Hiya, it's me! Two updates in one day, because I feel like I disappointed with you guys with that ultra short chapter.
So here's Chapter 4. With a little more Cato Confrontation. ;)
Review if you want me to carry on with this story; tell me if you liked it!
- The Answer Is Love
I hated school today.
I woke up at three in the morning, with dried tears all over my face, shaking wildly. My forehead was cold and clammy, just as that stupid baby doll's skin was.
The sunlight was already creeping through my blinds, so I opened them wide and let the light pour in, hoping it would shed some light on the dreary atmosphere. But instead, the light quickly moved to the left, shrouding me in darkness once again.
Shuffling miserably back to my bed, I tripped over my school bag and fell hard onto the floor, face-first. I sat up, ignoring the stinging feeling, and reached out for my bag. Unzipping it with trembling hands, I pulled out the doll and held it at arm's length. It stared back with its grotesque expression.
"You probably know your daddy better than I do," I muttered. "So tell me, does he like me? Do you think he feels anything for me?"
The doll stares blindly back at me, big blue eyes wide open, just like Cato's had been yesterday. My bottom lip wobbles and I bite down on it hard to stifle the sobs emitting from my body.
"Now's not the time to cry," I say fiercely, shoving the doll back into my backpack. "I'm going back to bed."
Heaving myself up off the floor, I collapse onto my bed, smuggling into my fat, slightly lumpy pillow, and let my dreams carry me away.
Far, far away, to a place where Cato might actually love me.
I was sitting on a picnic blanket with Cato. He was leaning back on one elbow, long legs in the air. Smiling contentedly at me, he took my hand in his.
"I love you, Katniss." he murmured. We both leaned in, so close that I could feel the heat radiating off his body. My hands rested on his broad shoulders, and one of his hands was in my hair while the other one gripped my waist gently.
He was so close that I could feel his breath on my lips, his deep cerulean eyes looking into my soul...
"Katniss...Kaaaatniss...Katniss!" a soft melodic voice called. All I could think about was the fact that Cato Cerulean's lush, soft-looking pink lips were going to be on mine soon.
"Katniss!" the voice sang, louder this time. I pulled away from Cato reluctantly and yelled, "WHAT!"
"You've got to go to school," the voice trilled, and suddenly, I was being lifted up, away from Cato, into the blue, cloudless sky. He was looking up at me, smiling and waving, as I tried my best to grip my dress so he couldn't see up it.
Then I was hurtling back down to earth, screaming frantically for Cato to catch me. "Cato! Cato! CATO!" I screamed, but he turned his back on me and began to walk away.
"Katniss! Baby! It's alright, I'm here!" My mother's warm arms encircled me, and I clung to her like a lifeline, sobbing into her shoulder.
"What's wrong, honey?" She asked worriedly, pressing the back of her hand against my forehead. "Are you sick?"
I shook my head, wailing. I could see Prim standing behind my worried mother. "Prim, go and crush some ice with mint. Wrap it in a cloth and bring it to Katniss."
Prim nodded and ran to the kitchen quickly, shooting a glance at me. I'd stopped crying, but my head was throbbing.
"Are you alright, Katniss? Tell me what's wrong." My mother sat down on my bed, one hand rubbing my arm. "It's nothing, Mom, I swear."
"Then who's Cato?"
That one threw me.
"How do you know him?" I whisper. "Did Prim tell you?" She shakes her head and replies, "No, you were screaming out for him, honey. So he's a boy...we're getting somewhere."
I laugh, just a little. "He's my partner in this lame project at school. We have to look after a dumb doll. He said he'd call me, but he didn't, and-" my eyes fill up with tears. "He never really liked me!"
My mother looks astonished. "Is this what it's all about? He must be a really special boy, or either you're just mental, darling." We have a good laugh, and it feels just like old times.
"School starts in two hours," she says, rubbing my back. "You don't have to go if you don't want to."
I don't want to sit at home all day wondering what the hell happened, so I say, "I'll go in." My mother smiles at me and laughs, "It's that brave Everdeen blood."
