Next chapter, people :) As I love saying I do not own Cato or the Hunger Games. I own Lera. Off topic: If there are people among you who are Thor's fans I would suggest reading necrofire004's story "The story of Blazer". I know it's a bit childish the way it is written but the boy is just 12! (and my brother after all :D) And we both are not native speakers.
Anyway, enjoy! Rate and review!

The next day Cato looked so tired and puffy Lera couldn't help but ask herself what's going on. The answer popped in her head right away: he's been training all night long. Without getting any sleep, he looked so exhausted and angry. When Marvel, the boy from District One, tried to joke him at lunch time, Lera was sure Cato'd jump at him. But he didn't. She shrugged. "I guess he is too weary for that".

That girl, Glimmer didn't stop asking him if he was alright in her horrible shouting voice. At that moment Lera felt an unknown feeling boiling inside of her. She didn't know it then but it was jealousy.

Then Cato turned at her and she looked away. Lera didn't actually know why she did it. It was by an impulse.

The boy kept looking at her. He could feel his heart speed up and he thought she looked so beautiful, even though her pretty hair was tight up in a ponytail and didn't reveal her real potential. Even though she wore this training outfit, instead of the nice green dress she wore at the introduction. It fits her eyes so well that Cato couldn't help but imagine himself dancing with her and spinning her around. A smile appeared on his lips and then he shook his head. What was he thinking? One of them, if not both would be dead in less than a week and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.

Another day passed without a talk between Lera and Cato. And they both had so much to say to each other. Their hopeless glares drained them because of their deep feelings they couldn't put aside. Whenever Cato turned to her their eyes locked for a second and then she changed direction. When he stopped looking, the girl turned around to watch him train. They both sighted and although they played it cool and as if they didn't care, they did.

Lera walked and lied on her bed but she didn't feel like sleeping. It was less than a week before the start of the Games but she didn't need any rest. Her energy was restored, although she has been training almost the whole day. She sighted, thinking about Cato. How would she manage with him at the arena? If they come up to one another he will surely kill her. But what if someone else kill him? In front of her? Would she jump to protect him although it might cost her life? She bit her lip because she knew the answer too well. She got up and dressed in her training suit. She wanted to remember, to relive that summer again, although it was not possible. Nevertheless, she headed for the training room.

Cato couldn't sleep, too. He was so tired, his eyes were burning but his heart was beating fast because of the adrenalin of the upcoming Games. This was his dream- to win them and now he had the chance to fulfill it. Everything he has ever wanted. He felt the pressure coming up on him and he could no longer lie down. He must go to train.

You can imagine the shock as Cato realized Lera was in the training room. He stopped for a second, his eyes tracking her. She got up from the floor, she was sitting on. It was an awkward moment before the girl broke the silence:

- I better get going…

She tried to walk past him but he grabbed her arm:

- What's the hurry? – it was his arrogant accent.

It wasn't a question. It was an obligation.

She looked at him patiently and then tried her way past him again, but his grasp just tightened. Her eyes followed his again and soon she was starting to lose the feeling in her fingers.

- It hurts, Cato. –she pulled away and rubbed her hand. But even when the pain stopped, she didn't let go. It felt as if she needed some sort of protection.

- You are afraid of me. – he tilted his head right. Her expression didn't change except for her lips -she clenched. – You are actually afraid of me. – he smirked and let out a ridiculous laugh.

- You wish. – she hissed and he pushed her. The girl took a few steps back and then tried to attack. He stopped her kick and twisted her right arm. She let out a scream and he released her, pushing her against the wall. Cato loved the way her body revealed she was scared. It made him feel so good he just couldn't resist but playing it off. The moment she turned around he was right at her, grabbing her hands, just like he did 3 years ago.

- So… what are you going to do about it?

Then out of nothing he kissed her, harsh and unexpected. He bent against her but she pushed him back.

- What the hell, Cato? What do you think you're doing? You can't just come up to me like that!

