I wait as patiently as possible, but time is dragging so slow. My foot taps impatiently on the ground, and my fingers twist around themselves.

"Waiting for someone?" a voice comes from behind me, and I spin to face my company.

"Yeah, actually, I am," I reply. "My boyfriend. He's huge, strong, completely lethal. So you should probably get out of here before he arrives."

"He doesn't scare me," Cato says with a grin, closing the distance between us quickly and wrapping me up in his arms to kiss me.

"He probably won't even show anyway," I say when we pull apart, slightly breathless. "He trains at the academy and all the girls chase after him."

Cato's hand comes up to brush my hair away from my face. "But why would I want any of them, when I have the most beautiful girlfriend in the world?" His voice comes out in a whisper.

I let out a breathy laugh. Even after the year we've spent together, I get giddy from the emotions we share. "Let's get out of here," I whisper back, wanting to keep away from the academy while we can.

"This new kid's just started this week, he's eight," Cato says, unable to hide his huge smile. "I can see myself mentoring him for the Games in ten years."

My face drops. "Cato..." I trail off. I know there's no use in saying anything.

"What?" he asks, shaking his head because he already knows.

"Nothing," I reply, my voice cracking, revealing the lie.

Cato shuffles over to pull me tightly to his chest. "You knew this was going to happen. There's no point not talking about it." When did Cato become the voice of reason? "And besides, I'm going to win, so it doesn't matter." He kisses my neck several times.

"It still matters to me," I get out before I break down, sobbing silently into Cato's broad chest. Why can't he see how much this kills me?

I hack furiously away at the dummy in front of me.

"Your technique could use some work."

I turn to see a boy - tall, blonde, muscular - watching my assault. I know who he is - everyone knows who he is. Cato, the most promising Career for next year's Hunger Games. The kid is so far up himself - he drives me insane.

"Whatever," is the only retort I can muster. Then I can't stop the ramble. "Doesn't even matter. Nayda was chosen as this year's female tribute. I trained for ten years, and it's for nothing!" I blindly flail with the sword, and I only stop when a set of strong hands are holding my arms still.

"Maybe not getting picked is a good thing." His voice is right at my ear.

I snort. "Says the boy who's a shoe in for next year's Games." I roll my eyes and spin to face him.

Cato looks cocky - but deservedly so I guess. "Well, at least that gives me a year to get to know you better." His eyes are intense, holding my gaze.

I burst out laughing. "You're kidding right?" But I stop laughing when I see he doesn't find it amusing. "Oh," I breathe out, then quickly compose myself. "You're an idiot," I snap, my face screwing up in disgust. "Like I'd want anything to do with you after everything I've heard."

"Well I heard you were the favourite for the Games this year, so I guess we can't believe everything we hear," he says once my back is turned.

He did not seriously just say that. Out of sheer anger and frustration, I flip out, and within a few seconds I have Cato pinned on the ground. "Well, I guess you better keep practicing instead of chasing after girls. Otherwise in a year you're going to be dead." I pat his cheek condescendingly. "And just so you know," I lean in close and whisper in his ear, "I don't date dead guys." I get off of him and walk away.

"You caught me off guard," he says lamely.

I laugh. "Oh yeah, and your fellow Tributes next year are gonna announce their presence before they try and kill you." I roll my eyes.

"Help me out then," he calls as I'm almost out the door.

I stop and turn. "You want help from the girl who wasn't good enough?" I ask him in disbelief. "I think maybe you should go to Brutus."

"Brutus is going to be gone for the next few weeks," he says quickly. "And the other trainers here aren't worth shit. So train me just for a few weeks, while the Games are on."

My mind conflicts with itself. I know that helping Cato is a bad idea for many reasons, but the one reason that keeps popping up over the others says, 'If you train him, you're going to fall in love with him.'

Damn.

About an hour ago I stopped crying, but neither Cato nor I has moved. I wish we never had to move again. I wish we could stay wrapped up together forever.

"My parents will wonder where I am soon," I say emotionlessly, looking at the sun getting ready to set.

"My parents won't care," Cato says, pulling us up and kissing just below my ear.

Neither one of us told our parents when we first started seeing each other, and since then it's just never come up. But I like it being a secret anyway - it feels more special.

"Tomorrow?" Cato asks, never letting undying hope trickle into his voice like I always do.

"I have the family breakfast tomorrow, like always." I say this each Friday, but we always go through the motions. "But then I'm all yours." I smile as I say it, but then stop myself, when I think that this will be the last time that I say it. This is our last weekend together before next Saturday's reaping.

"Good." He squeezes me again, and I close my eyes and lean into him. "Don't cry," he says, obviously feeling the tears build up inside of me. "Please don't cry." His throat sounds constricted, and when I look up I see him staring out at nothing, his eyes squinting.

Now it's my turn to act as though everything's ok, because I've never seen Cato like this. I reach up and nip at his neck, drawing his attention back down to me. "Race you back to the edge of town," I say cheekily, already leaping up and running for my life.

Of course I win, I've always been quick - not to mention the very unfair head start I had. I laugh uncontrollably as I lean against a building for support. Cato doesn't look pleased, he's never enjoyed coming second place to anyone. But he smiles and comes over to kiss me one last time before we part ways.

"I'll meet you here tomorrow at 11." And then he's gone.

I stand motionless for several minutes, enjoying the tingling feeling that still plays on my lips. Only when I realise I'm standing in near total darkness do I hurry to get home, thinking of some silly excuse to tell my parents when they ask my whereabouts.