"You know how much I love you."
"How much?" I look into her gray eyes, as stormy as a hurricane. I run to the nearest bench in the park and hop on it. I then proceed to yell
"I love this woman, Katniss Everdeen, to the moon and back! My love for her will never fade!"
And then I hear her laugh, oh her laugh. It makes the stars shine brighter, and makes the days seem worthwhile. But what makes my heart pulse is her smile. Her smile lights up her whole face and makes her seem so innocent.
Katniss approaches me and takes my hands. She looks into my eyes.
"I love you, Cato Stone, so much. Words cannot describe how great my love is for you." And then she kisses me.
I wake up, heart pounding and a sweaty mess. It's nightmares like this that remind me why I don't love anymore. Love only leads to loss and after loosing my first love, I never loved again.
I look at my phone and see that's its time for me to get ready for work. Standing up, with much protest from my body, I make my way to the bathroom. While brushing my teeth, I look to the mirror. I haven't changed much since high school, my blonde hair, though messy from sleep, still sits in spikes upon my head. I've become more muscular as I've aged. My face has become more defined, sharp jaw line and distinct cheekbones. My eyes are still the ice blue they've always been, but they haven't been alive since the day she broke my heart.
I try not to think of her, but everyday I see her. Her long brown hair, always adorned in a braid down her back, her muscular frame, due to years of archery, and her eyes, gray, stormy, and always showing what she feels.
I clear her from my mind and go through my usual morning routine. Shave, get dressed, eat breakfast, and go to work. Although, what I call work may not be what others think.
xXx
I arrive at the training center a few minutes before 8. I park in my spot, adorned with a plate that says my last name and the logo for the Chicago Bulls. I walk into the gym to find most of the team there. I head over to my friends, Thresh and Marvel, asking them,
"You guys ready for the game tonight?"
In his usual cocky matter, Marvel responds, "Ready as ever, the pistons are gonna get their asses handed to them."
"Same here." Thresh said.
"Good, that's the confidence we need to be #1." I say as I begin to warm up for practice.
Marvel and Thresh are polar opposites, Marvel being very flamboyant and cocky, while Thresh is a more introverted and subtle. But these two play perfectly to each other's personalities, as well as to mine.
"Let's get moving men! We need to get in a quick practice before the game tonight!" Yells Coach Brutus.
"Hopefully there's no blood today, guys." I say to Thresh and Marvel. They both laugh, because in the NBA; you can't go a day without blood or sweat.
xXx
There's 4 seconds left on the clock and I have the ball. Dribbling down the court, I shoot from the 3-point line, the buzzer sounds, and ball sinks into the net.
Bulls win 104-100. And the crowd goes crazy. But I'm too busy getting tackled by my team to notice.
After a victory celebration in the locker room, consisting of Marvel being his ridiculously crazy self and pouring his Gatorade on me, which was all of 16 oz., I make my way out of the stadium. It's drizzling outside while I make my way to my parking spot, typical Chicago weather. I'm about to get into my car when I hear something that catches my breath.
"Cato?"
