Chapter 5: Introductions
To say that there was a lot to do was an understatement.
Even with Effie's help starting weeks ago all the way from Four, there were too many things to choose. It was no secret that K,atniss had not wanted a big ceremony, and Effie was not truly sure why they had decided to have one — perhaps it was some political pressure from the higher ranks. The children weren't stalked, not really. Over the years the press took a big step back and left them be, but somehow word had gotten out and they were very much in the open again. At least most people in Twelve seemed to respect that.
But really, Katniss did not have any idea of what to do with her hair, stating that she would just choose it on the wedding day; they had not chosen the menu for the wedding lunch; they had not chosen a band to play; and, most importantly, they had not chosen the people who would serve as witnesses. A bride had to have bridesmaids, at least.
Sure, there would be less than fifty guests. Amabella would enter before Katniss and Levi would take the rings. Hopefully the clothes Effie had ordered for the two of them would fit the occasion; thankfully she had also taken care of the decoration months ago, and she could only hope Katniss wouldn't complain of it later.
Really, she had never seen more disaffected bride and groom. Neither Peeta nor Katniss seemed very excited. They were happy, Effie could tell, but the ceremony did not seem to interest either of them.
And so she had spent half the day wandering around the district with Felix, selecting the proper flowers that would look perfect for Katniss' gown and Amabella's hairstyle, trying out different dishes to see what would fit the wedding's menu, and trying to handle the press, which had become quite a nuisance whenever they realized who she was, because she still was fairly famous.
In truth, it was all very disorganized and stressful. Effie would have to work around a statement to keep the reporters happy for a while and then go from there.
Not to mention the fact that the ceremony would be in the morning, outside, and they had no plan whatsoever if the weather suddenly collapsed and rain spoiled everything.
With Peeta at the bakery and Felix eager to explore the district, Effie returned to the Victor's Village alone, very much looking forward to a glass of wine. She had left Amabella with Katniss for the day, and she was a little anxious to see how they had handled each other so far. She knew Katniss wasn't always comfortable around children and she knew Amabella could be very fussy when she wanted to.
So it was a surprise when Effie reached the house to see it completely empty. Her first instinct was to freak out, unfortunately, and her heart was already beating too fast by the time she saw the note on the coffee table.
Went to see the geese, in Katniss' hurried handwriting.
Effie relaxed, thanking the girl for being thoughtful enough to let her know, but she tensed again when the implications of that hit her. If they went to see the geese, they would probably see Haymitch.
She took a deep breath. She could not avoid him forever.
And so she decided to go to Haymitch's house, the one she was most familiarized with, and wondered if she should knock or simply go to the backyard, as that was probably where Katniss and Amabella were. Hearing the distinct squeals of a child and the honking of geese, she decided to go straight to the backyard.
She left Katniss and Peeta's back door and turned towards the neighboring house and, indeed, there they were. Katniss, Amabella, and the geese. There were about eight animals. More than Effie had expected.
Effie was glad they were not simply wandering around freely, and that Katniss had the sense of not going around the pen to be close to the animals. So Effie approached them, trying to walk as gracefully as she could wearing heels on grass, and maybe it was the bright yellow color of her dress, but the geese were suddenly very interested in her and very loud.
It took her about three seconds to decide she hated geese.
"Mommy! They like you!" Amabella said. She was peering at the animals from Katniss' arms, probably because she wanted to see them better.
Effie was not as gracious as she hoped to be. There was a lot of mud around, and it was becoming quite difficult to walk. And the animals were frightening her, if she was honest. More than one of them were flapping their wings. Did geese fly? The only reason why Effie allowed Amabella to keep Flower was because chickens did not fly.
It all happened very fast.
One of the geese flapped their wings. Effie was startled and her heel got stuck in the mud. When she tried to walk again, she tripped. And fell. Face down the ground.
Very humiliating.
But, thankfully, besides Katniss asking if she was okay and Amabella's gasp, no one had seen it.
"I'm fine," Effie said as she started to get up. She could see Katniss was starting to laugh. Of course she would. Her hair was probably a mess and her dress was ruined, she could already see it. She could not even think about her makeup, and sat backfor a moment, trying to gather herself. She stopped when she heard clapping.
"Seems like my birds don't like you very much, Sweetheart."
That made Effie turn her head immediately, already glaring at the source of the voice. Of course Haymitch would find it amusing.
