As I wash my hair I start to think about life, it's hard not to. I can only think about how training is tomorrow, and my opportunity to kick District 2's ass. Cato needs to back off, that's for sure. Even if I wanted to start something, it would be pointless. And I don't want to start something, right? What does he want? The Games pits us against one another, what he wants wouldn't be smart. I can't even trust Peeta. There's no denying that I have an attraction towards Cato, something I definitely don't understand. I finish up in the shower and step onto the cold tile floor, I am so excited to get dressed in warm clothes.
Of course Cinna would put on waterproof makeup, I don't have the necessary tools to chip away the gunk off of my face. I look myself in the mirror, they really did make me look pretty. I am almost unrecognizable, in the seam there's no need to put on makeup. Who would I dress up for anyway, Gale? In a sense, soot is our makeup. I can't wait to prove myself to everyone tomorrow, right now they just think of me as the scum from District 12.
I wrap the towel around my body and open the bathroom door, I think I will talk to Haymitch about getting a lock installed on- oh my God.
"Cato what the actual fuck. I was giving myself a motivational speech in the shower on how I was going to personally kick your ass tomorrow. I didn't know I would have to do it today. Get out of my room." I look him dead in the eyes. "Now."
Cato, who had been sitting on my bed for what I think was the whole time I was in the shower, jumps up. Did I mention he was shirtless? Why didn't he leave before?
"Maybe you should get dressed first?"
I am suddenly aware that I am in a towel, only a towel. I tighten my grip on it and hold it closer to my body.
"Look, Cato. I'm sure you're…" I hold back a gag. "A very nice person, but I am not interested."
Cato then grabs my towel and rips it off of me. I am stark naked in front of a total pervert. This isn't happening.
"I like you better without the towel." He pins me against the wall.
"Cato, this isn't funny!" I am trying to cover as much skin as I possibly can, has got to be one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. When I get the chance, I will definitely kill him. His eyes are like daggers piercing my soul, that's how intensely he was looking at me. Before I can say more he grabs the back of my neck and goes in for a kiss.
The kiss was forceful, or should I say the kisses. As much as I wanted to respond, I couldn't, I don't want to be with him! He kept slipping tongue into my mouth but I bit down instead of returning the favor. He took that as a sign that I was enjoying it, for some reason, but I was really looking for a way to escape. He moved on to kiss and bite my neck. I can't be here, this is too awkward, and weird! I do the only thing I can, I scream.
He covers my mouth with his once again. So I stomp on his foot and take his arm forcing it behind his back. I must have dislocated his arm because he falls down, clutching his arm and writhing in pain.
"What is going on? Katniss, why is Cato on the ground?" She takes a look at me and covers her eyes. "And why are you naked?" Effie says in surprise.
I quickly cover myself with the towel that Cato still clutched in his hand.
"He had a run in with his ego. I think he'll be fine after he sees a doctor." I narrow my eyes at him. "Why don't you take him to the infirmary? And Effie. Can you get a lock installed on my door? Thanks." What just happened?
Cato slowly gets up and reluctantly leaves my room, probably off to go get an icepack.
"Don't forget to let the door hit you on the way out!"
"Fuck you…"
"But I thought that's what you wanted?" I can't help but to laugh, that was just too funny.
Despite him intruding on my personal space and pretty much molesting me, I feel pretty good. I think this is the last I will see of Cato in my room. He wouldn't want to risk another arm injury, especially since he will probably depend on his arms to murder tributes.
I quickly grab some clothes and change into them. I need a few moments to go over the events that just happened. My hand goes to my lips; I didn't enjoy it, did I? No, I couldn't have. I feel myself blushing. There's no time to think about it more because I can hear Cato yelling, all the way from the other side of the house. He is very mad, was that just because of me? I feel a sense of victory and grin to myself.
"Take that ass hole!"
"Did I hear someone call my name?" Haymitch appears in my room.
"Um, no?"
"It's a joke Katniss, I know you didn't call my name. I came in here because you wanted to talk, I'm sorry that I passed out yesterday. Oh and there should be a lock on your door by tonight, heard what you did to the boy. You, Princess, will achieve much in life." He goes in for a high five and I return one back.
"It's actually Cato I wanted to talk about. Besides the fact that he is an ass, he offered me something that I'm not sure I should refuse." I pause. "He wants me to join the career pack."
"Ok, so what's the news?"
"What do you mean what's the news, that is the news!" I am in utter disbelief. "I'm not necessarily open to the idea of being with a bunch of crazy killers."
"The goal of the Games is to win, and you want to win, don't you? So here's my advice, join them. And when you get a chance, kill them. Simple."
