Effie Trinket was in a trance. A dosey loved up day dream.
She had barely touched the gorgeous breakfast before her. A breakfast that Haymitch had specially prepared and cooked and laid out himself.
She hadn't even noticed the Avox had been dismissed for the day.
Mindlessly stirring her tea, her cheek resting in her hand, her eyes lost in her thoughts she gave a small blissful sigh.
'Rough night Ef!?'
Haymitch suddenly brought Effie crashing back down to earth
'Excuse me?'
Taking a shy sip of tea her eyes bore into his. What does he know? Does he know? It's Haymitch, he knows everything! If he dares humiliate me in front of these two, I'll kill him, I'll kill him right now so help me god with this tea spoon.
Haymitch stopped himself suddenly. Any other time he would have laid her dirty laundry out for the world to see but something was stirring in him. He didn't want to see her hurting because of his actions now that he was far more aware of them.
He took his eyes away from hers. Left the table and started the dishes.
Katniss and Peeta looked at one another. Haymitch Abernathy had backed down from the 1st possible argument of the day. Strange.
'You do look a little tired Effie. Everything ok?' Katniss prodded. She had a good sense for when someone was hiding something.
But, in true Effie fashion, she donned her brightest Capitol smile and put out the gossip flames
'Im perfectly wonderful dear Katniss, infact I had the best nights sleep in a long time last night'
Her eyes glazed over again as she played back a memory, gazing up at the ceiling.
'Yes, a very very good sleep'
Haymitch dropped his juice class with a clatter and Effie's suspicious eyes glared into the back of his head
'Rough night Haymitch?' She mocked him. She too had a great sense for rooting out the hidden and unknown.
'Strange noises...kept me up all night...that's all' stop biting Haymitch, let it go. Let her win. He carried on with the dishes, he could feel the blush forming on Effie's cheeks. Don't make this worse Haymitch.
'Strange noises?' Peeta laughed. 'Like what?'
Haymitch couldn't do it.
'Ah nothin, I don't know. Doesn't matter'
Effie froze in surprise. Why wasn't he calling her out? Had he heard them last night? He must have done. Her room is but across the hall from his and she hadn't been too sensitive on the ears with her moans last night.
But if he did hear why wasn't he goading her? Teasing her? This would be like gold to him! The chance to humiliate the escort infront of her tributes. What was HE hiding?
She decided to test his patience. Kat and Peeta would find out eventually so why not be honest. Of course playing games with Haymitch is always more fun than just being honest.
'No, go on Haymitch. What strange noises?' She smiled into her tea cup as she noticed how he gripped his dish cloth. Had Effie embarrassed him? Had she shocked him into silence with her naughty antics last night? Did he no longer see her as the tightly wound, frigid Capitol princess who was so easy a target for his mockery?
This was priceless!
Haymitch took a deep breath before turning to face her. Her cocky smile and disregard for his breakfast this morn was starting to get a rise out of him.
'Really Effie? You didn't hear? I'm sure they were coming from your room'
Her smile turned sour. He knew. Of course he did. Dirty little spy! She placed her tea cup down gently, sat back in her chair and folded her arms, ready for anything he had.
Peeta and Kat sat back to, eyes aglow with humour. Uh oh round 2!
'And what exactly did you hear, coming from my room...Haymitch'
He started at her for the longest time. He knew she knew he knew. Her embarrassment had turned to challenge. He guessed that backing down before had given Effie a head start in the battle stakes, something that she never got before, never has a chance when she's sparring with Haymitch. She must be loving it.
Let her.
'Must have been the wind. You leave ur window open again princess?' He winked and smiled 'and your welcome, for breakfast'
He marched out
The kids looked to Effie for answers but...in true Effie fashion...
She simply smiled and sipped her tea.
'Yes, that's right. I must stop doing that. I'll catch my death'
It didn't take her long. As soon as the kids were out for the day She'd forced her way into his room in a state of bitterness.
He was in the process of changing his shirt.
'Do you have a problem with me having a life out side of my work hours Haymitch'
She stood arms folded, eyes ablaze.
'Wasnt really out of work hours was it now, princess!'
Her whole body almost rose off her heels as she struggled to hold back some obscene words for him
'I...you...stop calling me PRINCESS!'
'Don't change the subject, who is he?'
'Who- what has THAT got to do with you? it's non of your business!'
'Got to do with me?' He threw his shirt back into the bed and paced over to her, chest exposed and angry. 'Bringing strange men into our hotel suit in the middle of the night when Katniss and Peeta are asleep, makes it my business! I am their mentor an YOU are their personal escort! We have a duty to look after those kids! That guy could have been anyone!'
'DONT YOU DARE MOCK ME HAYMITCH ABERNATHY!' Now she was livid. He was questioning her professionalism now? I don't think so! She thought. Effie was the upmost professional when it came to her work and how dare she be judged, especially by a good for nothing drunk!
She told him so.
He didn't like it.
'Ive put up with you Haymitch! For years, I've put up with you and I'm still putting up with you!' She pressed a manicured nail onto his bare torso 'and don't think your so innocent Mr! I've seen and heard you sneak dozens of capital tarts back here over the years! The ones you hate so much, yet when you need a little bit Of company, do you come and talk to me? No! You make a fool of yourself with them instead! And don't you dare deny that it happenes!'
She got up in his face before lowering her tone.
'Have I ever judged you Haymitch? Have I ever called you up on it or humiliated you or had you turned in and fired? No! Why? Because I put up with it!'
He was about to bite when he saw the tears forming in her eyes. She pushed him from her and backed away
'So if I want to have a little company of my own now and again Haymitch, YOU! WILL!PUT! UP! WI-'
She was suddenly cut her off by his lips, he pulled her close to him, hard.
Struggling, weakly, she beat at his chest but his arms just wrapped around her tighter, locking her in his embrace.
After a few lengthy strokes of his tongue against hers he let her free. She stood there, panting in shock. Her eyes wide in surprise.
Her delicate left hand came up beside her so quick he didn't stand a chance! She slapped him, hard! before turning on her heel and running out of his room. She wasn't about to let her tears fall in front of him again. She hated that he was the only man who could ever make her cry.
