Hey guys, here's the next chapter! Please keep reviewing, it really is very motivational! Thanks xxxxx
7
Cato
It's morning now and after being awake for about an hour, Katniss came down from the tree. We all cheered when she got down, she really is quite a climber, but she slapped me round the head for doing so. Everyone gasped, waiting to see what I would do, so I grabbed her around the waist and began to tickle her. She laughed a lot but as soon as I let go, she stepped far away, straightened herself up and coughed before returning to the stony face I had seen so much of in recent days. Glimmer and Clove started walking back the way we had come and because I knew Katniss would stick to the back of the group, I hung back for a second and winked at her, before jogging to the front and starting a conversation with the girls.
Soon, Glimmer was talking about her boyfriend, and Marvel asked, "You have a boyfriend, Glim?" and Glimmer answered, "Yeah, Cruz – this week." At this, Katniss snorted and she spun round quickly, asking bitterly, "What about you, scum? Got a boyfriend?" Katniss shook her head and continued to look at the ground, almost like she was blushing, and I couldn't help but be glad at her answer. But suddenly Peeta interrupted, "Yes you do, what about Gale?" Katniss' head jerked up and the death glare she gave him was so scary he actually recoiled. It was enough to kill him and then she glanced back to her shoes again. By this time, we'd stopped walking and were setting up camp for lunch. She was leaning against a tree and she said softly, "Gale's not my boyfriend. He's my partner." Both Clove and Glimmer gasped and ran over to her, sitting at her feet, and Clove asked, "What, things are that serious between you?" Katniss looked confused and you could almost see her brain whirring as she thought over what she had said before she suddenly burst out laughing, replying, "No. Not like that – he's my hunting partner. We go hunting together in the woods near 12, to get food for our families." I interrupted then, "You break the law? You know that's really freaking dangerous. You could die!" All of a sudden she snapped, "What? You think I don't know that? You think I don't worry about that every day? You don't understand. I am the sole fucking provider for my family, and I would certainly choose a quick death, over dying of hunger, slowly and painfully. Get it?" All of us fell silent as she sunk to the ground, eyes welling up.
That's the first time I've ever really seen her show any weakness, and Clove and Glimmer comfort her as they give me evils. I know it's my entire fault and I sink to my knees, taking both her hands in mine and wiping away her tears. She shakes me off, pushing me away, "NO! No, Cato, you can't just take my hands and make it all go away. You lost my trust when you betrayed me. I don't trust you anymore, so leave me alone." I'm about to respond when she turns away, breaking down in Clove's arms for crying out loud. Glimmer strokes her hair and they both whisper soothing words, so I leave them and go find a place to wash up.
About an hour later, I'm sitting on the bank and she comes to find me. "Cato," she starts but I turn to face her, angry, and I shout, "Why? Why are you making this so hard for me? You know I do everything for a reason, so why can't you trust me on this?" She screams back, "Because you betrayed me." "That's not a reason!" I shout and suddenly she's crying as she blurts out, "Because you broke my heart." I gasp as does she and she turns to run away, but I grab her wrist. "What?" I ask gently but she shakes her head. I pull her body in close to mine and lean in for a kiss but suddenly a voice comes from the trees and Peeta shouts, "Guys, we need to get moving." She jumps away from me and whispers, "Just forget I said anything." I make to grab her again but she shakes her head, "Forget. Please." Then she's gone, moving through the trees. Stupid Peeta. Fucking buzzkill. Seriously, when the Games restart, I'm gonna kill him first.
