"Look at the two of you! Oh, you're just the cutest couple." Belladonna cooed, fidgeting with the white lace ribbon tied around Aria's head in a bow. I rolled my eyes, scoffing slightly as I crossed my arms over my chest.

This is so pointless.

"Cato, stand up straight! You don't want all of Panem to see you slouching do you?" She scolded me, her eyes blazing with agitation. Just to spite her, I glared, leaning back against the pristine stonewall of the District Nine justice building.

Why the camera crews from the capitol chose to film us in this District was beyond me.

" Are you trying to make her more neurotic?" Aria whispered to me, turning her face in my direction, her arms folded across her chest much like mine. Her long eyelashes batted as she examined me, waiting for some form of response, I'm sure.

"Yes." I answered with a shrug, taking in her appearance quickly. A simple gray dress hanging to her knees with a lace bow around the waist along with a white pair of flats. Simple, but she looked perfect.

Snap out of it Cato.

She doesn't like you.

I internally scolded myself, turning away from her and kicking off of the wall, ignoring the sigh coming from her direction. The sound of her voice rang trough my mind, the night from weeks ago still present in my mind.

She doesn't love you.

At all.

I clenched and unclenched my hand a few times, ignoring the nagging voices of Belladonna and Bertlynn, who were chatting away with the camera crew that were going to follow us around for the remainder of the day.

Hooray.

…

Note the sarcasm.

"Now then, you two just go on as you would on any other day. This is mainly just some footage we need to keep the public updated on Panem's favorite couple." A tall, slender woman said, her abnormally large lips a distorting her speech a bit.

We both nodded, my eyes wandering back over to Aria, who was being once again fussed over, her prep team powdering a pink color over her cheeks. It was useless, though, she already looked perfect.

She always looks perfect.

Her hair. Her eyes. Her face.

She is perfect.

"Hello? Cato? You okay?"

Aria's voice snapped me out of my trance, my blue eyes focusing on her figure, a small smile on her lips as she raised an eyebrow at me. I gave her a small scowl, nodding and snatching her hand up in mine.

I ignored the tingle in my hand as her fingers wiggled in-between mine, the two of us making our way out of the building behind the mayor and his family, taking a tour of the District.

Not that there is very much for us to actually see.

District Nine isn't exactly exciting.

Aria was humming quietly beside me, obviously bored. A small smirk broke out on my lips as I glanced down at her, our hands still laced together. She was looking at the ground while the mayor chatted away about some rather large field.

"Having fun?" I whispered into her ear, a smirk still on my lips. She snapped her head up to look at me, a small smile on her face as she rolled her eyes. " A blast." She replied, releasing my hand to stretch her arms above her head.

I slipped my arm around her waist, pulling her against my side as we started to walk again. She raised her eyebrows at me, turning slightly into my side as she whispered to me. "You're being awfully affectionate today."

I shrugged, not replying as we continued moving. She probably assumed it was for the camera crews, but I've been dying to touch her for weeks.

Wow.

Way to sound like a creep, Cato.

"Smile." Aria whispered as we stopped walking to look at another field, this one containing people working in it. I plastered my fake smile on my face, leaning over and pressing my lips against the top of her head.

A blush spread on Aria's face, making my smile widen just a tad.

It may have been for the cameras, but my emotions just didn't care.

Maybe she doesn't hate you after all.

…

Maybe.

[-]

"I'm so sick of smiling." I whined, lying back on the blanket beneath me, the sun blaring down on my face, making me close my eyes.

"Because I love it so much." Cato said in a bored tone, making me squint my eyes open to look at him. He was leaning back on the palms of his hands, staring up at the sky.

He had been acting odd as of late. Actually, he's been acting quite odd today, taking most every chance to touch me and hold me.

Not that I mind.

When I asked him about it, he simply shrugged, which only confused me more. Was he doing it because he wanted to?

Don't be silly, Aria.

Cato doesn't like you.

He's doing it for the cameras.

My eyes slid over to the camera crew, who were eating at a classily set up table with the others. Cato and I requested some alone time, which is why we were a good bit away under this tree.

"Would you quit looking at them, please." Cato said, making me snap my attention back to him. A small blush broke out on my cheeks when I realized he was watching me. I sat up on my elbows, the tree branches shielding my eyes from the sun.

"Sorry." I mumbled, watching as he turned away, playing with some grass. "Bored?" I asked with a small smile, watching as he plucked a handful of the grass off the ground. He smirked, tossing it at me.

I squealed, rolling away from him and sitting up straight, brushing it off of me. "Cato!" I snapped, smiling softly nonetheless. He grinned, letting out a low chuckle as he too sat up straight.

"You missed some." He said, leaning closer to me, brushing his hand along my hair, a few blades of grass floating down onto the blanket. I swallowed hard, his body lingering close to mine for a few minutes, before he resumed his sitting position.

Relax, Aria.

I shook my head a bit, leaning back on the palms of my hands, staring off into the distance again, simply enjoying the moment.

Cato and I were arguing a lot less as of lately, something that both made me happy, and terrified me.

Arguing is so much easier than having feelings for him.

…

Which I don't have.

At all.

…

Yeah.

I pushed my internal arguing aside, simply looking back over at Cato again, catching him staring at me again. "What?" I asked with a slight frown, reaching up to touch my face.

Of course you would have something on your face, Aria.

Next time, when someone throws grass at you, make sure you get it all off.

"Nothing." Cato said, his voice a bit softer than his usual brute tone, his eyes looking into mine. I shifted, a bit uncomfortable beneath his gaze, flinching only slightly when his hand reached up and tucked some hair behind my ear.

Oh gosh.

Cato's fingertips ran along my cheek and under my chin, tilting my lips towards his. My eyes flickered from his eyes to his lips, and back up to his eyes, my heart pounding at an inhuman rate.

What's happening?

Cato's head leaned closer to me, his breath hitting my face and fogging my mind, his other hand slipping around my waist, pulling me towards him.

Aria, no.

Stop.

"Cato." I whispered softly, his lips just barely brushing against mine when I spoke, my eyes shut tightly. He tilted himself a bit closer, our lips brushing again, my hands still holding me up.

"Aria." He whispered back, his thumb grazing my cheek as he slipped his hand onto the back of my neck, preparing to pull me to him.

Stop him, Aria.

You don't want this.

…

Do you?

"Come on kids!"

Belladonna's shrill voice snapped us from our moment, a low groan coming from Cato's lips as I quickly untangled myself from him, hopping up and brushing off my skirt.

"Coming!" I shouted, my voice cracking a bit as I tried to relax myself. "Let's, um, go." I say awkwardly, looking at Cato, who stood and briskly walked to my side, slipping his hand around mine and tugging me along.

I didn't pay much attention to the chatter amongst the group, my mind completely focused on the kiss I just almost shared with Cato.

Cato, whom I'm supposed to dislike.

Cato, whom I know I shouldn't trust.

I glanced up at Cato again, his head lolled back slightly in boredom, his other arm lazily hanging at his side. He glanced down at me, rolling his eyes with a small smirk, making my insides squirm.

Cato.

Whom can't make disliking him easy.

Jerk.

[-]

Hello lovely readers!

Sorry for the wait, college is crazy hectic, plus I've been really sick all week :P

Thanks for all the reviews! I'm replying to the few long ones now as I upload, so be sure to leave long ones this time if you want a message from me :D

I hope you liked this chapter. It's got a bit of Cato POV & some fluff for those of you asking for it. I'm actually quite excited for the next chapter, as it's one taking place in one of the victor Districts! Guess which one in your comment :D

Thanks again loves!

Becca3