Here's chapter 10 guys! I made it a bit longer than usual for you. Sorry for the wait; I've been super busy with exams...Thanks so much for all the amazing reviews I got though! You guys are the best. So exams are almost over and I'll be able to write more, but then I'm going to be busy for a lot of the summer...I'll try to write a lot over the next week or so, then post it throughout the summer for you guys so that you have something to read. Okay so here it is and I hope you like it! (Sorry if Cato seems a bit weak...I needed to write him like this for just this chapter to show what he's feeling...he'll get vicious in the next chapter I promise)

Chapter 10

CLOVE

Cato and I are going to be in the Games together. That is all that I can think about as I wait in the solitary room I was pushed into in the justice building, where friends and family are supposed to come and say goodbye. Not mine though. The only friend I've ever had is Cato, and I have no family anymore. Or at least that's how I like to think of it. My father is no longer a part of my life, and I haven't talked to my brother in years. Not since my mom died six years ago. I try to push the memories of her beautiful laugh and smile from my mind, knowing that I can't cry. Not here, not now. I haven't cried in years and I'm not about to start.

Think. I need to think. Why would Cato volunteer after I was chosen? Wasn't he the one who begged me not to volunteer so that we wouldn't have to compete against each other? Or maybe it was just one sided…maybe he wanted to win the fame and fortune from our District and didn't want me to stand in his way, the only thing stopping him from coming back from the Games. But how could that be? Cato has been so nice to me all these years, especially the last few weeks - I have to stop my mind from drifting to the kisses we shared - But he wouldn't betray me like that, would he? This is why I can't trust anyone. As soon as I start to open myself up to someone, I get stabbed in the back. Three words slowly etch themselves into my brain. Trust No One.

The Peacekeepers enter the room and signal that it's time for me to leave, one of them flashing me a look of pity, noticing my lack of visitors. I give him a look that could make children cry to show him that being attached to people makes you weak, which is something that I'm definitely not. He quickly looks away, flinching away from me and I smirk, knowing that these Games are mine already.

As I'm ushered to the train I see Cato searching for my gaze. I ignore him, unwilling to glance his way. I can't let my guard down anymore. No one will see past my hard shell again.

We enter the train, cameras following our every move. Finally, the doors close, and the train starts moving, quickly gathering speed. Tillie joins us, and gestures towards the rooms. "Well why don't you two get yourselves all sorted? Clove you're in the room the right and Cato on the left. Be in the dining room at 7:00 for dinner." She says before prancing away. I stalk into my room and close the door before Cato can say anything to me. I don't mean to completely ignore him until the Games, but I need to sort my mind out for now.

I look around, and see bright colors everywhere. It's revolting. But I lie down on the bed anyway, and it feels like I'm lying on a cloud. I relax into it for a few minutes, before deciding to try out the shower. The water is hot and I let it pound against my back as I think. I need to figure out how I'm going to deal with the boy who has saved me from so much.

I can't ignore Cato forever. As mad at him as I am, he is my District partner and we need to be a team…at least until there are only a few tributes left. We are two of the Careers, so we need to act like it. I try not to think about the fact that I'd never be able to ignore Cato…not after what we've been through. But what if it was all a lie? All that he did for me was an excuse to get on my good side so that I would let him win the Games? But as ruthless as Cato is, he's not heartless…is he?

I step out of the shower, my body feeling refreshed but my mind even more confused than before. I open one of the drawers in my room to find it filled with clothes of every color and size. I grab a plain black t-shirt and pants and slip them on. I hear a loud knock on my door and I gradually open it to reveal the person who's been on my mind for the past hour.

"Look I'm sorry for volunteering Clove, but I had to…you don't understand." He says, a look of sadness prominent on his face.

"Oh yeah? You had to? Just like I had to promise you that I wouldn't volunteer so that you could win the Games yourself?" I spit, my expression one of pure anger. His face is incredulous, and his eyes confused as I continue. "You know what I'm talking about Cato. We both know that you manipulated me so that you could make sure that you would win the Games."