Katniss
Idiot. Stupid stupid girl. I made a grave mistake and I revealed my weakness to him. And probably the rest of the Careers because we were shouting so loud. We're almost back to the Cornucopia and we're walking in an awkward silence. That is, until Cato shouts, "Oi, 12 – how did you get that 11?" I laugh; of course he'd be interested in that. In how a stupid little poor girl got a higher score than a Career. Clove and Glim are looking at me now, clearly interested and even Marvel and Peeta can't help but look curious. I shake my head and reply, "I used my skills. But I also took a risk… by playing with their food." They all take a moment to assess what I've said but Marvel bursts out laughing, shouting, "Oh, that's brilliant. Because they were ignoring you, huh? But babe, what are your skills? Honest question." I shake my head and reply, "Babe?" Cato cracks up and soon we're all laughing, so much that we don't realise we're back at the Cornucopia. In that massive clearing. And that on the other side are four tributes.
I recognise Thresh, Rue and Foxface and I tilt my head, trying to match her up against one of the other tributes I've seen, before I hear a voice in my ear, whispering, "That's the District 4 girl, Ros, which means water in Latin. Because she's from the fishing district." I nod, and murmur, "Will they try to kill us?" He spins me around and pulls me into a hug, before replying, "Maybe. And I'm so sorry. But you have to go across to them first. Please, baby, trust me. If we all go, we all die, whereas they half-trust you. If you can just explain…" I nod and put a finger on his lips to silence him. "It is fine, Cato, I know it makes sense." The others have watched this exchange quietly but now they all whisper encouragement. I am about to make my way over to them when someone grabs my arm and kisses me on the cheek. I look up into Cato's eyes and he whispers, "Come back to me."
I make my way over but I'm struggling to focus. He kissed me – what game is he playing? Ok, they're coming towards me; they'll meet me in the middle here. I stop and so do they. Rue speaks first, shouting, "Hey Katniss! Are your friends too scared to come over and say hi?" I laugh but Thresh interrupts, and I can tell he's angry as he asks, "When did you start sleeping with that Career from 2?" I growl, "I would never sleep with a Career." Foxface rolls her eyes but before we can start arguing, she says, "Focus Thresh. I'm Clara and you're Katniss. Now tell me, what is going on?" Ros nods to me and I smile, before speaking, "I'm not too sure. If I get my friends, we can all discuss it, but only if you promise not to kill them. Thresh?" Rue and Clara laugh and say together, "He won't." Thresh doesn't answer, only growls but when he sees my worry, he nods to reassure me. I beckon to the others, especially Cato who is already edging his way over, and start a fire in front of the Cornucopia. They make their way over slowly, apart from Cato, who is practically sprinting in his desperation to make sure I'm not alone. Thresh asks, "Seriously, what is up with you and him?" I reply, "You tell me!" as he arrives and takes my hand.
"Alright?" he asks, urgently and I nod, before taking a seat on the ground. Soon everyone has arrived and we are on one side of the fire, Thresh and the others opposite us. "Well?" Clara asks, and I start to speak. "As far as I can tell, none of the cameras are working, I think the Games really are on hiatus. So I don't see the point of killing each other. But I don't want to stay here forever. They'll probably assume we're all dead and forget about us… Is there even a way to get out? Without hovercraft, I mean?" Despite myself, I direct this question at Clara – I've just met her and I can already tell she's clever. She proves this by answering, "Well… yes… if we break the forcefield." Cato interrupts, "Impossible." The other Careers agree but I'm confused. "Sorry, what forcefield?" Peeta asks and I nod gratefully to him. Marvel rolls his eyes and Cato groans in frustration. "Come on! How can you two not know about the forcefield? You're the ones with the mentor who used it to win his Games. I mean, seriously? You didn't watch his Games?" We both shake our heads but before Cato can start screaming, Clara cuts in, "Doesn't matter. Now… where did you put the weapon boxes, guys?" Clove stands up and shows her a pile. She starts rummaging through them and Cato's eyes light up. "Of course," he whispers and runs to help her. Glimmer shouts, "What are you looking for?" Cato stops what he's doing and turns to her, "Come on, Glim. What do they always hide in the weapons?" All of the Careers groan at their stupidity and run to help, even Ros. After about a minute, I've become impatient. "FOR FUCK'S SAKE! WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?" Clove walks over to me, excitement in her eyes and she answers, "The fireworks."