"Well," she started, "I don't like them either," she said stubbornly. She tried to get up, but her ankle could not support her weight and she sat back with a wince. This couldn't be happening. Katniss stopped laughing. Effie tried to hold the fence for support but the geese were still there, and she yelped in surprise.
She felt a pair of hands on her shoulders and startled.
"Shut up!" It was Haymitch, looking at the geese impatiently before setting his gaze on her. "Can you stand up?"
Effie tried again, now clutching Haymitch's hands. A sudden pain flashed through her ankle, and she faltered. Haymitch held her by her waist.
"Okay, I'm gonna carry you inside," he told her, and Effie barely had time to nod before one of his arms lifted her knees and the other held her waist.
She instinctively held onto his shoulders as he carried her towards the house, thinking that this was absolutely a nightmare. Had to be. She could not have twisted her ankle or — God forbid — broken it when she had so much to do and a wedding to attend in a few days. It was a complete disaster.
And it hurt.
She barely noticed she was inside Haymitch's house when he put her down a couch; she had tears in her eyes but she was doing her best to keep composure. It was probably nothing, surely. It could not be that bad. Why, she had been walking in heels higher than these for years and nothing ever happened.
But then she had never had much experience in walking in high heels on grass or mud or around insufferable birds.
"We should take your shoes off," Haymitch mumbled, and for the first time Effie chanced a look at her ankle.
It was swollen.
"Oh, no," she whispered. It seemed very swollen to her. "No, no, no."
Haymitch was having some trouble with her shoes and he looked up impatiently.
"Grab her some ice, Katniss."
It was only then that Effie saw Katniss behind the couch, still holding Amabella and looking down worriedly.
"Mommy, are you hurt?" the little girl asked once Katniss put her down and left the room, quickly walking around the couch to stand beside Haymitch.
Effie eyed Haymitch worriedly, but he was still fumbling with her heels.
"Just a little. Those nasty birds scared me," Effie said, though Amabella, even with her worried frown above her eyebrows, seemed to not share the sentiment.
"That's 'cause they mistook you for a parrot, and those are even nastier," Haymitch said, finally able to take the shoe off.
Amabella giggled and seemed a little less worried. Haymitch took a moment to look at the little girl and Effie watched it all with increasing anxiety. Luckily, Katniss arrived with the ice and a towel and handed them to Haymitch, who received them with a glare.
"I couldn't find a pack," the girl mumbled. "How bad is it?"
Effie hissed as Haymitch held the ice against the outside of her ankle. His touch was gentle, and the ice helped. It was swollen but it did not look bruised so far.
"She'll live," he said. "I don't think it's serious or she wouldn't have been able to stand up at all. Some ice and avoiding these ridiculous shoes should do the trick."
"Does it hurt, Mommy?" Amabella asked, eyeing the ice with suspicious. She gravitated towards Effie's head, while Haymitch was sat next to the other end of the couch, holding her foot on his lap.
"It feels a little better," Effie did her best to smile at her, though she was very uncomfortable. The pain diminished, but she was still worried it wasn't as simple as Haymitch said. Effie raised her hand to caress Amabella's cheek. "I was looking for you and Katniss. I got home and you weren't there."
"She heard the geese and got curious. Sorry," Katniss said.
"It's not your fault, dear," Effie said kindly. "Really, the shoes were not proper, but the birds were simply dreadful."
"Not dreadful enough to break you," Haymitch joked, and was met with a glare from Katniss. "Next time, uh, just make sure I'm around the geese. They aren't used to visitors."
"I cannot say I am surprised to hear that," Effie retorted. She heard Katniss sigh.
"I'm gonna go home and see if we have an ice pack," Katniss said, looking at Effie. "Are you gonna be okay, Effie?"
"Yes, sure," Effie nodded, then looked at her daughter. "I hope you did not beg Katniss to let you out to see the geese."
But Amabella did not reply as she snuggled closer to Effie, eyeing Haymitch with careful curiosity. The same could be said for the man in question, though he was more discreet about it.
This was not how she imagined this day going.
"Oh, silly me. I did not introduce you," her voice sounded too loud and too cheerful to her own years. "This is Haymitch, darling. Remember how Mommy told you he was one of her victors, like Katniss and Peeta?"
The child still looked at him warily. "But he is old."
The reactions were instant and quick to Amabella's quiet observation; Effie gasped and Haymitch let out a loud laugh.
"Amabella!" Effie said, reproachfully. "Haymitch is older than Katniss and Peeta, yes, but he is not old. You do not say that to people. It's very rude."
"Like when I told Auntie Annie you were forty?" Amabella asked, looking confused.
