Hey everyone :D I'm back! Thank you for all the nice reviews, follows and favorites. Keep 'em up!
A huge mega thanks to: ChloeKingfanatic1894, sundragongs9, Dramione-Fan 17, frustratedpopcorn, destinyblue and the 2 guests for reviewing. :)
You guys are so lucky that I am an overachiever and that I wrote this chapter at the same time as chapter 1. Nothing much happening here, but hey, it's a chapter nonetheless.
Please read AN at the bottom. Very important.
Sorry for any grammatical or punctuation mistakes.
Enjoy, and review. J
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games series. It belongs to Suzanne Collins and she wouldn't let me borrow it!
Katniss's P.O.V.
It was one of two choices: either stay at home and have privacy but no comfort because mother isn't exactly the type of comfort I am looking for –since Prim is not here, I am not going to address her or be nice to her, it's unnecessary–, or be present at the square, have comfort but no privacy whatsoever. You can guess which one I chose by the roar of the crowd when Prim and Peeta occupy the huge screen. They both are put on fire, fiercely representing District 12, screaming that we are not to be ruled out of the competition.
I have to give it to their amazing stylist, he actually knows what he's doing, unlike previous stylists. It could've been worse, like them being naked and covered in gray coal dust.
They both are wearing matching outfits, fire flickering behind them. Prim's makeup is light against her pale skin, except the dark eye shadow on her eyes, giving her a smoldering appearance.
Peeta looks extremely handsome, flames suiting him. The black of the suit in total contrast with his skin complexion and blond hair. But no matter how beautiful he looked, he was nothing compared to Cato.
Cato was wearing a golden gladiator outfit. Although it covered his chiseled chest, it completely revealed his big and toned arms, from shoulder to hand. The gold of the outfit made the color in his eyes pop. That's my man, waving and winking at the crowd –that didn't bother me. It wasn't until his district partner tries to hold his hand that jealousy courses through my veins. But it quickly cools down when he shakes her off.
I smirk inwardly at her. He's taken, back off!
Once President Snow gives his typical speech consistent of three sentences, and the screen flickers one time before turning black, I head home with Gale tagging along.
"Would you like some tea?" mother asks him when we sit next to the fireplace, after we ate the game we shot this morning –the place was busy with Peacekeepers, so we couldn't trade.
"Yes, please." He accepts. We sit there, huddled next to the fireplace, talking about the Tribute Parade, and Prim, Peeta and Cato.
When Gale leaves, I clean up a bit and head to bed. Something feels wrong sleeping alone, there's no warmth emanating from Prim, while she's hugging me. So I do the only thing that can help me sleep; I grab Prim's pillow and hug it, imagining it as her, and fall asleep to the sound of the only heart beating. Mine.
Prim's P.O.V.
I can't believe that Cato is here, participating in the Hunger Games. I am shocked to say the least. At the Tribute Parade, when he locked eyes with me, he made an upward motion with his eyes. I didn't understand what he meant until Haymitch told me there was a roof above our floor. How could Cato possibly know about it? I don't dwell on it and change my clothes.
I push the door open to reveal the roof, an open space lit up with only rays of the white, slightly obscured by the clouds, moon. It's quite large to be honest, half of it not actually roofed, when the other slightly roofed half forms the garden. It's beautiful, filled with every known plant. I wonder why they have all of this in the Training Center. It's weird. I slowly walk into the open space to find not only numerous kinds of plants, but also flowers.
I softly gasp when I stumble upon a batch of katniss' and primroses aligned next to each other. My eyes tear up at the sight of the flowers we were named after. With all that has happened today, the train ride here, the transformation with my prep team and stylist Cinna, the Tributes Parade and seeing Cato, Katniss managed to slip my mind.
I feel awful about it. I forgot my own sister when I am sure that she is thinking about me right now. I miss her so much. I wonder what she's doing right now. Probably sleeping or talking with Gale at home. Does she miss me as much as I miss her? People would say that I am being clingy or something, but they don't understand our relationship.
She's more of a mother than a sister to me, more than my own biological mother will ever be. She took care of me, fed me, pretty much kept me alive. She would look at me disapprovingly when I would be nice to mother, but she doesn't understand; I am doing it to honor dad's memory. I know he wouldn't accept us treating mother this way, but I am trying. Thank God I managed to coax her into coming back to her normal self –well, partially normal self.
