Effie's PoV:
When my parents went into the other room I listened at the door. "How desperate is Tyus getting? Using your daughter, it's gross," I heard my mother's voice.
There was a pause before my father answered. "It's not the most mature thing, but I don't have a problem with it. I mean look how happy Effie is."
"But you've told me how awful it is knowing the tributes beforehand and I don't want her to go through that."
"She didn't know them though. Feather, she's just as happy and oblivious as always. Once those tributes are dead she'll be a little sad, just like whenever a tribute you're cheering for dies, but she'll be fine," Daddy calmed her. I smirked. Oblivious as always? If only they knew.
"What about next year though?" Mom asked with a hit of a whine in her voice. This surprises me, prim and proper Feather Trinket never whines.
"I'll talk to Tyus and tell him this is a one time only thing. Besides, 12 might have a chance this year, you said so yourself."
"Go back in there. I'll get the chocolate covered strawberries myself." There was no sound for a second and I assumed they kissed, but I used this time to get back to my chair.
After our little celebration and a quick shower I checked my phone. 19 messages. I listened to them all, but only called back the person I actually felt like talking to. "Hello?" Cinna asked a bit groggy.
"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" I ask.
"Oh, it's fine, I was hoping you would call. What happened?"
"Well," I smiled, "you are talking to the new acting mentor of District 12."
"That's great, Effie. And I saw what happened today."
"Horrible isn't it?"
"Well, yes, but it's also really good too," Cinna's words confused me.
"How?"
"Haymitch and Maysilee are together now. Make sure you play up the love story."
"But it's so early," I sighed. "Most of the tributes were dead when Peeta and Katniss came together, most of the games were over."
"True," he paused, "but this gives the audience more time to route for them."
"Point," I sighed.
Haymitch's PoV (2 days later):
I hate the sound of the cannon, but I can't help but be thankful for them. Excitement means the gamemakers are less likely to stir the pot. Less likely to send anything after Maysilee and I.
I doubt we're getting much air time, frankly we're being pretty boring. Just two tributes surviving. Talking about 12 and I'm sure the Capitol won't want to hear about that. This goes on for two days before she asks the question. We're just walking as usual, trying to keep our voices down.
We've survived off of the little food we've found and the flask full of water that I'll need to refill soon when she asks it, "Haymitch...I've been wondering about something and I'm not sure how to ask, but since I won't get another chance..."
"Yeah?" I wonder about her nervousness. She hasn't been nervous before, well nervous about talking to me anyway.
"Your interview...uh, since when do you like me?" she meets my eyes briefly before quickly glancing away.
I don't act nervous, it's real, but I'm not nervous because of what most people think. I'm nervous I won't do this right. I need a love story, a convincing one. "A wile."
"Don't you have like a girlfriend or something?" I love how she says that, like I could either have a girlfriend or a dinosaur in my backyard that I make out with sometimes.
"We broke up a long time ago," I lied. I'm sure everyone who knows me is wondering what I'm doing, but I don't really care. They'll figure it out soon enough.
Maysilee paused, "So...why me?"
How can I play this...Well, if I'm going to play Peeta might as well. "You just always stood out to me. I remember watching you walk home every day from school since second grade."
She smirked, "So you stalked me?"
I laughed, that's what I thought when Peeta told Katniss the same thing. I really hope the cameras are on us. "Pretty much."
"Who knew sarcastic, troublemaker Haymitch Abernathy had a sweet side?"
I put on an obviously fake look of innocence, "Trouble maker? Me? What could ever give you that idea?"
She's grinning in the Hunger Games, I must be doing something right. "When you made that Escort from 1 all hissy. He was all 'Manners!'"
"Yeah, that was great," just like old times with Effie.
"And he said something about a daughter. I wonder what she's like, just like him probably. I can only imagine a little fru fru girl going 'Manners!'" Maysilee made her voice squeaky and added a Capitol accent on the last word. I laugh because of how close that is to how Effie sounds sometimes.
"She might be pretty cool," I defend nonchalantly.
"Probably a little brat," she adds to an are-you-kidding-me look.
