When I wake up, I don't know where I am. I roll over to see Cato lying on his back, staring at the ceiling. His eyes are dark and his hair stands up on end from spending the night running his hands through it. I know he hasn't slept. I'm in Cato's room but I don't remember coming in last night. "You were having nightmares, so I brought you in with me." Cato answers my unspoken question.

Then I remember why I'm gripped with a sudden fear and why Cato didn't sleep last night. Today is the day of The Hunger Games.

I swing my legs out of bed and sit up. No point in delaying it any longer. After all, we've trained and worked so hard to get here. I'm not ging down without a fight. Besides Jesa is banging on the door, demanding that we get up "RIGHT NOW!" I laugh. "Coming Jesa!" I call back sweetly. "Come on Cato. We should at least get something to eat before we go to the Launch Room." I'm worried about Cato. He's a sure shot in these Games and I'm terrified that he'll throw it away because of me. We get up and throw on the first outfit we put our hands on and wander down to the dining room, hand in hand but our thoughts are a million miles away.

Seth meets me in the dining room. It's traditional for tributes to be escorted to the Launch Room by their stylists. I see a women pat Cato on the back- I guess she thinks she's comforting him- before sitting opposite him at the table. I assume she's Cato's stylist. We fill our plates with a bit of everything. I'm not really hungry but I don't know when I'll eat next. We eat in silence. Jesa attempts small talk which fades out pretty quickly. Cato doesn't eat. Rather he moves his food around the plate taking the occasional mouthful. I place my hand on his leg under the table and give him what I hope is a reassuring smile, even though I feel sick and my heart is racing like I've just run a marathon.

Seth looks at his watch. "Time to go Clove." He says. I throw a panicked look at Cato. "I'll leave you two to say goodbye." Says Seth as he and Cato's stylist leave the room.

As soon as they're gone, Cato takes me into his arms. I press my head against his chest and close my eyes, making a mental note of how it feels to be held like this. Maybe for the last time. I inhale, remembering his smell. I won't cry. Neither will Cato. We have more sense than that. "Cato?" I mumble into his chest. "I love you too." He doesn't speak. Just kisses me, and for a moment , that's all I know.

He holds me at arms length, looks me up and down, as if taking a mental photgraph of me, then turns and leaves the room. I want to sit on the floor and cry. To let all my defences down and give up. But instead I take a deep breath and go to find Seth.

We walk silently to the Launch Room and when we arrive, I change into my tribute's clothes and give Seth a hug farewell and thank him for making me look like a star. He kisses the back of my hand. "Goodbye, girl with the knives." Annd I smile. Seth shows me to the Launch tube and I go inside. He locks the door and all sound is blocked out.

I feel myself rising and quickly put on my 'Don't mess with me' persona. The next thing I know is a cool breeze blowing through my hair. I stand there through the sixty second countdown.

"5...4...3...2...1... Ladies and Gentlemen, let the 74th Hunger Games begin!"

And the last thing that crosses my mind as the gong goes off is that in these Games, love is the most dangerous thing of all.