And I'm scared for them."
"You're always scared for the kids." I say, wiping the powder away from her button nose. It obviously tickles her, because she sneezes softly, and I grin.
"I know. But I've never been this scared before; is that strange? Before, the kids never had a chance, so I knew that they were going to die. I should have been more scared for them, rather than for two kids who won't go down without a fight, and could have a chance. But no, I'm afraid for Peeta, who is probably so gentle that he couldn't hurt a fly; and for Katniss, who is only in this mess because I picked her sister's name from the reaping ball. I'll never forgive myself for that." She babbled on, and then put her face into her hands, almost crushing my hand between them.
"Effs, don't be scared. They'll be fine. One of them will make it out of there, I promise. They're both really strong; they won't go down without a fight, like you said."
She still keeps on crying, and I slowly finish taking her makeup off. After that, I pull off her wig and let her hair tumble down past her shoulders. Then, I remove her hideous outfit until she's down to her corset and underwear. She sits, sobbing, all the way through that, and then lets me pick her up and carry her to the bed. She's so small, she's like a doll in my arms.
I curl up beside her and stroke her hair, whispering soothing words into her ear. I tell her that the kids will be okay, that everything will be fine, that I love her. She will not be consoled until an hour later, when she finally stops crying and cuddles up to me.
"Thank you." She whispers, before her eyelids droop, and she falls into sleep.
I hold her against me, and think about all the times that she's helped me. She's helped me up when I was drunk, cleared up my vomit when I had been sick, had even helped patch me up when I fell over a few years ago. And now it was my turn to help her. I had to help her get over the pain of this now. Hopefully, I had done a good job.
D'aw, Haymitch gets to be the caring one! For once!
I hope you liked this chapter! Please review, as it makes me very very happy! :D
Next chapter is Effie and Haymitch's reaction to the bloodbath battle and the opening of the Games! Also, expect some Talia crying action! Her little brother, as you guys know, doesn't get very far in the Games! :(
Watch this space! :D