'Ef, What are you doing?'

'Tasting your coffee'

'You know, for someone who really doesn't wanna kiss me your sure going the extra lengths to make it happen'

'Haymitch!'

He winked and she removed his hand from her knee

'A kiss? What kiss? Who's kissing?' Flavia, a mutual friend of Haymitch and Effie's leaned in closer over the table 'you two are always up to something!'

'Haymitch dared Effie' Axel, also a mutual friend of them both, chimed in

F: 'Ooh a dare!? Effie never backs down from a dare!'

E:' you told him?'

H:'what's the big deal?'

A:'yeah but don't worry Ef, I don't think Haymitch will last the entire evening either'

H:' hey! Have a little faith!'

F:' will someone please tell me what's going on, why am I always the last to know?'

E:'oh for crying out loud! Haymitch dared me to kiss him earlier, I said no! But he was still drunk from the night before and irritatingly persistent as always so I said if he can make it through the entire evening without a drop of liquor I'd honour the stupid kiss! Satisfied!'

A:' and...?' Axel smiled knowingly

E:' and what?'

A:' and the rest...'

Effie glared at Haymitch who just sipped his coffee silently

F:' there's more?'

A:'if he manages it Effie has to kiss him for one whole minute!'

E:'AXEL!'

A:'then Haymitch bet that if he could make her knees buckle he'd get to kiss her again, wherever he wanted'

Axel and Fulvia exchanged a humoured glance

E:'what's so funny? Even if I do have to kiss him I'm not going to enjoy it!'

Fulvia patted her hand

F:'you obviously don't know about Haymitches reputation then Ef' she teased

E:'ha! Reputation? Course I know about Haymitches reputation!' She looked at him 'your nothing but a womanizer!'

Haymitch held his hands up and smiled

F:'so you realise your going to lose?'

E:'what? Lose? Ha! Euphemia Trinket never loses! Fulvia your supposed to be on my side!'

F:'sweetie, I am, truly but you do get yourself into these things. Haymitch...well...he's a very good kisser, trust me, your knees are gonna buckle. In fact I'm a little jealous. Can I get in on this dare?' She winked at Haymitch

H:'excuse me, I need to use the little boys room' he excused him self abruptly

A:'Haymitch, you dog!'

E:'you've kissed Haymitch?'

F:'sweetie, everyone's kissed Haymitch at some point! Trust me your missing out, he's a sure thing!'

Effie's eyes widened in the shock of it.

A:'ah, isn't the bathroom suite that way Effie?'

E:'yes, why?'

A:'well not to be a tattle tale but I'm pretty sure Haymitch just snook off the other way'

E:'THAT LITTLE...!'

She stood and followed after him.

A:'well well well, I guess she does want him to stick to his side of the bargain'

F:'oh, believe me! She better hope that he does!'

'Haymitch!? Haymitch!'

'What!?'

He was shirtless and standing by his bed

'I...ah...what are you doing!?'

'Changing my shirt what does it look like woman!'

'Are you sure your not sneaking a sip from that bottle you have hidden under your pillow!'

He moved his pillow. Nothing.

'Happy?'

He moved towards her. Still shirtless.

'What are you doing, let go of my arms!'

'Look Ef, if your so desperate for that kiss why not just do it now'

'Desperate? I'm not desperate! I'm...I'm only being persistent for your own good!'

'Oh really'

'Yes! Really! If you can make it through one night what's to stop you making it through one whole day? A week? Months?'

'Does my drinking really bother you that much?'

'No, not terribly, just, well you would be so much better without it!'

'Better...?'

'Mannered for starters!'

'You like a man with manners right?'

He moved closer

'Well...I...who doesn't' she avoided his eyes

'Well then, my dear sweet Miss Trinket, if I ask you very very nicely...'

Closer still. She felt the heat of his breath at her neck. It suddenly excited her. She hated him for it.

'...would you let me kiss you, right now?'

She thought about it. Hard. It was very tempting to give in whilst he stood there, half exposed and overpowering her with his manly physique

'But...my knees haven't buckled yet'

He looked at her challenging eyes

'And...the evening is far from over!'

She slipped from his grasp and headed out

'And hurry up and put a shirt on Haymitch! How else am I supposed to concentrate on winning these stupid games of yours!'

to be continued... ;) x