Career Bonds

LabRat3000

Chapter 13: Parted Bonds

Recap: Cato took Peeta to Katniss's mother. When Cato looked through Peeta's bag he found a love letter to Peeta from Jazer. When he came back, he showed Katniss the letter and stormed into Peeta's room. Peeta was sleeping, but Jazer was there. He was kissing Peeta.

"Cato I-" started Katniss. She stopped after she saw Cato glaring at Jazer.

"What the fuck do you think you were doing to my boyfriend!" asked Cato. He took a step forward. "Why the fuck did you kiss him and write him love poems!"

Jazer took a step forward as well. He glared back at Cato with the same ferocity. "Peeta's mine. You stole him from me."

Cato got angrier, but Katniss yelled for them to stop fighting. Her loud voice woke Peeta.

He yawned as he greeted everyone. When he saw the tension he asked, "Whoa, what happened? Did you guys think I was dead or something."

Peeta and Cato locked eyes. Peeta immediately looked away because the anger in them was burning Peeta. "I'll tell you who's dead. Jazer." answered Cato. With that, Cato leaped into the air and pounced on the tan boy.

Peeta got out of bed, and he and Katniss pulled them apart. Peeta growled at Cato. "What was that?"

Cato just got angrier. He broke free of Katniss. "What? Are you sad I hurt your boyfriend?"

Peeta was starting to get angry too. "What! Cato, why would you think that?"

Cato rolled his eyes. "Hmm, I don't know. I guess I think that because he wrote you a poem, and, oh yeah, he was kissing you when I walked in!" shouted Cato.

Peeta eyes widened in shock, fear, and pain. Cato was turning around and heading for the door. "No! Cato way! You... don't understand. Let me explain."

Cato laughed in pain as he started to speed walk to the door.

Cato grabbed all of his belongings. He only really had a few clothes from home to take. The Capitol had given them all they really needed to pack like clothes, toiletries, and books. Books. That reminded him of the first time he ever talked to Peeta. They both liked mystery novels. It was the day they first kissed, too.

He left the house and crossed the street. His house was next to Katniss's. All three of their houses were identical, but his house was cleaner. They would usually go their for big events.

As he unlocked the door, everything was processing in his mind today. He probably should've let Peeta explain, but what's done is done.

He had officially moved out.

Peeta was crying. He had possibly lost the love of his life. Jazer was waiting for him to calm down so they could talk.

"W-why did you k-k-kiss me! You kn-know I'm w-w-w-with Cato-o!" shrieked Peeta.

Jazer looked away. "You expected me not to have feelings for you? If you hadn't met Cato, we would be dating secretly still. I can't just not love you anymore! I thought you would remember, when I gave you that old poem. When you took it, I thought you... still loved me."

Peeta looked apologetically at Jazer. "Look, Jazer, I really do love Cato. He means the world to me. I'm so sorry... but I don't love you anymore. I've kept our relationship because I know what would happen if everyone knew that you're gay. I hope we can st-"

"No. We can't be friends. I don't think I can ever be happy just being a friend." Jazer got up and left.

Katniss walked in with some food shortly after. "I heard what you said, and maybe Cato might believe me. You're in no condition to be out looking for him anyway."

Peeta smiled as he grabbed some goat cheese. "Thanks. So... how's Gale?"

Katniss looked at the ground as she paused. "I don't know. They won't let me see him. I'm 'causing all kinds of trouble' there."

"You know, if our parent get married, we'd be step-siblings."

"Then when we marry Gale and Cato, we'll all be one big happy family." joked Katniss. She looked really tense.

"I heard the electric fence is on 24/7 now."

Katniss nodded as she stole some of Peeta's berries. "Yeah. I'm so bored!" Peeta grabbed her hand as she reached for more blueberries.

"Don't pull a fox-face." They both laughed.

Cato was loving it. Living alone meant that he could listen to classical music loudly. He remembered that it used to be called rap, pop, and hip-hop. He really didn't know the difference. He never paid too much attention in history. He knew that Peeta hated it, though.

He heard his doorbell ring. He wondered how anyone knew he was here. When he answered it, he saw Katniss. "Will you turn that noise down?" She mouthed. Once she could hear herself again, she informed Cato, "Peeta really misses you. He loves you, not Jazer. They had a secret relationship before Peeta met you, and Jazer never got over Peeta. That letter was from a long time ago, so it's just a childhood memory."

Cato stood their looking at her for some time. Without saying a word, he left for her house with her right behind him.

When he went inside he saw that Gale was getting much better. Peeta on the other hand was crying. He could hear him from downstairs. Cato ran up the steps and opened the door.

Peeta was under the covers. "K-katniss?" he asked. He peeked to see Cato looking down at him.

Cato crawled into bed besides Peeta without saying a word. Peeta turned to face him as they hugged. Peeta was the first to break the silence. "I love you."

"I love you, too. I'm marrying you aren't I? Katniss told me everything. I just... I think we should live separately, for now."

Peeta looked at him, confused. "What? Why?"

Cato kissed Peeta before answering, "I want to marry you, I want to still see you everyday, and you can sleepover and stuff, but I think this is the best option."

Peeta nudged Cato. "No! Why this all of the sudden! You've never even thought about it! It's really not fair. We're in love!"

"Yes, we are. That's why you should sleepover tonight. I feel like you haven't been focusing on anything but me, though. I know you must have other friends besides Jazer. I don't want to change you."

Peeta hand came up to caress Cato's cheek. "Oh, Cato, you could never change me. I don't need all of my old friends."

The older blond grabbed Peeta's hand. "You do! Katniss and I spend a lot of time together because we're friends. What do you do at that time?"

"...making you dinner, or at least, thinking about what to make."

"Exactly."

"So... you're really moving out."

"I already did."

"Well, Katniss did say that I really wasn't that bad. As long as I don't put any pressure on this leg, I can leave."

Cato smirked. "Come on, let's sneak you out of here."

"I have to go to our, I mean my, house for a sec. Carry me?" asked Peeta. Cato rolled his eyes as he picked Peeta up.

When the sneaked past Katniss, Prim, Katniss's mom, and Gale, they headed across the street. Waiting outside was Jazer with a bouquet of roses. When he saw them together like that, he dropped the flowers. Cato, anticipating what was about to happen, put Peeta down gently.

"What? What the heck guys?" screamed Peeta.

The two boys walked up towards each other.

AN: Tell me what you think! Some of my reviewers came back, but I have more!