A Career. Thats what I am. Its simple, I'll go into the games and I'll win. I've been training everyday since I was 12. Train. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Thats how its been for the last five years. I shake my head, trying to make the thoughts of the upcoming games go away. I have to focus on the here and now, whats important at the moment. Which would be getting to the training center on time. So I rush out of my house, trying not to be loud. Its five in the morning and no one in town is up. Training doesn't start until six, but I always meet up with Cato an hour before to train alone. Just thinking his name brings a smile to my face. Though I quickly let it fade as I walk down the street. I can't allow myself to connect Cato to happiness. People shouldn't be the reason of our joy. Winning and pride. Those are the reasons to smile.
I feel as though I am walking slower than normal today. Maybe its because I want to take the time to see every part of my district as I pass the shops that don't open for hours. And the houses with a single light in the bathroom as someone wakes up to shower. Its only a week before the games. A week before everyone is up earlier to see who is winning. I don't plan on going in this year. Though I know I'm more than ready. I will wait until I'm 18 to volunteer. Not that I want to go into the games ever, but I want to bring pride to my district. Cato, though he wouldn't tell anyone but me, never wants to go in. He is beyond the point of being ready, he just doesn't want to go unless he has to. We may be careers, but that doesn't mean we want to throw ourselves into the middle of a bloodbath. The games change people, they always had. Personally I like Cato the way he is, I wouldn't want him to come back different. And he would come back. Cato would win, because I can't accept the fact he would ever leave me alone in this district.
I realized I stopped walking only a block from the training center. It was as if my feet wouldn't move. Why was it now of all times I am realizing how much I care for him? I can't let myself feel. Not like this, not for Cato. If there is one thing I know about Cato, its he doesn't feel. Not for people. Being the best is what he lives for. Before I can focus back on reality I'm knocked to the ground, being pinned under the weight of someone else. "And you call yourself a Career? With those reflexes?" Those words stung. Those are the words that had made me feel so ashamed as a kid. I open my eyes, to be met with Cato's deep blue ones. I don't take the time to appreciate the beauty of his eyes because something like that would get me killed in the arena. I struggle for a moment to move his legs move part so I can bring my knees up, in an attempt to lift him off of me. It doesn't work. "Come on Clove, where is the fire? Where is the fight! We both know you have it in you!" He is all but yelling now. Thats the Cato I know. The one thats always pushing me to be better. He has my hands pinned to either side of my head, so they are useless. I bring my head up fast, hitting my forehead against his roughly.
"I didn't think I'd be put in danger in my district." I commented, my voice harsh as I watch one of his hands move to his head. With that I take the opportunity to push my hand hard to his side, shifting his body weight as I move my own body. Rolling us over so I'm the one pinning him. "And you call yourself a career." I teased in a low, mocking, voice as I let a smirk spread across my face. Cato is blinking widely, probably due to the assault on his head. I know how he feels though, because my own head is aching and my vision is slightly blurring. Not enough to knock me out, or render me useless. I roll myself off of Cato and lay on the ground for a moment looking up at the sky to see the sun is just starting to rise. A thin line of the morning sky can be seen, though most of it is still filled with the glow of the stars. I hear Cato moving to sit up, though I keep my eyes trained on the sky.
"Damn Clove, you have a hard head." Cato mumbles after a few moments of silence. I look to see him sitting with his arms hanging loosely over his knees as he looks towards the row of houses that are beginning to light up. I look towards the houses as well, not wanting to be caught staring at him. Moving my arms back so I can prop myself up on my elbows I shrug. Not saying anything. Cato and I never really had to have a conversation to feel normal around each other. That alone scared me. How had I come to be so comfortable around another person? Maybe its because the first time I went to the training center he was the one to help me.
My feet thudded against the stone path leading to the training center. It was my second week going there, and I was late. The trainer wouldn't like that very much. For a twelve year old you would think it would be okay to be late once in awhile. Not when you are training to be a career. Never. I threw open the doors, stumbling as I came to a stop. "I'm so sorry! Am I late?" I asked, my eyes wide and desperate as they looked up at the trainer. He sighed, trying to keep the annoyance out of his face. Though he didn't do a very good job of it.
"Clove." He began. "Just go to the ropes, I'll talk to your parents about this." Oh no. Not my parents. They wouldn't be pleased with my lateness to train. I glance at the trainer one last time before I moved over to the ropes. Okay. Climb. Climb to the top. Don't let your arms give out. I can do it. Or at least thats what I tell myself as my little hands wrap around the rope. Before I begin to climb, my eyes meet with bright blue ones. Belonging to a boy a year older than me. I had seen him around town a few times before I started coming to train. Cato. His eyes look angry, but thats how they have looked since I first talked to him here. I swear that he smiles for a moment as I lift myself up and begin to move up the rope. Almost as if he was proud of me. I was almost to the top. Was I actually going to do it? On the first try? I shouldn't have let my joy consume me, because thats when my hand slipped. The next thing I knew my back was crashing roughly to the mat underneath of the rope. I could here the older careers laughing. "And you call yourself a career?" I heard the trainer yelling as he came towards me.
I felt someone kneel down next to me, as I faded in and out of consciousness. "Clove!" Cato whispered. "Get up Clove. Get up. Fight the darkness. If you get up, you prove your strength." I opened my eyes and nodded, the room was spinning but I only tried to focus on Cato. On those blue eyes that brought me back to reality. I fought the pain and staggered as I stood. But I stood and thats all that mattered. No one thought I would get up. Only Cato. He put faith in me. And I have no idea why.
"Clove? Did you even hear a word I said?" Cato asked, looking annoyed. His voice pulling me from my thoughts and I sighed. Looking at him he could already tell I hadn't been listening. "I asked if you knew who was going in this year?" He asked again, his voice calmer. Normally we all knew ahead of time who would go in. Everyone around here volunteers and its no secret who wants to go in.
I took a moment to think before nodding. "Well I think Chance said something about wanting to go in." Chance was a well built 18 year old in District two. He is one of the more twisted people in our district.
Cato shook his head. "Chance is strong, but he isn't the brightest. Lets hope he has someone smart going in with him." I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to remember who else wanted to go in.
"Chance isn't one to be trusted you know? He would jump at the chance to kill off the other tribute in our district as soon as it gets down to the top three." I paused, searching my mind for the girl. Nothing came up. Shrugging I looked at Cato. "Only one more week." He nodded.
"You aren't planning on going in are you?" He asked me looking up at the sunlit sky.
"Not until next year." Cato knew this. He knew that I planned to go in next year. "I plan to win next year." I said with a firm nod.
"Good." he mumbled getting up from the ground as other members of our District showed up at the training center. "Because I can't have my only friend dying on me."
Best friend. Something Cato had never called me before. It was probably just a slip up since his head was most likely still fuzzy from me hitting his head. Cato never wanted me to go into the games, that much was obvious. He had even said it. Though he also knew there was no talking me out of it. It was the only way to make my parents proud of me..
(A/N: Okay, so obviously I'm no good with writing their characters. Mainly because I haven't read the book in about a year. But I ship these two so hard. So I'm writing it anyway. But feed back would be great :| )
