Author's note: Thank you so much for reading, following, favoriting and reviewing. If you want some Everlark adorableness, you should go read Art and Other Distractions (if you haven't already) and the first two chapters of Just Friends (and follow that if you like it).
Happy reading!
Chapter Four
Haymitch stomped into the building and down the hall to Effie's room. She'd refused to leave and hadn't eaten at all since her friend left the day before. They told Haymitch she also refused to talk to anyone.
He pulled her up into a sitting position and looked in her face. "So now you just want to kill yourself?"
"Better than loneliness." She said forlornly.
He hauled her to her feet. "You'll shower and then eat and then we'll talk. You got it?"
She said nothing.
"Effie!" He snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"Yeah, sure." She sighed.
He escorted her to the showers and left her to herself. He went to the cafeteria and ordered a breakfast tray for his client. He brought it to her room and waited.
Effie came in with her hair dripping and a towel draped over her arm. She looked at the tray and then at her counselor. "I'm not eating that."
Haymitch glowered. "Part of your treatment is that you eat. If you refuse to comply with your treatment, you will be asked to leave. So eat. And talk."
She sat down and looked over the meal. "I was always told it was rude to speak with my mouth full."
He smiled. "In between bites. Tell me what's wrong."
She took a bite of the eggs on her plate. She made a face. "Rubbery." She sipped her water. "When my friend was here yesterday, it all came flooding back." She took another bite.
"What came flooding back?" He asked gently, leaning toward her.
"My feelings. Inadequate. Like I don't matter unless I can wear a pretty dress and make up my face and fix my hair." She shoveled the rest of the eggs into her mouth and sat back. "I can't make it out there."
"Do you have a support system outside that would help you?"
"I think Cinna would. But I don't know about anyone else."
"What about church?"
She snorted. "God never did much for me."
He nodded. "I understand that. And I understand that you feel like there is no one. But there are support systems. We can set you up with one. But you still have time here. So while you're here, we will continue to put you back together and give you the tools to survive outside."
"You think I'll relapse?" She picked up a slice of toast and took a bite.
"I think there's a chance. If you don't end this right now and buck up and follow the rules. But if you do want to fix this and succeed, I need you to keep doing what you're doing." He nodded toward the tray, now half gone. "And keep talking."
Effie nodded. "When I was with Cinna, he said something about a party. He wants to throw a big party for me when I'm done here. And when he said that, all I could think about was the last party I attended. I got wasted and passed out on the lawn of some stranger. And I got arrested. And I couldn't remember anything except that one of the other models in my circle…she asked if I'd gained weight. And I felt like shit. So I drank to get sick." She sighed. "And I'd do it again." She pushed her tray away and got up. She started pacing.
Haymitch watched her a while and then said, "Look, I know it's hard. I've been through it. I relapsed a few years ago. Big time. They happen. But it's not the end of the world. You will be okay, Effie."
She stopped walking and stared at him. "That thing you said before about getting away from the same old lifestyle?"
He shook his head. "My brother-in-law died. And my sister was depressed and kept talking about suicide and I was faced with the possibility raising two kids I didn't feel worthy of. So I went to the store and I got a six-pack. I drank it all in just a couple hours. The next day I got a case and stayed up all night drinking. I smuggled vodka into work in a water bottle. I became a functioning alcoholic once more."
"What changed?"
"My oldest niece found me passed out one afternoon. The look on her face broke my heart."
Effie sat down once more. "Cinna has such faith in me."
Haymitch smiled. "So don't let him down." He stood and pointed at her. "Eat every meal. Talk to me and in your group sessions. Find something to occupy your free time. Call your friend Cinna every day and talk for at least twenty minutes. These are my recommendations as your counselor and as someone who has had the same experiences. And don't you forget that." He turned on his heel and left the room.
As he left, she felt a weight lift off her chest, and then the emptiness came. She wanted so much, but she didn't know how to get it. Maybe that phone call to Cinna like Haymitch suggested.
She sat herself down at the phones. She dialed in Cinna's number and he picked up after three rings.
"Cinna?" She said in greeting.
"Effie? Hi. Is something wrong?" He asked, his voice full of concern.
"There was. But I'm better. I talked to my counselor." She paused. "I got down after you left yesterday. He said I should probably talk to you. You make me feel better about myself. You always have."
He chuckled. "That's good that you have such faith in me. So what should we talk about?"
"Tell me about your day?"
"I went to brunch with some friends. I just got back. Sat down to work on some more sketches."
"Oh, yeah? Anything interesting?"
"I have an idea about this big, extravagant gown with all these appliques and cut-outs and a ten foot train." He chuckled. "You'd look awesome in it."
"I would look awesome in it." She grinned. "I'll be in your next big show. And rock that dress."
"I'll work on that one and bring the sketches for you next Saturday." He said.
"You will come again?"
"Of course I will. I told you before."
"I'm just a little…insecure, you know?"
He paused. "Yeah, I know. I met your dad, remember?"
"I remember." She sighed.
"He is such a dick." Cinna said. "But you're done with him. Completely. And you don't have to worry about him. Okay?"
"I'll always have you." Effie said softly. "You're much better than him."
"I am. Mostly because I'm hot and talented and make you pretty dresses."
She could almost hear his devastating smile in his voice. "And throw amazing parties."
"Which you don't want anymore."
She heaved a sigh. "I want the parties. It would just be smart not to have the parties."
"And why is that?"
"Because I need to remove myself from my former life as much as possible. No more big parties. No more alcohol or pills. Nutritious food. Normal eating schedule."
"Then you should move in here with me. You were living in that place with all those bitches. Half of them throwing up everything they ate, the other half starving themselves. You live with me and you won't have to worry about it. You know I don't like most of that stuff."
"Are you sure?"
"I am sure."
"Will you move my stuff?"
"I don't know what all is yours."
"Nothing important in there except my computer, if they haven't ruined it. And the rest of my clothes."
He paused. "Okay. I can do that. I'll go there this afternoon. And you can call me tomorrow. Same time."
"Thank you so much." She squealed. "I feel much better now. I love you."
"I love you, too. Talk to you tomorrow."
They bid their farewells and Effie hung up the phone. She heaved a sigh and smiled to herself. Maybe she could make it after all.