Then
Effie's world was blinded by tears, the coursing emotions settled deep within her like a constant flame bringing warmth.
Watching Katniss and her former mentor, Haymitch Abernathy walk down the stairs from the mansion was almost too overwhelming for her to bear and she had to turn away for a couple seconds, pressing both her hands against her mouth to stop herself from crying.
The war is over. There is nothing to be upset about, she kept reminding herself, holding her head up high, as her parents taught her, and breathing deeply. Yet why did she still feel as if a piece of her life was missing amidst all the celebrations and toasts? At that thought a recent memory of yesterday flashed through her mind:
Flutter Featherlight, one of Effie's closest and most trusted friends leaned towards her under the pulsing purple lights of the party, "Effie," Flutter chirped in her high voice, indicating toward Effie's completely full stem glass with her red two-inch fingernails, the drink sputtered out sparkles every few seconds, "drink up darling, this is a prime social, not something to be upset about." Effie didn't respond, instead she straightened out her deep blue wig and slowly leaned back into her armchair with a tiny sigh, still managing to look polite as she did so. Flutter frowned at her.
"Oh Effie," Flutter continued with a overly chirpy laugh, "aren't you happy this is all over? What you had to endure with those rebels, now that is what I call grit. And we both know how much time your job as a Hunger Games escort took up. Never enough time to see your dearest friend." Flutter pouted her lips delicately that even Effie's lips pulled up at the corners as the sudden nostalgic memories overtook her.
Flutter and her had been best friends ever since they grew up together in one of the most prestigious fashion academies in the northern sector of the Capitol. Effie had already then been a huge devotee to scheduling and Flutter enthusiastically fluttered along: modeling for each other on Monday, raiding their mothers bulging closets on Tuesday (whilst the parents were out attending weekly soirees), a hair color change on Wednesday which would then be matched with a trip to get new nails on Thursday, Fridays were reserved for sipping virgin drinks at the city Circle whilst tittering about the latest fashion arrivals. Saturday and Sundays were always kept for some much needed beauty sleep, an occasional visit to the doctor to remove the ever present sleepy eyes and any high society events which the Trinket family had been invited to. They never had a boring moment in their lives, and were constant companions to each other. After all, that was what the Capitol youth were meant to do: live happily ever after in a never-ending rush of joy.
When Effie had been offered a job as escort for the Hunger Games, she had been ecstatic, and she had given her all to make her superiors proud of her work.
"Well, at least you never have to see that horrible drunkard anymore, my dear." Flutter looked sympathetically at Effie who began picking at her tiny appetizer plate - a small lemon-drenched salmon filet served with ripe plums.
At that Effie's throat contracted, and she had a hard time breathing, thinking of what Flutter had just said. That horrible drunkard. She meant Haymitch Abernathy, of course. After all, those were the exact words Effie had used to describe him to Flutter when she first began working with him. Never caring about anything other than his ceaseless thirst for booze, she had thought haughtily the first time she laid eyes on him. After the first Games they had cooperated together she began to realize that he just didn't care enough to save the two children he had been given and she had begun to lose hope in him, feeling little relief even when the tributes seemed somewhat capable. Haymitch alwgays ended up abandoning them to their own wits. At least that's what Effie had let herself believe at first.
After a while she began to notice his telltale signs of pain; the way his eyebrows drooped when he felt out of control, the lines around his mouth that tightened, and of course, him constantly reaching to the next drink, fingers clenching stiffly around the glass. She especially began to notice it as Haymitch began mentoring Katniss. Maybe it was because of some personal feelings he had had towards Maysilee Donner, Katniss' mother's best friend, but she saw his affection towards her, even though he would constantly deny it.
There were so many moments when she wanted to reach out and comfort him during those Games, but felt constricted to being in her role as escort, knowing full well that lending Haymitch any kind of support would count as a slip of control, so she always held back. She wouldn't let a year long training to become a Capitol escort be for nothing.
Being part of the rebels had been very difficult for Effie, being a woman of high class no less, and although she loathed the tight rules which left little space for liberally parading her fashion forte, she could finally speak without being under any kind of scrutiny. She had never once dared to physically reach out to Haymitch, but she had smiled at him countless times, and although Haymitch would constantly relapse into his old habits of being bitter and sardonic, she could see some of the tension and pain drain away from him. Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch were the only people who had kept Effie in District 13.
Effie had then blinked away the flashback that had taken place inside her head, and focused on Flutter and what she had said, "Well, although he does have rather horrible manners," she said in her usual high-pitched voice, trying not to show just how much she felt for him, "I think that some of the things I had been trying to tell him have actually gotten through to him. I have gotten rather fond of him, you know." Effie coughed after she said her last words, hoping that Flutter didn't notice the slight blush that crept into her cheeks and the way she fidgeted.
Flutter, completely oblivious, brightened at hearing about his improvement, and launched into a discussion about the best way to subdue bad mannerisms.
Effie counted to ten and slowly turned back around to see Katniss and Haymitch making their way over to her.
"Effie," Katniss rushed over to her and pulled Effie into a tight hug, "thank you so much for everything you have done for us."
"My dear," Effie, threatened to be engulfed in tears, breathed deeply before continuing, "promise me, Katniss, promise you'll find it."
"Find what?" Katniss asked, stepping back out of the embrace.
"The life of a victor," Effie whispered to her fiercely, overcome with emotion.
She nodded solemnly, and stood back a few paces, letting Haymitch through to step closer to Effie. Her heart began to flutter at the sight of him. His eyes, they looked right through Effie, through all the layers of makeup and clothes, and they looked right into her. Over his shoulder Effie saw Katniss turn slightly, giving them some more privacy.
"Effie," he cleared his throat and took her hands lightly, "don't be a stranger." Very slowly, he bent down to kiss her cheek. Heat flushed up into her face as his lips trailed from her cheek to her lips, which he kissed briefly. His eyes spoke volumes as he stepped back and looked at her.
Effie was so lost in thought, lost in that kiss, that she didn't even realize when he turned away and started walking away with Katniss. They were already about twenty feet away from her when she couldn't take it anymore. Her heart opened itself up and the words burst from her mouth before she could even stop them,
"Haymitch!"
He turned back slowly, looking at her curiously. The pained and pleading expression on Effie's face probably said more to him than if she had spoken the words aloud. He knew. And from the way his eyes looked at her again, Effie knew that he felt the same way too.
He slowly walked back to where she was standing, hands in pockets, a mischievous glint on his eyes, and hesitantly took her into his arms, whispering the words into her ear that from that day forth forever changed their lives:
"Come with me."