It is not my child, Effie…
Do you think of me as someone who sleep around with multiple guys at the same time? I'm not like you…
It's not mine, Effie. End of discussion. I want no part of it. I am not doing this. Get rid of it because I am not having a kid in this world!
Those were the last words they have spoken to each other before she suddenly disappeared from the Capitol. Chaff said it was impossible but he had searched for her and Effie Trinket was nowhere to be found, even Beetee couldn't track her down. That night was thirteen years ago. It has been thirteen years ago since he last saw her, last heard her voice. It has been thirteen years ago since she disappeared along with his child.
His child…
They've been working with each for three years at that point. They're arrangement was simple. It was all for release, to ease off the tension. Of course, he was lying when he told himself it was just that for him. It was never that. She was never convenient nor a past time for him. Perhaps, that's why he brought a girl back to the penthouse that night because he wanted to prove to himself that he could still sleep with others, that he didn't care for Effie beyond sex but he was so wrong.
She came in the penthouse and found them right in the middle of it. When the girl left, she dropped the bomb at him. She said she got back from her doctor who confirmed her pregnancy test. His reaction was to deny it, of course. He didn't want to have kids. He could never bring a kid into this world knowing it would be reaped one day. Let alone have a kid with a Capitol, with his former escort? It was tragedy in the making. He said cruel things. Hell, he asked her to get rid of it. He waited for her to say something back, to yell at him, to fight back but no, she didn't. She stared at him in disbelief with tears flowing freely from her eyes. She stayed like that for a few seconds before she nodded and went back to the elevator and never returned.
From that point on, he regretted that that was their last conversation with each other. He could have said more. He could have been kinder. He could have force her to stay. They could have talked about ways to figure it out together but instead, he pushed her away and now she's gone to him forever.
A lot of things have happened since then. Katniss and Peeta. Mockingjay. The Rebellion. Snow's death. Coin's death. Paylor's presidency. The rebuilding. In all of those things, there hasn't been any word on Effie Trinket. Many believed she's dead already due to the bombings in the Capitol, that is if she had been alive all along, if Snow hadn't found out that she was carrying his child and killed the both of them.
It was the Anniversary Ball when he was forced to return to the Capitol. Paylor demanded the Victors' attendance and to spare Katniss and Peeta the agony of going back, he volunteered in their places. How ironic…
The party was not as glamorous as the ones the Capitol used to have but it's okay. It's not meant to be the same anyway. They are there to commemorate the rebellion that brought them the peace they have to this day, the sacrifices of thousands of people so they can have their freedom.
After a few small talks here and there, Haymitch slipped out of the Presidential Palace and decided to spend the time in a bar. It's his preferred environment whenever he's in the Capitol. There has been tons of new establishments built all over the city to give people jobs and that means many choices for him to go to.
His feet brought him to the bar called Mahogany Lounge. It's the ridiculous name that sealed it for him. It is quieter than most bars but that has something to do with the Anniversary Ball. That's where the crowd is.
Haymitch sat on the bar and waited for the bartender to come. He is already eyeing the whisky that he didn't notice the bartender approached him.
"So, what can I get—"
Words died on her lips. Haymitch also forgot to breath.
He knows that voice even he doesn't look her way. He kept his eyes focused on the bottle but his heart is already pounding and he has to see so he turned and met her blue eyes.
"Effie", escaped his lips.
Most people wouldn't recognize her because she's no longer sporting the wigs and the heavy makeup and the atrocious clothes but he knows her. He had always known her. Plus, he's the only person back then she's comfortable being around with without her armor on.
He looks at her and it blew him away. She's stunning. Despite her toned-down look, no one will ever believe her to be a District woman. Her long blonde locks curled to perfection. She got some eyeliner on but that was it. The rest is natural. She's also wearing casual black clothes. If the old Effie can see her now, she would disprove of that getup.
"You must have mistaken me for someone else. The name is Ellie", she countered.
Ellie…Effie…it's all the same. It's her.
"A little on the nose, don't you think?" he asked.
She changed her name. That must have been it. That's why they couldn't find her. You cannot find someone who is sporting another name.
"Are you here to order or not?" she asked him back with so much spite.
Oh, it's her alright. The fire is still in there. It's the same fire that burned him all those years ago.
"Whisky, you know how I like it", he ordered.
He watched her procured him the drink he ordered. He was right. She still knows how he likes his drink. When she slid the glass towards him, he caught her hand in his which made her gasp.
It's like an electric spark. That connection has always been there between them, even from day one. God knows how hard he tried to fight it then but he lost and gave in.
