Chapter two.

Cato leaves me at my front door and heads back to the training centre. He still has another half of the day to go, and I'm stuck here with my mother. If she tries to get me to try on a puffy dress one more time...I honestly can't see her without her telling me to wax my eyebrows, or how I would look, so much nicer if I took the time to do my hair.

I wonder how she won the games in the first place.

My guess is she drew in a strong guy who could take care of her, made him fall for her. Then when they were the final two and he refused to kill her, she stabbed a knife in his heart. Ya, that's my first guess, I ask the men who leave my house in the morning. She's not one for an...on-going relationship, let's just say that.

So I'm not really surprised when I reach my living room and find her making out with some guy on our couch. Like gross, never sitting there again. I want to puke when I realize who the guy is, really mom? The mayor, who is 50 and has a wife and 3 children. 2 of which won the Hunger Games in back to back years. Not good odds.

"Hello Mother," I casually plop down into my favourite chair. At least the mayor, Dan, has the decency to jump up and push my mom off him. My mom just looks irritated.

"Honey…" she says awkwardly, "why are you home so early?"

I put my arms over my head and kick up my feet, "I got into a fight at the gym, stabbed this girl."

Dan looks interested, "who?"

"Oh nobody worth while, a girl named Pearl."

"The Pearl going into the Hunger Games?" he wonders slowly.

I pretend to think for a moment, "that'd be the one."

He scrambles up from the couch and pulls on his jacket, "I better go and consult with Edward, we need to chose a new female tribute I suppose." Then he's rushing to get to the door, I mean, I don't blame him.

"Tell Pearl I say hi!" I call, before the door slams. I might be the reason mom's boyfriends never last, I think they're scared I'd stab them in their sleep. Once I am sure he has taken off in his car, I turn to my mom and give her a dark expression.

"Really mom? The mayor?"

"Don't scold me," she says angrily, while standing up and fixing her shirt.

"You do realize who his kids are...I don't particularly want to get on their bad sides."

She frowns, "yes, I am aware of Enobaria and Peter but we love each other, we are meant to be together!"

I snarl, "oh please, save it for someone who cares." She gives me a hurt look, which I'm almost certain is fake, since she has no heart. Then she stomps into the kitchen to do whatever she does during the day, oh, other than fuck married men. My mother and I don't have the strongest relationship in the world, that much is apparent.

I'm not the little princess she always wanted, and I never will be.

I never liked her dresses and fairytale games. I liked sparring with my friends, and exploring in the woods. She was mad when I trailed in dripping mud, but I was excited and happy. She wants me to look sweet, I want to look deadly. She and I are not alike, never have been. I guess I'm more like my father, whoever he happens to be.

My grandmother told me I was born about 9 months after my mother came out of the games, she never beat teen pregnancy. Oh well. I guess I'm the product of the poor sucker she murdered in the games. I really feel bad for the guy. Like, what a bitch.

"I hope you haven't upset Dan," she says marching back into the room.

"I sure hope I have."

"He's a very influential person," she ignores me.

"Is that why you had him sprawled out on our couch?" I wonder.

She shakes her head, "I can't even deal with you right now, go take a shower, you smell."

I get up and head towards the stairs, "anything to get away from you."

One may listen to the things we say to each other and wonder why we are like that. I think it's because my mother always liked having power over people, and when I grew and got stronger, she didn't have that anymore. And I think that really frustrates her. I think it bothers her a lot.

I may tell people about the times I hid under the stairs in our basement, because she was drunk and with another man who scared me. Or the times she threw bottles of liquor at me because she didn't like me being there, in the way. Maybe it's because she slapped me with her backhand when I didn't do something perfect. That's what I'd tell anyone if they asked why I hate my mother.

My mother is mad that she can't do that to me anymore. I'm mad she will never be put through what she put me through. It would have been better off if she died in her games. I would have been way better off not stuck in this life, with her as a mother.

I reach my bedroom, and it's not a room one would call little. Big, bay window, small bed and dresser. I'm not one for sentiments or decorations, the only things that make it my room are the clothes in my dresser and the sheets on my bed. Anything that means anything to me is in a bag under my bed. It could be anyones room.

I grab some track pants and an over sized t-shirt and sweater from my dresser and head down the hall to my bathroom. I take a quick shower, letting the cold water run off my shoulders. We don't use hot water in the summer, it costs money we don't need to pay. I wonder how Dan will chose a tribute before tomorrow, he'll have to make a quick decision. Hopefully he gets it right. Hopefully he chooses someone who deserves the chance.

