Effie Trinket stood beside the elevator tapping her foot impatiently. "Hurry, hurry, I wish to have dinner before midnight!" she exclaimed in her annoying Capitol accent. I rolled my eyes at her, wondering if Effie Trinket could be any more bubbly? Even when impatient the woman sounded incredibly cheerful, it made me feel downright nauseous.

Just as we were about to step into the elevator a male voice called out, "Ma chérie."

The three of us turned to see a handsome man standing before us. He looked out of place in the long hallway, not only because he was obviously not from the Capitol but because he wasn't a noticeable member of the Tribute Centre staff, an escort, or even a Gamemaker. The reason I knew was by his appearance.

For one thing, he wore expensive, but not Capitol expensive, clothes. They were casual looking with neutral colours. His white shirt was opened slightly around the neck, covered by a deep grey, conservative style jacket. He wore comfortable black slacks with dark black boots. His clothing was something a majority of Capitol men wouldn't be caught dead in.

His hair also set him apart from Capitol men; it was a natural dark brown, that appeared as if he had woken up with the style. It was natural like the rest of his look. His stubbled chin also had a natural feel to it.

No, this man was not from the Capitol. In fact, I would have mistaken him for a victor if he hadn't spoken a foreign language. French I think, though it was the only other language I'd heard in my life, seeing as I hid from a few Eastern Canadians on my hunting trips. At least the ones with special permission from the Capitol to hunt in the forest outside District Twelve. French was the second most spoken language in Eastern Canada.

Effie Trinket waved to him before turning to us. "Go on up dears, I'll be there in a while for dinner." Peeta and I looked surprised by Effie Trinket's odd change of attitude.

"You want us to go up… Alone?" Peeta asked, his bewilderment evident in his tone.

Effie Trinket nodded as absentmindedly as a schoolgirl in love. "Yes, yes," she told us, waving her hand like we were dogs to shoo away. "Haymitch will meet you in the lounging room. I'll be up in a while." She smiled, walking towards the man.

Peeta and I stepped onto the elevator watching the two just as the man kissed a blushing Effie Trinket's hand. Peeta and I both burst into laughter, as the doors closed, unable to hold the impulse in any longer.

"I never thought that Effie would have someone like that in her life." Peeta chuckled looking at me with a smile. "I would have thought that she'd be with a flamboyant, Capitol man. Who do you think he is?"

I thought about the question and shrugged, "I'm not sure, I think he's from Eastern Canada but Haymitch might know more. He's known Effie for five years after all."

I then glanced down at the people below, my smile disappearing. They were celebrating the beginning of the newest Hunger Games by watching reruns of the Reaping and Chariot Rides, as well as recaps of older games with Caesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith commentating everything, "Do they wish we were dead?" I asked Peeta, who was now standing behind me with his arms around my waist. I leaned into his embrace, his warmth giving me strength and comfort.

"I don't think they want all of us dead," Peeta whispered into my ear. I thought for a minute. Maybe he was right, after all, why have a victor if they wanted all of us dead? Why not line up 26 random people and kill them?

I looked over at Peeta, calmly asking him what he thought about the question. He unwrapped his arms, grabbing my hand gently, and looked out at the Capitol, before answering my question. "I'm not sure… maybe to give us hope?"

"Hope," I sighed, "I guess that makes sense, though President Glass seemed exactly like the kind of person who thought it would be fun to see a bunch of children fighting each other over food, prestige, and money. I don't think he was interested in giving us in the Districts hope."

Peeta leaned me back against his chest and was about to say something but was interrupted by the sound of the elevator telling us we were on our floor. We quickly pulled away and turned to head out of the glass lift. Haymitch was waiting for us outside the elevator doors, leaning against a large square potted plant.

"Where's Effie?" Haymitch asked us, glancing into the elevator after we both stepped out. He didn't seem all that surprised that she wasn't with us. In fact, he seemed like he had expected her not to accompany us for our trip up.

