Hey all, I'm back! Haven't been updating bcs of back to school from spring break exams and stuff. Okay, so Cato was evil(and he maybe still is), but he's going to change. Katniss will be all rude to him for awhile but they'll end up together soon.
Btw, thanks to all the reviewers/followers/favorites! I hope you continue to enjoy the story:)
So…with all that said, read on!
Disclaimer: I don't own the hunger games
A sharp rapping of knuckles brought Katniss back to her senses. "Miss Everdeen!" Mr. Crane says sternly.
Katniss looks up quickly, "Yes?"
"What were you doing? I asked you a question!"
"Sorry. Can you please repeat the question?"
Mr. Crane huffed and sighed. "Alright. The Catcher in the Rye. You know the book, right?"
Katniss nodded her head. "So, what do you want to ask me?"
"What is so important about the title?" Katniss froze. She hadn't read the book yet. "Uh, um. Because, you know, people catch rye, you know, the wheat?" Katniss stammered out a dumb explanation.
"Did you read the book?" Mr. Crane crosses his arms. "Anyway, we just discussed the title a few minutes ago. Were you not listening?"
"I was…" Katniss lied.
"So, what did the title mean?" Katniss nervously looks around the room. Every pair of eyes were on her. Even Cato's bright blue ones. Out of Katniss's peripheral vision, she saw something move. Cato. He was trying to tell her something! He was holding out his hand flat, mouthing the word 'rye'. Katniss understood that it was a rye field. Katniss nodded ever so slightly.
Cato then made walking motions with his fingers that fall off of the rye field. Then, there was this other person who caught the person falling. A cliff. Katniss understood.
"The Catcher in the Rye means that when people fall off the rye cliff field, the 'catcher' catches them at the bottom." Mr. Crane seems satisfied with her answer. "Very good. So they won't lose their innocence, huh?" Mr. Crane laughs and continues on rambling.
Katniss lets out a breath she didn't she was holding and relaxes her head on the desk. Underneath her arm, she could see Cato's piercing eyes staring at her. "Thank you." She mouths. Cato smirks and leans back in his chair, making it creak.
"So what happened back there?" Cato asks, as soon as we're out of class.
"I don't know." I lied. "I guess I just blanked out."
Cato lets out a fake gasp. "You're talking to me! You answered me! Does that mean you'll forgive me? Oh, forgive me, my fairest beauty!" He chuckles at his own little speech, but I'm unamused.
"I'm not your 'fairest beauty'." I say, annoyed, walking away from him. Every time I see Cashmere and Cato kissing in my head, I get angry. I definitely don't want to let out my anger here.
"Wait," Cato shouts, when I'm several feet in front of him.
"I want to go to university, you know." I say, turning around. "I've been late to almost every class."
"Sorry. I just wanted to give you something." Cato says, as he digs around in his backpack.
"I don't accept gifts from strangers." I scowl and turn back around. A gift won't make me go back to him. Who does he think I am? A girl who craves expensive gifts from boys? More like Glimmer and Cashmere. I look at their personality, not how rich they are. "I'm not a stranger." I hear Cato whisper behind me. "I've known you since I was born."
I ignore him and stalk down the hallway, toward Mr. Becotte's French class. This is the first time that I'm not late for class.
Lunch was particularly difficult. I can't stand all the whispers and staring around me. "What is happening? How do they know that Cashmere and Cato did that?" I ask Clove.
"Word gets around." She replies, shrugging. "By the way, Prim's getting out of the hospital soon."
"Really?" I shriek with delight. "Prim! I can't wait to visit you tonight!"
Heads turn, people stare. They start pointing and whispering things like, "She's the girl Cato cheated on!" or "She broke up with Cato at the dance last Friday night!" I give them each death glares before resume eating.
Unfortunately, Cashmere hears. She carries her lunch tray, and slowly sashays over to where I'm sitting. Clove ignores her, but gives her side looks once in a awhile. "Hey, Kat, she's heading your way." Clove says suddenly. I stiffen when I feel Cashmere's breath on my neck.
"Prim! I can't wait to visit you tonight!" Cashmere mimics in a high, shrill voice. "Is that your flower or something?" She sneers. I pick at the bun of my hot dog.
"No. Please stop getting in my business."
"Your business? Cato isn't just your business. He's mine." Cashmere says.
"He's all yours. No need to share." I reply back, hoping for her to leave. With that, Cashmere does leave, heading over to Cato. I'm confident that I don't want Cato as a boyfriend ever again. He was such a jerk, and he still is. But when the more I think about it, the more confused I am.
Marvel glances from me back to Cashmere, back and forth. "Wow, Kat. No one dares to say stuff to Cashmere in that kind of atttitude. Even Glimmer." I nod, proud that I stood up for myself.
"So," Madge says, picking at her hot dog. "I have a spring party type of thing at my house next week."
"Oh my god, is Finnick gonna be there?" Annie asks.
"I have to invite everyone in the grade." Madge sighs. "I hope we have enough food. But our house is definitely big."
"What time?" I ask, sipping my drink.
"Umm, six to twelve?"
I choke and sputter on my water. "Six hours? Are you serious?"
"Yeah. But my parents say, no crazy partying."
"Obviously," Clove chimes in. "We're only juniors. No like, you know, crazy partying."
"That's what I just said." Madge says.
Clove rolls her eyes. "Who cares."
"Is Cato going?" I ask.
"I have to invite him."
"Nah, count me out, then." I say. I'm going nowhere near Cato.
"You should go, Cato's probably just going to be making out with Cashmere the whole time." Foxface says. I have to admit it, that hurt. But I've learned how to disguise my emotions well.
"Yeah." Everbody else chimes in. Except Clove. I bet she understands what I feel like about Cato.
"I think you should go, Katniss. It'll be fun." Clove says. Never mind, nobody understands me.
"I'll think about it." I sigh. This brings a bunch of squeals and laughter from my friends. "Good choice, Kat!" Thresh booms. Half of the cafeteria turns around to look at us. Thresh covers his face in embarrassment, while Delly pats his back. I catch Cato's eye as they narrow-enviously, or is it jealously-toward our table. Cashmere was trying to get his attention was puckering her lips toward him. Pathetic.
I smile triumphantly, and turn, satisfied, back toward my lunch. Of course, everyone noticed that. Clove tries to hide her smile. "You did it, Katniss." She says. "Just a little bit more each time. Until he regrets doing that to you."
"I know. I'm still working on it." I sling my arm across Marvel's shoulders. He looks at it, bewildered. I wink at him, and he understands immediately. I manage to shush everyone when Cato comes over, a fuming Cashmere sitting by the now empty seat.
"Cato." I say calmly, once he approaches.