I could hardly concentrate all day today. The only thing I was able to think of was what Cato wanted to talk to me about. My mind kept flashing back to standing on the balcony with him. Trying to throw myself into mentoring didn't even really work. I'm powerless and that frustrates me. Plus, Noah is one out of seven left and he is still doing great. So again, my mind wondered to Cato. Even going down to the training center to shoot couldn't distract me. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, so I asked Effie to help. After a while of telling me how happy she is I asked her for help she made me some tea. I don't know what's in it but it is definitely working. I can feel myself drifting in and out of sleep.
Finally, I have a night of no nightmares. That tea must have really knocked me out. I wake up the same time as always though, 4:00 AM. I can hardly handle the anxiety. I shower and get ready so quickly my braid is dripping water because I forgot to dry my hair. Quickly, I wring it out and towel dry it. I make record time down to the training center. Cato isn't here yet; so to calm my nerves I pick up a bow and start shooting at the targets. I have no idea why I am so nervous. Maybe I shouldn't have even come here. Maybe this is what he has been working up to. Maybe this is some kind of trap. Before I even have a chance to put down the bow, I hear the heavy door opening behind me. My heartbeat sounds like drums in my ears. My body becomes hot. I hear the whoosh of the door closing and slowly turn around.
"You act like you didn't know it was gonna be me walking through the door," he laughs.
Why do I always have to do that to myself? I work myself up over nothing. Of course he isn't going to do something horrible to me. If he wanted to, he would have. I feel stupid for even thinking that. I don't really have anything so say back to him, so I get right to the point.
"Ok, so what is this about, Cato?"
He looks away, like he's trying to gather his thoughts. Then, he takes a deep breath. I have a feeling I'm not going to like what he's got to say. So I do what I always do whenever I don't want to hear something.
"I'm just going to go. I shouldn't have come here in the first place," I say as I walk to the door.
Before I pass him I see him hang his head in defeat. Careers never accept defeat, so I know that something is really wrong. I stop walking and speak over my shoulder.
"If you want me to stop just say something."
And he does.
"Look Katniss, everyone from my District thinks that 12 is full of dirty, poor, revolting people."
This isn't a good way to get me to stay. I sincerely hope he is going somewhere with this.
"Hell, if anyone even know I have been hanging out with you I would get in a lot of trouble. I'm not even really supposed to speak to any other District besides One and Four."
This is starting to sound like a goodbye speech, and not a good one.
"And going against what we're told is a serious offence in Two. It's just, I don't really give a damn."
Wait, what?
"Look, what I'm trying to say is: I find myself waking up and really looking forward to coming down here and seeing you."
I did not expect him to say that. All I can do is stare at him. He has rendered me speechless and I'm just standing here looking like one of the target dummies. His eyes are gazing down at me, begging me to say something. We stay looking at each other for a few moments until he breaks eye contact and scoffs,
"Say something, fire girl."
I know I have to, but I have no idea what. Maybe if I just stop thinking about it and start talking it'll come out ok.
"I like seeing you, too. Yesterday I could barely focus on anything because I couldn't stop thinking about seeing you today."
What the hell was that? That is not what I wanted to come out. How could I say that? How could I even tell him that? He isn't supposed to know that. I don't even know if I really do like seeing him. Saying nothing would have been better than saying that! I stood there waiting for him to laugh at me, cursing myself in my head. Then he does something I don't expect. He smiles. Not the kind of cocky smile he usually wears, or the seductive smile he flashed me from across the room at the dinner. He is genuinely smiling.
"Okay, now teach me how to shoot that thing."
I'm thrown off by his quick subject change, but kind of appreciate it. I'm not good with emotional situations. Plus, I'm pretty sure they're taught in Two to never show emotion. So that real smile he gave me, was probably a brand new thing for him. I laugh then pick up the bow to try and teach him how to use it. He's horrible with it. I can't help but burst out laughing a couple times.
"Alright you know what, we're teaching you how to throw knives!"
Seeing him get angry when he can't do something makes me grin. Throwing knives is a lot harder than I thought it would be. We switch off between him shooting the bow and me throwing the knives.
Cato and I spend 8 hours alone in the training center. It's like I completely lost track of time. The only reason we even stop is because my stomach starts to growl.
"I can't believe it's already noon," I groan.
Panic fills Cato's eyes. He stands still for a moment then drops the knives he has in his hands. He moves hurriedly and talks fast,
"I have to go."
He runs over to me grabs my hand then kisses my cheek. Before I can even blink he's gone. So now I am left here in utter shock. Is that something they do in his District? Maybe he just kisses everybody. Except, I've never seen him kiss anyone before. My rumbling stomach takes me away from my thoughts for a moment. I put the bow down and head back to the apartment. While in the elevator I realize I can still feel the warmth of his hand in mine. My cheek is still a little damp from when his lips touched it.
When I enter the dining area everyone stops and looks at me.
"Katniss, you're positively glowing!" Effie exclaims.
I quickly try to hide whatever is making me look like this to no prevail.
"Where ya been, sweetheart?" Haymitch asks suspiciously.
Before my mother knew that I hunted, I had to lie about it. Which consequently made me pretty good at hiding the truth.
"I was down in the training center. I just had a really good work out, I guess."
They ask no more questions, so I'm able to sit down and eat.
The thought of Cato lingers in my mind for the rest of the day and into the night. Again, I have to try and distract myself. This time, though, I don't have anxiety about seeing Cato tomorrow. When I finally glide into bed all I can seem to think about is Cato. Then I realize what I've been hiding from myself, I'm excited to see Cato.
I can't tell you how much your reviews mean to me! I squeal every time I get a new one, so please keep em coming. I had feels writing this chapter, and I hope y'all do too! Review, review, review and I will love you forever! Also, something happened and Apparently I didn't publish chapter one, yeah.. I know ok. Soo, I did that and I'm super sorry about that.