A/N: I don't own The Hunger Games.
Wow...I can't believe all the great reviews. I really want to thank everyone who took the time to review, alert and read my story. I really appreciate it. I've been crazy busy and couldn't respond personally but I do want to let you guys know that it really means a lot to me that you all are enjoying my story. Thanks again.
Chapter 3
Effie taps her well-manicured nails on the smooth granite kitchen counter top while she waits for her much needed morning cup of coffee. After last night's disastrous evening Effie went straight to bed after making her apologies to Katniss and her guests for her rude behavior. Effie promised Madge that she would meet up with her and Prim for brunch at the Bakery where Katniss will be waiting for them.
Effie sighs contentedly as she pours the dark roast espresso she favors into a large pale yellow mug and adds two sugars and sweet cream. The rush of caffeine through her veins is just what she needs to perk herself up after her restless night. Effies takes a deep sip as she stares out the kitchen window. The view leaves much to be desired. Effie can see Haymitch's house from where she is standing.
Just the thought of him makes her blood boil and not just in a bad way. Effie's not sure why Haymitch kissed her the way he did last night but she is positive that kiss has changed things between them for good. Haymitch gives more questions than answers every time Effie and he are in the same space.
Effie takes her coffee and decides to sit on the back sun porch. The weather is lovely and Effie looks positively angelic in a strapless tea length white eyelet spring dress with a full skirt. Her caramel locks are pulled up high into a cascading pony tail tied with a shiny white ribbon. Effie's bright red cork heeled wedges add a nice pop of color to her simple look. Her face is scrubbed clean of makeup leaving her delicate sprinkling of freckles visible. The only enhancement to her natural beauty is a coat of black mascara to her thick lashes and a cheery red shade of lip stain adorning her pouty lips.
Effie is enjoying the warm sunshine and quite atmosphere. With her busy party planning business Effie has little time to just take a moment and enjoy some time to herself. Effie sips her coffee as she lazily flips through some wedding dress catalogs. She has some ideas for Katniss to choose from. Effie even managed to put some of Cinna's old sketches away before the war. Effie is hoping to mix some elements of different dresses to make the perfect one for Katniss.
A slamming door takes Effie out of her wedding induced haze. A tall raven haired young female slips out the side door of Haymitch's house. The girl is young and pretty in an innocent ingénue way. Effie watches her as she skips down the gravel drive with her long black hair bouncing wildly behind her. Effie can't help but notice that the girl is wearing a pale blue dress shirt she knows belongs to Haymitch. Effie distinctly remembers picking out that very shirt to go with a navy suit she had Cinna design for the drunken mentor.
Effie's stomach drops causing her to feel nauseous. Her mind is suddenly filled with all kinds of wild scenarios as to why this young girl is leaving Haymitch's house in nothing but a pair of shorts and his dress shirt. Effie is confused and angry. How could he kiss her the way he did and then have some teenage hussy in his home doing god knows what?
Effie drops her coffee cup on the patio table and stomps her way over to Haymitch's home. She bangs her tiny fist on the large front door. She taps her bright red wedge heeled foot impatiently as she hears Haymitch stumble around towards the door. Haymitch angrily flings open the door and comes face to face with a pissed off Effie Trinket.
Effie's honey doe eyes widen at Haymitch's appearance. A soft blush tinges her cheeks a delicate pink as Haymitch stands in front of her in a pair of flannel pajama bottoms, no shirt and a towel hanging around his neck. His salt and pepper hair is still damp from his shower; his stubble is still adorning his olive toned cheeks and although his stomach isn't as flat as men half his age Haymitch's broad shoulders and lovely arms make up for any deficiency in his appearance.
Effie drops her eyes and looks at her shiny red shoes. "Darlin' if you're here to punish me about last night I think your fist did a good job of that already."
Effie snaps her attention back to the shiner she gave Haymitch. A certain level of satisfaction passes over her as she gingerly touches her small fingertips against the bruised flesh. Haymitch hisses lowly and grabs Effie's small wrist to stop her from touching his sore eye. He stares at the woman in front of him and he can feel that all too familiar longingly for something he can't quite put his finger on.
Effie snatches her hand away from his rough grasp. "I'm not here to fight. I just wanted to tell you that I forgive you for your unseemly behavior last night." Effie knows that he'll never actually apologize for anything.
Haymitch just smirks and ushers the tiny diva into his home. Effie is shocked to see that it's not as disheveled as the outside. There are still piles of newspapers and a laundry basket full of clothes not in their proper place and other items strewn about but the house is still a lot tidier than she expected but sorely in need of a woman's touch.
Haymitch deposits Effie onto a stool in the kitchen next to the large granite island. Effie just watches him curiously. He hasn't made any snide remarks yet but it's still early. Haymith hands Effie a blue chipped mug of coffee before pouring some brandy into his own.
Effie tries to ignore that and sips from her own mug. Her eyes widen and she catches Haymitch watching her with an expression she can't quite place. "You remember how I take my coffee." The caramel haired beauty is pleasantly surprised.
