Chapter 13

~Katniss~

During training I was exhausted. From the lack of sleep last night my moves were slower and slug-ish when it came to throwing weapons, climbing the obstacle course, and in combat training. I could tell that Brutus was getting upset with me because I wasn't training as well.

"What is wrong with you today?" he asked annoyed.

"I didn't get much sleep last night. I had things on my mind." I answered him as I swung a sword at a dummy.

"Well get it out of you mind so you can sleep tonight. No Career can be weak, makes them an easy target." he said and I glared at him and stabbed the dummy in the heart as best as I could.

"I am not a Career. And you can blame your top student for what is going on in my mind."

"When you're training here you are training to be a Career. And what did Cato do this time?" he asked me sounding a little more angry than he already was.

"Why don't you ask him." I suggested and swung the sword again, my arms shaking from the weight with my strength not up to speed. He sighed at me and pinched the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed.

"Okay, after lunch I want you to go back to your room and get some sleep instead of lifting weights today. We can't let you exhaust yourself and pass out." he said and I nodded in response. He took things a little easier on me until lunch an when it came time I left and only grabbed a bowl of chicken soup and water. When I sat down at the usual table I felt no one watching me unlike normally when I feel eyes on me all the time. I took in my surroundings and proved to myself that nobody was watching, not even Cato. He was sitting there at the TTT eating away at his food, I turned back to my own before he caught me looking at him. As I took a spoonful of soup to my lips Luna and Clove came to sit in front of me.

"Are you okay?" Clove asked me sounding like a worried friend and she looked like one too.

"I didn't get much sleep last night. Brutus is allowing me to go and get some sleep instead of lifting weights today." I explained.

"For real?" Luna asked.

"Yeah why?" I said looking and sounding confused.

"Because not many, if any, Trainers do that for their students." Clove said. "He must really like you." she said and I just shrugged my shoulders saying yeah I guess. When we were done with our lunch I walked with Clove and Luna out of the doors of the cafeteria and bid them goodbye as I went in the opposite direction of them to the dorm room where I got a few hours of sleep before waking up again with a little more energy than before. It wasn't as much as I would have liked but it was enough.

The next few weeks were different but what I would have considered normal if things had started differently. Cato hasn't said one word to me at all since I ran away from him that night. I guess I sort of expected this reaction from him. I guess he finally gave up trying to figure me out, maybe he's finally moving on from it. He has started to turn angry again, much like he was when I first came to the Academy. But right now I don't know what going to happen because tomorrow is the next Feast which also means two more months until the Hunger Games. Who knows what is going to happen.

~Cato~

I hate life right now. Ever since Spitfire ran from me that night at the track I haven't spoken to her since, and I haven't looked at her or watched her as much as I did, all I did was glance at her when nobody was looking. But sitting here in my room at home, surrounded by dark green walls and brown carpet, pictures of my family up on my walls, and a few of Clove and I, I couldn't help but think about the Feast tomorrow. I distinctly remember the last one, where I asked her to dance and had to sit by her during the meal.

What is going to happen this time. I won't ask her to dance, because I don't think I'll be able to control myself and not kiss her this time or confront her about why she ran. Part of me doesn't want to sit next to her during the meal part of the Feast, because she ran from me, humiliated me, and rejected me which put some damage on my confidence. But the other part of me, the part that has had to lock away my emotions to train the way I have, wants her to sit by me, because then I could have the chance to talk to her again, to feel her beside me, and feel her warmth. And it's that side that has started to take control, and it can't happen, for my sake and for the sake of the Games.

Brutus told me that he wants me to go on the Victory Tour this year if someone from District two wins. And he also mentioned that if Spitfire continues her training the way she has, he hopes she would join us. He only told me this after giving me a lecture about doing or saying things to Spitfire to keep her up all night with things on her mind, and mentioning that he had to send her to her room to get some sleep because she could practice properly. Because of this lecture and because of my feelings, I have kept trying to push them back down to where they need to me, they are like people trying to climb up a cliff, but no matter how often you shove them down or away, they keep finding ways to climb back up. Which means I honestly have no idea what tomorrow night has in store for me.

