"What do you mean your moving in with him?"
"Mum this is just something I've got to do. He needs someone who's going to be there with him. He needs me Mum. I don't expect you to understand…" I moaned flinging my clothes into a bag
"Understand? Don't you forget that…" She said moving ever closer to me
"I'm well aware Mum," I said turning round to face her, the top layer of her eyes appeared angry and full of hate but underneath I could see sadness and fear "I'll only be round the corner, I'm not leaving you for good Mum. It's just something I've got to do. Out of all the people you should be the last to stop me from what love needs me to do."
My Mum sat down on my bed, patting the space next to her to sit down. I rested my head on her shoulder as she soothed my hair, "Your so young Lilly, yet so mature. The games the change people. I don't want you being a victim of them as well as him"
"I'm all grown up Mum, I don't need protection anymore." I murmured. I hated these talks, I hated the idea of being protected.
"I know sweetie… I'll help you pack" she sighed, refolding all my clothes that had been left in a heap.
I stood in the middle of Cato's hallway, two heavy bags in hand.
"Hello? Cato the front door was open! Cato?" I listened for any sound of movement before dropping my bags and making my way upstairs. Heck, he was the strong one, he could carry the bags. I reached of the top of the stairs and that's when the stench hit me. Not now. Of all times. My mum was coming round with the last of my stuff in five minutes. I pushed open the door of Cato's bedroom. The smell of whiskey and rum hit my nose. Cato lay slumped over in a heap surrounded by what appeared to be empty bottles and vomit. It was to be expected. He had a couple of good days and then a really bad one. It was how he worked. I walked over, holding down the bile as I examined the mess. Bending over I rested my hand on his shoulder. His eyes snapped open
"You won't fucking kill me 3!" he screamed diving and tackling me to floor. I pushed off the majority of his punches. His eyes were wild yet empty.
"Cato! Cato! It's Lilly. It's all over sweetie." I screamed. I let out a groan as his fist made another collision with my jaw. Panic ran through my head. What if I couldn't get him to stop this time. This was the most intoxicated he'd been. These thoughts were interrupted by the horrified shriek my mum let out.
"You get your hands off my daughter you bastard." She yelled dragging Cato's body off me. He looked up to her, realisation hitting his eyes.
"Lilly.. Lilly am so sorry" Tears ran down my heroes face, his eyes filled only with regret and sadness.
I didn't have time to answer before my mum dragged him up "We're going to get you cleaned up and have a chat downstairs." She glared at me "Lilly unpack your things, I will call you when I'm ready to speak with you". And just like that they were gone.
I spent what felt like forever moving the stuff my mum had brought from the bag into the drawer. I was nearly done when I felt the sharp corner of the frame on my finger. I pulled out and studied the picture. I was there only fifteen at the time, so young and innocent. My arms draped around Cato's neck as he carried me on his back… smiling. Both of us smiling. It had been my Mum's annual reaping night BBQ.
The smell of freshly cut grass, and cooking meat filled my nostrils. My hand was entwined with my new boyfriends. I could tell all the other girls were jealous. I'd got him and they hadn't. "I'll race you the old oak" Cato teased "I'll even give you a ten second head start"
I laughed "See you in twenty minutes lover boy" I took off. Dashing in and out of important guests of my Mothers. I could hear him behind me laughing "You'll need to better than that if you want to outrun me in the arena" I ignored his comment building up my pace. I reached the old oak not long before Cato.
"Two out of three" Cato said raising his eyebrow, placing his strong hands on my waist. I looked at him, dead in the eye
"What did you say about out running you in the arena" I barked
He looked at me shocked and confused his hands falling from my hips, I realised how harshly I had been looking at him and a softened my gaze
"I never want to have to kill you Cato. Promise me that you won't volunteer if I'm reaped. And I wont if your reaped." I said my voice steady and calm
His arms slinked round me, his forehead resting on mine "Only if you promise to stand by me. And stay alive"
"I promise" I said leaning in so our mouths were a moment away from each other.
My thoughts were interrupted from a large bang downstairs. I ran down before I heard my mum shouting. I waited in the middle of the stairs listening to their conversation.
"Why didn't you tell me!" Cato raged, I could hear the venom in his voice and became genuinely worried for my mums safety.
"Tell you what exactly, that regardless of whether or not you won these games your life is over. Regardless of how ok you think you are their faces are going to haunt you. Fucking hell, what do they teach you at the Academy. My Hiedis was never the same when he came out, it drove him loopy. He killed another two after the arena before he took his life. How do I tell a 17 year old boy that without fucking him up before the games."
"You could have warned her. You could have kept her away from the monster I'm becoming. Every bruise she gets is because of me. And I enjoy it. I get a thrill…" Cato's voice was weaker but it still leaked venom.
I couldn't take it anymore the shouting continued as I made my way to the living room door, I twisted the handle the rage building up inside me, I walked in neither of them noticing. I picked up the lamp on the side table and dropped it to the ground. "Enough" I yelled. Both of them looked at me as if I was the one who had lost their mind.
"Doesn't anyone want to hear what I think?" I asked looking them dead in the eye "I think that Cato isn't Heidis. I think he can get through this Mum and that's something your just going to have to trust. As for you Cato, every bruise you give me isn't because of you. It's because of those games. I know somewhere in there is the Cato who I know and love and that is why I am here. Now Mum I love you but you need to leave just now so I can fix the house up and speak to Cato alone"
"But Lilly Swettie, it's not safe here"
"Mum, Now" I glared at her, folding my arms tightly over my chest. She moved towards the door stopping to look back at me and Cato. I did my best to give her a reassuring smile before she left. When I heard the front door click, I took my place on the couch next to Cato. He didn't even look at me.
"Why are you here" His voice lacked any emotion, his eyes empty
"Because I love you, Cato. And because a stupid fifteen year old girl promised to stand by you."