Hey all! It's back by popular demand! :D I love you guys so much!
So this chapter is in the first person, unlike all the others, which have been in third. I think I write better in first, as I can explore more of the emotions of the characters! I hope you don't mind!
So read on! In this chapter, we discover why in Haymitch is supposed to have brown hair, but in the movie, he has blonde. And we see another side to Effie, and we see that her life isn't perfect either!
Happy reading!

71st Hunger Games

Effie

As the train rolled closer and closer to District Twelve, I felt happiness and anticipation rise within me. Every mile we travelled put me a mile closer to him.

Haymitch and I had shared a rather weird year. We had phoned and written to each other as often as convention allowed. We had to make it seem like we didn't share any particular regard for each other, and therefore kept most of our conversations strictly on business. But I had a habit of sneaking in little riddles for him to work out, and he replied the same way too.

My life in the Capitol had changed so much. As an escort for the Hunger Games, I was propelled to new heights in society, invited to all the best parties and meeting the biggest people in the city. I even met President Snow!

I had just gotten off the phone with my friend, Seneca Crane. We had basically grown up together; he was one of my best friends. He had become a Gamemaker, and Holden McKee seemed to like him. Maybe he'd become Head Gamemaker someday. I was so proud.

However, despite my new found status in the Capitol, my heart was elsewhere. It laid in the impoverished District Twelve, where Haymitch lived.

Wherever he was, my heart was sure to follow.

I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true.

I couldn't tell anyone that, though. Not even my own family, who all assumed that I was still single. Which I supposed I was, as Haymitch and I weren't in a proper relationship, but still. My heart was taken. And that was all that mattered.

Then, I saw it. The collection of dilapidated buildings that made up the Seam of District Twelve, the mining district. We were here!

I didn't like coming here. It was filthy, and there were many starving children. I knew that every single person, except for one, in this district hated me, as I was the one who chose the two children to go into the Hunger Games.

I had signed up to be an escort for this district so I could meet Haymitch Abernathy, my childhood crush. I met him, slowly began to hate him, and then saw a vulnerable side to him that only I had seen. That vulnerable side showed me that there was more to him than a drunk. He was a man who was plagued with misery, and alcohol was his way of coping. I hoped to wean him off liquor. I would love him, despite his faults, and slowly open his heart to me.

At least, I hoped that would happen.

We rolled into District Twelve's station, and I got up quickly. I needed to see him. It had been agony not seeing him for the past year. I stayed in the Capitol for the Victory Tour, as it wasn't my district's tribute that won.

I was glad that it was only a short walk from the station to Victor's Village. The ground was muddy, and my heels sunk into it. I suppressed a shiver of disgust and kept on walking.

The only occupied house in the Victor's Village was the second from the left. The first one on the left had been occupied by the only other Victor from Twelve, Reyad Michelson. But he died ten years ago, leaving Haymitch as the only Victor for District Twelve.

I knocked on his door, my heart thudding. I was going to see him again!

"Who is it?" I heard his gruff voice, and I gasped.

"It's Effie, Haymitch, let me in!" I tried to sound impatient. We had this relationship where we had to keep our true feelings secret. We had to pretend to hate each other in real life.

"Come in, the door's open." He snarled.

I let myself in and recoiled at the smell. Liquor and unwashed man. I didn't even have to pretend to be disgusted. How could he live like this?

"Where are you, Haymitch?" I asked.

"In the kitchen." He replied. However, his voice sounded like it was coming from up the stairs, curious.

I walked towards the kitchen anyway, and suddenly saw a figure in the mirror next to me. A blonde man stood behind me. I screamed and whirled around to face him, not recognising him with his blonde hair drooping over his face.

"Whoa! Eff, calm down. It's me." A familiar voice came from the man, and he pulled his hair from his face.

Recognition sparked through me as he winked. "Haymitch?" My mouth fell open.

"Surprised?" He asked.

"You... you're blonde! How did that happen?" I was shocked. He had had dark brown hair last time I saw him, and yet here he was, with long blonde hair swinging around his face.

"Didn't the stylists tell you? When they came to make me look pretty for the Victory Tour, I asked them to give me a makeover. This is what happened. Don't you like it?" He put on a mocking sad face.

"I like it... but you didn't tell me!"

He laughed at my face. I probably looked stunned.

"I wanted it to be a surprise, princess." He walked over to me and wound his arms around me.

"I told you, stop calling me that." I was going to sound angry, but when he wrapped me in his embrace, I couldn't be mad at him. It was too wonderful being in his arms to be mad at him for calling me one simple nickname.

