The next morning, I got dressed and headed out towards the bakery. Papa said we were out of bread and that he wanted me to go buy some more. I was walking by Cato's house when I heard the sound of breaking glass. Shortly after, I heard shouting. I knew she had to go and get the bread, but I stopped and listened. I heard more shouting and breaking glass. I recognized Cato's voice, but was unsure about the other voice. It assumed it was Cato's father. I wondered what they were fighting about when I heard my name in the conversation along with the cruelest words I ever heard.

"...weak, stupid, useless. She's the worst excuse for a girlfriend ever! You could have gotten a better girl from the streets and instead, you choose filth like her."

" Just shut up. Don't you say those things about her. You don't know her."Cato retorted.

I couldn't believe it. Cato's father didn't like the idea of his son dating me. What was wrong with me? I thought I was fine just the way I was. But then, I remembered something. Cato's father expected Cato to date girls that were built like him. I wasn't like that. I could use a sword like Cato, but I wasn't tough like Cato. When it came to fighting, I wasn't that good. That was why Cato's father was mad. I felt like crying, but I didn't want to give Cato's father another reason to be mad. I put the thought in the back of my mind and ran towards the bakery.

When I got to the bakery, I wiped away the remaining tears and entered. I went up to the counter and asked for the bread that Papa wanted. The baker gave me the bread and I gave him the money. I ran home straight from the bakery. I didn't even stop to see if there was any fighting going on at Cato's. I entered my house quickly, put the bread on the dinner table, and then went up to my room. Without even taking off my boots, I climbed into my bed and slept for the rest of the day. I slept throughout the next day as well.

After the day with the fighting at Cato's, I was at the academy training. I trained hard and kept thinking about the fighting. I hoped Cato was okay. I got my answer as I felt a warm breath on my neck. I smiled and tilted my head back to look at Cato. I was met by a pair of blue eyes and a nose that nuzzled my cheek. I giggled and turned to face Cato. I was glad to see that he was okay, but I couldn't keep the sadness from entering my eyes. Cato saw the sadness and questioned it.

"What's wrong?"

"I heard you arguing with your dad the other day. I heard my name and all the things your dad said about me. I heard glass shattering and got scared. I was afraid that you were hurt." I told him.

"I'm still in one piece. My father got mad because you're different than the other girls I dated. They were fighters. They wanted to get into fights any chance they had. But not you. I mean, you are a fighter, but you don't get into fights. No matter what my father says, it won't change how I feel about you." Cato told me.

"That's sweet. I really am glad you're not hurt." I told Cato.

~CATO P.O.V~

I hugged Danny and gave her a kiss on the forehead. After she let go, Danny went to the archery range and I followed. We shot at targets for the rest of the day. When training was done, I asked Danny if I could spend the night at her house. Danny said yes and together, we walked to her house where dinner was waiting.

After we finished eating, I followed Danny up to her room. I sat down on Danny's bed and looked around. As I looked, he couldn't stop himself from watching as Danny undressed and started to change into her night shirt. I watched as Danny pulled her shirt over her head and let her hair fall over her shoulders like a black curtain. Besides hair, my eyes wandered up and down her body. I got the urge to get closer.

I got up from the bed and walked up behind Danny. She was about to put her night shirt on when I put my arms around her waist and pulled her closer to my body. I kissed her neck and slowly walked backwards toward the bed, pulling Danny with me. When I felt the bed touch the back of my legs, I turned around so Danny was facing the bed. I then turned Danny so she was facing me.

I held Danny's face in my hands and looked into her eyes. I didn't even have to ask if Danny knew what I wanted. Her eyes said it all. I then leaned forward and kissed Danny on the lips. The kiss was much more deeper and had all the love that I had for her. Danny returned the kiss with equal depth. I slowly began to lower Danny onto the bed as our kiss continued. When Danny hit the sheets, she started to move back towards her pillows. I followed on my knees while drawing the blanket over the both of us. Soon, we were enveloped in lust and love.

