I do not own Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games characters.

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I have had a really long week so I haven't really been able to find time to write this next chapter until now. I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter 4:

The sweet aroma of cupcakes fills the kitchen and I lick my lips in anticipation. Cato pulls the cupcakes out of the oven and before I have the chance to snatch one they are put in the refrigerator. I huff a sigh and Cato just laughs. I am about to pout when my phone-which Cato charged while I was unconscious and getting stitched up-vibrates.

From Glimmer: where r u?

i'm at the jail and u aren't

i got released

ur parents bailed u out?

no

then how r u out?

I look up at Cato, who is gazing curiously at me, and debate whether or not I should tell Glimmer. After staring at him for a few seconds, I decide that I would rather just keep this between us two. Glimmer doesn't need to know.

anonymous bail thing. for like troubled teens.

She doesn't type back immediately and I am worried that I just screwed things over when my phone vibrates.

wow ur lucky

ikr

I am about to ask what work I missed when a frosted cupcake appears quite literally under my nose. I look up at Cato, the body behind the hand that holds the cupcake. I give him a questioning look and he nods. I grin and snatch the cupcake from his hand. Carefully, I pull the wax paper back and then sink my teeth into the moist cake. I let out something between a sigh and a moan as the cake and frosting mixture hits my tastebuds.

"This is amazing," I mumble through a mouth full of cupcake.

"Thanks," Cato smiles with pride. "Who are the texts from?"

"My friend," is all I say before taking another bite of the cupcakes.

He looks at me curiously, waiting for me to continue speaking. When I don't he says, "Does this friend have a name?"

"Yes," I respond, finishing off the cupcake and licking some icing from my fingertip.

"Are you going to tell me?" He asks.

"No."

For a moment he looks like he is going to say something else, but then he decides not to push the subject. Instead, he brings up something else entirely. Something that I would rather not talk about, but somehow already know that I will probably tell him.

"What were you in for?" He asks.

"They don't tell you that when you bail someone out?"

"Not for strangers no."

I open my mouth and force the words out, "Vandalism."

"What did you do?" Cato's voice is curious and I can tell that his interest is piqued.

"It is hard to explain," I say. We are silent for a second. "But I could show you if you want."

Cato's face is obviously surprised but he immediately agrees. With that, he helps me out of the shop and into his car. I direct him on the directions, going right then left then right again and making what seems like an immense amount of turns before we reach the site of my crime. Cato parks in the lot and we get out of the car. He helps me a few steps until we are both leaning against the cold brick wall of the building across from my vandalism.

"Wow," Cato says. I turn my head to the right and look at him. His mouth is agape and his eyes are flitting around as though they are not sure where to rest. "This is beautiful."

In front of us, a large spray painting stretches 10 feet up and 15 feet out. I know, I measured it. It is a large gray triangle. On the outside are bright flowers and leaves, bursting up jovially and brightly. The inside of the triangle is dark and a thin trail of red slips out for inside of it, dripping down the flowers until it forms a small crimson puddle. Even in the dim night lighting, the painting still shows brightly. Just as I meant it to.

He turns to me. "You did this?" He gestures to the painting. "Like by hand?"

"Yeah," I mumble. "It's not a big deal. Well, it is. A crime big deal."

"This is the best crime ever," He says in awe. Then, as if he remembers himself he follows it up with, "Not that you should commit crimes."

I let out a little laugh.

"Well, it might be a little too late for that."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say that today was far from the first time that I have been in jail."

Cato is quiet at that and I realize that he is not sure what to respond to that. Then, I see another cupcake appear in front of my face. I hadn't even realized that he had brought one. I lean down to take a bite out of it when Cato jerks it up and the frosting gets on my nose. I shove him back playfully before quickly snatching the cupcake out of his hand and stuffing it all in my mouth before he can get any more of it on my face. My mouth is too small to hold the whole cupcake and I choke a little on it before managing to swallow it.

When Cato sees me with my face stuffed full of cupcake he bursts out laughing. Still laughing, he helps me into his car, but he helps me into the back rather than the front seat. He sits next to me for a moment and it literally feels like we have known each other for a lot longer than just a few hours.

"You want to go home?" Cato asks.

"Sure," I respond, but neither of us moves. After a moment, he kisses me gently on the cheek and then moves to the driver seat and begins to drive me home. I lightly touch the point on his cheek where he kissed me, enjoying the warm feeling that still resides there.

What did you all think of this chapter? I hope that I am not developing their relationship to fast, but I feel like this just works a bit better for them.

Stay happy, healthy, and safe,

-Jewel