"Trinket? Hey, Trinket, where are you?"

Haymitch walked down the hallway, peering nonchalantly into every door he passed. "Trinket, the interviews are about to start. Where are you?"

"Just a minute!" Effie's shrill voice was coming from one of the large bathrooms. "I'm getting ready."

"Well, you're taking forever. The Games will be done by the time you get out here."

"I said, it'll only be a minute!"

Haymitch rolled his eyes. Then, a smirk came over his face. He was in a mischievous mood, and nothing made his day like watching Effie fuss about. So he feigned a gasp. "Trinket, get out of there right now! There's a fire out here!" He banged his fist against the wall, and then gave a fake cry of pain. "Ouch… dammit!"

He heard her gasp- painfully real compared to his own bad acting, but she would believe anything after all. "What? Haymitch, are you all right!?" The door banged open and Effie ran out. At least, he thought it was Effie. He hardly recognized the woman standing in the doorway. Maybe it was because she looked so different, or maybe it was because his heart had stopped for a moment when he saw her.

Wavy strawberry blonde hair cascaded down over her shoulders. He couldn't decide if it looked more blonde or ginger. Her face was completely free of makeup, and she looked… real. More than that, she looked beautiful. As Haymitch stared at her, Effie's face contorted with anger. "Oh, you awful man!" she hissed, frowning, her lower lip jutting out. "I should have known you were lying."

"Effie… wow." was all he managed to get out.

"What?" Her cheeks grew red. "I know, I know I'm hideous! I never wanted you to see me like this."

"Hideous?" Haymitch repeated, his charcoal-grey eyes widening. "Trinket, you're not hideous. You're beautiful. You know what's hideous? All the other crap you usually have on."

Effie stared back at him. "Haymitch… you really think I'm beautiful?" She waited for him to respond for a few seconds, and then shook her head bitterly. "No. Of course not. I look awful like this, and you're only teasing me."

"I'm not kidding." Haymitch replied.

"But… I can't be beautiful. Not without my makeup."

"Well, where I come from, makeup is really expensive. So no one wears it." Haymitch explained. "To me, the women who look natural are the prettiest. You may think that you need to wear that mask, but I think it makes you look weird."

"Really?" She looked hopeful. Haymitch had never thought of her as self-conscious before.

"Yeah, really."

Effie smiled. "Thank you, Haymitch. You… I never thought I'd say this, but you're so sweet." She got up onto her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. Haymitch took her by the hand and kissed her on the forehead in return.

"You're pretty sweet, too, darling."

Effie wrapped her arms around his neck. Haymitch hefted her up into his arms, as she pressed her lips against his. Still adjusting to her sudden weight in his arms, Haymitch stumbled backward, his back colliding with the wall. He cursed under his breath, and Effie giggled.

"The bedroom is that way, silly." she murmured.

"Sorry, sweetheart." he replied dryly.

xXx

Haymitch woke up under bright pink sheets. When he poked his head out, he found Effie sitting at the end of the bed, watching him. She was already fully dressed, wearing a frilly purple and turquoise dress. On her head was her favourite bubblegum pink wig, and once more, her soft skin was coated with makeup. The victor felt his heart sink.

"Hello there, Sleeping Beauty." Effie greeted him with a smile. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Right." Haymitch mumbled. His mouth felt dry. Seeing the porcelain doll smiling at him now, he wondered if the girl he'd met last night had been only a dream.