A/N: I don't own The Hunger Games.
I'm so happy to get some great reviews. I really appreciate it. I'm not to sure if I like the way this chapter ended but I think it's pretty good. Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks again :)
Chapter 2
Effie smooths her vanilla and warm brown sugar scented lotion all over her freshly scrubbed skin. She's taken extra time to primp before dinner because she wants to emphasize her natural look without going over the top capitol with it. The only part of her otherwise lackluster ensemble that truly keeps to Effie's personal taste is her shoes.
Effie will cast aside her wigs, brightly colored dresses and over the top makeup but she will not compromise on her choice of footwear. Shoes are to Effie what applause is to Tinkerbell, she'll die without her fabulous stilettos.
Since the weather is so agreeable Effie decides to don a simple but pretty pale yellow spring dress that reaches just below the knee and is strapless. The soft cotton material clings to her delicate hourglass shape perfectly. Effie sighs half-heartedly as she runs her small hands through her silky caramel curls.
What she wouldn't give to have a striking golden or flaxen colored wig but she settles for smoothing out her glossy curls and pining up the right side with a simple comb set with freshwater pearls. Effie decides to line her honey eyes with a simple black cat eye and a single coat of black mascara to make her eyes appear larger.
"Hmm…the things I do for others." Effie murmurs softly to herself as she tries to push down her disappointment at not having a vivacious shade of violet, emerald or even fuchsia contacts to make her eyes pop.
Effie's ears perk up as she hears the commotion only the Hawthorne clan can produce with their arrival to Katniss and Peeta's home. After relocating to District 2 after the war Effie started her own event planning business and had been hired by Madge to plan the former Mayor's daughter and her former Coal Miner beau's wedding.
Effie had been really struggling at that point because most people still didn't trust a former Hunger Games escort. Madge being a quiet and soft hearted individual took pity on Effie and hired her to plan a simple but elegant wedding to the District 2's new councilman. Gale was stubbornly against including the likes of Effie Trinket in his new life but Madge has always known how to deal with Gale's obstinate personality.
Gale begrudgingly relented after Madge had smartly pointed out that Effie had been imprisoned and tortured for her relationship with Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch and never once turned her back on the rebel cause. After the success of Gale and Madge's small wedding Effie has been non-stop party planning for all types of occasions.
Gale and Effie have formed an odd kind of friendship with Madge being their common denominator. The two still butt heads but Madge is always there to referee their many heated debates. Since their wedding Effie has been there for all the moments big and small and has become an unofficial member of the Hawthorne family.
Effie smiles softly at the sound of Gale and Madge's two year old triplets Rafe, Remy, and Ria causing a ruckus in Katniss's once quite home. The triplets call her auntie Eff and they love her over the top wardrobe just as much as she loves spoiling them.
The former district 12 escort peruses her large selection of designer footwear and decides upon a pair of six inch floral printed peep toe stilettos with the signature red soles she adores. They are not the most ostentatious pair she has but they make her short legs look longer and shapelier and they add a much needed pop to her simple dress.
Effie gives herself a quick once over in the floor length mirror on the inside of the closet door and swipes on some shimmery nude gloss to finish off her look before heading downstairs. Effie effortlessly traipses her way to the living room in her six inch heels. Madge's bright smile greets her as she makes herself known.
The two women catch up quietly as the one person Effie is dreading to see barges his way into Katniss's house. Haymitch doesn't even bother knocking and makes himself at home by the sparsely stocked bar in the corner of the living room. All Peeta has provided is some beer for himself, Gale and Rory.
Haymitch muses that if he drinks enough of them he might be able to get a nice buzz going but the way Katniss is eying him like a predator sure puts a damper on his plans. Gale smirks knowingly at the sour expression Haymitch is sporting.
"It's good to see the beloved Cousin could make an appearance to celebrate the happy couple." Haymitch's tone of condescension is not loss on everyone.
Gale's jaw tightens at the assumption that he still harbors unrequited feelings for his former hunting partner. He's let those teenage feelings of first love go a long time ago and is happy in his relationship with Madge. Gale's sweet other half just squeezes his hand reassuringly while Peeta awkwardly clears his throat.
