~Cato~
What just happened? Things were going great, what put it in her head that I was using her? Oh yeah, I told her having a soft side was weak. After she left I ran after her, and damn does she walk fast. I nearly lost her a few times but I finally made it back to the train, just in time for her to say one thing before storming away again.
"Cato's a jerk and always will be." was the last thing I heard from her before the door to her room slammed shut. Clove ran after her but couldn't get in.
"Spitfire will you open the door?" Clove called.
"Go away!" I faintly heard the girl behind the door shout.
"Please? Spitfire let me in." Clove demanded but there was silence. She later walked back into the room with a glare on her face. "What did you do to her?" she accused of me.
"I said having a soft side makes a person weak. I didn't mean to say it but it just slipped out." I explained.
"You're an idiot." a voice said from across the room. I turned and saw that it belonged to Brutus.
"What are you talking about?" I questioned.
"Well we've always taught you that having a soft side, which means having emotions, makes you weak right?" he asked and we all nodded. "Well for her, having emotions makes her stronger. Don't you ever notice that when you're mad you train harder? From working with her, she trains harder, not only when she's mad, but when she's upset or annoyed. She uses her emotions to her advantage." he told us.
"Isn't this giving things away?" Kairo asked of him and he shook his head.
"No, because it's a skill that everybody else could use, but didn't or haven't realized it yet. She's the first to do it." he explained. I didn't understand it. I have always been taught that emotions make us weak, when for her, they don't. It just didn't make sense to me.
~Katniss~
I couldn't believe him. I was so close to believing that I could trust him, but then he went and said that and it all went out the window.
"Spitfire will you open the door?" Clove asked while she banged on the door.
"Go away!" I shouted back angrily.
"Please Spitfire let me in." she ordered and I rolled my eyes, grabbed a pillow, walked into the bathroom attached to my room, and screamed into the cushion so nobody heard me. When I was out of breath I walked back into my room, finding it empty and no Clove banging on my door anymore. I sighed and sprawled out on my bed. I just laid there, enjoying the silence, even though I could barely hear Brutus saying something outside in the living room. Otherwise, it was totally quiet. Some time had passed and I must have drifted into a smooth slumber because the next time I opened my eyes, it was dark outside and there was a soft knocking at my door.
"Spitfire?" a voice called from behind the door. It sounded like Cato. "Dinner is being served. Will you come out to eat?" yep, it's Cato. I shifted on my bed and curled into a ball with my pillow under my head. Once I was comfortable I shut my eyes, trying to shut out the world. "Spitfire please? I need to talk to you." he offered, trying to get me to come out, but I remained where I was. When I didn't answer once again the door opened and I heard his heavy footsteps walk into the room. Damn it, why didn't I lock it? I felt his presence at the edge of the bed, heard him sigh, and felt his hand lightly brush across my cheek. Just to freak him out, I sluggishly moaned and turned over onto my other side carefully as to not hurt my back. I heard his breath catch before he moved about the room and a blanket was draped over me. It was only then that I realized that I was actually cold here on the train. I tried hard not to move and get comfortable again as he walked out of the room and shut the door. As soon as the door was shut I sat up in my bed, causing the blanket to fall off of my torso like water from a waterfall. I looked at the big piece of cloth in question, why did he feel the need to do that? I wondered. One minute he says I'm weak because I feel emotions, but then the next he actually seems like he care about my well being. What is going on with this boy? I laid back down on the bed, pulling the blanket up to my chin as I let myself get comfortable in my bed again. He next morning when I woke up we were in District Two and I stayed on the train the entire day, I know what this District looks like, I don't need to explore it. I always thought that the Victor visited their own District last, but according to Effie from my first encounter with her "Everything has an order and if the order has something out o place, it ruins everything." I can almost hear her say it.
Later that day, the train took of for District Three, I haven't said a word to Cato all day, I've kept my distance from him, and stuck with Clove all day. But I don't think she minded. She knew something was off between Cato and I, but she never asked. When we arrived in District Three that night, Cato made an attempt to speak to me when no one else was around, but it wasn't much of a conversation.
"So are you ready to get your bandages off when we get to Four?" he asked.
"Yes." I replied coldly, I didn't have to look at him to know that he rolled his eyes. I just kept my eyes on the floor as I sat on the couch in dress pants and a shirt, I was finally comfortable enough to wear them and they didn't bother my bandages.
