Happy new year! Enjoy guys xx
15
4 MONTHS LATER
Katniss
Since that day, that fateful day, which both Cato and I spent the majority of throwing up or crying, we haven't left each other's side. I've discovered that I'm not pregnant but the 7 have been voted for and surprise surprise, Cato, Rue and Glimmer aren't going into the arena. Thank god. Now all I have to worry about is surviving. Those three will be mentors, but before we start on that, we, along with Peeta, have to go to District 12 to watch the reaping. It's a massive waste of time, as we only have Haymitch who could possibly be drawn, but whatever. Luckily, Cato is mentoring 12, so I get to spend all my time with him.
It's time now; Cinna has beautified us all, and we're standing with Effie at the reaping. I look out into the crowd at the survivors and heave a sigh of relief, even though there are very few. I notice Peeta's dad and brother, Gale's mom and his siblings, Greasy Sae and Madge all standing there stiffly. I catch Madge's eye and nod slightly; she winks back. Effie reaches into the bowl and draws out the one slip of paper, reading, "HAYMITCH ABERNATHY." He is about to come forward when a figure darts out of the crowd, screaming, "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" Oh God. Is that… It is… Cato gasps and I can see why.
Rory Hawthorne takes to the stage and he is the spitting image of Gale. Why, why, why would he do that? His mom is sobbing, as is his brother Vick, but it's too late. There's nothing we can do. Just another person I have to betray, someone else I have to kill. Everyone's confused – can he even do this in the Quarter Quell? Effie listens to her earpiece for a moment and then announces, "The District 12 tribute for the 75th annual Hunger Games, Rory Hawthorne," and suddenly I'm breaking in two, sobbing as my world is finally torn apart. Cato scoops me up and takes me away, with a menacing look at Rory which says, 'COME NOW.'
He sets me down on the loveseat on the train and calms me down enough that I can talk. "Babe, what the hell are we gonna do now?" I ask and Cato shakes his head, answering, "Exactly the same as we were before. It's you that matters now, ok? Think about Prim. Think about me. The only possible reason he could have for volunteering is to help protect you because he must know he sure as hell isn't coming out of that arena alive. He did it, because that's what Gale would have done, ok?" I'm breathing heavily, wiping my eyes but nodding because I know he's right.
When Rory enters, I lose it again, screaming, "WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING? YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT! DO YOU WANT TO DIE?" He nods, eyes welling up and he says, "Come on, Kat, what have I got to live for? My brother's dead, my girlfriend's been taken by the Capitol and I'll probably never see her again, and her sister needs my help. What was I supposed to do?" That stops me in my tracks and Cato and I exchange a confused look as I consider his words. His girlfriend? Prim? Guess I never thought what impact her being kidnapped would have had on anyone else…
"Look, I don't need protecting, and now this is just another thing for me to worry about. You're going up against a bunch of victors; this isn't just any old Hunger Games, why don't you understand that?"
He rolls his eyes, as if I've offended him and he says, "Look, if you're going up against a bunch of victors, you're going to need more protection. I'm right, aren't I, Cato? Nice to meet you, by the way. I've been looking forward to meeting the boy who stole the heart of my brother's one true love."
Cato raises an eyebrow, but refuses to be drawn into the argument, simply answering, "Katniss, he's right. If he's willing to lay down his life for you, it can't hurt to have more protection. He's obviously thought this through so who are we to stop him?" He sticks out his hand and says, "Welcome to the team, Rory. In the morning you can meet the rest of the alliance." Rory shakes it hesitantly but you can see the relief on his face; he knows now we're not going to leave him to die in the arena.
Haymitch enters, nods curtly to Rory and pulls both Cato and I into a hug. "May I say, Katniss, that you look absolutely beautiful? This fighting attitude of yours suits you well." I roll my eyes and stick my tongue out at him and he says, "There's the girl I know and love. Now, go get ready, as you know, all tributes have to eat together on the first night." Both Cato and I smirk, remembering when we first met, and he pulls me close to him, kissing me and whispering "I knew then that I loved you." I melt into his chest, overcome by my love and he carries me to our room to get ready, leaving Haymitch to deal with Rory and Peeta.
