CLOVES POV

It took five days for me to feel back in shape with no soreness from the trampling I received. As I stretched cracking my back and aching bones, being out of bed never felt so good! Walking over to my window, I opened it and stretched out to see what was going on.

With the tributes currently in the training center, we would not get real word about them, until the scores of their private skill presentation with the gamekeepers aired. Soon after their first and final for many interview with Caesar Flickerman, and then game on.

But of course with gossip demand going on inside the capitals tallest building, known as the training center. Rumors were already flying that Bane was one of the most difficult tributes to control this year. Often breaking rules such as sneaking into other District floors for late night visits to female tributes.

The sun was bright, and perfect for a run. I couldn't believe what five days of no training had done to my new physique. I felt gross in my own skin, as I had became a slob and ate anything Damian had brought for me, and nothing was ever on our training diet.

"I'm getting fat.. fat. Faaaaaaat!" I had complained just last night to Damian. Earning me his ever so over used eye roll.

"Be back later." I called out to whoever could hear me in the house, I stepped out to the front not even waiting for a response. I grunted in disgust as I saw a large poster image of Bane on supporting houses and stores, as I ran past them. I should be showing support for our District, but with the lasting impression Bane has left on me… these games were not going to have me picking his side.

It didn't take long before I was tired, I really was out of shape in such a short time. I slowed down as I reached Brutus's closed academy, and collapsed on the front lawns grass. "Fuck." I said breathing hard through my mouth.

The sun was blazing, and I could feel the sunrays burning my face, my cheeks especially being the most sensitive. Even with my eyes closed, I could see the sun through my eyelids.

"What are you doing here?" came a familiar voice.

I sat up quickly, making me light headed from the blood rush to my head.

"Cato." I said still breathless.

He smirked and stood in front of me, looking down at me.

"I got that effect on girls." He said.

"What?" I asked looking at his shirtless broad chest. He was glistening in the sun from his sweat. His perfect athletic and muscular body, was putting mine to shame at the moment.

"Take their breath away." He said without a smile.

"Oh please." I said rolling me eyes and falling back to the grass.

"Why are you here?" I asked him, although his sweaty body could easily answer my question.

"I came to work out on the academy grounds, since it's closed inside." He said sitting down in front of me. "How are you feeling now?"

"Better." I said "So Bane huh?" I wasn't sure if small talk was okay right now. After all I was a faithful, reserved girl to my "boyfriend." But Cato was the one who was initiating the conversation, so I was going to see how far this went.

"Yeah, the odds were in his favor… hopefully next year is my year." He said looking off to a couple of kids passing by.

"And what if it isn't?" He wasn't looking at me.

"Then Tamara had the right idea." He said as if it was an obvious alternative.

I snorted. "Suicide? Seriously Cato? Suicide is only for the weak."

"What do you call us volunteering to go to the games?" he asked squatting in front of me.

"It isn't suicide if you know you can win." I said.

"I guess, all I know is if I don't make it next year, there isn't much left for me. I don't have a career planned out for me, I don't see my self ever getting married and raising a family." He said shrugging.

"So lets say you do go, and you win the whole thing… what then, you come back and lead a lonely, and meaningless life in a house in the champion square?" I asked.

"Brutus has done it…. although he does have a profession as a teacher. Tell me Clove, is your life so meaningful? What would you do if you won? Come back and marry Damian? Raise a family with him?" he asked with a cold voice now. I'm not sure if he had become upset at what I had asked, or if he was upset with something else.

"At least then I would have something to come back to." I said standing up.

He looked up at me as I stood up, Slowly standing up himself, I had to look up at him now with the height difference.

"Well sounds like you have your whole life planned out already." He said turning and walking away now. I stared after him, wondering if he was going to come back, or if he had abruptly ended the conversation.

"You coming?" he asked over his shoulder.

"Where are we going?" I asked confused.

"We're both here to work out right?" He asked turning and walking backwards, spreading his arms out.

I jogged to him. "What do you have in mind?"

"Well I have a few things in mind that can help us burn more calories, but seeing you have a boyfriend, a few of those things are out the question." He said seriously, looking ahead.

I started coughing as I began to choke with my own salvia. Had he really just suggested what I think he did?

"It's a joke." He said patting my back hard, making me push forward. "I thought you would take it like a champ." He said once again with a dirty humor. We both turned the corner of the academy; passing the area I had found him and Tamara at… the same spot he and I had done things in my dream at.

"Oh god stop." I said trying not to laugh. From the corner of my eye, I saw him look down at me, and smile for a quick second. I suspect he wasn't aware I had noticed him do so.