Just as my mother leaves my room, Prim runs in with the ice and mint wrapped in a cloth. She presses it against my forehead, holding it there. "You were crying for Cato, so I got Mother," she whispers, hugging me with one arm. I smile at her and say, "Thank you, Prim."
Prim scurries out, sending me a fleeting smile. I groan and hold the ice and mint pack to my forehead, letting a few stray drops of water fall down my cheeks. The light tickling sensation calms me.
I run to the bathroom, brush my teeth hurriedly with some toothpaste, and make a dash for the kitchen. Prim hands me a slice of toast on a plate, which I stuff into my mouth, chew quickly and wash it down with a mug of tea.
My mother and Prim watch me with wide eyes. "At least you're eating," my mother smiled approvingly. "But why so quickly?"
"She's rushing to school to see Cato," Prim giggles, and I shoot her a death glare. She raises an eyebrow at me. "Ha-ha," I say, rolling my eyes. "Get ready to go, Prim."
Prim skips over to her room and comes out ten minutes later wearing a light blue dress and long white socks with white pearly button shoes. She grabs her white leather school bag off the floor and I slide my tatty backpack onto my shoulder.
Twisting the rusty latch of our front door open, we step out into the country lane that leads us to the Capitol through other districts.
I love this lane; the floor is made up of sandy dirt, and to the sides are picket fences and grass. The electricity pylons run straight through it, too. It's peaceful, and you get a feeling of self worth.
"You were crying for him," Prim says suddenly. I don't know what to say, so I mutter, "Yes." Prim's big blue eyes blink innocently at me. "How do you know that he doesn't like you?" she says. "I'm sure he likes you."
"How?" I snap. "He didn't call." Prim rolls her eyes, just like I did. "Like I said, boys never call on the first day! They're worried that it makes them look desperate."
Huh. I didn't think about that. If I called Cato immediately after I'd got his number, I guess he'd be creeped out too. Like I'm a stalker or something.
"I don't care," I mumble. Prim sighs, and we trudge down the path to school. We're there quite early, but I know Marianna and Rue arrive at the same time.
Marianna is waiting for me at the gates, wearing a white dress with emerald-green spirals all over it. She says hello to Prim as she passes by to talk to her friend Emma. "Katniss!" she smiles, hugging me. Then she gets a good look at my face. "Oh, you look awful. Didn't you sleep last night?" she asks. I shake my head, since I slept for the most of it.
"Well, you'd better not fall asleep in lessons, then, we've got Drama." then she squeals, "Look, it's your crush! Oh Catooooo!"
Then I spot him. Surrounded by ten or more guys, who are laughing and joking with him. They even fist bump. His head snaps our way when he hears Marianna.
"God! Marianna, don't!" I plead, but she's jumping up on one leg, waving her hands in the air and yelling, "Cooo-eeeee!"
Her voice is unbelievably loud. Mix that with her fiery red hair (she's the only person in the school with red hair) and she sticks out like a sore thumb.
Cato nods at some of the other guys, and before I can run away, he's right in front of me. He smiles at me. "Hey." Marianna sidles away behind him, mouthing, "You're welcome," at me. I scowl instead. "Good morning," I say stiffly. "Of course, it's not a very good morning for me at all. I hardly slept last night."
His eyebrows furrow in concern. "Really? What's wrong? Are you okay?" He does look gorgeous, but I can't give in.
Not after what he did.
"Someone didn't call me, so I was stuck in a parallel universe falling from the sky! Why couldn't we just stay on the picnic blanket? HUH? HUH?! You tell me, Cato Cerulean!" I snap.
He looks at me, confused for a nanosecond, then his eyes grow cold. "Are you mad just because I didn't call you?"
Marianna, who was standing behind Cato the whole time, rushes to my side. "Kind of!" I admit, crossing my arms. "So what, it doesn't matter if I've got things to do? It's got to be all about you?" He's getting frosty now.
"I didn't mean that!" I snarl back, as Marianna watches us, alarm growing in her bright blue eyes. "So what did you mean?" Cato barked. "Why do you care if I've called or what?"
I clench my fists and shut my eyes, trying to remain calm. "Because I at least thought you liked me. That's what I heard you say...to Prim. I heard everything."
