I don't own Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games characters.
Wholy crap. I cannot believe that I am already on chapter twenty. That is super crazy. Thank you so much to everyone who has read, followed, favorited, and commented on this story. It means so much. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 20: The Homecoming Game
Annie's POV
Clove, Johanna, and I make our way up the stands to where Peeta, Katniss, and Madge are already sitting. Cato, Gale, and Finnick are on the field. I am a nervous wreck, but I am trying my best to hide it. While Finnick says that he doesn't play too dangerous of a position, he wouldn't tell me what position he did play, which doesn't give my the warm and fuzzies. Clove on the other hand is doing a much better job of hiding her emotions. If I didn't know her, I would think that she was almost bored. Johanna and I share a look as Clove takes her spot in the stands and minuscule cranes her neck to find Cato on the field. Cato is a linebacker and Gale is a left tackle. Finnick is number 4, Gale is number 12, and Cato is number 2.
"Ugh, will this game start already," Johanna says impatiently. Within the last week, Clove and I have learned that Johanna loves football. Clove and Katniss like football, but they are nowhere near as into the game as Johanna is. Apparently, she has gone to every single home game since freshman year.
"It'll start in a few minutes," Marvel says. I jump a little, startled by his sudden appearance. For a moment, I think that I see a smile pass Johanna's face, but it is gone so quickly that I am sure that I just imagined it.
The game does start in a few minutes. Finnick steps onto the field and stands directly behind a guy in the center. I hear him yell something and the ball is suddenly in his hands. Everyone on the field moves into action and I watch as Finnick scans the field. Then the ball is flying through the air in a perfect spiral and lands at least thirty yards down the field and into another guy's hands. Johanna is screaming something as the guy runs down the field, but he is tackled before he can get too far.
Madge turns to me. "You didn't tell me Finnick was the quarterback," She says.
"Yeah. He wouldn't tell me," I say. I feel a little worry creep into my mind and I silently pray that Finnick doesn't get sacked. Johanna told me that that happens to a lot of quarterbacks.
At the end of the first quarter, we have two touchdowns and the other team only has one. Nothing too notable happens until the end of the second quarter. Gale and Cato are on the field with many of the other defensive players. The quarterback of the other team calls out a play and I lose track of both of them in the commotion of the game. Within a few seconds, all of the players have stopped. A few of the players from our team are surrounding something on the field. I crane my neck and see feet and realize that one of the boys is laying on the field. Two people, a man, and a woman, in medical uniforms run onto the field. As the other boys move away from the boy laying on the field, I see the number on the jersey. 2.
Clove is on her feet, but as I turn to her, I can tell that she hasn't seen the number yet. Johanna turns to Clove and places a hand on her arm. It takes a few seconds, but I see a look of sheer panic cross over Clove's face and I know that she sees the number. She pushes past Johanna, then me, and shoves over a few kids that are standing on the stairs. Johanna and I share a look before taking off after Clove.
"Cato!" I hear her scream. Johanna almost trips down the stairs but manages to catch herself.
When I look on the field, I see that Cato still hasn't gotten up.
"Cato!" Clove yells again. She has reached the bottom of the stands now and literally throws herself over the railing, falling about two feet and landing on the field. She stumbles for a moment before taking off running again. Johanna and I rush down the stairs after her, but Clove is already halfway across the field when we are just reaching the edge.
"Dang that girl is fast," Johanna gasps. I nod as we take off after her. Cato is being carried off the field at this point, giving us even farther to run after her. I see her at the edge of the field, with Finnick and Gale standing in front of her, trying to hold her back I think. When we finally reach her, she is pushing hard against them. Despite the fact that Clove is a small girl, I can tell that Gale and Finnick are both struggling to restrain her.
"I want to see him," I am surprised at how broken Clove's usually strong voice sounds.
"Clove, you can't," Finnick says soothingly.
She hits him hard in the chest and he flinches back.
"Why not?" She asks.
"They won't let you," Gale says.
Clove makes to hit Gale but Johanna grabs her arm. Clove spins on her heel to Johanna and I and even though there is anger in her eyes, they glisten with tears. She glares at Johanna for a moment and I can tell that Johanna is about to snap at her, but I step in. I push Johanna gently aside and I wrap my arms around Clove. She is tense and rigid but I don't let go. After a few seconds, I feel slight wetness on my shirt and I realize that Clove, strong and ever-resilient Clove, is crying. I put my arm around her and I walk her around the field and towards the fence by the endzone.
"He's gonna be okay," I whisper to her. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Finnick give me a subtle thumbs up before running onto the field so they can finish the quarter and go into halftime.
"How do you know that?" Clove asks when we reach the fence and she slumps down against it, landing on the ground.
"To be honest, I don't. But until we know that he isn't fine, I am going to say that he is," I reply softly.
Johanna is sitting on the other side of Clove now.
"I talked to Gale. He said that it didn't look like Cato had more than a broken arm."
"Than why wasn't he moving?" Clove asks angrily.
"Gale thinks that he was just hit unconscious. He got hit hard by a kid named Thresh from the other team," Johanna points to a massive dark-skinned boy on the sidelines.
"That would do it," I say and Clove lets out a small laugh.
At the end of half time, a man named Garrison comes over and tells Clove that she can come and see Cato briefly, but then they have to take him to the hospital. Johanna and I share a worried glance when Garrison says the word 'hospital'. Clove comes back about fifteen minutes into the third quarter.
"What did I miss?" Clove asks.
"One touchdown," Johanna says. She looks to me meaningfully.
"How's Cato?" I ask.
"No longer unconscious. He actually wasn't hit as hard as Gale said, just passed out from the pain. They think he broke his radius," She says it simply and almost without emotion. She is back to the Clove that I am used to seeing, but I can tell that she is putting up a facade.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine, I don't have a broken arm."
"Clove, really," Johanna says sternly.
Clove doesn't say anything for a few moments, watching as Finnick throws a spiral down the field.
"I hope he is okay," Is all Clove says. Her voice is softer than I have ever heard it before.
"You really care about him," Johanna says astonished. She turns to me. "You don't know this, but Clove has never been more serious with a guy than going on a few dates, and then she always lets them down hard."
Clove shoves her gently but a smile plays on her lips.
"Maybe I do," She says and then we sit together, watching the rest of the game.
After the game, I wait in the shadows under the stands. I check my watch, but my head flies up when I hear a plastic bottle crunch. Finnick is standing in front font of me. His copper curls are ruffled all over the place and his face is glowing with sweat. I match the wide smile on his face with the one on my own.
"Congratulations," I say as he steps towards me. I wrap my arms around his waist.
"I think you're my good luck charm," Finnick smiles down at me.
"I definitely am," I reply jokingly. I pull him into a deep kiss.
"I wish I could take you out to homecoming," He whispers and I nod.
"Maybe you could. I mean, not officially, but it wouldn't be that odd if we just happened to meet up there and happened to spend the dance together."
"I like the sound of that," He says, leaning down and kissing my nose. He tips my head up and kisses me chastely on the mouth. I want to kiss him forever, but then his phone chimes.
"It's Gale. The guys want to go out for a celebratory dinner," He says it regretfully.
"Go, have fun!" I say. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Are you sure?" He asks.
I nod and he kisses me before he goes.
What did you guys think about Cato's injury in this chapter? Do you think Finnick and Annie should reveal their relationship to everyone? Tell me what you think, I would love to hear it.
Stay happy, healthy, and safe,
-Jewel.