Katniss on the other hand looks as if she is itching to grab a bow and use it on her former mentor and put him out of his misery. Effie just looks disappointed and Haymitch's stomach churns painfully at her expression. Haymitch brushes off his regret and grins wickedly at the caramel haired beauty and takes a deep pull from his unwanted beer.
Effie shakes off her disappointment and beams a showy white smile. Haymitch continues to glower alone in the corner as his slate colored eyes follow Effie as she glides about the living room acting as the perfect hostess much to Katniss's relief.
Effie can feel Haymitch's steely grey eyes on her as she quickly ushers everyone to the dining room and seats them accordingly at the long glossy mahogany table. Effie can't help but to run her small fingertips along the shiny smooth surface of the well-made piece of furniture. She makes a mental note to ask Peeta where they purchased such a beautiful table.
Haymitch can't help but think that Effie's in her element playing hostess with her bright smiles and aggravatingly good manners. Haymitch grumbles a surly hello to Prim and Rory who joined the party a few moments ago.
The young couple are on spring break from college in district 4. Prim is enrolled in the pre-med program and Rory is taking some business classes just so he can be close to the soft spoken blond. Effie's positive that the two will be married in the next few years making her happy and jealous all at the same time.
At 32 Effie is on the wrong side of thirty with no prospects to speak of. Sure she has had many suitors but none that could ever make her feel like he's the one. Effie is slowly becoming terrified that she'll end up a spinster with no husband and children to make a family of her own.
Haymitch's mood is steadily turning sour. He much rather drink his dinner that to be forced to sit and eat a meal with people he's not exactly fond of. The sight of Madge alone makes him want to grab a bottle of white liquor and drink till he can't see Maysilee's face. She's practically her aunt's doppelgänger and Haymitch is sure that whatever powers that be must be punishing him with her very presence.
Haymitch watches through narrow grey eyes as Effie cuts a piece of beef into small bite size pieces for one of Hawthorne's brats. She looks positively motherly as she beams encouragingly at the raven haired little boy with bright blue eyes. A terrifying image of Effie at a different table along with a sweet little girl with caramel curls and slate grey eyes flashes through his mind.
Haymitch quickly chugs the rest of his beer hoping to erase those dangerous thoughts. He's too old to think about starting a family. That ship sailed about twenty years ago and thoughts of a family with Effie are just too disturbing to even contemplate sober and he needs something a little stronger than beer for that.
Effie catches Haymitch's intense stare and something seems to flash in his mercury gaze. Effie can't quite place it but it causes her heart to skip a beat. "Are you going to eat or do you need me to cut your meat for you too?" Effie thickens her capitol accent knowing how it gets under his skin.
"Darlin' I don't need an old maid fawning over me. I can do just fine by myself." Haymitch stabs his steak with his fork and takes a savage bite to prove his point.
Effie's honey eyes go wide. "Old maid! I assure you Mr. Abernathy I'm far from an old maid. I have plenty of beaus to choose from. All I have to do is snap my fingers and I could be swept off my feet in mere minutes. Unlike the likes of you, who have no options but to remain a pathetic drunken bachelor that doesn't deserve an ounce of my…"
Effie abruptly stands and plasters the fakest smile she can muster on her pretty face. "Anyone care for some chocolate cake? Chocolate always makes everything better." Effie chirps happily before disappearing into the kitchen before anyone can reply.
Six pairs of glaring eyes turn to Haymitch who shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly. If he can't drink he might as well have some kind of entertainment even if it means making Effie Trinket crazier than she already is.
"Fix this now." Madge is usually calm and soft spoken but over the last few years Effie has become like an older sister to the young blond and she won't stand for her to be treated so harshly by Haymitch.
Haymitch just gets up and walks back to the bar in the living room and pops the cap off another beer. The bitter amber liquid is not quite satisfying as a flask of white liquor but Haymitch will take whatever liquid courage he can find.
Everyone is still glaring daggers at the one time hunger games victor while the three toddlers messily eat their meal ignoring the pissed off adults. "Fine…I'll go talk to her but I'm not promising to apologize." Haymitch chugs the rest of his beer and tosses the empty bottle on the floor.
Haymitch makes his way into the kitchen and finds Effie hacking away at the three tiers chocolate cake Peeta took hours to make. The tiny diva angrily slaps chunks of cake onto the plain white dessert plates while trying to keep her tears at bay.
