This'll probably be the last chapter I'll write for a week or so. I'll be back with internet connection on new years, but i rpobably wont post a chapter that night.

Chapter 6

Dumbstruck

There was a long, awkward silence where Cato just stared at his hands and I gaped at him. I'm not exactly sure how long I stood there, staring, but he started to get uncomfortable because he glanced up at me and coughed. I could tell he didn't know what to say, and I was about to say something when a nurse walked in with Finnick.

"Hey man" Finnick walked up to Cato and sat on his bed. "How ya feelin'?"

"I've been better" his voice broke.

"Oh, Clove! Were you here all night?" FInnick noticed me standing there, dumbstruck.

"Y-yeah. I... I um should get back to Annie's." Finnick nodded, his eyes told me Yeah that's probably a good idea. And, as if on cue, a tall muscular man barged in, probably Cato's father, and he was raging. I took the liberty of slipping past him before he recognized me and walked out onto the street of district four. I wandered for a bit along the beach, but I finally came to the familiar back side of Annie's house and I walked into the house, straight into the kitchen.

"Clove!" Annie's parents exclaimed together, their faces filled with joy. "It's so good to see you" Annie's mom hugged me closely.

"You too!" I did my best to sound enthused, but my mind was still spinning from the hospital, so much so that you would think I was the one who almost died of a drug overdose. I probably looked like it too, bloodshot eyes and dark circles under my eyes. What a great way to make an impression on Annie's parents.

"You look exhausted, why don't you head up to Annie's room? Her and Sam are up there right now." I nodded and sauntered up the stairs and into Annie's room.

Annie was sprawled across her bed, furiously typing on her phone, and Sam was sitting on thee floor, doing the same. When Annie finally noticed me, she quickly sat up. "Clove! You're here! How's-" she stopped herself and took a long look at my face. "What's wrong?" she asked, and I replied telling both of them the long story of what Cato told me.

After a couple days of sitting lazily on the beach and going on bike rides with Annie through district four, it was time for me and Sam to go back. We were at the train station and Finnick and Annie were standing in each other's arms as they said goodbye, but little did know Finnick had a not-so-fun surprise for us.

"Hey Clove. I know it's kind of weird by asking this, but can you take Cato with you? I know he needs to be in District two for the victor's tour soon and I don't really have anyone that can take him."

"Uh..."

"Yes, we can" Sam mumbled, not really paying attention because she was too busy with Alex.

"Sam!"

"What?!" she snapped her head towards me. "C'mon it's the least we can do for Finnick and Annie since they gave us such good hospitality! It wont bet that big of an issue!"

"Whatever" I rolled my eyes at her.

"Cato!" Finnick yelled, and Cato stepped out of Finnick's car, carrying his small bag. "If you could check on him every once in a while that'd be great. And he needs to take one of these every five hours" Finnick handed me a bottle of pills. What was I!? A baby sitter? Apparently, because now I was being stuck with taking care of Sam and Cato. He shuffled over to Finnick. "Stay sober Cato. We don't need another one of these episodes." Finnick shook Cato's hand firmly.

Cato looked in my direction, but I averted my eyes. "I will, Finn. I promise. And you two don't have too much fun" he looked between Finnick and Annie who just smiled at each other.

"It was really nice to see you Cato" Annie hugged Cato, and then me. "You too Clove, and I hope things work out so you're happier." she forced a smile.

"Thanks Annie. Nice to see you Finn"" I called as I walked away slowly. "Hey lovebirds!" I yelled at Sam and Alex who were rubbing noses and whispering to each other. Sam looked up at me with her big brown eyes, almost like Can we keep him? "We've got to go, Sam." Sam gave Alex one last kiss before hurrying onto the train.

The train ride was virtually painless. Cato slept most the time and Sam just dramatically looked out the window, but I was glad to reach district two, where people actually spoke. When the train door opened, flurries of snow flooded the floor of the cart.

I clapped in front of Cato's face, "Wake up! We're here" I shouted. He almost kicked me form being startled, but he rubbed his eyes instead and stood up. We walked in silence, trudging through the snow. "Let me stop by my house to drop off a couple things before we take you to yours" I said, to which Cato just nodded. I unlocked the door slowly and dropped my bags in the foyer and turned around to quickly leave.

"Can we stay for a couple minutes? To warm up?" Cato asked, more like demanded seeing as how he just pushed past me into the house. I think he just wanted an excuse to go inside my house, but I didn't bother arguing. He walked down the hallway and turned back around to see me standing there, just waiting.

"Ready to go?" I motioned towards the door, but he ignored me. Instead, he just stepped closer, but I retreated a bit, only to be stopped by a wall behind me.

I had a right to be backing away though. I had seen Cato kill people, and his proximity to me made me slightly uncomfortable. Then again, he would have a right to be afraid of me too, I had killed several people as well. He continued to step closer and I could tell he was about to kiss me. I peered over his shoulder and saw Ashton's figure in the shadows, but before I could warn Cato, Cato leaned in and kissed me anyway.

The feeling was a bit ancient, his lips pressed lightly against mine. His hands trailed up my arms and cupped the back of my neck, but I just kind of stood there, dumbstruck. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed being kissed by Cato, but I was a little caught off guard. Suddenly, Cato was pushed away from me and Ashton stood in front of me. "Slut" he said through his teeth, and slapped me across the face as hard as he could.

oooooh whats cato gon doooooooooooooooooo?!