"Will you please just let me explain?" he pleaded.
"Explain what?" I rounded on him. "That having emotions make me weak? And that I'll never be good enough because I feel things?" I roared and he took a step back in surprise. "To tell me that I shouldn't feel things because I'm training as a Career and that I'm just like you?" Even though people filed into the room, dressed and ready for the speech that the Victor will give, I kept yelling at him. "Well face it Cato, I am nothing like you." I said, ending the conversation. My face and hands hurt, my cold hard stare drilled holes into his face and my nails dug into my palm with anger. He glared back at me, it was an evil glare, but if looks could kill, he'd be much more dead than I would be.
"You're right, you're not like me." he said, his voice threatening. As he took a step closer to me his glare intensified. "I don't know where you're from, or what your family is like, but you're nothing but scum." he told me, as if trying to insult me. But I've been called scum all my life because I lived in the Seam. So it didn't affect me. But I made it look like it did, just to play his own head game. I forced a look of hurt on my face and I saw his soften in surprise for a split second, and nothing longer. Just back to his cold glare. I looked over Cato's shoulder and saw Brutus there with his arms crossed, he nodded to me to say what I needed to say. He knows where I'm from, yet I'm still here. He knows I'm not scum.
"If I'm scum, then why am I here?" I questioned as I stormed away from a dumbfounded Cato to where Clove stood next to Enobaria and walked with them out of the train. Through the speech I sat between Clove and Kairo, trying to ignore the penetrating stare Cato kept on me the entire time. He's training for this moment, he wants to be in Anica's spot; so why isn't he paying attention? I can stare at whatever I want because I don't want to be here in the first place, but it's not like I have a choice. I'm just ready for when we get to District Four, I'll be able to start acting "sick" so I can get out of going into the Districts and staying away from Cato.
We made it to District Four by nine in the morning the next day, and I stayed in my room through breakfast, knowing that someone will come check on me. And soon enough, someone did.
"Spitfire? Are you okay in there?" I heard Clove ask through the door. I groaned loudly in response, ten mentally slapping myself for possibly overdoing it all of the sudden. She opened the door and looked at me with concern in her eyes. My room was completely dark, to simulate that I have a headache, so when she opened the door and let the light stream through, I pulled the covers over my head to make it dark once more. "What happened? Are you alright?" she asked in a huff.
"I have a massive headache." I told her.
"I'll go get Brutus." she said and left, shutting the door quietly but tightly behind her so she didn't worsen my "headache". Brutus came in moments later alone, leaving Clove, Enobaria, and Kairo standing outside the door in confusion. He shut the door behind him and looked at me impressed.
"Nice job kid. Keep it up and get "worse" and they'll actually think you really are sick." he whispered to me and I nodded.
"So what do I do for the speech?" I asked him quietly.
"Still come with us, just say that it's nothing you can't handle and that you're trying to push through it. The fact that you and Cato are pissed with each other right now will help your case." he said.
"How?" I asked a little too loudly and he shushed me.
"Because he won't question it. He'll just ignore it and leave you alone." he said before gesturing for me to get up. "Now just get changed then follow my lead once you're out there." he said then left the room. I did what he said and got dressed before walking out of the room with a hand at my head, clutching it like I have a real headache.
~Cato~
Spitfire didn't show up for breakfast when we got to Four. Everybody was curious or worried about her but really I just wanted to get this tour over with. Things were going well with the two of us but then I opened my big mouth, she wouldn't let me explain and pissed me off. Then I called her scum and left it at that. So while Clove got up to check on Spitfire, I continued to eat. A few moments later, Clove walked back in, worry written all over her face.
"Spitfire isn't feeling good." she said to us. My ears perked up but I kept my eyes on my food.
"What's wrong?" Enobaria asked sounding concerned.
"She said she has a headache. Maybe she picked something up in a District."
"A headache really?" I said out loud. "That's what she's complaining about?" I said sarcastically.
"Hey, if she did pick something up it could be bad. A change of environment like this for her can take a toll." Brutus defended and I looked at him suspiciously.
"We aren't sick. And why didn't she get sick when she first came to the Academy?" I probed.
"You are from District Two, you health is better and have been trained to deal with things like this. She isn't from Two and just started training last year." Brutus explained to us, his getting louder as he went.