I shrug, "Eh, never know."
Maysilee's PoV:
Haymitch Abernathy. A few weeks ago that name meant very little to me, now it's what I call the most confusing person in Panem. Apparently he's liked me since second grade and has never said anything, yet almost shamelessly flirted with practically everyone else, I mean he was kidding around most of the time, but still! And now that he's supposed to kill me he decides to tell me he likes me? What?
It's official, even if I live, I'll never understand guys.
Effie's PoV (the next day):
I can't believe they actually showed that. Haymitch and Maysilee were making fun of my dad, a Capitol citizen, not to mention an Escort, on national television and they showed it. "Well now we know which tribute our money's going to," one of the two sponsors next to me said. We'd been discussing District 12's strategy when they'd actually came on the many screens.
"Yes, that girl doesn't even know she just insulted her acting mentor!" the female sponsor said, they were a married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Evans.
I smile. Present them as a team, I remind myself. "Well, I still think they both have rather good chances, and I won't hold grudges. She doesn't really know me, so I take no insult. And I'd love it either of them was the victor."
"Spoken like a true lady," Mrs. Evans smiled at me adoringly, I felt like gaging. Great, I blend into Capitol society. If only she could see me on an average day in 12.
"Yes, she's going places this one is," Mr. Evans added. "And so is District 12 this year I think. The way tributes are falling, I mean we're already down to twenty and it's only been five days! This is one for the books I tell you."
"I'm definitely excited to see who the victor is. Now that the rift raft is gone, the true players will come out," I smiled as Mrs. Evans talked but I really felt like punching that smile off her face. 27 children dead and what does she call them? Rift raft.
"It's sad about the star-crossed lovers though," a friend of the Evan's joined our little group, or at least that who I assumed she was. Little did she know what that statement means to me.
For the past days I've been on the phone to everyone I know, and Cinna's been working pretty hard as well to spread the word of the tragic star-crossed lovers. It's definitely all over the school by now, and that's perfect. The other students at my school aren't just any Capitol children. My school was for the uppercase, sons and daughters of officials, gamemakers, and escorts. The important people.
So of course how do I get to the people I need to talk to? Plant the seed. If kids tell their parents everyone is talking about the star-crossed lovers of District 12, guess what the parents will talk about? Haymitch isn't the only great strategist, and I know it's worked because that's all I've been hearing all day. Star-crossed this, District 12 that. Sponsors, sponsors, and more sponsors. It seems no one can get enough of this added drama to the Quell.
Haymitch owes me big time for this though. Watching him fawn over another girl, even if it is fake, is no fun for me. Haymitch has never been the type to fawn over anyone, I'm lucky to get a compliment, no that isn't true, he compliments me in his own way, but it's never like this. He's playing it up well. It seems if there isn't fighting the cameras are on the love story.
An idea suddenly pops into my head. "Excuse me, it's been lovely chatting with you," I take my leave from my little group and make bee line for the District 12 viewing room.
"Effie, I was wondering if you'd forgotten me," Tyus joked when I sat next to him.
"Sorry, I've been busy," I explain myself.
He smiles, "I know. I keep hearing all about the star-crossed lovers of District 12. Anyway I can help?"
"Keep it up. Make sure people are talking about it," I say.
"Fan the fire?" he asks.
"Exactly." I pull the control panel to me.
"You're sending a gift? I didn't think they needed anything," he looks at me puzzled.
"Oh yes they do. It's time to put the sponsor money to work."
"You've got a plan?" he asks.
"Exactly."
A/N: Oooooh, any guesses to what Effie's up to?
Yeah, I know there's a lot of pov changes and a few days passing, but this is mostly just a build up chapter. I'm soooooo excited for the next one! Time to put my evil plan to work! MWAHAHAHAHAHA! *looks innocent* I said nothing.
Thanks to:
egel-0507
TheGirlWhoWasOnFire21
for your great reviews!
A huge thanks for reading this, and this definitly isn't one of my best chapters, but I just needed some stuff to happen, I swear the next one is going to be better. Reviews help me write so if you please...