Effie recognized Katniss' presence. She doesn't want to display her anger in front of her even though she's already imploding. I didn't mean to make her feel bad about giving her colleagues names to the government. I was just shocked. Never in a million years I thought Effie is capable of doing that but since it's about survival, it only made sense. She doesn't want to go back to prison and that is something we can all understand.
"I said what's going on here? We can hear the both of you from our house", Katniss repeated.
Johanna came in the room and she instantly figured out why there's tension. She met Effie's eyes and suddenly she felt guilty which I never thought I will see in her.
"Just a little argument, nothing to worry about, dear", Effie turned to being an escort again. "Now, please excuse me. I need some air", she added and then left.
No one dared to follow her outside. She will smoke. That is a given.
"So, are you going to tell me or not?" Katniss asked again.
"I asked her about the names she gave to Paylor", I answered.
"Really? I already told why she did it and you have to press that on her. Now, she hates me too", Johanna muttered.
Katniss is now confused more than ever.
"What names? What are you two talking about?" she asked.
"After the war, the new government wanted to punish those who murdered Coin—"
"…you mean punish me", Katniss cut me off.
"…but she couldn't do that and she couldn't go after the victors too so she turned her head to Effie, being an escort and all", I resumed. "They gave her a choice. It's either she gave the names of her colleagues or they will send her back to prison", I finished.
"Effie will never want to go back to prison. That place still gives her nightmares every night", she processed what I just said. "They made her betray her friends. That's why the Capitol people hate her, isn't it? That is her punishment. They screwed her over because of what I did. She paid the price", she concluded.
"It's not your fault. They're just idiots. They don't know how to deal with it and they felt the overwhelming need to show power", Johanna said.
Katniss didn't buy that. She knows how much Effie valued her colleagues and her friends. She met them at those parties Effie dragged her into. She never liked them but she said they're not bad either.
"I'll talk to her", she muttered.
"No. I should talk to her. I am the one who made her feel horrible about this and not the two of you", I insisted.
"Fucking right…better fix this because I don't want her to be mad at me", Johanna snapped.
I failed to locate Effie the entire day. Some say she went to town but I didn't see her. I probably have searched the entire district but there's no sign of Effie anywhere. Katniss and Peeta helped with the search while Johanna waited at the house in case she comes back. I stumbled upon a bar near the woods. Not many people go here because there's another one in town that's much bigger than this. I know it's not her scene but I went in nonetheless just to be sure. There she is, sitting at the corner with someone I cannot recognize. Katniss and Peeta came in after me and I heard him gasped.
"What?" I asked.
"That's Kyle Hartfield", he answered and the name didn't ring a bell. "He was the one who administered all those stuff they put in me and Johanna", he explained.
What?
"What the hell is he doing here in 12? Johanna will surely kill him", Katniss asked.
"Forget about that. What is he doing with Effie?" Peeta posed the question in my head.
I wanted to storm in and get her out but the two stopped me. They wanted to see what will happen so we picked a table not far from them but far enough they wouldn't see us. We watched them as they talked so intimately. He held her hand and played with her fingers which made my blood boil. It reminded me of the time I followed her in the bar at the Capitol where she met with an investor. I recalled how she flirted with him to make him sign that contract. She's acting the same right now though I don't know what she has to gain for this. Suddenly, he put his hand over her thigh exposed by the short dress she wore today and his other hand on her face. She didn't pull back. She just stayed there and allowed him to kiss on her lips. That's it.
"Stop", Katniss grabbed my arm to stop me from getting up. "Don't do that here", she said firmly.
We followed them out of the bar until they parted with yet another kiss. He went to the hotel in town and Effie walked by herself while smoking her cigarette on the way.
"Trinket! Oh god! Do you know how worried sick we all are? Haymitch is out there with Katniss and Peeta looking for you!" Johanna exclaimed at the door when she saw her.
The three of us hid so we can eavesdrop to the two girls at the door.
"He's here in 12", Effie said coldly.
"Who is?" Johanna asked.
"Kyle. I just met with him earlier", she answered.
Johanna froze before her eyes turned into fury.
"Where is he staying? I'm going to kill him", Johanna asked.
"You're not killing him. He's not here for you. He's here for me", Effie said without any emotion on her face.
"What for?" Johanna asked.
"A job…he got a job for me and I cannot say no", she answered.
