Katniss' POV
I'm nervous. I'm about to go in for the Gamemaker's evaluation. I hear the robotic voice call my name, telling me I'm free to "show off" for the Gamemakers. I sigh and stand up.
"Hey Katniss." says Peeta, "shoot straight."
I nod in return and walk into the training rooms. I pick up a bow, and go over to the targets. The Gamemakers all turn to watch. I become even more nervous than I was before. I think of the arena, I think of Prim, Gale, Mother. Then, all of a sudden, my mind wanders to Clove. She'd surely be mocking my nervousness right now. That somehow gave me the courage to shoot. But the arrow was a good half a metre away from the bull's-eye. The Gamemakers all laughed behind me, and made me angry. The next thing I know is that there's an arrow flying at an apple in the mouth of a roast pig. A roast pig next to Seneca Crane's head.
I storm back onto our floor and sit in my room, wanting to slap myself in the face for what I'd just done. I contemplate it for a while, and realize that the only thing they can actually do to me is make my life hell in the arena, which it's probably already going to be anyway. I walk to the elevator, deciding to get some fresh air. I press the button for the roof, and feel the familiar cool breeze hit me as the elevator doors open. My eyes automatically go to the small figure sat by the edge, staring down at the Capitol.
"Clove." I greet her.
"Katniss." she replies.
"You know my name?" I ask in shock.
"How could I not?" she says sarcastically.
I laugh at this, and she looks up. I see a hint of a smile on her face, which made me even happier, forgetting about the scenario with the Gamemakers. It pops back in my mind soon enough, though, and I frown.
"What's with the sudden mood change?" asks Clove.
"I could ask you the same thing." I say.
"Very funny. Seriously, though." she responds.
"I screwed up with the Gamemakers." I admit.
"How so?" asks Clove.
"I shot an arrow at Seneca Crane's head." I say.
Her reaction was not what I expected. She bursts into uncontrollable laughter, and when she calms down enough to talk, she tells me to "lighten up."
"Lighten up? How the hell am I supposed to lighten up, Clove?" I ask her.
"Think about it. You shooting an arrow at the Head Gamemaker's head, shows guts. They like that. You'll get a good score. Trust me." she explains.
"You really think so?" I ask childishly
"Yep." she says.
We sit in silence for a little while, me sneaking glances at her every chance I get, taking in every single on of her features. She stands up, and stretches.
"Where are you going?" I ask rather frantically.
"To watch the scores get announced." she replies.
"Oh." I say.
"I take it you're not watching it, huh?" she says.
"Nope. I'll probably get a zero or something, then I'll never get sponsors." I reply.
I stand and throw my arms around her, hugging her.
"Thank you for being there for me, Clove." I whisper in her ear.
I let go of her, and she looks at me, confused. The next thing I know, my lips are on hers.
Clove's POV
She's kissing me. I stand there, frozen, not knowing whether to kiss her back or push her away. I choose the latter.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, District Twelve?!" I yell, not caring who hears me.
She stared back at me, looking hurt.
"Kissing you." she says quietly, looking down at her feet. The fear is back. Good.
"And why the fuck did you decide to do that?!" I continue, pushing past her and storming back to the elevator.
"I-I don't know." she stutters, tears filling her eyes.
I press the button that makes the elevator doors shut, and the last thing I see is the image of Katniss, crying alone on the roof. I suddenly feel a pang of guilt hit me.
I sit with Cato in the living room area of our floor, watching the scores get televised. Glimmer scores an 8, Marvel scores a 9.
"Clove. District Two." says Caesar.
I freeze.
"With a score of…10."
My muscles relax, knowing I did rather well. Cato also scored a 10. The tributes from the other districts passed on, none of them getting any high scores. The small girl, Rue from District 11 got a 7, and her district partner, Thresh got a 9. I started paying attention as District Twelve's scores were being announced.
"Peeta, District Twelve, with a score of 8." I frown, wondering what got him a reasonably high score.
"Katniss, District Twelve. With a score of," Caesar looks at his sheet of paper in surprise. "11." he finishes.
Cato all of a sudden got some extreme fit of rage, and started running around the room breaking things. I silently slip into the elevator and go up to the roof. Luckily, Katniss was still there, sitting by the edge. I quietly walk over and tap her on the shoulder. She stares at me.
"Clove. What do you want?" she asks harshly.
"Just came to tell you the news, Everdeen." I say back nonchalantly.
"What news?" she asks.
"You got an eleven." I respond.
She jumps up and hugs me.
"Seriously?!" she says happily.
"Yep." I reply. Then, as much as a shock to me as it was for her, I kiss her.