Chapter 2: Strange Feelings at The Reaping

The night before The Reaping…

Clove

I was getting ready to attend a party at Cato's house. He wants to have a celebration the night before he volunteers at The Reaping. The Reaping will be held tomorrow and he was so excited about this. I know I should be too, for him, because I trust him, because I know that he can win, but I can't help but worry about him. Right now I'm feeling the same way I did that night, when we were talking at the training center. What if he didn't make it? What if he didn't win? What if he didn't survive the games? He was only 16 after all. But what I don't understand is why I am feeling this way. He's nothing more than a friend, a co-trainee, to me. I never worried for someone like this before for all of my life.

I ended up my thoughts as I look at myself in the mirror. I'm wearing a black dress that falls on my knees and black heels, about 5 inches. I'm wearing my hair down with a silver hairclip. I'm also wearing silver jewelries to match my black outfit. I don't usually wear party clothes because I don't usually go to parties. I'm not really into parties. I'll just go to Cato's party because of him, because he's the host. It's not because I want to attract him or impress him or anything but because he's expecting me to show up. Besides, my two best friends, Helen and Rina, are going there too and I was forced to join them. I can't believe I'm looking at myself right now. I must admit that I'm stunningly pretty tonight. I never considered myself pretty until now.

As I went downstairs, my mom and dad were like stunned by me.

"Clove, is that you?" my mom asked, wonderstruck.

"Yes, mom," I said bashfully.

"You look beautiful darling," my dad said to me.

"Thank you dad," I said.

And the three of us stepped inside our car on the way to Cato's house. We reached our destination after 15 minutes. Cato's house is very large but no larger than mine. It's not a surprise actually, knowing that they're really wealthy. My parents said goodbye to me as I stepped outside our car. I met Rina outside waiting for me. She looks sad. Helen is nowhere to be found. We went inside together. There are many people inside already.

"Where's Helen? She should be here for this," I asked Rina curiously. Helen will also volunteer at The Reaping tomorrow.

"Helen had a serious leg injury this morning," she answered sadly. I was shocked.

"She had an accident?"

"Yes and it's really serious. It looks like she'll lose her chance to be in the games. This is her last year, remember? How disappointing, she's really looking forward to it. Too bad for her."

I can't help but feel sorry for Helen. This year is her last chance. But I came to think of it, I wasn't as concerned for her as I was for Cato, even though I know that she, too, might die in the games. Is it possible that Cato is more important to me? That Cato matters more to me? No. No way.

"It looks like we just have to depend on who will be picked tomorrow," Rina said.

"Yes. It looks like it," I said.

"Anyway, you really look beautiful tonight, Clove."

"Thank you. You really look beautiful too," I said to her and we smiled at each other.

Cato

I saw Clove with her friend. They were talking quietly as they entered my party. I wonder what's wrong with them. Clove really looks beautiful tonight. I've never seen her like that before. She's the prettiest one here so far. Her friend is nothing compared to her. Clove suddenly turns in my direction and spotted me. I think she was about to come towards me when a boy my age blocked her way. They began talking. What is her relationship with that guy? They seem so close. I made my way towards them.

"Hey Clove," I said loudly. They all looked at me.

"Hey Cato," she said. "What's up?"

"Let's talk."I said as I grabbed her hand.

"Let's just talk later Cato. I just met my old friend." She said as she retrieved her hand from me. I looked at the boy standing beside her. He's tall and thin and looks really weak.

"Hello Cato. I'm Paul. Nice to meet you," he said as he held out his hand to shake mine. I just ignored him.

"Come with me Clove," I said as I grabbed her hand once again and drag her away from that Paul.

"What? Cato, I told you that we'll talk later right? What is wrong with you? " Clove said loudly. I stopped walking when someone suddenly spoke behind us.

"Let go of her." It was Paul. "You're hurting her," he said. "Can't you just leave us alone?" Who is he to order me around? Does he know who I am? Does he know where he is?

"Are you ordering me around?" I said as I let go of Clove's hand. I was so angry at Paul I think I could split his head into two. "Do you know where you are? You're in my house. You're in my party. So don't you dare tell me what to do." I was really raging inside.