At the mention of dad, I grasp the Mockingjay pin on my sweater real tight. I hope he's really watching over me like Katniss said.
"Prim," I hear a husky voice saying softly from behind me. Turning around, I don't think for a second before leaping into Cato's waiting opened arms.
"Cato," I whisper. I missed the way he smells, the way he talks, I missed him.
"How are you holding up, Prim?" he asks once we separate. He leads me to the ledge, helps me up and over it so we're sitting at the edge of the roof. I am not scared of falling over, Haymitch told me about the force field surrounding the roof –and even if something happened, I have Cato.
"I try to be strong, you know? Not just for me, but for Katniss as well. She is trying to be strong for me at home, so the least I can do if I don't make it back is to be strong for her now." I elaborate. I am not your average thirteen year old girl. I think I was forced to grow up early with the Games, dad's death and everything.
"Speaking of Katniss," he looks regretfully at me, obviously ashamed that we are not talking about me. I give him a slight smile in return. I really don't want to talk about myself just as much as I don't want to hear false promises about going back home –even if the person who's lying to me is Cato. "how is she?" While I am not your average teen, Cato is. He is aw so love struck.
"She's good, hunting with Gale at morning and spending the rest of the day and night with me." I smile.
"What about that Mellark kid?" he asks, trying to be aloof about it, looking at the sky, but I always knew. He didn't like him at all, ever since Katniss sent him a letter about Peeta's crush.
"I am not going to lie to you, but she was getting closer to him before he got picked." A low growl makes its way from his chest, through his throat and out of his mouth. "But she put him in his place when he told her he likes her." I say to ease his mind.
"So she told him she has a boyfriend?" he asks, quirking his eyebrow.
"No, I don't think she did." I say looking down. "She didn't tell anyone about it besides Gale and Madge." I defend my sister when I see his knuckles turning white from the tightness of his fists. "She's not ashamed to be with you, but you know how she is, keeping her life private and all that." I tried assuring him.
Sighing, he lets out a quiet "I know."
"And she didn't want to break his heart by saying that she's with the hottest guy in all of Panem." I joke.
"You think I'm the hottest guy in Panem?" he smirks at me, back into his former chill self.
"I wouldn't say the hottest, but you come close second after Finnick Odair." I tease him. He huffs in return. Apparently I have offended his ego.
"I am hotter than Finnick Odair."
"No, you're not. I was preserving your feelings when I said that." I giggle.
"I am going to get you for that." He playfully threatens, a mischievous glint taking over his eyes.
In one move, he quickly has me on his lap tickling my sides. My body shakes with suppressed laughter. I will not give him the satisfaction! However, my eyes betray me by watering.
"No, Cato! Please stop!" I scream, having enough.
"Say that I am hotter than Finnick Odair!" he demands.
"Cato Hadley is hotter than Finnick Odair!" I exclaim. "But I can't guarantee you that Katniss believes that." I tease again once he lets me go. I can't help it, it's so fun to annoy him that I just want to do it over and over again.
"Okay, that's it. You brought this upon yourself!" he says before plunging at me. My back is against the floor. Bad move. I shriek and start laughing out loud when he starts tickling my exposed stomach, making his way to my sides.
"Someone help me!" I yell, but it got muffled by my laughter. My sides are burning by now. I just want him to stop. Why did I have to be ticklish?!
"Prim?" comes Peeta's worried voice. "Hey, get off of her!" he says, pouncing on Cato, trying to get him off, using his fists. Cato lies on top of me to shield me, but having enough, he abruptly stands up, throwing Peeta off balance –who was almost climbing on top of Cato at the time. Turning around, he grabs his shirt collar and pushes him away, rending him stumbling backwards. Peeta is unsteadily gaining composure, so he throws the first punch at Cato, but he's a Career and sees it coming so he fends it off by grabbing it. His hand is again grabbing Peeta's shirt, hauling him up to his own level. He inspects him up and down before smirking at him.
"So you're the famous Peeta Mellark?" He uses a demeaning tone like he's disgusted by him. Cato at first hated District 12 and its people, but after being friends with Katniss, he learned to respect them –and by respect I mean not openly showing how much distaste he feels.
