Ok here's chapter 5! Thanks so much for the reviews, you guys are the best! And I finally named it :) There's more fluffiness in this one and I thought it was cute….hope you guys like it and pleasee review xo
Chapter 5
CLOVE
As he says those words, I look up at his face, searching his eyes for any trace of a lie. What I find surprises me, scares me even. His expression is one of all seriousness. Cato, brutal, bloody, Cato, the most feared and ruthless boy in the district, is willing to protect me. I look down at my feet as I feel a blush creeping to my cheeks, and I silently beg it to stop. I must appear tough. I can't even imagine looking like one of those weak little schoolgirls that I despise so much. They're lives revolve around boys, when they should clearly be focusing on their training. One of them wouldn't even last a minute in the arena.
Yet the blush still creeps into my cheeks, and Cato notices and grins. He tilts my head up to look at him, and rubs my cheek with his thumb. "I'm not kidding Clover. I'll never let anyone hurt you." His bright blue eyes are staring into mine, searching for what I'm thinking. I decide to let him know by doing what I've wanted to do again since it happened yesterday. I reach up and pull his face closer to mine, standing on my tiptoes to connect our lips. At first his eyes widen in surprise, but then he grins and closes his eyes as our mouths touch.
The kiss is rich with emotions, delicate yet strong. I can't help but think of how his mouth fits perfectly around mine, and how right this feels. My hands go to his face, as his come to rest in the small of my back. Our bodies are pressed together, his strong frame against my small one. The kiss goes on for what could have been hours, but feels like mere seconds, before he pulls away, breathless.
"So...How about that picnic?" He breathes, a smile enveloping his face. I smile back before grabbing his hand and sitting down on the grass, pulling him with me. I grab the basket he brought with food in it, acknowledging the hungry sounds coming from my stomach. I pass him a sandwich, before grabbing one for myself. We eat in silence, resting against one another, our shoulders touching, listening to the wonderful sounds around us. I can hear the animals in the forest around us, and the birds singing in the distance.
After a bit, I interrupt the silence. "It's so beautiful here," I begin, looking up at the tops of the trees, "I can't believe I've never been here before." "Yeah," Cato replies, "I take my sister here sometimes; she picks flowers and runs around singing." His voice fills with warmth and love as he speaks of her, and I can't help but let the warmth spread through me as well. "Your sister seems so sweet," I say, "How old is she now?" I'm completely aware of how scared Cato is that she'll end up in the Games, and how he'll do anything to make sure she doesn't. "She just turned 11," He starts, sadness in his voice, and I can tell he's thinking how next year she could die. "Her birthday was in March. And next year, she'll be old enough…" He stops, unable to continue, and I grab his hand. "Oh Cato. You still have another year. Plus, she probably won't be chosen, and even if she is, someone will volunteer." I say, trying to reassure him. I'm telling the truth too. Every year in District 2 people volunteer, praying to get a spot in the games. And this year, I would be one of them.
Cato takes in what I said, and his face brightens a bit. "Thanks." He says, "Want to explore?" He asks, clearly trying to change the topic away from his only weakness. "Yeah, sure." I agree, eager to see the rest of the beautiful place we're in. He pulls me up, and we walk into the woods, hand in hand.
CATO
As we walk through the forest, I show her my sister Alla's favorite spots in the woods. I just hope that Clove's right, and that someone will volunteer for her if she gets chosen. She's just so small, too delicate to ever enter into the Hunger Games. I can't let her ever be in them. Then my mind wanders to Clove's kiss earlier, and how great these past days have been. Clove saved me all those years ago, giving me a friend, someone of comfort so that I wouldn't let the violence take me over. When most look at me they see a monster, a beast of a person, but Clove can see inside me. She see's me for who I really am inside, and I'm so grateful. I've always felt something more for her, something I've never understood, until yesterday when our lips connected. Now, I understand, after having kissed her multiple times, I know that these feelings for her run deeper than I can imagine. I'll do anything for her, just like my sister.
I look down at her, and see her face lit up with a smile, her eyes bright with happiness. I pull her to a stop at a nearby stream. "Clove, thank you." Her eyebrows rise with surprise. "What? Why are you thanking me? I'm the one who should be thanking you for all you've done…" She speaks, her eyes boring into mine, "You saved me Cato. If it weren't for you, I would have succumbed to my father, let depression take over my life." I think about that, as she continues. "Cato, you've done more for me than you can imagine. Given me a reason to look forward to the next day. I haven't done anything for you, except train with you." She finishes. "No Clove, you've given me a reason to be good. You see someone nice inside of me, and you've kept me sane all these years." She looks down at her feet, trying to hide the blush that I had barely seen creeping into her cheeks. "So thanks." I finish, and reach down to tilt her head up to look at me.
We stay like that for a bit, her small hand wrapped in my big one, our eyes locked. Finally, she pulls her gaze away, looking at how the sun has begun to set along the horizon. "Look" She says, nodding toward the sky. "It's beautiful." She adds, and I can't help but agree. The sky is lit with pinks, reds and oranges, and it truly is an amazing sight. "Wow." I say, sitting down on a nearby rock to enjoy the view. I pull her down beside me, and wrap my arm around her, pulling her closer to me. At first she stiffens, but then she relaxes. "Thanks for letting me stay last night." She says, "I had fun today." "No problem Clover, me too." I smile, and look down at her. She looks tired, and she rests her head on my shoulder, keeping her eyes trained on the sky.
When the sun fully disappears and is replaced by a sliver of the moon, Clove speaks. "We should probably start heading back…" She begins, and I can understand the reluctance in her voice. This day has been amazing, and I don't want it to end. "Yeah." I agree, as we both slowly stand up. I begin leading her back the way we came, as she was blindfolded the first time. She looks cold in just her T-Shirt, so I offer her my sweater. She rejects it, saying that she's not a little girl, and keeps walking, but before she turns her head I away I catch a hint of a smile grace her lips.
I catch up to her, deciding to wrap my arm around her frame because her pride won't let her take my sweater. An irritated look appears on her face, and I laugh at her stubbornness. "Are we almost there?" She complains, trying to look annoyed but failing when I lean down and whisper in her ear, "We're taking the long route back." A smile appears on her face, and I grin at the effect I have on her.
I hope you guys liked it! Please review! (tell me what you liked, didn't like…the usual) Thanks for reading xx