CHAPTER THREE
Clove's immediate reaction was to kick her leg backwards to try to hit the person who was holding her mouth and nose. She heard a female shriek and the hands released her.
"Ow! Seriously, Clove?" The shriek and the hands belonged to Clove's best friend, Persephone.
"Well, you really should know better than to sneak up on me." Clove tried her best at sounding calm and cool when she was still freaking out inside at not being able to breathe.
Persephone gave Clove a weird look. "You could try a little harder to not be a bitch, Clove."
"I'm not the one who tried to kill someone."
"Oh, please. I was just saying 'hello'. And I wanted to remind you that if my name gets picked, you better not try to take my place."
Clove stuck her tongue out at Persephone and glanced back at the stage. The president was now showing that stupid video of District 13. A lot of Clove's friends didn't even believe that District 13 ever existed and that it was just a ploy so the capitol could keep everyone in line.
"So, are you excited?" Persephone asked Clove. She had a big smile on her face, showing off her recently whitened teeth.
"Duh. I'm going to get so many sponsors, it'll be impossible for me to die out there."
But it didn't seem like Persephone heard her. She was just smiling like a ninny and staring at the group of potential male tributes. "Who do you think is going to be picked for male?"
Clove scanned the possible suspects and shrugged her shoulders. "I guess it could be any of them."
"No, what I'm asking is who do you hope is going to be picked. Duh, Clove." Persephone whipped her head back towards the boys and her long blue-black hair smacked Clove in the face.
Clove made a spitting noise to get her friends hair out of her mouth and scoffed. "Really, Seph?"
"Sorry, I forgot that I left it down today. Ooh look, there's Kellan. He's cute."
"He's too wimpy. I need someone nice and strong to be my companion."
"Lookin' for a new boyfriend already, Clove?"
"No, you idiot. He needs to be strong to pick off all the other tributes. Then when us careers are the only ones left, I'll murder them all with my quickness and throwing skills."
Persephone looked Clove up and down then laughed. "Really? You're going to kill five or more people before any of them has a chance to react and fight back."
Clove felt stupid and realized she probably shouldn't have even opened her mouth. She was getting too cocky before the Games even started. She decided to just change the subject. Persephone wouldn't even notice anyway. "Where's Menelaus, do you think?"
She took the bait. "Oh yeah! I wonder if there's like, a place where the past winners stand? Or maybe they just get to stay home?"
Clove hated it when Persephone made everything she said sound like a question. She always did that when she was trying to impress a guy or when she got over-excited.
"They're probably backstage. Or something, I don't know." Clove got a little flustered. Maybe she shouldn't have said anything again. Because, she didn't even know where her own boyfriend was. She just didn't think to ask him before. Clove realized she'd done a lot of talking about herself to Menelaus lately and felt a little guilty. But luckily, Persephone got distracted by something else.
"Look, look! There's Cato!" Persephone was standing on her tip-toes and pointing in the direction of the 16-year-old guys.
"Persephone, stop! People are starting." Clove started to hide her face with her hand. Persephone was always loud and didn't care or didn't know that she was. She just loved to be the center of attention. But Clove couldn't help herself, she had to look in the direction she was pointing. Sure enough, there was Cato, standing right at the edge of the other guys. He was laughing and talking with someone else from their district, someone Clove didn't know.
"Oh, relax. No one's looking. Everyone's too 'enthralled' with Snow's speech."
"I really hope he doesn't get picked. I don't know what I'd do." Cato was Clove's ex-boyfriend and their break-up did not go well. Clove still wasn't sure who broke up with who but they always fought and their last fight was the biggest one they'd ever had. She wasn't sure why she ever dated Cato; probably because he's very attractive. Girls always hung all over Cato and Clove hated it. She may or may not have threatened to kill a few of them.
Persephone gave Clove a hug and whispered to her, "You could always kill him right away."
Clove smiled at her friend's bluntness. "Thanks, Sephie. But hopefully we won't even be in that situation."
"I will now draw the name of the female tribute." Candola's voice rang out over the crowd again and Clove tuned back in to what was going on. Her heart started to pound as Candola ever so slowly dug her hand around in the giant glass ball. She finally pulled out a name.
"Clove Fuhrman! Come to the stage."
Clove had been picked! This is what she was hoping for. She wouldn't have to battle with any other careers over the spot because she had first choice. And she was definitely going to choose to fight in the Games. Clove was aware the cameras were on her as she was walking up the stage so she tried not to smile. She needed to look as ominous and threatening as possible. This is how she was going to get sponsors and this was the hook she was going to use for her interview with Caesar Flickerman. Clove made it all the way to the stage and stood next to Candola.
"Hello, dear. Would you like to fight in the Games?" She asked her.
"Yes, ma'am. Very much." Clove had to smile as she answered, but she tried to make it look as evil as possible.
"Alright. On to the males." Clove watched Candola as she spent even more time digging around in the male ball. After what seemed like ages, she finally pulled a name out.
"Cato Ludwig! Please join Clove on the stage."
Oh no, it can't be. Clove's mood fell as she heard who was picked. Her ex-boyfriend.
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