Getting the kids to talk was a chore Effie was hardly prepared for. Tabitha was reverted into a stormy silence that no one had been able to crack. Haymitch had gotten Oliver to talk much to Effie's dismay. She redoubled her efforts to break through to Tabitha.
"Here sweetheart, have some tea. It's a long ride to the Capitol." Effie offered her a cup. "I know it's hard, but let us help you."
Tabitha turned her stormy gaze on Effie next to her, "You don't know anything you stupid Capitol cow." The girl swatted the tea cup away and it tumbled onto Effie's lap.
The scalding tea burned her legs and hands to which Effie gasped painfully. Tabitha turned on her again, "We all know who you make your bed with. Seneca Crane. You're no better than him!"
Effie felt her face get hot and her tongue thick, " I…" She started but Haymitch interrupted.
"I will give you once chance to apologize to Miss Trinket. You listen right now. She is here to help you, and help all of us. Insulting her, and scalding her with tea means you've just insulted the Capitol and more importantly you are foolish to think she won't mention this to Head Gamemaker Seneca Crane." Haymitch was standing close to Tabitha now. His eyes were angered and powerful. The foolish girl wasn't even breaking under the scolding.
"I have nothing to say to her." Tabitha narrowed her eyes at Haymitch.
"That's fine. You're content with signing your death wish. That means I can spend my time making sure Oliver gets out alive. Regardless of an apology or not, Miss Trinket is far more kind hearted than the rest of the Capitol. She won't tell Seneca Crane because she's trying to reach out to you. So I will." Haymitch lowered his voice and stood his ground. Effie watched in silence as Haymitch laid into the girl. Oliver stood in the background just as silent.
"You won't do that. You're my Mentor. Your job is to keep me alive." The girl said back quickly. Her eyes darting between Effie and Haymitch.
"I don't have to do anything. Ask any other Mentor. They all pick one to favor, sweetheart. You've just made my choice easier. Miss Trinket, I'm sure your tablet has Mr. Crane on it's contact list. Please dial him for me." Haymitch crossed his arms.
"Haymitch…" Effie started, "Mr. Abernathy.. It's fine." She stepped forward, not releasing hold of her tablet.
Haymitch glanced over at her and held up his hands and looked back to Tabitha. The girl seemed on the verge of tears but Effie couldn't tell if they were remorseful or just more angry. She stormed off to her room and left the room in silence.
"Pardon me for a bit…" Effie said as she left for her room on the train. Once behind the doors she sighed and pulled off her ruined dress. Tender red splotches emerged over her thighs and hands. She pulled on a silk robe and found a cream to rub into the burns. What an awful day, the frustration blossomed in her eyes. Don't cry. Don't cry, she repeated to herself.
"Effie?" Haymitch knocked from the door, at least he remembered to knock.
"I'm fine, Haymitch. Just changing. I'll be out soon." Her voice wavered a little.
There was a lengthy pause before he spoke again, "Can I come it?"
Effie pulled her robe tighter and got up to let him in. "I'm okay, really."
Haymitch strolled on in with a few things in his hands. "You're not okay. Even I know that. You were assaulted by a tribute in your care. I know you well enough to know it scared you." He offered her a bag of ice for the burns.
"I wasn't assaulted. She pushed the tea away and it spilled." Effie retorted and took the ice, placing it on the larger burn on her right leg.
Haymitch sat on her bed and rolled his eyes, "I saw her swat it. She knew it would spill on you. Scalding hot tea that you just poured. She knew what she was doing."
"You didn't have to be so mean to her. She has every right to be mad. I drew her name. She's mad at me. Has every right to be." Effie said softly. She sat on the edge of the bed, a considerable space between them.
"I'm known to be an ass, but I won't stand for one of my tributes disparaging you." As much as he teased her the line stopped with disrespect from the tributes.
Effie nodded and traced a pattern on her robe. Silence fell between them as the train rocketed onward to the next District. Haymitch had a glass of amber liquid in his hand which he offered to her. "Take a sip and stop beating yourself up over it. You didn't do anything wrong."
Effie sighed and took a considerable sip and handed it back. "I hate this day every year."
He nodded, "So does everyone else." He took a long swig of his drink.
The pain was subsiding from the burns on her legs. She gently held the ice over the other burns and glanced over at him. He caught her eye and she looked away. Since when was it awkward to be near him. Oh her mind drifted to the many mistakes she made last year. Many of them involving Haymitch.
"So you and Crane?" Haymitch said to make conversation as he saw the picture of Seneca on the corner of her mirror.
Effie nodded and looked over at him curious to see where this was going.
"Why him?" Haymitch asked boldly.
Effie wasn't sure she had an answer for him. Many things. Once she thought the Capitol would bring her true love and now she had been so disenchanted by it. Last year gave her a glimmer of something between them that had grown cold during the off season. "There's not many others out there. I'm getting old. My job prevents frivolous flings, being in the spotlight and all."
"You're 26 you're hardly old." Haymitch battled back.
Effie waved off the comment, "He's a gentleman. He treats me nice and he cares. We've only just started dating. It's not like I'm marrying him tomorrow."
"So you've thought of that then? Marrying him." Haymitch teased, despite the pitted feeling of disappointment that she was quite serious about Seneca. The escort had simply grown on him despite their quarrels. He had a soft spot for her.
"No…" Effie groaned, "Stop putting words in my mouth!"
"I believe you were the first one to say the word marry. So you put the word in your mouth." Haymitch had finished his drink now and was growing hungry for dinner.
"Whatever you say, Haymitch." Effie stood up and went to her closet, pulling out a new outfit. Haymitch couldn't help but watch the little robe creep up her legs. It was just last year that he was teasing her about how nice her legs were.
She turned back to him, catching what she thought was the end of a stare. "Thank you for standing up for me. I know how to handle their tears… Anger is much harder to deal with." She laid her new dress out on the bed.
Haymitch took the hint with her new clothing, "I won't stand for them treating you unfairly. You don't deserve it. I talked with her. If she doesn't apologize by dinner she'll be calling Seneca Crane herself." At that he went for the door.
"That's cruel Haymitch." Effie said softly.
"No.." He opened the door. "It was the right thing to do." Far too often he managed to not do the right thing.