Haymitch laughed harder.
Effie clenched her teeth. "I'm not forty. So, we just met Haymitch."
Effie looked at her pointedly. Amabella sighed.
"It's nice to meet you," her voice was quiet, barely more than a whisper, and she did not meet Haymitch's eyes.
"It's nice to meet you too, kid," Haymitch said, smiling — Effie wasn't sure if it was because he had been laughing or because he was glad to meet her. Probably the former. "It's also very nice to see you handling a kid with no filter, Princess."
Effie tried not to roll her eyes, smoothing Amabella's hair distractedly. Her ankle felt a little better. "She's a lovely child, if you must know. Even when she is pestering me about having new pets," Effie teased, and the little girl laughed, but still would not look at Haymitch. Effie turned towards him. "I'm sorry. She's a little shy around strangers."
"That's fine," Haymitch said quietly, watching the little girl. Effie took advantage of the moment to look at him properly. He looked well; a little tired, but well. He didn't seem to be drunk, or dirty, just a little disheveled, as if he had been woken from a nap not long ago. His clothes were wrinkled. "She looks like you."
"Oh. Yes, I get that a lot," Effie said quietly. This was not the time for this conversation. "She does look like me when I was her age."
"Felix calls me mini-Effie, like I'm mini-Mommy," Amabella said quietly, apparently at ease enough to be a part of the conversation.
Effie laughed. "That's right, he does."
"You like being mini-Effie, kid?" Haymitch asked, amused. He did not stop pressing the ice against Effie's ankle. "That's not something I ever thought I'd hear."
Effie glared at him.
"Yes, because Mommy is beautiful, and nice," Amabella replied, frowning.
"Thank you, baby," Effie kissed her cheek. "Haymitch, I cannot feel my ankle. I think that must be too cold."
"Oh, right," he mumbled, quickly taking the towel — now very much soaked — away from her leg. "Any better? Think you can try to walk?"
Effie moved her ankle a little, wincing slightly at the sharp pain, but it was nothing she couldn't bear. It was still swollen but it seemed to have gotten a little better.
"Maybe, with help," she groaned.
"Easy. You really should ditch the heels, Princess."
Effie rolled her eyes now.
"Do you hear me telling you to ditch your birds?"
Haymitch pursed his lips. "Kinda different considering the birds are live animals."
Effie was spared having to retort when Katniss arrived with an ice pack. Now, that was much better. And hygienic. But since her ankle was still numb from the ice, they thought it better to leave it for a few more minutes; Amabella, bored and no longer worried about her mother, asked Katniss if they could go find Buttercup and play, and Effie told them to go on as she would try to walk to Katniss' house.
Although it was a relief that she could walk and Effie probably thought that meant she didn't break her ankle or twist it very badly, it was still painful and she was limping. Haymitch had come to her aid after her fourth step or so, holding her waist as she supported herself by holding his shoulder. It was closer than they had been in many years.
Too many years.
"Your house looks nice," Effie commented as they crossed the living room. "It's better than before."
It wasn't necessarily great, either — but at least the curtains were fixed and the house was somewhat tidy. It used to be such a mess whenever she arrived for the Reaping every year.
"Yeah, the boy made me do it, couple years ago," Haymitch said. "And I got a housekeeper regularly, that helps. Johanna and Annie will be staying here for the wedding, from what Peeta tells me. Can't say I'm looking forward to it."
Effie let out a snort. "You were never a good host."
"I was a very good host any time you were concerned, Sweetheart," Haymitch remarked in a casual tone, though Effie knew enough of what he meant that she got flustered and it had nothing to do with the exertion of walking on an injured ankle.
She decided not to reply to that.
Slowly but surely, they got to Katniss' house, and Effie had then decided to have a bath and maybe rest the foot for a while. Amabella eyed them when they arrived, but she was much more interested in Buttercup — the cat seemed to love her — than to pay attention to them.
"She has the rabbit," Haymitch said slowly as Effie rested her foot on the floor, able to stand up, and let go of his shoulder.
Indeed, Amabella was playing with Buttercup by holding her favorite stuffed animal in front of the cat and making him chase it. Even though Buttercup must be old for cat standards, he seemed quite energetic.
"Darling, do not do that. Buttercup may ruin Bunny and that will not be good," Effie reminded her as the cat's claws reached for the toy.
Amabella quickly stopped wriggling Bunny but Buttercup was still very interested in it. With a gasp, she ran towards Effie and Haymitch, handing the animal to him with pleading eyes. Buttercup was still eyeing the toy.
