Wow! I was so surprised with all the feedback I got last chapter :D! I think I'll have to finish this story after that… reviews inspire me GREATLY so don't be afraid to tell me EXACTLY what you think!

Rose – Thanks for being such a loyal reader of all of my stories and such a great friend! I hope that you'll review this one too because all of your reviews brighten my day.. and no of course haymitch would NOT want to have slumber parties with a little 10 year old girl who wants to dye his hair XD

EffieAbernathy – I just love you, ya know that? You just love my writing and that makes me feel so much happier about my stuff :) so if you keep reviewing like that I might never want to stop writing

A silver cloud's lullaby – Thank you! Nothing to say to this one.. just thank you :)

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Ok, ok, now here's the part that you actually (hopefully) care about

Residual Force

The afternoon was hot and there was a residual dampness from the hot rain the day before. As winter had slowly declined from snowballs and frost, summer moved in where the coolness had once been. And something completely miserable replaced Effie's confidence at the same time.

It had been some time since Effie had ever wanted to be District Twelve's escort. That had all ended when Twelve's victor had crawled into a depression so far that he hadn't been able to get out of it since his games. There were even rumors, whispered about in the dark in the capitol that suggested that he had also fallen into the bottle.

But something strangely close to what Effie might call fate had dragged them together and she had been elected to be District Twelve's escort.

As for the rumors, well, she didn't believe them. As much evidence as there was, she just held too much respect for her first favorite victor to favor the stupid Capitol gossip.

Because every rumor crudely whispered in the dark has to start somewhere. Every single whisper has a core. Whether it's a bored Capitol citizen hoping to spread malice, or someone who is trying to gain something by making someone else feel worse. But once in a while, every so often, those whispers come from the truth. And those are the rumors that you never want to hear.


These thoughts and more ran through Effie's head as the train zoomed past the retreating scenery on it's way to District Twelve. Effie couldn't get herself out of this damp, annoyed mood that she had been in for days.

Effie just knew that she deserved a better District! She was peppy, she was beautiful, and stylish! She could be friendly at the worst of times, and yet, she had gotten the worst job on the list.

But as always, there was only one thing that Effie could do with this situation. She had to make the best out of it and pretend she was having the time of her life.

After a few minutes, where she touched up her makeup until she looked positively fabulous, the train stopped and she quietly hopped off of, hoping to be greeted by Mr. Abernathy.

As soon as her high, pink stilettos touched the ground, and she brushed off her dress, she was greeted by a tall, blonde man who greeted himself as Mayor Donner.

"Hello!" Greeted Effie with a smile "Do you happen to know where Mr. Abernathy is? He is supposed to attend the reaping which will be in approximately fifteen minutes."

The mayor nodded with a sad expression as he said "Yes. He's always late. The poor boy; you should probably go fetch him from his house." He paused for a moment before saying "I'm sorry to give you this duty on your first day, but it must be done."

For a district man, the mayor seemed very nice. Effie thought that she quite liked him. "Thank you! I'm sure that I'll be able to get Mr. Abernathy to the reapings by the scheduled time."

The mayor nodded with an even deeper frown "I hope so." He sighed "I don't- I don't really think that boy's woken up since his games."

Effie nodded her head, sure that the mayor was mistaken. Of course he had woken up since his games! Unless he was saying that he hadn't seen him outside of his house, what he was saying really made no sense.

She began walking towards the Victor's Village, which proved a difficult task in 7-inch high stilettos, but she managed it. The mayor had helpfully pointed out which house she should go to, so she found the house quite easily. After walking to the first house on the very left, she knocked on the door, yelling "Mr. Haymitch?"

There was an ominous silence in which Effie waited in, hoping for the door to open. After knocking a few more times-a bit harder this time, she found that the door was in fact open, she walked in without anyone opening the door for her.

After walking into the house, Effie squinted her eyes to adjust to the dim light which lit the strange premises. "Mr. Abernathy? It's time for the-" she shrieked as a knife hit a picture frame next to her, shattering it at her feet.

She turned almost too quickly to see Haymitch leaned in the corner. "Who the hell are you?" he said as if vaguely interested. As he was sharpening another knife, Effie would have found it unwise to say anything rude about the knife sticking in the wall.

