This has to be a dream. He can't really be here.

"Cato?"

"Yeah, it's me."

How is he here? His District would never let him come. As soon as I think about his District, anger boils up inside of me. I remember all the things he said to me; I remember how he didn't even say goodbye. I slam the door behind me and push him out into the street. His eyes have fear in them.

"What the hell are you doing here? After what you said to me, I never want to see you again! Get out of here!"

He starts stepping away, when out of nowhere I hear Prim's little voice behind me.

"No. No, don't go!"

"Prim this doesn't concern you, you need to go back inside."

She looks at me with her big blue eyes pleading with me, trying to talk reason into me without words. She can speak volumes with just her eyes. I unclench my fists, and let my shoulders hang a little lower. Prim appears by my side and holds my hand. Cato is standing a few steps away from us, but Prim walks up to him and grabs his hand as well. Then, she walks us both into the house. We walk silently right past my mother and into the sitting room. The same way she walked us into the house, she sits us down side by side.

I can't believe I am even letting him in my house. I think Prim is able to put some sort of spell on me. I want to yell at him. I want to tell him how idiotic he was, but I can't, not with Prim here. I hate letting her see any sort of vulnerable side of me. I'm so hurt and angry, though. I know if I opened my mouth, the only things that would come out would be yelling, cursing, and tears. I don't know how I am ever going to shake this. My stomach is in knots.

Slowly Prim lets go of our hands, but instead of putting them by our sides, she puts them together. Cato and I are now holding hands once more. My heartbeat increases in speed. I was so busy being angry that I didn't even think about missing him. Which was good. I would take being angry over missing someone any day. Now that he's here, my heart starts to ache. I realize how much he really did hurt me with his words, and how much I really did miss him. When I look up, Prim is gone. Cato turns to me.

"You have every right to hate me and want to throw me out. I don't blame you, but I had to see you. I couldn't stand knowing that I hurt you, and that you were here hating me. I just need you to know that I'm sorry, and that I really did, and do, care about you."

His blue eyes pierce mine. I know I should say something, but I can't think of what. I don't forgive him. So I ask the only question I can think of right now.

"How did you get here without your District freaking out?"

He flashes me his cocky smile.

"I went to the Capitol first, then I took the train here."

He went through all that just to come see me? He was on the train for hours and hours, just to come here. I take this moment to evaluate what he looks like. He's in my favorite outfit, sweats and a t-shirt. He always looks much better when he isn't trying. He must notice me looking him up and down,

"Sorry I didn't come more dressed up."

I simply shake my head because I don't want to say out loud that I like what he's wearing.

"Here's some tea, although it's probably not as good as the stuff in District Two."

My mother says as she walks into the room carrying a tray.

"No, I'm sure it's great. I'm really sorry for barging in on you like this."

Cato surprises my mother with his politeness. All of us in Twelve think of Career Districts as horrible, stuck up, and offensive. She gives him a little smile then walks out again. I know Prim and my mom are supposed to be giving us space, but I can hear them whispering in the kitchen and trying to eavesdrop.

"I'll go home if you want me to."

I can't decide how I want to answer this. Yes, I am still mad and hurt, but I don't think I want to him leave. I look at him for a second, studying his face.

"No," I almost whisper, "I don't want you to leave. Not yet anyways. I need answers."

Then Cato starts. He tells me what Lyme, Brutus, and Enobaria said to him. He tells me that he was the one who hung up on Effie. He says he didn't want to let me leave so easily, but he didn't have a choice. He goes over every detail, not skipping a single part. Then he ends it,

"I'm so sorry, Katniss. I shouldn't have let those pricks get to me. I should have stood up for myself, for us."

I have only one thing to say.

"When you stayed the night, did it mean anything to you?"

"It meant everything."

I don't say another word. I lean into him, wrapping my arms around him. He pulls me closer encompassing me in his scent. The moment is over sooner than I'd like.

"Katniss! Gale is coming!"

Seconds after Prim says that I hear the door slam open. We both jump off of the couch. Protectively, he stands in front of me, holding me by the waist behind him. The moment I see Gale, I can tell he is fuming with anger.

"Who the hell is this?" he yells.

"Hey, don't curse in front of ladies," Cato says sternly.

I didn't know they taught manners in Two.

"Gale, calm down," I step in.

"No, Catnip! I want to know what's going on, cause word is going around that this Career," emphasis on Career, "shows up out of nowhere, and you get into a screaming match with him."

Gale is still yelling. My mother is holding Prim. Prim is looking more scared than I have ever seen her. She's never seen Gale like this, and I wish she didn't have to.

"Look, let's just go outside and handle this."

Cato is still talking in a stern voice, but as we're walking out he looks over to Prim and mouths,

"It's going to be ok."

Once we get outside, things get heated. Gale is yelling at Cato, Cato is standing up for himself, and is still making sure I am behind him. Things escalate fast.

"Get your hands off her, swine," Gale spits.

"My hands have been on her before, and she hasn't minded." Cato fires.

Then Gale does something I was so hoping he wasn't going to do. He punches him in the jaw. Cato doesn't even lose his balance. He inches me back a few more steps, then takes Gale down in one swoop. He is holding him in a way so that Gale can't even move.

"You got one shot, you feel better?"

Gale squirms.

"You relax, then I'll let you go."

He squirms some more, but then calms down.

"Good. Now, I'm going to let you up. If you try to punch me again, I wont be this nice."

Honestly, Cato is being nice. I know for a fact he could have blocked the punch, then killed him with his bare hands. Obviously, I wouldn't have let it go that far, but if he wanted, Cato could have hurt Gale pretty severely.

"Gale, are you stupid or something?" a voice hollers from behind me.

I don't even have to turn around to know whose it is.

"This kid won the Hunger Games, you think you can just hit him and everything be peachy?"

I know Haymitch isn't standing up for Cato, but he definitely isn't in Gale's corner. Gale doesn't deserve someone in his corner, but I feel like someone should be.

"Look, can we just go inside?" I offer.

No one is out on the street looking at us, but I know they're all staring from behind windows and doors. As we all usher inside, Haymitch smacks Gale over the head. My mother already has an ice pack ready for Cato. Most everybody here knows he doesn't need it, but he doesn't refuse it. As we all gather in the kitchen, Cato puts his arm around my hip and holds me closer than before. It's like he's scared someone is going to snatch me away from him. I gently pat his back, letting him know everything is ok, and then I step away.

"Gale, you can't just go around hitting people. Are you ok?"

"Yeah. I just don't understand why you're letting this monster in your house."

Before I can answer Cato speaks up.

"Hey! This monsters loves her!"

The room goes silent, and all eyes turn to Cato.

Things are escalating quickly! Oh, Gale, being so stupid and diving head first into things you shouldn't. So now we have the whole gang together! I wonder how everyone will react to brutal, bloody, Cato revealing that he loves Katniss! Oooohh. Hehehe. Review beauties ;)