"Well…yeah. I spent a lot of time with you during the five years of working the games together. I may have been drunk Darlin' but a man still pays attention when a pretty lady is around even if she's annoying." Haymitch flashes a lopsided grin that makes Effie want to either kiss him or punch him.
"Oh." Effie's not quite sure how to answer to that. Haymitch doesn't hand out compliments, ever. "You think I'm pretty?" Effie decides to ignore the annoying part. She already knows how annoying he thinks she is. He tells her that often. He never tells her she is pretty.
"Woman, you don't need to be told that. You know you're beautiful, especially without all that capitol crap." Haymitch takes a deep sip of his brandy laced coffee and enjoys the slight burn in his throat.
Effie beams a bright smile because Haymitch tells her she's beautiful like he's stating a fact. The sky is blue. The grass is green. Effie Trinket is beautiful. This makes it even more precious to Effie because he doesn't even realize how sweet his words can be. To him it's just the way it is. Effie is beautiful.
Haymitch puts his mug into the sink and makes his way to the living room. He rifles through the laundry basket and curses lowly. "That damn girl pilfered another shirt." Haymitch scowls deeply as he grabs a pair of navy blue khakis and a short sleeve white button up shirt.
Effie's good mood suddenly sours at the mention of the mysterious raven haired girl. Effie almost forgot the reason why she came over in the first place.
"And what girl would that be? That child that left here this morning in a rush?" Effie tries to sound nonchalant but for some reason she can't explain why her words are laced with something akin to hurt and anger.
"You spying on me now Darlin'?" Haymitch shakes his head and continues looking through his basket of clothes, not noticing the hurt flashing through Effie's honey eyes.
"I wasn't spying. I simply was looking through the kitchen window and saw this extremely young girl leaving your house." Effie avoids looking directly at Haymitch and instead goes over to the fireplace to fiddle with his random knick knacks on the mantel.
"Evangeline is young but she gets the job done. That's all that matters." Haymitch shrugs his shoulders and goes back to finding something halfway decent to wear for the day. It's not like he cares but since Effie is here he might as well try to look nice even if he can't guarantee it won't be wrinkled.
Effie's eyes go wide. She can't believe how he just talks about private matters like he's reciting a grocery list. Effie huffs and roughly snatches the clothes from Haymitch's hands and angrily sifts through his mismatched garments. Haymitch watches Effie with confused slate grey eyes. He doesn't know what has gotten into the high maintenance diva.
"How could you? She's practically a baby. The only drink you can buy her is a glass of milk!" Effie snaps and angrily tosses a nicer pair of dark wash jeans and a dark grey button up shirt that will compliment his eyes at him. Haymitch hastily grabs his wrinkled mass of clothes from the floor and glares at the crazy woman he just happens to love.
"Well I needed someone younger than Miss Reva because her back just couldn't deal with all the bending over." Haymitch isn't sure why Effie is freaking out. He's only ever seen her mad like this when he's done something to embarrass her on live television.
"Pig…that's what you are Haymitch Abernathy. A disgusting pig." Effie pokes Haymitch roughly on his bare chest. Her honey eyes are on fire and her smooth cheeks are flush with color. If she wasn't yelling at him, Haymitch would think she's the most exquisite woman he's ever seen.
Haymitch drops his clothes unceremoniously on the floor and grabs the caramel haired beauty by her arms. Effie glares icily even though a fire is pulsing through her veins. Effie can't explain why she cares so much who Haymitch spends his time with, but after last night's kiss she's been nothing but confused by this man she's spent so much time abhorring.
"Woman, have you lost your damn mind?" Haymitch is tempted to shake the hell out of Effie just to knock some sense back into her. He hasn't drank enough this morning to deal with her brand of crazy.
"No. I just don't think this arrangement you have with this young girl is proper. You're old enough to be her father." The anger drains from her as she lifts her chin and locks eyes with Haymitch. The fact that a younger girl has caught Haymitch's eye makes Effie feel even more like a loveless spinster.
His slate grey eyes are alight with mischief and Effie isn't quite sure what to expect from him but the stifled laughter coming from Haymitch leaves her even more confused than before. Effie pouts not liking to be laughed at.
"Why are you laughing? I don't see the humor in the corruption of a young girl." Effie lightly pounds her small fist on Haymitch's warm chest. The feel of the wiry black and grey hair under her smooth fists threatens to make Effie blush.
For some reason Haymitch is able to make her feel like a silly school girl with a crush on the slightly handsome older teacher with a chip on his shoulder. Except in this reality Haymitch is just a bitter drunk with a scarred heart and she's a lonesome woman who hides behind a façade of manic perkiness to keep from getting her heart broken. What a pair they make.
"Effie, if I didn't know better I'd think you were jealous." Haymitch's voice is low and tinged with impishness. He's enjoying making Effie squirm.
Effie laughs loudly, the sound like hundreds of tinkling silver bells. She bats her thick lashes three times. "Me…jealous? Now I know you must be drunk because I could never be jealous of you dating anybody. Have you forgotten that I don't like you?"
Haymitch's mercury gaze narrows as he grips her slender arms tighter. He pulls her closer and Effie's breath hitches at the warmth coming from his body. An arrogant smirk plays on Haymitch's lips. He can tell she is lying by the reaction she has to his close proximity.
