My phone starts ringing. I pull it out of my pocket and answer it. "Effie Trinket speaking."
"Effie, what did you just do?!" I'd know the voice anywhere, Portia.
"Well..." I don't know how to explain it exactly.
She sighs. "Lets just go one thing at a time."
"Okay... Well I'm pregnant. I told Haymitch, he's....he's not happy. I tried to reason with him but he left. And I tried to stop him."
"And you ruined your career in under 5 seconds. Don't forget that part."
I sigh. "Right...wait, how did you know?"
"It's already all over the news." I'm curious now, maybe I should see what they're saying.
I lean back and close my eyes. "Of course it is..." There's a knock at my door. "I'll call you back Portia." I hang up and answer the door.
It's Head Peacekeeper Thread. "President Snow would like a word with you."
Oh my god what have I done? I put on a fake smile. "O-Of course "
He moves out of my way. "Right this way." I nod and close the door behind me. I'm lead into a large armored vehicle and taken to Snow's mansion I assume.
The doors of the truck swing open and I'm quickly ushered inside. In the long hallway all I can hear is the quiet clicks of my heels, everything is so quiet... I'm shown to two very large doors that can only be opened with many security codes. Thread has me scan my fingerprints before I'm allowed inside.
The doors open, only enough for me to go inside, I step in and the doors are once again closed and locked. Snow stands and approaches me, he takes my hand and kisses it.
"Good afternoon Miss Trinket. Please take a seat." He says with a small smile on his lips.
I take a seat in a chair, he takes the seat across from me. "May I ask why I've been brought here?"
He lets out a sigh. "I've brought you here because of what happened today with Mr. Abernathy."
My heart starts to race. "I'm not sure I know what you're talking about."
"Miss Trinket don't lie. It's been all over the news. You're with child and Mr. Abernathy is the father, true or false?"
I can't tell him its Haymitch's child. Maybe he was right, maybe they aren't fair. "False."
He raises his eyebrows. "Oh, is that so?"
I nod and put on a fake smile. "It is so. It's Mr. Crane's." Why did I say that? Now Seneca will have the right to be around me. But it was the only person from the Capitol I could think of at the moment.
He smiles, obviously delighted. "Well then I see no problem with a little baby Crane wandering about. I just found it strange Mr. Abernathy was in your home."
"Nothing out of the ordinary. He had just come to discuss some early plans for next year."
"Ah, but...during the Games I understand you and Mr. Abernathy had..."
"Had what? He was rarely around and when he was around he wasn't coherent."
"Sexual relations."
I cringe at his words. It sounds awful the way he says it. "Of course not. Haymitch is simply a co-worker."
"Good. That's all I needed to hear."
"Am I free to go?" I scoot to the edge of the chair.
"Yes you are."
"Thank you." I stand and go to the doors which open when I come close to them. I walk out the front door and accidentally bump into someone. "My goodness I'm so sorry."
"Well that's quite alright, Effie." Seneca, my god if only he knew how much I hate him. "Need someone to walk you home?"
If I have to act like he's the father and I love him, I might as well play the part well. "Yes, please." I grab his hand and walk towards the front gates. "So...I have some very exciting news." I smile.
"And what would that be?" He wraps his arm around my waist. We pass through the front gates and start walking towards my house.
I smile. "Well....if you haven't heard already.... I'm having a baby."
We both stop. He smiles widely and looks down at me. "Really? Effie, that's great!"
"And guess what." I smile a little wider and wrap my arms around his neck.
He puts his hands on my hips, I so desperately want to smack his hands away but I have to keep up the act. "Hmm what?"
I kiss him. "It's yours."
He leans back slightly. "What?"
"The baby is yours."
"But Effie, we've never slept together. It can't possibly be mine."
I fake pout. "Don't believe me?"
"Not really." We start walking towards my house again.
I start running my fingers up and down his arm softly. "Well...it was the first night of the Games. And we both got a little drunk....and really silly." I giggle.
"Oh. I think I remember."
Liar, nothing happened between us and nothing ever will happen between us. I'm only doing this so I can keep my family safe. The Abernathy family.
I smile up at him. "Good."
We get to the front steps of my house. He cups the side of my face with his hand and kisses me. I try my hardest not to hit him or push him away.
"Have a good rest of your day, Effie." He smiles.
"You too, Seneca." I smile and wave as he walks away. I go back inside my house and shake my head. He's so....weird. He just bothers me and I will never be able to forgive him for what he did to me.
