Hey everybody! I saw the midnight premier of The Hunger Games on Thursday, and I got really excited about Cato and Clove…so guess who this story might possibly be about? Anyways, I am so sorry about not updating my SYOT for The Hunger Games, it's harder than I thought. And also, I apologize to everybody else for any of the other stories I have written that I haven't finished yet…

But I hope you all enjoy!

(By the way, I don't own The Hunger Games…that would make me really rich…)

Chapter One: The Reaping

I looked at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a silver dress that went down to my knees, and sparkled when I moved. My hair was fashioned into an intricate bun, and had a silver flower clipped in beside it. I smirked to myself as I slid my best set of knives into a well fashioned pocket in my dress. This was the last time I would just be "Clove" from District Two. Next time I come back, I'll be a whole lot more than that.

I walk into the family living room and find my older brother waiting for me. My parents were already at the Capitol, because they helped out when extra hands were needed there; during events like the Hunger Games. My brother, Malay, was to escort me to the Reaping today. He was nineteen, and had volunteered for the Hunger Games last year, but someone else's hand was seen before his. At least he was brave enough to try.

"Well don't you look spiffy." He said to me. I rolled my eyes.

"Can't you at least try to update your language a bit? You sound like Grandpa."

"Sorry, hot stuff." He replied jokingly. I sighed. No wonder this kid didn't have a girlfriend.

"You are so funny Malay. So funny that it makes me want to cut your throat out." I retort hastily.

"I take that as a great compliment coming from you, Clove. You are the best of the best after all." I smile at this.

"Am I really?" I ask, looking into my brother's dark eyes with my own large pair. He takes my hand and brings it to his lips, a form of flattery.

"Undoubtedly."

"Cato?" a small voice asks. I turn to see my younger sister, Marissa, looking up at me with big eyes.

"What do you want, Marissa?" I ask, sighing. Today is the day of the Reaping. She may only be ten, but she should know better than to disturb me on this important day.

"Please don't go." She says quietly. I stop what I'm doing immediately. When I turn around to look at her again, she is crying. Most people would expect me to start yelling at her for having this insane idea, but not with her. She's my little sister, and she's the only one who can get away with it. I hold out my arms, and she runs into them. I pick her up easily, and she cries into my shoulder.

"I don't want you to go, Cato. Please?" she whimpers into my ear. I set her down, and kneel so I am closer to her height.

"I have to, Marissa. It's my last year to try. And you know how Mom and Dad are…" she nods sympathetically. "But I'll be back soon, and we both know it. Okay?"

"Okay."

"You know I love you, right?"

"Yeah." She replies. I begin walking out the door, getting ready for my last moments as a normal kid from District Two.

"Cato?" she says, and I turn around again. She smiles at me weakly. "Please don't die."

And from that moment on, I swear I won't.

Malay and I walked to the square together, until the time came for me to check in. He kissed my forehead, and then ran off to find some of his friends. I joined the long line of District Two girls. I looked to my right and scanned the parallel line of boys. Like the girls in my line, the boys all looked confident. Maybe it was because they all knew Cato and I were volunteering without a doubt. I spotted my fellow tribute (well, soon-to-be tribute), and we caught each other's eyes. He smirked at me, and I smirked right back. Life was an endless competition between us. We have known each other since the day I began training at age ten. He was thirteen, yet on that day I got a higher score at the knife throwing station. He had gotten extremely mad, and challenged me to a sword fight, but my brother, knowing Cato's anger issues, prevented this from happening. He recommended that the fight should commence at the end of the month. And so it did. And it happened every month after that as well, up until this year. I didn't plan on volunteering, but the next oldest girl was thirteen, and I was ready anyways. This whole year we had been training together at the Academy to prepare for situations inside the arena. This year, District Two would win, no matter what.

So now, here we are, at the 74th Annual Hunger Games.

And we're ready to fight.

How was that? So anyways, I would love it if you guys could review! It means a lot to me. Also, every time there is a line break, the POV changes. Just in case you were wondering!

R+R

SBF726