"Clove…what are you saying? I wouldn't do that. I don't want to hurt you." He says; his face twisted in shock and sadness. He mumbles something under his breath about 'the opposite' but I don't hear the rest.

"Why else would you volunteer after I'd gotten reaped? You're the one who told me that you wouldn't be able to fight against me!" I yell, letting the words echo in the hall.

"Look Clove. I don't know where you got the idea that I manipulated you, but that's crazy. I would never do something like that to you, and believe me when I say the past few weeks were real." Cato says, his voice tense. "I had to volunteer this year, you don't understand. But we can work together as a team, like always." He finishes, a hopeful look in his eyes.

"There's only one victor Cato." I say, before slipping behind him and storming down the hallway towards dinner.

CATO

I stand, my hands curled in fists and my breathing coming hard and fast. How could Clove ever think that I would do that to her? Why can't she see that this whole time I've been protecting her, the past weeks and even now as I'm risking my life for her? Why would she believe that I would trick her into not volunteering just so that I can win? I would never even think to do something like that to her. I'm prepared to die for her, and the thank you that I'm getting is being yelled at. Maybe it's better this way though, I decide sadly, because then it will be easier for her to move on with her life once I'm gone.

I wait a few minutes until I've calmed myself down before following Clove's footsteps towards the dining room. I enter into a delicious smell as I see food of every sort around me. I glance at the table and see Enobaria and Brutus discussing animatedly with each other, as Tillie sits at the other end of the table beside Clove, clearly trying not to associate with the past victors. I grab a plate of food before sitting down across from Clove, looking up at her just as her eyes flick away. I just wish we could go back to the way things were, where we could be together. Our picnic in the meadow comes to mind and a warm feeling grows in my stomach before I push it away. We're never going to go back to that, and Clove will share moments like that in the future with someone else, I tell myself sternly. The thought of Clove with another man makes my hand curl back into a fist underneath the table. I begin shoveling food into my mouth, my ears picking up bits of our mentors' conversation, as I try hard not to think about what the future has in store for us.

Clove and I eat in silence, our minds busy thinking about how we're going to get through the Games (or in my case, get Clove and I through the Games before letting her kill me). We don't ask our mentors questions just yet, as we have been preparing strategies for the Games since very young ages. We finish our meals and exit after Tillie tells us to go to another compartment of the train to view the recap of the reapings across Panem. I throw myself down on the couch, leaving a bit of space between Clove and I, as much as I want to close the distance and wrap my arm around her. District 1 is first, and the tributes chosen are a pretty blonde girl who looks like she can't lift 30 pounds, and a tall boy who looks a bit too arrogant for my liking. Those will be two of our allies though, as the Career tributes always work together, whether the tributes are up to my standard or not. They then show Clove and I being reaped, looking strong and confident as we march to the stage. The rest of the Districts go by in a blur, and I analyze which tributes will be the easiest to take down. The only tribute who looks like actual competition is the wide, muscular boy who is reaped from District 11, which surprises me. I make a note in my head to make sure that I take him down towards the start of the Games so that he can't get near Clove. The girl reaped from District 11 is just a small twelve-year old, and I feel pity for her, thinking of my sister. Hopefully her death isn't too painful. A girl from 12 rushes forward to volunteer for her sister, which I respect, but she acts much too confident for my liking. I'll be sure to put her in her place during the Games.

The reapings finish and the anthem plays, as Tillie switches the TV off and ushers us into our rooms. "You've got a big day tomorrow so get some sleep!" She says, her voice trilling down the hallway as she trots away. I nod goodnight at Clove before entering my room and collapsing onto the large bed, my mind reeling with ideas of how I'm going to make sure that Clove and I are the last two tributes standing.

There it is! Please please review because it helps a lot :) I'll try to have chapter 11 up sometime next week. Thanks for reading XO