He chuckled, and tilted my head up so I was looking into his eyes.

"I've missed you, Effie."

I smiled. "I missed you too."

And then we were kissing. It was weird, holding onto long hair as I kissed him, but I would get used to it.

Oh God, I realised how much I did miss him. In the Capitol, I thought that my new life would distract me, but the need to be with him was overwhelming. I doubted I could do it again, but I knew I'd have to. I couldn't live here, and Haymitch couldn't come and live in the Capitol. It'd be too suspicious. Haymitch wanted to do anything to protect me, and that meant keeping our relationship a secret.

After a while of just kissing and being in each other's arms, we broke apart. I put my head onto his shoulder as he stroked my back.

"You ready for this?" I asked.

"I'm never ready for it, sweetheart. Why would today be any different?"

"You have me." I looked up at him, and saw him smile beautifully. Blonde hair really did suit him.

"That makes it all better." He kissed me on the forehead and then broke away.

"I need to get ready." He led me upstairs. I tried not to remark on the state of his room, but it was very hard.

There were clothes strewn everywhere, empty liquor bottles on the floor, and it smelt horrible.

Haymitch saw my expression and laughed loudly.

"Aw, I've missed you, love." He kissed me lightly and tried, in vain, to tidy a bit. I perched on his bed and watched him. It was still hard to believe that it was him. The blonde hair suited him, but it was different.

He found a bottle with some liquor in and downed it in one gulp. I gasped and rolled my eyes at him.

"What? Gotta get myself at least a bit drunk for the reaping. I wouldn't dare show up sober!" He joked, putting a hand over his open mouth in a gesture of shock.

"You could try." I said, seriously.

"No, sweetheart. You know how I feel." He said, picking up on my serious tone.

I did know. Haymitch hated the Games, and everything that it stood for, after what happened to him. The reaping was like a horrible reminder of what he had to go through twenty-one years ago. Drinking was the only way for him to make it through.

I smiled weakly at him. It was hard for him, and although I wanted him to stop drinking, I couldn't rush it. Nightmares plagued him all the time, and the booze was the only way he could stop them. I had to do this slowly, not rush into it.

I watched as he selected some clothes for reaping day.

"What about this?" He held up black suit trousers and a blue shirt.

"Nice, but make sure you wear a jacket." I said, sounding a bit more pedantic and Capitol than I wanted to. Luckily, Haymitch just laughed, and picked out the matching jacket for the suit.

I turned away from him so he could dress. I didn't want to intrude upon his privacy.

After a minute or so, Haymitch said that he was done, and I turned.

I was met by a shocking, and then pleasant, sight.

Haymitch was standing there, wearing the black suit trousers and nothing else. He stood there cockily, one hand on his hip.

I could feel my eyes widening and my mouth dropping. Oh yes, the years had been kind to him. Even with all that drinking, he was still very fit. His chest was muscled, but not too much, and his stomach was only slightly rounded.

"Like what you see?" He winked at me, and then burst out laughing.

It took a moment for me to compose myself, and then I tried to sound serious.

"Put some clothes on, Haymitch." But I couldn't go very long without snickering, and soon we were both collapsing in fits of laughter.

"You tease." I hit his upper arm.

"Hey, it could have been worse. I could have worn no clothes at all." He chuckled some more and wrapped his arms around me so I was pressed against his naked chest.

"Let go, Haymitch." I laughed, pressing my hands against his chest to try and free myself. His chest was hard, and I liked it. But memories surfaced, and suddenly I wanted to get away quickly.

"We're going to be late!" I squealed, and eventually he let me go.

He dressed quickly, making sure he looked presentable for me, and we went downstairs. He quickly downed a bottle of liquor, and then brought another one for the road. I gave him a look, and he laughed.

"By the way, Eff, I didn't get a chance to tell you something last year." He said, pulling me close to him.

"And what's that?" I looked up into his eyes. They were twinkling happily.

He leant down so his head was on my shoulder, and then whispered, "I love you too."

My heart thudded in my chest. "Really?" I whispered back.

"Oh yes. I don't know why, but I do. You're an insane, clean, mannered freak of a woman, but you're different from the others. And that's why I care for you. Because you're an anomaly. And I love you for it." He pressed his lips to the side of my face by my ear, and slowly kissed his way around to my mouth.

We were joined in that kiss for some time. Elation filled me. He loved me! He thought I was different! Yay!