"Take care of Bunny!" Amabella said before darting to the other opposite direction. "Buttercup! You meanie! No toys for you!"
Effie laughed, while Haymitch seemed very bewildered to be holding a battered stuffed rabbit.
"I sent you this rabbit," Haymitch said quietly.
Effie smiled. "That's Bunny. It's her favorite toy. I even bought her a new rabbit last year, in purple — we were big on purple last year — but she did not care for it."
"Well, I'll be sure to look after it," he joked. "She's bossy. Definitely your kid."
"Yes, that is a problem sometimes. Her being bossy," Effie clarified before Haymitch could say anything. "You should see the things she says to Levi when they're playing. She made him try on a dress last week because she was pretending to be a fashion designer. He wasn't very happy. Neither was she. The dress was fine to them, but it turns out they decided yellow isn't his color."
"Fashion designer. I wonder where she got that from."
"Not me. It was Felix who went to Fashion Week and she listened to all his tales with interest," Effie explained. "She just loves a good story. Perhaps she will be a journalist."
Haymitch gave her a look. "Hopefully not one who writes the social columns," he said. "Who's Felix again?"
Effie sat on the couch, feeling her ankle protest in pain. "Oh, he's a lifesaver, you have no idea."
"Did I hear my name?"
Felix himself stood in the doorway that led to the kitchen, and he brought his palms together at seeing Effie's ankle.
"Amabella just told me what happened, but she explained so quickly I did not catch half of it," Felix said, approaching them quickly. "What did you do, dear?"
"It's just a sprain. I don't think it will be too bad tomorrow. Heels and mud are not a good combination," she rolled her eyes. "Oh, Felix, let me introduce you to Haymitch."
Felix eyed Haymitch with some mirth. Effie did not understand; there could not be more different people on earth, she decided: Felix with his dark skin and trimmed beard and great fashion sense and… Haymitch, who clearly needed a haircut. And to have his beard trimmed. And that sweater really must be at least as old as Amabella. He dressed better when she ordered his clothes.
"Oh, we know each other," Felix said with a knowing smile.
Haymitch, on the other hand, looked perplexed.
"We do?"
Felix let out a laugh. "From Effie's party. Years ago. We had an interesting conversation, really. You are aging wonderfully, I must say, Mr. Abernathy."
"Drop the formalities," Haymitch rolled his eyes. He still looked confused. "I don't remember you."
He could be so rude, really.
Felix, on the other hand, laughed.
"You wouldn't after drinking what Flavius gave you," he shook his head. "You were very interested in what would happen to Effie, actually. We had a very good discussion about the pros and cons of sperm donation. Then Johanna arrived and told you to get a grip and go freshen yourself. You were doing fine, really. Just looked a little green."
Effie glared at him.
"Did you get drugged at my farewell party?" She asked, not so lowly.
"Easy, Sweetheart, I'm sure someone three houses from here did not hear you," Haymitch said impatiently. He turned to Felix. "What did Flavius give me?"
"Just a little thing to enhance your feelings and improve your experience," Felix explained. "It's harmless, I assure you. Just shouldn't be taken with much alcohol."
Haymitch groaned. Effie was still confused, but she understood enough.
"He had drank enough alcohol, believe me," she said seriously. "Flavius could have killed him. What was he thinking?"
"It wasn't enough to kill him, really," Felix defended. "And from what I saw it looked like he was having a good time. Oh, it's been years, what does it matter?"
"Enhance feelings," Haymitch was mumbling. "That was the last time I took anything a Capitol gave me, you know."
"Smart move," Felix nodded. "I will go freshen up. I was thinking of having dinner in town, what do you say to that, Effie?"
She shook her head. "I'll stay in. But you should have fun."
Felix looked between them a moment too long before going upstairs. Effie stood up then, intending to go take a bath herself.
"You gotta rest that foot, Princess," Haymitch warned.
"Yes, I will," she told him. "Thank you for your help, Haymitch."
"It's nothing," he handed her Bunny. Effie had completely forgotten about it. "Should go back and feed the geese."
Effie nodded. He was already turning around. "The children mentioned you'd be coming to dinner later."
He looked at her over his shoulder. "You trust me not to screw up and curse in front of your kid?"
Effie scoffed at him. "I trust you will behave. And it will be nice to have the team together."
He gave her a small smile. "Yeah. Later, Sweetheart."
