Hey guys, I'm sorry I didn't update on Friday - had to revise for my exams! Hope you enjoy this chapter - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE, hope you all have fun tomorrow! xxxxx
13
Cato
Katniss is by now far too choked up to speak and she breaks down on my shoulder, sobbing. I feel so much pain for her, she's lost everything, her family, her best friend, and now she's going to lose her life. I slowly explain to the others what is going to happen and the looks of horror on their faces say it all. Realisation hits each of us as we realise we're going to have to kill each other. But suddenly a determination takes over and we begin to plan. "Who do we not want in the arena?" I ask and Thresh speaks up, "Katniss, Clara and Rue." The others nod in agreement but Katniss and Clara step in, "Oh hell no! You think I'm letting you go in there alone, babe?" Katniss asks and Clara agrees, "She's right. I think that Rue shouldn't go, Glimmer shouldn't go and neither should Ros."
The others shrug their shoulders but Peeta insists, "Kat. You're really ill. Please think about this." She laughs harshly, before responding, "It's in six months. I think I'll be over it by then."
I pull her in close to me, whispering, "Baby, are you sure? I don't know if I'll be able to protect you in there?" Thresh, Marvel and Peeta interrupt, all saying, "We'll help."
Clove takes my hand and says, "Not one of us is gonna let her die, I promise you," and I feel reassured.
"So it's agreed," she says, "Glimmer, Ros and Rue are not going into the arena. Now all we need to do is make sure the Capitol sees it that way." I have a feeling it's not going to be as easy as we might have hoped, especially with Snow leering over us the whole time.
We stay together for the next 12 hours, everyone telling Katniss about what she's missed. Rue is fast asleep in Kat's arms and Ros and Glimmer are yawning now, but I have a surprising amount of energy for someone who has only had 4 hours sleep in the past 55 hours. Katniss is fine, but Peeta, Clove and Thresh are weary now. Clara is in between Thresh's legs, eyes closed but I can tell she's aware of what's going on, while Marvel is stroking Clove's hair affectionately. The hovercraft comes to a sudden stop and everyone knows what is happening as we land, so we ready ourselves for departure. Most people stand with their district partners but Katniss hovers close to me and I slip my arm round her waist to reassure her I'm not going to hide our relationship.
As we step off the craft, there are 10 groups of people waiting for us. Katniss leads me over to where her prep team are waiting and she flies into Cinna's open arms, hugging him tight as he whispers frantically in her ear, eyes darting to me. Haymitch has one eyebrow raised so I try to avoid his gaze. When Katniss comes out of his embrace, she turns to me, kisses me and says, "Go and say hello to your lot then. I'll meet you later, ok? Bye baby!" And with that I walk away, happy.
Katniss
When I turn back to my group, I am attacked by angry words.
Cinna, "What are you playing at, Katniss? Getting attached, when you know you'll have to kill him?"
Haymitch, "As if we haven't got enough on our plates at the moment without you fawning over some Career."
My prep team, "Have you not been plucking? Katniss, you look dreadful, seriously, we have a lot of work to do."
I shout, "ENOUGH!" and they all stop talking. "Guys, it's nice to see you too," I say sarcastically, "Look, I know all about the Quell, thanks to a special visit from our lovely, one and only President. Haymitch, I'm so sorry you have to go back in. Cinna, it's my business who I fall in love with, and you're wrong. I'm not going to kill him, because he's going to win. Venia, Octavia, Flavius, I'm sorry, I've been a bit too busy escaping the arena, to bother with the plucking."
Haymitch smirks and pulls me into an embrace, murmuring, "Haven't lost your touch, I see, sweetheart. Now, are you serious about him? Because, if you are, we can play this." I nod fiercely and suddenly I'm sobbing into him,
"They're all gone. Mom, Prim, Gale. Oh Gale, who I should hate, but just can't bring myself to."
