Chapter 4: Memories Should Fade at The Parade

Cato

I met up with Clove, Archie, Brutus and Enobaria as the train finally got into the capitol. I was a bit embarrassed to face Clove because of what happened earlier. I really shouldn't have cried in front of her. I really shouldn't have pushed her hand aside roughly. She was comforting me and I still did that to her. However, Archie kept on looking at the two of us questioningly, as though eager for an explanation for what happened earlier. I just ignored him, so did Clove. We've been too preoccupied to care about him.

I made my way to the window and I saw people, cheering, shouting, and waving at us. I waved back and gave them a cocky smile. I winked at a couple of girls as well. Meanwhile, Clove also made her way to the window and gave everyone her usual dangerous smile. Finally, we're here. I am very close to becoming a victor, and that is why I can't wait for the games to begin, I can't wait to become a victor, I can't wait to show the whole Panem what I'm capable of.

After that, we made our way outside the train and were led to The Remake Center. For me, this is the most boring part of The Hunger Games. Instead of training our hearts out, to further our chances, we were stuck here, to be made beautiful by our stylists for The Parade. Actually, they don't have to do much work with regards to me because I'm already, well, handsome. I guess they will not be too exhausted having me to work on. How lucky these fellows are. I was finally led to a private room where I will meet my stylist. I waited inside and the door opened and in came a woman, which turns out to be my stylist.

"Hi. My name is Cassandra," she said.

"I'm Cato. Nice to meet you," I said, holding out my hand. We shook each other's hands and I gave her a cocky smile.

"So, you and your partner will be dressed into something that will reflect the character of your district," she said.

"Yes. I know that," I said in a matter-of-fact tone. She just ignored me.

"Since your district is well-known for its masonry, we have to incorporate that into your outfit," she said. "So, we have decided to dress you as Roman Gods and Goddesses."

"But what does that have to do with masonry?" I asked and Cassandra looks a bit disappointed.

"The Romans are well- known for their architecture using stone."

"Oh, I see," I said.

An hour has passed and Cassandra and I met up with Clove and her stylist. She looks so pretty wearing that golden dress with her hair tied up in a ponytail. She truly looks like a goddess. Our outfits consist mainly of armor, a golden armor, to be exact. We have these golden winged hats as well. But I like the way my outfit seems to show my muscles though.

And then I came to remind myself, as of The Reaping, I'm already a tribute, same as Clove. Minutes later and The Parade will occur, signaling the beginning of The Hunger Games and the ending of any connection I have with her. And now, I should know, that memories should fade at The Parade.

Clove

Lance, my stylist, and I met up with Cato and his stylist before we get on our chariot. I noticed that nothing much has changed with his physical appearance, considering of course, that he was already handsome even without the special efforts of his stylists. His hair is shorter and more blonde than before though.

And then I came to remind myself, as of The Reaping, I'm already a tribute, same as him. Minutes later and The Parade will occur, signaling the beginning of The Hunger Games and the ending of any connection I have with him. And now, I should know, that memories should fade at The Parade.

"It's time. Get on the chariot," Lance said. Cato and I stepped on the chariot. This is the first time that the two of us stand side by side ever since the events in the train. Maybe Cato was embarrassed when he cried in front of me, because it's not like him to cry like that. I was also shocked to see him in tears as well.

"Now, don't forget to act godlike," Cassandra, Cato's stylist, said to us.

"How?" Cato asked stupidly.

"You must look superior over the others," Cassandra answered. "Wave, but don't smile."

"You must look solemn," Lance added. Cato and I nodded at them.

I examined the other tributes. In front us were Marvel and Glimmer, the tributes from District 1. They were dressed in lavish clothes probably to represent their district's export, which is jewels. Marvel is skinny and tall and Glimmer is beautiful and downright sexy. I think she has been looking at Cato for a while. Cato, meanwhile, looked at her too and winked. Glimmer finally looked away from him, smiling, and talked with Marvel. It looks like Cato is interested in Glimmer and Glimmer is interested in him. Too bad, I'm going to kill both of them in the games and they will not live happily ever after. Never mind that now. I have spotted the boy from District 10, limping his way on their chariot. He and his district partner were adorned in a glittered cowboy like outfit. Finally, I have spotted the girl from District 12, she and her district partner were dressed up in a black unitard probably to represent coal. She looked at me and I can tell that she's very nervous. I glared at her and turned to Cato, smiling.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked me.

"Oh, I'm just terrorizing some of the tributes," I answered.

"Me too," he said.

"Right, and flirting with the others," I said quietly, suddenly reminding myself about Glimmer.

"What did you say?" he asked me questioningly.

"Nothing," I said. "Anyway, it seems like you have recovered." I said to change the topic.

"Recovered from what?" he asked me curiously.

"Recovered from those sad, painful memories of your beloved uncle," I said teasingly. "It seems like you've never been crying your eyes out for a while."

Before he gets to answer back, the chariots began to move. Our chariot made its way through the gates. I can hear people shouting and cheering at us. I waved at them but didn't smile. I must look superior over the others. I must look solemn. It seems like Cato and I are doing a very good job. We are attracting too much attention. The shouts and cheers then suddenly became louder and louder. I was thinking that it's because of us until Cato bumped his shoulder lightly onto me and turned his head slightly at the back. And then I spotted them, the tributes from District 12, on fire. They were really attracting too much attention. They were really attracting all the attention, to be exact. I really hate them. They have stolen all the spotlights. I really hate District 12. They're going to die. I'm going to kill both of them. Let the 74th Annual Hunger Games begin District 12.

