Here comes the second chapter of Never Better, Always Worse. Sorry it has taken me so long to upload it, but I have just learned I have a job and I'm so excited about it c: So yeah. I saw that many people have apparently read my story. I appreciate it. I'd really like to hear what you people think so far, however. I still don't know how long this story will be. As long as I feel I can go on with it, it will go on, really. So that's about it. Thanks for reading, you guys. 3

DISCLAIMER. I do not own the Hunger Games trilogy or everything it contains. Suzanne Collins does. The only thing I have made up are the names of Katniss and Peeta's children and Gale's child.

CHAPTER TWO

I can tell by the look on her face that my mother is completely speechless. Standing there, in the doorway to the kitchen, she stares right through me, making me think I might have gone invisible during that short period of time. I remove my leather boots, the ones she used to wear, and run a hair through my brown locks. When my father comes in later on that day, smelling of cinnamon and fresh bread like he always does. I love that smell. He seems to be happy. Must have been a good day at the bakery. However, as soon as he sees the love of her life, the happiness disappears from his face and it is now filled with worry. I leave them alone, knowing that it's not my place as he starts to comfort her. Instead, I make my way to my brother who is sitting in front of the fire in the living room. He, too, knew that there was not his place. We both stare into the fire. He makes some light comments on the weather or such things that I am unable to hear.

Finally, my parents both come out of the kitchen. I can see in my mother's eyes that she has not been crying. However, I make note to keep my answers short just in case she suddenly bursts. I want to be out of the way before it happens. I'm not exactly good with people crying, especially when it's my mother. My brother looks rapidly between the three of us. I know he doesn't get what's going on, but he's smart enough to at least keep his mouth shut and keep every question he has to himself for the time being. I turn my back to the fire and watch them as they sit there on the couch. They start with easy questions.

"You saw Gale in town, today?" My father is talking. I know my mother must be too shocked. Or maybe I'm completely wrong. I simply nod. There are no need for words to answer that one question. I'm not one to talk if I don't need to.

"That's a surprise. We haven't seen him in years." I know that. Even my brother probably knows that, just by seeing the shock on their faces.

"How did you know who he was?" I look up at my mother. My father was probably beating around the bush too much for her. However, I quickly look back down. She has asked the question that I did not want to hear. What am I supposed to answer to that? The truth, of course. I'll get into trouble, for sure. Forget the plans of ever getting out again. I'll be stuck here for months without even being aloud to go to the Meadow.

"I… I saw a picture of him Dad drew… A while ago." That's enough for them to know how I found it. They both know where that particular picture is. I don't need to go further. My father runs a hand over his face. My mother looks at her hands and leans against his shoulder.

"What did he tell you?" My father, again.

"Simply to say hi to both of you."

"He didn't say why he was in town?" I think. Maybe he was visiting. I know he once lived here. Does he still have family that live here? I doubt it. I have never heard of someone named Hawthorne around here. Then why was he here? I shake my head. Both of my parents look at each other before telling us both to go to our rooms. I don't need to be asked twice to stand up and leave the room. I feel the tension building up in the air and I don't want to be around when it all explodes.

As I come downstairs the next morning, dressed like I usually would never be by now – in fact, I would still be in my room, I notice my mother's nowhere to be seen. It's only when I go to the living room's window that I see her, talking with the man who's son I bumped into yesterday. They don't seem to be arguing. But, from the look on his face, I can tell that they are not happy either. I make my way to the kitchen table and my father looks at me, obviously surprised that I'm up so early. I roll my eyes and request breakfast. The three of us – my brother has appeared a few minutes after me with his usual smile – eat calmly until we hear my mother coming in. I can tell by the way she closes the door that this has not gone the way she had expected it to go. I frown. What could that man possibly be hiding from my parents? I sigh, finishing my breakfast, knowing she will not say anything in front of us. I drag my brother out of the room, but he doesn't seem to mind. He simply skips off, probably to go play with something that I am not interested in. I have better plans. As soon as I'm upstairs, I can hear them talking.

I sit on the last step of the stairs, my knees pulled to my chest as I try to make myself as small as humanly possible. Of course, this is stupid. They obviously cannot see me since a wall separates me from them. I have difficulty hearing. I come down two steps and it's already much clearer. I focus on their voices.

"He was very vague, Peeta. He wouldn't tell me exactly what was going on." My mother says, probably in response to a question my father has just asked her.

"It's probably nothing, Katniss. You should stop—"

"It's not nothing. Why would he be back after twenty-eight years, Peeta? He clearly said there was nothing left for him around here." My mother goes on, obviously upset. I think about letting them talk alone. Then again, I truly want to know what is going on. But they don't seem to know much more than I do, at this point.

"Well, he has his reasons. Let him be."

