CLOVE'S POV

Everyone is staring. Why is it such a surprise? All the girls in my section look scared for me. Why? I wouldn't have volunteered if I didn't think I could return home. Nobody else had the strength to volunteer. Then again I'm not like everybody else. My eyes are searching for the one person I need to see. I need to see his reaction. Is he scared? Is he proud? Is he shocked? After searching the crowd, I find him. Cato looks shocked; he's shocked and five miles past broken. He should've known. Two peacekeepers escort me to the stage. The lady asks my name.

"Clove." I don't bother stating my last name; I'm the only Clove of the district. She goes on about how lovely it is to see such a brave soul. The same speech she has given to every volunteering female, so I don't take it to heart. Simply, I fake a smile. The boys' selection is next. It's the same procedure, just with a different bowl. Her hand is scoping out the name. Out comes her hand with a piece of paper, and makes her way back to the microphone. She doesn't have to wait for a male volunteer. They are always quicker then the females. A deep voice rumbles through the crowd.

"I VOLUNTEER!" the boy-should I say man comes rushing right up to the stage and stands beside me. He's dressed in black slacks, and a light purple dress shirt. When asked his name, his eyes are glued to me, but I am staring right out to the other citizens of District 2.

"Cato." I know his eyes are on me, but if I look I'll turn weak. I am not weak.

Everyone knows that Cato and I have a special relationship. They might even see things that we are too blind to see. The entire group puts their fist over their heart. It's something we always do when there are two volunteers, but today it means a lot more. We're escorted to separate rooms; my eyes can't even meet his gaze. Honestly, I am pissed off at him. People visit, we say our goodbyes, and then it is off to the capitol.

CATO'S POV

I'm looking at her and she won't even give me a glance. I know her, she's pretty pissed off right now. I'm regretting not telling her that this was my year to volunteer, that I had planned on it when I woke up, that the "thing" I was working on this morning was how I should volunteer, because it would be a surprise to everyone. After the goodbyes are said, Clove and I are escorted by a group of peacekeepers to the train. We board the train with our escort from the capitol. She shows us our rooms, and tells us that we will be stopping in District 1 tonight. Once she leaves, it is just Clove and me standing in the dinning car-alone. Her face still spells pissed off.

"Clove, you can't actually be mad can you?" I ask.

She turns and goes to hit my face, but I stop her. Her little fist is in my hand. Her eyes are burning with anger.

"What the hell do you think you're doing Cato? I volunteer and then you have too? Is that how you want to play?" Her voice spits the words out like fire. I push her hand down with force.

"No! But a little warning would've been nice! How the fuck was I supposed to know the girl I lov-" I stop dead in the middle of my sentence. She's shocked, I'm shocked too.

Her voice gets a little softer. "Say it then." It grows louder, a bit more anger. "SAY IT CATO!"

I'm full of rage at this point. "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY? THAT I LOVE YOU? THAT I'VE HAD THIS CRUSH ON YOU FOR A YEAR AND A HALF NOW? THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE VICTOR?! DAMN IT CLOVE WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY? THE ODDS AREN'T EXACTLY IN OUR FAVOR."

Clove's deep in thought. She looks like she is debating something. But her voice becomes a whisper "I don't like you like that. There's only one victor. And I refuse to be just another one of your damn girls. Sorry."

The message is blunt and very clear. She does have a point I guess. There's been many girls, but none compare to her. She rushes off to her room and I am left alone. I just confessed to something I can't take back now.


CATO'S POV

It's been about two hours since our conversation, but I am fully past it. Our mentor Brutus is in the full swing of things. He's telling me about how our alliance should go. All the career districts (1,2, and sometimes 4) are to be a team, we are only to allow other districts in for short periods of time, once you earn their trust-you kill them. He keeps reminding me of how there is only one victor- so not to get attached to the allies.

Too late. I start to think of Clove. I'm already attached. Ignorning that emotion, that thought.

Brutus tells me that he has seen what I am able to do, as well as Clove; apparently the training center had been filming us for weeks, some of us for years. In the middle of our conversation Clove appears. Her hair is now down, and her dress has been changed into a black one. I can tell she's been crying, but she still has a fierce look in her eyes.

"What'd I miss?" She asks.

Brutus catches her up to speed.

"What if there's a pair of star-crossed lovers? Couldn't we play that card?"

"Ahaha, my dear Clove, there is only one victor-so why play a card that does nothing to save anyone?

Her head nods. She understands. Brutus leaves us alone, he tells us to contemplate a stategy, and that once 1 arrived, we could form a plan. The two mentors had to agree though.

It's silent. Dead silent. I want to ask Clove why, why it matters, why even bother asking - I go to do so, but there's an announcement. We are now in District 1.