Thank you so much to all of those who reviewed, alerted, and favorited this story! It means so much and also motivates me to write another chapter! So, without further ado, here's chapter two.

Chapter two: Dining and Dashing

I planned never to mention what happened between me and Haymitch that night several weeks back to anyone. I had enough stress on myself as it was and did not need rumors floating about that I was having relations with the drunken victor from District Twelve. Before I had left the morning after our...encounter...I made him swear not to tell anyone. I threatened that if he did, I would make sure that every drop of liquor was confiscated from his quarters. Of course, being Haymitch, he just laughed and muttered something offensive before heading back to his bottle. I wasn't sure what upset me more, the fact that he found my worries about people finding out we had sex humorous or that he merely shrugged off the fact that we had as if it were nothing.

Although, it was a bit relieving that I only seemed to be the one feeling awkward about it and not him. It would make things easier when I had to see him again within the next two weeks for the Victory Tour. It would be just as if nothing had ever happened. I would be myself making sure everything was in order and going as according to plan, Katniss and Peeta would be getting camera-ready with the help of their prep teams for the crowds of citizens who awaited their appearance, and Haymitch would be the drunken mentor who always seemed to find a way to to embarrass me. Things would be back to normal and soon, I would be forgetting that this had ever happened.

xXx

As the Victory Tour draws nearer, I find myself fretting more and more over the scheduling of it all. As embarrassing as it is to admit, my worrying has become so much that I find myself nauseous quite often. Luckily, I have had access to several varieties of pills that are for calming the nerves so that I appear calm and collected out in public. But, even medicine cannot make a mind that is so set on perfection relax.

To eliminate some stress, I invite Cinna and Portia out to lunch to discuss their final plans of what outfits the victors shall be wearing. Unlike Haymitch, these two are far more polite and seem more keen on going over the scheduled events with me. Because of this, I decide that this occasion calls for more of formal attire than what I wore to when I visited Haymitch-meaning, I decide to wear the mink coat I forgot to take with me to Haymitch's along with a violet wig to match my newly manicured nails.

"You look ravishing today, Effie. And might I add what a lovely new wig that is. The violet very much compliments your eyes." Cinna smiles as he lifts his glass of water to his lips taking a sip. I smile appreciatively at him comment because-unlike Haymitch, when he gives compliments, they are genuine.

"Well that's very kind of you to say." I reply, my hands absentmindly adjusting the faux-curls on my head. "I saw it in the salon and I couldn't resist."

Portia nods in agreement, her eyes fixed on my wig. "I do believe I saw that same one." She smiles as her eyes meet mine. "I was in search of some inspiration when I came across it in a store window. I was drawn to the color immediately. I was just telling Cinna before you arrived that I think a silk dress, along with some pearls, of that color would be a wonderful outfit for Katniss to wear at District Nine."

A smile grows on Cinna's face as he now eyes my wig with even more interest. "Now that I have the color in front of me, I do see what you mean, Portia." He takes a pen and scribes something down quickly in a notebook he has before him. "I'll make a few calls tonight to see if we can have the fabric made." He sets down his pen and looks at me once more. "Thank you for the inspiration, Effie. Or rather, your wig's coloring inspiration."

I chuckle politely at his semi joke. "Well, it's a very fine color to say the least." I lift up my glass of water and take a sip ignoring the fact that my stomach has begun to churn. I should've brought those pills with me.

"Oh, how rude of me." Portia says as I set down my glass. "I forgot to ask how your visit with Haymitch went." I feel my stomach twist into a knot as she mentions my journey to see Haymitch. Quickly, I mask my surprise with a slight smile as she continues. "Cinna and I have been so busy preparing, that we forgot to call and see how things went."