Peeta and I exchanged looks about Haymitch's behaviour before Peeta answered him calmly, "Some foreign guy called out to her while we were waiting for the elevator. She went with him, said she'd be up in a bit." Haymitch's sigh confirmed what Peeta and I had both suspected; Haymitch knew who Effie Trinket's mysterious suitor was.

"Well, who is he?" My voice sounded eager as curiosity rode me hard.

Haymitch pulled his hair out of his eyes; didn't help much, but then again I don't believe he ever meant for it to. It was more of a dramatic action he liked to do before talking sometimes. "His name is Jérémie Lafond," he told us with a slight french accent to the name. "He's the ambassador of Eastern Canada and he's currently Effie's suitor, as she likes to put it."

So he was from Eastern Canada, not only that but a high ranking official of the country. Eastern Canada and Northern Canada were our neighbors to the north. They used to be a large country by the name of just Canada but it was split over a hundred years ago by the Great Canadian River. The huge body of water ran from the northern edge of the two countries all the way down to the very northwestern edge of my district. They were relatively peaceful countries, though throughout their short history there had been disputes along their borders about trading agreements and other small things. We learned about them in the brief world history lessons in school.

"How come he's allowed in the Tribute Centre? Shouldn't he be in the President's Mansion?" I asked, remembering that President Snow liked to house world officials in his massive mansion. After all, he did have the space.

Haymitch shook his head. "Not during the Hunger Games. All twelve officials from the larger countries stay on the bottom floor of the Tribute Center. Right by the Tribute Entry Hall, that place where you went after the Chariot Rides. I've never been there but Effie has. She says it's not much different to the rest of the apartments, the only difference is the size. After all kid, there are twelve people staying there."

I found the idea odd to listen to and even understand, but I guess it made sense to the Capitol. The phrase 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer' definitely applies here.

"Alright you two, go shower and get changed. I personally don't mind the smell of sweat, but Effie does. And you don't want to see that woman angry. Trust me," he stated and swayed off towards his own room. He looked like he had been drinking more than usual today.

Peeta gently took my hand and walked me to my room leaning against the wall once we got there, "I don't want to go back to my room," he murmured looking at me with a soft smile.

I rolled my eyes and kissed his cheek. "Go and get changed, Peeta. I'm not going anywhere."

Peeta looked doubtful, but after releasing a deep sigh he slumped back to his room, looking like a kid who had been grounded. I let out my own sigh and stepped into my room to wash off and get changed.

I leaned my head against the back of my private sofa, staring at the ceiling. I had just finished my shower with no other thoughts in my head but getting clean and refreshed. Today had not been at all what I expected. I expected everything to go smoothly and for nothing bad to happen. Then wham! The accident with Rue played out in my head and I felt a chill go through me. I switched the temperature of my fireplace to be Soothing Heat; which basically meant above room temperature. I leaned back and closed my eyes, getting comfortable before I slowed the event down and replayed it through my mind. I could feel my body tense as adrenaline flooded through me, causing a short rush. I'd thought for sure that Rue was falling to her death.

The adrenaline rush pulled me back to the time when Prim had followed me into the woods four years ago and decided to try and pet a bear cub. The second I heard the roar of its mother and Prim's cry for help, the same rush flowed through me. I'd never run that fast in my life. It felt like I literally flew over the ground as I ran for Prim. Unfortunately, I had to gravely injure the mother bear and she didn't survive her injuries. Once the rush had subsided I was faced with raising a three-month-old grizzly cub, because Prim didn't want to leave it alone. Keeping a bear cub hidden from Peacekeepers for seven months, while teaching it to hunt and survive in the wild was by far the hardest thing I've ever done.

