Hey guys! So my Internet hasn't been working properly since I got back from holidays, so there was some drama involved in writing this chapter. I had it typed up on anothe computer and now FF won't work and niether will my email and I don't have a usb key. Disaster. So I had to type it up again. Anyway, it's here, and my life has regained order and sanity. Thanks to anyone who's reviewed so far!

Really enjoyed writing this chapter so I hope you enjoy reading it!x


In my seven years of working with Haymitch Abernathy I have never known him to spend an entire game even vaguely sober. I'm much more used to him drinking the Capitol dry of whisky, leaving the vodka for the grand finale. It's the silence that gets me this time. I am normally kept company by a tirade of insult thrown my way every time someone dies. Now there's only silence, only the empty Penthouse to comfort me. Hating to be on my own I spend most of the time in District 12's viewing room, accompanied occasionally by the stylists and on one occasion a brief visit from Seneca Crane. Insufferable man, if he wasn't married to one of my best friends I'd probably strangle him. Haymitch definitely would. But he's out working, hard to believe I know. Probably best for his safety. The thoughts going through my head every time he doesn't send water of medicine are nothing short of murderous. It's dark in here too, no one could prove it was me…You wouldn't do that Effie, would you? Probably not. I don't bother to go and look for him; I'd never find him among the sea of potential sponsors. His answers at dinner are less than satisfactory. Exactly how is Peeta sticking with the Careers going to keep him alive? They'll kill him the second they figure him out, and this is Peeta; probably the most predictable person ever.

I switch back to the Penthouse once Katniss finds Peeta . I hate not knowing what's going on with everyone else and this is the easiest way. Thought most of the time they're showing "the star-crossed lovers from District 12". The romance is believable but Peeta carries it really because his love is real. The Capitol loves a good love story so they're shown whenever possible, it is an entertainment show after all.

Haymitch watches the finale in the Penthouse. Sponsors can't help them now. We sit on the couch, each with a glass of wine and a bowl of chocolate strawberries by our side. Staring at the screen all night long. Waiting for the inevitable announcement. They haven't won; the rule change has been revoked. It comes in the morning, just after dawn. Neither of us are surprised but Katniss very nearly almost killed Peeta when he reaches for his knife to throw it away. Then she remembers the berries. I feel Haymitch tense up beside me. The berries have just passed their lips when Claudius Templesmith shouts.

"Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the Seventy Fourth Annual Hunger Games – Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark!" I only now notice Haymitch's grip on my hand as the blood returns to my fingers and a moment later Haymitch's lips are crushed against my own. Seven seconds, that's how long it lasts – no more- before he backs away and starts swearing. I ask what the problem is even though I already know.

"She fucked up Effie! This is bad; this is really, really bad! She volunteered to save her sister now she's probably got her killed! We have to fix this." He shouts, after a moment of silence he begins to mutter something about her ruining her life.

"Haymitch," I say, laying a hand on his shoulder, "She hasn't ruined her life, I ruined her life, the Capitol ruined her life; she just made sure it was memorable." I pull the fine gold chain from under my collar and show the locket to Haymitch., the engraved mockingjay sending the message I can't say aloud. He nods to show that he understands. This is our chance. Katniss is our chance.

Haymitch suddenly lets go of my locket and within seconds he's out the door, claiming he's going to see Cinna. Sure, he's probably going to get a drink. Haymitch going to see Cinna? It's so unlikely I don't even consider it being the truth, until he returns with a garment bag.

"Cinna says hi and asked me to give you this," he says, throwing the garment bag at me in passing. An hour ago you were kissing me, now you're throwing things at me? What goes on in your head Haymitch? I instantly flash back to Haymitch's games, or more precisely after them.

I was in the kitchen when the television turned on. I saw the square in District 12. Six people stood in a line on the stage erected in front of the Justice Building. In and enclosed space in the corner sat Haymitch, surrounded by peacekeepers, a look of pure terror etched on his handsome face, silently apologising to the six people on the stage; his parents, three siblings and his sweetheart. That poor girl was only there by chance, she only happened to be dating him at that particular time. They started with the parents, Haymitch's apologies could now be easily heard in the silence of the square; his mother simply shook her head, smiling at him before hanging next to he husband. They were quick with the siblings shooting them all through the heart. But it was the girl that was horrific, they strapped her to a table and began cutting slits in her arms and legs. My mother told me to leave but I couldn't move, at least not until the slit her neck and she was dead. My father would've wondered why they televised it, given what they did to the girlfriend. My mother just told me to go to my room, never to mention it. Still I never forgot it.

Haymitch didn't either. I think of Katniss, her reaction when Prim was reaped, she'd never forgive herself if anything happened. To shake the thoughts from my head I read the note attached to the garment bag. "For the presentation". I open the bag to find a soft, silky fabric. It's a strange dress, very detailed yet very simple. It's the same cut as the interview dress, different shades of red, orange and yellow, almost like strokes of paint. The more I stare at it the more magnificent it seems, I'm about to put it back in the bag when I notice a small box sitting on the bottom. Inside is a hair clip, a single gold mokingjay with another note, this time saying "for later". Later? What does he mean by later? When I ask him what it meant he simply replies with a shrug and. "After." I'm assuming he means I'm not supposed to wear it for the presentation. He also say's I'll need a new hair colour. At least that makes sense. I find an old sunset orange wig in my apartment which goes so much better with the dress that my pink one. When I'm actually wearing the dress it's even more amazing. The colours blend together to look like both feathers and flames at the same time. They must be sticking with the fire.

I wait silently for Haymitch in the living room, fiddling with my gold locket. When he turns the corner he stops dead, his mouth slightly ajar, before walking to the elevator saying. "Nice dress, Trinket." I realise this is the first thing he's said to me in days. I shake my head and laugh in reply.

"Nice bow tie," I say, gesturing to the bright red bow tie around his neck. He grumbles something I can't make out before he exclaims.

"Did it have to be so bright? I mean why couldn't it have been more like … that?" he says pointing at my dress. Suddenly he starts laughing, not his usual sarcastic laugh of drunken guffaw, a genuine, almost childlike laugh. Probably like how he laughed before his games. Great, now I'm back to thinking about his games. I barely even noticed that I started to laugh as well.

"You have to warn Katniss," I say once I notice we're nearly at the lobby, "but don't mention it to Peeta, that'd ruin it." He nods slowly before the elevator opens We travel in silence and I don't even realise we've arrived until Haymitch squeezes my hand. I jolt back to alertness as I prepare for the show, thankfully Caeser doesn't interview the escorts so I won't have to speak.

It's dark under the stage and I can't shake the feeling that I'm inhaling a lot of mould. Haymitch goes off almost immediately leaving me alone to suffocate in the darkness. What if this doesn't work? What if they aren't convincing? As my plate rises and the blinding light hits me I say to myself. 'Chin up Effie. Smile. And I do, I smile, I wave and I join in on the cheering and stomping when Haymitch's plate rises. Then there's the kids, it's really sweet really, so believable, so very necessary. Poor girl, she has no idea what she wants and she just made it so much harder to get. I watch the recap of the games feeling sick to my stomach, it's the music, definitely the music. Then I notice what they cut out, Rue covered in flowers. They're scared.

Scared of the spark that's about to catch fire.


AHH! Sorry I couldn't end that better. Sorry if it's a bit long, I ended up putting two short chapters together. I don't even know what I was thinking about with the execution, it makes like zero sense for that to be televised. Anywho, Hope you enjoyed!