Thanks to everyone who is reading! I hope you are enjoying reading this as much as I am enjoying writing it!

The goodbyes in the justice building pass by quickly, in a haze: The final words of advice and the reassuring of their confidence in me from some training friends. The kisses from my parents and their words of praise and love. I'm not concentrating on anything besides my plans in the arena though. How can I make Cato believe that I intend on winning? Should I tell anyone in the career pack my plan? After my parents leave, I collapse on the couch, relieved that I have some time to myself to think. Surprisingly, the door opens once again and Lawrence comes in. I wasn't expecting him, I didn't think that trainers usually went to say goodbye to their students. I was even more surprised when he made his way over to me and gave me a hug. This was surely not normal. Affection is quite lacking in the district, one would assume this would be even more true for a Hunger Games tribute trainer. "Clove, I'm sorry it had to be this way," he starts, "I spent quite a bit of time arguing last night, trying to get you into the quell next year." "Lawrence, its fine. Its my own fault for taking on Cato. I got myself into this situation." Lawrence's tone suddenly becomes sympathetic, sad even as he says, "Clove, I just went in to say goodbye to Cato and go over strategy. And... well, he's rather upset over this." He leans in close to me, so even if we are being bugged, nothing could get picked up, "He told me about you two." I raise my eyebrows and wonder what made Cato bring this up to Lawrence. Was it planned, or did it just slip out? "Listen up," he continues, "I don't think that Cato would be able to kill you if it comes down to the two of you. It could help you in the games to toy with his emotions a bit since I think he plans on protecting you. Then you should be able to take him out easily." I'm suddenly beyond confused. I had just started liking Lawrence. Had he really just told me to play Cato then stab him in the back? And if Cato had told him we were dating, did he think I could just push my feelings to the side and murder him? "Sorry, but what exactly did Cato tell you?" I ask. "He said you two were planning on having Saylee go this year. That he couldn't kill you. Also just that you have been best friends for years... Like I said, it seems like he has a soft spot for you, and while he may have a physical advantage over you, his hesitation in a fight is what could save you. I just thought that you could use this information to assist you in the games, it might even be in your best interest to lead him on." Alright, so Cato hadn't spilled about our relationship, but still, Lawrence has seen us in training, he knows we are best friends. Did he really think I would go into ruthless killer mode in the arena? That I would kill Cato without even thinking?

I thank Lawrence for his advice, assuring him that I would come home the victor. However, I am extremely happy when the Peacekeepers come in to take Lawrence away. My head is swimming. I need to compose myself before the train ride to the capital, where there will be cameras, and my official meeting with my escort and mentor. I sit on the couch with my eyes closed trying to concentrate on breathing and not on my death sentence. The peacekeepers come in to escort me out to the platform much too soon. The next thing I know, I am standing inches away from Cato while cameras greedily snap photos and film our every move. I'm giving all the cameras the baddest smirk I can manage and a glimpse at Cato tells me he is doing the same. Our escort gives us the signal telling us we can get onto the train. Our mentors are already inside the compartment as we enter. Because District 2 has so many victors there is never a shortage of mentors for the tributes. The most recent male and female victors become the mentors. I remember seeing both mentors not only in their games but in the training center as well.

Nilo had won his games 7 years ago, during my first year in the training center. I remember his year clearly. His specialty was a whip. The final showdown was spectacular that year. I remember Nilo whipping the district 4 girl in the neck so hard that her esophagus literally fell onto the ground. My mentor is Darlie, she won 2 years ago. While she wasn't in a particularly memorable year, the vision of her faking her own death at the final 5 then spearing the boy from district 1 as he celebrated, thinking he had won, made a huge impression on me.

