Haymitch/Effie Aka Heffie

Haymitch's POV

Just great. More tributes off to the Hunger Games, never to come back. I feel pretty bad, I mean I actually kind of like katniss and peeta. The girl has an attitude that I can respect. We're more alike than I would ever let on.

Just then, Little Miss Perfect walks in the room.

"Hello, Haymitch," she says. All I can do is manage a grunt. She puts her hand on my shoulder and I see her insane nail job. I swear, the trends of the Capitol are beyond me sometimes.

"Nice nails," Imumble sarcastically. Shemoves tosit on the couch across from me and I notice her eyelashes as well, whichare somehow curled into butterfly form. How…?

You know what, I don't want to know.

"Your eyelashes are absolutely stunning as well," I comment snidely, rolling my eyes.

"Haymitch!" Effie scolds. "It is extremely rude to comment on someone's appearance, let alone when they are in the room!" Geez…when is she going to realize I don't care?

I decide to voice that thought aloud. "Look, Princess, when are you going to realize that I don't care what you think is proper or not?"

"Haymitch, you are being even ruder than usual today! What is going on with you?" she asks.

I shake my head. "Are you telling me it doesn't bother you one bit that every single year we just send off two more innocent kids that most likely aren't coming back? We're never going to see those two again, and nobody in this darned Capitol gives a crap about it!" I exclaim.

"You think I don't know that?" Effie suddenly snaps. "I've even been around this place longer than you have, watching these poor children going off and being killed! You think I like it?"

"You sure act like it, sweetheart!" I retort angrily.

"You know what, Haymitch?" Oh lord, she's going to try and tell me off now. "I thought you could be a little nice to me considering…"

"Considering what? That I absolutely despise you?"

"No considering that I actually try when it comes to you! Think about it, how many other people in this world try for you? I try to explain the right thing for you to do because I care that you're making a fool of yourself! I don't want you to look like a fool in front of the entire country! I care, Haymitch," she finishes in a whisper.

I'm completely speechless. What am I supposed to say to that? I didn't know she cared about me. Actually, I didn't think anyone cared about me anymore. But, why her? Why would it be someone who I treat like crap every day? I mean, I really treat everyone like crap but I think I'm especially rude to Effie because I know it bothers her.

"You care about me? Me?"

"Yes," Effie says simply.

I stand slowly, turn around and begin to walk out of the room. I hear a frustrated mutter behind me.

"Typical Haymitch, he's always running away from a situation when he doesn't know how to act."

"You know, Effie," I say without turning around. "It's very rude to make a comment on someone's attitude, let alone while they're still in the room."

"I – I…"

"But thank you, Effie." I've never said thank you to anyone before, not since I was reaped for the Games.

"Did you just say thank you to me, for what?"

I look her in the eyes when I say, "For caring."

She gives me a small smile.

"You're welcome, Haymitch. You are very welcome."

A/N: So, me and my friends were bored and decided to write a Hunger Games fanfiction. I asked one which pairing we should use and she said Effie/Haymitch. I thought, what the heck? Why not?

It was so much harder than I thought it would be, so enjoy. I want reviews for this one shot!

Credit goes out to Gia1098 and jpup44 for their help on this!

And our other friend who doesn't have a fanfiction account.

~NinaKatnissWeasley7