GiraffeMiss-Thank you very much! I really appreciate the comments
Willows POV
Silence.
Well this is awkward…
Katniss looks at me then to Cato. "Yeah, I know who you are." She says dismissively once again. This time I pay more attention to her eyes and notice they aren't as cut off as they were earlier. I can see a bit of emotion seep through and I can instantly tell it's a front. I can also see how badly she wishes to get away from him from her posture. She's leaning back away from him and her whole body is tilting in the opposite direction to his, ready to run. I learned to read people quite well when living with my father…It allowed me to prepare myself for when he would come after me. A useful skill I suppose I should thank him for. I decide to play nice even with her tone. My heart constricts slightly thinking of his death…I push it aside quickly before the memory can take hold.
"Katniss right?" I say with a smile and she gives a short nod. I can feel the impatience radiating off her. An idea pops into my head to separate them. " Well I went for a wander to learn the layout of the school and I seem to have got myself lost" I say with a false laugh "Do either of you know the way back to Mr C's Art room?" I continue innocently. Cato speaks first.
"I'll do you one better, how about I walk you there?" he says.
Wow…That warm voice was nothing like the icy tone I heard earlier...Was it really him? Did I miss someone walk away?...
"OK, well I suppose I'll head back to class then.." Katniss says before she scurries away.
Your welcome…
"So…your name?" I ask putting my hand out to shake.
"I'm Cato." he says taking my hand and placing a kiss on it. Oh… "You must be the new girl from 10 everyone is talking about."
"People are talking about me?" I say as he leads me to Cinnas class. I knew people were staring but talking?
"Yes, everybody's talking about the shy, pretty new girl who's just popped up. Now I understand slightly.." he states
"Understand what?" I ask curiously.
"Well I don't understand the shy part. You introduced yourself quite confidently back there" he begins " but the pretty I understand. It's been understated, your beautiful…" He finishes gently and I can feel my face heat up from my deep blush. These are totally mixed signals I'm getting from this guy. Earlier, just his look made my skin crawl and I'm pretty sure it could only have been his voice back there and it sent shivers up my spine…and not in a good way. Now he's all gentlemanly and accommodating…What the hell?!
Hold off the judgements for now Will…Wait until you unravel the real Cato before you make decisions on him… I really do not like this feeling. Usually I can read people so well, yet here, in this stupid school my mind is all mucked up.
"You know there's only 20 minutes of class left. We could just skip it and I can give you a tour of the grounds…." Cato interrupts my train of thought. His tone tells me he has more to his mind than a tour… but then what teenage boy doesn't?
"As much as I could probably use a tour I don't think skipping class completely would leave me with a good impression on my first day." I say lightly, trying to let him down as easy as possible.
"But you have probably missed the whole lecture…Wouldn't walking in so late leave with an impression just as bad as not walking in at all?" He asks with a raised brow.
"Please… It's Art, how important could one lecture be? Besides I would feel bad…" I trail off as I see that blue door.
Time for an escape of my own.
"Ah, this is it. Thank you so much Cato!" I say with fake happiness. I'm so glad I learned to lie so well at home. Strange thing to be thankful, but I'm sure he would have seen straight through my charade otherwise…When I had to hide things from my mum…
STOP! STOP RIGHT THERE! Talking about Father is one thing but Mum is a road we do NOT want to ride down right now…not here…not with Cato…
I briefly close my eyes to gain my composure and breathe in through my nose, I exhale through my mouth and open my eyes and Cato is a little too close for comfort. Staring straight into my eyes. His eyes are also blue, but closed off, more shallow than Peetas…
Why are you comparing Cato and Peeta again?...
I talk a step back awkwardly to gain some of my free space back and I expertly control my face to not show any of the shock, or slight disgust, I feel from him leaning so close to me.
"Well, um, thanks for showing me back Cato" I say quickly. Ready to get out of this situation I've put myself into.
He takes my hand swiftly, before I have time to pull it back and he places a kiss on it. "See you later Willow. It was nice talking with you." Cato smirk as he turns to leave.
I wait till he walks out of sight before I shiver in distaste and rub the back of my hand on my Jeans. Now I just feel dirty…. How can he be so pleasant yet when he touches me I want to throw up?...Weird.
"Ew." I mumble, looking at my soiled hand as I step towards the door. Mid-step I bump into a large, hard, warm object. I let out surprised yelp and I gaze up only to look into a pair of sparkling, mirth filled aqua eyes.