Chapter 12

Katniss pecks me on the lips.

"C'mon, let's go," she says.

I take one moment to look at her, take her in. With the sun about to touch the water, she looks so bright and…seductive. The bright orb is right behind her, making the deep blue water in the lake shimmer before her. Her body glows in the dim light. Her smile is so enticing…she seems to be glowing; her skin looks like melted bronze. Her hair is out of its usual braid—it's thick and all wet, and it goes past her waist. Every inch of her is exposed (except for the bathing suit covered parts, of course), and her legs look so muscular and smooth and long. Her hip bones are rather prominent and her shoulders look so broad. We should go to the lake more…her eyes seem to have a spark behind them, and her lips look so puckered and pink. She looks a bit tired, but for some reason…it makes it THAT much more beautiful.

My moment of happiness is taken away but a clench in my stomach. Right…going to see my parents again, after many years of endured abuse. I feel like Atlas—the guy that has to hold up the sky. Everything's so heavy, and every moment of your life, you're in pain. But whenever I'm with Katniss, I feel like Hermes. Light, quick, and so…happy, I guess. But maybe I just feel…free. Like I can forget everything, and just remind myself that I have someone. Someone strong and beautiful. Someone I can lean on. That feeling of having someone there to catch me when I trip, to cover for me when I'm…gone, is so rewarding.

I follow behind Katniss to the showers. We rinse off and pack our bags. Before I know it, we're on our way to see my parents and revisit my past. I hold Katniss' hand tightly, making my palms a little damp. But I didn't care—I have more important things on my mind. Shoot, what am I gonna say to them when I see them? They don't even know that I'm coming! I silently lead Katniss to the house; my house, with the grapevines and a view. It's nearly been 8 months since I've last seen it…and anyways, it shouldn't really be my house, my domain. I should be proudly living in the Victor's Village. I'm just…well, I'm just too lazy to move in.

I offer to carry Katniss's bag. She refuses to let me carry it, always pulling the bag out of my reach. I spin her around, but she escapes out of my grasp like a Vaselined watermelon. I look at her, and then I realize…she can already see that I'm troubled by something. I guess, symbolically, she doesn't want to put any more trouble on me. She holds my hand again, and we continue on. I try to put on a feeling of ease, lengthening my strides and loosening my hold on her hand.

I don't think, I just walk, letting my legs…carry me. I felt like my mind was floating…I have traveled this way so much when I was…younger, I guess. I should be thinking about the days where I raced Danny up the hill, or how Annie and I...wait…never mind. But anyways, my mind should be crashing together from all of the memories that took place on this street…

"Cato! Cato!" Her voice rang true and clear into my ears. After the harsh words from my mother, her voice sounded as if she were an angel, calling my name to bring me to refuge. Annie, my Annie. I turn around and see her sprinting towards me, her strawberry-blonde mane running through the wind.

I stop halfway. I kick a stone under my feet. Before I know it, she appears in front of me. Her liquid hazel eyes are so bright, and so close to mine. I feel my heart beat…very loudly. I've never gotten this feeling before…loud heart, nervous actions, unable to take my eyes off. Her freckles make her look so innocent and free…as if she's in another world full of sunsets and butterflies and buttery pastries, and she's taking me with her too. Her smile and her lips seem glorious. The scent of her tousled hair fills my nose—sage, and something citrusy. Her soft hand slips into mine and I feel a rare smile creep across my face. Annie says I have a weird smile. Like, it's bent or something. I feel my lips tug up at the left side abruptly, and then my right corner follows slowly, like a slow boil starting to heat up. I was suddenly worried about how my hand felt in hers. I just finished chopping the wood out back, so I hope my hands aren't too dirty. Or rough, from all of the hard labor I've done.

I look at Annie and she looks at me. She has those bright eyes, and that light smile.

"Cato, let's go!" she says. She tugs me along and we fly down the road, like two doves circling the breezeless air. Our legs go flying, mine in rough linen shorts, hers in a soft, floral skirt. Dirt kicks up, and before you know it, we're at the lake.

We climb up our usual tree. That's the thing I like about Annie: she's pretty and she's girly. But she knows how to act like a guy. But I do like those secret nights where she climbs up into my room because she needs to be comforted. She feels like…something. Something I have, and can physically hold. It was a weird but exciting feeling…maybe it was called love. She was beautiful love itself, in my arms.

Annie and I talk for a few minutes in that tree. We look around, making sure no one has spotted us. But we were up pretty high on maybe a sturdy branch hidden in the thick foliage. Annie takes my hand again, reaching far across…

"It's okay," she says. "I won't fall or anything."

"Cato, did you hear what I said?"

I snap out of my trance, and then Katniss' voice and face come into view.

"What?" I respond stupidly. I can't believe I was thinking about Annie Caulfield, who moved away three years ago, with Katniss at my side. After all, she is everything I could hope for…but sweet Annie, with her sweet face; she was my first love. The person who made me feel…cherished, and wanted. I keep on telling myself that she's moved on, and that I've moved on. But I know that's not the case. I will always have a special place in my heart for her.

"I was wondering how much longer we have to walk. It feels like we've been walking for ages," she responds with a smile.

I look around. The trees were thinning out, a huge hill was looming over up ahead. Long green grass was springing up everywhere, and I could see a white roof peeking up.

We're here.

AN: HIIIII! Thanks for the reviews guys, but c'mon. We couldn't at least hit 69? Anyways, not being immature now, thanks to everyone!