"Haymitch was his usual self." Portia and Cinna chuckle softly at my comment. "I didn't really get anywhere with him. As you know, this sort of activity is not his cup of tea." I look down into my lap for a split second and notice that I have twisted my napkin into a misshapen form. Taking a deep breath, I remove my hands from my lap and lift my eyes to the faces of Cinna and Portia. "So, it was a lost cause to begin with. Unfortunately, I didn't run into Katniss or Peeta. I meant to visit them too but something occurred and I had to leave earlier than expected." I feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as I lie.

"That's too bad." Cinna replies with much sympathy in his voice. "I do owe Katniss a call. If there's anything you'd like me to convey to her, I'd be more than happy to."I appreciate his words and as I'm about to reply, the waiter appears with bowls of steaming hot pheasant soup laden with a sort of shaved green vegetable as decoration. My stomach twists at the smell and it takes all that I have to keep from gagging.

"Mm, smells delightful." Portia smiles as she adjusts the placement setting of her utensils as the waiter sets down her bowl. "Thank you."

Cinna removes his notebook from the table and graciously accepts a bowl of soup. I try to hide my discomfort as a bowl is set in front of me. Usually, I love soup-tomato being my favorite flavor, but at the moment, the mere smell of it makes my stomach flip inside out.

"Effie," Cinna's voice breaks my thought process. I look to see both him and Portia eyeing me with a look of concern. "Are you alright? You've gone pale."

"Oh, well, I..." I let out a nervous chuckle, racking my brain as I try to think of an excuse. I did not plan on sharing the information that I was feeling ill to my stomach while we sat around the lunch table. "It must be the lighting. They just dimmed it. I'm trying out this new foundation and it seems not to be that flattering in this light." I suddenly feel very warm as I try to nonchalantly fan myself with my hand.

"Are you sure you're alright, Effie?" Portia asks with much worry laced into each word. "At least let me call the waiter to bring you another glass of ice water."

I nodded gratefully at her comment. "Yes, yes, thank you. I do believe ice water will help me." I'm blushing with embarrassment now. How silly I must look.

Portia motions for the waiter to come over and in a matter of seconds, a fresh glass of ice water is placed before me. I lift the glass to my lips and drink it slowly, feeling slightly better as the cool water runs down my throat.

"I feel much better now." I assure them. "I guess it must be the heat or something. I will make sure of putting a complaint in when I see the manager." This makes them both smile but I believe it's because they are relieved.

"So," Cinna begins after finishing his first spoonful of soup. "I assume we need to be focusing much on what Katniss and Peeta will be wearing at the Capitol. I expect there will be many wardrobe changes they both will be making while there."

I force down a spoonful of soup as I listen to him intently. "There are many banquets that I have set up for them to attend to, the biggest being at President Snow's residences." My stomach gurgles unpleasantly and I blush with embarrassment at the thought that Cinna and Portia might have heard it. When no sign of that they had appears on their faces, I continue. "So, for the Capitol, at least six different outfits for each victor. I don't think it would look that good if they wore the same thing twice." They both nod in agreement.

"I have plenty of designs set for Katniss and I know Portia has the same for Peeta." Portia nods at Cinna's comment and gives him a smile. "So, we should be alright." He smiles warmly at me before looking over at Portia.

"Cinna and I are set." Portia grins, "For anything that comes are way. We have an outfit for any occasion."

My stomach churns even more when Cinna lifts his glass up in the air. "I propose a toast." He smiles, looking from Portia to me. "For the Victory Tours. May everything go perfectly as planned."

Portia lifts her glass towards Cinna's and I do the same. I open my mouth to reply as our glasses clink, but to my horror, at that exact moment, I lose control of my stomach. Glass shatters, water spills, my vomit splatters onto the sleeve of my mink coat, mixing with my soup to form an unappetizing color, and the horrified faces of those around me.

Mortified. That's putting it lightly how I feel at this exact moment.

Oh Effie, how I pity you so. The odds are just not in your favor it seems. Anyway, I promise the chapters will get longer soon and next chapter will be very interesting because our dear Effie learns that not only stress causes upset stomachs. Please review/alert/favorite. It's like steroids for writers, makes us work faster.-Jen