Mags' POV
When I came in on Monday morning, the sight that greeted me made me smile. Katniss was lying on her bed, holding a teddy bear close to her, with Lady at her feet. The animal raised its head as I entered the room and wagged its tail. I patted her head and went over to Katniss' side, brushing the hair away from her face. She mumbled something incoherent before stilling once again. I was about to pull the blanket over her when I noticed the welts on her back. My hand hovered over the cuts causing the girl to awaken.
"Mags?" She questioned drowsily.
"He's gone too far," I whispered.
Katniss sat up and stretched her arms, still holding the bear close to her. "I'm fine."
"How can you tell me that when half of your back is swollen?" I asked in disbelief.
She sighed and shrugged. "It's not that bad."
"What did he do to you?"
Katniss looked down, wringing her hands together. I knew she would tell me, she always did. I was the only one she could tell, I was the only one who knew what he did to her, I was the only one she could vent to.
"He hit me with the belt and locked me up in the freezer," she whispered. My eyes widened. "I caught a cold but Madge kept me over at her house and took care of me."
I touched her forehead and face, noticing it wasn't warm. I wouldn't let her go to school if she was sick, that just wouldn't do. "Did she give you that?" I asked gesturing to the stuffed toy. A small brush crept on her cheeks and she shook her head.
"A boy." She said shyly.
I raised a brow. "A boy?" I've never heard her talk of any boy before.
"The captain of the football team," Katniss answered bashfully. "I've been doing really well. Practice is a little hard but nothing that I can't handle. I love it."
I smiled and placed a hand against her cheek. "I'm glad you're having fun, but you have to be careful. Don't let the devil downstairs find out." I cautioned. Her smile dampened slightly and she nodded. "So, about this boy," I added. "Does he have a name?"
Katniss grinned and looked down at the teddy bear in her hands. "Cato."
Cato's POV
For a couple of days after Katniss' fever I kept a close watch on her. Making sure she didn't force herself too much during practice, having been sick and all. But as I thought she would, our star player returned to the field full of energy and better than ever. Unlike before though, she started to talk to me.
When we needed to pair up, she'd pick me as her partner and I her. She would talk to me in between plays and sometimes at school, in class or in the hallways. Over the next couple of weeks our friendship grew, and so did my feelings. After about a month, I knew the feelings I had for her were definitely not that for a fellow teammate. After all, you don't worry as much as I did for her or buy someone you see as just a teammate a teddy bear.
It had been raining today, but we still had practice. I mean the rain wouldn't kill you, just completely cover you in mud, in our case at least. Katniss and I were waiting in the locker rooms, having a pointless conversation while we showered. Well technically she couldn't shower with us, since they were…uh, group showers I guess? Gale waited with me, and once it was our turn we took a quick shower, cleaning it up a bit for Katniss. Madge came soon after waiting for both her boyfriend and best friend. I went back inside to look for Katniss, making sure she was decent.
"Tell me you have clothes on," I said walking inside and I heard her laugh. "Well?"
"You can come in," she said.
I went down to her aisle. Her back was turned to me as she put a shirt over her head. Around her shoulders and back I spotted blotches of blue and purple bruises painted across her skin. She turned around to look at me with a smile on her lips, but it faded when she saw the look on my face.
"I didn't know the guys used so much force," I whispered in horror.
Katniss shifted uncomfortably, hugging her arm before shaking her head. "It's a football team. I didn't expect anything less."
I shook my head. "But-"
"Its fine, Cato," she insisted. "I'm not seriously injured. I'll live."
I sighed and decided not to push it, there was no use in arguing with this girl. She was always going to win, hardheaded wonder. "Madge is waiting for you." My teammate gave me a nod and grabbed her bag from the floor, heading towards the door.
But there was still something I needed to ask her. I've wanted to for a few days now, I just haven't had the courage.
"Katniss?" I called as she went outside.
"Yeah?" She stopped and turned to me.
"Would you want t-to, erm, g-go get lunch or something with me?" I asked like a fool, stumbling over my words and scratching the back of my neck nervously.
Katniss' POV
I was somewhat relieved that Cato had assumed the bruises I had were from practice. I didn't need anyone else putting two and two together. I knew Madge suspected something, but she hadn't said anything to me yet, or at least I haven't let her. I knew she would eventually, and I honestly had no idea how I would handle it.
