Chapter 3

Sorry if this chapter took a while. As much as I want to update this story, I've been busy with school. Also, I'm sorry if the Clato romance is taking so long; but don't worry! It will be coming soon. I'm just heating things up; just wait and see :) But here you go! Enjoy and pretty please review.

Cato's POV

We've finally reached the Stacy's. As I try to shake off this eerie feeling, it gets even worse! Now, I could feel droplets of sweat on my temple. I guess Margo, my little sister, has noticed it as well asking me lots of times now if I'm okay. I kept telling her I am, when I'm not.

Dad rang the house's bell and instantly, Ms. Stacy appeared. She escorted us inside their house, and WOAAAAAH! For the record, it has been the fanciest place I've ever, ever been! I wander my eyes around the place. I could also tell my parents and Margo is doing the same. I see luxurious chandeliers up in those very tall ceilings, a huge mahogany dining table, a bunch of cozy velvet couches, and a very classy stairway where Clove's making her way down, to us. Clove… She looks amazing. I've never seen her dress like that. Well, I've seen her occasionally and that is because she doesn't really want people around her… not until the training and she became friends with that Jade girl. But what else can I say. Her beauty is jaw-dropping. Yep, that's the proper word.

"Oh, there you are sweetie patootie." says Ms. Stacy, gesturing Clove to come and move quickly. Margo and I laughed a bit with that patootie but we were stopped by Dad, eyeing us with a straight look.

Clearly, Clove looked as embarrass with her mom's intro and just flashed a fake smile.

"Hi, Mr. Lewis, Mrs. Lewis," Clove said, reaching a hand to my parents. "…Margo and, hi Cato." she said, avoiding an eye contact. Afterwards, Ms. Stacy led us to the dining area.

I was seated across Clove, which I think makes her very uncomfortable but she, somehow, manage to pull the thought off. Mrs. Stacy and my parents are chatting non-stop, which left us, me, Margo and Clove, quietly munching the bits of our food.

Bark! Bark! Bark! Bark! A loud sound came out of nowhere. Our families crack into a halt of what we're doing.

"I'll take care of that," says Clove "excuse me." she said and left the place.

Clove's POV

I hurriedly excuse myself to fix things up with my dog, Tanny, who's in the back of our box. He's been this weird fido lately. He's always wrong timing.

"Hey, buddy." I said, petting Tanny to calm him down. This seems to work effectively, for him, and this is, so far, the solution to his tantrums. "Why?" I asked.

I know dogs can't reply but hey, he's been a part of our family. He's been with my parents even before I was born. So, I tend to talk to him; even without a response, that's okay.

I knelled next to Tanny and he immediately lay on my lap. Yep, we've been like this since forever.

"Your dog?" a voice roared from behind. Cato.

"Yes." I said. He came over to my side and sat. To tell you the truth, I really feel uncomfortable when he's around. It's like I'm in trouble every time I caught a glimpse of even his shadow. Flaky, but that's the axiom.

There was a long pause afterwards. I'm trying words in my head that could possibly start a conversation, but there weren't any. Cato finally broke the ear-breaking silence, thank God…

"So… uhm… I just want to say sorry?" he said; or at least that is what I've heard. But it's like he's not sure, so maybe not.

"About what?"

"About what my friends did to you a while ago. Their just… nuts, I guess? But yeah. Sorry." he said, and smiled. His smile. It's very captivating, but the words of Jade and that receptionist in the training hall echoed in my head. That it's just a poser image, it's not real. I must not fall for those smiles. No, no, no.

"I'm cool." I said, trying to sound cool like those in training. Yes, I've finally mingled with the society!

We chatted about random things afterwards and in the middle of our conversations, Tanny would pout (I didn't even know dogs could pout!) and occasionally do his remarkably cute doggy sounds. Tanny seems to like Cato too. Tanny never wants to let his fur touched by any stranger but it's weird when it comes to Cato; that he never gets furious about him patting his back.

We, three, went on like that and never noticed the time. Soon, we sighted the other Lewis' making their way to the gates and bidding their goodbyes to my mother.

"Have to go," says Cato "thanks for the time." he said and left to catch up with his family.

He wasn't that bad after all. Really. But something's holding me back, though. I just don't know what it is.

So what do you think of this? Please review. Much love xx

PS: We wouldn't have school on Monday so maybe, just maybe, I could update this fan fic soon! :)