I also think of Cato, and of the relationship we have that is just so strange. So complex. I remember meeting him when I first started training, he was the boy who cared too little and fought too much. He was the boy who looked bored through every training session, the boy who got mad at little things that didn't really matter very much. He's the boy who gets worked up quick, but takes a long while to calm back down. I've never really seen him really off the rocker and I don't want to. I sure as hell wouldn't want to be there if he loses it. He's 200 pounds of brute muscles and instability.

Not that I'm the best to be around when I lose it too. Not that I exactly have a stable personality.

We annoyed each other from the moment we first met, whenever I thought about him, I thought of how annoying he was. We did everything is our power to piss each other off. We succeeded, a lot. And he broke my finger in a fight we had once, I broke his nose in return. I don't even remember why we were fighting, we were always fighting.

So tell me how that could have turned into romance? Not that we're exactly romantic, neither of us are really the type.

We just started hanging out a lot after training. We trained together and practiced together. I taught Cato knives and he helped me with swords. I guess that extra time really led to something in the end. One night we kissed, it just happened. I was there leaning against the wall and we were play fighting and it just happened. Then I was a goner, I mean who wouldn't be after you kiss him. He's a good kisser, let's just say that. So obviously he liked me too and asked me out. I said yes and badaboom badabing, together for a year. Hooray. Our anniversary was a month ago, quite a night. Even the memory makes me shiver.

Cato came over for dinner and I wore a really short dress. My mother was staying over at one of her boyfriends house...I think we all know where that went. We didn't even worry about it, I mean, I can't get pregnant anyways. I have a problem or something, I didn't really listen after the no-pregnancy-in-future part. I don't want kids anyways, they're a nuisance. My mother was more sad over the news than I was, trust me, she cried. But you know, easier for me right?

My mother doesn't mind Cato. She likes him well enough, she was a bit mad I didn't tell her about him when she found out. But she got over it. Girls hate that I'm dating him, but they still watch him like a hawk. It doesn't really bother me what they do. They're worthless to me and to Cato. It took a while for people to figure out we were dating, our dating did nothing to stop our fighting. I'll tell you that. People think we break up a lot, just because we always scream at each other, or throw knives at each other.

Okay that was one time and really? How did I know he'd move to the right and it would go into his arm. Lot's of stitches. But, he healed fine. No harm done right? Anyways, I always throw knives at him, I just make sure I miss by a hare. Maybe nick him when I want to.

So we fight, we still haven't broken up. It's a record. An anomaly. I know, but what can you do?

I finish my shower quickly, I see no point in wasting my time standing in a small tub naked. I don't really feel like standing there for hours.

I take my other clothes to my room and decide to put on another training outfit. I might as well go back, I want to know who the female tribute is. Plus, there's no way I'm staying here with my mother for the rest of the day. I'd rather throw my knives at a target and imagine it's her face. I pull on a sports bra and shorts before heading out the door. My black running shoes standing out against the grey streets as I run.

I'm not one of those girls who wear their colourful training outfits. Like really? You look like a melted popsicle. One that doesn't even taste good. I reach the training gym in 15 minutes, sweat glistening on my forehead and my breathing heavy. It's a long run, but I've run worse.

I sauntered through the doors and into the main training room. Everyone is gathered around Edward and Dan, who are standing at the front. Cato is leaning against the far wall with a bored expression. Everyone turns to look at me, and the girls close to me move over a bit.

"What are you doing here?" asks Edward, his brows furrowed.

"I got bored," I drawl, "nice to see you again Dan."

Edward whispers something to Dan, probably wondering what I mean. I think Dan covers because Edward doesn't really look curious anymore.

"We were just about to announce the female tribute, since the accident with Pearl and all," Edward tells me.

"Wonderful," I say while moving around the room to stand beside Cato. He's the only one who can deal with me.

He gives me a quick wink, but doesn't say anything. I wink back. Some of the girls give me jealous glances, but I don't acknowledge them. They don't deserve my attention.

"So Edward and I have done some consulting and come up with the female tribute to replace Pearl," Dan begins.

We all wait in anticipation for the name.

"We've decided that the female tribute will be….

"Clove Serena."

I'm going to kill both of them. And I'll make it painful, real painful.

A/N: As you can see, you really don't want to get on her bad side.

Scary :)

Anyways, don't you hate those red squiggly lines that just appear. All annoying. Specially when you spell it right. Like...no.

Oh well, what can you do?

SOOOO I know we're all waiting for the reaping, but you need to learn about Clove too!

Next chapter will be the reaping, full of suspense.

What will she do to Edward and Dan?

I'm evil, I know.

Love you.

Hehe, byeee.