AN: Hey, so this is my first time writing something other than a one shot, so I might not update that fast. Also there will be Clove's POV and Cato's POV in the story. Sometimes the second POV will start from the beginning again and kind of repeat what happened in the first POV but in a different way; so it's not boring. Or sometimes it might just continue what the first POV stopped. Sounds a little confusing but you'll get it once you start reading. Also watch out for language! Enjoy! ~imaginegirl881

Clove

''Clove! Wake up!'' My brother yells.

But I refuse today is my lazy day, no school, no training, no nothing.

''Clove, get the hell up!''

I still don't answer. I don't hear anything, and then bam! I feel huge pressure on my right thigh and holler in pain. I look up to see my brother on top of me.

''What the fuck Drake?! Get off of me!'' I yell at him and he immediately gets off. ''Sorry, but it was the only way to wake you.''

''But it's my lazy day! Why can't you just leave me alone.''

I give him one of my famous glares. He shifts uncomfortably and says:

''Hey! Don't kill the messenger! Ferron wanted you to come to training today, so he could talk to you about something.''

I roll my eyes, knowing very well what that something is. I look up and still see Drake looking at me. So I grab my pillow and throw it at him, hard.

''Leave!'' He runs out, slamming the door behind him.

I manage to get out of bed and get ready. I walk over to the bathroom and look in the mirror, making sure I'm not missing something. I put my dark, brown hair in a ponytail. And exam my pale face, my hazel eyes are red from waking up and I have a couple scares from previous training days, but overall I look good. One thing I remember is to put on my bracelet, it's a thick piece of rope with a big silver bead on it, my mother gave it to me when I was born, it's simple but beautiful, and since my mother gave it to me it's extra special. I stay there for a couple minutes thinking of her then snap back to reality and go downstairs. I go to the fridge and try to grab some milk but it's too high up, yeah it sucks to be short. I hear a chuckle behind me and feel and arm reaching over me for the milk, he then hands it to me.

''Thanks'' I tell my brother, taking the milk.

Even though Drakes' younger then me, he's still two heads taller so I have to look up at him. He flips his dark hair out of his green eyes and goes to grab some bowls and the cereal.

''You better hurry, you know how angry Ferron gets when your not on time.'' He warns me.

''So? It's my day off, so he can go fuck himself.''

Drake gives me a warning look; I know I shouldn't have said that. If Ferron were here he'd kill me right on the spot. He scares me sometimes, thought I don't like to admit it. Ferrons' my coach, and has been training me since I was six. He's one of District Two's former victors and also one of my father's best friends before he and my mother died in a car crash. My father had arranged that Ferron would train me so I could one day compete in the Hunger Games and bring back fame and fortune, since we were running low on money. Now ever since my parents passed away, my brother and I have been living alone and I have been taking tessera to keep us alive. Ferron still trains me today, and I bet this 'talk' is about competing in the games this year.

As I walk outside, a spear is thrown right passed me and hits my door. I turn around to see who the thrower is. Cato Lungin, my best friend, walks towards me. We met a couple of years ago, when I was seven and just starting my training. I remember I went to the gym to practice a bit, to empress Ferron. I was trying to throw my knife but I couldn't hold it up right, dropped it and it punctured my foot. It hurt so much that I started crying, all the other kids were just laughing at me, except one boy, Cato. Instead he came to my aid, when he saw that I couldn't walk he gave me a piggy back ride all the way home.

''Here you go.'' He had said letting me down gently at my front door.

''Thanks for helping me'' I said shyly.

''Hey, remember I'm always here for you, I got your back.''

He looks me in the eyes and that's when I noticed he had the most beautiful, sparkling blue eyes I have ever seen. I know I've been staring too long when he gave me a confused look.

So I quickly said: ''My names Clove, what's yours?''

''Cato, want to be friends?''

''Sure'' I gave him a smirk.

So we started to hang out and became best friends to this day.

''What was that for?'' I ask, pointing at the spear pierced in my door.

''I was trying to get your attention.''

I roll my eyes.

''So where ya heading?" He asks, trying to pull the spear out casually which looks like a total fail.

"Ferron wants to 'talk' to me; it's probably about competing in the games this year."

"Oh yeah, about that, how about you don't this year?'' He asks giving a fake smile.

"What? Why not that was our agreement right?"

Our agreement was that; since both Cato and I want to go in the Hunger Games, we decided that the year I turn 17 is the year I'll go into the games, which is this year. And the year he turns 18, will be the year he'll go to the Hunger Games. So that way we don't have to go the same year, since only one comes out. This plan will enable us to both come home, rich and famous, and live happily ever after. Ok the last part was what I was thinking, but hey everyone says Cato and I are meant to be so you never know, right?

"What's wrong?" I ask, noticing his facial expression died down.

