Chapter 7
Did she just say she loves me? Do I love her? Of course I do. Say it then, it's been like 10 seconds and she's looking at me like she has just said the stupidest thing ever. She starts to get up but I pull her back down.
'I love you too Clove.' I say. 'Sorry my answer took so long, I was just thinking if I do really love you and I do. You know me, I don't give my love away to just anyone.' I smirk.
She smiles and looks at the ground. I look at the time: 8 o'clock. Shit, I should have been home 2 hours ago and my parents should be worrying. I stand up and pull Clove up with me. She looks at me really confused so I explain.
'I was supposed to be home ages ago, I'm sorry Clove.' It pains me to just leave her like this.
'Well, you better walk me home then.' She begins. 'District 2 can contain some real bad boys.' She winks and laughs. I laugh with her at her saying my line from when I first met her. I walk with her to her house. Her house is massive, much bigger than mine and I'm staring at it in awe before I feel Clove's soft lips against my cheek.
'Goodnight Cato.' She says and smiles. She runs inside before I have a chance to say anything back and I whisper under my breath as I walk home 'Goodnight Clove.' I smile and whistle the rest of the way.
1 Week Later
BEEP BEEP BEEP. I wake up to the sound of my alarm screeching for me to get up. I throw the covers off me and find clothes at the end of my bed with a note on top. It reads: 'Sorry honey, Tom and Ross were ill today so we had to take their places. We will be at the side watching you. Go get 'em honey!' I look under the note to see my fancy clothes.
Oh god today was the day of the reaping. Clove and I had already come to an understanding that she was not going to volunteer for the games and I got to spend a lot of time with her and after, when I come out, I will do again.
I sigh and get into my clothes. At about one o'clock, I start to walk down to the square in which the reaping takes place. I let the Peacekeeper take my blood but the whole time I am scanning the crowd looking for Clove. I get into my place, still scanning and then I see her. She turns around, faces me and smiles. I smile back and we turn to face the Justice Building where our 'reaper' as we call her here, walks out onto the stage. I can't be bothered to remember her name but everyone always remembers her bubble-gum coloured skin and hair. She speaks for a bit, our trainers come out and we watch the film. She then announces that she is going to pick the children now. The girls always come first, at least I know that Clove will not volunteer and will be safe. Her hand goes in the bowl and comes out with a tiny piece of paper. She opens it and reads 'Clove…' I cover my ears before anything else is said; refusing to believe what just happened. Then I see her walking up towards the stage. No one is volunteering. Oh god, I can't let this happen. I can't volunteer now. My parents are going to kill me but I don't care, I can't fight Clove. She then walks over to the boys bowl and pulls out a name. She reads 'Cato…' I'm going to faint.