He left without another word, and Effie let out a breath she did not know she had been holding. So much for planning everything. She supposed she could just ignore this and let it go, but she had to have a real conversation with him. An important one.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and marched slowly upstairs. It would work next time.
Amabella had many questions about Haymitch later, while Effie gave her a bath. She was clearly very interested in him being a victor and about his geese. She wanted to know if he was Peeta's father.
"Why do you think that, darling?" Effie asked with a laugh as she washed Amabella's hair.
"'Cause they have the same hair," the child answered, as if it was an obvious conclusion.
"No, he isn't Peeta's daddy. And their coloring isn't exactly the same," Effie explained, though she did not expect Amabella to understand it quite well.
"Okay," Amabella said, then eyed her suspiciously, but with an excited smile. She grabbed a pink rubber duck and squashed it. "Is he your boyfriend, Mommy?"
Effie dropped her hands in the water, causing it to splash all over her blouse.
"How—Why do you think that, young lady?"
She wasn't even sure Amabella understood exactly what a boyfriend was.
"I heard Felix talking to Katniss," she explained. "Is he?"
"No, he is not my boyfriend," Effie denied carefully. "But he is a good friend of mine."
"I like his geese," the little girl commented. "Do you think they have names?"
Well. That was as much as Effie could hope for, really. If she liked his geese, she'd probably like him.
"Maybe. You can ask him later at dinner. Or perhaps we can help him find good names for them."
Amabella nodded vigorously, and she was excited all through the evening until Haymitch arrived. When he did, she became suddenly shy and would not leave Effie's side, which was not a surprise at all. It was only when he shook a package in the air and said it was for her that she stepped forward, now very excited about receiving a present. Effie encouraged her to pick it up and open it, and she did not need much incentive at all. Haymitch appeared ill at ease, clearly not used to the attention of such a small child, but Effie took his actions to heart. He meant well.
But then he was always a good man.
"A puzzle!" Amabella exclaimed as she eyed the box.
Effie was surprised to hear that.
"Peeta told me she liked them," Haymitch mumbled, not meeting her eyes.
"I love it! Thank you!" the little girl said excitedly. "May I play, Mommy?"
"You may, after dinner," Effie said, to the child's disappointment. "Come on. It is a big puzzle. You will do better if you do it on a full stomach."
"Okay," Amabella said a little dejectedly, but did not argue back.
Conversation during dinner was light, though Effie noticed that the wedding topic was still not something Katniss and Peeta wanted to really discuss. It was still inevitable, though — Effie had a lot to plan before the big day, and if none of them were eager to organize this, then it clearly fell on her to make this ceremony a success.
Effie declined wine when she noticed Haymitch wasn't drinking, and it was simply out of habit — she supposed he could use some sympathy, regardless of what he was going through.
She had been in the middle of a commentary about a wedding she had attended in Four a few months ago — there were swans and ice sculptures, and it was really so classy, it was a shame they could not come up with something like that in such short notice, when Katniss interrupted.
Certain things never changed, it seemed.
"We're already married, Effie," the young woman said impatiently.
That was certainly news.
"What?" Effie asked. There was silence on the table. The only person who seemed to still be chewing was Amabella, who was not interested in the adult conversations and had probably tuned out moments ago.
"We had a toasting," Peeta explained. "We didn't really plan it. It was weeks ago. We wanted to just go to the justice building and get it done, but word got out that we wanted a marriage certificate. Plutarch said he'd help, but it was too late. We're only doing the wedding so that the press will be satisfied, and we have a deal that they'll leave once it's done."
Ah. That made sense, she supposed.
"You must feed the monster," Effie stated. Peeta nodded. Katniss merely continued eating as if this was obvious. "Well. Then congratulations are in order, of course. I am happy for you."
They both smiled genuinely at that.
"Thanks, Effie," it was Peeta who answered.
"We don't care about this party," Katniss said. "So… you can do whatever you want, Effie. Just… no ice sculptures. No wigs. No weird food. I don't really want to be involved."
"You must still have a few dress fittings, dear. And I will need somebody's help with certain decisions," Effie argued. "My tastes are completely different from yours."
"You don't say," Haymitch said, contributing to the subject for the first time.
Effie glared at him.
"I have to go to the bakery during the day but I can help in the evenings, Effie," Peeta offered. "Maybe Haymitch could help you when I'm not available."
He had barely finished that sentence when Haymitch spoke.
"No fucking way."
There was a gasp. It was not from Effie.