When we got to the back field of the academy, Cato stopped close to a tree.

"So what do you actually have in mind?" I asked him. I knew I was blushing from the earlier suggestion.

"Well speaking of suicides, how about some suicides?" he asked.

"From where to where?" I asked.

"From this tree, to that tree." He pointed at a tree about half a blocks distance.

"First one to give up loses." He said stretching.

"Is it always about competition with you?" I asked watching him.

"What life without it? I would stretch if I was you." He said continuing his stretching.

"Well your not me." I said ignoring his advice.

"Suit yourself."

We both stood next to each other. He looked at me for a moment, studying my face. "Pace yourself." He said nodding.

I nodded back, as we both jogged towards the end of the other tree.

By the time we were at our twentieth lap, pacing ourselves was not even on our minds, as we both began sprinting back and forward. I was feeling pretty beat at this point, the side of my stomach aching, but I was not about to lose against Cato.

'Twenty three' I thought to myself as I reached the first tree. I turned quickly and sprinted towards the second tree, Cato wasn't to far behind me. I had a feeling he wasn't giving it his all, and was just humoring me. And that's when I felt it, the cramp he had warned me about.

"Ow." I said tripping to the grass. Cato tripping over me, and falling on top of me, landing hard on the grass, and with the pain from the side of my stomach and leg. Being out of breath already and winded from his weight on me had me practically suffocating for air.

"Shit are you okay?" he asked turned me around, so I was on my back. As I filled my lungs with air as much as I could. I began to laugh once I had controlled myself again.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked confused, he smiled a little as if trying to control himself from laughing.

"Ow that hurt so bad." I said running my hand through my sweaty hair.

"I told you to stretch didn't I?" he asked looking down at me. He had rolled off me earlier, but was holding himself up by his elbow next to me. One of his legs was still on top of mine. His sweaty chest radiating heat to the side of my arm.

"Well it wasn't too bad until you fell on top of me, you left me breathless." I said laughing again.

"You have no idea how breathless I can leave you." He said smiling again.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh god, I'm so tired." I said with my hand still at my forehead. The hot sun was blazing by now.

I turned to look at him when he didn't say anything. He was just staring at me with a expression of amusement. We both locked eyes, just staring at each other or a moment, when I could feel him coming closer, he was about to kiss me for sure.

I sat up quickly remembering what Damian had said. 'Play it reserved and uninterested' I said to myself.

"I have to go." I said standing up. He stood up shortly after.

"You want to meet up and work out again?" he asked.

"Um.. yeah I guess that would be okay. Maybe Thursday?" I asked, that would be two days from now.

"Okay." He said.

"You going to watch the scores on t.v?" he asked.

"Riiiiight. Its Sunday right?" I asked forgetting.

"Yeah and Monday is the interviews." Cato said reminding me.

"Tuesday game day… yeah I'm going to watch them. What score do you think Gemma and Bane will get?" I asked as we both walked back towards the front of the academy.

"Bane a ten of course, Gemma no idea. I don't know why they even system it to twelve, no one has ever gotten more then a ten." He said.

I shrugged. It didn't take long before the awkward tension was in the air.

"So I'll see you tomorrow." I said waving goodbye and walking away. He didn't say anything, just turned and walked the opposite direction of me. I was happy to see he wasn't going to offer to walk me home.

CATOS POV

I laid in bed thinking about what Clove had said. If I didn't get picked next year, I pretty much had nothing to live for. And if I won, what would I live for? I would have fame and fortune, but the year after, my attention would be replaced by the next victor. I had never thought how sad and depressing life could really be.

I guess that's why Bane was the way he was, he lived for the moment and just had fun.

All this thinking was getting me frustrated, and usually when I was frustrated I would call Tamara to come over. But now that she was dead I didn't really know who to call. I hated going back to a girl more then once if it wasn't Tamara. She understood the rules, but other girls seemed to get clingy.

I couldn't even call Bane to go out and do something. I turned to the clock by me bed, "Fuck" it was only 11:30pm and I was bored and restless out my mind. Sleep wasn't even close to an option at the moment.

I didn't even have anything planned to do tomorrow, but I guess work out. I wouldn't even see Clove until Thursday.

I rolled out of bed, and put some shoes on. I had to get some fresh air or something. Anything that would settle this boredom and unease.

"Where you doing Cato honey?" My mothers voice came and I made my way out the front door. I slammed the door behind me, not answering her.

I felt mindless as I walked house after house. Would it be considered stalking if I went to see Clove? I stopped, contemplating if I would happen to just stroll on by her house. I didn't expect to see her... but what if she happened to be outside and I bumped into her?
I didn't have to think about it much when I heard someone call out my name.

