She never knew she could fall in love. She has always thought that Careers weren't meant to have those kind of emotions. But she did, and she fell for him, hard. She never knew how it started, maybe it was the way he smiled at her. Or how he would playfully banter with her. Or how he expertly handled his sword. Point is, she fell for him.
What's worse was that they were both picked to enter the Games. She wants to bring pride to her district but she wouldn't have the heart to kill him. No matter how she sees it, they couldn't possibly be together. But she fell for him, and there's nothing she could do about that.
She tried everything to avoid this emotion. Not talking to him was torture, avoiding him was unbearable. He'll ask questions and she doesn't have the courage to tell him what she feels.
She doesn't have anyone to talk about it except him. But if she told him, it may ruin their friendship. She has has crossed off the possibility of him falling for her too. "Who would fall in love with an ugly, short and crazy girl anyway?" That's what she would always think. He would win the Games, she was sure of it. The big possibility of him forgetting about her breaks her heart, but she knew it was inevitable.
He never knew he could fall in love. He thought that he could never in a million years feel this way. As a Career, he was trained to put those emotions away. But he fell in love with her anyways, and he fell hard. Maybe it's the way how the way she talks, the witty remarks she makes when she's with him. Or maybe it's the way how she expertly throw her knife of hers. Point is, he fell for her.
What's worse? They're both picked for the Games. He wished that they would always be together, but the reality hits him and he knows one or both of them have to die. But he fell for her, and there's nothing he could do about that.
He could see her trying to avoid him sometimes. When she wouldn't talk to him, it was torture. When she tries to avoid him, it's unbearable. He keeps asking questions about what's wrong and she would always shake her head and say it's nothing.
He never had the courage to tell her he li— no, love her. Who would fall in love with a monster like him anyway? She could get any guy she wants if and when she wins this. He already made up his mind to make her the victor at all cost. After all, she's beautiful and vicious, the two things he wants in a woman.
No one ever noticed their feelings for each other. Not their mentors, their parents, the other tributes. They're the unknown star-crossed lovers of district two. Cato and Clove.