"And how do you know that she didn't get sick when she came? She trained in private so you wouldn't really know would you?" Enobaria piped in.
"I don't know, but I can sure as hell guess. If she is really so weak to let a headache stop her from doing what she is supposed to, she'll be dead in the bloodbath." I said to them and Clove glared at me along with Enobaria and Brutus giving me a disapproving look. "It's true, Kairo back me up here." I said to him and he looked at me with uncertainty.
"Well, I kinda agree with them." he said.
"What?" I shouted at him.
"Well she isn't from Two so her health will be different than ours. So she's not used to the change." he defended.
"But she lived in the Academy for a long time, she should be used to it."
"But she was home for a few weeks during the games. Her health and immune system will resort back to its norm." Clove countered.
"Why are you all defending her?" I questioned them. "She's weak and a spoiled little brat if we're going to let her stay here while the rest of us are on the tour doing our business." I yelled.
"So her staying on the train while she's sick is her being spoiled?" Brutus questioned.
"We all get headaches and get sick, but you make us do what we are supposed to."
"I don't remember the last time you kids ever got sick." Enobaria said to us. I rolled my eyes at her and slumped down on the couch.
"So while we're sitting through speeches, she's gonna do what, sleep all day?"
"An Avox will be here to monitor here to check her progress." Brutus informed us.
"What progress?" I asked.
"To see if she gets better or worse."
"And while we're gone an Avox waited on her hand and foot?"
"Oh give it up Cato." Clove rounded on me. "You're just mad that you and Spitfire got in a fight and don't talk anymore. Admit it you had feelings for her but when you said the wrong thing it ruined everything." she finished.
"Why the hell would I have feelings for scum?" I lied.
"Because you have obsessed over her since you ever saw her. At first you wanted to find out everything about her but then you gave it up when you kissed her."
"I remember that." Brutus piped in.
"What?" I asked him confused. Why would he know?
"She trained extra hard the next day. She looked like she was about to pass out when she was done for the day." Brutus remembered.
Eventually it was time for the speech and Spitfire said she was okay to sit through it. I wasn't going to lie and say that I wasn't worried, because I was. Could it be my fault that she has gotten sick? Could she have picked something up from District One when she was alone? Through the speech she sat with Kairo and Clove between us, and Brutus on the other side of her. As Anica continued on with her speech Spitfire kept looking down away from the blinding sun. Just how bad was this headache. Finally the speech was over and we all walked back to the train and Spitfire went straight to her room.
"Is she not going to explore the District?" Clove asked Brutus.
"No, by my orders she is to stay in bed the rest of the day. No need for whatever this is to get worse." he said and gestured for an Avox to come closer to him. She nodded and walked to him where he whispered something in her ear and she walked away to Spitfire's bedroom. Was the Avox going take good care of her? Why did I care so much? I know I have some sort of feeling for Spitfire, but were they strong enough to act on? Of course they are if the kiss happened. But the most important question running through my head right now is; Where do I want to be right now? And I know that answer, it's with Spitfire trying to smooth things over with her so we can actually have a conversation again. But we can't because I opened my big mouth and degraded her strength, getting her emotions to work with her and not against her. Then I called her scum, which I know she isn't. But she believed me when I called her that and won't even look at me now. All I can hope for now is that she gets better so she can come to the speeches so I can see her in the flesh.
Once we were done with exploring the District and got back to the train I didn't see Spitfire anywhere, just an Avox walking out of her room quietly with a note in hand. She went straight to Brutus and handed him a note, he read and and bolted to Spitfire's room, when he opened the door he paused for a moment until I heard a muffled "Close the door". I looked at the Avox with questioning eyes.
"How is she doing?" Clove asked as if reading my mind. The Avox shook her head at us.
"Does that mean she's worse?" I questioned sounding frustrated.
"Why do you care? You're the one who called her scum." Clove said storming passed me, but the Avox nodded her head at me anyway. My heart sank, instead of my prayers being answered, they were rejected. She has gotten worse and we don't even know what it is that she has. Brutus walked out of her room a few moments later shaking his head.
"What's going on with Spitfire?" Clove asked worriedly.
"Throbbing head pain, stomach pains, feeling weak, she must've gotten something from another District. Probably made contact with something or someone that got her sick." he explained.
