"Hey there sweetheart, what's the matter?you not enjoying this 'fabulous' party?"
Haymitch found Katniss huddled behind an extravagant plant, the vase almost as tall as himself.
"Are you?" She quizzed
"Absolutely...not"
They shared a laugh.
"I don't know how she keeps it up, you have to admire her for it"
Haymitch followed Katniss's eyes, puzzled.
They fell on Effie, submerged amidst a circle of wanna be suitors, friends, foe and chatter. She looked illuminous. Giggling, drinking, teasing her many admirers.
"I'm taking mental notes. If I could act the way she does I'm sure I'd feel a lot more confident about making it in this world of 'victors'" Katniss's eyes stayed fixed across the room. Haymitch had to laugh.
"That ain't acting sweetheart"
Katniss looked at him "course it is, you really think she's enjoying herself?"
He laughed again
"Kat, Effie trinket was born into this world. She's lived and breathed and painted it since she could gurgle. Just look at her, smiling and laughing, she loves it, it's who she is. And something you need to pray to never be" he took his eyes away from Effie's display and swigged his bottle. Katniss folded her arms in protest.
"Haymitch? How many years did you say you have worked together?"
"Too many" he took another swig as Katniss continued.
"Well, I guess that just goes to show how many of those years you have been drunk. I've barely known her two months and I know her better than you do"
"I don't think so sweetheart" he went to take another swig but Katniss snatched his bottle and set it down, she turned him back toward Effie and the crowd that surrounded her.
"Ok, watch!"
He rolled his eyes but complied with a 'huff'
"See how she strokes her ear like that?"
He knodded, Kat continued
"She's uncomfortable! See how her eyes don't meet each person she's speaking with"
"There's a lot of people Kat" she gave him a dig and spoke on
"Just watch, Haymitch. She's just smiling, nodding, laughing when everyone else does. Trust me, I know how to read people, especially after the life I've had. She does it to perfection. This is all an act for her, nothing more. That's why I like her Haymitch. I trust her. She's one of us. We are a team"
Still squinting in disbelief, Haymitch decided to give Katniss the benefit of the doubt and continued to study Effie.
As a couple of minutes past he did notice the subtle little things that Kat had mentioned. The stroking of her ear, her vacant eyes, her perfectly timed laughter. Indeed it was odd, but he wasn't overly convinced. How could Katniss claim to know Effie better than he did? She hadn't been by her side all these years. Well, thinking about it seriously, he hadn't either. The only thing he'd had beside him was a bottle of Jacker Crack whiskey. A sudden pang of jealousy struck him but he didn't waver in it.
Suddenly he'd caught Effie's eye.
'Haymitch! Katniss!' Her beaming face and melodic voice filled the room.
Katniss gave Haymitch another dig. "See! That's the most genuine smile I've seen from her all evening! Effie! Come over here!"
Effie nodded eagerly and parted from her crowd without a care in the world. She made her way over, leaving a trail of wanton admirers in her stead.
Haymitch went for his bottle but Kat grabbed it quickly and poured its remains into the vase. "Hey, what are you doing?!"
"It's not what I'm doing, it's what your doing. Your going to ask Effie to dance"
"I am not"
"Am not what?" Effie chirped, as her glittering presence fell upon them.
"Drinking!" Kat jumped in. "Haymitch has decided he's not going to drink anymore at tonight's party" Haymitch gave Kat a sour look but she continued "in fact! Haymitch has decided to try and quit drinking all together !"
Effie spoke before he could
"Haymitch! That's wonderful! I'm so proud of you! What's brought this on!?"
"He wanted to...ah...impress you Effie" Kat answered for him as his sour look turned to crimson anger. Kat just smiled. "Yeah, he um...really wanted to prove to you that he's ready to be so much more serious about his mentor duties"
He was ready to burst but Effie's delighted face was to overwhelmingly sweet so he played along.
"Oh Haymitch, you have made my evening you really have!" She kissed his cheek. The crimson colour re appeared but this time it was a blush.
"Oh and thank goodness you called me over here! Those mindless idiots were making my mind ache"
Katniss played dumb much to Haymitchs annoyance. "You mean you weren't enjoying yourself Ef?"
"God no! That bunch of drooling vultures?!I'd much rather be over here with you two! Yes, even you Haymitch!" She gave him a wink. He smiled in reply then looked at Katniss and her 'Cheshire cat' grin
"Wanna dance Ef?" Haymitch bit the bullet, Anything to get away from Kats 'I told you so' face
Effie was taken aback, her eyes wide in flattered surprise.
"C'mon Ef! Whilst I'm still sober!" He took her arm before she could accept and led her to the dance floor.
"Tell me Haymitch, did Kat put you up to this" she smiled at him as they waltzed together, her tone humorous.
"Ah, maybe"
She threw her head back in laughter
"I knew it! All these years, so many parties and this is the first time I've ever danced with you"
He smiled guiltily
"You know me Ef! Not much of a dancer!"
