Haymitch looked blearily over his drink from the table he had sat at all day in the viewing lounge. He was surprised she hadn't thrown her drink at him after his last comment. She was standing next to District 1's escort. He could see the anxiety in her eyes behind all that glittery crap she put on. She was drinking more than he had ever seen her drink and that worried him. Not that he would ever mention that he cared about Effie. He watched her smile at her friend as the broadcast came to a close. Her damn tablet lit up in her hand and she clicked away a message before making to leave.
Effie's eyes caught Haymitch as she moved toward the door. "Where are you going?" He asked grumpily.
Effie paused, "To bed, Haymitch. I'll make sure to leave the lights on so you can crawl back in at some point."
He watched her go, and glumly finished the drink in his hand. He couldn't believe both of the tributes died before the bloodbath. Sure 12 had some bad luck in past years but at least the kids persevered for a few days. Tabitha was a piece of work and it pissed him off that it not only cost her life but Oliver's as well. Crane was a cruel bastard in his opinion now. He had a right to make an example of Tabitha for every act of defiance and of course hurting Effie.
He only made those comments because he couldn't figure out what to say to Effie. He could see that she would only get hurt by Crane. It was none of his business what she did or who she did it with. He knew better than to get involved with her life, but how could he not when this was such a big mistake. Effie was tougher than she looked, but was she tough enough to handle Crane carrying out the death sentence she picked from a bowl every year.
Deep down he worried about Effie. She calmly kept her emotions in check and dealt with them in seclusion. Haymitch was a pro at laying his feelings out in the open and drowning them with the closest thing to give him a buzz. All the bottling she did would be her downfall. She was probably up there now. Doing what ever it is that she does when their tributes die. He knew of course that she cries. He heard her a few times through the walls. Last year… He held her as she cried.
He groaned as he finished another drink. He hated how Effie had a way of getting in his head even when she wasn't around to nag him. He knew he needed to apologize. Even if she was making a mistake of dating Crane. He shoved the glass away and headed for his floor. When the elevator sprang open he heard two voices.
*Short little chapter, 23 was so long and 25 is going to be even longer! Stay tuned for Effie and Haymitch having a long overdue talk!*