The next chapter will be set in the past as well. It will be somewhat similar to this one as far as I can tell. Enjoy it, maybe leave a review. :)

As the two months passed, and a train from the Capitol got closer to District 12, Haymitch Abernathy had been standing just a few meters away from the station. Of course he had been waiting for Effie to return, just like she had said she would. After all he still had her necklace that needed to be returned to her. So he kept waiting for some more moments.

Minutes later, the high tech train came to a stop and the door opened. Out came Ryker Trinket with his sweet daughter, that seemed to have chosen something more suitable for the District. Though he wasn't sure how her father would react to seeing him, Haymitch was bold enough to walk closer to them, hoping Effie would see him. And indeed she did, and promptly walked towards him, but not without the caring eyes of her father on her.

"Haymitch! It is good to see you again." She said happily, a bright smile dancing across her lips. "It's good to see ya as well. Nice dress." It actually wasn't that much to his liking, but at least it was better than the one she wore the first time she visited the District.

When Effie was about so say something , her father appeared behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Euphemia, who is this young man?" He has asked her, which caused her to wince a bit. She hadn't told Haymitch her full name and was now a bit embarrassed that her father had given her away. But it seemed as if Haymitch tried his best to hide his chuckle.

"I'm Haymitch Abernathy, sir." He introduced himself as politely as possible, but one could not miss the hint of sarcasm on the sir. "Well, at least some manners." Mr. Trinket said, though he sounded a bit condescending. Haymitch said nothing about it, but Effie looked up at her father. "Daddy, can I stay with him while you are busy? I promise nothing will happen, I will be fine." She pleaded and looked at him with her puppy eyes. Of course he could not resist that, though he really disliked the thought of his precious daughter walking around in a District like 12 with some of its boys. With a sigh he turned to Haymitch once again.

"If anything happens to my daughter, I will make you pay for it. Take care of her." He told him and then placed a kiss on his daughters head. "I have to go now. Be careful." With a nod of her, he left to do his work with the mayor.

The two children stood there for a moment before Haymitch coughed a little and pulled something out of his pocket. Holding it out for her, she opened her hand to see what he wanted to give her. "You told me to take care of it. Well, here it is." And then he placed her necklace in her hand, much to her surprise since she didn't really think that he would return it to her. "Thank you!"

"Nah, it's fine. Now what, are you coming?" He grinned and already turned on his heals to head off, which caused Effie to quickly put away the necklace and to follow him. "Where are we going?" She asked him curiously. "Remember the last time?" Effie nodded, and it seemed as if that was the only answer she would get from him.

Minutes later, they reached the meadow, and Haymitch let himself fall down in the grass. Effie carefully sat down, making sure her dress didn't get too dirty. "So, Euphemia, eh?" He teased her, causing her to blush lightly. "My mother gave it to. I really prefer Effie. Euphemia sounds so... I don't know."

"So hilarious? Like them?" She nodded a bit and looked down at the greenish grass. "I don't want to be just like them, just another citizen." He understood what she was trying to tell him, so he decided to sit up to face her. "Well, better be a Capitol citizen at your age than a child of the Districts. But otherwise... I agree with you, you can be more than that. I'm sure when you're grown up you will do amazing things. Even if it's for the Capitol."

She was flattered that he believed in her, and in return she gave him a warm smile. But it faded once a thought crossed her mind.

"My next visit will take longer. My father didn't tell me why, but it will take half a year."

A broken laugh escaped his throat and he scratched the back of his head. "Well, then this could be our last encounter." A shocked expression marked her face as she didn't understand what that was supposed to mean. But he explained it.

"The Games. The reaping is in two months. I'm 15, Effie, of course I need to take part in it. And you know as well as I do that there is a possibility of me being a tribute."

"I know, I know. I just don't really like to think about it. Because it is..." She couldn't bring herself to speak it out loud because she perfectly knew what would happen if someone caught her saying her true thoughts on the games. All she could do was hoping that he understood. And he did.

"It's because you're different. But there's nothing we could do against it, so why not welcome my destiny with open arms?" He tried to joke, cheer up the mood, but she really wasn't up to it. But she nodded, even though she really disliked the thought.

"Know what, Trinket? Don't wanna talk about the stupid games. It's already bad enough. How's life in the Capitol?"

Even though he disliked - hated - the Capitol, Haymitch wanted to know what it was like. He wanted to get a glimpse of the life that was only for those who were born much more luckily than he had been.

"It is... Colorful." Effie said as she looked around. "There is no change over the time. There are parties, and all the... what would you say? Crazy dresses?" Haymitch nodded with a small grin. "And everyone just enjoys their life and makes no effort to hide it." She sighed. It was nice to have those parties and enough to live, but sometimes she wished it was a bit different. At least she had not to fear the games. The thought made her wince a bit.

"Thought so. Well, that's the Capitol, eh?"

For a moment, neither of them said a word, but there was no awkward silence. It was rather nice. Actually, it surprised her a bit, that she was able to sit with someone and not needing to talk to feel comfortable. But she knew this could not last forever. When they would both turn 18, they had to go their own paths in life, and if nothing changed at all, they would not cross at all. A sad thought.

Neither of them knew how much time passed. They talked a bit more but when a peacekeeper approached them, they knew they had to part once more. Haymitch walked her to her father once more, who already waited at the train. But before Effie entered the train along with him, she wanted to say goodbye, it could be their last time.

"So, this is goodbye again."

He simply nodded.

And then she remembered the necklace. Reached into her pocket, she pulled it out and gave it to him. Hesitantly, he took it in his hand, looking at her with slight confusion. "Keep it. It is supposed to keep you safe. And if you still get reaped, this shall make you remember me. You hear me? Remember me." Before he could say anything, she had already thrown her arms around him, embracing him tightly. "Be safe Haymitch Abernathy, and remember me."

With a last smile, she stepped into the train, yet watching him through the window, as the train started to bring her away from District 12.