"Ha, true, very true! I must say though Haymitch, your doing a delightful job right now"
"Perhaps it's because I'm being led by a true natural"
She laughed again
"Oh my, you MUST be sober, that's the first compliment you've paid me in years"
Another pang of guilt. He didn't like being sober. He was no longer immune to his own feelings.
"Oh don't look so disheartened dear, I'm just sparring with you. As much as I hate to admit, I do enjoy your teasing. It reminds me that you, in some way, do care for me"
He laughed now
"Oh come on I know it's true" she teased "when you care nothing about a person, you don't waste the breath. I think it's safe to say you've wasted a hell of a lot of breath on me over the years mitchy. Your hatred for my choice in fashion, hair, makeup, social life. Yes, you have been very very vocal"
He stopped dancing and just looked at her. Taking her in and everything she had said.
"There's no hatred for any of you Ef. I'm sorry you've felt like that for some time. I tease you because it reminds me that, no matter what, your still here and I need you. It's not always easy to need someone. I'm sorry"
He let go of her and pushed his way through the dancing crowd, she watched him leave, puzzled yet overcome with a sudden new found affection for him. A group of party goers seized the moment and pulled her back into their gossiping group, pulled her back in the her official acting role that she had so briefly and happily forgotten.
It took Effie a good 20 minutes to pry herself away from her admirers. She found Katniss and Peeta by the fountain of chocolate, their faces were covered in it!
"Katniss! Peeta! Go wash up immediately! The photographer is doing his rounds again!"
She chuckled at their innocence.
"Have you seen Haymitch?"
"I think he went home is everything ok?" Asked Katniss
"Oh, shoot! Ah. I'm not sure. I think I upset him or he upset himself by upsetting me...oh I don't know, I think I need to speak to him! You kids stay...have fun...eat...ah...oh eat whatever you want, bye kids"
"Bye Ef!" They both said in union between a mouthful of chocolate covered strawberries
It took her a few minutes but Effie eventually found Haymitch on the roof with, surprisingly, a bottle of water.
"Hey"
She approached him gingerly
"Hey Ef. Sorry, I'd had my fill of that party tonight, I had to get out of there."
He smiled affectionately as she sat beside him on the roof ledge. Looking down was a big mistake, she suddenly felt very queasy.
"Um, that's ok. I was worried I'd upset you?"
He almost choked on his water
"You upset me? Ef! No, no, no"
He slid closer to her and placed his hand on hers.
"You could never upset me Ef. I just, well...with not drinking as much tonight and something that Kat said, I just got abit of clarity and it was...well-"
"What Kat said? What did she say?"
"She said she trusted you, that even though you were surrounded by all those damn Capitol folk, she could see the real you, she said you...this-" he looked her up and down "was nothing but a very good act, that you were one of us, part of the team"
Effie sat and pondered. She felt touched at Katniss's words, a little overwhelmed really, small crystal tears began to form in her eyes...
"Well...I'm touched, truly..."
"Is she right...?"
"Well..." Effie paused for a moment
"Are you one of us Ef?"
"Yes Haymitch. I mean, well, I mean yes but...don't get me wrong I love the way I dress, I love the city, I...I'm greatful for how lucky I am but"
"Cut the crap Ef?!"
"Ok, god damn it, I'm miserable! This job! The people! ugh, Snow and his manners and the way he looks at me like I'm just a piece of skirt! I have no friends...well I have 'friends' or aquaintences, not one of them whom I would trust with my life, all of them would throw me to the hungers games for a shot at my position. And I'm tired Haymitch. I'm tired of life, I'm tired of death, I'm tired of putting on these fabulous outfits everyday, I'm just tired. The only thing I look forward too yet hate to because of the circumstances is seeing you"
Haymitch laughed at the fact that she didn't seem too happy about the latter.
"My my Ef! Your life must be pretty shitty to look forward to THAT every year"
"I know" she said sarcastically and they laughed together
"I got mad...at myself tonight. The fact that I've known you all these years yet I don't think I actually know you at all"
She placed her other hand on top of both of there's.
"And I you Haymitch. Although...if it makes you feel better, I believe I'm beginning to"
She smiled at him, Katniss was right, there was a clear difference between acting Effie and genuine Effie. She wasn't acting any more, even If she was still head to toe in costume and makeup. He smiled too, aware that they had been looking at one another in silence for several minutes.
He thought he should kiss her but he didn't. He wasn't sure enough that she wouldn't push him off the damn roof for even trying. Instead, he lifted her small hand to his lips and kissed it gently.
Effie let out a sigh, whether it was frustration or irritation he, again, wasn't ready to find out...
"Good night Haymitch" she stood and headed for her chambers "I'm really happy your no longer drinking"
He winked at her and watched her leave.
"Goodnight Effie"