Hello people :), this chapter is going to be a little (okay, a lot) longer than the previous ones. I don't know if you find it good or bad so please let me know :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games nor Cato. Lera is mine. Dot.
Please rate and review! Enjoy :)

The day passed with Lera and Cato just glaring at each other, without saying another word. When their eyes locked, memories flooded them, almost choking them. They couldn't help but keep staring and flashing back to that summer they spent together. When they were told the practice session was over they were more than delighted to give it a break. But even going to bed was hard and restless.

Lera lied down on her back, her arms behind her head. She sighted, remembering the day she saw him…

It was a hot summer day in July. The holiday has just started which meant loads and loads of training for her. Lera was 14 back then, that meant she had 4 more years to practice before volunteering for The Hunger Games. She was the best of all her coevals so even if she wasn't chosen, she was obligated to volunteer and hopefully win. Back then her opinion about the Games was very different from now. She had never thought about the other Districts or how people there tried every day to survive. Her life has always been easy- she ate three times a day, three different meals, the only thing that was expected from her is to train hard and present District Four at the Games one day. And she would be honored to do that. This summer the coach has arranged something which is illegal by law but Lera didn't know and the others didn't care. All she knew was that the best trained person from District Two is coming over for the summer vacation to train. She should deal well and show she was stronger in order to get attention and show she was worth. Besides, she was the strongest one in 4, why not in 2 or maybe in all 12?

A blonde boy got out of the train, along with his father. His expression showed nothing and Lera kept watching until they reached her and her trainer.

- Hello, it's nice meeting you, Sir. I'm glad we can work together. I propose that we go inside and talk about the schedule first. – Lera's coach led him inside, leaving her and Cato alone.

- Nice place you got here. – he said, his eyes observing. – You know, the beggars back at home sleep in these.

At that moment she wanted to punch him. Instead she answered smartly:

- Well then, you should be familiar with the conditions, as you seem to have spent your whole life in such.

He wanted to offence her and he succeeded only that he didn't notice it. Back at home, no one would ever dare talking to him like that. Looks like he had to teach that girl some manners.

Before Lera realized it, he'd jumped on top of her, knocking her down on the ground. She always had a knife and was quick enough to take it out of her sheath but not quick enough to use it. Cato grabbed it with ease and threw it away. Then he stretched her hands above her head and grabbed her wrists with his hands.

- What are you going to do now, smart ass?

Nothing. She couldn't even move. His body was holding her on the ground and there was absolutely no way she could free her hands.

She looked at him, hatred in her eyes. Was he smiling? Is that son of a b*tch really smiling? She squinted. He seemed to actually enjoy it.

He smirked. He knew she was hopeless in his grasp.

Cato got up in his bed. It was 12 o'clock but he couldn't sleep. The training he had back home, this here was nothing. He wasn't even that tired to go to bed. Instead he walked down to the training room.

He was thinking about Lera, too. And he couldn't help but smile…

The next day, when their first training began, she was furious. She couldn't wait to start fighting. Cato could fight her off not exactly easy but she wasn't a concurrent. In fact, no one was. She still was better than the girls in his school back at home. And she was the best here so she got some guts. Just not enough to beat him up.

At lunch time she was already tired. She couldn't keep up the pace because she wasn't used to training so hard. Cato, though, was. This advantage gave him a step ahead and he didn't stop teasing her at lunch break.

Lera continued to eat silently, completely ignoring his nasty comments. She was just waiting for the perfect time to strike.

After dinner she thought the time has arrived. She went to the kitchen to grab some water for the night and she thought she saw him. Who else might that be? She heard her coach snoring back upstairs, Cato's father went to bed, too. She walked slowly, without making a sound. The more advantage she could get, the better.

But in the last minute before she jumped on his back the man turned and she realized it wasn't Cato. It was a man she'd never seen. He was wearing a mask and put out a gun. The girl gulped. She was too far away to attack or defend from the bullet.

-Pretty little girl, aren't you?

- Hey, I… - another man entered the kitchen and stopped when he saw Lera. – Oh, we've got company. Who's the beautiful young lady?

-Introduce yourself, sweetheart.

- Don't you dare call me that. – she hissed but the unknown put the pistol closer and she instantly raised her hands and changed her mind. – Lera.

- What a beautiful name. It suits you. And your character I must say. What do you say, partner, how'll the boss react if we take her with us?

At this moment Lera froze. It felt as if the time stopped and she couldn't breathe, she couldn't fight, she couldn't even scream. She was hopeless.

She heard a silent movement somewhere next to her. It was so quiet she could bet the men didn't hear it.

- Sit down, sweetheart until we're done here.