"Shut up! Both of you!" Clove shouted at us.

"Clove, I'll just go. It seems like I wasn't welcome here," he said to Clove. "See you." And after that he walks away without another word. Clove glared at me and then walked away without another word with her friend.

Clove

"What is wrong with him?" I asked angrily to Rina as we find an empty table. I don't know why Cato acted that way in front of Paul. I've never seen him so angry before.

"For all I know, Clove, he was jealous," she answered as she smiled at me.

"Jealous?"

"Yes. He got jealous when he saw you flirting around with Paul."

"I'm not flirting around with Paul. We were just talking. What did you expect? We haven't seen each other for a long time."

"Either way, Cato was jealous earlier," Rina said with another smile on her face.

"Why should he? Oh! I hate him. I really hate him."

"Clove, the more you hate, the more you love, don't forget that."

"Oh! Shut up!" I said angrily. But then, if Rina was right, and Cato really was jealous, why should he? We don't have a very special relationship anyway so why should he be jealous? Is it possible that he likes me more than a friend? Did he develop his feelings for me? No. I can't be serious.

"Clove." I was startled when someone suddenly spoke. I ended up my thoughts and looked up to see who the speaker was. It was Cato. "Can we talk now?" he asked me. I turned to Rina and she gave me an encouraging smile.

"Ok," I replied. I followed him to an empty table and sat there with him.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I just couldn't control myself. The way he talked was as if he owned you or something," Cato said to me.

"And what is it to you? Why did you act that way in front of him?" I asked him, eager for an honest answer.

"I just didn't like the way he talked. He acts as if he owns this house, as if he owns this party, as if he owns you, as if he owns everything," Cato said fiercely. "He doesn't have the right to order me around, Clove. This is my house. This is my party."

"I understand Cato and I'm sorry about him." He looked me in the eye and I can see myself in those beautiful eyes. I looked away from him before I melt with his gaze.

"Clove, what is your relationship with him?" Cato suddenly asked. I was startled by his question. Why would he ask me something like this?

"He was my childhood playmate. We also used to train together but we were separated when I was chosen to be trained as a career tribute and he wasn't."

"And you felt bad when you have to separate?" Why is he asking me these questions?

"Of course. We were friends."

"I see," he said. "Wish me luck tomorrow before The Reaping, ok?" I nodded and we smiled at each other. So far, his smile is one of the things that makes my day bright.

Before The Reaping…

Cato

Today is Reaping Day and I was outside our Academy, sitting on one of the benches, waiting for Clove. I want to see her before everything else, before the reaping, the capitol, and especially the games. I don't know why but I just want to see her face. I don't know why I am feeling this way. Who is she? She's just a friend and nothing more. But still, I can't explain why I got mad last night. I think I just got jealous seeing her with that Paul. No, I wasn't jealous. Why should I? Besides, there's no use thinking about these things because she likes that Paul and there's nothing I can do about it. They will probably enjoy spending time with each other while I'm away. But why am I so bitter?

I ended up my thoughts and checked my watch. What's taking her so long? And then I felt someone placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked around and saw Clove.

"Hey," she said cheerfully. She looks so cute with her black jeans and black sleeveless with her black hair tied up in a ponytail. She's also wearing her best smile. "You look very handsome today." Her words cheered me up.

"I'm always handsome," I said boastfully. "That's why girls have been courting me to be their boyfriend." Her smile faded a little. "Anyway, you're not so bad yourself, Clove." I added to cheer her up. But her smile wasn't to be seen right now. I felt a little guilty.

"Good luck Cato. I hope you win," she said quietly and walked away from me. I quickly followed her and grabbed her hand.

"I'm sorry Clove. I didn't mean to offend you or anything," I said to her. She looked me in the eye and I felt this thing inside me which I know doesn't have anything to do with the games or the reaping. A cold voice suddenly broke us apart.

"Hey Clove. Thank God I found you," it was Allan, our trainer, who spoke.

"And what do you want from me?" Clove said in a very irritated voice as if nothing happened between the two of us.

"Helen was your friend, right? How is she?" Allan asked.

"She has a serious injury. She won't be able to volunteer or to participate," Clove said.