I smirked at the reminder of Snug, the name Prim had given the bear cub. He had been a good bear, a fast learner and decent company on hunting trips; though it took me weeks to get him to stop scaring off the game. I was actually able to keep him hidden and safe for the entire time I had been caring for him. The last time I saw him since he had gone to roam his mother's territory, was two months ago. He was healthy and huge, feeding off of a fish carcass. I think he even recognized me. He didn't really show that he did, but he didn't attack or come after me when I came closer. I had even thought he was another bear, but the scar over his face, from when he got into a fight with a lynx over a dead deer, was still noticeable and I knew that it was Snug.

I guess I'll never see Snug again. I wondered if he was happy, if he'd keep roaming his mother's territory until he died or it got taken from him. As I thought of Snug fighting with another bear I heard Effie Trinket's bubbly voice calling me over the intercom, "Dinnertime Katniss!"

I groaned, getting up slowly to stretch out some of my sore muscles. Effie Trinket always had a way of interrupting my thoughts. I stretched out my muscles once more before heading out of my room. Effie Trinket was standing outside my door with Peeta beside her. "You're late for dinner." If it was anyone else but Effie Trinket I'm sure they would have had a distasteful look on their face. But Effie Trinket had a smile like she didn't just reprimand me.

I rolled my eyes and walked off to the dining platform without looking at her. Effie Trinket and Peeta followed behind me with the loud clicking of my escort's heels echoing through the hallway.

Dinner was short, and though Peeta and Haymitch had a conversation throughout the meal, everyone else spoke very little. When it was over, I stood and pushed my chair in. "I'm going to bed," I stated. I was turning to leave until Effie Trinket's voice stopped me.

"Wait Katniss dear." I rolled my eyes but waited until she stepped around the table and came to my side.

"Yes?"

"I have someone that wants to meet you. Can you spare a few moments of your time? They are very important and I think this would greatly benefit you in the Games," Effie Trinket clapped, a huge smile on her face. Part of me caught a glimpse of worry in her eyes shortly before it disappeared. I wondered if I'd imagined it.

"Who is it?"

"Do you remember that man I stopped to talk to while you and Peeta went on up?"

"Yes, what about him?" I asked, yet I already knew the answer.

"He's the one that wants to see you. He's the-"

"Yeah, I know. Haymitch already explained," I interrupted her.

Effie Trinket looked slightly upset, probably over the fact that Haymitch had beaten her for the chance to explain who Jérémie Lafond was. "Oh, well. Let's be going," she stated as her bubbly smile quickly returned.

Before we stepped into the elevator, Effie Trinket gave my outfit a look of scrutiny, "Katniss my dear, I must insist you wear something less," she pursed her lips, looking down at my simple green shirt and black pants with obvious dislike, "Plain. You are meeting with an important official after all."

I looked down at my clothes and sighed, knowing this was something I couldn't get out of but that didn't mean I couldn't try. "Must I?" I asked, my voice laced with annoyance.

Effie Trinket nodded her head once as she answered simply, "Yes, you must." She then pulled me back to my room, straight to the closet, despite the fact that I thought I looked perfectly fine.

"Yes, yes. That is perfect." Effie Trinket finally said after making me put on twelve outfits before this one. The outfit was completely uncomfortable. The black capris were simple enough, tight fitting around the waist and overly flared at the bottom. The only thing that made them Capitolish was the vertical, equal distanced rips that revealed blood red fabric underneath. I didn't mind them too much, but the top was painfully uncomfortable.

It was mainly blood red, with long black sleeves that pointed at the wrists. Effie Trinket had stuffed me into a corset to give me a more attractive appearance. I felt more like I was going to faint, though I was extremely afraid to. This was because of the two black pointed shoulders that jutted out from the top. I could poke someone's eye out with shoulders like these. But that wasn't the worst part, no. Around my neck was something Effie Trinket referred to as a vampire collar. I'd heard of vampires, ancient mythological creatures that fed on human blood. The fact that I was wearing a top with a collar named after them did not make me feel any better about the outfit.

