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Glimmer

After for what seemed like an eternity, Cato began to get up from the bed, slowly taking his hand away from mine. As insane as this may sound, all we did was stare into each others eyes. We didn't say a word. We were in an inexplicable silence as my room appeared to be a light winter snow. Worried about the reason for Cato's abrupt departure, I instantly sat up on my bed, looking over at Cato in confusion.

"Is everything ok?" I asked, a bit startled.

"Fine, actually." He turned around, putting quickly combing a hand through his hair. "I just have to get back to the dorms before we get killed by our mentors. I've took up the most time I could."

"Can I ask you a question?" the words came out of my mouth before I could even think about them. However, the question had been lying in my head for hours now.

"Hmmm?" He raised an eyebrow, the only emotion coming out of his otherwise glacial body.

"Why did you stay with me?" I asked.

"At the Medic Bay?"

"Yes, but also all the way to my room. Why?" I looked down, feeling like an idiot asking these questions. He was probably bored, that had to be it. Either be stuck in a room full of tributes that'll be dead in a matter of days or find a reason to escape. That seemed like the only plausible reason...at least the only reason I convinced myself to believe.

"I don't know, I guess I just really like spending time with you." he responded, giving me a quick wink. I smirked, I wasn't going to let him win this easily.

"I get that a lot. Who couldn't fall in love with me?" he chuckled, turning back around and continuing to leave. As desperately as I wanted to watch him leave, I decided not to. In could feel my body telling me that getting close to Cato wasn't an option. Though, I always told retorted to myself 'What does it matter?'. I mean, either way, it'll hurt in the end. Only one of us will be alive in the end. That's where I had to remind myself that I'm not here for a love that is doomed, I'm here for one thing - to survive and make District 1 proud. Rather than living off little to nothing, I will have money and a home and food. Even though I am not as ready as I had wanted to been, I have to buck up and prepare.


"Dammit!"

I looked over and saw the District 7 boy fall off a rope ladder. How did he manage to fall from that? No doubt was someone behind that, because that kid would have to had been blind and numb to fall from a four foot tall rope ladder. I looked over at Clove and Marvel who were laughing at the sight in front of them. Since when did they get close? Then again, perhaps they were just being the cocky career allies. Might as well get along. I looked around the room, sitting on top of the fake mountain I managed to climb. A break for a split second wouldn't be bad, especially seeing the skills and weaknesses of the others would definitely be useful. I know for a fact I'm the farthest thing from a saint, but I couldn't help but look at the few small children that were picked out of the reapings. There was no way in hell they would make it past a minute in the arena. That's where I had to stop my track of though, I couldn't afford to focus on stuff like that. Yet, why do I keep doing that and feeling my heart sink in my chest? I'm supposed to be a stone-hearted killer, not the weak girl I keep seeing in the mirror...especially these past few days. I have to get strong and merciless, I have to survive.

I stood up and stretched for a moment, looking down at the other tributes. District 11 boy was practicing sword fighting with a trainer. He would be a hard one to defeat. He is obviously far from stupid and has the body that even some careers wish they'd obtained. District 6 girl was trying to learn how to use a bow and arrow, wow she is even worse than I am. District 12 girl, Katniss her name is I guess, was talking to her district partner about something as that little girl from District 11 kept hiding and watching her. She was sneaky, I better take note of that. The District 5 girl was trying to work with knives, but immediately ran away at the sight of Clove walking towards her. Hell, I don't blame her.

"Comfy up here, Glim?" I turned around, startled at the voice behind me. I relaxed when I realized it was Cato. I turned around to face him.

"Kind of. Why are you up here?"

"I'd figure I'd see what you are up to. What's your skill by the way?" Is he serious? I stopped facing him, stunned.

"What, are you going to ask for my weakness and favorite colors too while you're at it?" I chuckled, rolling my eyes and crossing my arms. I wasn't that naive.

"I'm just curious. I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours. I don't care about your weaknesses or anything else." He waited a moment for me to speak up, but I kept silent. "I'm good with swords. You know, those heavy weapons you can barely hold." I scoffed, he is always so cocky. Though, he got my attention and made me turn around to face him again.

"I'm not as weak as I look! I'm not bad with swords. As a matter of fact, my best skills are hand to hand combat, daggers, and knives - and no not as good as Clove." I looked down at Clove who was throwing knives at each human outlined target...each knife hitting spot on in the head or heart. Never was there a mistake or a moment of thought. She threw them so quickly and violently that one could swear she came out of the womb cuddling with those things. My aim with knives, they were either close-by the center or perhaps made it, but the precision Clove had was both admirable but also threatening. Especially being so young.

I began looking around the training room again and saw the District 6 boy smirking at me, making me glare back at him. He then grinned, apparently pleased with my reaction, which made me sick to my stomach. What did he want with me? Hell, I didn't even know his name, let alone the district he came from until I analyzed everyone this morning.

"That annoying prick." I looked back at Cato who was glaring at the District 6 boy. Looking towards his direction, the boy was walking away and doing something else.

"He's the one who took your knife or something, right?"

"Yep, that's the kid. Jason is his name, at least that's what Marvel said. He'll get it in the arena, I want to be the one to kill him. Stay sharp of him, Glim, he isn't weak like one would expect. He has it out us." We both kept staring at him, who began practicing using a sword with some fake dummies. He wasn't bad at all. Cato was far better, but for not being trained in the academy...he wasn't bad. Heeding Cato's warning didn't seem like a bad idea. This boy obviously had something in for me, whatever the hell it was.

"The games are in a few days...I'm actually a bit nervous." I admitted, not caring how dumb of me it was to admit it to a possible ally turned enemy.

