I don't own The Hunger Games.
"Bryce!"
Walking through the park on a hot day with Bryce was a nightmare. There was an unnatural amount of people their age asking him to join in their games of football or soccer, old ladies stopped him to say hi, and the occasional young child would recognize him and give him a huge hug.
"You're so annoying." Clove sighed as he laced his hand through hers. He laughed as the third little kid to assault him with love that day ran off happily.
"I just know a lot of people." Bryce grinned, pulling her into his side. It was early September, and Clove had only been dating Bryce for a few weeks. They had been friends for about a month before that, after meeting at a track that he was supporting his friend in. They had gotten into a heated argument over something stupid like the starting rule, and then he had started grinning and asked for her number.
"Whatever." Clove shrugged, but she couldn't help but smile. The air still carried the warmth of the summer, and she was happier than she been a while.
"Bryce, hey man!" Clove looked over to where a boy that looked to be the same age as Bryce was calling to him. He was stood with his friends, holding a baseball bat.
"No." Clove growled. She darted forward, pulling Bryce along with her.
"Sorry!" He called to the guy as they tore through the park together.
"Somebody's getting a little jealous." Bryce smirked when they finally stopped at the edge of the park.
"I just don't like sharing." Clove shrugged. She had just started her sophomore year and Bryce was a year older. Clove was still quite naïve, but Bryce was nice to everyone he met. How could she have possibly predicted what would happen?
"Well, now you don't have to." Bryce laughed, pulling her closer. "I'm all yours."
"Good." Clove murmured, and leaned into him. Their lips met, and she felt herself melt inside.
"Hey!"
Clove jumped out of her train of thought at the sound of a voice. She had been thinking about Bryce, and no for first time since she had kissed him two nights ago. She knew that she was over him, but it had stirred up old memories that didn't even hurt anymore. She had found out that morning that Missy had finally gotten Cato to agree to take her on a date. Now, she was screening Cato's calls and hadn't left her hotel room in two days.
She got off of the couch and walked over to the French windows. She threw the open and stepped out onto the balcony.
"Who's there?" She asked, feeling kind of awkward about talking to the seemingly empty space.
"Up here."
"What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
Dangling from the balcony railings above her hung Cato, grinning madly at her.
"I knocked on your door. You didn't answer!"
"You're insane!" Clove yelped. "Get down from there!"
"Okay, watch out." Cato warned. He dropped from where he was holding the railings, planning on landing on Clove's balcony. He swung awkwardly, missing the balcony and plummeting past Clove's vision.
"Cato!" She screamed, rushing forwards.
"It's…okay. I caught…Myself." Cato's voice sounded strained as his hands appeared at the bottoms of railings.
"I'm calling the fire department!" Clove yelled, about to rush inside.
"Nah, it's cool. I could hang here all day." Cato's head appeared as he pulled himself slowly back up the railings. His hands were sweating, and Clove couldn't watch from fear of him falling.
"That's not funny." Her voice cracked halfway through the sentence.
"Are you crying?"
"Of course I'm crying! I thought you fucking died!" Clove snapped.
"So you do care." Cato grinned, but at that moment one of his hands slipped away.
"Oh my God." Clove rushed over to help him. Together they pulled him up, Cato admittedly doing most of the work. After he had been pulled to safety, they lay panting on the balcony tiles.
"I hate you so much." Clove gasped.
"Seriously?" Cato rolled onto hi side to look at her. His eyes were sad and Clove couldn't take it anymore. "Like I know you're back with Bryce and shit, but I don't think that we-"
Clove grabbed him by the collar and pulled him against her mouth. He reacted instantly, shifting so that he could wrap his arms around her waist. One arm slid up the back of her t-shirt and Clove ran her fingers through Cato's hair. He rolled on top of her carefully and Clove dug her nails into his neck slightly when a knock at the door startled them.
"Clove? Could you let me in? I forgot my key!"
"Get me off!" Clove yelped, recognizing her sister's voice. She straightened her shirt as she ran towards the door and pulled her hair out of its ponytail.
"Coming!" She yelled, and opened the door a split second later.
"Thanks, babe." Melissa grinned. "Oh, Cato!"
Clove cast her eye over to where Cato had wondered in from the balcony and was now leaning against a wall, gazing at Clove. She shifted uncomfortably.
"Hey." He said, and raised an eyebrow at Clove.
"He dropped by a few minutes ago looking for you. Something about your date?" It wasn't all a lie. He had dropped by, for sure.
"Oh, okay." Melissa beamed at Cato and walked over to him. "What's up?"
"I'll see you two later." Clove rushed to get out of the room, and shut the door quickly behind her. She slumped against it, her heart hammering almost painfully against her ribcage. Even after a few minutes had passed, it had barely slowed down.
"Ah, hell." Clove muttered, scraping her hand over her face. I just made out with the guy my sister's been in love with for half a year.
She felt terrible. Missy had been there for her through everything, and this was how she repaid her? By kissing the guy she was on love with the morning before their first date? This was rapidly turning into a nightmare, and she needed a distraction.
Clove pulled her phone out of her pocket and sighed as she unlocked it. She figured she could trust Cato not to tell Melissa what had happened- he wouldn't want to hurt her. She opened her contacts and hovered over the 'B' section for a while.
"Hm." She thought about it for a while, before rolling her eyes and scrolling further down.
"Hey…Yeah….I know. Look, can you just, like, distract me? I don't care…I don't know. Okay, yeah. I'll see you soon."