Chapter 6
Cato's POV
When Cinna told us that we would play a solo in front of the class I was both excited and a bit nervous, excited to hear Katniss play again, but nervous because I'll be compared to Katniss. She's so amazing, I really think I'm starting to really really like her. This morning when she told me that her and Finnick didn't have anything going on I was so relived. I've played the piano for 10 years and some say I'm really good, but others push me to be better than I am.
When it's been about 20 minutes I decide to go and see how Katniss is playing. As I walk towards the room she went into I immediately notice two things, the door is open and there is no music coming out. Panic fills me as I rush to the room hoping nothings wrong when I see Mellark forcing himself on a sobbing Katniss. Rage fills me as I pick him up and throw him against the opposite wall. He looks surprised by this but I punch him before he can do anything, how dare he force himself on anyone especially my Katniss. I keep punching him untill I'm positive that he is unconscious, then I turn to see Katniss sobbing in the corner of the room. I go to put my hand on her shoulder to tell her that it's alright, but she flinched and starts to sob harder. I decide to speak instead, "It's ok Katniss he wont hurt you anymore. I'll protect you." She looks up her beautiful molten steal grey eyes are red and filled with tears, she throws herself into my arms and I hug her to me. I won't allow people to hurt her anymore. Cinna comes into the room most likely to see what all the noise was when he stops in his tracks, he looks shocked and concerned for Katniss. "Cato, bring Katniss into my office and speak with me please." He says with extreme caution in his voice. I pick Kat off the ground and carry her with me to his office, on the way she borrows deeper to me as if she is afraid everyone is out to hurt her. I pains me to see her like this. "Cinna, why is Kat crying so much, she seems terrified?" I say concerned for her. Cinna looks to Katniss and says, "Katniss, I'm going to tell Cato about what happened before you moved here, ok?" She nods against my chest. What does that have to do with anything, I look to Cinna in question.
He sighs, "Ok, I'll start from the beginning. About 11 years ago Katniss's mother and father were shot and killed. Her parents were the most amazing people, they were very skilled at playing almost every instrument and clearly they passes that down to Katniss." When I hear that her parents died I stiffen and look down at her, she had fallen asleep, but I can still see pain etched into her facial feature. "Anyway, after her parent died Katniss and her little sister, Prim, were put into the care of a man named Derrick. He worked with her parents and said that he would love to help them. No one knew what would happen." He looks distressed about this and Katniss has a sister? "Cato the reason that she was so afraid is that Derrick abused her and her sister. Though mostly Katniss because she took the brute of it to protect her sister. He.. he beat her with a pipe and burned her. He would be in jail if it wasn't that he died. Around six months ago the house that Derrick had them staying in caught on fire and he and her sister Prim died. Katniss is still very depressed about this and sometimes has a hard time coping, so please for her sake do not tell anyone." He says the last part as if its a threat. "I knew her and her sister before their parents died, I'm making it my respectability to look after her now. Don't hurt her, understand?" He looks to me I nod my head he does too then puts two late passes on the desk. "Use them for when you guys are ready to leave." With that he walks from the the room.
After Cinna told me what happened to her I feel so sorry for her. I look down on her beautiful sleeping face, my grip tightens. Who would be such a monster to such a thing to her? And her sister died?! I feel the need to protect her, this girl I have come to really like and care for, I'm going to kill Mellark when I see him next time. For ten more minutes I look at her face, she has such talent and she's so strong. I admire her so much, I need to show how I feel without hurting or scaring her, but how? As I'm thinking this through Katniss starts to stir in my lap, she opens her eyes and rubs the sleep out them while yawning. She's so adorable. "Cato, what happened? What did Cinna tell you?" She asks a bit nervous. "He told me how you were abused and about the fire and your sister and parents death." She looks away with what looks to be ashamed. Why would she be ashamed? I take her chin between my thumb and forefinger. "Katniss there is nothing to worry about, I won't tell anyone. I'll protect you from all the dangers. No one will ever hurt you like he did. I promise." I stress the last part to her. She looks surprised for a moment than does something unexpected, she kisses me quickly then hug me tightly. "Thank you." She whispers. I hug her back too. I'll ask about the kiss later.
We get into our next class which is lunch, and sit down with all of our friends. "Where were you guys after music? none of us could find you." Clove asks. I feel Katniss stiffen next to me, I slide my hand on her thigh to comfort her and she relaxes and grabs my hand back. "Oh, Cinna wanted to talk to us about something. It's nothing really." Everyone nods. Next to me Kat speaks up, "Cato saved me from Peeta, he forced himself onto me. Cato came in and protected me." When she says this everyone is surprised even I am, I didn't think she would want anyone to know. "We are going to gut him." Says Finnick icily, Thresh and Marvel nod. "What knife should I use?" Adds Clove, "Yeah, I'll grab my ax." Speaks up Jo with a glint in her eye. I laugh and so does Katniss. "Guys there's no need I'm pretty sure he had to go to the hospital after what I did to him." Katniss nods. "Yeah, I'm ok. Anyway do you guys want to come over?" We all nod she gives us the directions. When school is over we all head over. How am I going to ask about the kiss with everyone there? Is all I can think of.