"Stick by Marvel and I. Besides, you're pretty threatening so stop thinking of yourself so small." Cato walked a bit closer to me and patted me on the head, making me blush a bit. Ahhh, so this was our relationship. I was his pet, a mere useless pet. It cleared up some of my thoughts, but I couldn't help but notice the bittersweet feeling in my heart. A feeling of relief that nothing would become of us, but also disappointment at the same time. Damn, I'm sure you'd think of me as small if you could read my mind, Cato.

"Show me your rope skills." he snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Deal." I said. He was about to begin start climbing down the fake mountain, but I decided to do something a little more...fun. I jumped down from the fake mountain and landed on the ground. I smirked once I looked up, knowing I nailed the jump and landing perfectly. Most people would twist their ankle or break their leg or something. No, my body was strong. I was a fast runner and moving around any terrain wouldn't be a problem for me. Those were some of my natural talents.

Also I remembered how I had to show confidence around the other tributes, not weakness, especially right now. The room was silent for a split second when I landed beautifully, everyone shocked a little, but it only took a moment for their eyes to wander elsewhere. I looked back to see Cato had already gotten half way down the mountain before he jumped the rest of the way down. He was of course fine, him being so huge, but he was no where as precise and graceful as I was. His muscle weight was a weakness.

"Well done, Glim." He clapped for a few moments. I looked around, a bit embarrassed, but no one seemed to pay mind to him. "You made the room go silent for a minute." he said as he walked over to me.

"Like I said, I'm not as weak as I look." I couldn't help but feel proud of myself.


In the last few minutes of our final training day, I decided to take a break and lean against the wall, watching everyone tire themselves out. For the past few hours, I was honestly working my ass off, wanting to get better at everything I could get my hands on. I was the weakest with a bow and arrow, and somehow Cato was even worse which both shocked and amused me as you wouldn't expect it from such a career as himself, so we weren't going to be grabbing that at the Cornucopia anytime soon.

Being lost in my thoughts, all of a sudden, I felt someone grab my arm and pull me into a room. I instantly used my other arm to break off their contact to mine, but their hand was gone. I looked up and saw Cato turning on a light. We were in some janitor closet or storage room.

"What the hell is this about?" I said, startled. I smiled a little at first, trying to hide my discomfort, but this experience instantly began scaring me so my facade was easily broken through.

"Do you trust me?" he asked, seemingly stressed out.

"Excuse me?" What the hell is this about? Has he lost his mine? What happened? Did someone say something? Did someone threaten him?

"Answer the question." he responded, his voice harsher than before. I was ready to grab whatever was closest to me - or better yet try to escape the room from him. Though, I realized I was back against the wall with him in front of me. Any attempt of retaliation of any sort wouldn't work.

"Yes, overall." I responded honestly, trying to stop my legs from quivering. Was he going to kill me? Had I done something. Answering truthfully I guess was my best defense. " I trust you the most out of anyone here, perhaps more than I trust myself. Why?"

Before I knew it, his hands were on my face and his lips against mine. I was too stunned to push him away or kiss him back. Cato...was kissing me. Where had this come from? Is this reality? Have I passed out? Is this some trick? He gently bit my lip, getting me to gasp and allowing him to enter my mouth.

After a moment, Cato let go of me completely and walked towards the door, stopping before saying "You should." Without looking back, he closed the door behind him, my body slowly sliding down the wall until I my legs were sprawled out an useless. What just happened? Trust him? Who wouldn't I? More importantly, why did he kiss me? Does he like me? Is he using me? Is the tricking me? Is this some sick, twisted idea? Perhaps Clove thought of it. No, that kiss was too passionate. It wasn't fake. It couldn't have been and I can swear my life on it. Cato...what are you doing?


Cato

"Where were you? I was trying to find you. Training is over for the day. We have to get back before the peacekeepers get bitchy."

"Yeah, got it." I responded, walking past her and towards the doors that led us out into the hallway.

"You're acting weird. Normally you would respond like an ass." Clove eyed me, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. Telling Clove what was on my mind was the last thing I was planning on doing.

I don't know what happened, but seeing Glimmer leaning against the wall...I wanted to be near her. Hell, I stuck by her the entire day and if I wasn't right by her side, I always had my eyes on her. Seeing her by herself, even though I knew we weren't in the arena, I felt I had to protect her. Before I knew it, I grabbed her and pulled her into a closet and asked her if she trusted me. I mad an ass out of myself, hell I wouldn't be surprised if she thought I was psychotic because I was beginning to question my own sanity. It's like my emotions popped out of no where and overtook me. Then, I forcefully kissed her and abruptly left.

I looked around and didn't see Glimmer anywhere nearby. She must have left or is with Marvel somewhere, as I don't see him anywhere nearby.

"What is it Cato? Is it that girl from District 1? Did she ask you out or something? Oh my god, tell me how you rejected her! I hope you made it hilarious!" she giggled. Someone walking by might see it as something cute and innocent - a young girl giggling like her crush confessed to her - however it was always the opposite with her. It was joy in someone else's pain...or perhaps death.

"Shut up Clove. Let's just go." She stopped giggling and shrugged, walking into the elevator and to our dorms, still creepishly giddy.

I feel bad for leaving Glimmer in there, alone, but it was that or confess everything that was on my mind to her and start doing things to her I don't think I'd be able to stop myself from doing I was a warrior, not a rapist. Neither were to go together. Hell, I wasn't pure evil. Any desires I have for Glimmer, I have to keep them to myself and only please myself by immersing into my thoughts and dreams. However, it wasn't lust that was driving me crazy. It was Glimmer. Everything about her, it made me feel things I've honestly never felt before. These thoughts of her...they calmed yet scared me at the same time.