Chilly was the best word to describe the last days Haymitch and Effie spent on the District 12 floor. Harboring too much emotional turmoil to be civil Effie chose to take the high road and keep her mouth shut. Haymitch proved to follow through with his words. Drunk as counted on, though Effie suspected he had perhaps two drinks at the ceremony. Not even remotely close enough to make him drunk. As for the tough love, Effie felt it. His interactions with her were only those of necessary ones.
Effie clung to her escort and prep team friends during the celebrations. Keeping as far from Haymitch as manageable. It was well into the early morning when Effie headed back for her room. Giddy from many, many champagnes. She smoothed out the short layers of purple tulle of her cocktail dress as the elevator rose to her floor.
From the entry way she could hear the frustrated slurring and crashing of one uncoordinated drunk man. She paused on her way past his room and peered in the wide open door. Effie expected to see him struggling with his shoes but it was far from what she was looking at. Haymitch and a woman. Both of them drunk and tearing at clothing. Effie flushed and hurriedly shut the door and scurried to her room.
A bizarre array of feelings rushed over her as she shut her door and sat on the bed. The most peculiar of the feelings was the jab of sadness. What a fool she was to expect that there had been anything special about them. He was a man that she worked with. There was no room for these kisses they so foolishly had or the sleepovers. Stupid. Absolutely stupid.
Her dress and accessories fell off her in a trail to the shower. Eager to wipe off the her Capitol façade, and forget what she had witnessed. She rested her head against the white tile of her shower and let the water spray over her head. Mixing with the frustration manifesting in hot, angry tears. She had enough of this place for the year. Haymitch would be gone in the morning with the other mentors back to their Districts. Effie would be leaving later in the day, sending her things back to her apartment in the city. But she would be bee lining for her parents' house in an upscale, quiet side of the Capitol. Where she could find solace in her family. And for a short while she wouldn't have to paint her face or pretend anything. She could be the real Effie.
The sun was rising already when she stepped out of the shower and found her little night dress and robe. Perhaps 3 hours went by before the noise outside the training complex grew to a steady roar. The farewell crowds had gathered to see the new Victor and the Mentors off. Effie dressed and did her make up. She found Haymitch outside his room sending his bags with an Avox to his train car. He caught sight of her and shouldered his bag he kept with him.
Their eyes met, but Effie glanced away quickly. The image of him and the other woman in her head again. "Well…" She offered quickly but found nothing right to say.
"I didn't hear you come back last night." He said briskly.
"I didn't." Effie said quickly. Lying and no idea why she did it.
"I figured you would have gone off with Crane at some point." Haymitch said coolly. Somehow he thought he remembered hearing her shut a door. "Thought you were the person to shut my door.."
Effie smoothed out the frills of her skirt, "Must've been an Avox. Like I said I was with Seneca. Couldn't have been me." She looked over at him and suffered this awkward exchange.
She really was a horrible liar. It was etched on her face beneath the make-up. "Effie…" He started.
She shook her head, "You're going to miss the train, Haymitch. Have a nice break. I'll be seeing you in a few months." She scooted forward and clicked the elevator button. He followed her into the gleaming chamber and they both exchanged glances.
"Don't be mad, Effie. Those were words I don't regret saying. You need to build up your skin. Don't let them control you." He said half-heartedly. He was a bit sorry for hurting her feelings. But she needed to control herself less she wanted to lose her job and all the glamour if came with.
Mad. She wasn't mad at the words. She sighed and focused on her lace gloved hands, brilliant teal nails glaring through the fabric. "I'm not mad, Haymitch. I'm exhausted and I have several meetings. This year has been… an experience nonetheless. You were right to tell me those things. I needed to hear it."
The elevator stopped at her floor, the doors sliding open and she moved. Haymitch watched her leave and placed a hand over the door. "Effie…"
She turned back and glanced at the clock. "You've got 2 minutes to board the train. Just stop. We made many mistakes this year with emotions and behaviors. It'll be different next year. I won't be making any more mistakes. Goodbye, Haymitch."
Effie turned away and caught Seneca walking by to the same meeting. He had a warm smile for Effie and ushered her along. His hand grazing her back as they walked away. As for mistakes Effie said she wouldn't make any more. But it all sure felt like one.
The sight of Effie walking away with Seneca was one Haymitch would be drinking away for many months to come.
Effie spent her time between casual social encounters with her friends and Seneca, and laying out of public eye at her apartment and parents' house. Her dual life slowed down to a much more manageable pace. Weekends in the glamor of the Capitol and week days doing the things she enjoyed. Visiting her family and more often, Seneca. He had been appointed to Head Gamemaker for the upcoming game, the 73rd. He adored her and spent most of the little free time he had from planning with her. They were often spotted on Capitol newspapers having lunches and walking about the busy streets. He was a nice man and her certainly treated her well. Not once had he been rude or hurtful toward her. It was a relief but there was something missing and Effie couldn't figure out what.
Haymitch busied himself with the nearest bottles and retreated into his lonely house in the quiet Victors Village. Rarely were there visitors for him, and even less likely were the appearances he made in public of a functioning nature. He was seen every once and a while out gathering things he needed and tending to various stages of a hangover. The Capitol was far, far from his mind. And with it was no thought of Effie and how infuriating she was. For his sake next game he hoped she had her emotions together. She was right, they made too many mistakes. Next game would be different. Every once in a while he'd catch glimpse of a newspaper mentioning the new Head Gamemaker and his involvement with Effie. To which Haymitch laughed and commented about a barbie and her peacock.
Time flew by and before Effie was ready for another round of torment, she found herself on a fast train. It's destination, District 12 for the 73rd Games reaping ceremony.