Our lavender-haired escort gets into the train behind us and says, "So nice to meet you Cato and Clove, I'm Zura Shine." I give her a fake smile but am really paying attention to Darlie. My mentor is far more important than our stupid escort. Darlie is looking me over and gives an audible sneer when she sees the size of Cato compared to me. I am quite small for a district 2 tribute. 5'5'' (Although I tell everyone I am actually 5'6'') and 130 pounds is pretty average for a girl in our district, but not in the training center. I never got into bulking up by lifting weights endlessly. However, I wonder if Darlie remembers seeing me in the gym at all. I feel like she must not because she looks as if she is about to laugh at me. Obviously she doesn't know the damage I can do with my knives. Nilo, on the other hand, looks thrilled with having Cato as his tribute. "300 bucks." Nilo says. "No way! I'm not losing that much." I hear Darlie reply. Oh my god. Our mentors are betting on us and that bitch Darlie doesn't even think I'm worth 300 bucks! Pissed off, I swiftly grab one of the knives I always keep on me out of my skirt pocket and fling it across the train compartment to the furthest wall. I aim it at the picture of a beach sunset, right in the center of the sun where it meets the water. Of course I hit my target exactly where I planned. I hear Zura give off a shrill shreak however I have gotten the reaction I was going for out of Darlie. "On second thought, lets make it 400 bucks." I give her a cocky grin, knowing I have gotten off on the right foot. "Well, it looks like it will be a good year for district 2," Says Nilo. "You two can go to your rooms and change if you like. I'll call you when it's time for dinner." Zura tells us.

I slowly head to my room, watching our escort and mentors to see if they will disperse. They all head off to the right into another waiting room. I open my door but never enter, instead I silently go from my doorway to the next compartment where Cato disappeared. I open his door slowly and quietly in case anyone on the train is in a room next to his. As I peer through the door, I am met with a sight I never thought I would see. Cato is lying on the bed with his hands over his face, crying. I freeze, not knowing what to do. I decide to silently close the door and creep away, but I find myself rushing into the room and over to Cato instead. He turns and sees me running over to him, and quickly tries to wipe his tears away. This time I'm the one who puts my arms around Cato instead of the other way around. He is failing miserably at trying to compose himself. "It's ok." I whisper to him with a sad smile. I find tears now rolling down my face as well. Really, we must be the most pathetic district 2 tributes ever. Crying on the way to the games? It's just sad. If Lawrence knew we would both be dead.

One hour later, we are still embracing on the bed, out of tears. Really crying won't help anything. We both know that, but there wasn't anything else to do. We manage to pull ourselves together finally and Cato automatically starts apologizing. As if any of this was his fault. "I should have thought of a plan for if Saylee was reaped! Why hadn't I thought about that?" "Cato. The chances of that happening were so slim we could have never predicted it. It almost makes me wonder if it was fate or something. Like I was supposed to go to the games this year." "You know that makes no sense," Cato says, "There is no happy ending to this."

We sit there, arms around each other on the bed until Cato again breaks the silence. "Clove. I've thought it over. You can't argue with me. We'll get to the final 3 or 4 then I'll try to take the other tributes out. That way after I'm killed, they'll already be weakened and you will be able to get rid of them easily." "Cato. No. You cannot die for me." "Clove, it's already decided. I made my mind up in the training center the day you were selected. It has to be this way." "If you do that, I swear to god I will never forgive you." "I have to, Clove. I honestly would die if you were gone." "I feel the same way. If you die, I'm already gone."

So we were both planning our own heroic deaths for the others sake. Cato might stand firm now, but maybe I can make him see reason later. "They'll probably call us for dinner soon, I better get back to my room." I decided that I should follow my father's advice. No one can know about Cato and me. I get up to leave the compartment when Cato pulls my arm back and suddenly we are kissing like we have never kissed before. All the anger, fear, sadness, confusion, desperation, and lust turn into passion as we make out, swaying on the spot near the door. He had literally knocked me off my feet and was holding me so tightly that my ties were just barely brushing the ground. How could this have happened to me? How could this have happened to Cato? How could this have happened to us? I mean what did we ever do wrong? It's so unfair. Everything had just started to make sense. I had a future with Cato. We were going to live together in victor's village. I always assumed that we would end up married someday. And now, there was no someday. The days were numbered for me or Cato, or god forbid for both of us. I try to put all my emotions into this kiss. When we finally break apart, something between us changed. We weren't a carefree boyfriend and girlfriend pair from district 2 anymore. I feel so much closer to Cato then I ever had before. At least I know he will be right by my side until the end. Cato whispers to me, "You mean the world to me." "I love you Cato. No matter what." As I open the door to exit he replies, "No matter what."

Reviews would be fantastic! Hopefully I will have time to update again soon (I already have the next few chapters written but I need to find the time to type them up).