"You disappeared. I went looking for you…for years", he muttered.
Her face hardened and yanked her hand back.
"Didn't think you would care", she spat and left to assist another customer.
The entire night, his eyes are only trained towards her. He knows she's aware that he's watching her. Her movements are calculated. It took another hour before she went back in front of him with a glare.
"Would you stop staring at me like that? You're making me anxious", she snapped.
He raised a brow.
"Why do I make you anxious, sweetheart?" he asked innocently.
It was that term of endearment that had her eyes watering. She managed to blink it away before she proceeded in mixing a drink for another customer.
After another hour, a man came in and put a hand over her shoulder. She turned and smiled fondly at him which Haymitch didn't like at all. Are they together? Did she find someone else after she left? He's suddenly seething.
"You okay to takeover, Joe?" he heard her ask the guy.
A co-worker then.
"Yeah, you go home and rest. See you tomorrow, Ell!" Joe answered.
He saw her slipped at the back door of the bar and he quickly followed. He needs to talk to her and this is his chance.
He caught up with her on the street while she's walking extremely fast, eager to get away as soon as she can.
"Effie!" he called.
That made her stop walking and turned around with a glare of daggers that can kill anyone who come close.
"Stop calling me that! Do you want me to get arrested and killed?" she hissed when he approached her.
Arrested and killed?
"What are you talking about?" he asked clearly clueless.
It dawned on her that he truly doesn't know what she's talking about so she grabbed his arm and brought her to the closest alley.
"I am talking about the fact that I am the last living escort in the whole Panem. If anyone finds out who I am, they will have me arrested and I will be brought to trial which we both know the ending to that", she explained.
They tried everyone who worked for the games and they all have been found guilty and executed except for Plutarch Heavensbee.
"You got out. You're only an escort for three years", he muttered.
"Do you think that makes any difference? I have seen another escort who had only been on the job for a year but they found her guilty and had her executed. It doesn't make any difference whether you're there for a short period of time or if you've been there you're whole life. Once an escort, always an escort", she took a deep breath, "I didn't endure living thirteen years under a different name, living a life full of lies for you to undo it all and send me to jail so stop calling me by that name", she insisted.
He quickly nodded in understanding.
"Alright, sorry. It's just…you caught me by surprise. I didn't expect to see you back there. Well, I didn't expect to see you at all", he said.
She snorted.
"I can say the same thing. Why are you here?" she asked.
Her blue eyes are blazing, burning a hole in his heart.
"Anniversary Ball. Plutarch dragged my ass out of Twelve. I had to because the kids didn't want to go back", he saw her frowned, "Katniss and Peeta…" still a big question mark on her face, "The Mockingjay? Twelve's Victors Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark? Star-crossed lovers?" doesn't ring a bell. "Don't tell me you don't know them", he muttered.
She simply shook her head.
"I stopped following the games after I left. There's no point and I don't want the games festering my home so there's no TV in it. Although, I heard about the term Mockingjay being a key figure in the rebellion but that was it", she replied.
He looked at her in disbelief. She doesn't know a thing, not a single thing of what happened during the rebellion or the chaos Katniss' fire brought to the Capitol.
"Can we talk somewhere else? I am not sure the alley is a proper meeting place", he asked.
He thought she would make a comment about propriety, but she didn't. She simply nodded and started walking.
They walked and walked and the streets seemed to feel unknown for Haymitch. He has never been in that part of the city. He knows the Capitol is big but he thought he already knew every inch of it.
Finally, they reached a clearing. He realized it's nearing the border between the Capitol and District Seven. He can see the river not far from where they were walking. He was about to ask where she's taking him when he saw a house standing near the river.
It was big and sort of old but it has that rustic quality to it. Perhaps, it's because it's mostly made out of woods. It's not the usual design for houses in the Capitol. It's plain and simple but it's also grandiose in a way. It's a rest house.
"You live here?" he asked.
She didn't answer and only walk towards the porch. He watched her set her purse onto the table before gesturing for him to sit.
"I don't have all night. You want to talk. Let's talk. After that, you go back to Twelve and hopefully, we don't have to see each other again", she said.
That hurts. She wants him to go. No. What she said was she never wanted to see him again.
"I deserved that. I really do. There's so much I want to say, want to ask. I don't know where to start to be honest", he chuckled. "I'm not usually out of words, but you already know that", he rambled.
She was about to say something too when the front door opened, and a boy came out in his pajamas.
"Mom, why are you out here?" the boy asked.
Mom? Dear lord…it's her son. No…it's their son.