"Well, my uncle Brutus wants me to volunteer this year…"

He's heads down and only his eyes are looking up in mine. I start to panic a bit.

''Wait, what? You said you'll only go next year to let me go this year!''

''I know I've told him that, but he doesn't give a shit. He thinks this is my year. Can't you just convince Ferron to train you one more year? Tell him you'll be more prepared next year.''

I'm pretty mad now that Cato took my year. What happened to ladies first? But he does have a point Ferron is easier to convince and I don't want to risk both of us going to the games together. So after a long pause I say:

''Alright, fine. But you owe me BIG time, this was supposed to be my year.'' I glare at him. He gives me a huge smile, then bear hugs me just to piss me off even more.

''Thanks Clovy! And yes I do!'' He says in a really high pitched voice, which makes me laugh every time I hear it.

I laugh, and then shove him off of me. He smiles knowing that was just a friendly shove and I'm not mad at him anymore. He then clears his throat.

''So did you hear about Slade's party?'' He asks changing the subject.

''No, when is it?'' I ask.

''It's tonight, he's inviting the whole high school, you going?''

''Well I have nothing else to do tonight, so might as well.''

''Yeah… So um, would you want to kinda, you know, go with me?'' He asks awkwardly.

I'm taken a back with what he just asked me. Cato and I have always been just friends, and yeah sometimes we would compliment each other and flirt. But we've never been out in public, in that kind of way. I look at him for a second, noticing his beautiful, sparkling blue eyes have never changed ever since the day we've met. Actually nothing has really changed with him, maybe that his dirty blond hair is styled differently and that he's gotten bigger and more muscular but his little boyish features are still there. My Cato is still here. All of a sudden, I start feeling something I've never really felt before while looking at him. It's like I have butterflies in my stomach. Oh my God, am I falling for him? He smiles at me which affects me more. Pull it together Clove, its just Cato. I straighten myself up and give him a casual answer so he suspects nothing.

''Sure. Why not.''

He looks a bit surprised by my answer but that's all he shows as well.

''Um, alright then I'll pick you up at seven.''

He takes his spear and starts walking away. But then turns around and with an arrogant smile he says:

''Wear something pretty'' Then turns back and continues walking.

I roll my eyes.

I enter in the gym where Ferron is waiting for me, hands crossed over his chest, he looks upset.

''Hey, sorry I'm late I-'' I start, but he cuts me off.

''I don't want to hear your excuses, Clove, come here.''

I start to walk slowly towards him.

''Clove.'' He takes me by the shoulders.

''I've been training you for a long time now and I think its time for you to volunteer and go in the Hunger Games.''

''But I don't think I'm ready yet, I'll go next year!'' I protest.

''But last time we talked about this, you said you were going to volunteer this year?''

I sigh then look at him.

''The thing is, Cato's going too and I don't want both of us going in the arena together since only one comes out.''

''Don't risk your year for that boy, you are going to go in the games and you are going to win!''

''But-'' He cuts me off again.

''You are going in the Hunger Games and that's final!''

Cato

'Punch, punch!' 'Duck!' 'Punch!'

''Come on Cato! You're not going to do any damage with a punch like that!'' My uncle Brutus yells.

I'm starting to get irritated with his stupid comments, so I punch the punching bag so hard that the chain breaks out of the wall and the bag falls over him.

''Now look at what you've done!'' He says cruelly.

I push the bag aside and help him up.

''If your going in the games this year, your going to have to do better!'' He starts again.

''Wait, what? We've agreed I'm going next year, remember?'' I say to him.

''Yes, well you see, I'm getting tired of training you, besides this seems like your year.''

''No, my years' next year! I still don't feel ready yet.''

''Well when are you going to be ready Cato?! When you're fucking 60?'' He's starting to get irritated again.

''I just need one more year.'' I say to him pleadingly.

''No your going to the games this year and that's final.''

''This is bullshit! I can make my own decisions, I'm 17!''

''Cato, don't talk to me like that unless you want to sleep outside again!''

I lower my voice.

''Yes, uncle.''

He nods and leaves the room.

God! I hate my uncle so much! He's stupid and careless and just plain brutal. Well, that's probably where he got his name, Brutus. Uncle Brutus is a former victor, just like my dad, who's been training me since I was four, my dad trains me too but Brutus insists on training me more often because it's some kind of family tradition to win the games every generation. My grandpa won them, my uncle won them, my dad won them and now it's my turn. But Brutus trains me so hard, some days I feel like I'm just going to die right there on the training mat.

I go upstairs and take a shower then I put on some new clothes, grab my spear and go outside. I need to clear my head. A few houses away I see my friend, Slade, with his group.

''Hey, man what's going on?'' He asks me as I start walking towards them.

