9 : Closer

Clove's POV

While we were gathering the supplies that were left, district 12 Lover boy approached us then said, "I can help you carry those to hide somewhere in the woods." Cato and I looked at each other for a moment then back at him. I have a bad feeling about this. "I know a water source too. I found it after the bloodbath. I can help you find Katniss too. The girl from my district." Why would he sell her out though? Cato nods at me and says, "Fine. Put the supplies somewhere nearby." While Loverboy and Fiona guards the supplies, Cato, Blondie, Marvel and I hunt for food and tributes if we come around any. We filled every jug, skin and canteen we had with water to keep us hydrated.

Marvel and I were walking together. I look behind me and see Blondie and Cato flirting with each other. Cato caught me looking at them disgusted and I notice Marvel was looking at me. "What?" I hiss at him. "Nothing, nothing. It's just so obvious that you're jealous of Glim," he laughs. Is it that obvious? Am I that predictable? I can feel my cheeks turn red and I punch Marvel on his arm. "Woah. Easy Clove. I was just joking," he says rubbing his arm. I must've punched him too hard. I look him in the eyes. I think I can trust him. "Well, don't tell anyone but it's kind of true." Marvel nods at me and puts his arm on my shoulder. He's like the big brother I never had. Maybe that's why I don't see Cato ever as my brother. Because I've loved him all along. "Don't mention this to anyone or I'll kill you while you sleep," I threaten him. "I've seen you throw. I wouldn't take a risk," he answered. We were having fun. We were laughing. I wonder how Cato feels about my brotherly relationship with Marvel.

Soon after, we hear the cannons firing. There are eleven dead. Almost half of us are dead. This makes this a little easier now. Thirteen of us and six of us are allies. This would be easy. I can take out Blondie without fear. It's going to be hard but I'm willing to kill Fiona to get back home. I just hope it won't come down to me, Marvel and Cato. Cato. What if it comes down to me and Cato? I can't kill him. I just realized that I love him. I can't kill him. I just can't.

Soon, nighttime comes and we head back to Lover boy and Fiona. We hide our stuff between some bushes so nobody will find them as we hunt again. It's more fun to hunt in the evening. It's a big advantage for us since we have night vision glasses. We were walking a few meters from the lake when we saw a campfire nearby. How stupid. You're asking for other tributes to find you and kill you. We walk towards the camp and the thought that it might be fire girl excited me.

I get disappointed when we arrived. It's the girl from district 8.

"Hmm, nice campfire, sweetie. Feel warm?" Blondie teases.

"Oh my gosh. Please spare me. Please. Please don't kill me," the girl was begging.

Cato swings his sword back and cut the girl on the stomach. The girl fell to the ground and we took her pack. It was kind of useless. We just found a few biscuits, dried fruits and fire starters. We make Lover boy carry it in his pack and we walk away from the camp. Fiona noticed something. "Shouldn't a cannon have fired already?"

"I was the one who cut her. I know she's dead," Cato said.

"Then why isn't there a cannon yet?" Marvel asks.

"She's freaking dead. I know because I killed her," Cato was furious.

"I'll check it out," Lover boy volunteered carrying a knife. He walks back to the campfire and Glimmer says something to Cato. "Why don't we kill him now?"

"He's useful with a knife. And he's kind of strong so we could make him our pack mule and he could lead us to that fire girl," Cato answers. A few moments later, we hear a cannon fire. Lover boy comes back and Marvel asks, "Well is she dead?"

"She is now," Lover boy answers. Marvel looks at Cato then we move on. We killed a couple of rabbits and squirrels along the way but we decided to stop and head back to our supplies got a sleeping bags and made camp near the lake and supplies. I volunteer to take the first shift of guarding. Marvel volunteers too but Cato said he'll take it.

Cato's POV

I pull my sleeping bag over to Clove and sit beside her. "Thanks for watching out for me in the bloodbath."

"No problem. I wouldn't want you killed on the first day. That would ruin district 2's reputation," she says laughing. I laugh with her. "What if we're the only ones left Cato? Would you kill me?"

"Clover, the reason why I volunteered was to protect you, remember? What gave you the idea that I'd kill you?"

"But I can't kill you too, Cato. You're… you're,"-Say it Clove. Say you love me. Then I'll confess too and we can spend the Games with each other.- "my best friend Cato." Of course. Best friend.

"It'll be all okay Clove. It's all going to be fine." After hours of guarding, it was Marvel and Fiona's turn. I go beside Glim and sleep beside her. I hope this is enough to make Clove jealous and confess that she loves me.

Morning comes and we hear cracking. A big strong wind comes and we see a lot of trees were falling down. The wind was passing us so there's a big chance that any minute now, trees here will start falling. We pack up fast and run away. The wind is getting stronger and lots more trees fall. I look at Clove and see that she almost got hit by a tree that fell. I take her hand and she runs faster. The wind doesn't seem to soften. It keeps blowing harder and harder. Clove let go of my hand and slipped. She was breathing very fast. She was breathing uncontrollably. I notice that we've been running for a long time. She didn't take all the running. "Go Cato. Leave me. I'll be fine," she says but I can't quite understand it at first because she's still trying to catch her breath. I couldn't leave her here. I take her arms and put her behind my back. I run carrying her at my back. She's very light and easy to carry so I don't really have a hard time. I feel the wind getting softer and softer. Soon, the strong wind is gone and all the trees stop falling. I put Clove down, and sit down. That was the longest I've ever ran. That was very tiring. Glim and Fiona sit down leaning against the tree and Marvel lied down on the floor. Peeta just arrived panting hard. Clove got a few cuts from slipping but otherwise, she's okay.

"Thanks Cato," Clove says, "for not leaving me behind."

"No problem Clover. You saved me in the bloodbath remember?"

"I didn't really carry you. I just warned you."

"You were no trouble to carry Clove. You're so light. You should eat more," I say jokingly.

"Still. Thank you." She flashes me a smile. It's like nothing changed. We were still best friends. I thought that we were never going to get back what we had because of that kiss.

We drank the water we brought and rested for a while. After we regained our energy, we walked back to the lake and refilled out jugs. Then we walked around the woods.

Notes: Hi guys. Review! c: I love all of you who read this and even more, the people who write reviews! Keep reading. I'll update in two days or tomorrow. Keep tuned in.