Chapter 1: First Sights
Cato first saw her at the opening ceremonies. She was in the last chariot, looking as if she was engulfed in flames with the scrawny blonde boy holding her hand all the way to the City Circle. He wanted to talk the Girl on Fire, as she was named, after the ceremonies but she was immediately taken to the elevators with the ridiculous escort for District 12 teetering along beside her.
Clove was tugging on Cato's outfit ushering him over to the District 1 tributes, Marvel and Glimmer. Marvel was smirking at Cato when he called out, "Whacha staring at, 2? The girl from 12?"
"Yeah," Cato replied. "she seems different then the other tributes."
"That's because they light her on fire." Glimmer sneered. "You better not be thinking of having her join us, 'cause she wouldn't do us any good."
"I'm the leader of this group, not you Glimmer. Besides, she might surprise us in training." Cato huffed, walking towards the elevators.
Katniss was shocked when she saw the boy from District 2 staring at her. His blonde hair and blue eyes, he was attractive and alluring. But with his tall and muscular build, it made him look rugged and tough. He was most likely to be the leader of the career pack, Katniss thought. He had a look of grim determination in his face when he was staring at Katniss. She couldn't tell if the look was to kill her or have her join the alliance. Katniss had decided that the look was just him figuring out how to kill her.
Right when she was getting ready to talk to the District 2 boy, Effie was steering her to the elevators, her fingernails digging into Katniss' shoulder. Once she was inside the elevator, her mentor Haymitch slurred, "Whacah starin at that career for? He will never let you into his group."
"Just sizing up the competition." Katniss mumbled.
Effie was ecstatic about her District's performance in the opening ceremonies and kept on talking about it, while Katniss let her mind wander to the District 2 boy that had caught her eye.
Back in his room, Cato allowed himself to think of the girl from District 12, fire girl, as he called her. Her olive skin, grey eyes, and chocolate brown hair made her look sweet and innocent. She'll probably get lots of sponsors because of her stunt during the opening ceremonies. Unlike the others from the outlying districts, she seemed fearless. As Cato replayed the reapings, he saw the fire girl volunteer herself for the small girl that was reaped. She stood in the stage with no emotion, as if willing herself not to cry.
Cato saw Clove leaning on his door, smirking. She walked in and sat next to him on the bed. "She is different." Whispered Clove, watching the fire girl on the screen.
Cato turned to Clove then asked her. "Do you like me?"
Clove turned to him with wide eyes then laughed lightly. "What?"
"You heard me, do you like me?"
Clove sighed then replied. "You're nice and good looking but no, I don't like you. Why'd you ask?"
"I need to be likeable to get sponsors." Cato mumbled turning back to the screen. "Just like the girl from 12."
Clove stood up and walked over to the door. She called out to me. "You're likeable, Cato. Don't worry about getting sponsors."
"Not as many as the fire girl."
"So you really want her in our alliance?"
"Yeah."
"What if she's no good?"
Cato smiled at her. "Guess we'll find out."