Effie popped two pills and swallowed them without water. She needs to calm herself down or she will pass out. Perhaps she can borrow one of Haymitch's bottles. He got plenty of those lying around. That's one upside of staying with him if he will not kick her out after he finds out what she did. Surely, he already knows but he just wants to hear it from her. That's his thing. Effie popped two more on her palm when the door opened and came Haymitch.
"What are you—"
"Give me that", he muttered and snatched the bottle from her hand.
She dropped the two pills on her palm and he poured the contents of the bottle into the toilet bowl.
"What the hell did you that for? Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get that in the Capitol?" she exclaimed after watching her pills got drained in the toilet bowl.
"I am pretty sure they were hard to find and now that you're here, it will be harder. You are no longer going to take those, princess, not in this house and since you're going to live here with me, no more pills for you", he answered.
Effie scoffed.
"Oh, so I cannot have my habit but you can have your alcohol?" she asked.
"Sweetheart, you can search the entire house and you won't find a bottle in here. I quit drinking remember and I held up to that so you will do the same. It's either that or I will check you in rehab inside the hospital which you hate. Your choice", he made her choose.
She cannot believe he's telling her what to do with her own body. The door is wide open and she wants to run but she knows she will not get far because he's faster than her and stronger. He will drag her to hospital and she cannot go there, not again.
"I hate you", she muttered in spite.
"I know you do now but I am doing this for you", he said.
He noticed how her hands shake. He knows the feeling of wanting to feel something amazing but he cannot allow her to destroy herself. He failed her before and he will not do that again. This is his chance to make it up to her even though she hates him.
"You should go take a shower and get ready for bed", he said with a calmer voice.
Once he turned around, Effie tightened her grip on the sink to prevent herself from falling.
"I called out your name", she said and that made him stopped walking. "I picked Peeta's name during the Reaping for the Quarter Quell but I called out your name", she clarified and he turned to face her. "I know you will volunteer for him. You told me about it and I cannot let that happen so I called out your name because I knew Peeta will volunteer in your place to protect Katniss. I sentenced the boy to his death and messed up your deal with Katniss", she added. Haymitch stared at her in shock. He knows that already but it still shocked him to finally hear it. "You sure you still want to help me, Haymitch?" she asked almost challenging him.
She wants him to back out and kick her out of his place so she can go back to the Capitol and resumed killing herself.
"I am sure. Take a shower and get ready for bed. I will get your room ready upstairs", he answered.
She lied for him. She committed a crime against Snow for him. That is why they held her for so long. Of course, Snow knew Effie doesn't know anything about the rebellion. He didn't know that she overheard something. He wanted her punished because she announced the wrong name during Reaping. She altered the result therefore allowing Haymitch to continue planning the rebellion with the others while Katniss and Peeta were inside the arena. Through her, planning the start of the rebellion was a success. They got them out of the arena and they reached Thirteen. It could've been different if Haymitch was the one who was put in there instead of Peeta. The rebellion owed Effie more than they think. Perhaps it was what Plutarch was trying to say to him. Haymitch, I know I haven't been appreciative to Ms. Trinket's efforts and contributions to our cause but after everything I've learned, I want you to know that I will look after her and make sure no harm will come to her as long as she choose to remain here in the Capitol, he said. He knew what she did.
She did not sleep that night or the three nights that followed that. She walked around his living room agitated and sick. The withdrawal is kicking in. Haymitch forbid the kids to come to the house until Effie's doing better. He doesn't want them to see her like that and he's sure, she doesn't want that either. Effie did try to leave a few times but each time something will stop her from going back to the Capitol so she will return to Haymitch and continued to do the work.
It took almost three weeks before she got it all out of her system. Effie lost weight due to stress and lack of sleep but she's finally free from the pills. Peeta cooked her favorite food to cheer her up. It made her feel better. None of them spoke about the secret Effie revealed to Haymitch. She stayed inside the house for one more week before she finally stepped outside and walked around the garden.
"So, she sent you to the arena instead of me", Haymitch finally opened it up to Peeta while they were sitting on the porch watching Katniss teaching Effie how to pick flowers.
"Yeah…I think it was meant to be because I wrote her a letter the two nights before the Reaping to make it happen but she never saw it because I mailed it to her apartment in the Capitol. I didn't know she come here early but she found it later. I want her to send me there", Peeta said.
"I know. I think she still feels guilty about it. Snow tortured her for that. I got it now. She committed a crime and she paid the price for that lie", Haymitch said.
"She never deserved that. She cares for you. If I were in her shoes and I need to choose between you and Katniss, I will send you to the arena", Peeta said.
Haymitch chuckled.
"Does Katniss know? I don't know how she will react to that", Haymitch asked and Peeta smiled.
"She knows and she gets it too", he answered.