~Katniss~

Luna and I sat in our room the next day getting ready for the Feast, Clove was on her way so I just stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom while I dry my hair from the shower. I was currently wearing sweat pants and a plain shirt while I waited for Clove to get here with her dress do I knew what to wear. When I had finished blow drying my hair and brushing through its soft waves she walked in wear one of her black dresses with fringe that fades from black to white along the skirt.

"Hey guys white shoes or black?" she asked us taking off her casual shoes.

"I'd go with the white, it goes with the fading color." Luna says and I turn to look at Clove and nod at her.

"Yeah I agree. Now what should I wear?" I asked her and she stood in front of my side of the closet, her finger tapping her chin as she thought.

"Something to show off your figure." she noted and I grabbed my red dress and my pencil line green one and held them up in from of me. She and Luna stare at them for ten minutes, talking between themselves trying to agree until the finally point to the red one. I walked into the bathroom and changed into it then walking back out.

"Now red or black shoes?" I asked standing in front of my bed where the shoes sat and Luna walked up next to me, her light purple eye shadowed eyes looking back and forth from red to black.

"Red, you wore the black ones last time." I put them on and got to work on my make-up. The three of us stood in the bathroom in front of the mirror trying to do our hair or make-up. We all had our hair down our backs or shoulders, Luna's was straight, my was in natural curls, and Cloves was in tight curls on her shoulders. Luna had her eye shadow complete with a light shade of purple to match her purple dress that fell to her knees. I decided to go with a light shade of pink while Clove went for a silver color to match the gray in her dress. We all finished about half an hour early so we just decided to walk down there, hoping that this time we won't be one of the last ones there like last time. And as it turns out, we were right. Not many people were there so we wouldn't be as noticed this time when we enter the room. But we did get noticed by those who were there. We walked in chatting about random topics when three guys walked up to us, they seemed around the same age as us, even though Clove was two years younger than Luna and I. Two of them had dark brown hair, one of them had it spiked while the other left it shaggy on his forehead. The one with shaggy brown hair head emerald green eyes much like Clove and the other had brown eyes to match his hair. The third boy who seemed to take an interest in Luna had black hair in a buzz cut and bright blue eyes. Clove and Luna seemed to have known them because when they walked up they called them by name.

"Hey Clove. Hey Luna." the shaggy brown haired boy said with a smile. "And I don't know you're name." he noted keeping his eyes on my face and not my body like most of the boys in the room.

"Spitfire." I said holding out my hand that he happily took.

"So you're the famous Spitfire. I'm Crone." he said shaking my hand gently only with a firm grasp and a smile on his face. Once we let go he gestured to his friends. "And these are my friends Havo." he said pointing to the black haired boy who nodded a greeting to me. "And this is Damon." he continued gesturing to the other brunette boy. "We are all from District 2, Enobaria is mine and Damon's Trainer and Ellien is Havo's." he explained and I nodded.

"Ah." I said to him earning a chuckle from him.

"Hey Clove would you like to g dance before the floor gets too crowded?" Damon asked her and she awarded him with a small smile, giving him a yes in response.

"Luna, Havo, come here!" a tall women with long silvery blonde hair called them, I could see on her hands that she didn't have real nail, they looked at if they were made of metal. The two Trainees walked briskly over to the woman who engaged them in a conversation.

"And then there were two." I commented earning a chuckle from the boy who stood a few inches taller than me.

"That their Trainer Ellein." Crone filled and and I kept my gaze on her.

"What happened to her nails?" I asked curiously looking back up at him and he sighed.

"Do you now how Enobaria got her fake teeth?" he asked and I nodded making me even more curious. "Well her's is a similar situation. She clawed at the skin of her attackers in the games to disorient them or district them before she could kill them." he explained and I shivered.

"That's creepy and brutal." I said the words before I could stop them.

"That's the Games for you." he said with a sigh and looked down at the floor. More and more people were starting to file into the room making it a little more crowded and me getting a little closer to Crone in order not to bump into people. "Why do I feel like we are being watched?" he asked me and we looked around the room until our landed on a tall, blonde haired, and glaring blue eyed boy dressed in a black suit and shoes with a white dress shirt that had the top two buttons undone. Cato. His hard cold glare scrutinized my every move, I just rolled my eyes and turned back to Crone.

"What's his problem?" he asked and I shrugged.

"I have no idea."

"Well then let's try and get out of his sight." he said taking me hand.

"And where do we go to do that?" I asked with a curious smile.