Then, we had to break apart, as it was time for me to leave for the reaping. Haymitch would turn up fashionably late, as usual.

"I'll see you there." I smiled, trying not to joke about the reaping.

"Can't wait." He kissed my forehead, and then let me go.

Haymitch

I watched as she left. God, I wish she dressed normally.

I meant every word of that little speech I gave her. I did love her, far more than I ever thought I would. I had spent the entire year contemplating my feelings for Effie, and today I realised that I was way further gone than I imagined.

Being with her was wonderful. She was hilarious to tease, but she didn't take it too seriously most of the time. She joined in with my fun. She understood me. As much as I insisted that no-one understood what I had been through, she tried. She had an open mind, which was something that most Capitol citizens had a severe lack of.

I tried to get myself as drunk as possible. I knew Effie didn't like it, but I needed to. The reaping reminded me of horrible times. My reaping was the beginning of the end for me, and my family. And now it was a constant reminder that it was the beginning of the end for two young lives. Two young lives that could have blossomed into so much more. Although, in District Twelve, it was hard for a young life to blossom into anything apart from a coal miner.

I drank some more liquor, feeling the familiar burn run down my throat. I think I drunk just to feel that burn, nowadays. The burn made me feel safe; it had become conditioned in my brain to signify that I would be safe from nightmares. How I was ever going to break that conditioning was beyond me.

At five past twelve, I decided to leave. I was going to be a bit late, but not a lot.

I heard Effie's voice booming out over the square as I slipped into the back of the Justice Building and made my way out of the doors at the front, to the stage.

I strode out, bottle in hand, and made my way over to the seats.

I heard Effie's sigh. "It's nice of you to join us, Mr Abernathy." She said, harshly, and I winked at her.

Slumping down in my seat, I surveyed the crowd of kids. So young. Most of them looked like they were starving to death, especially the ones from the Seam. I remembered my life there. It wasn't fun. I had to hunt in the woods to get food for my family, especially after my father died in a mining accident.

"Alright then, let's pick the names! As usual, ladies first." Effie said, practically skipping over to the glass ball. Her peppiness was amazing, how she could act like that was beyond me.

Her hand dug into the ball, rootled around a bit, and then flew out. She flourished her hand, showing the square the single slip of paper clutched in her perfectly manicured fingernails.

She opened it, and I could feel all of the girls, and all of the parents, take a collective breath of fear.

Effie took a breath herself, and read out the name "Katerina Samson."

The small cry of pain from the parents' crowd was usual, and there was another cry from the boys section. A boy was calling for the girl.

From the very back of the crowd of girls, a small child stepped out and was guided by Peacekeepers to the stage. I sighed and shut my eyes. She must have been twelve.

Her hair was blonde, in little ringlets, and she was wearing a pretty dress. She was adorable. And now she would be sent off to her death.

"Any volunteers?" Effie asked as soon as Katerina had mounted the stage. As usual, no-one came forward.

"Alright then! Congratulations to the female tribute from District Twelve, Katerina Samson. And now, for the boys."

She swept over to the ball, remarkably gracefully in those stupid shoes. Her hand dug around again, and she pulled out a name.

I remembered this part. Being so frightened that you could barely breathe. I remembered being so relieved that Nadyah had not been picked that I barely had time to worry about myself. But I had been chosen, and that was when it had all sunk in.

"The boy tribute from District Twelve is... Klaus Samson."

I leant forward in surprise, watching as the same boy who had called out for the girl was escorted onto the stage. The resemblance between them was striking. I sighed again. Great.

We were sending a brother and sister pair into the arena.

They were both merchant kids, and therefore probably didn't have to hunt to survive. They probably didn't know very much, especially not the girl.

Effie again asked for volunteers, but no-one came forward. There hasn't been a volunteer in District Twelve in so long. I can barely remember the last one. My friend's brother volunteered to save my friend when we were just twelve. He died in the bloodbath. My friend never really got over that. He was now a grown up with two kids. I cursed his stupidity. If you had been through what he had, why would you even consider having kids? It seemed wrong to have children in a world like this.

Effie announced the names of the kids again, and then led them off into the Justice Building. And with that, I scarpered to my house to get packed.

Effie

Poor kids. They were a brother and sister duo, both sweet. She was twelve, he was fourteen. Both were unlikely to survive.

I waited for them to finish talking to their families, and then led them to a car that would take us to the train.

Looking at the innocence in their little faces made me want to cry. They had been chosen for the harshest of fates. And what was worse, is that I myself had chosen them for it.