I turned to Tracy; Banes go to girl- as she crossed the street and made her way to me.

"Hey Cato." She said smiling warmly.

I nodded greeting her.

"What are you doing walking around at this hour?" she asked crossing her arms. Tracy was a dark haired, eighteen year old black girl. She was tall and pretty voluptuous, she had Tamaras curvy body but much more fuller for my actual taste. She was still considered a very good looking girl for my standards. Plus she had to be pretty skilled in other areas if Bane had decided to keep her around, she was actually a pretty decent girl. "Chasing some demons away?"

I shrugged. "Wanted some fresh air couldn't sleep."

"Have a lot on your mind?" she asked.

I shook my head. "No, its just one of those nights."

"I bet, with Tamara and Bane..." she said trailing off. I had forgotten she too had lost her "go to person."

"Shit happens." I say shrugging again. "Whats your excuse? Its pretty late for you to be out."

"Just got back from my parents, went to visit them, I'm on my way to my apartment now. Since I didn't make it to the games, their pretty worried I might off myself like Tamara did. But to tell you the honest truth, it made no real difference if I made it or not." she said.

"Then why train all these years?" I asked.

"Gave me something to do. Got my folks off my back, plus when Bane came around, I wanted him to keep coming around." she said with a small laugh. "But hes gone now."

"For now." I said correcting her.

"But you're still here." she said grabbing my hand and moving it towards her. She grabbed my index finger and put it to her mouth, sucking lightly on it.

Instantly I could feel myself becoming aroused. I let her do it for a few, before I pulled my hand away.

"Whats wrong? Don't you want it? I know the kind of things you like to do Cato, Bane wasn't any different. Believe me I could take things, and do things much better then Tamara ever could." she said taking my hand again.

"Banes my guy." I said pulling my hand away again. But the tone in my voice gave away the arousal still growing.

"Bane wasn't my boyfriend, and didn't you two have a fall out?" she grabbed me, and massaged me through my pants. I looked around, to see if no one was around.

"He would have never fucked Tamara." I said struggling to not just take her to the alley around the corner. I tried to move her hand, but I didn't put much of a fight. It really did feel like it had been a long time since I had last had any.

She snorted. "Bane is a dog, just like you Cato. If it had been you in the games, and Tamara was still alive, he would have been fucking her every which way by now." She tugged at my zipper, before I pulled away. I wasn't about to let her pull my dick out in the middle of the street.

"Take my word Cato, you will never want to get out of my bed." she said walking towards her place.

I thought about it for a moment, she had a point about Bane. And even though he didn't know I wanted Clove, he had been trying to smash her too. I shrugged and walked after her.

"Good." she said over her shoulder. "I hope you don't have anything planned for tomorrow, because your in for a long one. You ready for it?"

"Are you?"

She said she could take it better then Tamara, then she was in for a hell of a time. I wonder how long she could go without passing out from my hold.

CATOS POV CONTINUED

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but that's it... I'm put out." I say rolling over to the bed.

Tracy hadn't been kidding when she said she could take things better then Tamara. Even after I had smacked her around with out holding back, and used one of her belts to choke her, she never gave out. And when she was on top or her mouth was on me... I definitely didn't want to get out her bed.

And I didn't if you excluded the times we got up to use the washroom. We had actually spent a whole day locked up in her room. I didn't even know what time it was, but it was already night again. I had to get home if I still planned to work out with Clove tomorrow.

Tracy sighed heavily as she tried to catch her breath. "That was absolutely phenomenal."

I sat up and began to look around for my scattered clothes. I got up and found them among Tracy s ripped clothing, from last night. I actually felt unbelievably tired. The female had practically left me dry to the bone. As I slipped into my boxers, I carefully adjusted myself, I was so sore.

"You want to spend the night?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I have things to do tomorrow, I need to get home."

"Hungry?" She asked tossing me my shirt, it was on her side of the bed.

I slipped into it, and nodded. "Starving."

"Want to go get a quick bite at the small place down the block? My treat." She said as she walked over to her closet and put on some clothes.

"I guess." Great sex and free food? Why not.

CLOVES POV

"Its not a date." I said rolling my eyes.

"It practically should be! He almost tried kissing you Clove. And then he asked to see you again?" Damian said practically skipping as he gushed.

I shook my head. "Alright calm down, your practically growing a vagina right about now."

Damian shoved me to the side as we continued to walk down the sidewalk, towards the diner by his house. We had been hanging out at his place, when we had both agreed that hunger was on both our minds. So we had called the place for some food, and were now on our way to pick it up.