They all have bloodshot eyes and it smells really bad, that's when I realize their high.

''Nothing, just hanging around, how about you guys?'' I ask still eyeing the drug. ''Gettin' backed!''

They all laugh like that's supposed to be funny.

''Where'd you get that stuff anyways?''

''Our buddy, Hex, here has a cousin in Six who got us the goods. You want some?''

''No thanks, I want to keep in shape for the Reaping.''

''Oh! Screw the Reaping, have fun and get high with us!''

''Yeah!'' All the other guys yell around him.

''Nah, I'm good.''

''Whatever. Hey… What was I going to say again?'' He trails off.

''You were going to invite him to the party tonight, Slade.'' Hex reminds him.

''Oh yeah, thanks. So yeah, I'm having a party tonight and I'm inviting the whole high school. It's gonna be sick!''

Slade's older brother won the Hunger Games last year, so Slade has a big place and hosts parties all the time.

''Thanks man, yeah I'll be there.'' I smile.

''So which girl you getting tonight, Slade?'' One of the guys in the group asks him.

''I'm getting that Athena chick.''

''The one with the big tits?''

''Aw yeah man, you know it!''

They high five each other.

''How bout you Cato? You should go with someone.'' Slade asks me.

''Well I don't know I-'' Slade cuts me off.

''Come on dude, you got to go with someone!''

''Hey, you should go with that girl, Clove! She's a real hottie, did you see that ass?'' Hex suggests.

I don't really appreciate Hex talking like that about Clove, mostly because I don't really think about her like that.

''Yeah! Go with Clove!'' The guys start yelling again.

''Alright! I will.'' I say, god anything to make them stop screaming, their breaths stink like shit.

''Dude, go right now.'' They push me and I start walking towards Clove's house.

I see Clove walking out of her house in her training wear, which is odd this is her day off. Anyways, I decide to get her attention by throwing the spear into her door. She turns around and sees me. I start walking towards her.

''What was that for?'' Clove asks, pointing at the spear in her door.

''I was trying to get your attention.''

She rolls her eyes.

''So where ya heading?" I ask trying to pull the spear out casually which I bet looks like a total fail.

"Ferron wants to 'talk' to me; it's probably about competing in the games this year."

Oh shit, I got to tell her about that…

"Oh yeah, about that, how about you don't this year?'' I ask giving a fake smile.

"What? Why not that was our agreement right?"

I think of that for a second.

"What's wrong?" She asks, noticing I was out of it.

Goddamn, I got to tell her.

"Well, my uncle Brutus wants me to volunteer this year…"

My heads down and only my eyes are looking up in hers. I can see the panicked look on her face.

''Wait.,what? You said you'll only go next year to let me go this year!''

''I know I've told him that, but he doesn't give a shit. He thinks this is my year. Can't you just convince Ferron to train you one more year? Tell him you'll be more prepared next year!''

I mean it's easier to convince her coach, Ferron, then my uncle Brutus, her and I both know that. I see her thinking about my suggestion.

''Alright, fine. But you owe me BIG time, this was supposed to be my year!''

She gives me one of her glares, but I'm used to them, so I give her a huge smile, and then give Clove a bear hug, just to piss her off even more.

''Thanks Clovy! And yes I do!'' I say in a really high pitched voice, which makes her laugh every time she hears it.

She then shoves me away. I smile knowing that was just a friendly shove. So I guess that's cleared but now that I think of its not really the real reason I'm here at all. What was it for again? Ah, yes the party. I clear my throat. Here goes nothing.

''So did you hear about Slade's party?'' I ask completely changing the subject.

''No, when is it?'' She asks.

''It's tonight, he's inviting the whole high school, you going?''

''Well I have nothing else to do tonight, so might as well.''

Alright now, its time to ask her…

''Yeah… So um, would you want to kinda, you know, go with me?'' I ask very awkwardly.

She's pretty surprised at what I just asked her, I can see her facial expression change. It's a long pause before she answers, but then she does.

''Sure, why not.'' She says casually.

I don't know why, but the way she said it kind of disappoints me. Like I wanted her to be excited to be asked out by me, then again she probably thinks we're going as friends, which we are, but I don't know I feel like I want to go more as that. Oh no, am I falling for Clove? No this can't be happening, we're just friends and that's all.

''Um, alright then I'll pick you up at seven.'' I tell her.

It's time to leave, so I take my spear and start walking away. But then a smart comment pops in my mind and I just got to say it, so I turn around and with a smile I say:

''Wear something pretty'' Then turn back and continue walking.

I know she's probably rolling her eyes right now.

Well, I guess I'm going to the dance with Clove, a huge grin is plastered on my face at the thought of how tonight's going to turn out.

Hope you liked it :D R&R ~imaginegirl881