"Then we'll just depend on the person who will be picked," Allan said. He turned to me. "And Cato, make sure to do your best during the games, ok? Show them who's boss." I nodded and Allan walked away. I turned to face Clove and said "I'll be seeing you soon." And she, too, walked away from me without another word.

Clove

I walked away from him without another word. What is wrong with me? All I wanted was to wish him luck and then I began thinking about him dying, in the games. He said he'll be seeing me soon, but will he? Why am I feeling this way? All because of him. How thick I am to think that he has feelings for me after last night. He will never like me. There are many girls who wanted him that he can choose from. I'm not that pretty. Anyway, what do I care? But still, I don't want him to die and I don't know why.

The Reaping…

Clove

People thronged in front of the stage where the tributes will be chosen later. There were two large glass containers where our names were placed: one for the boys and one for the girls. Our escort, Archie, finally arrived and greeted us with his capitol accent.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome. Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor. Now, before we begin, we have a very special film, brought to you all the way from the capitol." I didn't pay attention to the special film. What I'm really looking forward to is the tributes. Finally, the special film was over.

"Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman for the honor of representing District 2 in the 74th Annual Hunger Games," Archie said. "As usual, boys first." In our district, boys always come first during The Reaping. Archie made his way to the glass container where the boys' names were placed. Before he even placed a finger inside it, a loud voice echoed from behind.

"My name is Cato and I volunteer." A tremendous applause followed Cato's voice.

"I believe we have a volunteer," Archie said. Cato made his way onto the stage and another round of tremendous applause followed. "And now, for the girls," Archie bellowed. He made his way to the glass container where the girls' names were placed. No one volunteered so he picked one of them, then he shouted. "Clove."

I was shocked when I heard my name came out from Archie's mouth. I'm not expecting this. Another tremendous applause broke off as I made my way onto the stage. I don't know what's wrong with me. I should be happy. I will finally have a chance to prove myself and bring pride and honor to my district. But something is holding me back. I didn't let the guards help me to get onto the stage. I don't want to look weak. I confidently stand beside Archie and gave everyone a dangerous smile that said quite plainly that I will be the victor.

"So here they are, our tributes from District 2, Cato and Clove," Archie announced. "Well, come on you two, shake your hands." I saw Cato holding out his hand to shake mine. I hold out my hand too and we shake each other's hands. "Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor."

After that, Archie led us away from here and escorted us in two different rooms to have one last meeting with our friends or relatives. I waited inside and examined the room. The door then opened and in came a guard and my mother and father.

"You have three minutes," the guard said as he closed the door and left.

My mother hugged me at once and said as she let go of me. "You're stronger than they are, Clove. You just have to show them how good you are. Show them who's boss, alright?"

I nodded and said "Alright, mom."

"This is the time to prove yourself, Clove. This is your chance to be a victor just like me and bring pride and honor to our district and to our family," my father said.

"I know, dad," I said determinedly. "And I won't blow this chance away."

"Make sure to do your best and don't let anybody get in your way, even Cato," my father said.

"What do you mean dad?" I asked.

"We're not dumb Clove," it was my mother who answered me. "We know you have developed your feelings for that boy."

"I haven't. He's nothing more than a friend to me. And now, he's my enemy," I said angrily. And here I go again, fighting with myself about my feelings for him. But now, I have decided that I don't have any, that I didn't have any. He is going to die and I will kill him myself. "And I will definitely kill him when the time came, as well as anybody who tries to get in my way."

"Just don't let your feelings and emotions overcome you, Clove," my mother said strictly. "The Hunger Games is not a place for love, remember that. Yes, the two of you will be allies at first but when the time came and it's only the two of you standing, don't hesitate. Because I'm not losing my only daughter to the capitol."

"I understand, mom," I said. And the guard bursts in and led my parents outside, away from me.

My parents were right. I need to be the victor and I will be. No one can take victory away from me. They can try if they want, but I will never give in. I will kill all of them and win. I will win this thing in any way that I can. And Cato will die by my hands. Yes, I will kill him. As of this moment, I don't know him anymore. He's my enemy now, and enemies must die, all of them.