A/N: I recently finished Catching Fire, and I absolutely LOVED it, so I decided to write a very short Effie/Haymitch fanfic, because they belong together!!! Maybe I'm reading too closely into the story, but oh, well! I also want to say that I will be posting my opinions about the Hunger Games series on my blog, .com. Anyway, I hope you like the story, please R&R!!! ^_^
Prologue
Effie's POV
I tapped my fingers against the splintered wooden table, exasperated as well as offended. It was bad etiquette to be late. It was also very annoying.
Finally, the door opened, and the drunken fool staggered into the room. He was holding a bottle of white liquor, and his eyes were bloodshot. He smelled of vomit, alcohol, and something that I couldn't quite place. Revolting.
It was hard to believe that this man was the champion of the second Quarter Quell, Haymitch Abernathy.
Why was I seeing him? Well, President Snow wanted me to be the escort for District Twelve. I was to bring the tributes from the Hunger Games to the Capitol and back (if that ever happened).
Nevertheless, I stood up and held my hand out towards him to shake, "Hello! I'm Effie Trinket, District Twelve's new escort! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Haymitch looked at, and snorted, and I pulled back, revolted. I decided not to comment, however. He obviously wasn't thinking due to the alcohol. I couldn't help but think that one day, I'll get a promotion. Then I'll never have to deal with District Twelve again. I'll be on to bigger and better things.
Another year. Another year of dealing with Haymitch Abernathy and this pitiful district. It was sheer torture.
"Ladies first!" I chirped at the reaping, pulling out a slip of paper, "Primrose Everdeen!"
A scared, young girl walked onto the stage. Obviously I wasn't going to be escorting this one back. Such a pity.
"No! Prim! I volunteer!" another girl shouted, running onstage. That was about all the excitement this reaping held. Except when Haymitch fell off the platform. That was funny.
District Twelve's tributes were weak-looking, and I had absolutely no doubts that I wouldn't be escorting these two backā¦
Chapter One (after Catching Fire!)
Haymitch's POV
I rubbed some ointment on my face where Katniss had scratchedme. I can sometimes forget how sharp women keep their nails. Like Effie's nails. Long, with a delicate curve, and always painted to match her wig. The nails were always attached to those dainty hands of hers.
I wondered if she would be in trouble with the Capitol. Would she be executed on live television? Would she be tortured?
No. I couldn't live with myself should that happen. Effie was almost like a dear friend to me, albeit a somewhat irritating one, who could make me want to kill her on some occasions. However, though I would never admit it, my life would be drastically different without her. I've been working with her for five years now, and our relationship has always been stormy at times, but sometimes I would think that there was something more underneath the sarcastic remarks and annoyed eye rolls. Something I could never place.
I remember when I first started working with her. We had a very rocky start:
Flashback
I entered my room, holding my bottle of wine while ignoring the helpless sobs of the two tributes ready for slaughter. There really wasn't any chance that they would be returning at all, so what was the point of trying to help them?
Effie stormed into the room just as I lay down on my bed, "That was unnecessary, Haymitch."
I snorted; the old escort would not have cared, "Like you care!"
She rolled her eyes, "You have to help them! If you don't, I'll never get that promotion!"
I took a sip of wine, "You know, you people are all the same!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Effie put her hands on her hips.
I couldn't help but chuckle, "You know what I mean,"
I could see the fury in her eyes, and I took a secret satisfaction in watching her unravel, "If you would stop drinking, maybe your district would win!"
"No," I said, my voice full of disdain, "I wouldn't give you the satisfaction!"
She turned red, "Give me the wine."
I gave her a look, and took a big gulp from the bottle.
This infuriated her; Effie jumped on the bed, and put her knees on either side of me. She leaned over me, and grabbed the bottle, "I said give it to me!"
"No!" I shouted.
We struggled for awhile. Effie's wig was barely on and our button up shirts had become undone. I guess that it must have looked wrong to the other tributes. They had walked in on us, and were now staring at us, mouths agape.
Effie screamed, and buttoned up her shirt, while I pushed her off me. "What do you want?" I growled.
They shook their heads, and Effie tried to straighten her wig, "You two get to bed! You have a big, big day ahead!"
I chortled at her pep, and she gave me a look of utter disdain. The kids walked out, and Effie turned to look at me, "That was utterly humiliating!"
"Oh, yeah! Because looking at your chest is so fascinating for me!" I replied sarcastically.
"You are a sick-minded man!" she exclaimed, finally getting her wig into place.
I laughed coldly, while she stormed out of the room. We will never be able to see eye-to-eye. Ever.
End of Flashback
I couldn't help but give a slight chuckle when I remembered that night. We did have a horrible start, but I also wondered what it would be like to be just friends with one another. To have more than a mutual understanding. To be something besides coworkers.
Or maybe more than friends.
That thought had shaken me. Us, romantically involved? To wake up beside her every morning. To like together, to be together. We would never have kids, even if we lived in the Capitol, but what about marriage? Would I be willing to give up everything to be with Effie?
Would I be willing to be sober with her?
Would she even want to be with me?
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter, the next one will be from Effie's POV. Please R&R! Your opinion matters!!! ^_^