All I wanted to do was run to Haymitch and cry. Cry for the hopelessness of the situation that these poor children found themselves in.

Neither of them spoke on the way to the train, so I told them about the luxuries of the Capitol in the hopes that it might cheer them up a little bit. Katerina did seem interested when I told her about the wardrobes with the touch screen system of picking out clothes, and Klaus perked up at the mention of the Avoxes bringing you food any time you wanted it. I smiled at the sweetness of the children. They had so much to live for, and yet so little time to live.

I let them get settled into their new rooms, with the explicit instructions to be dressed nicely for dinner at 7, and then went to find Haymitch.

I found him in the first place I looked, the bar car. He was downing more liquor. His face brightened when he saw me, but then turned to worry when I ran headlong into his arms, tears streaming down my face. I clung to him as I sobbed.

"I feel so bad! I chose them! The sweetest children imaginable. I've basically signed their death sentences!" I cried into his shirt, making it wet.

All he did, instead of telling me lies, was stroke my back and listen to my cries. Then, when words could not form themselves in my mouth anymore, he held me and started to sing.

I froze in surprise. He could sing? His voice was beautiful. He sang a song about a tree, where a man told his lover to come and wait for him. A Hanging Tree.

As he finished the last stanza of the song, I realised what a depressing song it actually was. The man basically told his lover to hang herself next to him.

I tried to stop the flow of tears, and eventually found success. I removed my head from his shoulder, and saw his hand rest on the huge dark mark.

"Wow. That's a lot of water. Thanks, sweetheart." He chuckled softly, but without any humour. We both knew that this was a bleak situation, and jokes could not remedy it.

We stayed, wrapped in each other's embrace for a while. Then, when the clock overhead read half past six, I removed myself from him. We had stayed like that for so long that removing myself was difficult. I had begun to forget where I ended and he begun.

"You should go change that shirt." I motioned towards the dark stain on it.

"And you should reapply your makeup. You look like a pink panda."

I laughed softly, but stayed there, watching him. It was hard to leave this little world. When we were alone, we could truly be ourselves, but when we joined the company of the world again, we would have to hide who we were, and who we loved.

He stood up, took my hand, and led me outside. "Come on."

Our hands fell apart when we exited the bar car, and we made our way through the train to our rooms.

"See you at dinner." He breathed in my ear when we got to my room, and then left.

When I got to my mirror, I laughed out loud at my reflection. I really did look like a pink panda! My pink mascara and eye shadow had been smudged as I had cried, and I had light pink snail trails running down my face. How unattractive.

I stripped my face bare of makeup, and then started again. White foundation and powder, pink eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, and blush.

Once I was satisfied with my make up, I went to the dinner car and awaited my group.

Katerina and Klaus came along together at six o'clock on the dot. I was happy with their punctuality.

However, the same could not be said for Haymitch. He was ten minutes late to dinner, and we had already started without him.

"Nice of you to join us, Haymitch. I believe I said six o'clock on the dot. Where were you?" I tried to sound annoyed at him.

"In my room. Sorry to keep you waiting, princess." He sat down and started stabbing at his meat with his fork.

I rolled my eyes.

The kids ate beautifully. They had such wonderful table manners, it was unbelievable. I beamed at them, and they smiled shyly.

"At least you two have manners!" I said, with a pointed glance at Haymitch, who was still stabbing and pulling at the beef. I rolled my eyes again.

Haymitch saw that and made a rude gesture at me. I gasped in indignation. Haymitch winked at me slightly. It was funny pretending to annoy each other.

We talked about strategy after we finished the main course. Their family owned a butchers shop, and Klaus sometimes helped his father cut meat, which led him to be good with knives and axes. Not throwing them, but it was a good start.

Katerina, on the other hand, couldn't do anything. She was kept away from the butchers, and her mother had her sewing dresses. So she'd be able to sew a wound, but she wouldn't be able to do much else. I despaired for her.

After dinner, we watched the recap of the reapings to get an idea of who was fighting this year. The pair from One, Viola and Marble, looked reasonably tough, but the pair from Two, Harley and Briana, looked the scariest. Especially Harley. I could feel Katerina shaking in fear beside me. There were quite a few twelve year olds this year, including Katerina. The injustice of it all swept over me, and by the clenched fists, I could tell Haymitch was feeling the same.

