AN/ Heyyyyyy y'all! I'm uuber sorry that I haven't updated! Life has been super crazy and it's just super hard to keep up with. So here's the deal: You can have one of two things:
a. longer chapters (like chapter 2) that take longer to update
b. shorter chapters (like this length) that I can update more often
YOU DECIDE! CIAO
~hipsterchica
p.s. i will try to sign off in a different language, cause I'm cool like that ;)
Cato POV:
"Thanks again, Miss Cleary," I call over my shoulder as I jog down the steps of the library.
I figured that I would run over to my friend Marvel's house. His mom is pretty nice. To me, anyway. She's pretty harsh on Marvel and his sister Dessie-Cay, who we call DC. (AN/ I love you if you get that reference :D) Their mom just wants them to do their best but she comes off too demanding.
I ran down the next ally on the right, which was a short cut to Marvel's. The flowers started blooming larger and the grass became greener as I entered the wealthier end of the district. I wasn't poor, but I wasn't as rich as him. The houses became larger and better taken care of until I reached the biggest house at the end of the street. Using the driveway as my cooldown walk, I took in the sight of the house.
I knocked on the door, inhaling and exhaling deeply.
A well-built woman answered the door. "Hello, Mr. Cato."
"Hello, Enobaria. How are you today?"
"I'm fine," she said as she let me in. She never really was the nicest of maids.
"Where's Marvel?" I asked, looking around and still being amused with the intricacy of the decorating.
"He's upstairs, commanding his packing."
"His what?!"
Enobaria looked at me like I was an idiot. "He's moving, Mr. Cato."
I sprinted up the grand stairs, taking two steps at a time. I counted the many rooms that I passed until I made it into Marvel's huge room. He was there, yelling at two man-servants.
"Thresh! Do NOT drop that box! Brutus, grab that vase; she loves that one."
"Marvel? What the heck, man?" I yell out.
He whips around, running his hand through his hair. "Cato! Hey, man!"
He came over and gave me a fist-bump.
"What's going on?" I ask.
He gave me his famous cheesy smile. "I'm gettin' hitched, man!"
My jaw dropped. "What?!"
"I'm gettin' married!"
"To whom? Last girl you dated dumped you," I commented.
"Lady Johanna Mason," he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Suddenly, a huge voice echoed through the halls.
"MARVEL! WHERE ARE YOU?"
"In my room, Johanna, dear."
Heavy footsteps stomped around the house, growing louder as they approached. A tall, muscular woman appeared in the doorway.
"Marvel! Hurry up, we need to leave soon," she snapped.
"Of course dear, almost done," Marvel responded softly.
"Good," she huffed as she spun out of the room.
"Does she love you," I asked.
"She will learn to," Marvel said, not looking at me. "I'm sorry Cato, but my life is moving forward and I don't think there is anymore room for you in it."
My stomach twisted. "You've changed. You went and grew up. What happened to my best friend, the one who thought girls were icky and wanted to catch newts in the river all day?"
"He's gone. Goodbye, Cato," he said, turning to continue packing.
I walked out of the room, feet dragging, not feeling at all. My best friend was getting married and he didn't even want me to be there because I was poor. I took my time leaving the house, knowing that I wouldn't be here anymore. When I made it to the front door, long arms wrapped themselves around my torso.
"Oh, Cato! Don't leave!"
I turned around and looked into the blue eyes of DC.
"DC, I have to. We won't be seeing each other anymore," I said kindly.
"But, but Cato! I love you! I never told you, but I need you. Don't go," she cried.
My jaw dropped. We had grown up together but I never thought that she was anything more than my best friend's sister.
"You're competing in this year's gladiator games, aren't you," she asked. "You can win, and we can get married and be together."
I took a deep breath and looked at her pathetic, whiny face. "I-I will."