His face blanches, and I grab Marianna's arm and walk away. "Katniss," he calls weakly. "Katniss, come back. I can explain."
But I grit my teeth and march ahead with Marianna. We reach the stairs, and slow down. "What was that all about?" Marianna asks. "I thought you liked him?"
"I do," I wail, as we climb up the steps. "I heard him say to Prim that he liked me, but then he didn't call!"
Marianna stops walking, then stops. And starts laughing. "Oh, Katniss! You're amazing!" she giggles. "Boys never call on the same day! Ever!"
Didn't Prim say something of the sort to me yesterday? I guess I should've believed her. I'd just pushed her opinions to the back of my mind because she hadn't had a boyfriend before.
"Oh," I mutter. My legs tremble, and I slide down to the floor on my knees. "I didn't know! He probably hates me now!"
Marianna hands me a tissue, as a group of kids run down the stairs. "Hasn't a boy ever called you before?"
I blush and shake my head. Marianna nods understandingly and offers me a hand to pull me up. "Come on, we've got to get to class."
We push open Room 221's door just as the bell goes off, and slide into our desks. Marianna and I sit together at the back, Peeta and Rue sit at the front, and Madge, Delly, sit at the right end. Clove and Glimmer sit on the left.
Our teacher, Mr. Wythley, sits behind his own desk and does the roll call. "Katniss Everdeen!" he yells. I raise my arm and murmur, "Here."
"Marianna Dawson!"
"I'm right here!"
"Clove Feder!"
"I'm here, quit screaming."
"Glimmer Quentin!"
"Huh? Oh, I'm over here, hiya!"
"Peeta Mellark!"
"Here, sir. Morning!"
"Rue Bennett!"
"Here!"
"Madge Undersee!"
"I'm heeeeeeeere!" she sings, and we all laugh.
"Delly Cartwright!"
"Right here!"
Mr. Wythley finishes the roll call and gives us the "be a role model" speech. Marianna passes me a note under the table sneakily. I open it up.
It says:
"Kat, you still gotta give Cato the doll! It's a project!"
Oh yeah. I'd totally forgotten.
I whip a pen out of my bag and scrawl out a message back.
I'll give him the dumb doll today at lunch. He can keep it, I don't want it.
Seconds later, Marianna passes me a note with a whole paragraph of her neat curly writing on it.
"Don't be like that, really Kat! Come on, ya know you love him! He was trying to explain, I'd listen! What if he has a deep, dark secret! We all do! Give him a chance."
I pass it back instantly.
No. I'm giving him the doll then walking away.
Marianna sighs, but pockets the note. The bell for our first lesson sounds and we all stand up and troop out the door, ready to leave.
"Room 332," Marianna tells me. "Art."
"Let's go then," I smile. She grabs my arm and together, we hurry away.
We arrive ten minutes early for Art. The only other people from our class with me and Marianna are Peeta and Glimmer. We all sit together at the table near the window.
"This is excellent. Nobody around to disturb us." Peeta sighs, putting his feet up on the desk in front of Glimmer and snuggling back into his chair.
Glimmer knocks his feet off the desk with a single swipe of her manicured hand. "Ugh, Mellark. I don't need to see your muddy shoes first thing in the morning, thanks."
Marianna sits straight-backed in her chair, her beautiful dress spread across her knees daintily. "Come on, Glimmer! Give Peeta a break!" she laughs, and Peeta winks at her. She blushes prettily, and Glimmer mutters, "Lovebirds."
"We aren't the lovebirds! Cato and Katniss are!" Marianna yelps indignantly. All eyes are on me now.
"Are you seriously smitten with Cato Cerulean?" Glimmer asks, painting her nails carefully with a sparkly pink nail polish. "It looked like you two had something going on yesterday!"
Peeta snorts. "Yeah, what about you and that Bradley Higgins?" Glimmer's face colours. "Nothing!" she squeaks. "I swear! Umm...well...he's cute, isn't he?"
Marianna shrugs, taking out a book from her leather satchel. "I think he's okay. Katniss thinks he's annoying though."
Glimmer blinks at me. "He's not," she says. "Annoying at first, maybe. But he's so lovely."