"I will tell you that I would never be a bottom, I will forever be a top." he said taking my hand.

"You don't even have anyone to test that theory out on. Face it Damian, you have slept with a girl before, but you are pretty much a virgin still." I said letting him hold my hand as we continued on.

"The point is! You are seeing Cato tomorrow, and before you know it. You will be knocking on his wood." he said smirking.

"Aren't you my boyfriend?" I asked feeling my face flushing at the thought of me and Cato. I still had yet to even feel his lips to mine, and Damian was already thinking the next level.

"Only on weekends." he said as he opened the door of the diner. As we walked in, the few tables occupied with people turned to see who had just walked in.

Damian and I both made our way to the cash register to see if our order was ready. The guy behind the register informed us, it would be another five minutes before our food would be ready. We both nodded as we took a seat at the table near us.

Once we sat down I looked around when I saw them, Cato and one of the older girls from the academy. I wasn't sure what her name was, but I had heard she was Banes girlfriend... or something.

They were both feverishly shoving food into their mouth as if they hadn't ate for days. She was eating some sort of stew form a bowl, and he was taking large bites from a burger. I don't think they had noticed us or cared when we came in.

"He's here." I whispered over to Damian.

He turned and looked over at them. "Heeeeey Cato!" he said waving at him.

"What are you doing?" I asked with wide eyes. Leave it to the gay kid to embarrass me right now.

Cato and the girl turned to us. As if Damian was trying to find a way how to embarrass me even more, he grabbed my hand and pulled me along with him towards them.

"Damian what are you doing?" I asked trying to pull away as discretely as I could.

I looked at Cato, who just stared at me the whole time, until we reached the table. Damian slipped into the seat next to the girl, leaving me to sit next to Cato.

"Sit babe." Damian said pointing to the seat. I sat down slowly, Cato looking at me.

"Hey I'm Damian, I never got your name at the academy." Damian said holding his hand out to the girl. "Tracy." she said smiling and taking his hand.

I looked around feeling awkward at the moment. Cato had stopped eating his food, I couldn't bring myself to look at him, but I could sense he was looking at me.

"Your Banes girl aren't you?" Damian asked. She took another bite out of her stew as she shook her head. "Not exactly." she said grinning.

"Oooh I get it." Damian said smirking. "So what brings you kids out tonight?" Damian asked looking at Cato. "Heeeey nice hater mark Cato. Your doing?" Damian asked Tracy.

I finally turned to look at Cato, and there it was clear as day. A large dark mark right on his neck. It was at that moment, that I practically felt my heart break. I don't know why I didn't expect to think, that he would sleep with other girls other then Tamara. And I wasn't sure if this sounded wrong. But I had accepted Tamara sleeping with him, but anyone else just felt wrong. At that moment, I could feel the knot forming, and the tears wanting to build.

Cato didn't look at me, instead he glared at Tracy. Who had just sucked on her lips and had winked at Damian. From his re action, I don't think he was aware he had the mark. Tracy excused her self promptly to the bathroom after she noticed Catos stare, leaving Damian and I alone with Cato.

"Wow Cato, you sure do make it look easy." Damian said to him.

"Your food is ready." called the guy from the register.

Damian got up to go pay. I turned to look at Cato again, the knot in my chest not going away. He finally looked at me, and that's when my vision began to blur, as my eyes began to water. I knew Cato had seen my eyes water, but before a tear could fall I got up and left.

As Damian took the change and put it back into his wallet he turned to me. I could already feel the tear rolling down my cheek.

He looked around me, he must have been looking at Cato as he shook his head.

I tried my best to breath normally so my body wouldn't shake, giving away that I was crying. Damian grabbed my hand said bye to Cato and Tracy, I guess she was back from the bathroom. Once we were outside, Damian didn't say anything, he just let me cry until we reached his house.

Putting the food down on his door steps, he pulled me down to the steps to sit.

"Clove you already know what kind of guy he is." he said hugging me.

"I know, but... I just can't explain it." I said

"Its one thinking knowing he's a little whore, and another seeing evidence of his ways?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Clove he thinks we do that sort of stuff too you know? And you think he's okay with it? Absolutely not." Damian said to me.

"But we don't and he actually does with other girls. I feel so stupid. Girls like Tamara and Tracy are nothing to the way I look. I could never look as good as them. I feel so stupid for thinking he might actually want to to get to know me." I said still crying.

Damian sighed. "Clove... there's something I have to tell you.. and you may hate me for it. But it was the only way I could get Cato to admit he has a thing for you."

"What is it?" I asked sniffing.