Cato and I had begun to develop a strong and close friendship, but the question completely caught me off guard.
"What?" I asked, dumbfounded.
"Would you have ice cream with me," he repeated, scratching the back of his head nervously. Nowhere near the over confident boy I always see at practice, then again he's never cocky when around me, to come to think of it he's always a tad bit shy around me. "I mean, you don't have to or anything, but I, uh, would really like for you to go?" He ended it as more of an anxious and nervous question.
"Well-I-um, I was going to go with Madge," I stuttered. I felt extremely stupid. Never would I have thought that-
a.) I would be nervous to be asked on a date and-
b.) that Cato out of all people would ask me out. I was flattered to say the least.
"You guys go ahead," Madge replied. "Gale wants this game for his…what is it?"
"Play Station 3," he said with a smile.
"But-" I said, of course she cut me off.
"I'll text you once were done and I'll pick you up," she said waving goodbye at me.
"Let's go?"
I sighed and slowly nodded, letting him lead me to wherever he was taking me.
Cato's POV
I couldn't help but smirk at this tough girls nervousness. She had been quiet the whole way, we decided just to get ice cream. And she was even quiet after I bought each of us a cone and headed to the park to eat it. We sat down right in front of a water fountain, leaning against a large oak tree. Katniss took a spoonful of ice cream and focused her gaze on everything but me.
"Hey, are you alright?" I asked. The sound of my voice suddenly made her jump, I chuckled and she gave me a scowl.
"Yeah." She said shortly, looking at her ice cream.
"You haven't said much." I noted.
"I'm enjoying the scenery," she replied.
I raised a brow, "You're looking at your ice cream cone."
She blushed slightly, "Yeah, and? Maybe I like it's beauty."
I laughed, "Well, is it good at least?"
She nodded, finally looking at me with a small smile.
"Bubblegum is my favorite. What about yours?" She asked, taking another lick at hers.
I shrugged. "Cherry is the first thing that comes to mind," I said, then I took a leap of faith. Gale had mentioned to me the idea of a double date with him and Madge and Katniss and I. "Madge and Gale are going out to the movies tomorrow night, want to go?" I asked hesitantly, I'm never my completely confident self when around her, she has a certain effect on me...
Her mouth dropped, "Are you asking me out on a date?" She asked in shock.
I shrugged again and nodded. "You don't want to go out with me?" I said it as if I was joking, but in all honesty the nerves were eating me alive.
"Yeah," she answered quickly before blushing at her impulsiveness. "I mean, I don't mind."
I smiled and her lips mirrored mine. After that she seemed to get a little more comfortable around me. We talked about random things, such as the things we liked to do, or aspirations. I found that Katniss was a very smart girl, not that I ever doubted that. She was a year younger than me but we were in the same grade level, not to mention that math and science were her best subjects. She was amazed by the night sky just like I was, and she loved the woods. She's always wanted to go camping out one night and go star gazing. We were beginning a new conversation when a honk was heard. I could have sworn Katniss' face went a little pale and she immediately jumped to her feet.
"Tell Madge, I had to go home," she said, rushing her words out and quickly grabbing her bag.
"Is everything alright?" I asked, standing along with her. Concern laced into my voice.
Before I knew it she was already walking way ahead of me. She turned to answer me, walking swiftly backwards. "Yeah, just go tell Madge."
I shifted my gaze to the man in the car that seemed to startle her so much. The man in the drivers seat was glaring at me and I raised a brow.
What the hell was his problem?
I looked back one more time before heading to a GameStop nearby to get Madge, obviously something was wrong.
Katniss' POV
Seneca had seen me with Cato.
Shit.
He was going to tell Snow and I was going to get it. I got up quickly and made my way home by walking. Yep, you heard right, walking. I lived about half an hour away from the city, walking distance at least. There was a bridge that allowed getting to the city. I was about to get to said bridge when I heard a honk behind me. I didn't look back out of pure fear, and the car pulled next to me.
"Need a ride precious?" Seneca asked seductively.
I felt my stomach twist. "No, pervert," I shot at him. He narrowed his eyes and got out the car.
That's when I started to run.
Uh oh! Sorry for the cliff hanger, but somehow I have to get you all to wait anxiously for the next chapter! Let me know what you think in the reviews!
Don't forget to tell me what you thought and to thank Speedy08 for letting me use her plot line!