"The dance floor." he said tugging me along until we stood on the dance floor. My hand in his while my other rested on his shoulder and his was on my waist, carefully not going to far down to make me uncomfortable.

"I'll admit that was an interesting way of asking me to dance." I commented and he laughed.

"But it worked didn't it?" he said and I chuckled, giving him his yes. "So I know that students have to sit with their Trainers but since Enobaria and Brutus sit near each other, would you and Clove want to sit with Damon and I? I'm sure you could use a break from Brutus." he offered and I thought about it. Yeah I did need a break from him, he's been working me hard lately.

"Yeah sure, I'll mention it to Clove before the meal." I said and he smiled.

"I know you don't talk about your home but is it safe to ask why you decided to come to the Academy?" he asked sheepishly.

"I have my personal reasons but I did it for my family." I said and she had a confused glare on his brows.

"Your family wanted you to train? I know you're not from here so it'd odd for that to happen, most other Districts don't think about the Games the same as One or Two."

"No they didn't but I got them to see reason. What about you?" I said turning the tables.

"My dad, brothers, and I didn't want to but my mom made me."

"Why?"

"Everyone said that the honor didn't matter to them and that we were well off enough with money to survive with my dad and older brother working at a Masonry. But my mom said that there is no such thing about honor not mattering." he explained with solemn eyes. I looked at him with sympathy, he didn't want to be here. How any others didn't want to be here as well?

"I'm sorry." I apologize.

"It's okay." he said giving me a small smile. "It's not like it's your fault." he said making me chuckle a little. We danced for a few more songs and I noticed that Clove was still dancing with Damon and Luna was dancing with Havo and I smiled at them. That is until I caught to glare of Cato again. I put my forehead on Crone's shoulder and groaned. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Cato." I said and he looked up at him and grimaced.

"What's his problem? Why does he keep staring at us?"

"I have no idea. I haven't existed to him for a few weeks and now all the sudden I've done something to piss him off." I explained to him getting him to look away from Cato and down at me.

"Do you want me to try talking to him?" Crone offered and I shook my head no at him.

"No, he's like a ticking time bomb. He'll probably blow up if you do." I said causing him to nod.

"All the more reason to sit with me tonight. Cato always sits by Brutus so we can stay away from him tonight." he said and I smiled a thank you at him. "Come on, let's go see if Clove wants to join us." he said, letting go of me but still holding my hand and leading me over to Clove.

"Oh hey guys what's up?" she asked as the four of us walked off the dance floor.

"Well I was wondering if you and Spitfire wanted to join Damon and I for the meal tonight?" he asked her.

"Uh sure, that might be the best for tonight." Clove said glancing over at Cato who was angrily talking to Kairo. "Cato looks like he's going to explode and I don't want Cato brains in my food." Clove snapped and we laughed. I noticed people were making their way over to the tables to get a seat.

"Speaking of food we should go grab some seats before they are all taken." I suggested and the four of us walked over to the table and took our places. I sat next to Crone on one side while Clove sat across from me and next to Damon. The four of us had fun that night, talking, laughing, telling jokes, and they didn't ask about my home or anything. They just talked about their families and their life here in District Two. But no matter how much I had fun talking with my new friends I knew I had eyes on me, and I knew who they belonged to. Cato.

~Cato~

I'm furious. I'm seeing red. When I walk into the giant room for the Feast I saw Spitfire with Clove and Luna talking to three other guys that I knew. Their names were Crone, Damon, and Havo. Clove trains with Damon and Crone, but I think Havo trains with Luna under Ellein's teachings. As Clove and Damon walked to the dance floor, Luna and Havo were called over by their Trainer to talk, leaving Spitfire and Crone standing there talking. He was making her smile and laugh and it rubbed me the wrong way. When they noticed me staring, or actually glaring, glaring at them he lead her out to the dance floor, where I lost sight of them. I growled as I turned my glare away from the dancing pair.

"What's wrong this time?" Kairo asked rolling his eyes at me.

"She just pisses me off so much." I said to him, running my hand through my hair and tugging at it a bit.

"Who Spitfire? Dude you kissed her without warning. You knew she wasn't like the other girls yet you still did it. You should have known that this would happen." he lectured then took a pause to catch his breath. He looked down at his shoes then back up at me with a confused look on his face. "Why did you kiss her anyway?"