Well, Effie wasn't really thinking about the knife really, though she probably should have been. Effie couldn't help but notice that even though Haymitch looked worn, he was still strikingly handsome; the kind of handsome that the Capitol women used to throw themselves at him for.

His dark curls were disheveled in a messy, but somewhat attractive way; and his eyes were a startling silver, The color of the full moon on a particularly cloudy night. But his clothes were just as disheveled as his hair and not even as clean. You would think that with all of his money, that he could afford some decent clothes, but he what he was wearing hardly fit the role of a victor.

Effie held her schedule tight to her chest, glad that she had foundation to cover what she was sure to be a heavy blush. "Mr. Abernathy, I'm the new escort, Effie Trinket and the mayor told me to 'escort' you to the reaping." She let out a tiny giggle. She was an escort…get it… she had to escort him? Haymitch didn't seem to understand the joke.

He squinted at her as if he couldn't quite see her clear enough and said "Fine. One question."

"Sure" Said Effie with a polite smile. She shifted her footing and tilted her head slightly to see the knife sticking out of the wall. Funny how when she saw Haymitch, she completely forgot that there was a knife in the wall…

Haymitch's dark expression didn't change, but he said "What's wrong with your face?"

Effie crossed her arms, accidentally dropping her schedule "What do you mean by that, Mr. Abernathy?"

"I thought it was a fairly obvious question." He said blandly "What's wrong with your face. It's all…ugly."

Deciding to overlook that comment, Effie clenched her jaw and continued to speak "So anyway, Mr. Abernathy, we're going to be late to the reaping at this rate! Come on!"

Haymitch groaned, then got up and followed Effie, "The fact that the mayor had to send you to wake me up is just sad."

Effie pulled her fluffy jacket over her shoulders and said "Manners, Haymitch. I'm your escort and I shall proceed to be a good one."

Haymitch obviously disagreed, but by the time they got to the stage, he didn't seem to care one way or another if he found a good comeback. He was already strangely focused on the stage as if it were death itself coming to take Haymitch as its own.

The mayor, who Effie by this point in time quite liked, greeted Haymitch and shook his hand. But he didn't seem to have the same disdain for the mayor that he held privately for Effie.

A crowd was gathering under the stage so that Effie could call the names of the lucky tributes. With her high-heeled shoes, she found it difficult to trudge her way up the stairs, but after a while, she was at the top and had forgotten her struggle. And apparently the crowd did too, because, unlike in the Capitol, these people didn't laugh at all, while in the Capitol, they would have found it horribly embarrassing and hilarious. Luckily the camera's hadn't started rolling yet.

Once everyone was in their places and the Mr. Undersee had given the cue for her to start, Effie introduced

herself. "Hello! I'm Effie Trinket, District Twelve's new escort and I'm happy to meet you!"

The crowd didn't even crack a smile

"And now, without further ado, ladies first! And may the odds be ever in your favor." She said, her voice perky. The one thing that Effie didn't understand was that when she watched District Twelve's reaping, they always cheered and clapped! It wasn't at all like this on television…

Pushing her feelings behind her, she put her hand in the girl's bowl, moving her fingers around "Amber Donner!"

A small girl, about 12 years of age stared at Effie with wide eyes, her blonde hair curled around her face in a show of pure innocence. Effie's heart felt like it plunged into icy water. This was the girl that she had chosen?

But Haymitch's reaction was even worse. Even though it might have been a sweet gesture, she knew how the authorities of Panem would react… When the tiny girl walked to the stage, he helped her up. And even though he quickly sat down, the instantaneous effect on the crowd was startling.

Perhaps they had lost all faith in their victor, forgotten that he had a heart too. And maybe it was the pained expression on his face as he saw the Donner girl, or the fact that he had helped her, but the crowd fell silent.

In the crowd, a small but beautiful girl in the crowd reached out her hands. Two fingers outstretched towards him from her lips.

Haymitch didn't move a muscle, but when he saw the girl, he didn't take his silver eyes off of her. Not once.

Entranced by the reaction, Effie found herself frozen for a few moments before saying in a rather shaky voice "Good! And now for the boys…" she paused and dug her hand in the bowl before announcing " Areik Goldenrod!"