"That is a bad word!" the little girl exclaimed. She looked positively angry. "Mommy keeps a jar at home and Auntie Jo is always putting coins in it every time she says a mean word. Is there a jar here?"
It was Katniss who snickered.
"If we had one, Haymitch would have paid for this whole wedding," she commented.
Effie turned to her daughter. "There is not a jar here, but I'm sure Haymitch will not do it again, darling."
"Are you sure?" Amabella looked skeptical, her eyes almost narrowing towards Haymitch, who actually looked quite uncomfortable. Peeta was silently laughing.
"I am, because if he does that again he will answer to me," Effie gave Haymitch a pointed look.
That seemed to satisfy Amabella, since Mommy did have a way of seeing and knowing everything, but she was still wary.
"Okay."
Effie let out a deep breath and indulged in the kids' smiles, smiling herself. Haymitch looked relieved.
"Well," she started again, "I'll run everything I can by you, Peeta. I did not come here to trouble you or Haymitch, for that matter," her tone was firm. She looked at Amabella distractedly again, and noticed her plate was almost clean. "Eat your peas, darling."
Amabella sighed dramatically, but did not argue.
"Are the peas not good?" Peeta said, a little worried suddenly. He was the one who cooked.
"They're great, dear. She is a little picky, that's all," Effie said dismissively. "I was a picky eater myself. Why, I could not see a tomato in front of me until I was at least ten, I'm sure. But then every child is like that, I assume."
She smoothed Amabella's hair back as she spoke, and the little girl ate the peas dutifully.
"Not if they don't have anything to eat, they aren't."
Haymitch's tone was too detached for her not to know that he meant it. It mortified her, in reality, and she knew she must have showed it.
"I did not mean—I know that. I'm sorry," Effie said quickly.
"It's okay, Effie," Peeta said. "Good thing children don't go hungry anymore."
"Of course," Effie agreed. The silence was becoming very loud. "All the books I've read say so, anyway. But Amabella always listens to Mommy, doesn't she?"
Amabella nodded, and Effie was glad for the momentary distraction.
But Haymitch spoke again.
"Capitol books, I bet," he said. "Can't raise kids on books alone, Sweetheart. Should teach her that some people go hungry and she should eat her peas without asking."
Effie narrowed her eyes, abandoning all composure. Her ears were ringing loudly and she tried not to let it bother her, but she could already feel the tears threatening to spill.
"Because you know everything about raising children, don't you, Haymitch?" her voice was too loud. "Need I remind you that I went hungry myself during the war? That I spent months in that white cell with nothing—"
Effie closed her eyes. She would not make a scene. Amabella was present. She did not have to listen to that. She should not know about any of that. Not anytime soon.
The room was silent. Effie opened her eyes and focused them on her daughter, whose eyes were too wide, too gentle, and too innocent. Effie tried to smile at her, and refused to meet anyone's gaze.
"I ate all the peas," Amabella's voice was small, as if she was worried that was the cause of the commotion.
"That's very good, my angel," Effie said. She did not sniff, and she did not blink, because the tears would surely follow. "You may go play with your puzzle now. I'll be right there."
Amabella left without a word.
"Effie—" Haymitch started as soon as the child was not present.
But Effie shook her head. "Really, lecturing me about how to raise my own daughter. I… I thought we were past this useless bickering, Haymitch," she tried to make her tone light to put the subject back where it should have stayed, and stood up. "If you'll excuse me for a moment."
Her ankle was still sore so it took her a while to leave the room; she did not look at Katniss or Peeta, but she was sure they'd both be sending glares towards Haymitch.
Effie silently cursed at herself — she ended up causing a scene. And it was so hard to… to just put the mask back on. It used to be so easy, when she first started as an escort, and then it became gradually more difficult, and now… now it was nearly impossible for her to recover in such short notice.
But she endured. She reached the restroom and only took one brief glance at her appearance before taking a deep breath. Effie Trinket, but not the escort, or the Capitol. She needed to go through this quickly for Amabella. She closed her eyes, supporting her hands on the sink. This was no time for a panic attack. She took another deep breath, closed her eyes. No time for a scene. This would not do. Deep breaths. In, out.
She opened her eyes.
She endured.
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who's left a review so far! We get a chapter a day early because I'm leaving on a trip tomorrow but next week we're back to Thursday. Also, I've been finishing the fic and there may be more than twelve chapters in the end. We'll see.
Next chapter: there's a late night conversation, someone finds out about Effie's baby daddy, and Haymitch and Effie settle their differences from the argument in the only way they know how - points to anyone who guesses it ;)