"I don't know. My mind and instincts took over. I didn't even know what was happening until after I had already starting kissing her and she was kissing back."

"Man, that's rough." he said and I rolled my eyes resting them back on the dance floor where Crone and Spitfire came into view. There they were, dancing swiftly to the music while Crone was talking to her and she listened intently, replying and answering questions when needed. They caught me watching them again and I could tell they were getting annoyed with it. Eventually they left and found Clove and Damon, they stood here talking for a minute or two before walking off towards the table where we would eat tonight. I lost sight of them in the sea of people walking over to get a seat so I decided to go get one myself. I took a seat next to Brutus and across from him was Enobaria and next to her, across from me, was Kairo.

"Where's Spitfire and Clove?" Enobaria asked and Kairo and I just shrugged.

"I think I saw them sitting with two of your student Damon and Crone." Brutus said taking a bite of his food and I nearly dropped my fork at the response.

"Really?" Enobaria said sounding surprised. "Spitfire seems to be bringing out the best in Clove. It's nice to see her have friends instead of people teasing her all the time. Spitfire seems to be making friends as well." Enobaria commented.

"Yeah she tends to do that. She brings out the good in people and uses her emotions to help her in training." he says and I look at him confused.

"How does emotions help you? They make you weak." I retorted.

"The wrong emotions can make you weak, others can make you better. She's figured it out." he explains and take a bite of his fish.

"Figured what out?" Kairo asked.

"What emotions make her stronger and what ones make her weak and what ones will do both." he says vaguely and I stop saying anything. I know I'm not going to get anything out of him. Throughout dinner I kept looking down the long table at Spitfire and see that she's laughing with Clove, Damon, and Crone. Every now and then Enobaria will ask a question about Spitfire training and he'll reply with a simple answer.

"So how is her training going?"

"Rather well, she's a fast learner." he replied taking a sip of his wine that the Trainers are given while the students just get water or some fruity drink.

"What all has she learned?" the two adults near me continued on with their conversation while I remained quiet, but looking at Spitfire while they talked .

"Knives, spears, swords, climbing, hand-to-hand, outdoors stuff, you know everything else we teach here." he says not really given a simple straight answer.

"I wonder what she did to get in here." she said.

"And you're not going to know unless she ever goes into the Hunger Games." Brutus said pointing his fork at her and she held her hands up in mock surrender.

"And how would we know what her skill is if she goes in and has been training here all this time?" she countered back.

"Every student Career has their weapon of choice, Clove has knives, Kairo has an ax, and Cato has a sword. They all pick the weapon they are most comfortable using." he explains like she should know this since she's a Tribute Mentor herself.

"So whatever weapon she'd choose in the arena is the skill that got her here." Enobaria concluded and Brutus nodded.

"You make it sounds like she's already pick to go in." Kairo said and I glanced at him.

"And she's not but if she does, that's something to look forward to." Brutus says.

"And why is that?" I asked finally saying something for the first time in a while tonight.

"Because with the way she's training, she'll most likely make it to the top five." he said with a proud smirk on his lips and I growled. The rest of the night went on with Kairo and I being quiet while Brutus went on talking about their Trainees and when the night finally ended I saw Luna and Spitfire bid goodbye to Havo, Damon, Clove, and Crone who kissed her cheek, causing her to blush, and they left the to room to go to theirs. Oh so he can kiss her cheek but I can't kiss her? The bitch. My feet moved of their own accord because the next thing I know I was stalking up to her.

"You little hypocrite." I insulted, causing her to turn and look at me surprised. "So when I kiss you you yell at me but when someone else kisses your cheek it's okay? Little slutty bitch.." I said pointing a finger at her and Kairo tried dragging me away. I just glared at her and my mouth kept going.

"i hope you go into the Games on my year so I can kill you myself." I said before I let Kairo pulled me away forcefully, with the help of Brutus who shoved me against the wall.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he roared.

"It's true, she is a slut and I hope she dies in the games so the world can be rid of one less piece of filth." I said looking in her retreating direction. His hand grabbed my jaw and forced me to look my Trainer in the eyes, and they were fuming.

"You watch your boy before it gets you in trouble or you do something you'll regret." he says, shoving me into the wall one last time, then walking away to check and see if Spitfire is okay. I glared at him and stalked out the door of the Academy to my house.