Haymitch didn't extend the same kindness to Areik as he did to Amber, and for that, Effie was grateful. The two tributes shook hands, though Amber looked like she was frozen to the ground.

Effie clapped, but when the crowd didn't respond, disappointed, she walked down the stairs without a word.


After a few minutes, Haymitch followed Effie down the stairs, holding Amber's hand carefully. He looked like he was already telling her what to do, but his eyes were uncharacteristically soft.

Amber was shivering harshly, but Effie couldn't help but smile at the scene. There was her Mr. Haymitch. She had found him at last.

Once Amber was in the room where her parents would soon visit her, Effie asked Haymitch "Who is she? You obviously know her from somewhere. You've always been known as the victor who didn't care what happened to your tributes…"

Though Haymitch looked more focused and professional than before, this comment made him annoyed just like any other of hers. "I've always cared what happened to my tributes, princess. I just don't think that all of them can survive. When I find someone who I think can win, I'll actually help them."

"What about the boy last year? He was a lot stronger than Amber! And Haymitch, let's be logical here! She's not going to win! She's twelve years old…"

Apparently that was the last straw. Haymitch glared at her, "I told you once I found someone who I thought could win, I'd help them. I'm not stupid, like you might think, I don't think she'll win, but she's twelve, she doesn't need to die feeling like no one cares about her. No one deserves to die like that…" he looked as if he understood the feeling better than he pretended he did. Haymitch felt alone and cold, didn't he?

Effie scrunched her eyebrows together "Why her? There have been other twelve years olds, haven't there? Why her?"

Haymitch looked down as if he was trying to think about his answer, but in the end, he didn't answer her. He only muttered two words "Amber Donner."

"Ok?" asked Effie, "I know her name, Haymitch! There's no way I could forget her name…"

"No." he grabbed the sides of her face forcefully "You don't understand. That's your answer. You asked if I knew her. Amber Donner. From what I can tell, you're not stupid. Think."

Apparently Haymitch thought that she wasn't stupid, but Effie kept drawing blanks. She didn't know what Amber's name had to do with anything, let alone her last name! She couldn't think of any victors with the last name Donner, and he couldn't really expect her to remember all of the tribute's names…

She shook her head "I don't know what you mean…." She looked up at him with huge blue eyes, "What does Amber's name have to do with anything."

Haymitch shook his head, "Nothing. Never mind, Trinket. I thought you might have a brain in your head, but I was obviously wrong."

"Now wait! Just because I don't know someone with the last name donner doesn't mean I'm stupid, Haymitch!"

"But it does," said Haymitch, shaking his head.


When they were on the train, Effie grew more and more curious to why Haymitch was so interested in Amber. The girl snuck little smiles out of him that Effie would never be able to force out of Haymitch without even trying!

Effie couldn't help but think that she looked familiar, but her mind just kept drawing blanks.

Amber glanced at Haymitch warmly and said, "You know, you're not as bad as people say you are."

Haymitch stared at her, "Hell no, sweetheart. I'm way worse than people say I am."

The strangest thing was, Areik didn't seem confused at all. He just held a slim smile as he stuffed himself with food, as if he knew exactly what was going on and thought it for the best.

So Effie thought deeply, pulling memories out of her mind that she never would have thought of. The only way that Areik could know why Haymitch knew Amber is if she had something to do with Haymitch's games. As far as Effie knew, Areik didn't know Haymitch specifically, but… oh.

that's when it hit her. Donner. She understood why Haymitch insisted that she would win. She understood why he wouldn't let her go even if it meant hurting him more in the long run.

"No." he had grabbed the sides of her face forcefully, "You don't understand. That's your answer. You asked if I knew her. Amber Donner. From what I can tell, you're not stupid. Think."

She covered her mouth; because she was thinking now. Amber Donner was Maysilee Donner's sister, and Haymitch wasn't going to be able to let go of her until she was truly gone this time.


Thank you for reading! I'm pretty sure I'm going to continue this story, but please review! Tell me how I'm doing :)

thanks for everyone who reviewed last chapter and special thanks to Smurfstastegoodontoast for being an amazing beta :D