mgowriter's note: Some love for Chaff in this chapter :] Reference: pages 213-214.

Chapter 8: The Secrets We Keep

The Training Center is abuzz with excitement. It is the first time that the tributes, mentors, escorts, and design teams for all twelve districts are together since the previous Games. The opening ceremonies are a success, and no one can stop talking about District 12's costumes—who knew coal could be so mesmerizing?

Effie stands beside Cinna and Portia. The other designers around them display emotions ranging from fanatic awe to austere envy.

Good, Effie thinks to herself. Envy is good. Envy means sponsors. Sponsors mean…a chance. A better chance. She puts on a bigger, more dazzling smile. They will be perfect this year. They will have the most sponsors, the best, and they will win. Because the alternative is unthinkable.

Dahlia, the escort from District 11, approaches Effie with her clicking heels.

"That was amazing!" she says as she nears. "Everyone had their eyes on Katniss and Peeta. All of Panem is going to be talking about their costumes tomorrow! Cinna and Portia have done it again."

"Thank you, Dahlia," Effie says. "I hope so."

"Oh who are we kidding? The sponsors are going to be fighting for your tributes this year. Just you wait and see."

Effie smiles. Dahlia is probably the most universally liked escort. She finds a way to make friends with everyone that she meets. She is the main reason that District 11's tributes always last at least a few days into the Games, despite coming from a relatively poor district. She even convinced the sponsors to prepare a gift of bread to little Rue from last year, but they were too late in sending it.

"Oh look," Dahlia says with excitement. "There's Capala from District 5. I have to go say hi."

Effie nods. "Go ahead, I was planning on heading upstairs anyway."

Dahlia gives her a sympathetic smile. "It's been a busy day for all of us. You must be exhausted! By the way, you wouldn't mind taking Haymitch along with you, would you? He's been monopolizing Chaff the whole night and we have some serious planning to do!"

"Not at all," Effie replies. "I'll find him before I leave."

"Thanks Effie, you're a real treasure." Dahlia flashes her another smile and flits off to intercept one of the other escorts.

. . .

Haymitch and Chaff are engaged in a discussion that stops as soon as they see her approaching. Effie remembers thinking that the absence of their usually loud and boisterous joking is a nice change for once, before Chaff catches her by his good hand and twirls her around in a full circle.
"Miss Effie Trinket. I didn't think it was possible for anyone to look more gorgeous but you surprise me each year. How are you, darling?"

Effie blushes at his words. She knows for a fact that he says that to all the women, but he makes it sound each time like it's the first time he's ever professed his love. Few people know about the charm that he can easily switch on and off.

Chaff has a muscular build and stands at equal height with Haymitch, but he is almost a decade older. His dark, olive skin contrasts against the hair that's graying along the edges, and only serves to distinguish his look. His brown, intelligent eyes stare into hers. She wonders if any woman has resisted this man before. In his youth, he could've won every one of them over from Finnick.

"I'm fine," Effie says, releasing her hand from his. She automatically steps closer to Haymitch. "What have you boys been up to?"

Chaff smiles easily. "Things only becoming of victors, of course. Planning the Games. Figuring out how long I'm going to survive with your Katniss and Peeta in the ring, now that I'm a tribute again."

His last sentence touches a nerve in Haymitch. Chaff catches the small change in demeanor and doesn't miss a beat.

"Haymitch thinks it's unsuitable to talk about one's own death in such a candid manner." He turns toward Effie. "What do you think, darling? How long do you think I'll last?"

"I—"

"Don't answer that, Effie," Haymitch says. He gives Chaff a disapproving look.

Effie reaches for his arm. She knows that it's hard, for the both of them. Despite Chaff's impervious approach, he can't distract from the fact that both he and Haymitch will be losing a friend of twenty-five years.

Chaff opens his mouth to speak but the image of Effie's arm linked with Haymitch's stops him before he begins.

"How was the train ride in yesterday?" he asks instead.

Effie and Haymitch are caught in surprise. They look at him, then at each other, both remembering the night before. She is the first to clear her throat.

"It was…fine. Yours?"

"Fine, fine," Chaff answers, his eyes still trained on them. "Dahlia was a mess, but I suppose that's what happens when people you work with are sentenced to die."

