DISCLAIMER: The Hunger Games franchise does not belong to me. If it did, Gale would be dead by Mockingjay…
Cato's POV
The 72nd Hunger Games
Winning the games is as exciting as everyone says it is. A rush of pride going through me when I stabbed my spear in the last tribute's back. Everyone sees me as a killing machine, but really, I only won the Hunger Games for one person. Clove Harrison, a girl from District 2 who I loved all my life. The only problem, she doesn't like me. She probably thinks I'll kill her if she gets near me. When the hovercraft came, I excitedly jumped on the ladder and climbed up.
When I arrived at the Justice Building, I was being congratulated everywhere I went. I wasn't District 2's first victor, but it was still awesome to be known as the winner of the 72nd Hunger Games. This was my last year, so I would have volunteered anyways. I walked into the hallway and saw my parents and my brother.
"Good job bro." He said to me. My mom kissed my head and my dad just stood there. My dad and I never had a good relationship. Every since his brother was killed in the Hunger Games, he was bitter towards us, besides our mom of course.
"If you don't mind Cato, but me and Mikey are gonna head home to make dinner, you and dad can walk home once you're released." I waved goodbye to them and stood there with my father. I started walking away, but he grabbed me by the collar.
"Listen boy, did you win just to mock me? To make me feel the pain of losing my own brother?" I nervously shook my head.
"No, remember? I didn't volunteer, I was reaped." He slapped me across the face, hurting the scars.
"No excuses!" I nodded and ran out of the building, some people giving me looks too. I ran. Ran towards my new house in the Victor's Village. I was running until I felt myself hit someone. A flash of brown hair was in my face, and I fell on the floor.
"I'm so sorry!" The person said, rubbing her arm. I turned to see the one person I didn't want to see right now.
Clove.
Although I was a victor, I still had problems around girls. I stuttered out something that sounded like sorry, and she smiled.
"It's fine Cato. Congrats on the games and everything." I almost stopped breathing. She actually watched me in the games. I thought. We sat there for awhile, until she started staring at me.
"What?" I said.
"What happened to your face? It's all red." I rubbed my cheek.
"It's nothing really." She raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask anymore. I helped her off the ground and I looked at her eyes. I felt myself lean closer to her face and I could feel her warm breath. I was so close, our lips almost touching, until she pushed away.
"I'm sorry Cato, but I can't." I watched as she bit her lip.
"You're right, I'm sorry." She hugged me softly and walked away. I sighed, not because she rejected me, but because she actually talked to me for once.