Effie is wielding a large kitchen knife and Haymitch is slightly scared that she might just use it on him. He knows he went too far and he's feeling pretty guilty for hurting Effie's feelings. Haymitch just can't help himself when he's around her. He just feels the need to get under her skin.
"Look…Effie I didn't mean to call you an old maid. You're actually a lot younger than I thought you were." Haymitch shuts his mouth as Effie whirls around with the knife held tightly in her small hand.
Effie's eyes are simultaneously blazing hot with fire and shiny from unshed tears. "Just leave me alone Haymitch." Effie's usually high pitched nasally voice is softened by her sadness.
Haymitch is at a loss for words. He's never seen Effie so vulnerable and unguarded. Effie turns around and drops the knife on the counter. She hastily wipes the chocolate frosting from her tiny hands and tries to ignore Haymitch's presence.
"Look Eff…I…just…I mean…" Haymitch is fumbling for the right words.
"Haymitch I don't want to speak with you. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go outside and get some fresh air." Effie smooths the wrinkles from her soft cotton dress and strides out the back door easily on her six inch heels.
Haymitch grids his teeth and stomps after the infuriating woman. "Good lord woman! Can't you just stop for one minute being your annoying self and let me fucking talk to you?" Haymitch grabs Effie by her slender arm and stops her from walking away from him.
"I don't need your sorry attempt at apologizing. Just go home and drown yourself in a bottle." Effie snatches her arm out of Haymitch's large calloused hand. She squares her shoulders and lifts her chin trying to add height to her small frame.
Despite her six inch heels which only makes her 5'6" instead of the mere five foot she stands on bare feet, Haymtich still looks down at her. Haymitch smirks at Effie's attempt at being intimidating. "Who said I was apologizing Darlin'."
Effie's pouty lips part in confusion. She was positive that's why he was out here trying to get her attention. But of course this is Haymitch and he never apologizes for his rude behavior. Before Effie can say another word Haymitch does something that leaves the both of them more confused than ever.
Haymitch drags the tiny diva roughly into his arms and plants a sloppy fiery kiss to her incredibly soft lips. Effie squeaks in surprise but Haymitch's kiss is demanding and has Effie fisting the front of the rough cotton wrinkled button up shirt he is wearing. Haymitch's large calloused hands press harder on Effie's back bringing her soft curves impossibly closer to his solid warm body.
Effie's lungs start to burn from the lack of oxygen but the moment he tangles his long fingers into her silky caramel tresses Effie melts into the searing kiss. Effie has never been kissed this way and probably won't ever be again. Haymitch is tainting every other kiss she'll ever have after this and Effie hates him and desires him all the more for it.
Just as quickly as the kiss began it ends. Haymitch can't help but to smirk smugly at how thoroughly kissed Effie Trinket looks. Her inky black pupils are fully dilated leaving only a ring of her honey hued irises visible. Effie's lips are swollen and her smooth cheeks are flush with color while her soft hair is left to fall down her back in a tangled mess.
The moment the cocky smirk passes over Haymith's gruffly handsome face Effie wants nothing more than to slap it off of him. Effie pushes herself away from his strong arms and glares at the insufferable man in front of her.
"How dare you! What gives you the right to think that you can just kiss me like that and it would be alright?" Effie hisses furiously as she tries to straighten her mussed hair.
"Oh come on Sweetheart, You're acting like you didn't enjoy that." Haymitch is smug at seeing how flustered he can make the prissy capitol princess.
Effie balls up her tiny fist and glares at Haymitch's smug face. All the frustration and aggravation swells up inside her that all she can do to relieve the pressure is to punch the bastard in his eye.
"Fuck Effie!" Haymitch can hardly believe that such a tiny fist can pack such a powerful punch. Effie turns on her heels and stalks her way back inside the house leaving a stunned Haymitch outside in the darkened backyard to lick his wounds.
Haymitch lightly touches the tender bruise forming under his eye. He chuckles lowly to himself. He has to admit that he's kind of proud of Effie for standing up for herself. "That's my girl." Haymitch quickly walks back to his house. He might not need a drink before bed after all. Effie's kiss is much more satisfying than he thought.
A/N: Please Review. Next up Effie gets a little jealous.