~Glimmer Point of View
I spent the night with him again. Even though they gave us each beautiful new houses, it didn't seem right to not be with him.
We each moved in slowly. My family visited, and his did too. Eventually, I got enough clothes to fill up my drawers, even though I could never wear all that stuff. Family pictures were hung in the stairwells; paintings were hung on the walls. But every night, he either came to me or I went to him. However, when our family's visited, we slept alone. It wouldn't have been right, or appropriate. I know my mother would not have approved, and I doubt his father would. Besides, it wouldn't have been a good example for Brena or Jarius.
I turned seventeen. My parents came and spent a week here. Cato was there for a cake and presents. Mom and Dad got me a beautiful dress, deep purple; Jarius got me a book, but Cato's was the best. It was a pair of diamond earrings. They sparkled in the lights when I opened them, and Mom gasped in surprise. Jarius snorted, and we laughed as I gave him a big hug and very sincere thanks.
He turned nineteen. His family came to visit, and we had a party for him too. His parents got him a new suit, his little sister a tie, and I got him a silver plated wristwatch. I could tell his parents knew there was something much more than close friendship. After that conversation with his mother so long ago, I knew she at least knew we were together as a couple. We went for a stroll that night in the garden his mom had planted. While my backyard had a pond and was full of weeping willows with stone paths, his was blooming with colour all year around. We walked hand in hand through the oasis of flowers, the breeze blowing my hair gently. He stopped near the fountains, pulling me close to him. The sun was setting, and it reflecting in the water, turning it pink and orange. He kissed me gently before pulling something from his pocket and slowly lowering down to one knee. Opening a velveteen box, a brilliant ring sparkled in the dimming light. It was a clear cut diamond, glimmering with bright colours from the setting sun. Taking my left hand in his, tears rushed into my eyes.
"Glimmer, will you marry me? You are the most amazing, breathtaking, gorgeous girl in the entire universe, and you're the only one for me. Please say you'll be mine." I nodded, a hand on my mouth, and threw myself in his arms before he could get up. I had worn my new purple dress and diamond earrings, and he had changed into the suit that his parents had gotten him. Tears fell slowly down my cheeks, but they were happy tears. He kissed me tenderly before slipping the ring on to my finger. It was a perfect fit. We stayed on the cobblestoned path, me almost sitting in his lap, his arms around my back.
"Yes, yes, of course I'll marry you." It was the only thing I could think to say, and I kept repeating it in a whisper as he rained kisses on my cheeks. I put my head on his shoulder, and his hands began to rub my back. All of a sudden, there was a small squeal from behind an azalea bush, and we both looked up. Brena was standing there, peeking around the bush, and Cato smiled when he saw her, and gestured for her to come closer. She shot into his arms, and I slid to the ground next to him while he stood up and swung her up, making her squeal again. His parents appeared on the back porch, and smiling, came down. His mother winked at me, letting me know that she had been in on it, and greatly approved of it.
I called my parents that night. Mom got choked up, and Dad insisted that I give him Cato's number so he could call him. I obliged with a laugh. In the background, I could hear Jarius exclaim in surprise when they told him the news. "She's getting married, yuck!" I grinned. He'd come around one day, when he realized girls and marriage and the whole nine yards was okay. I was surprised that they weren't against the whole idea. I mean, I had just turned seventeen, and he was only nineteen. Most girls in 1 didn't get married until their 20's. I questioned my mom about it.
"Sweetheart, we knew you two were going to get married ever since you brought him to dinner. I would normally think that it is a bit young, but you're not a child anymore. Your dad and I are so proud of you, and we love you both. Cato is the best boy in the world for you, and we all know it. So, although your dad sounded stern, he's just as happy as I am."
I grinned brightly, and promised that they would defiantly come and visit for the wedding. I knew Mom would want to start planning soon, as we would. It was spring, and I wanted a summer wedding, with warm waters and blazing sunsets. Hopefully, if we began soon, then we could get something organized by the end of summer. It would be wonderful, magical.
When the Capitol found out about it, they were, of course, thrilled. We were the two victors, desperately in love, and had finally made the closing move: marriage. It was full of propaganda, and I knew we'd get calls from companies trying to get a camera into the wedding. Each and every person was vehemently denied, and that caused more problems. Both of our families talked, and we decided on something. First, we'd get married in one, since that was my home District, and Cato's parents were okay with that. Then we'd stage one for the Capitol. Our first would be simple but elegant, beautiful. Our second would be big and pompous, just like the Capitol people liked.
It was such a rush, all this planning. Morning to night, detail after detail had to be discussed, mainly for the wedding here. We planned the first one first, and it had been delightful to talk about. It would be my real wedding. The second was getting more and more stressful, though. Flowers, china, cakes, music, who did I want to invite and who did I have to invite, it was so much to do and so little time. Cato sat in on a lot of the meetings, rubbing my shoulders when I sighed in frustration, and putting input into the guest list especially. Unfortunately, the President would have to come, we couldn't snub him. However, the Gamemaker would not be invited. No matter what, there was no way he was coming, not after what happened. I had made a few friends here, as had Cato and we invited them and their families, our stylists and their friends and families. It was a huge venue, and we had to fill it up.
People were thrilled to get invitations. It was like we were hosting the most popular party and you were only important if you got an invitation. Strangers in the street knew who we were and asked about the wedding, making us smile awkwardly and give away something unimportant. They'd latch on to it, and that night it would be on the news.
Through all of this, I made a strange reality. The dream of every child in District 1 was to win the Games. You'd be rich and famous, never to be looked over in a crowd again. But now that I had fulfilled that dream, it wasn't as good as I thought. This was the plan for everyone in the Career District, but now that I'd actually grasped it, well, what was I supposed to do now? Cato, I learned one night, had the same problem.
"Honey, does it sometimes seem like, we don't exactly have a purpose anymore?" I stated the question one night as he climbed in bed beside me. He thought for a minute, and I think he realized it in that moment. Wrapping an arm around my waist and kissing my cheek, he answered me.
"You know I think you're right. I never realized it. We were born and bred for this, but they never tell us what to actually do when we achieve the impossible. It's like they just except you to know what to do. I don't know about you, but I kind of stumbled through this. You were pretty graceful, though, until we both found our footing." He chuckled and put his lips to my forehead, and I leaned into him.
"I wasn't that graceful, I was as clueless as anyone. I guess that's what our mentors are for." Smiling, I settled into his side, his arms around my back. He quickly drifted to sleep, and my thoughts turned back to my wedding, the real one. Tomorrow I was going to get fitted for the Capitol one, but I'd already chosen my real one. Hopefully Cato would like it. White could wash me out, but I'd added a dap of colour, and I'd make sure to put enough makeup on to give me some good colour in my face. Plus I was sure to be the classic blushing bride, and with lipstick, I'd look fine. A smile caressed my lips as I drifted into a dream.