"Clove," her mother said softly. "Your father and I need to tell you something."
Clove Fields nodded.
"You know how the Games have just ended," her father began.
She nodded again. The 74th Hunger Games had been brutal, but District Two had yet another win.
Her sister had died. She hated them all.
"Your mother and I feel like we cannot support you anymore, after Marina's death, so we have arranged for you to marry the Victor."
Clove flinched. "Marry the Victor? That big, brutal, bloody man?" she snarled.
Her parents exchanged glances.
"Clove, it would be better for you if you had someone who could support you," her father croaked.
She scowled, her delicate features morphing into a rough, savage expression. "What if I refuse to marry him?"
"You will not refuse," her mother replied simply.
"I'm refusing right now!" and with that, she turned and ran up the stairs to her room.
"Marry the Victor," she huffed, slipping on her combat boots. "Please."
Grabbing a handful of her precious knives, Clove stomped down the stairs and out the door before anyone could stop her.
She treaded along the gravel path leading from her neighborhood to the Training Center.
"Aye, Clove!" Jackson Bailey called from his forge. "Am I gonna be invited to your wedding?"
Clove scowled ferociously. "No!"
She continued making her way to the Center and finally stepped through the doors, cold air blasting around her body. The heat had been sweltering outside.
"Clover!"
Clove turned and saw one of her age-mates from her class making her way toward her.
"Kellie." Clove dipped her head.
"Heard 'bout your wedding," Kellie commented seriously, her blue eyes boring into Clove.
She shrugged. "It won't be happening." And she walked away to the moving body targets.
With her mind preoccupied, she didn't throw incredibly well, but she still made most of them.
"Nice throwing, pipsqueak," a low, husky voice said from behind her.
Clove turned and ground her teeth. "What do you want with me?"
Cato Washington smirked. "Nothing, I was just watching you throw. Nice aim."
Clove rolled her eyes. "I know."
The boy of seventeen laughed. "You are too adorable."
The girl of fifteen bit her tongue.
"I'm sorry I couldn't save her," Cato murmured.
Clove sneered. "Don't talk about her!"
Cato started. No one ever talked to him like that.
"I don't want to talk about her, I don't want anyone else to talk about her, and I don't walk to hear anything about her!" Clove carried on.
Cato sighed, scratching the back of his head. What was he supposed to do? "Look, Clove, I'm sorry, okay? I tried all that I could."
Clove huffed, crossed her arms, and turned the other direction.
"Be in a better mood in two days," Cato commanded, giving up being nice.
"I don't know why my parents had to choose you for me to marry," she growled viciously.
"They didn't. I chose you."
So, Clove gets to marry Cato! I am so jealous of her :/ but Clato is amazing! Anyway, R&R please!
If you guys have any questions or suggestions, feel free review them in!