Reaping Day:
Today was the day. The beginning of the rest of our lives. He would win this year and I would win the next. Then we would be together in the victor's village for the rest of our days. I have no doubts that we will succeed. People always said that separately we were two of the greatest, most feared fighters district 2 had ever seen, but together, we were an unstoppable force of nature.
We didn't bother training against anyone else unless we were ordered to. By the time I was a sixth year and he was a seventh year we were the strongest fighters in the academy. Cato was the only one who ever challenged me. Sometimes he would win and sometimes I would. The only person I have more scars from is Craven himself.
I spent last night in my own dorm to save him from any distractions. It's the first night in years that I have slept in this bed and it feels alien to me. I know he will win, but I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that maybe something would go wrong and maybe I would never see him again. I have been listening for his footsteps since I woke up three hours ago and sure enough at 8am sharp I hear him attempting to creep into my dorm unnoticed. He thinks he's being stealth, but my hearing is too sharp and he's to heavy footed to trick me. I know he's standing behind me now and I spin around grabbing his wrist, knocking him to the floor and planting my lips on his. He doesn't even look surprised, just disappointed. "One of these days I am going to get the better of you my love and you will be terrified" he whispers in my ear. "Couldn't even stay away for 8 hours could you" I taunt "You know we can't let them see us like this outside of the dorms, I'm not going to see you for weeks and I want to make the most of it now" he pleads. He leans forward and gently kisses a particularly large scar on my lower right rib. I received it as punishment for insulting Craven once in training. It would have been much worse, but Cato had convinced him to give him the punishment instead. He had taken 20 lashes and I had escaped with one cut. I hate to see Cato in pain. Weather he's taking lashes for me or weather he's injured himself in combat, but I also know that rampaging around and demanding things aren't going to make a difference. It will only get us both hurt. I can be furious inside, yet still think with a clear head and a rational mind. Cato is the opposite. His temper, although useful in combat, can be one of his greatest weaknesses. He tends to act on impulses, without thinking things through. Like when he took those lashes for me. I was already bleeding a great deal from the cut and Craven wouldn't have given me much more, but all Cato cared about was that Craven didn't lay another hand on me. Everyone else (even Cato) casts their eyes down in fear whenever they are around Craven. Not me though. I grew up around men like him. Craven is nothing compared to my father. Cato tells me that my brain and my mouth are too big for my own good. I know he's right. "Stop analysing things in your head clove. Live in the now and enjoy our time together before I have to leave". I sigh and reluctantly give in to him. I don't want him distracted but I know he will sulk right up until his victory tour if he doesn't get his way.
We leave for the gym at 10. We don't have to be there until 11 but we know Craven will expect us to get in some last minute training. Cato's wrist is still giving him trouble. He injured it in the Honour Trials. I know I can be a distraction to him sometimes. As he can be for me. It was all my fault really. Some girl had placed bets against Cato and I was arguing with her. The idiot thought that because the other guy was from a family of victors that he could beat Cato. As it happened, the other guy never stood a chance, but when the girl (who obviously didn't know who I was) pulled her knife on me and I turned it on her, let's just say that she wasn't around to pay her bets later that night. Craven wasn't too happy about it either and dragged me from the gym. Killing without permission is forbidden and Craven knew all too well that I was skilled enough to protect myself without killing her. Cato had his wrist snapped behind his back as he was watching me being pulled behind Craven, a trickle of blood running from my nose where he had hit me.
How's your wrist? I ask. It will be completely healed by the time I have to go into the arena he says. Regardless, I don't think you should use your fists today. Wouldn't want to go into the arena with an injury, we still have no idea who your competition is this year and you never know there might be someone bigger than you. "Doubtful" he winks at me. I turn to see Thea (a 3rd year I have been mentoring). Everyone knows Cato and I are together, but we would never display our affections and feelings in front of anyone. All people see is witty banter and teasing between two best friends. If it weren't for the fact that us sharing a bedroom is common knowledge or the way we publically defend each other, they would have no idea. "Getting in some last minute training before the reaping Cato? As if you'd need it" she gushes. Thea has always openly flirted with Cato. It's earned her a few scars from me in the past. It wouldn't be so annoying if Cato didn't flirt right back. He always tells me that she reminds him of a young me and I know he's doing it just to get under my skin. Of course I'm not threatened (she is just an 11 year old ginger runt) but she needs to know her place. Everyone at the academy except for a select few are terrified of me. I have a reputation for hurting those who get in my way. Some say I'm a little sadistic, and Thea forgets that sometimes. She may adore me and idolize me but sometimes she runs her mouth of without thinking and pays for it later.