We're ready now and Cato looks striking. In a black tuxedo with a midnight blue tie, his eyes are shining and I can tell he's excited. I match him, in a beautiful floor-length dress the exact same shade of blue and I'm shimmering. Cinna is such a genius. We enter the dining room and we're a bit early so Cato decides he's going to go the bathroom. I take a moment to myself, looking at the environment we're whizzing past and someone slips their arms around my waist. It's an unfamiliar embrace but one I feel comfortable in and I instantly know who it is.
I spin in his arms and squeal, "Finnick!" I met Finnick before my first Games and I trusted him straight away, because Haymitch did and I have faith in his judgement. We get along well and he's attractive, but not my type. He pulls me into a hug and swings me round. "Katniss, you look radiant. Like some sort of warrior princess crossed with a prom queen." I slap him and our banter continues; I'm not gonna lie, I'm glad Finnick is here. I don't know any of the other victors and my lot aren't here so he, Rory, Cato and Peeta are all I have.
"I volunteered," he says suddenly and my head jerks up. "But Fin, what about Annie? I thought you and her were gonna… you know?" He nods, eyes welling up and he explains, "Yeah, so did I, but Annie is very ill. She only has a few days to live, so she asked me to go; she didn't want me to see her die. We argued over it heaps but I love her and I have to do what she wants." I'm crying now, holding his hand and I realise the flirtatious, fun Finnick will die with her. I whisper, "Oh Finnick. I'm so sorry." He nods, and murmurs, "Yeah, me too. Anyway, so I came here. I wanted to protect you and I will die for you. So I can be with Annie again." He kisses my forehead and pulls me close to him and we look out of the window together at what can only be District 4. Suddenly we are spun to see a mutinous looking Cato.
Cato
When I come back from the bathroom, she is in the arms of someone else. She's crying and he's whispering something. Then he kisses her, pulls her close to him and they stare out of the window together. I stalk over and spin them round, ready for a fight, but Katniss speaks first, "Cato, babe, it's fine. This is Finnick, remember? He was just telling me how his girlfriend is very ill and how he's going to join the alliance to protect me. Ok? He's a very good friend of mine, so calm down."
Her words immediately cool me off and I stick out my hand, "Sorry, mate. But thanks for helping me get Katniss out of the arena." He nods, shakes my hand and whispers something in Kat's ear before announcing,
"I'm gonna go say hello to Haymitch and Peeta, have fun," and bounding away. He's a very graceful mover. "He's even more graceful in water," she says and laughs at my expression, "You've got to learn to stop thinking aloud. Even Finnick heard you, look!"
Across the room, Finnick is taking the piss, doing a ballet leap and then winking at me. There's a light in Katniss' eyes that I haven't seen since we left the Capitol and it makes me realise that I like Finnick. "What did he say to you?" I ask and she giggles before answering, "He said 'Nice catch, Kat.' It means he likes you." I smile and hug her before leading her over to where Brutus is standing with Johanna Mason.
"Alright, Cato? Nice choice, she's stunning," Brutus says and Johanna slaps him, saying, "That's not how you introduce yourself to a lady. You bow and then say that." Katniss laughs and introduces herself. Brutus' eyes soften and even Johanna seems kinder as they talk to her. She's charming and funny and beautiful and I don't think she'll have a problem winning these Games. At the end of the evening, both Brutus and Johanna kiss her on the cheek and wish her luck, before bidding her goodnight.
Finnick dances over, still making fun of me, kisses us both smack on the mouth and hugs her goodnight, telling us we'll see him in the morning if he's not dead. "Two things you should know about Finnick," Katniss explains to Rory and I, "One, he's crazy flirtatious. Two, when he gets drunk, he's very drunk." We all crack up laughing and say goodnight. Her movements are almost dance-like as she flits from person to person bidding them goodnight. She hugs Peeta, who whispers something in her ear and winks directly at me, looks sternly at Rory before pulling him into a tight embrace and emerging tearfully, and then goes to Haymitch. They have a 5 minute conversation which ends with them both weeping. He kisses her forehead, and sends her to me, where I lead her off to bed. It's been a long day.