A couple of contenders caught my eye. The boy from Four, Caspian, reminded me of Finnick Odair. They could have been brothers. Then there was the boy from Seven, Mikhail. He looked tough, but also sweet. And most prominent of all, the girl from Eight, Talia. She was beautiful, with shiny red hair and piercing green eyes. She looked tough too, like she had been trained slightly. But her partner was a twelve year old boy, and she showed a maternal side around him.

"Well, there are some strong ones this year." Haymitch said after Caesar Flickerman signed off.

"Yes, but I'm sure that Katerina and Klaus will be fine!" I said, before realising how stupid that sounded. These two had no chance. That was the honest truth. If they weren't killed in the bloodbath, the Careers would polish them off quickly.

Haymitch raised an eyebrow at me, and I could tell that he wasn't pretending.

"Well, you two should go to bed now, we have a big big day tomorrow! We'll get to the Capitol, and you'll have to get ready for the parade! So you'll need your sleep! Off you go."I said, trying to sound as optimistic as possible.

Once they had left, Haymitch turned to face me. "Are you stupid?"

At first, I was startled, but then I realised that he was still playing. The Avoxes were around us, and he didn't want to seem too nice.

"No. I just think we shouldn't worry them, that's all!" I said, indignantly.

"But they know that they have no chance. Let's not insult their intelligence, princess." He sat back and took a huge gulp of alcohol. He had been drinking throughout dinner and the reapings. I wanted to snatch his bottle away from him, but I knew that wouldn't help.

I stood up and told him that I was going to bed. I dismissed the Avoxes, who went to the back of the train to their quarters.

I made myself look "normal" for Haymitch, as I knew he'd like it. I personally felt naked without all my makeup and wig, but if he liked my natural look, then I'd show him it more often.

I slipped down the hallway and into his room, and was quickly met by his embrace. We kissed roughly, and fell onto the bed, clinging to each other.

"I'm never going to get used to this." I mumbled. "Acting like we hate each other, and then secretly making out in dark corners." I giggled at the thought.

He played with my hair, which made my scalp tingle. "Well, we could do more than make out, if that gets you used to it." He winked at me.

"Stop it." I hit him softly, and he chuckled.

I wasn't ready for a sexual relationship with him yet.

"But seriously, tell me if you want more." He grinned.

I froze. He was serious.

Confusion lined his features. "What's wrong?"

I got up off the bed and walked towards the door, trying to get as far away as possible.

"Whoa, Effie! Come back, what did I say?" His hand landed on my shoulder, trying to stop me leaving.

Horrible memories surfaced in my mind. Being forced down on a bed, pain swirling around my body, horrible jerking movements that made me hurt badly.

I realised I was shaking.

Haymitch's eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

"I... I can't." I shivered, trying to bat away the images and the pain.

"Do what? I'm sorry, whatever I said, I take it back. I was joking about the sex... I'm sorry."

"No, it's not your fault, really. It's just..."

Should I tell him? Should I tell him and potentially ruin everything?

Yes, I realised that I had to tell him. I knew his pain. He had to know mine.

"I... I was sexually abused... as a teenager. It was a boyfriend of mine, who I thought I loved. But he forced me, and kept on doing it for about a year. And now... I'm scared of any type of intimacy or sex... because I'm afraid that it will happen again."

I stared down at the floor as I told him my story. But after I finished, I flickered my gaze up to his face.

There was a mix of emotions in his face. Concern for me was there, but there was a burning rage in his eyes that made me flinch. Was he angry with me?

"Effie... who was he? I'll kill him. I will." His fists clenched up, and the fire in his eyes burned intensely.

"No, you won't. It's in the past now. But please, don't rush me. I'll let you know when I'm ready." I smiled weakly at him.

I felt bare now. I had revealed my darkest secret to him, and now it seemed like I could trust him with anything.

"Of course. Of course, I'll give you time. I was only joking anyway. I wasn't really going to rush you, darling. I'm sorry."

And suddenly, I found tears were pouring from my eyes. Haymitch's arms encircled me, and I cried into his chest for the second time today. Great.

He rubbed my back in circular motions, which soothed me.

When I ran out of tears, Haymitch looked down at me. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

"Me too." I smiled.

With that, he picked me up like a baby and settled me down on the bed, tucking me up. Then, he got in with me, and we curled up together. It was nice. I liked doing this.

I felt asleep listening to the beat of his heart, and felt content at being with a man, after so long of being afraid.

Aww, poor Effie! :(
Please review and show to all of your Hayffie shipper friends! It makes my day!
God, I'm so shameless!
Oh well! :D
Thank you all for your support!
Next chapter will be up soon! :D