"Thea where busy so go and annoy someone else" I snap. We only have a few hours left before the reaping and I don't want these memories tainted by that ginger twit." Fine"! She sulks and turns out of the room. "You don't have to be so hard on her you know" Cato drapes his arm around me and we are back to our private selves for the moment. "She just annoys me sometimes and besides I want you all to myself this morning" I say as I tilt my chin to kiss his lips. I know everyone else will be sleeping in or eating in the hall so we can be ourselves for a little bit longer. We don't even train as we had planned. Instead we sit in each other's embrace and enjoy the morning off like everyone else. This gym is our sanctuary .We spent many days and nights in here together teaching each other. He was right about living in the now and for once I am quite content with being still and doing nothing.
1pm rolls around and we make our way to the square where the reaping is held each year. We don't hold hands or hug goodbye. We just break of into our age groups. Me with the 17 year olds and him with the 18 year olds. A nod of the head is all the goodbye we need. I turn my attention to the stage where our district mentor Scarlett is standing. She has bright red hair, deathly white skin and what appears to be metallic gold eyelashes and eyebrows. Not as outrageous as some of the capitol fashion I think to myself. Sitting behind her are this year's mentors Brutus and Enobria. I chuckle to myself when I think of how many times Enobria has trained me back at the academy. I'm sure the capitol knows but it's still funny to think that this is not the first time either of them have trained kids to kill. Looking at everyone's perfect reaping day outfits I'm suddenly aware how much of a mess I must look. I didn't even brush my hair or wash my face. I'm aware that men consider me attractive. I don't really see it myself. My skins too white, my hair too dark and some say my pale blue eyes are so piercing they are almost demon like. Cato calls me his snow white sometimes. Hair black as coal, skin white as snow, lips blood red. He's full of it really but I guess I do resemble some likeness of the ancient fairy tale character. Still, I'm sure no one would consider me remotely attractive today. My tangled hair is falling loosely around my shoulders and I'm still in my track pants and singlet (showing far too much skin for my liking). The 18 year old girls group is right next to me and I can almost feel Silver smirking at me. She's the girl that won the Honour trials and will be joining Cato as his district partner. "It looks like you haven't changed at all this morning Clove" she taunts. At least I won't be dead in 3 weeks I think. Silver has always had a thing for Cato. Too bad for her he's never even given her a second glance. She knows he only has eyes for me and it's why she hates me with a passion. I know she would never have the guts to insult me away from the prying eyes of the peacekeepers. She's tried a few times and I've given her reason enough to not try again. She knows she's no match for me. She doesn't exactly move away or look down in fear like the others, but she would never openly challenge me. You can laugh your way to your grave Silver I respond. That shut her up I think as she quickly turns away.
Suddenly the screen flashes and that awful video they play every year begins. It's so repetitive you'd think they'd switch it up for once. I don't pay much attention and instead work at fingering the knots out of my hair. Once the film is over Scarlett gets strait into the selection. She starts with the boys, calling out the name of a greasy haired 13 year old; I didn't even notice his name. All eyes are on my lover as he saunters forward and raises his hand to volunteer. My heart swells with pride. "What's your name young man" asks Scarlett in an obviously patronizing tone "Cato" he answers in a strong and dominating voice. She almost jumps back at the sound of power reverberating from this giant of an 18 year old. We don't have surnames at the academy. Craven believes that we should earn our own names later on in life and not be defined by our parent's names. Everyone is clapping and cheering for him now. It's as if he's won the games already. Everyone quiets down again as Scarlett gets ready to call the girls name. "Clove?" She calls into the crowd. Everyone is silent now waiting for Silver to come forward. I can't believe they called my name I think. What are the odds? I don't worry though because I know that any minute now Silver will volunteer and take my place. Those are our rules after all. A minute passes and everyone is still silent waiting for someone to step forward. I look over to see silver grinning at me with a smug look on her face. She's not going to volunteer I realise with horror. How could she? Easily I thought. Silver had no interest in being a victor. She's clearly certain that Cato will make it back and she will have him all to herself. Craven glares at her. He knows that if I'm sent this year then he might not get any victor at all, but he can't do anything with the peacekeepers around. Craven realises its futile and gives me a nod. I reluctantly make my way to the stage. Everyone is cheering again as they realise that two of their favourite fighters will be battling it out. Very few outside the academy know of our relationship. I try to look as calm and collected as possible when I shake hands with Cato and smile for the cameras, but I can't help notice the murderous look he's giving Silver. Whichever one of us that makes it out of this is going to have to make her pay.