After that night, Danny and I went about our business like usual and then would spend the rest of the day together. For the next three months that was how our day went. But soon after, we started training at at the academy harder than ever before. We didn't talk to each other but we would occasionally glance at each other. During our training, we not only thought of each other, we thought about the upcoming 75th annual Hunger Games. This year, there wouldn't be 24 tributes, there would be 48 tributes. That meant that 2 boys and two girls from each district would be chosen.

~REGULAR P.O.V~

Danny was worried about the Reaping. If she got picked and didn't make it out of the arena, her fathers would be left to care for her sister on their own. Danny couldn't bare to think of that. Cato on the other hand, he was okay. He wasn't worried but he wasn't excited either. He just hoped that someone was picked that was worthy enough to volunteer for. All the other years, the boys that were picked were either boys that Cato hated or didn't know. But Cato then wondered what would happen if he was picked. How would his mother handle it? She would be a mess. If she lost her son then her husband would be meaner to her. Cato then wondered what Danny would do. She'd be heartbroken. Cato didn't want to think about his Danny without him. But he wouldn't know what was going to happen until the Reaping, which was three days away.

The next two days were tough. The training academy was busy. Danny and Cato trained at the things that they were best at. For Danny, that was archery and sword fighting. For Cato, that was just sword fighting.

~CATO P.O.V~

On the day before the Reaping, Danny didn't show up for training. I trained for three and a half hours before I went looking for Danny. I checked the bakery and asked some of the other district residents if they had seen a 15 year old girl with green eyes and black hair. No one had. So, I went to Danny's house. I knocked on the door and was met by the father that Danny called "Daddy". I didn't even have to ask if Danny was home. Her father let me in indicated that Danny was upstairs. I went to Danny's room and found her asleep. I thought she looked like a little girl. She was wearing a nightshirt that looked two sizes too big. He hands were by her face, fingers slightly curved down, with her blanket down by her waist. I smiled and quietly took off my boots. I climbed in from behind Danny and gently pulled her into my chest. I then gently brought the blanket up over the two of us.

"I love you." I whispered into Danny's ear.

She smiled in her sleep and rolled over so she was facing me. I smiled and brushed away the hair from Danny's face. I kissed her on the forehead and then fell asleep with my arms around her.

I woke up a few hours later and found that Danny was gone. I stretched as I got up and looked around the room. The door was slightly open and the smell of food was coming in. I went downstairs and into the kitchen. Danny's dad was cooking, her daddy was feeding her baby sister and Danny was setting the table. There were four spots at the table. I was about to ask if one spot was for me when Danny took my hand and brought me to the table. I sat down and Danny sat down next to me. Her dad then set a big pot in the middle. I could barely see into the pot but I saw enough to know that stew was for dinner. My stomach growled and my mouth started to fill with saliva. I heard Danny giggle and question her father about eating. He said we could start. I waited for Danny and her fathers to get their food before I got my own.

When dinner was done, I helped Danny with the dishes and the helped her put her baby sister to bed. After that, Danny went to her room and I followed. I closed the door, turned towards the bed and saw that Danny was crying as she brushed her hair. I grew worried. One minute, Danny was happy and smiling and then the next, she was crying. I went up to her and gave her a comforting hug.

"What's wrong?"

Danny wiped away her tears as she rested her head on my shoulder. "I'm scared. I don't know what might happen tomorrow."

My arms wrapped tighter around Danny. "It'll be fine. You're gonna be fine."

I stood hugging Danny for several minutes, then gently took her face in my hands. I wiped away the tears from Danny's cheeks, then placed a kiss on her lips. She returned the kiss lightly before yawning and climbing into her bed. I climbed in next to her, knowing that Danny wouldn't want to be alone. She rolled over, facing me and layed her head on my chest. I held Danny as she fell asleep and soon heard the gentle breaths that indicated that Danny was asleep. I then closed my eyes and fell asleep as well.