Love was always difficult to pinpoint. It was slow-growing, a period that either happened naturally over time, and Haymitch had to agree with Katniss's statement. He himself wasn't exactly sure of when he had fallen for her, and he was sure that he had felt it before he realized those feelings of fondness were something more than platonic. When it was all said and done, the older man was just happy that the scales had tipped in his favor, and that Katniss shared his feelings. Things could have gone horribly wrong for him, but Haymitch was currently very content to have his cake and eat it too. There was hope for them, for everyone and even if Katniss didn't—couldn't—know about the plan yet, Haymitch knew that they would make it out of the arena and that no harm would come to the Girl On Fire for as long as he was around. 

The transition from friends to something more had been shockingly easy, and Haymitch hardly thought anything of it when Katniss climbed into his bed. She had spent a few nights with him already and the blond man had grown accustomed to having her so close to him. They had been much more affectionate since the Reaping, and although that was something that Haymitch had picked up on in himself, he should have taken it as a sign from Katniss as well. It was hard to think that he had doubted her feelings, or been afraid that his own would have been rejected. 

“You don't have to, but it's probably a good idea,” he said, his arms now securely around her thin frame after getting comfortable. Haymitch wanted to dance with Katniss at the ball, and not just because it was going to help her appeal to sponsors, but because he wanted to be close to her. There weren't going to be many happy moments between now and the start of the Games, and they had already wasted enough time ignoring their feelings for one another—there were lost moments to be accounted for, and Haymitch intended to soak up what he could. Starting now, hoarding moments included falling asleep with Katniss and no longer caring what Avox saw in the morning.

Once Gale explained, Prim understood his qualms and she was happy to know that her being there helped to ease his worries. While she had no previous experience in lying to her sister, Prim had kept a few things a secret over the course of their relationship, and it had definitely been difficult not to spill her guts the first chance she got. The plan was bigger than her crush on Gale, or skipping out of school early one afternoon just because it was a beautiful day and being cooped up inside would have been some kind of crime. The blonde wanted the plan to go as smoothly as it possibly could, and Prim knew that she could keep her mouth shut when so much would depend on Katniss not knowing anything. Peeta was right, Snow and the other officials would be suspicious of the dark-haired girl; Prim and Gale were the next best bet. 

“You don't have to do it on your own,” Prim assured him with a soft smile. Being there for Gale was important, and Prim knew that he was doing the same thing for her. As the hour got later, Prim didn't object to spending another night in Gale's room, even if it was risky now that Katniss knew about the two of them. The lithe blonde climbed under the covers beside Gale without a second thought and went through the routine of getting situated in his arms before returning his kiss. “Goodnight,” she replied and closed her eyes for another night of easy, undisturbed sleep.

The next day was an easy one, lazy and long with frequent naps and many periods of lying around on couches with books or aimlessly flipping through the many channels on the Capitol-provided televisions. There was endless coverage of the upcoming Games, highlight reels of past winners, gossip about new and old Victors, and of course, speculation about the Ball. It truly was a big deal among the citizens and everyone who was anyone would be there to bask in the glow of the tributes, and rub elbows with the elite of the Capitol. President Snow would be there as well, keeping an eye on Katniss and anyone that she was close with, which meant there much at stake, and a lot to lose if the night didn't go smoothly. Haymitch couldn't say that he was worried about it, and had no problem acting normally. Although, that might have had something to do with not knowing the extent of Peeta's plan. He didn't know it yet, but it was best that he too was kept in the dark. 

The sun was just beginning to set when the stylists showed up, armed with cases of make up and racks of clothing, all of their brightly colored faces were smiling, clearly eager to get started. Haymitch had never enjoyed the process of getting made up or made over for anything, but he did his best not to complain too much. The stylists went about trimming his hair, scrubbing his face, making him look more alive and well and they even managed to file a few of his nails before the former Victor finally protested. He wasn't a girl, and no one was going to be looking that closely at the men anyway—not him, at least. Finnick and Gale were bound to get more attention, along with the new Careers who were like fresh meat to hungry lions at these parties. Haymitch only hoped that his fellow tributes from 12 would take his warning from the night before to heart.