"I'm thinking I could do this alone. Would I stand a chance?"
"Possibly, if you hid for a few days. The careers would pick off the weak ones and then they would come for you. But being alone means that you have to get food and shelter by yourself, you are constantly in danger. If you can get the sponsors I would do it, if you don't you are as good as dead."
"Alright, when they see what I can do with an bow… well they better give me a top training score."
"Don't show off what you can do tomorrow, save that for the Game makers."
"Yeah." I stifle a yawn. "Will do, good night Haymitch."
"You too Princess."
-(The next day)-
"I'd expect you to have been up hours ago Katniss! Get up it's training day!"
"Effie let me go back to sleep…" cold hands grab me and haul me up.
"There's no time! Here are your clothes; you will wear them during training. Put them on and go to the training floor. Good luck, Katniss."
I examine the clothes she's given to me, they aren't necessarily hideous but I wouldn't wear them in public. It's an all black jumper with my District number displayed clearly. I quickly put it on and go to find Peeta.
"Ready to go! Can you believe they put us in these ridiculous things?"
"It's whatever, I don't mind it."
"Yeah… anyway lets get going!" I wonder what they'll have us do, will they have a bow in there? Peeta is being awfully distant this morning.
A woman greets all of the tributes at the door, she identifies herself as the head trainer. She gives us a tour of the room, which is huge. There are stations for survival and combat, I can't wait to get started. The last station she brings us to is the sparring station, we are allowed to fight each other but are to make no illegal moves. Cato, who I suspect is still embarrassed, is staring at me. I'm sure he's just yearning to get me back.
"And with that, let the training begin!" The woman goes off to watch us from a room up top, to make sure we don't try anything, I'm sure.
"Hey fire girl, come spar with me!" Cato says.
I look over to Peeta, I want him to give me some indication as to what I should do, and he gives me none.
"Sure. Ready to get your ass handed to you?" I see Peeta go over to the knots station, no one else is there.
It is hand to hand combat, essentially wrestling. We stand in the corners of the mat and wait for the trainer to blow the whistle that allows us to start.
The whistle goes off and Cato runs at me, I didn't see him coming at me like that. I am knocked to the ground but maneuver my way out of his grasps. My legs lock on to his head and I start squeezing but I don't let go. He barely manages to remove them and pins my hands to the ground.
"Give up 12."
"Not a chance, we're just getting started."
I spit in his eye, and his hands go up to wipe the spit off so he can see. I ram into his side and he falls down. When he finally gets up he kicks me in the face.
I resist the urge to touch my cheek and I clock him in the right eye. He doesn't even flinch.
"Nice try, but its going to take more than a punch to stop me."
He fakes a punch to my left and goes for a kick in the stomach. The wind is knocked out of me and I struggle to breathe. He doesn't give me the time to catch my breath and uppercuts me.
I fall to the floor, that punch will definitely leave a mark.
I slowly get up and we start to circle each other, I spit blood at his feet. I go for his feet but he grabs my waist and throws me over his shoulder, then he falls on me. I don't have any time to react; he's on me in an instant.
He gets on top of me and wraps his hands around my throat. He doesn't stop squeezing and I can't get him off of me. And as if that wasn't enough he is sitting on my lungs, he must weigh two hundred pounds.
I claw at his face as I start to lose my sight. My legs are also kicking, trying to push him over somehow. We look each other in the eyes and he shows no sign of stopping.
I frantically hit the mat with my hand, he's too strong and I cant breathe.
Cato slowly gets off of me and goes over to boast his victory to the other careers. I can hear Clove laughing and commending him on his conquest.
"You got in a few good moves, but you were no match for my strength 12." I can hear Cato shout.
I walk over to the bench and rub my neck, weren't those illegal moves he pulled? The trainer throws in a few tips and pats Cato on the back. I should have known that they would overlook anything the careers did that was illegal.
A tribute from District 8 comes over and tells me that I had a good match, but to next time hit him again when he's down.
"Don't let them get up, keep them down. That means you have control, if you let them up it's over. Not that I'd win against a career though."
"What's your name?"
"Bo. And I already know yours. Everyone loved you yesterday."
"Well thanks Bo." I smile at him and he leaves to go build fires.
"Katniss, you had to scream yesterday didn't you?" It was Cato, he probably came over to gloat.
"Cato! Oh my God. I don't want this! I don't want you!"
"You may say you don't, but you were hesitant yesterday. Something inside of you craved for more. Listen, don't embarrass me again or what happened in sparring will happen in the Game. But in the Game I wont stop. I like you Katniss, you've got spirit, and I can appreciate that."
I bury my head in my hands, this day did not go as planned.
