Hi :) Clove and Cato are my favorite characters so yeah, I figured I'd do a fic about them. I hope it's good.

I saw the movie and it gave me the inspiration to write this. The movie was so so good!

Clove POV

A blinding light flashes from bedroom window. It points directly into my eyes which causes my eyelids to flutter open. I roll over to my right side, trying to forget about the light and fall back asleep. It's too early to get up. I know I should be excited for today, my day. Reaping day. But instead my stomach keeps dropping. I grab my knees and pull them to my chest. My brown hair lies on the feather pillow. Today I will volunteer for the Hunger Games.

It's a family tradition here in the Hendrix household. Every 7 years an eligible child must volunteer. 7 years ago my brother Oliver volunteered. He was dead by the blood bath. Our family hadn't been taken seriously after that. It's almost unheard of that someone from district 2 dies in the bloodbath, and it hasn't happened since he did. Our family has been the butt of bloodbath jokes since.

Now it is my turn to show what I'm made of. It's either me or my 13 year old sister Garnet. My parents would never allow her blood to be spilled. They baby her too much and it drives me insane. She knows I hate it, so she craves the attention even more.

"Hello Clove." Garnet says as she pours herself a glass of milk. She pours it till the glass almost overfills. Now, there is no more milk for me. I grab the carton and throw it into the garbage. Garnet knows exactly how to push me. I don't bother saying hello or eating with her, I grab my coat and leave.

"Clove?" Garnet asks. "Yes?" I grunt. "Good luck." She says with a smile. I know for once she actually means it. We both love each other, but we have awkward ways of showing it. I nod and head out the door.

I walk to Brown Bridge, the one over Brown River. (No surprise there) I know Cato will be there. He is. I blush when his strong face comes into view. His jaw is clenched, something he does when he's angry.

"Hi." I say sitting down next to him. "I've made up my mind," I state before he can even say hello, "I'm going to volunteer, don't bother stopping me." I say, hoping that he will stop me and stroke my hair saying don't go. He does nothing, "You'll win." That's all he says. I feel a bit hurt, he's supposed to be supportive of me, especially today.

"Clove," He starts, "That kiss was wrong, I never meant to put any ideas in your head. We're only friends." I feel like stomping my foot and starting a tantrum. But instead I lift my chin and say, "I understand Cato, it was just the heat of the moment."

Everyday I go back to last week. He was in my backyard and we were training together as usual. I was trying out my father's special knife, the one I'd tried to throw for years but could never even hit the target. I finally hit it and we hugged and for some reason he kissed me. I'll never forget how his lips felt against mine. A sweet sensation. I've only kissed one other boy and I'm supposed to marry him according to my mother. I hate him and he always tries to get in my face and kiss me. I feel nothing with him, but with Cato I felt tingles up my spine.

"Yeah, it was." He agrees and looks into the river, "I was thinking of also volunteering." My heart stops for a moment. Cato can not steal this from me. I wanted to win the games for him and have another moment when he kisses me.

"But you can't!" I start. He grabs my arm reassuringly and smiles, "But together we could be unstoppable. It is true so I do not argue. His blond hair is in his eyes again. I am tempted to brush it aside but I do not want to do anything romantic. I just nod and we walk to the Justice Building. His words haunt my mind, 'Together we could be unstoppable.'

I wait in line for them to prick my finger; I steal a glance at Cato. He winks at me. I laugh, so much for keeping the romance on an undertone. But then I shake it away, friends could wink at each other, I am just being stupid. We go into our age groups. I follow the other fifteen year olds. Cato heads with the seventeen year old boys.

My stomach turns like it did when I tried out for the second grade play and I threw up on stage. That will not happen again, I will be brave Clove Hendrix.

Our escort Cleo Mahogany steps on stage with a smile. She's quite odd, always wobbling around and she always tilts her head as though it's the first time she's seen the world.

She does the boring intro stuff like 'Happy hunger Games!' I don't listen I just look at my boots uncomfortably. I look at my father. He is the mayor of district 2 and he is sitting on stage. He doesn't look my way once. He can be cruel, but I know somewhere in his heart he loves his 4 children. I think of how 2 of them died in the games, Oliver and Maple. Only one of his children won the games: Cypress. I know he is proud of him; he used to be my hero and role model. Only he, I, and Garnet are left. My father needs to look up to me like he does to Cypress. I am determined. I now remember why I am volunteering, to make my family proud.

I am startled when Cleo says, "Alright now, ladies first!" She reaches into the bowl and calls an unfamiliar name. I jump up and about 5 other girls do too. I am first, "I volunteer!" I run up stage and grab the microphone. This is my show. i am about 5'4 and Cleo seems to be 4'9 I tower over her, "My name is Clove Hendrix and I volunteer." I look to see Cato. He's not watching or listening. My face heats up with anger.

Cleo seems happy though, "The mayor's daughter! This will be an interesting year!" She moves on to the boys. Sure enough Cato is up with me. I smile and think, 'Together we can be unstoppable.' That is enough to get me through these next couple days.

A couple peacekeepers lead us out. It is now time for the goodbyes. I am ready, and don't have to worry about crying. Not a single tear will slide down my cheek.

"Clove honey," My mother rushes into the room, "That was so brave." She hugs me and her pearl necklace pushes into my throat. She doesn't mean what she said. She's watched 3 other kids of hers do this. I am not even close to being her favorite. My father comes in next. All he does is bring me down.

"That was a horrible entrance Clove, made me look like I didn't raise you." I bit my lip. My mother is too afraid to protest. I say nothing to him, I don't want anything to even do with him right now.

Garnet comes in with her hair in bows. 'That was lovely Clove." She smiles sweetly. She is just trying to get our parents attention back on her. It seems to have worked because my mother starts adjusting her hair bows. Another shot of anger flows through my body. I feel like I am a volcano and at my second I will erupt.

I sit down on the red couch. I will probably get no more visitors. I am wrong, a group of my school friends come in. I don't really like them so I just smile and tell them to watch me on TV. I try to be regular Clove, the girl that everyone likes at school. I am popular and will have no trouble getting sponsors. I smile and think, 'Together we could be unstoppable.'

The peacekeepers take my friends out. Now it is time to go on the train to the capitol. It won't take long, and I will get to see Cato. When I see him I will beat his ass for volunteering.

I hope it was good! Did you like it? REVIEW they are the best presents ever! And guess what! They're free :)

~*KUMQUAT*~