"Reasons that involve Paylor?" Paylor is the president of our country. For watching television from time to time, I know she once was a rebel from District Eight. How she got to being president, I don't know. And, of course, my parents would not tell me.

From what I have just heard, I'm guessing Gale must be in District Twelve for government reasons. Whatever those might be. As usual, I find myself intrigued by this mystery. I don't see why there would be any kind of governmental issue in our peaceful district. Then again, I don't know everything. Do I? Well, of course, I don't. Otherwise, the Guardians would let me out into the woods from time to time. But they don't. There's most likely something out there that they don't want me or anyone else to see. Well, anyone except my mother. But she once was the Mockingjay. She must have some kind of privilege. While thinking, I lose track of their conversation and decide that I have heard enough. Speculations will not get me anywhere tonight. Maybe if I can run into that Myles boy again, I can get some kind of information out of him. That is, if him and his father are still in town.

I go to my room and prepare myself to go out. Better sooner than later, right? My parents will most likely suspect something is wrong with me if they see me going out so often. I'm more of an indoors person, you see. Well, mostly because the only place situated outdoors that I would want to visit is off limits. But then again, it's not like I am not allowed to go outside from time to time. And I'm convinced it would please my parents to see me going back to my old self. I make note to make sure they never know what I am really doing as I escape the house. I leave my brother behind. I don't exactly want an incident like yesterday happening again.

I make my way out of the Victor's Village, the only thing left of the old District Twelve. During the war, everything was detroyed. Except those houses. I'm quite glad, in fact, that they were not destroyed, even if they bring back bad memories to most of the people living in District Twelve. For the first time in ages, I actually am looking for someone in town, but I can't seem to find him anywhere. Of course, when I'm not looking, everything comes right at me. I swear life really is strangely made. After a few minutes, I start thinking that I might be too late, that him and his father might have taken the train back to their District.

"Looking for someone, kid?"

"Stop calling me that." I say as I spin around on my heels and look up at him. Of course, I recognized his voice immediately. Well, mostly that habit he has to call me kid even though he's barely older than me.

"Would you prefer I start calling you Mimi?" He smirks and I glare at him. This seems to only amuse him even more and I look away, making some kind of frustrated sound under my breath. "Alright, alright. Looking for someone, Mimosa?"

"For you, actually."

"For me? I'm flattered." I roll my eyes and am about to leave when I remember why I came here, looking for him. To solve the mystery involving his father.

"Look, I have a simple question. Why are you here?" I ask firmly, standing up straight and showing him I won't give in until I am satisfied with his answer.

"I don't know what you mean, ki—Mimosa."

"Of course, you do!"

"No."

A long sigh escapes my mouth as I run my hand through my hair. I look down at my feet, kicking a rock which was innocently laying there. Of course, he knows what I mean. Is it so difficult to see it? Maybe it is for him. I should precise my train of thoughts. But how? Well, the answer to that is simple enough to figure out.

"Why did your father and yourself come back to District Twelve?" I ask even more firmly than before. This seems to throw him slightly off guard.

"I.. I actually don't know. You should ask him that." Then, it's laugh. A sarcastic one that escapes my mouth. I don't know how he has been raised. But is he actually stupid enough that an adult would tell me, a child, what is actually going on? My parents never want to. Let alone a stranger. He seems serious though and I can see in his eyes that he is not lying. A little talent of mine that comes in handy whenever my parents try to explain something to me without revealing too much. I guess all those doubts I have on our society could come from there too.

"You really have no idea?"

"Well…" He starts.

"Go on."

"It can't be that, though. I mean… I don't know."

"Just say it, already!"

"I think it has something to do with the government or something." Really? That's all? I could figure that much on my own, even if I had not heard my parents conversation that very morning.

"You're useless." I finally manage to wipe that smile right off of his face and he turns away, leaving me standing there, on my own. What am I supposed to do now? How can I figure everything out by myself when no one will help me? Maybe I should not have been so.. unkind. I roll my eyes as the words of my father from yesterday morning come back to me.

"Wait!" I call after Myles, but he doesn't stop. This is really not how I would usually act, but I go after him. Once I'm walking next to him – or rather running since I'm trying to keep up with his long and large steps, I continue. "Please, wait. Are you sure you don't know anything else?" This makes him stop and I stumble a bit forward as I try to stop myself. I turn to him.

"No! I don't! I don't know anything else, alright?"

"Alright.. sheesh." For a moment, Myles looks at me, as if he was considering that next words that would be escaping his mouth. He looks around carefully and then steps closer to me. I am not one who likes such closeness with people. When I was younger, apparently, I loved the hugs my parents or even Haymitch would give me. I don't remember any of this, however. I don't have that good of a memory. All I know is that, as of now, it takes everything to accept a hug coming from anyone. Well, except my little brother. It isn't like I could ever push him away anyway.