TUSETHA (Edited)

17 ~ Bad Dreams

We arrive in the Capitol within the next several hours, Peeta already charming the crowd while Katniss solemnly stares at the placemat she 'killed,' as Haymitch said. I simply shake my head and stand, heading to my room and packing my essential things for the avoxes to take into the Tribute Center for me.

I fix my wig and wipe the lipstick off my pearly whites. Show time, Trinket. I walk to the exit, making sure Peeta and Katniss go first, ushering them down through the roped off area to the car. Katniss cringes away from my touch as I guide them from behind. Peeta waves and shakes everyone's hand, a true gentleman and charmer he is. He'd do well in the interviews. I'm just hoping the poor thing doesn't have stage fright.

Of course there's only room for those two in the first car, so Haymitch and I are forced into the car behind them together. A quick drive and we're to the Tribute Center where, as always, all tributes, mentors, and escorts will be until the Games begin. The tributes are escorted off to their prep teams. This year Katniss will have our new stylist, Cinna. Amazing, hardworking man, I met him nearly four months ago. He and Portia have big things planned for our tributes this year. Cinna is different, he's had enough with the coal miner theme.

Haymitch and I walk inside to meet with the rest of the escorts and mentors before dispersing to our assigned 'apartments.' Seneca Crane, this year's Head Gamemaker greets us in the lobby.

He grabs my hand and kisses it with a coy smile. "Seneca Crane, pleasure to meet you, Miss Trinket."

My heart skips a beat at this tall, devilishly handsome man. I fumble on my words for a moment before giving a nearly silent chuckle. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Crane." I smile and walk over to the group of escorts who laugh at my widened eyes. "Oh my goodness, how in Panem is someone like that a Gamemaker? He's so handsome."

Jewel, District 1's escort, raises a brow. "He's a little rugged for even my taste."

I stare at the handsome young man. How old do you think he is? Is he single? No ring. Dating anyone? Wouldn't have been so...smiley, friendly, touchy. Ask him out. We're desperate. We're single. Definitely desperate. Later. Do it now. Alright, alright, doing it now.

"Trinket!" Jewel snaps in front of my face.

I quickly look to her with a baffled expression. "What..?"

"You were just staring at him like a loon. Goodness, what's gotten into you. Haymitch giving you liquor again?"

"No, no, I'm sorry. I was just...lost in thought. I will...talk to you girls later." I walk over to Mr. Crane and bite the inside of my cheek softly.

"Ah, Miss Trinket. Everything alright?"

I speak a tad faster than normal, the syllables sliding off my tongue almost as fast as my heart is beating. "Yes, yes of course, Mr. Crane. I was just curious as to what you're doing this evening."

"Well, Miss Trinket, we have to watch the Tribute Parade." He smiles.

"Indeed we do, how silly of me to ask, I only thought-"

He cuts me off, giving me a small up and down glance. "After the Tribute Parade I'm free, as are you. I'd love to buy you a drink."

My mouth hangs open for a moment with words hanging off my painted lips, and I pray to the Gods of Makeup that you can't see that I'm blushing. "Yes. That would be lovely. Penthouse. Has a lovely view." I now can't comprehend real sentences. Good going, Effs, a real charmer you are.

"I'm sure the view is lovely." He smiles. "See you then." He walks away.

I turn and see all the escorts in a huddle, staring with wide eyes at me as if I've murdered someone. They're just jealous now, aren't they? If I weren't us I would be. Now let's go get ready, tonight's going to be a great night.

I head up to the penthouse with Haymitch and quickly head off to my room once we're there. I fix minor things here and there to ensure that this 'date' will be perfect. Ahh, yes, Effie, this will go smashingly, the only problem is, it's only 4, we have to wait until 10.

~6 Long Hours Later~

I sit silently at the bar in the corner of the Penthouse, waiting. I've been waiting for the last half hour. Maybe I'm just impatient. Maybe you're just really desperate. That too. But it's incredibly rude to keep a lady waiting.

~Another 10 Minutes Later~

Mr. Crane enters from the elevator and quickly scans the room before heading over to me. "I am...so terribly sorry, Miss Trinket, to keep you waiting. My assistant had kept me in conversation for much longer than I was intending. A man of many words he is."

"Oh, don't worry about it." I give a small wave of dismissal, sipping my fruity drink through a straw.

He orders a drink and sits beside me. "I'm still sorry I kept you waiting, it was improper of me to do. Especially to a woman like yourself, Miss Trinket."

I look to him and smile very softly. "Really, don't worry about it." I glance to his lips as he smiles back. You really are desperate. I know I am, but-

Seneca leans forward and kisses me, giving no time to object, but I wouldn't object even if he gave me time to think about it. So I kiss him back, and of course it leads back to my bedroom. My wig thrown aside, my makeup sloppily taken off in a rush, leaving me with harshly scrubbed cheeks, baby pink lips, and white foundation in my hairline. Luckily my dress and heels make it off unharmed because he knew what he wanted and was going to get it one way or another.

Trinket, be glad everyone else is asleep, you're not the quietest person in bed and it's been more than 12 years. God...has it been that long? Why are we thinking about this now, we have a gorgeous man who's willing to restart whatever fire we have left.

I let out a shrill scream as my door slides open and Haymitch appears from the darkness of the hallway. Though my room may be dimly lit it's clear what's going on here. Haymitch looks thoroughly confused and panicked about something.

I use Seneca to shield Haymitch from seeing anything but Seneca's bare ass. "Mr. Abernathy, get out of my room!"

Haymitch's eyes wander as he turns away and leaves, mumbling to himself.

I lay my head back and sigh. "I'm so sorry, Seneca. I don't know why on earth he came in here."

"Don't worry your pretty little head..." He mutters against my shoulder, peppering my neck and chest with kisses.

"I should go check on him, he looked upset." I kiss him softly before sliding out from underneath him, grabbing my robe, and heading out into the hallway before Seneca can object.

Haymitch sits in the hall, his head in his hands, empty flask by his feet. I frown slightly, kneeling beside him. "Haymitch..." I hesitantly reach a hand for his shoulder, gently resting my hand there for a moment until I know it's okay. I then sit beside him and lean a little into him. "I'm sorry you had to see that...are you alright..?"

He speaks quietly. "I had a dream about you...bad dreams. They took you...they had you in the Games- but...oh," He curses under his breath. "You don't care, go back to your shitty Gamemaker, Trinket. I don't need you here."

I stand and grab his flask, then quietly refill it before returning it to him. "Haymitch, I won't encourage your drinking...but if it helps you sleep at night...go ahead."

He thanks me quietly and takes a swig. "Can you just...stay with me for a minute?" I nod and sit beside him, allowing him to rest his head on my shoulder until he falls asleep. I hope I can keep these bad dreams away while I'm around...

(A/N: Comment! Vote! And as always, keep on reading my little Hayffie shippers! I'd love suggestions for the next chapter!

{I'm terribly sorry if there's spelling errors or things that don't make much sense, it's rather late here and I don't feel like revising.}

Lovelies, let me know what you think about how this turned out. Should Effie stay with Crane for a while longer or should she be drawn back to Haymitch? Let me know in the comments and I'll be sure to write real soon, apparently I'm just on a roll with these today.)