"Effie I know you. I know you better than you realize and I know when you are lying." Haymitch despite not liking Effie all that much in the beginning, found that as time passed her abrasive, annoying, and perky personality grew on him. It didn't happen overnight and it wasn't something sudden and dramatic.
As he learned little things about the diva Haymitch slowly and ordinarily fell for Effie. He wasn't lying when he said he knew her. For five years he was forced into a horrible situation with her and in that time you're bound to find out little things about a person that endears them to you.
"What could you possibly know about me that everyone else doesn't? I was a public figure for some time and the media always did follow me around." Effie's smug at the memories of being featured in many television appearances even if many of them had to do with Haymitch acting a fool in public and embarrassing her.
Haymitch snakes his arm around her waist keeping Effie close to him and softly traces her fuller top lip with his thumb. Effie's heart pounds a tattoo in her chest. Haymitch has never been so tender with her. He's mostly been belligerent towards her when he wasn't drunkenly hugging her. But then he saved her and Effie knew that deep down he wouldn't have done that if he hadn't at least cared for her a little bit.
"I know you bite your lip when you're nervous. I know when you read something funny you laugh out loud when you think no one is paying attention. I know your favorite color is yellow and not pink. I know when you lie you blink your eyes three times. That's how I know you like me." Haymitch's voice is low and has lost that arrogant tone. He's serious and Effie can't deny anything he has told her.
Effie is stunned. She stares wide eyed at the man holding her and isn't sure when things between them have become so complicated. Haymitch pulls her closer and Effie knows he's going to kiss her again. She's not sure if she wants him too or not. Effie doesn't like feeling like she isn't the one in control.
"Don't." Effie's voice is soft and barely a whisper. She knows that if he kisses her again she won't be able to stop herself from falling head over heels for the infuriating man.
Haymitch has never been one to do what others tell him to. He leans in slowly not sure why he feels the need to kiss this woman. Haymitch has never felt this much for a female since before his time as a tribute. His childhood sweetheart Samara had paid the price for his defiance of the capitol. Since then he never wanted to be close to any woman let alone fall in love.
Effie manages to lean back and clear her mind. She won't let Haymitch muddle her thoughts. "What about your child bride?" Effie spat the words with as much venom as she can muster.
Haymitch chuckles again much to Effie's ire. "Darlin' that girl is my housekeeper. She steals my shirts when she spills cleaner all over herself."
"Oh…" Effie feels relief and a bit of happiness but anger soon fills the tiny diva. Effie manages to slip from Haymitch's grasp and turns her fiery gaze on him. "I don't like this…this thing between us. You can't just kiss me whenever you feel like. I'm not some lose woman that's here to fulfill your needs." Effie doesn't know where the anger is coming from but she isn't in the mood to play games with Haymitch.
Haymitch runs a large calloused hand across his face trying to figure out why he feels this want for Effie that has been slowly growing since he found out she had been taken captive by the capitol. He's not a romantic type of guy and he hasn't had much experience with women that weren't paid for their attention. Mostly women only paid attention to him because he was a victor with a victor's income.
Effie is in a league all her own and his sad attempts at wooing just weren't going to cut it. Effie blinks back her frustrated tears and makes her way to the front door. Haymitch reaches out and grabs her by the elbow. He doesn't know what to say to her but he knows if he doesn't say something he might not get another chance. What he wouldn't give to have a shot of white liquor right now.
"Eff…I…well...I know we keep dancing around each other but I'm not good with this." Haymitch isn't good with words and he's failing miserably with his attempt to express his confusing feelings for Effie.
Effie watches as Haymitch struggles to find the right words. She wants to just fall into his arms but nothing with Haymitch is easy. Effie doesn't want to get her heart broken and Haymitch still has demons to battle and Effie's not sure is she is strong enough to deal with his binges when the memories become too much. Effie herself is still dealing with the aftermath of her days in a capitol prison.
Before Effie can say anything a loud knock on the door interrupts their private moment. Effie watches as Haymitch's silver eyes become guarded and the walls he keeps to shield his damaged heart go back up. She knows that whatever tenderness he's shone will be lost the moment she walks out the door.
Haymitch flings open the front door and a brooding Gale with his signature heavy brows and serious look is standing tall on the front porch. Effie use to think Gale was constantly pissed off but she soon came to find out that this is how he always looks, handsome and intimidating. His smiles are usually reserved for Madge and their children.
"Hawthorne." Haymitch is equally serious and brooding.
"Abernathy." Gale glances towards Effie and gives her a quick head nod. This is his way of saying hello to the tiny diva.
"I need to go. Madge is waiting for me." Effie looks towards Haymitch and she can't quite decipher his intense expression. She disappears out the door uneasy about how things are left between them. Effie feels drained from her emotional roller-coaster of a morning. She's glad she is meeting the girls for brunch. A nice tall glass of mimosa is exactly what she needs at the moment with some idle girly chit chat.
A/N: Please Review. Next up Effie has a girl's day and Haymitch, Gale, and Peeta have an adventure in babysitting.