When the stylists had finally finished working their magic, Haymitch was [url=http://www.polyvore.com/capitol_ball/set?id=139992312]dressed[/url] and ready to go. He was surprised to see that his outfit was rather understated this time around, and the black-on-black was a welcomed change to the suit he had worn to the last ball. The thing had been so flashy and cheap, covered in coal dust and a few rhinestones that were supposed to simulate diamonds. “This is good,” he said with an approving smile to the prep team. The fitted jacket looked nice on him, and the shiny cufflinks were a nice touch that brightened up everything else and Haymitch was actually happy with the design as he walked out into the common area of the suite. The girls weren't ready yet, which was typical, but Gale and Peeta both were and they looked nice as well.

“Should we go?” he asked, looking to Peeta, only to hear the rushed clicking of high heels coming around the corner. Effie entered the room, awash in lilac and looking more grand than ever. For once, even Haymitch thought she looked okay. He was ready to see Katniss, though, and had made a point to tell her that in bed that morning, long before the stylists had shown up. Whatever Cinna had in store for her was sure to be beautiful. “Well?” he asked, feeling that they needed to get downstairs.

“Yes, yes!” Effie answered, having heard his question before arriving in the room. “Go! Ladies are always fashionably late!” 

The escort shooed the men off toward the elevator, and Haymitch was a bit annoyed that he wouldn't get to see Katniss before everyone would be looking at her. He held back any kind of disappointment and made conversation with Peeta and Gale on the way down. There was a Capitol official waiting for them, ready to take them off to the location of the ball. 

Upstairs, Portia had just put the finishing touches on Prim's outfit, something that she wasn't allowed to see until the very end. Much like Haymitch, Prim didn't put up a fuss to most of the things that prep team did to her, but her one request was that her hair be left down. She remembered that Gale liked it that way, and Prim wanted him to think that she was beautiful. According to the stylists, that hadn't been in the plan but a compromise was made and a simple style was agreed upon by all of them. Toward the end of the process, Prim was anxious to see herself in the mirror and was curious to see how such tall shoes would work with such a long dress. How was she supposed to walk?

“Are you ready?” Portia asked, smiling as Prim was helped to her feet. She was quite a bit taller than before, and hoped that she wouldn't trip and fall on her face at some point during the night. The blonde nodded at the question though and stood in front of the full-length mirror before the surface was revealed.

What was [url=http://www.polyvore.com/capitol_ball/set?id=139974256]reflected[/url] back at her wasn't what Prim expected. The night before she told Gale that whatever the stylists did her, she wouldn't look like herself, but she had been wrong. Prim furrowed her brow at her own reflection, hardly able to believe that the girl in the mirror was her. She looked different than she had during the parade, less cartoonish and more sophisticated; it was hard to believe that Portia and her team had taken the scrawny, almost plain-looking girl from the poorest District and turned her into something worth looking at. 

“Well?” Portia prompted, still grinning. 

“Wow,” as all Prim could say. Her blue eyes were still admiring the gold dress and the pretty accessories, but she soon turned to Portia and gave her a hug. “Thank you. I...” She was speechless, “just thank you.” 

The heels were difficult to walk in, but Prim was getting the hang of it as she exited her room and went out to the common area where Effie was waiting. Katniss must not have been ready yet. Effie's reaction to her appearance was a high-pitched squeal and Prim couldn't help but laugh and hug the woman back as she was hugged and complimented. It was all very surreal.

Soon, Katniss had come out to join them and Prim's jaw dropped. “You look amazing,” she said, having never seen her sister so cleaned up and polished before. “You're gorgeous,” she gave Katniss a hug before the three women stepped into the elevator.