Effie Trinket dabbed at her eyes, more a show of emotion then an actual one and proudly said, "Now you are ready to meet Jérémie." She quickly pulled me back to the elevator. I was so glad Haymitch and Peeta were too busy talking with Cinna on the patio to notice Effie Trinket rushing me to the lift in this ridiculous outfit.

The three inch, black, strapped heels were almost impossible to walk in; I didn't know how Effie Trinket could manage it all the time.

Most of the ride down was Effie Trinket going over the etiquette of Eastern Canada and how to speak properly to an official. I didn't realize how much stuff you could do to upset someone from a country so close to ours. It all seemed surreal that there were so many. It made me fairly sure that my escort was over dramatising most of it. Soon I began to let my thoughts wander, not listening as we climbed out of the elevator. We began walking towards an area between the Tribute Entry Hall where I assumed the ambassador rooms were. I didn't even notice Effie Trinket start to call to me.

"Katniss, are you listening?" she called to me despite being so close.

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at her, "Huh?"

Effie Trinket gave me a very serious look, "This is an important person, Katniss. So I will not have you messing this meeting up, alright?"

"Yes Effie," I sighed. Effie Trinket definitely had a way of over dramatizing things.

"We're almost there. Now let me have another look at you." She looked me over again. "I did do a magnificent job, didn't I?" It was more a praise to herself than a question to me. "Come along, let's go meet him. And remember, smiles and politeness. We can't having him seeing the real you".

"You mean the me that's rude and uncivilized?" I muttered under my breath. Unfortunately Effie Trinket heard me, though she looked proud. Probably because she thought I was understanding her for once.

"Exactly. Well here we are," She announced as we turned the corner into a the most beautiful garden of flowers I'd ever seen, and some I didn't even know existed. Standing at the far end under a white gazebo was the very man we were here to meet.

I noticed that he had changed. He was now wearing an even more casual shirt and dark jeans. I almost got as far as saying that he looked like someone from District Twelve, when they weren't working in the mines that is. It was an odd but comforting sight. It showed me that this man wasn't the kind of person who dressed up when he was by himself. Which was unlike the people of the capital. Effie Trinket had primped and preened like a peacock, even when she was on the train with myself, Peeta and Haymitch.

He looked up at us and waved. "Effie, you have arrived later than you said you would!" he exclaimed, his voice was heavily accented.

"Well I had to help Katniss find suitable attire for this meeting," she explained as she kissed his cheek before introducing us. "Katniss I'd like to formally introduce you to Jérémie Lafond. Jérémie this is my protégé, Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire."

I watched Effie Trinket as she gleamed her large eyes at Jérémie Lafond. She seemed honestly pleased that I was meeting with this ambassador. So I guess I'd have to talk to him.

"Bonjour, Monsieur. It is very nice to meet you." I was thankful that I had listened in to broken conversations in the woods. The hunters would speak in both English and French during their trips, which made it easier to learn a few choice words in the language.

He didn't seem surprised that I knew a little of his country's language. Instead he smiled and nodded his head, "Mademoiselle Everdeen, it is a pleasure to meet you. I saw your… what is the word?"

"Reaping dear?"

"Oui merci Effie. I saw your reaping and I was very moved by what you did for your petite sœur, your little sister. But that is not why I have asked ma chérie to bring you down to meet me. I wish…" he paused and looked at Effie Trinket, "Effie ma chèrie, would it be possible to speak to Mademoiselle Everdeen in private?"

Effie Trinket looked stunned, and I have to admit I was a little nervous, but she nodded. "Oh, of course Jérémie. Will you escort her to the elevator once you have finished speaking to her?"

Jérémie Lafond nodded and kissed her cheek. "Oui, au revoir Effie," he smiled, waiting calmly until she left and was out of earshot before speaking to me once again. "Now that we are alone, I wish to ask if you would accept me as your sponsor for this Hunger Games?"

"Pardon?" I was stunned. An ambassador wanted to sponsor… me?