Instead of retreating, he walked slowly to her and pressed his lips against hers once more, this time slowly and gently. He released her hands but she didn't push him away. She placed them on his neck and pulled him closer.

The desire they felt at each other made them deepen the kiss. The feelings they kept inside were bursting out and they just couldn't handle it. Cato's lips moved on her neck which made Lera go wild. She was forced to took fast shallow breaths and she could swear her head was spinning.

- Cato… wait… we've got to stop. – she was slowly coming back to her senses and her voice was harsh. The boy didn't listen so Lera was forced to push him away.

He looked at her confused and she collected her mind.

- In a few days time we will be in the arena. We will have to fight to survive and we cannot afford to have this… thing right now.

He walked over to her and asked:

- Tell me, Lera, why did you come here tonight?

- I… - she paused.

- Were you training?

- No. – the girl shook her head. – I just wanted to… - she avoided his eyes as she answered. – relive those summer nights again. – she looked at him and he nodded. The boy sat down and she joined him.

- Tell me… - he started after a while. – Why did you volunteer for the 74th Games? You are just 17, you had one more year to practice.

She knew what he meant. Why now? If she had waited a year they wouldn't be together and maybe, just maybe, if they both had survived they could be together. Only that travelling between the Districts was strictly forbidden. Nevertheless, Cato could've done that. His father was a highly respected man and he would be allowed to have such a luxury if he wished for it.

- I didn't volunteer. I was picked up. – she explained.

He looked at her confused.

- No one volunteered for me. That's why I'm here.

She didn't speak her mind loud but she knew that if she wasn't here now she would never see Cato's face again. Years would've past and he would've forgotten her.

- You are the best then? – he asked. Only the best volunteered and if no one wanted to exchange for her, then she was the best not only in her age but among the 18-year-olds as well.

- I guess. – she whispered.

- So everyone in your District would expect that you win. It would be such an honor. – he imagined himself coming home. Everyone would just love him…

- I don't want to win for that. – the girl admitted.

Now Cato was even more confused.

- Why then? – she used to think like him three years ago when they met. He thought they shared a dream. He was a bit disappointed to hear that she'd changed her mind.

- Well it's just pointless to kill 23 people a year. Young people.

- It's an honor! A tradition! – he gasped.

- No, Cato, don't you see? It's how they keep us under control. Force us to do whatever they want! Young people can change the situation of Panem. And when we're taught that we should be afraid this will never happen. We kill and hate each other. If we unite we could stand. And 23 innocent lives would be spared every year.

He had never thought about it that way. He was beginning to consider it as she continued:

- If I live it through I will tell the whole country what's the situation. How difficult it is and what happens in the arena. How we're forced to kill. How people in the other Districts live! I will tell them everything. Someone has to make it right.

Cato was looking at her and at her new dream. She was right after all. But all she dreamt about seemed foolish to him. Everything is as it is. There is no point in trying to change it. It will always be that way.

- Because now I' m just a tribute. People won't listen to the words of a 17-year-old. But if I survive people will see me as equal. They will believe and trust me. I will be able to convince them.

- Do you really believe that the Capitol would let you talk if you want to make a fool of them? To ruin their reputation? –this thought seemed ridiculous to him.

- They would have no choice then.

But Cato wasn't convinced. It was a moment of silence before she asked:

- That girl… Glimmer seems to be interested in you.

She tried to sound natural but it only led to a smirk on Cato's face along with confusion.

- Her? – he asked. He had never seen her that way and he'd never thought about the two of them being together. He had also not noticed that she had an interest in him. But Lera did. – You are jealous of her! – he smirked. It felt good knowing that two girls fancied you.

- You wish, Cato. – she lifted her eyebrows and he was no longer sure. She was a very good liar although he knew her quite too well.

- Are you sure? – he bent towards her and she felt as if her heart would explode from her chest. Her body so close to hers made her head dizzy and her hands trembling. When the boy pressed his lips against hers she felt she wasn't here anymore. She was flying somewhere high, away from here. It felt so safe, so right…