AN: I haven't published a chapter of this fic since January! I'm so sorry. But here's another chapter. Enjoy, fellow Hayffie lovers!

xXx

That evening, Portia gets me into my costume while the prep team trims my hair. I end up in a black jumpsuit. "What am I supposed to be?" I ask. "Some coal?"

"Oh, it's more than that, Mr. Abernathy." Portia informs me. She pulls back the fabric around my wrist to reveal a small button. "Press this. Press it!"

I do what she tells me. Immediately, colour starts to appear all over the jumpsuit, colour in all shades of warm reds and soft yellows. The colour moves and changes slowly, shyly, almost like someone breathing in and out. I'm momentarily taken aback at how much better it is than the coal mining outfit I was wearing here, twenty-five years ago.

"Hey. Not half bad." I tell her.

Portia smiles as she turns me back off by clicking the button again. "You actually look nice. Effie will like it."

I chuckle, thinking of the feel of her hands on my newly shaved face. "Yeah, she will."

"I've been meaning to ask you, Mr. Abernathy." she continues. There's a curious edge to her voice. "Are you and Effie an item?"

"A… a what? Do you mean, are we in a relationship?"

"Yes, that's what I said. An item."

I haven't really given it much thought. I know that I love Effie, and I know that she loves me too. We've kissed. We've done more than just that. Whether it's my commitment issues, or the constant fear that President Snow will take the last person on Earth I love away from me, I just don't want to put a label on our relationship yet. "Er, yes, I suppose we are."

Portia nods. "All right, I was simply wondering."

"Please don't tell anyone about us."

"Oh, no, I promise I won't." she assures me, giggling briefly. "Now, I have to get back to Cinna. Head down to the ground floor, I think Katniss went down there a few minutes ago, so you'd better hurry. I'll see you after. I'm sure you'll be great!" She bustles off, waving to me as she goes.

I go down to the ground floor, where many of the tributes are milling around. When I arrive, I scan the crowd, getting a good look at my competition. A lot of the victors are in much better shape than I am. I see a few others who, like myself, have sort of let themselves go. Still, the majority of them look quite healthy and fit. It's official; I have no chance at all. My spirits are just starting to drop when someone claps me on the shoulder. "Fancy seeing you here, Abernathy!"

I turn to see Chaff standing there. Immediately a grin spreads across my face. "Hey, man. Fancy seeing you here too."

"What crappy luck though, honestly. Both of us get reaped." He sighs. "How long do you think you'll last?"

"Probably not past the bloodbath." I tell him honestly. "You?"

"Hopefully past training." Chaff jokes.

I chuckle. No matter how low I feel, Chaff can always get my spirits back up. Usually a little alcohol helps as well, but that just can't happen this time, or my chances in the Games will decrease by tenfold.

Just then, Chaff leans in close to me, his lips brushing against my long, dark hair. "So. The girl. We're getting the girl out?"

"Yeah." I whisper back. "She's worth it, I swear."

"Who else is in on it, Haymitch?"

"Some of the others. Not many yet." I tell him. "I need to talk to Finnick and Johanna still."

"Right. What about District Three?"

"District Three?" I repeat dubiously. "You don't think they'll be with the Careers?"

Chaff snorts. "Those two? No way. Have you seen the two that District Three pulled out of its ass this year? The Careers aren't going to want anything to do with them, trust me. But you might want them."

"Okay. I'll think about it." I say. "Thanks, man."

"Hey, it's nothing." Chaff responds. "If there's anything we can do to make a change around here… I'll do it."

I nod solemnly. "That's what we're hoping for."

We lock eyes for a few moments, and then Chaff nods, breaking the connection. "Well, I should head out. Your girl's over there, by the way. Looks like Finnick's there, too."

"Okay. I'm gonna head over there then. See you soon, Chaff."

"Later, Abernathy."

As I head closer to where Katniss and Finnick are standing near the horses, I get a better look at them. Katniss is dressed in a jumpsuit identical to mine, and her thin face is covered in wildly frightening make up. It'll be a shock to the Capitol citizens who are expecting her to be the sweet, lovestruck girl she was before. Finnick, however, is dressed exactly how they'll want him to be. He's wearing only a golden fishing net around his waist, showing just enough of his tan skin to make them all swoon. He's standing awfully close to Katniss, and as expected, she looks extremely uncomfortable. Chuckling, I head over to them. "What's happening over here?" I joke, raising one eyebrow. Both of them turn to look at me. Relief spreads over Katniss's made-up face when she sets her eyes on me.

"There you are, Haymitch!" she says, squeezing out from beside Finnick and coming over to stand beside me.

"Hello, Haymitch." Finnick greets me.

"Hello, Finnick." I reply. Finnick and I have never exactly been friends, but I'd say that we're more than just acquaintances. "Nice outfit."

"Thank you." He looks down at himself. For a heartbeat, I think I see disgust pass through his sea glass green eyes, but I can't be sure. Being the Capitol's greatest sex symbol must get tiring after a while.

"Can I talk to you?" I ask him, and jerk my head imperceptibly toward Katniss. I can see that Finnick knows what I mean.

"Of course." he replies smoothly, turning away from the girl.

"Wait. Talk about what?" Katniss looks confused. "Haymitch, what's going on?"

"Oh, just a conversation between two old friends." I tell her. However, just as Finnick and I are about to leave, we hear a loud burst of music and the crowd behind the doors starts going wild. The first chariot is going out.

"I've got to run!" exclaims Finnick, breaking away from me and starting to head toward the other chariots. As he goes, he shouts over his shoulder, "We can talk later, Haymitch!"

"Okay!" I yell back.

Katniss looks up at me. "Let's go." she says. We go over to our chariot- the very last one- and get onto it.

"Cinna says we should look at the audience like they're all so beneath us." Katniss tells me.

"Well, that's not going to be hard for either of us." I say.

A few moments later, our chariot starts moving. The sudden, lurching movement makes me stumble, and I almost fall over, but Katniss steadies me with her arm. "Careful." she whispers.

"Thanks, sweetheart." I say. "Let's turn our costumes on now, okay?"

She nods, and we both press the buttons concealed within our sleeves. Immediately Cinna's and Portia's work springs to life. Katniss and I are glowing like hot coals. Again, I'm taken aback by the genius that our stylists put into these outfits.

"This is much better than what I had to wear in my first Games." I mutter to her. She smiles, and for a second she looks like she wants to respond, but then we're out. The crowd's screams get louder, but I don't dare to look around at them. Instead I stare blankly forward, my jaw set and my eyebrows narrowed. We go around the circle, and then President Snow starts his annual speech. Having watched the Games since I was a little boy, I've heard it almost forty times in my lifetime, so I tune him out and glance around at the other tributes. The two from District Six are staring at us with huge eyes. I can tell from just looking at them that they are morphling addicts, basically alcoholics like me and Chaff, but just with a more powerful and destructive substance. Although the alcohol has taken a heavy toll on me, they are much worse off. Despite myself, I feel a rush of pity for them.
Looking around, I see Finnick and the elderly woman from District Four, Mags, in their chariot. She volunteered for the love of Finnick's life, Annie Cresta, when she was reaped. It's obvious to me that Finnick and Mags are in the same situation that Katniss and I are in. Mags volunteered for someone that Finnick loves dearly, so now he feels compelled to protect her. I wonder if Katniss is even considering keeping me around. Well, I suppose I'll find out soon enough.