He whispers soothingly, "I know, sweetheart, I know, I understand. He was the worst person in the world to you – but you love him, because it's impossible not to."
I pull away and ask, "How do you know that? How can you possibly know that?" He just looks at me and I know he's been through the same thing. Fallen in love and lost, and the grief that follows. Oh god. He kisses my forehead and lets me collapse onto his chest, sobbing.
Within seconds of the first tear dropping down my face, Cato is behind me and he takes my hand. Haymitch spins me into his arms and we're both crying now, our tears melting together. He kisses me gently and murmurs, "I know babe, I know how much you're hurting. Tell me what I can do to take the pain away and I'll do it, baby. Because I love you." Effie gasps and Haymitch and Cinna look up, shocked.
"You really truly love me? Not just some ruse to get out of the arena?" I whisper and he tilts his head asking, "How can you even think that?"
Effie sighs, completely enraptured and I say, "I love you too." I kiss him and suddenly everyone's cheering, but I'm so caught up in the moment I barely notice. Because he actually loves me.
It's only been about 5 hours since he told me that he loved me again and I haven't left his side since then. Cinna comes up and says, "Kat, it's time to get you ready for your interview. Say goodbye to Cato now please." I kiss him passionately and allow myself to be dragged away, my gaze lingering on his face where he stares longingly after me. Venia, Flavius and Octavia immediately pounce on me, talking faster than is humanly possible as they work on my body. Flavius washes my hair as usual but then leaves it for Cinna to style. They each blow me a kiss as they leave the room and suddenly a giant bag is coming in.
"This is your dress," Cinna says and he opens the bag to reveal a long white lace dress. "Please don't freak out, but President Snow wants you to get married today. On live TV," he whispers and I break down immediately, screaming,
"What? What, I don't even get a choice in this anymore? How dare he demand this, it's none of his business when I get married. Cato hasn't proposed; he can't just force us to get married. I need to speak to Cato right now, please."
Cinna simply nods, gives me a quick hug before going to the door. As it opens, I hear a crash and instantly know that Cato is reacting similarly to me.
"THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY ROMANTIC THINGS THE CAPITOL STILL ALLOWS US TO DO!" *crash* "HE CAN'T TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AWAY FROM ME." *crash* "I WANTED TO DO THIS MY WAY, OUR WAY!"
Suddenly he bursts through the door and flies towards me, pulling me into a tight embrace and kissing me passionately. "I love you, Katniss, I'm so sorry this is happening to us." I shake my head, attempting to shift the blame away from him, but before I can say anything, he drops to one knee, whispering, "Dearest Katniss. You are the most beautiful, bravest, kindest girl I have ever met. I knew from the moment I spoke to you that I loved you, no matter how much I tried to fight it, and I count my blessings every second of every day because it seems that you love me back. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but it seems that won't last very long, so I want to enjoy these days. I'm sorry that you've had such a tough time of it lately, but I'll strive to protect you from being hurt ever again. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
I burst into floods of tears at some point during this speech and kiss him passionately at the end, whispering, "Yes, of course." He picks me up and spins me round gleefully, before pulling me onto his back and rushing me upstairs to his room. I know what's about to happen and I'm not afraid, because I love him…
Cinna is absolutely fuming when I come back; it's the first time I've ever heard him shout, "KATNISS! We have 10 minutes to get you ready for your WEDDING! Ok? Is this sinking in yet? Come on, put this dress on." I put it on gingerly, so as not to rip it, and then stand there while he curls my hair, plaits the front and arranges my veil. He then touches up my make-up and when I look in the mirror, I don't recognise myself. I hug him and he murmurs, "You're beautiful."
"Thanks to you," I say, welling up and he looks sternly at me, "Don't cry. You'll ruin it. Now, when we get back, I need you to do something for me." I look questioningly at him but in answer he just hands me a pregnancy test. Oh god. I didn't think this through. But I can't think about this now, I need to just get through my wedding.