Thanks so much to the people who reviewed...Here's Chapter 3, I'm not sure how I feel about it, so hopefully you guys like it! Not as much Clato, but it shows Clove's dad. Hope you like it!

Chapter 3

CLOVE

Oh. My. God. Those are the only words that run through my head as I walk home from the training centre, glad to have the time to think this over. I just kissed Cato! And it felt so right…No. I can't think like that. I promised myself that I would NEVER have feelings like that for anyone. But now, the way that my heart is beating ten times faster than normal tells me that I do, for Cato. The way that he looks at me and speaks to me as if I actually matter and am not just some pig raised for slaughter makes me want to melt into his arms. The way that he has always comforted me when I'm depressed and angry, and how he always puts me before him makes me realize just how lucky I am to have him in my life. But it's not safe to feel things like this! I tell myself. Sadly, it's true. In a few months, I will probably be in the Hunger Games, fighting to the death, and not only does no one want to sponsor a lovesick girl, but also the other tributes will immediately take me down, thinking I'm weak and easy. I hate being thought of as weak. I may be small, but I'm not weak in any way, and I refuse to be. There is only one person in the district who could possibly beat me. And that person was a certain boy who was currently occupying all of my thoughts.

Suddenly, I come to a shocking realization. These feelings for Cato didn't just start today. I've had feelings for him for a long time now, and each time we have been together, they've just gotten deeper. I've just been ignoring them, hoping that they weren't real. Hoping against hopes that maybe, love wasn't possible for me. That love would never find me, and that I would never have to be as weak as to love someone and rely on someone to live. Maybe I didn't love Cato, but I know that the things that I feel for him right now are definitely beyond friendship.

I'm still shocked that he kissed me in the training centre, and even more shocked that I kissed him back. But, as shocked as I am, I can figure out one solid, consistent thought. I want those lips on mine again.

I walk into the front door of my house, hoping that my dad is still out. I smell the strong stench of alcohol, and realize it's impossible to have that lucky of a day. I want to run upstairs in my bedroom and hide from my horrible father like my brother does, but I know that if I am going to be the victor of the 74th Hunger Games, I must embrace pain and fight. So that's just what I do. I go into the kitchen to make dinner, and am expecting the string of insults that come ringing from my father's mouth at me for being late. "You no good, awful bitch." He starts, slapping me, hard. "You're half an hour late for dinner, and it looks like you didn't even try to make it on time. You aren't sweating, so you clearly didn't work hard at the training centre today. What were you doing? Fooling around with that stupid friend of yours?" He doesn't even know just how right he is. And I hate him for it. "You're dumb for spending time with that boy. He's an idiot who has no talent whatsoever and he would easily be the first to die in the Games. He may look strong, but he's weak. He's not good for you Clove. You should ditch that awful boy so that you can focus on you're training." I'm used to my dad insulting me, but this, I am not going to take. I quickly spin around, grabbing the knife off of the table and fling it past my father's head, the blade just skimming his ear before sticking into the wall behind him. He doesn't even flinch, which makes me even madder than I was before. A scary smile appears on his face. "There's the talented girl that I need, see? She just needs to learn to fight." He then comes up behind me and shoves me into the wall, my head hitting it, hard. I fall to the ground, my head and right shoulder throbbing in pain. "Oh and just thought that I would remind you, don't ever direct those knives at me." He smirks, before grabbing my hair and starts dragging me up the stairs and into my room. I hurt, everywhere. But no matter how much pain I am in, I refuse to cry. I will not give this awful man the satisfaction of seeing tears stream down my face because of him. No. I haven't cried in 10 years, and I don't plan on starting soon. So I just suck up the pain, and think of happiness. Surprisingly, the only thing that comes to my mind is Cato. I think of all the happy times we have had together, from having sword fights to our kiss today, as my father yanks my head up the stairs, and shoves me into my room.

Finally he leaves and I touch my hand to my head where it made contact with the wall. It feels wet and when I pull it back there is blood on my fingers. I go into the washroom and wash it out of my hair before patching it up, as I have had to do many times before. As I do so, I think about my father's earlier words about how I couldn't be with Cato, and how that just makes me want to be with him more. So that's just what I will do.

When I hear the door to my dad's room slam, and his heavy snores start to come under the door, I quietly go downstairs and out the front door. I need to get away from this house right now, and the only place that I can think of that is safe is with Cato. So I decide to go to him. I run down curving streets and paths until I reach Cato's house five minutes later. I stop in front of it, realizing now that I have no idea what I'm supposed to do, now that I'm here. I think about knocking on the door, but it's 12:30am and his parents would probably not be happy with me coming here at this time, and would probably tell my father. Instead, I decide to let myself in so that I could sneak into Cato's room unnoticed. I quietly step through the door, and into the hallway. I slowly creep up the stairs until I find myself standing at the door to Cato's room. I slip in, hoping that he won't get mad at me. I hover just inside his door, watching the way the moonlight from the window shines onto his face, and how peaceful and beautiful he looks when he sleeps. No Clove stop. I tell myself. I am not thinking about him this way right now, I just want to have him help me, as a friend. But that doesn't stop me from looking at him for a little while before sitting down on his bed and whispering his name.

CATO

I dream of Clove. Her laugh, her voice, her knives and her little scowl that etches across her face that just makes me want to kiss her. I dream of how she kissed me today, as it replays over and over in my mind. I hear Clove's voice whisper my name, and listen to the way that her beautiful voice calls for me, needs me, in my dream. If only that were true in real life. I then hear her whisper it again, this time seeming more impatient and realistic. I wake up, startled, then I refuse to open my eyes, hoping that if I don't I can go back to this wonderful dream. Then I hear it again, clear as day, and notice how my bed is dipping a little bit at my side. Slowly, I open my eyes, thinking that it must be too good to be true. But no, there's Clove, sitting right beside me on my bed, her face very close to mine, as she had been whispering into my ear. I sit up, shocked, wondering why on earth Clove would be in my room in the middle of the night. A dirty thought comes to mind, but then I push it away, angry with myself.

"What the fuck?" are the only words that come out of my mouth. Why am I such an idiot! I yell inside. Of all the things to say to a girl in your room in the middle of the night, you say that? She looks at my shocked expression and laughs. Good, that means she isn't angry. "I mean, why are you in my room in the middle of the night?" I try again. Suddenly the moonlight shines on her face and I see that she has a cut on her head, along with multiple bruises down her arms. "Oh shit." I say, and she glances down at her bruises, suddenly aware of them. "Clove! Are you alright! What did that bastard do to you?" "Cato, I'm ok. Don't worry about me, I just wanted to get out of the house, and I thought that this is the only place where I would feel safe." She says, first forcefully, then her tone changing to one of embarrassment. "Oh Clove." I say; sadness clearly portrayed on my face, "You're always welcome here. I'm so sorry Clover." I finish, wrapping my arms around her small frame.

I hate seeing her like this. Strong, fearless Clove shouldn't be scared or sad. Ever. In this moment, with my arms around her small, fragile figure, I realize that I will do anything it takes to protect Clove, just like my sister. I realize that Clove means so much more to me than I had ever known, and seeing her like this breaks me apart. So it turns out that brutal, bloody Cato, as they call me, has a soft side. And as awful as that is to me, I can't help but see some hope in it. So long as no one ever sees it, it can stay buried deep inside of me, only coming out to protect the two girls in my life that I care for more than myself.

Thanks for reading! Again pleasee review and message me ideas for a title...I can't think of one :s I'll try and upload Chapter 4 as soon as I can :) xo