All of us stare blankly at him.
"I, uh," he stutters "oh to hell with it, I do, ok?"
After he says that all of the eyes turn to me. They all expect me to say something, like I am supposed to know what to say. I freeze. I can't say something if I want to. Right when he said it a million things rushed through my head. Do I love him? How does he know he loves me? What does it mean if I love him? I can't even move my legs to walk out; they are stiff as a board. With all the things rushing through my brain I start to feel lightheaded. Suddenly, my legs give out. I fall to the floor. The next thing I know, I'm on the couch and Cato is next to me running his fingers through my hair. When I open my eyes, his voice isn't the first I hear, but I recognize it instantly. It belongs to Gale. Judging from how faint it is I'm guessing he is in the kitchen whispering. Cato remains quiet. He must know that I can hear him, and wants me to listen.
"This guy is no good for her, he is a Career, we all know how those are."
"Gale, I think you need to calm down. You don't know anything about him."
My mother replies. I try to sit up to yell something at him, but I get up way too quickly and Cato slowly puts me back down then quietly shakes his head. I wonder how long he has been listening to Gale talk like this about him. I'm surprised he hasn't hit him yet.
"Mrs. Everdeen, what would your husband think about this?"
How dare him! He has no right to bring my father into this. I want to scream at him, but Cato's hand is placed on my chest. He doesn't want me to move, he just wants me to listen. So I oblige. I know that when Gale said that he changed my mother's mind about Cato, but right when I think all hope is lost, another voice speaks.
"He would want Katniss to be happy. No matter whom it was with."
Prim, speaking well beyond her age. I'm not sure why she is in Cato's corner, but I sure am glad she is. I could almost hear my mother switching sides again. It grew quiet, and Cato decides it's time to speak.
"Hey, look who's up" he winks.
I sit up, slowly this time.
"What's been going on?" I ask, as if they will tell me the truth.
"Just waiting on you to get up, Catnip. And finding out more about Cato, here." Cato smiles and nods keeping the fact that I know what was going on to himself. My mother brings me a glass of water and I slowly sip it. The room is uncomfortably quiet. I really cannot stand to be around Gale right now.
"Hey Prim, what do you say we go show Cato around Twelve?"
She pops up out of her seat, probably just as relieved as I am to get out of this house. She grabs Cato's and my hand, and before we leave she flashes a glare at Gale, which makes me smile to myself.
"You didn't really want to show him our District, did you?"
"No, little duck, I didn't."
She shrugs it off and we walk silently. Cato and I are both at east with silence, but Prim is not.
"Do you really love her?"
I stop walking dead in my tracks when she says that. Since we are all holding hands, I make both of them stop too. Before I can tell Prim to forget about it, Cato kneels down in front of her and she let's go of my hand.
"Yeah, I do. It's not hard to fall in love with her, is it?" Prim shakes her head "but I don't think your sister is ready to talk about it yet. So, how about we only talk about it when she isn't around, deal?"
"Deal!" Prim exclaims.
I didn't expect Cato to be so good with her, but she adores him. Normally, I would object to them talking about me behind my back, but since I really don't want to talk about it, I don't say a word. We walk awhile longer talking about meaningless things, and end up back in front of our house. We walk up the stairs but Cato doesn't follow.
"I need to go talk to Haymitch, I'll be back in a little."
What could he possibly have to talk to Haymitch about? I don't ask, though. Instead, I just nod and turn to go back inside. Right before I reach the door Cato comes up from behind me and kisses me on the cheek.
"I'm sorry from springing that on you in there. If you want me to go, say the word," He whispers in my ear.
I don't say a word, though. I just walk into the house and look at him before I close the door. He gives me his infamous cocky smile.
"You'll say it, just you wait."
I close the door quickly so he doesn't see me smile. I don't even get five steps in the house before Gale is bombards me.
"You're not going to say it back, right? You don't really love him, right?"
I am so not in the mood to deal with him right now. I have so many other things to think about, and when I figure out if I actually do love Cato, Gale will not be the first or second or even third to know. I look to my mother and beg her for help silently. I guess she knows me better than I thought because she steps in.
"Gale, it's getting late. Why don't you go home, and come back tomorrow after work?"
Since Gale can't really say no, seeing as how it's our house, he accepts defeat and walks out, but not before saying one last thing.
"I will be back tomorrow, Catnip."
He tries to sound threatening but it doesn't really work. Finally, I can breathe without being interrogated.
"There is a bath ready for you upstairs."
I thought I was supposed to be taking care of Prim, when did she start taking care of me? I won't say no to a bath, though. I need a place to think, and it's too late to go to the woods. I sink down to my neck and let the lavender scented bubbles calm me. I know Cato wants an answer, even if he says he will wait, he wants one soon. I don't blame him. He made himself vulnerable, something both of us never like to be. Now I have the upper hand and I have no idea what to do. I think back over the time we spent together. I remember the training center, and the roof, and his hurtful words. Just as the bath becomes cold, I realize my answer. I step out of the bath and quickly wrap myself in a towel. The bath was cold, but the air is even colder. I take my time putting on clothes and braiding my hair. All the while thinking of how to break the news to him.
When I walk downstairs, I see him sitting at the table alone. He must hear me, because he turns around and smiles. Although he is smiling, his eyes look so sad.
"Your mother and Prim went to go help someone with something, I wasn't really listening."
I make my way over to the table where he is sitting. I take a deep breath and look him in his crystal blue eyes.
"You know, now I'm not so sure I want an answer," he laughs nervously.
I had a whole speech planned out, but now that he's here, I decide against words. Instead, I lean in and kiss him right on the lips. He seems surprised at first, but then he puts his hand behind my head and pulls me closer to him. A sense of warmth rises through my body. We break our lips away but our foreheads are still touching and his hand is still on my head. Out of breath he asks,
"So does that mean you love me too?"
I remain silent, but nod. He exhales in relief then puts his lips on mine again. We hear the door open and close, but we don't stop. We hear my mother and prim walk in and gasp, but we still don't stop. It takes Haymitch's drunken words to stop us.
"So does that mean you don't need to stay over tonight?"
Awww, she said it back. Now you know what has to happen, right? What always happens when Katniss thinks things are perfect? Don't worry, I'll give them some time to adjust to being in love, but beware. The Capitol is always watching.