Chapter 18

Forgive or Forget

The train came to a halt and the world turned. "Cato," I mumbled, gripping his t-shirt.

"Mhmmm."

"Let go of me." I tried to pull his strong arms off of me.

"Why?" he pulled me on top of him and smiled.

"Because I'm about to puke in your face." I replied. He let go of me and I dashed into the bathroom.

"You okay?" Cato asked, following me into the bathroom. His hair was sticking up in different directions and his eyes sleepy.

"I'm fine." I sat back from the toilet and rubbed my eyes. "Can you get me some different clothes?" I asked. He nodded and walked back out of the bathroom. He returned with new clothes.

"Here." He picked me up and helped me get dressed.

"Shit." I breathed, trying to button the pants in haste.

"Maybe we should try a dress or something."

"No, i've got this." I replied. The button popped. "Fuck." I kicked the cabinet door angrily.

"Clove, stop."

"I cant even button my fucking pants!" I kicked the cabinet door again, pain shooting up my leg.

"Clove! Stop!" Cato pulled me into a hug.

"I'm sorry." I sobbed.

"Ready?" Cato asked, taking my hand.

"I guess." I still tried to adjust the peacekeeper dress I was wearing. It rose too high up my thigh and I was horribly uncomfortable. "I look like a slut." I flicked my braided hair back over my shoulder.

"No you don't." Cato lied.

"Yeah, I do."

"Yeah, you do. But you're my slut." he pulled me closer and kissed me.

"I hate this dress with a burning passion." I said angrily, stepping up into the carriage as the fabric tightened on my legs.

"Don't worry." Cato stepped up next to me. "I'll rip it off for you later." he winked.

"You sure know how to sweet talk a girl." I retorted. The horses lurched forward and the gate doors opened.

District one's tributes were dressed in elaborate sparkling outfits. The girl, presumably Cashmere, wore a floor length dress, decorated like a diamond. Light reflected off of it in a rainbow of color. NExt to her was Gloss, wearing a white suit, embellished in sparkling designs. We followed behind, the crowd roaring loudly.

Roses were thrown towards up and Cato even caught one, handing it to me sweetly. The crowd went wild. We reached the end of the way and I watched all the other tributes. "Welcome back tributes." Snow's voice filled my head like a bad dream. He continued to talk but I ignored him, my mind wandering freely. As the ceremony ended, Cato stepped down from the carriage. He picked me up bridal style and carried me to the elevator, and I did my best to hide my giggling. We reached the elevator that was soon crowded. The doors started to close before the female victor from four, Johanna, stopped the door from closing.

"WEren't thinking about having a career party without me, were you?" Johanna asked.

"Speaking of careers," Gloss began, turning to Cato and I. "You two going to start a career group this year, or should we?" I looked at Cato.

"We haven't really thought about it that much, to be honest." I replied.

"Well, the invitation is open." Cashmere said plainly, but the invitation seemed oddly sincere.

"Thanks."

"You too." Gloss turned to the other tributes that had shown up. I hadn't noticed them before, but it was the pair from four. A short old woman with long gray locks. She was dressed in a long green dress, draped by a fish net. Next to her stood a familiar tall boy, standing with his shoulders square and his jaw set.

"Finnick?" Cato stared at his half brother.

"Cato." Finnick looked back and hey hugged each other.

"Do they know each other?" Johanna asked.

"'You could say that." I replied.

"I'm Johanna, by the way."

"Clove."

"Not so nice to meet you."

"What?"

"Oh nothing, I'm just being cynical again." Johanna smiled as if sharing an inside joke with herself.

"Anyway!" Cato intervened, wary of my rising temper. "Career group. Sounds good to me."

"Don't think you won't have a career group without me." Johanna piped.

"You're from district seven." Cashmere said.

"Your point is?"

"That we don't need people from upper districts coming into the group. Six is enough." Gloss backed up Cashmere.

"You think, just because I'm from seven that I don't know how to be a part of a career group."

"Oh, I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about you holding your own." Cashmere snapped.

"I think," Johanna moved swiftly in the cramped elevator, twisting Cashmere's arm behind her back and pushing her against the wall. ", that I can hold my own." she whispered in Cashmere's ear, who was obviously struggling.

"I think we should branch out. Maybe get some outlying district members. It would be good." FInnick spoke. Johanna let go of Cashmere who tried to recompose herself. "Look, I know no body wants to be here. The more people we can get to join the career group, the more will live. And if we can go on a non killing strike, the capitol will be forced to stop the games."

Gloss laughed. "You think it's that easy?"

"I know things that you don't know."

"Oh yeah, like what?"

"I-" Finnick looked nervous. "I can't say, but-"

"For god sake Finnick, just let it go. They're obviously not going to listen." The old lady, probably Mags, interrupted.

"Don't be doing us any favors." Cashmere gave a murderous glance as the doors open and her and Cashmere left.

"Well," Johanna sighed. "That was a bust."

"We tried, it's there loss."

"So can someone explain what exactaly is going on here?" I asked.

"We're boycotting the Hunger Games." Finnick replied.

"You can't just do that." I shook my head.

"I know but- we've got a couple things up our sleeves and-"

"LIke what?" Cato suddenly gained interest.

"Nothing." Johanna interrupted. "Nothing. Right Finnick?"

"Yeah." Finnick turned away.

"We're jjust trying to create the ideal career group. Not just the career tributes, but useful people." she explained. "And as of now, it seems to just be us." The elevator lurched a bit and I gripped the railings. "Nice rock!" Johanna's and shot forward, studying my ring closely. "Where'd you-" she looked up at Cato. "Oh."

"You're engaged?" Finnick asked.

"Yes."

"Anything else we should know?" Johanna asked.

"No." I quickly said. I didn't anyone treating me differently because I was pregnant.

"She's pregnant." Mags said. "I can see it in her face." The color rushed out of Johanna and Finnick's faces.

"You're knocked up?" JOhanna asked.

"You don't have to say it like that." I said.

"Well you can't keep the baby. You've got to have an abortion or something. It'll ruin your- our- chances of winning the games." Johanna tried to reason.

"No." Cato stepped in front of me instinctively.

"I will personally cut that child out for you if you like, but you can't go into these games pregnant. It's not safe. For anyone."

"I know." my voice came out small. "But-"

"Johanna, stop being so bitter." Mags snapped and Johanna jumped slightly. The elevator doors opened.

"Goodnight." Finnick mumbled.

"Night." I replied. Johanna looked disgusted as I shuffled behind Cato.