Cato

I can see hatred in Clove's eyes. We were doing fine before. We've been attracting too much attention because of our act and then District 12's chariot have arrived and caught everybody's attention. Because of them, I think we've been put in second place. We're number two, and Clove hates being number two. She likes to be on top of everything and her great thirst for victory makes her an almost formidable opponent. I don't blame her for that because we've been thinking about the same things, we've been wanting the same things.

"Welcome, welcome," President Snow bellowed. "Tributes, we welcome you, and we salute your courage and your sacrifice, and we wish you Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor." President Snow finished his welcoming speech and we were led away from here by our chariots.

Archie, Brutus, Enobaria, Cassandra and Lance met up with us.

"You two were great," Archie said cheerfully to lighten up the atmosphere caused by Clove and I.

"Yes, we were great, but not as great as those two coal miners," Clove said fiercely.

"At least you were great," Archie said, a little bit scared.

"What's the use of being great if someone else is greater?" Clove said, sounding really fierce.

"Don't worry Clove, this is just the beginning," I said.

"But still, they'll probably get all the sponsors for that," Clove said.

"Clove, we don't need sponsors, all we have to do is to show them who's boss, even if we only have to rely on ourselves," I said, but Clove looks as if she's not yet ok with it.

And then I spotted the tributes from District 12 with their escort, mentor, and stylists. I eavesdropped on their conversation when Haymitch Abernathy, their mentor, caught me and they quickly stopped their conversation at once. I gave them a dirty look as they made their way away from us. You better watch your back District 12.

Clove

We were inside our district's dormitory having our dinner in the dining room. I still haven't forgotten what happened earlier at The Parade. Oh! I really hate them. I really hate District 12. I want to kill them so badly I can't wait for the games. I was so angry I managed to break a drinking glass by slamming it hard on the table. It broke into pieces and my hand got wounded.

"Clove, don't tell me you still can't get over with District 12," Archie said.

"I want to kill them as soon as possible!" I said fiercely, ignoring my wounded hand.

"You have to calm down Clove, save your strength for the arena," Archie said pleadingly.

"I can't wait any longer!" I said angrily, still ignoring my wounded hand, as I grabbed the nearest knife and aim at a lampshade, but someone stopped my hand from throwing the knife. It was Cato. "Let go of me!"

"If I let go of you, you might break everything you see, you might even kill all of us," he said.

"Cato's right Clove, just calm down and get over yourself," Lance said.

"It's all your fault. I wouldn't be like this if it weren't for you. If you had managed to make a better outfit then I wouldn't be like this, then we would've never been outshined by those coal miners from District 12," I said angrily to Lance, standing up, as I quickly retrieved my hand from Cato. Well, it's true. It's the stylists' faults.

"Clove, just go and get your hand uninjured. There is medicine in the medicine cabinet in the living room," Enobaria said to me. "You'll be needing your hand tomorrow."

"Fine!" I said as I made my way to the living room. I was really raging inside and I couldn't control myself.

Cato

Clove stormed away from the room, leaving us speechless in the dining room. Well, knowing Clove for years, this was nothing new. But it's been a while since I saw her act like that so it was really surprising for me as well.

"Cato, go after your girlfriend," Archie said. "She might destroy the whole living room with that temper of hers."

"She's not my girlfriend, Archie," I said irritably. "How many times do we have to tell you that there's nothing going on between the two of us?"

"Cato, just go after her," Brutus said.

"Fine!" I said as I made my way to the living room. I was really raging inside and I couldn't control myself. As I got inside the living room, I saw Clove sitting on the sofa and mending her wounded hand.

"Do you need my help?" I said loudly to her. She turns her head on my direction and shouted at me. "I don't need your help. Just leave me alone. Why are you even here?"

"They insist me accompanying you here," I said. "They said you might destroy the whole living room if you're all alone in here."

"Then go and tell them that I won't," she said stubbornly.

"Ok," I said as I turned away from her. I made my way back to the dining room but didn't bother anymore to continue eating.

"What did she say to you?" Enobaria asked me.

"She told me to tell you that she will not destroy the whole living room," I said as I made my way upstairs.

"Only half of it?" Archie said sarcastically. The others laughed and I made my way into my room.

The atmosphere in my room is very pleasant, reminding me of my room in our house in District 2. It feels like I will have a good night's sleep. I put on my sleeping clothes and get on my bed. Tomorrow will be our first training day. I can't help but feel excited about it because I miss training so much. Though I haven't fully faded all my memories with Clove at The Parade, I will surely fade all of it away before the games. I don't want to kill her but I have to. I'm sorry Clove, but I have made up my mind. I fell asleep unknowingly minutes later.

Clove

I am sitting on the sofa in the living room. I have finally mended my wounded hand but I just don't feel like going in my room and sleep yet. Half an hour later and I finally got sleepy and made my way into my room. At least I have finally moved on from the events at The Parade. Before reaching my room, I have passed Cato's. His door is slightly ajar.

"Idiot," I said quietly. I peeked inside and saw that he was already fast asleep. When he's sleeping like this, you wouldn't know that he's a monster. He looks so peaceful. He's like an angel, fast asleep, with his handsome face and all. It seems like all the violence have gone out from the world. Though I haven't fully faded all my memories with Cato at The Parade, I will surely fade all of it away before the games. I don't want to kill him but I have to.

"I'm sorry Cato, I'm sorry I have to kill you," I said quietly. I closed the door properly for him and made my way into my room. Tomorrow, everything's about to change.