Effies POV

I made the decision to forget about what had just happened. I had a big, big evening ahead of me.

Tonight all of my hard word from this week would be unveiled in a lavish, star studded party. It was my moment to shine and shine I did when Cinna had finally finished with me.

"Cinna its...its...there are no words..." I was mesmerized.

The dress was a dream.

Gold speckled Ivory silk organza fell in waves below a crystal embellished corset that fit just past my hips, it was visionary. I glowed like a star.

Portia finished my hair after much debate. I wasn't used to showing my natural hair, I found it flat and dull in colour but, as I caught my finished reflection in the mirror my hair shined like golden honey and fell in soft large waves that framed my face and kissed the sweetheart neckline of the corset exquisitely.

"Effie you look just like the beauty in the movie" Portia cooed and I blushed.

"You'll be the talk of the town tonight, not Jacque Winters" Cinna added and placed the finishing touch to my outfit. A beautiful fresh orchid flower, deep red in colour to match my lips.

"Beautiful"

We all spun round to the familiar voice. Haymitch stood at my doorway, watching me with kind eyes.

"I'll go call your car" Cinna smiled sheepishly and left pulling Portia along with him. Haymitch came closer and my breath caught in my throat.

"You look beautiful"

I found myself wanting to cry. Never had he spoken to me so softly, so honestly or looked at me so completely uninhibited

"Thank you Haymitch" I barely whispered

"Just wanted to wish you luck"

He took my hand in his, absentmindedly, and drew circles with him thumb over the back if it. His touch sent shivers down my spine and his mysterious eyes peered into mine from behind licks of his sandy hair. He smelt of aftershave and soap and it was unfamiliar.

"It's going to be weird not having you by my side tonight" I spoke before I thought but it was the truth. He smiled at me and brought my hand up to his lips for a gentle kiss

"Haym-"

"No funny buisness, I promise" He laughed and let go of my hand, I missed his touch instantly.

"Ready Ef?" Cinnas voice called from the hall and startled us both, our eye contact broke for a shattering second. My knees felt weak, before I fell into this mans arms again I headed for the door but he called me back

"Effie?"

I turned slowly, afraid of his eyes catching mine again

"A man can change right?"

I didn't give myself the time to read into his question, my head told me not to.

"Yes, I believe so. But the man has to be willing..."

"Willing?"

"To do the work, be patient, be honest with himself and not always expect a happy outcome"

"In case he gets dissapointed?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't. I think I knew where he was going with this but I was too afraid to call him out on it in case I was wrong. All I could do was catch his saddened eyes in mine and shrug my shoulders.

He smiled again and moved past me toward the door, I found myself lingering after his scent.

He didn't look at me again, I guess he couldn't. I guess he didn't want to be...dissapointed.

"I guess where there's a will, there's a way..." He spoke as if addressing himself then left.

I didn't see him again before I headed down to the waiting car.

The party had been a huge success, everyone who was anyone knew my name and wanted to give their praise for my work. It was a proud evening. I was used to addressing big crowds but the evening had unfortunately been shadowed with the doubt of the missing presence by my side. My partner for many years, my one constant since being a young escort and the one person who knew just the right thing to say to keep my feet on the earth and my head out of the clouds.

I missed him tonight.

I missed him and I wanted him.

I'd had a lot of champagne so that wasn't helping. When I thought of him, waiting alone back at the apartment it excited me. I wanted to leave now and run into his arms and feel his lips against mine again but I knew i couldn't, not yet, I had to be patient.

Then I remembered my dinner invitation after the party. I couldn't cancel. Rumor had it that Jacque was so impressed by my event planning skills that he wanted to discuss future work with me. I'd had a blast and i couldn't risk turning down the invitation to talk with him further.

But the more Champagne that I drank the more confident I became and the more colourful the lustrous thoughts of Haymitch played out in my mind.

I came up with a plan.

I told Jacque that I was leaving to change as not wanting to ruin my dress over dinner. He was as sweet as perceived and called for his car to personally take me home then arranged for it to pick me up again in another hour for our 'date'.

I had an hour.

Plenty of time. I left excited, the party now a distant hazy swirl in my mind. I wanted to see him.

I wanted him. I wanted him now.

I rode the elevator up to our floor, my pulse was thrumming and my heart was pounding.

I reached our apartment door and was about open it when someone beat me to it.

She was taller than me with a short blue bob and golden eyes. She was adjusting her wig when I noticed her lipstick was slightly smudged.

Exiting our apartment and brushing by me slowly, her eyes took me in from head to toe and an almost sinister smile crossed her lips. Without a word spoken she rode the elevator back down and I felt my blood boiling.

I found him in the lounge, his shirt slightly disheveled and the distinct sign of smudged pink lipstick at his jaw.

I don't know what came over me.

Anger. Humiliation. I slapped him hard and started pounding at his chest

"Effie! What the hell!?" He took a hold of my wrists and we fell onto the couch. I struggled beneath him, I wanted him off me, I was disgusted.

"Change!? Change?! You'll never change never!" I managed to free one hand then slap him again

"ENOUGH! Calm down!" He was yelling now, his face was red with anger and burning from my strikes.

In that moment I hated him. I hated him so much. I hated him for making a fool out of me. I hated him for making me cry but most of all I hated him because, as we grappled together on the couch, as I looked into the eyes of the man I almost lost myself for, I realised then, I hated him because I had let him break my heart.