Lera did as she was told and felt a little bit better as her feet were starting to leave her- she knew she was going to pass out. She pressed herself against a shelf and looked around. The man wasn't paying much attention but she might be dead if she tried to move. The other one was in the dining room, looking for something. The noise she'd heard was gone. Until someone whispered in her ear:

- On my account.

She startled a bit but then she recognized the voice. It was Cato.

- One. – he said, disappearing. A second later she heard something falling on the floor. "Two"- she said to herself. The thief turned only to see a plate lying on the ground. The next moment someone jumped on top of him and Lera knew what to do. She jumped too and grabbed the man's hand, freeing it from the pistol. She then pointed it at him.

- You won't be needing it anymore.

He was so startled by the sudden attack and by the girl, holding his weapon that he didn't notice Cato's fist towards his head hitting him so hard he lost conscious.

- What the- - the other man entered the room at the noise and, when seeing Cato and Lera, he shot.

- Look out. – Cato jumped and the next moment Lera found herself lying on the floor. The boy has landed on top of her, forcing her to bent and saving her life. She didn't know how she did it but she shot too.

The man fell on the ground, dead.

Cato walked over to examine him and after he searched for pulse, he shook his head. Lera dropped the pistol, too shocked to do anything. She put her hand on her mouth, it was impossible for her to think, move or talk.

Cato watched as panic disappeared from her face, washed by numbness.

- Come on, Lera. – he walked over to her – It's alright.

From that moment on Lera and Cato were friends. Although he was too arrogant for her taste and he didn't like the way she returned his insults they became really close. For a moment they couldn't stand each other, the next one they were laughing. He didn't stop teasing her and when she fought back, he quickly caught her and it was just impossible to react. He then smirked and let her go. Lera knew she stand no chance but she couldn't help herself protest against it. It worked good for both of them actually. His ego was hurt when she insulted him but then recovered when he saw her helpless in his grasp. She, on the other hand, has a real concurrent for the first time in her life- it was nice to see that there was someone stronger than her. The way she felt around him- so powerless, it made her come down to earth. And she just loved the feeling he gave her, although sometimes she wished to kill Cato. All in all, it was a very nice friendship.

The last night they even shared a kiss…

- Couldn't sleep? – she asked. He was in the training room. She heard him- he was there almost every night practicing. She did know that the Games were the most important thing in his life but his dedication sometimes surprised her.

Anyway she wanted to be like him- dedicated to a cause which she'd fulfill. She used to believe that winning the Hunger Games would be honorable. But after she met Cato and they discussed the subject and after what happened that night she was really uncertain.

Why should 23 young people die each year? So that the others keep things under control? The system wasn't working properly at all- there were intruders in her house a month ago although there were Games every year.

When she mentioned them Cato became so arrogant, so full of himself. She used to be like him but when she changed the angle she realized it wasn't the right thing to do. Maybe he would see that himself sooner or later.

- No, I couldn't. – he answered. – Just not tired, I guess.

She could see a small bruise forming under his eye.

- Did he make you train? Your father?

She'd heard him yelling hours ago. He was mad at Cato, although she didn't know what about but he shouted and then punched him. It was in his style to make his son suffer by making him train all night.

- No. – he said and it was obvious he didn't want to talk about it whatever the reason was. But Lera continued nevertheless:

- Why did he yell at you?

It took him a little while to answer.

- I'm not in my best shape these days, you know. – as he talked he punched the bag harder. Anger was begging to boil inside of him.

- So why are you here?

- To train. – he answered simply. – I must get better, he said. I'm not good enough. – she could clearly sense his hatred, his anger and his tears. He was trying so hard to be the best that he was losing it.

- You should relax a bit, you know. – she put a hand on his shoulder. – I know the Games are very important for both you and your father but you should get some rest. – she smiled and squeezed his arm. – I'll be here if you wish to talk. – she let him go and he continued:

- I'm also leaving tomorrow.

Of course she knew that. She turned around to face him, her expression showed nothing. She could clearly sense panic in his voice though.

- I know.

- I just… you… - he left the bag and headed towards her, trying to find the words.

She smiled. She really loved that soft side of him- the side that was hid under a shell.

- You are important for me, too, Cato.

He looked at her and before she realized it, his lips were on hers. It was a nice, tender kiss. Lera wanted to stop the time right here so that this moment never ends. Cato shared her desire.

He broke the kiss and concealed her face with his hands, their foreheads touching each other.

- We'll come next summer, I promise. – he whispered. At this moment he didn't even care about winning the Hunger Games.

But he never came. It wasn't his fault, of course. His father just said he's found better ones to train with. So Cato forgot about Lera. Or so he'd thought. Seeing her now he realized he'd never put her in the past. He hit the punching bag as hard as he could. He was angry. Angry that he didn't have more time to spend with her. Angry at his father, angry at the games. Now what? Now he has to fight against her and kill her…