"Then why haven't we gotten sick?" Kairo asked.
"I don't know." Brutus said seeming at a loss for words, but recovered quickly. "Was she ever alone at one point in time?" he asked and I thought, when we went exploring District One and she got mad at me and took off alone.
"When she and I walked around District One, we argued and went off on her own back to the train station, it must've been then." I said, this whole thing, her getting sick, could all be my fault.
"Great so because of you she got sick. Way to go Cato." Clove blamed.
~Katniss~
Listening to them yell and argue about my health was entertaining. Several times I had to stop myself from laughing. With my ear pressed against the door I heard Clove argue with Cato that he had some sort of feelings for me, which he declined. Then hearing Brutus toy with the idea that I got sick on my own in District One, and them fall into the trap, was perfect. But what really made my day was when Clove blamed my being sick on Cato.
"Okay so it is my fault alright!" Cato shouted which took me by surprise. "I'm sorry for getting your precious Trainee sick. I'm sorry I opened my big mouth and ruined everything!" he shouted before storming away and in the direction of his room.
From there, through the thin walls I could hear him shouting and throwing a temper tantrum. Normally at home, if Prim was ever upset about something, my "big sister instincts" would kick in and I'd comfort her. Well those "instincts" were kicking in again and I had to curl into a ball on my bed, wrapped in my blankets, to try and keep myself from getting up and blowing everything. After being there for a while, Cato finally calmed down and somebody opened my door. And thank god it was Brutus and Enobaria so I didn't have to act anymore. He paused when he saw my in my position on the bed.
"Please don't tell me you're really sick." he said after he closed the door.
"No I'm not really sick." I said quietly.
"Then why are you curled up in a ball? Trying to keep up appearances in case one of the others come in here?" she asked with a small smile, her Capitol engineered teeth shining in the dark.
"No. Cato was throwing a tantrum." I started, moving so I sat up to face them, but they interrupted.
"Don't tell me you're scared he'll come in here." Brutus said in disbelief.
"Him coming in here had crossed my mind but, back home when my sister was upset or mad about something I would calm her down. My friends called it my "big sister instinct" and when Cato was raging they kicked in. So I positioned myself into a ball to try and stop myself from blowing my cover." I explained as softly as I could.
"Good self control." Enobaria complimented.
"Thanks," I said flatly. "because that's exactly what I was going for." I replied sarcastically. Brutus snorted at Enobaria's annoyed look.
"There's the spitfire attitude that gave you the name." he said clapping lightly so nobody heard.
"I don't even remember you're real name." Enobaria said with a perplexed on her face.
"Good, then it won't slip." I said laying back on my bed. They both smirked at me and stood up to leave.
"Oh by the way, Clove wants to come in and see how you're doing so I'd get ready." Brutus warned giving me a minute to get under the covers ad pulled them over my head before he opened the door and let Clove into the room.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Horrible" I mumbled, barely audible.
"I blame Cato for this whole thing." she blamed.
"What?" I croaked, trying to play stupid. Apparently she believed me since she explained the plan Brutus and I came up with to me.
"When you and Cato explored District One and got in an argument that made you take off, you must've come into contact with someone who was sick. If you weren't alone this probably wouldn't have happened." she told me "So if he hadn't opened his big mouth, you two would probably be fine, hell maybe even more than fine."
"What do you mean more than fine?" I asked making my voice sound hoarse.
"Oh come on, haven't you seen it?" she asked like I was stupid, and this time I wasn't playing. I had no idea what she's talking about. "He obviously likes you. He's just too stupid to say it or realize it. Like how he was so obsessed with you in the beginning, then when he kissed you, and finally when he gave up and just settled with waiting for you to tell him. He has some sort of feelings for you but doesn't know how to act on them. He bottles them up and when they do manifest they come off has anger and hate." she explained. I never thought Cato would like me. I mean he's Cato, he threatened to kill me if we were in the arena together, so how does that translate to him having feelings for me. She looked at me with a sly smile mixed with a smirk. "But the question is, do you feel the same way?" she questioned.
"He called me scum," I excused. "why would I like a guy who thinks so low of me?" I retorted. Her hopeful smile faltered and her shoulders slumped.
"Oh, okay. Well I better let you get back to sleep." she said with a heavy sigh then getting up and walking out of the room. I wonder what that was all about.