"Yes, I am." Peeta says before clearing his throat and standing tall. "And you are?" I don't know if I could call it being bravery or idiocy standing up to Cato. He could easily snap Peeta's neck, not that he'd actually do it.
"Cato Hadley. Katniss's boyfriend." He says and Peeta's face falls, making Cato smirk some more.
This is not right. Peeta's a good guy. He doesn't deserve this. But most, he doesn't deserve to find out like this, and not from Katniss herself.
Frozen before, I find myself walking slowly towards them, putting my hand on Cato's big bicep.
"Cato, let go of him." I whisper. When he does, I tell him to apologize for which he looks at me like I have grown another head.
"Katniss would want you to." I say in a small voice when he refused. At the sound of her name, his face softens and he quickly apologizes to Peeta who nods in recognition.
Cato turns around, kisses my forehead softly and warns "Avoid the Careers at all times, stay at the survival stations. And also, in training, act like you don't know me."
"But why?" I ask.
"It's for your own good, Primmy." He whispers in my ear, and then says aloud so Peeta can hear "The rest of the Careers are after you guys for stealing the sponsors. So be careful." When he's next to Peeta he whispers something in his ear, which he receives a nod in return, before hopping off the ledge –quite gracefully for someone his size I must say–and disappearing.
Peeta looks at me with a hint of betrayal in his eyes, but nevertheless, takes my hand and helps me hop over to the roof.
Peeta is quiet during the short ride to our floor, but the silence speaks volumes. He is angry. I have never seen him angry but this is not what I expected. I expected yelling, throwing things at the wall –anything really. But what I didn't expect is for him to be gentle with me, the softness of his voice when he asks me if what Cato said was true.
"Yeah, it is." I answer.
"Since when?" he says looking down.
I hesitate a little before replying "Three years ago." His head snaps up when I say that. He purses his lips and nodding. We're in the living room now, where Haymitch is sitting.
"Prim, where have you been?" he addresses me with an unbelievably fake worried tone.
"Drop it, Haymitch. He knows about Cato." I say.
"He knows?" Peeta asks pointing an accusing finger at Haymitch.
"Yeah, why do you think I am helping the girl? First, because you and Cato are going to protect her, and because I already know Katniss." He says bluntly. Obviously he has drunk a few glasses of alcohol.
"Nice to know that I am not being kept in the shadows about everything." Peeta says sarcastically, stomping off to his room. I stare at his retreating form until hear the bang of his door, then look at Haymitch who looks a bit confused in his drunken stupor.
"Did I say something wrong?" he asks innocently. I shake my head at him in disappointment. He practically told Peeta that he worthless, that he isn't exactly helping him, but more like using him to get me out.
"I'll talk to him later. Goodnight, uncle Haymitch." I head to my room. It's not hard to find, I just follow Peeta's trail to his room, it's right next to his.
Movements are obvious from underneath the door. I decide against talking to him, I'll let him cool off first –and that may take a while. Plus I am tired.
After bathing and changing clothes, I lie in my bed and contemplate my chances of survival, which have increased due to the guys' presence.
Even though I feel safe, even though I feel confident, I can't help the anxiety and distress gnawing holes in my armor.
Again, not much happening here. But do you like it?
Anyways, I think I am going to take a pause from writing. It's not because I have no inspiration, believe me, I have plenty of that. But it's just I am tired so much. I wrote 7 chapters in a week, and my brain is… well, let's just say that I don't know what a brain is anymore. As for Blood Sacrifice, it will be a while before it will be updated again, because I wrote chapters 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 all alone, without consulting Lea beforehand. So basically, I stepped back for a while so she can write chapter 9. So as soon as she writes it (and it's going to be a while, because she's at boarding school) I am going to update. But I have good news; since I started writing chapter 3, I'll continue it, because I am not one to start something and not finish it, and maybe have it up and running by next Sunday. Hopefully.
Next chapter is the training scores and interviews, and maybe chapter 4 will be the start of the Games. It's not going to be long because it's going to be from Katniss's point of view. I am thinking of this being like almost 20-ish chapters before I start a sequel.
Do you think I am thinking about this too early on?
Sorry. Overachiever alert.
Any questions or concerns, just PM me. I like talking to my readers ;)
Thanks for reading.
Please review.
Lots of love.
Line.