I'm not about to argue. I don't have it in me.
"But really, what's going on with that Cato Cerulean?" Peeta asks. "He wouldn't talk to anyone this morning. He's just by himself, looking all...lonely. And troubled. Is he your boyfriend, Katniss?"
I shook my head wildly. "No! No! We aren't...like that."
Marianna shoots him a knowing look, and he shuts up immediately. Glimmer blows on her nails, tidying up near her cuticles. "Okay, but I know you guys have something. A connection."
Just then, our teacher, Ms. Loretta, walks in with the rest of the students. "Morning, kids!" she smiles. "Today, you'll be doing drawings, of the person you love."
Everyone groans and scoffs but our table. Marianna thinks it'd be cute, Peeta draws anything, and Glimmer just sits around painting her nails.
Ms. Loretta hands out plain sheets of paper and charcoal pencils. Peeta grabs his and starts sketching right away. Marianna draws a rough face shape with childish, cartoon eyes.
"Who are you drawing?" I ask her. She just winks and taps the side of her nose. "You'll see," she laughs.
Meanwhile, I'm stuck. I have no idea what to draw. Even Glimmer is drawing something. I sit there for half an hour, listening to the comforting sounds of pencils scratching on paper.
Suddenly, my hand flies up and draws a strong, chiselled jaw, spiky dark blond hair, and eyes with long eyelashes. I sketch sharp cheekbones and add sparkles to the eyes.
I ask Marianna for a blue colouring pencil and colour in his eyes; starting deep and dark around the pupils and going lighter as I go out.
I shade in the boy's hair with a yellow colouring pencil, blending it in with brown. His skin is coloured in roughly with a neutral tone; and the softest, most tender pink is used on his lips.
Those lips that I want to kiss so badly.
Marianna leans over my shoulder and her breath catches in her throat. "Whoa, Katniss, you're amazing at art. Is that...Cato?"
I nod, and fight the urge to smile. But the overwhelming happiness I'm feeling, looking down at his beautiful face, is too powerful and I end up smiling anyway.
"Alright, class, show each other your drawings!" Ms. Loretta shouts above the noise of 30 teenagers talking.
We all slide our drawings into the middle of the table and inspect them. Peeta's drawing is of Marianna; her hair is a stunning, fiery red and her eyes are a clear blue. It looks so lifelike.
Glimmer's drawing is of Bradley Higgins. It's not too bad; but the lines are messy and she hasn't coloured it in.
Marianna's drawing consists of a cartoon Peeta; sparkling eyes and all; holding a plate of bread. "So cute!" we all laugh.
Marianna winks at Peeta and Peeta winks straight back, smiling charmingly. I can tell they'd be amazing together.
Then everyone looks at mine and nobody says a word. "Is that Cato?" Peeta asks. I nod slowly. Peeta nods back at me. "You've made him look beautiful," he smiles.
All heads turn to Peeta.
"Dude, are you gay?" Glimmer asks incredulously. Peeta blushes red. "N-n-no," he stammers. "But she's done an excellent job of drawing him."
"I agree," Marianna pipes up. "He looks amazing. Love the eyes!"
I have to admit, this is the best drawing I've ever done. The only lessons I excel at are Drama and Music; so this is shocking for me.
The bell rings for our second lesson, and we all grab our bags and troop out. Marianna and Glimmer aren't in my class, so we hug goodbye and Peeta and I stroll slowly to Drama.
As we're climbing the steps to Room 186, Peeta asked me about Marianna.
"She hasn't got a boyfriend, has she?" he asks me worriedly.
I shake my head as we arrive outside of Room 186. Peeta holds open the door for me and I step in, only to bang hard into someone.
"Watch it!" I snarl, disgruntled for a second. Peeta catches my elbow to support me, and as I gather my bearings, I realise I'm face to face with a muscular chest. I look up...and into the eyes of my beautiful, sweet Blond Boy.
"Cato?"
Thanks for reading! That was long, wasn't it?
Tell me what parts you liked!
Review if you want me to carry on, guys!
Good day/afternoon, and May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favour!
- The Answer Is Love
