*********************************************************************************** Hey Everybody, sorry I haven't been able to get the preview up for the second story. I have about half left to write. I am in crunch time with my musical and it's hard to find time to write. I decided to update this story in the meantime, (I already have this one's plot lined up.) Let me know what you think and what you'd like to see. Thank you for your patience and support!
Cato's giant fists slam against the bag and it swings with ease. After five minutes of gawking over his strength, he looks up at me. "Feel free to start anytime, kiddo." "You know what…just shut up! Just shut up already! I'll start when I'm good and ready!" He puts his bottom lip out and pulls his shirt back on. "Okay, it's obvious that we need to work on agility first." I raise my left fist in my anger and punch the bag with all the force I can muster up. I hear a crack, and intense pain runs through my body. "Clover?" I crumble to the ground from the pain. He holds my head in one hand and keeps the warmth of his other hand around my wrist and fingers. Even through my pain I can tell I still have those feelings for Cato, blooming inside of me.
"It's broken…Let's get you to the doctor." He picks me up a little too easily. The old Clove would have thrown her arms around his neck and enjoyed the moment. With this fire inside of me burning brighter than ever, I thrash around until his face turns bright red all the way up to his ears. "Clover? You're-you're rejecting me? This has never happened before…I mean…no girl has ever rejected me…" "Just put me down Cato!" He complies and I stomp off towards the first aid kit. I decide to bandage my own wrist, and as I'm about to begin, I hear those annoying stomps running through my spine. "Come on Clover…at least let me help." "Okay…just quit calling me that! My name is Clove! Not kid, not Clover! So just knock it off!" He wraps my wrist without another word.
As soon as he finishes he flashes his eyes up at me seductively and it doesn't nothing but fuel my fire. I storm off to the elevator. "Clove. I get it! I'll stop with my natural seductiveness. Besides you said you'd watch me at the sword station." "That was before I broke my wrist; thanks to the dumb training from the stupid tipoff you gave my dad! Now I'm going to have to volunteer in the stupid games with you!" "What do you mean the tipoff?" "If you're truly the great tribute, that you think in that big blonde head of yours then you should be able to think this through. Goodbye Cato." I push him out of the way and close the elevator door before he can rebel against anything I just said. Who needs Cato? I have trained myself to this point and that's the way it'll stay.
***************************************Cato's POV*************************************
What was all that about? Why does the one girl I actually care about have to be so much drama and be so feisty? And why does that make you love her even more? Is it because she's the only one who doesn't care about your muscles or even your name? Why doesn't Clove fall at your feet? I hit my own head and walk over to the sword station and take a look at all the practice dummy's I have mastered that I set out so Clove could see what I could do…that obviously didn't work out. I don't even bother to select the correct sword or dummy or even move to go with it.
I just slice them all to pieces. By the time I finish off twenty two of them I pause at the last one.
The sweat is dripping off my forehead and I just leave that one last "tribute". I can't bring myself to slice that one…rather it's from my exhaustion or just the way I feel attached to it today...as if it were my district partner. As if it were…Clove. I throw the sword back onto the rack in my frustration; I stand in the empty showers, and remove the grime and sweat from my body. What did she mean by…the tipoff…It's not like I suggested she go into the arena…all I did was…oh crap Cato…just go slit your own throat right now! You told her dad that she was extraordinary…the best you had seen. Go screw yourself Cato. I throw on some spare sweat pants and a clean red shirt I had in my locker. I don't bother to dry my hair and I'm running to the elevator, I slip and fall right on my face. I wipe away the bloody nose that has started…figures my muscle weight would hurt me in such an important moment. Move your ass Cato. If she's still a bomb waiting to explode the longer it takes for you to take back what you said…the longer it'll be until you can hold her in your arms…without all the thrashing anyway. Since when did you start actually caring about somebody this way?
Since when did you picture actually loving somebody…instead of just…wooing them and every other girl in district two? I tap the button impatiently and end up breaking the button. I let out a scream and take off towards the stairs. It only takes me a minute to reach Clove's driveway. I take a deep breath in and walk up the front porch. I knock on the door gently, not sure if the confidence is the turn off for her. Control yourself Cato she doesn't want a hot head… I eventually calm my nerves, "Cato?" I open my eyes to see a serious pair of eyes…but not the ones I had hoped for. "Cato what are you doing here? You're supposed to be training my daughter? What do you want? You better be asking me what kind of workouts I want Clove on…or else you can kiss your career dreams goodbye." There is a lump in my throat and it hurts to breathe. I have never felt this before…What has Clove brought on and into my life? "No sir, I came to ask you…if I could keep Clove a little later today. With it being the first day and all." "You didn't even have to ask me." He slams the door in my face and its then that I realize what a cold man he is. I knew he was strict…but I never pictured him as being so cold, even out of the academy.
I hear a scream coming from the house, and it's much higher than coach's voice could ever be. "Please. Stop! I promise…I'll volunteer in a few weeks. I swear! Please just stop?" Clove! Why is she pleading and screaming? Her father wouldn't beat her…would he? I sit on the door step and wait for him to come out, so I can confront him. Or even if Clove comes out so I can protect?... her? I sit there for at least an hour before I hear some kind of action. I look up and I see Clove sitting on the roof ledge…just…crying? "Clover?" I feel the fire inside of me rising, and I can't control it…even if it means losing Clove's heart. "Get down from there!" "Shut up Cato!" This of course only makes me want her more. I hear what must be her father's footsteps going up the stairs.
"Come on Clover!" She bites her bottom lip and apparently hears the footsteps growing near. "Okay you jerk. You better catch me…or I'll-" "Okay, you can cut me with your knives if I drop you. Now come on. Trust me." Clove reluctantly scoots to the edge of the ledge and falls into my arms. Don't drop her Cato. Whatever you do, don't drop her. She is so tiny I'm surprised that when I open my eyes that she is safely in my arms. "Well…are you going to put me down?" I shake my head and put her on the grass. "Come back to my place Clove...We can talk there." "Why do you think I want to talk to you?" "Because, you jumped."
She sighs in defeat and waits for me to lead the way. We walk in silence, my house is a couple miles away from hers so the silence doesn't last too long…after all we are both training tributes…a couple miles is nothing. Clove shyly walks into my house and sits in a chair. I bend down next to her and before I can open my mouth she puts her finger to my lips. "It's my turn to talk. Can I tell you something Cato?..." I nod intently and she smirks, at what enthusiasm I have left, through my burning rage….what was so important that Clove is talking to me in her free will? Is it possible she has feelings for me too?
*************************************************************************************Hey Guys! What did you think about today's shorter update? Hate it? Love it? Let me know in the reviews below! Do you guys still like this story? Are you ready for the next preview? How do you like the way I have evolved Cato and Clove in my story? I absolutely love reviews and would love to hear from you guys! I Love you all and hope to talk to you soon!
~Freezethemoment