Haymitch's Bangle

Chapter 2: The nights are long

I sit and drink late into the night. The way my drunken mind figured it, I'd have enough time to sober up for breakfast if I stopped drinking in an hour. I glanced at the clock, my foot knocking over an empty bottle on the ground. I laugh , as a crack appears in the glass. 3:30. I laugh again, but it slowly turns to a sigh . How was I going to do this again? I can't kill people. It's not right, it's not right. I put my elbows on my knees and stare at the wall, lost in angry thoughts. A hand touches my shoulder.

"Haymitch?" Tinkly and soft, another hand appears on my back,

"Oh Haymitch are you drunk again?"

"Effie, darling, when am I not drunk?" A giggle erupts from my mouth. Oh god, I just called her darling. Sighing, she takes my arm gently.

"Come, let's get you in bed." An avox appears from one set of sliding doors, but Effie shakes her head when he tries to take me from her.

"No, I've got him. Clean up these glasses, please." Mechanically, I look up at Effie. Did she just say please? In my head, gears are trying to turn, but the alcohol has made them useless. I get up from my chair, stumbling slightly over the bottle I had knocked over. Effie holds me upright by the waist, before taking my arm and leading me to the doors. The doors open, "wwwwoooosh." I mimic the sound, and laugh dryly. Wind, blood, they both sound the same. Effie's eyebrows knit together, but she keeps walking with me. She walks me down a small corridor, wide enough for the two of us, but not much room besides that. We stop outside a door, and I lean against the wall. Turning the handle, Effie opens the door, and gently ushers me inside. I kick off my shoes and fumble with my shirt buttons as I sit down on my bed. "Here, let me." Effie sits next to me, the smell of jasmine and vanilla wafting from her studded nightgown. "Why-wh-why.." I look up at her as she unbuttons my shirt,

"Why do capitol people look funny?" She looks up at me through her fake lashes, "Haymitch, you're drunk."

"No, no, I'm serious." She sighs and undoes the last button.

"My mother always told me," her long, slender fingers slid his shirt off his shoulders, "That when people are unhappy, they change how they look." She took her manicured fingers and brushed the hair from his eyes.

"Are you, Effie Trinket, unhappy?" I stared into her eyes, and she stared into mine.

"I am now." She stands to leave, but I grab her wrist and pull her back down onto the bed.

"Why?" Blue eyes wide, she replies "Because of you." "Wh-what?" I let go, and I can feel the anger in my chest. "What??" Effie takes a big breath, but she just purses her lips. Her trembling hands, and pale face was too much for me to look at. "Get out." I hear myself growl.

"Haymitch.. I.."

"Get. Out." I whisper.

"I wanted to explain it to you sober.."

"Explain what woman? That you're making me go insane? Get out of my room. Quit treating me like I'm just a drunken idiot."

"Haymitch, please." She touches my knee, and my anger retracts slightly.

"Please, listen." Her eyes beg me; I just cross my arms. She takes a big breath,

"I- I'm upset because.. " She stutters and clears her throat, "Because of the Quarter Quell."

I raise an eyebrow. She was a capitol woman, was she trying to get me in trouble?

"This isn't right. President Snow is only doing this because of Katniss. I don't know why he hates her so, but I can see it. I saw it the day she returned. . I love President Snow, but I just don't understand why he hates Katniss so much. ."

Effie trails off, biting her lip idly. I take her hand in mine, and we both lay back on the silk sheets. Staring up at the ceiling, she continues.

"I'm also upset because... You volunteered."

"Would you rather have let Peeta go in?"

"Yes.. I would have."

"And why, is that?" I scoff. "Does he stand more of a chance than me?"

"No, he stands less of a chance than you. I love Peeta, and he has Katniss to protect him for the first few days. He has that advantage, but I'm afraid that you won't. I'm afraid.. " Effie chokes on a sob, and her hand tightens in mine. "I'm afraid I'm going to lose you."

"Shhhh, hey, it's okay. You're not going to lose me. I'm right here." I scoot over slightly, and Effie puts her head on my chest, crying softly. "Katniss and Peeta were my victors. But you.. If I lose you.."

"Shhh," I murmered idly.

I let my hand fall to her hip, and found that her bones didn't stick out like most Capitol Women. I held her just tight enough so I could feel her hipbone; Effie stiffened, and sniffled, "I'm sorry I'm not .."

"If you say skinny," I kiss the top of her head, "I'm going to invite you to drink with me tomorrow night."

"Well," Effie mumbles sleepily, "It'd be drinking with you, and I've never been drunk before." She yawns.

"Haymitch?"

"Yes Effie?"

"Why do you drink?"

I stop for a moment, there was an obvious excuse. I want to tell her the truth, but I can't. Eyelids heavy with sleep, I manage to slur,

"Ask me when I'm sober."

"When are you ever sober?" I smile, and close my eyes. The last thing I hear is her tinkly laughter and then I'm asleep.

A hand nudges my shoulder gently, and my eyes spring open. I push the attacker to the bed, and sitting on their hips, I pull out the knife I keep under my pillow.

"Haymitch!! It's me!! It's me!!" A shrill voice says.

"Jesus Christ woman!" I snarl, but my words richochet through my head like a katana. I groan and get off Effie slowly, savoring the joy of her skin, but trying to ward off the headache by lying down.

"I brought you some pain relievers."

A glass of water and 3 pills sit on my nightstand, untouched.

"For your head." Her eyes remained downcast, and I pinch my eyes shut. I probably just scared the hell out of her. Before I can open my eyes, I hear the quietest of clicks, and I knew she had left. I groan and reach for the pills. What is wrong with me? I pop them all, downing them with the help of the Vodka in my nightstand. I look at the glass of water, prepared to hurl it at the wall, but I notice a piece of paper tucked under it. I slip it out from underneath and unfold it. Hurry for breakfast. It starts in 20 minutes. Don't be late. Effie x

I sigh. Effie, don't do this to me. Not before the games.