Cato POV

After the day of training, Clove and I decide to go to our favorite place, just on the outskirts of the district. No one sees us go towards the edge and I'm sure the only time that any of the other kids in training were even near there was then they needed to learn to swim for training.

We walk in silence. I think we are both still in shock of today's earlier event that got us many confused and surprised faces and glares. Many of which were from the other girls to Clove, because they knew she was better than any of them.

As we reach our favorite hangout place, we stop for a moment to take a look at it. There's a small pond there and, despite the atmosphere around it, it remains almost crystal clear. There is also a small clearing next to it, shaded by a bunch of trees that canopy over it. That's where we always lie.

I grab Clove's hand and lead her over to the grass. We duck under the branches and lay down on the soft grass, her head on my chest and my arm around her. We lay there in silence for a while, just listening to the sounds of nature. Oh, if only the other kids at the training center saw us here. But, even if they did, this moment is so perfect, I would probably only be mad at the fact that they had ruined it.

"Cato?"

"Hm?" I ask.

"What will happen if one of us is reaped?" she asks. I don't even want to think about such a thing. But of course, someone would volunteer. There is never a shortage of teenagers who want to go into the games. It's considered an honor to represent your district.

"Someone will just volunteer in our place," I respond, trying to sound confident.

"You can't always count on that, Cato," she says, and I know she's right. "How many times is your name in this year?" she asks. I didn't really want to tell her that. It will just make her even more worried than she already is. But I can't lie to her.

"Thirty-five," I answer. It's almost like I can feel her heart sink. "My dad made me put my name in an extra amount of times this year." What is it that our escort says every year? May the odds be ever in your favor? Well, it doesn't look like they are in my favor this year.

"How about you?" I ask her, not quite sure if I want an answer.

"Only the required amount for a seventeen-year-old." This makes me a little less worried for her. With so many people putting their names in so many times, there is hardly any chance that her name will be picked. I wish I could say the same for me.

I look up to see a single tear roll down the side of Clove's face and land on my shirt. She quickly wipes it away before she thinks I'll have to time to see it. Too late. I sit her up and look her in the eyes, wiping away any trace of the tears.

"Look at me," I tell her. "You are going to be fine. You won't have to go into the games. And you don't have to worry about me either. Trust me. Everything is going to be okay."

"How do you know that?" she asks.

"I just do."

Clove POV

I know he told me not to worry, that everything is going to be okay, but there is this feeling in my stomach that keeps telling me that something bad is about to happen. I don't know what it is. Maybe it has nothing to do with the games at all. Oh, I hope that's the case.

I never really understood how Cato always had a more positive outlook on things. He always sees the best in everything. Well, almost everything. He is the opposite of me. He is optimistic, big, and has a family that loves him. I am realistic, small built, not something I really enjoy, although it does come in handy, and I have a drunk father who doesn't give a shit about me.

That night we go home and get ready for bed. I brush my teeth in the bathroom and make my way over to Cato's bed. There's an extra bed in the room for me, but I prefer sleeping beside Cato. It makes me feel more safe. He lifts up the covers and lets me climb in next to him. He puts his arm around me and I lean up against his shoulder.

"What happens after our last reaping? For us, I mean," I say to Cato. I never really knew what would happen, and I was always really curious as to what would happen. I've also wanted to know what he thought.

"Well, you and I will never have to go into the games. I'll get a job, you can to if you want, and I'll buy a house. Just for the two of us. No more staying in this one room and waking up to my family downstairs every morning. It'll be a good life," he says. I let out a small chuckle and grin. It did sound like a good life.

"There is only one more thing that would make it a perfect life," he says. What else could there be? It already sounds like a great life. I wonder what he could possibly be talking about. That's when I notice the ring that he just pulled out of his pocket. Whoa. I was not expecting this. Is he doing what I think he's doing?

"Clove, I know that we are only seventeen, but I can't imagine living my life with anyone but you by my side. I know it sounds crazy and it's completely random, but I've been thinking about it for a while and you are the only person who knows the real me. And I want to spend my life with you. Will you marry me?"

All I can do is stare at the ring in his hand with a total dumbfound look on my face. It's a simple ring. Only a woven band that doesn't have a single diamond on it. It suits me well, but even I know that it cost quite a bit of money.

"No," I say. His face shows a complete look of sadness mixed with embarrassment. "I didn't mean that," I say quickly. "I just wanted to say it to assert my independance, just to see what it felt like. I didn't mean that." It all comes out so rushed, that I'm not so sure if he caught all of it. But the change of expression on his face tells me that he did.

"So, is that a-"

"Yes," I interrupt. His mouth turns up into a big smile, the biggest I've ever seen it, and he slips the ring onto my left ring finger. He brings me into a bear hug and releases only to kiss me tenderly and passionately. It's a little out of character for him. His kisses are usually urgent. But I'm liking this new side of him. He breaks off the kiss and puts his forehead against mine and looks into my eyes.

"I love you."

It takes me a second to process what he just said. I mean, we knew we loved each other, but we told ourselves we wouldn't say it until after our last reaping. But it doesn't really matter now. I take a deep breath and give in.

"I love you, too."

He smiles widely again and continues to kiss me. We settle into the bed even more as our lips move together in synchronization. As we slowly start to pull away, he wraps his arms around me even tighter and I fall asleep in his arms, not worrying about the next few days, and dream about the life that Cato pictures that is starting to come true.