Okay, because I got so much feedback (aahahahaa *.*); I'm already going to post the new chapter :D Thank you

Effie awaited Haymitch, sitting as straight as a die on her sofa in the living room, folding her hands in her lap. How dared he letting her wait for him? She pursed her lips, but when she finally saw him enter the room, she couldn't contain her hopeful smile and she rose excitedly to wave him nearer.

„You see, this room will serve as a dancefloor", she explained and Haymitch got closer to her with a very distrustful mien. Effie ran past him and towards a very expensive stereo equipment that stood on a small table in a corner of the room. She switched it on, and the sound of a popular classical song filled the room. Haymitch winced; Effie knew he disliked the song. But it was an absolute necessity to know how to dance to it, and so she stepped close to him and took his hands.

„Close bodily contact is not very relevant to this dance", she explained -Haymitch sighed in relief and she briefly wrinkled her forehead-, „but the hands must stay in contact, you know? No matter which dance steps and figures we'll execute. For example you can make me pirouette or-"

„Yeah, yeah, I know", he interrupted her gruffly. „Just show me the steps."

Effie raised her eyebrows indignantly and shook her head. No conception of decent manners. But she put a good face on the matter and showed Haymitch the dance steps he had to execute. Obviously he didn't get it, because he let her show it again and again until Effie's feet hurt intolerably into her tight high heels. After all that step sequence was designated to be executed by men and not by someone wearing heels, but Haymitch certainly hoped that she would break the lessons off if he only played the fool long enough. But eventually he seemed to understand this tactic didn't work, and, showing an incredibly annoyed mien, he began to mimic her steps and finally he got his kick from twirling Effie round the floor and executing the wildest dance figures. When the song eventually ended and a new one set in, Effie came to a standstill, breathing heavily. She laid one hand on her head to bar her wig from slipping out of place.

„That... was... well done", she gasped. „Your arm movements were very... professional."

At that rate he had gone on, it was needless to say that Effie had had no chance to mind his feet movements, and she supposed that was exactly the reason why he had set such a brisk and passionate pace. But the next dance wouldn't offer him the possibility to distract her attention. The following song was slower than the first one, and Effie took Haymitch's hands and laid them on her hip and her shoulder. He leered at her and Effie pursed her lips. She would come back at him.

At least they still followed the three-foot rule, but yet Effie could smell the shampoo Haymitch used to wash his hair. That he even washed it was at any rate an improvement. It didn't smell bad at all. She smiled at him and showed him how to move his feet, and soon he concentrated on the step sequence, so that Effie had enough time to recover her breath. Haymitch stepped on her feet several times, probably very deliberately, but on the whole he didn't act too clumsily. When the song faded away, their eyes met, and Effie felt her cheeks flush. There was something about him that made her feel awfully embarrassed.

Usually the next song should set in now, but the break was suspiciously long, and when Effie turned round, she saw Peeta fiddle about with the stereo equipment. A moment later the slow sound of violins set in, accompanied by the sad little melody of a harp.

„Oh, Peeta, what's the point of that?", Effie asked nervously. „I don't think we should yet practise this dance style, it is too... too..."

Peeta watched her eagerly and Effie broke off. She could not really profess that this dance style was too complicated for Haymitch, because it was actually a whole lot simpler than anything she had shown him until now. And yet... she felt a bit uncomfortable about it. But Haymitch had to learn how to dance to slow songs, and so Effie smiled at him and laid his hands on her back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked up at him. They were so close to each other that her chin touched the fabric of his shirt. She could have rested her head against his shoulder if she had wanted to... but no. Becoming intimate with Haymitch was the last thing she would do.
The slow, sweet music snowed them and Effie coughed slightly to keep a clear head. She had always liked this song, but this wasn't the time for sentimentalism.
„Now you have to... yes, exactly like this. Now you could make me pirouette."

He spun her around. Their eyes met. Those grey eyes... Effie had never noticed how beautiful they were. Almost silver. This Haymitch had long, light eyelashes, and she liked it. She couldn't help smiling when she felt the ends of his long hair touching the back of her hand. They had never ever been so close to each other.

„And now... so now you have to... your arms..."

She fell silent and cleared her throat. She had forgotten in mid-sentence what she had wanted to say. This had never happened to her before.

„Now you have to..."

It was beyond remedy. He looked far too deep into her eyes. They held each other's gaze, and Effie dimly perceived that his face looked totally different seen from up close. She could have probably counted every single of his beard stubbles if she'd have been able to avert her gaze from his eyes.

Haymitch just looked at her. They had ceased to move. And then it happened. Their lips touched.

Effie stopped breathing. She saw that Haymitch had closed his eyes, but her own eyes were wide open. She couldn't think clearly. She was so shocked that she didn't even feel the touch. Haymitch Abernathy kissed her.

And then the small moment broke. Effie released herself from the embrace and backed away from him. She stared at him with wide, fear-struck eyes. She shook her head in disbelief. What did he do there?

Haymitch bleakly watched her. Effie confusedly touched her lips with her fingertips, trembling in every limb, then she spun round on her heel and ran away.