Effie nods sadly. "It's hard this year, for everyone. Speaking of Dahlia…I think she wants to talk to you about sponsors."

Chaff grins. "Doesn't she always?" He turns to Effie. "I just need one more minute with Mitchy before sending him to bed. Think you can give me that, darling?"

Haymitch rolls his eyes. He hates the nickname, but doesn't protest it this time.

"I'll wait by the east elevators," says Effie. Her words are to Chaff but she's staring into Haymitch's eyes as she says them. Where do they go from here? Who's bed does she sleep in tonight? The hectic schedule from the day has left them with only a few segmented minutes of conversation. They need to talk, sort things out.

Haymitch nods, as if communicating the fact that he hears her thoughts. She gives his arm a squeeze before walking away.

. . .

Chaff watches Effie make her way to the elevators at the opposite side of the room. His expression changes as soon as she's out of earshot.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asks, turning on Haymitch. His voice is a whisper but the intensity it holds is hard to ignore.

"What?"

"You, her," he motions with his hand. "C'mon, Haymitch, you'd have to be blind and dumb to miss it."

"It's not what you think," Haymitch begins.

"No?" Chaff responds, struggling to keep his voice calm. "Okay, then. Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me this is all a joke, that you had a good time on the Victory Tour this year, got a little friendly, and now it's all in the past. Tell me you are not in love with her."

Haymitch remains silent.

Chaff exhales in frustration. He lowers his voice further. "Have you told her?"

"Of course not," Haymitch responds. Their voices are the sounds of breaths now, barely. Every word puts them in danger. Every word is a count of treason.

"Do you know what they're going to do to her when they find out about you two?"

Haymitch lowers his eyes. The image forming in his mind of Effie interrogated by Capitol guards is too tangible for comfort.

"She doesn't know anything," he whispers.

"They're not going to care," Chaff responds. "And they're going to take their time finding that out."

Chaff is right; Haymitch knows it and has known it all along. He's already endangered her life many times over, and for what? He's prepared to die. He knew the risks when he signed on as a member of the rebellion. But Effie…Effie is pure and beautiful, and doesn't deserve what he's put onto her. He thinks about everything that's happened in the past year, everything they've been through together, and selfishly, he realizes that he would do it all over again. Because he has finally found something in her that he's been looking for since the moment he became tribute number twenty-four of the Fiftieth Hunger Games. He's finally found something that takes the nightmares away.

He feels Chaff's arm around him and the other man's laughter brings him out of his thoughts. The design team from District 2 passes them without a second look. Their time is up; they've lingered too long.

"That's a helluva story," Chaff says cheerfully, now clapping him on the back. "You're never one to disappoint, Haymitch."

Haymitch nods, forces a grin. "You wouldn't believe the rest of it if I told you."

Out of the corner of their eyes, Seeder returns from visiting with the tributes from 10. She has a sixth sense about timing, knowing when to make herself invisible and the best time to reappear. Haymitch scans the small crowd until he finds Katniss and Peeta, still standing by their chariot. He gives a short greeting in their direction.

"C'mon, I'll introduce you," he says to her and Chaff.

Seeder smiles. "I'd like that."

When they near, she gives Katniss a hug that everyone knows is for Rue. Seeder and Rue had a special bond the previous year, and she was heartbroken at the death of the child. Haymitch introduces Chaff to Peeta. They exchange handshakes before Chaff throws his arm around Katniss and kisses her on the mouth. It's his last effort to draw attention away from their conversation, so whoever is reviewing the tape will stop at the image of Chaff giving the girl on fire a hard time, and not on the one a few minutes earlier, of him and Haymitch huddled together, passing whispers between them. Haymitch hopes that it's enough. He has a sinking feeling in his stomach, but forces himself to laugh along. He banters back and forth with Chaff until the Capitol attendants come to herd all the tributes away.

"Maybe Dahlia is right," says Chaff as he turns to leave. "It wouldn't hurt to strategize a little. Who knows? Maybe I can win this year."

His message is clear. Keep your mind in the game. Haymitch nods almost imperceptibly, a tiny gesture of acknowledgement. Satisfied with his answer, Chaff follows the others into the