She didn't emerge until well after breakfast. Perhaps it was too much to say what he said last night. But he upheld his part in the games. That morning over breakfast he gave his best advice to the kids he'd be responsible for this year.
The boy was eager, a strong 17 year old boy from the seam. He could hold his own for a few days. But the girl…He saw the way Effie looked at her. The 12 year old did nothing but tremble. She was a baby. From what he could tell the girl was afraid of him. She wouldn't be alive long enough to count and that killed him.
Effie emerged just before their arrival to the Capitol. Dressed in her finest as always. Blue was her thing this year, but today it was a tealish color that looked very pretty against her skin. Haymitch found himself thinking about that skin a lot last night. She was pretty under all the Capitol crap and no one would ever know it. He saw how she blushed when he saw her so exposed last night. All that frill and finery made her look unnatural and sometimes he had to admit it was frightening.
"Chins up darlings!" She chirped as the train stilled. "They've been waiting all night to see you off the train. They being your fans!" She smiled and motioned for them to follow her. "You'll be taken right to the stylists to get your make overs, how exciting!"
Haymitch rolled his eyes and the boy nodded, but he took it in stride and was the first off the train. The little girl burst into tears, at which Haymitch didn't know what to say. He clammed up and looked helplessly at Effie. She motioned for him to speak up. He was the mentor not her. But Haymitch looked increasingly uncomfortable with each tear the girl shed. Effie annoyingly waved him off. "Go after the boy!" she mouthed and pointed him off the train.
"Sweetheart…" Effie dropped to her knees to level with the girl. "You need to be courageous… You can't let them see you cry, not here sweetheart. If you must cry do it when no one's watching, that way they can't use them against you." Effie brushed the tears off the girls face.
"Miss Effie…" the girl whimpered, "I'm scared."
That little voice broke her, Effie felt a lump in her throat. This little girl was far too young. It had been years since they had one this young from District 12. "Everyone gets scared sometimes, even I do. So does Mr. Abernathy, but don't tell him I said that." Effie smiled, "Whenever you get scared you come find me okay? While you're here, I'll help you out."
The girl nodded, and Effie knew in that instant this year would be different. This little girl and Haymitch would kill her. Effie took the girls hand and led her off the train teaching her how to work a crowd and fake a smile. Effie knew all about that these days.
Effie didn't see Haymitch at all that night. He had so cleverly vanished as soon as the tributes went for their make overs. But Effie was so used to having to be an escort and mentor, to pick up where he always left off. She saw to it that the kids made it to bed early, taking extra time with the girl to tuck her in. That's when she heard the stumbling sounds from the living room of the suite.
She didn't have to get up to know it was Haymitch, drunk Haymitch. "Good night, sweetheart. My rooms at the end of the hall if you need me." Effie smiled and hurried out of the room.
Haymitch was sprawled on the couch with his eyes shut and a bottle of liquor in his hands. "Well it didn't take you long to get back into the swing of things." Effie chided and approached him. "I don't need to know where you were, but you need to remember I am not a mentor. You are a mentor, act like one."
Haymitch groaned and squinted at her, every damn time she was a buzz kill. "Just for once… stop." He took a swig from the bottle.
Effie put her hands on her hips, "No. God Haymitch, get your act together!" She whispered angrily. God forbid he wake the two kids up, they didn't need to see him like this. "Get up and go take a cold shower, sober up." She snatched the bottle and turned on her heels to dump it down the drain.
He was too drunk to stop her, barely able to get off the couch. It didn't stop him from trying to hurt her with his words. "Have fun for once, stop taking all mine from me." He stumbled to his room down the hall, next to hers and slammed the door.
Effie was left there jumpy from the slamming door and all fired up that she didn't get her chance to bite back at him. She retreated to her room and breathed easier as she took off her jacket and wig. She unbuttoned the first few buttons on her blouse and pushed up the sleeves so she could finally free her feet. She started removing her make-up in her bathroom when she heard the violent retching from the bathroom on the other side of her wall. Haymitch… She sighed and tried to ignore it. He deserved it. Karma seemed to find him quickly, that made her slightly happy. But all she felt now was guilt. He was insufferable and mean but maybe his demons were worse.
She dried her face and stared at the wall and heard him groaning and retching in the bathroom still. Damn him. She padded over to his room and walked on it. Typical Haymitch, his room was a mess. She approached the bathroom and announced her presence. "Haymitch…"
"Go'way." He panted. Buttons covered the floor, it seemed he tried to rip his shirt off rather than unbutton it. He was sprawled over the toilet bowel. Effie wrinkled her nose and pushed up her sleeves.
She gently touched his upper arms, "C'mon sit up, Haymitch." She leaned over to flushed the toilet to rid the smell from the room.
He jerked away from her. "You didn't hear me, I don't want your help." He managed to sit up and to her dismay, wiped his mouth on his shirt. This is what she had to work with? She sighed and reached for a cup on his sink and filled it with cold water.
"Oh I heard you." Effie said softly. "I'm choosing to ignore it. Drink this.. Slowly." He reached for the cup and sloshed it before drinking it. She watched him as she got a washcloth wet and kneeled next to him, placing the towel on the back of his neck
He hiccupped and leaned closer to the bowel, "Course you are.." He paled again and she saw his shoulders tense.
"Just get it out Haymitch.." She said softly and winced as he got sick again.
It was several minutes before he talked again. "I can't…" He panted.
She looked at him sadly, "Can't what?"
"I can't do it this year…" He took a deep breath and cradled his head against his hand. "That little girl… Youngest one of the whole damn crop of them."
Effie winced and readjusted the cold cloth on his neck. "Yes you can do it.. You have to, Haymitch. I don't like it any more than you do, but you have to get up and be brave for her. You cannot fall apart like this. Not in front of her."
Haymitch just shook his head that he understood. He shifted uncomfortably and sat up straighter. "You should go to bed." Effie suggested as she got up and flushed the toilet for him again.
He got up slowly and staggered a bit into her. Effie grabbed his arm and clenched the back of his shirt. "This way." She huffed and pointed him toward his bed which he unceremoniously flopped on. Struggling with his shirt and throwing it off. Effie sighed and tossed the things on his bed off and pulled off his shoes.
"Why are you so nice to me right now?" He flopped an arm above his head.
"I don't know." Effie admitted and pulled the blankets over him and reached to turn off the light near his bed. "Good night, Haymitch."
He looked up at her, "You're beautiful." He said quietly. "Without all the stuff on your face."
Effie felt a flutter in her stomach, "You're drunk… Good night, Haymitch." She said again and turned for the door.
A hand circled around her wrist, "Effie… Stay… Please?" He looked up at her.
For the first time in her life Effie Trinket didn't know what to do or what to say. She couldn't stay with him. That was inappropriate. He was tricking her. Or was he? What was a girl to do now?