Chapter 6! I really hope you like it because I've worked hours on this one! This chapter contains Hayffie ;) Please read and review, enjoy! All characters belong to Suzanna Collins except for Lucius.
Katniss was never the girl to squeal with joy. But after Effie had hit all the remaining targets, she did. She looked delighted. "See?" she said. "You have potential!" Effie was silent for a moment, surprised at her own actions and then burst out laughing. "I surely didn't expect that to happen!" She looked at Haymitch for a split second and tried to regain a professional look on her face. He looked genuinely satisfied because of her. No, Effie thought. This was wrong. It wasn't her who had hit the targets. It was her anger towards Haymitch. She couldn't do this. She had to apologize. But not yet.
Haymitch turned around to face Eden, who was trying his hand at setting traps. Peeta walked over to Effie from the camouflage station. "I'm sure you can use this." he said. "You're good with makeup. A little painting shouldn't be a problem." Peeta showed her the cart with supplies and handed her a paintbrush. "Make yourself invisible, use this tree to your advantage." Effie nodded. It felt strange, taking orders from one of her former tributes. She took the paintbrush from Peeta's hand and started working.
After an hour Peeta came back. "Time." Effie looked at her arm and then at Peeta. "What do you think?" Peeta studied it for a moment and pointed at the tree that was positioned in the middle of the station. Effie placed her arm against it. "Perfect! But it took you a while. You should work on your speed with this." Effie nodded obediently. "Yes, sir." Peeta grinned as he took the used paintbrush from Effie. "You have an hour of training left, you should go over there." He nodded his head in Haymitch's direction.
Effie took a deep breath and walked up to Haymitch. He sat crouched down with his back to her. "Hi." she said. Haymitch abruptly turned around to look her in the eyes and stood up. " Effie, I-" she raised her hand in front of his face. "Don't. We'll talk about that later." Haymitch pursed his lips together. "Hmmm, okay." He crouched down again and Effie joined him. She grabbed a branch. Haymitch wanted to explain how to start a fire. She shushed him. She knew exactly how to start a fire. Within moments the thin stick started to create smoke and then, fire. Haymitch looked at her bewildered. "How did you know how to do that?" Effie looked up. Wow, his Seam grey eyes sure were dreamy. Not now, Euphemia, you're mad at him. Focus. "I've seen our tributes do it every year. I picked it up, I guess." Haymitch raised his eyebrows. "Then sure you know how to set traps." "I have no idea." "Come on, then."
Haymitch stood up and held his hand out for her. She stared at his hand, hesitating for a moment, and then took it. It felt warm and familiar. Safe. She sure has cute little hands, Haymitch thought, and then he mentally punched himself in the face. Why was he thinking that, of Effie nonetheless. He reminded himself to let go after a few seconds after she had stood up. He cleared his throat. "Sorry." Effie blushed. "No, that's okay."
When she tried to tie a rope to a stick that she had shoved into the ground, she accidentally let go and the rope slapped her in the face. Haymitch burst out laughing. "It's not funny." Effie yelled. She sported a red mark on on her left cheek. "Sorry, princess. But it looked pretty funny to me!" He laughed even harder. Effie stood up. "Stop calling me princess all the time!" "What, you wish to be called a queen, m'lady?" He took a bow while trying to stop laughing. The bell rang. Training over. Katniss and Peeta stayed to talk with Plutarch as the tributes walked off.
Effie shot Haymitch an angry glare, wiped the dirt off of her shorts and walked towards the elevator with Eden, who had just finished training his knife-throwing. Lucius Crane walked up to them. Quite a handsome man, but also a terrible butt kisser. "Effie, doll, I saw you training today. You did great!" "Thank you." she responded politely. Then Lucius started whispering. "What about and alliance? What do you say darling?" Effie kept staring straight ahead. She knew Haymitch was walking behind them, listening to every word they said.
"I'm afraid you have to discuss that with my mentor first." Lucius looked disappointed. "Effie, darling, come on. Please, for an old love?" "I will think about it." "Alright." he gently grabbed her hand and kissed it. "I will call you, my love." Effie yanked her hand back and he walked off. Haymitch ran up to her. "My love?" Effie sighed and placed a hand on her forehead as they stepped into the elevator, leaving Eden behind with Lucius. "Alright he wasn't just a friend. He was my high school sweetheart, Haymitch. But since the day I broke up with him he started stalking me. Phone calls, showing up at the same parties; the whole thing. He gave up at some point. I guess he takes what he can get." –before one of us dies. But she left that part unspoken. "Do you… you know… have a thing for him?" Effie looked confused. "What the hell, Haymitch. Are you jealous?" She had to admit it kind of amused her. She suddenly didn't feel so angry anymore.
He raised his hands. "I'm not used to you using that language, Trinket." "You're avoiding the question." "I'm not jealous. I thought, well… maybe you could put on the whole star-crossed lovers thing." "They're never going to buy that again." "You don't know that." Effie tilted her head slightly and looked at him as if he were crazy. Haymitch gave up with a sigh and a smirk. "Alright no, it was a stupid idea. Forget it." They stayed in silence for a while. "Now I want to know the real reason." Effie said. "Were you jealous?" Haymitch looked her in the eyes. "If I tell you that I was you would probably laugh at me." This answer surprised her. The Haymitch she knew didn't care about what other people thought of him.
Effie bit her lip. "Or I could do this." She put her hands on his shoulders elegantly, stood on her tippy toes and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Haymitch was surprised at this bold action but he didn't pull back. He let his hands rest at her waist. He couldn't lie and say he didn't like it. In fact, he felt something that he hadn't felt in a long time. Butterflies. The kiss only lasted a few seconds before the elevator bell announced they had reached the Penthouse. They let go.
Effie's face turned red and she looked away at the sudden realization of what she had just done. Haymitch would probably tease her about this all week. But instead of doing so, he grinned at her. "And I think I'd like that, sweetheart. I believe you've forgiven me?" Effie nodded. "I figured you're much more of a help to me when I'm not trying to avoid you. And I knew why you did it. I can't blame you." Haymitch's eyes contained a hint of concern as they walked into the Penthouse. "Just know that I'll do everything I can to help you in the Arena." "I know that." Then Effie smiled at him boldly. "I believe I need some extra help, you know, setting traps and stuff like that." He grinned. "I can help you with that."