Sorry, I'M SO BAD AT UPDATING REGULARLY!

As always, thoughts are in italic.

Love this chapter? Tell me

Hate this chapter? Tell me

Feel nothing at all about this chapter? Tell me

Cato's POV

She seems fairly distant but I guess that's what happens when you disappear for a year. My eyes take in the all the subtle changes of Clove like her hair that's maybe an inch longer. Most people would have noticed the more obvious things but I know her better than that. I can see behind her new nose piercing, her skinnier than usual frame and her slightly lighter hair. She's different and I'm not sure if I like it but I definitely love having her around me again. Curiosity takes over my brain and the biggest on my mind blurts itself out.

"Why do you have a gun?"

She doesn't even bother looking at me, "Makes me feel safe, I guess," her answers is partnered by a shut of the shoulders. Instinctively, I roll my eyes at her comment. "So, having an item that has killed millions in your house makes you feel 'safe'?" I question, unable to keep a sarcastic laugh from leaving my lips.

"Look who's fucking talking," she mutters under her breath but obviously I heard her. "Plus you're the last person who can judge me. I mean, what do you know?"

Pain streaks through my heart like a lightning bolt. My mind starts to spin and click into action. I did this, she was innocent before I came along. Before I came along and changed her. Before I came and fucked everything up. Look at her for fuck sake, a gun? She now carries a gun because of me. I'm such a dick head.

Ignoring her painfully true statement, I ask "Where are you taking me?"

With a jolt, the car comes to a complete stop. "Here," Clove replies simply.

After jumping out of the car, I turn to thank her and am greeted by a first aid pack thrown at my face. "You're on your own this time. Sterilise then wrap. Good luck." And with that, she drove off leaving me there like an abandoned puppy.

No, you're not getting away that easily, Clove.

My feet break off into a run before I can even process what's happening. Clove sees me in her rear view and I see something flash in her eyes however it flees immediately as she accelerates. My pump as fast as they can whilst clutching at my gunshot wound. Once again, my eyes catch hers in the rearview mirror. Her eyes roll and the car slows to a stop. "I'm sorry," I apologise, unsure of whether or not she wants me to enter the car. Clove slams both arms on the steering wheel causing it to screech out a powerful bleep. A frustrated sigh leaves her before she yells "Fuck! Just get in the fucking car!" Guiltily, I get in the car. Minutes of driving filled with deafening awkward silence causes me to shift uncomfortably in my seat. Finally, she pulls over to the side of the road (AN: and I heard son do you know what I'm stopping you for? I'm sorry couldn't help it ^_^ leave a comment if you got that)

I follow her into a small shack that seems no bigger than a car. But once we're inside I see that's larger than I originally thought. Inside the shack is a car with the hood up. Even with my extremely limited knowledge of cars, I know that there are a few things missing. My eyes snap back to Clove as she pulls out a long board with wheels along the underside of it. She sets it down between two work benches turning it into a makeshift bed. Clove taps the bed gesturing for me to lay down. I hold out the first aid kit I hadn't even realised I was still holding which she takes promptly.

"It's a Mustang, got it when I was sixteen. Saved up for three years before I could get it. Shirt," Clove's words fill the deadly silence. The words comfort me, knowing the old her is still there.

You don't even know the old Clove, you dick head.

"Shirt," she repeats. Stupidity and humiliation makes me blush. I finally do as she says so that she can continue. "Two months ago, I started to take it apart in my spare time. Took me less than a week to dismantle it and put it back together. Made me realise that I had way too much on my hands so I started doing longer shifts in the yard. Up to fifteen hours a day I'd work. Broke a Guinness world record for most tyres changed in a day. And another for car batteries. Flex, please. Thank you. My life's no thrill seeking, action packed movie but I guess it's okay." Struggling, I try to listen to what she's saying but it's kind of hard when someone's fixing a bullet wound. A hiss escapes my lips as she pours alcohol on the wound and immediately Clove reacts, "Stop being a pussy. It only grazed you. It's hardly painful."

"Well then, hand me your gun and I'll just graze you. Then we'll see if it's still 'Hardly painful' Are you done yet?" I threaten her.

Clove takes a step back and lifts up her shirt enough for me to see the bottom of her ribcage. Just above her hip bone is a scar and I have no doubt that I will soon have one exactly like it. I have to resist the urge to reach out and touch it, knowing that would be inappropriate. "He came back after you left. Just the once, though. He came to the house about two months later, luckily I was the only one home." She recounts.

"And…?"

"Only one of us are still alive and I'm sure you can guess who," Clove sighs and for a moment I believe it because of my stupidity before I realise it was a sigh of relief. "Anyway, you're done. Just do as I said last time a keep the bandage on for two weeks and clean it each day." I nod gesturing that I understand.

She puts her hand out in front of her before dismissing me, "Once again, goodbye, farewell and good luck with your life. I'm sure that one day I'll be saving your ass again. But, I hope that won't be for a very long time."

I can feel my face break into wide grin as I reply, "Oh no, girlie. I'm not going anywhere. In fact, I'm going to live with you from now on."