-Cato-
The blue in the sea was the same colour as Rose's eyes. It was a deep blue, just as deep as the ocean is. If I wasn't so mesmerised by the wonder in her eyes as she stared at the water stretching to the horizon, I probably would have passed my home completely. It was already getting dark outside, but you could still see everything clearly.
Everything was exactly the way that it was when I left, but it seemed like it had been ages since I returned. Today was Sunday, so everyone was off of work and at home spending time with their families. Sundays were my favourite days since I would dedicate the entire day to Charlie. He was always so excited to tell anybody about what he learned, but since I trained everyday, he would have to bottle up all his stories and tell me about them as soon as I woke up on Sunday mornings.
We passed the ten or so cottages before I finally saw mine in view. It was still the same.. Smoke rising from the chimney, both windows open halfway, pink flowers posted all over the front lawn.
I felt my palms getting sweaty as we approached my home. I wasn't nervous, though. It was more that I was anticipated. I just wanted to see Charlie. He was the only happiness I had in this shitty world. He was never a sad kid; no matter what happened, he would always have a smile on his face and made sure I had one as well. And although I do have Rose to make me feel that way now, I don't think anyone can replace the feelings I get being with Charlie. I protect him and teach him everything, and in return, he gives me happiness.
I know that sounded so fucking pansy, but that's my family so I really don't give a shit.
I lead Rose up the pathway to the front door. Rose tugged lightly on my hand and stared up at me with that innocent twinkle in her eyes, the one that makes me go fucking insane. "Is this it?" she whispers for no apparent reason.
"Yea," I answer simply, turning my attention back to my home.
Mum?" I called out as I twisted the door knob, hoping for an answer. I didn't hear any noises or smell any cooking, so I didn't know if anyone was here or not. "Charlie?"
"Why do you say 'mum'?" Rose asks, again in a whisper. Is she afraid of something? Because there is no reason to be whispering unless she didn't want to be caught.
I shrug, not really knowing what to say. I never really noticed the way I say that word. I think my father taught me to speak that way. "That's just the way I was taught," I explain.
"Oh." Rose nods and bites her lip, turning her attention back to surveying the place.
"Cato?" I heard Charlie call.
I let go of Rose and stood silently, waiting for Charlie to come barreling toward me from wherever he was hiding. I heard his footsteps around the area of the stairs and then he was throwing himself into my arms.
Shit.. this was real.
"Hey, bud!" My fucking goodness, I missed him so much. Charlie looked exactly the same.. Same messy blond hair rustled on top of his head and the same brown freckles invading his nose. Same twinkling sea-green eyes, and the same innocent, wide smile that no one can change.
"You missed so much while you were gone, Cato," Charlie said, staring up and me.
"Oh yeah?" I ask with a smile. "What did I miss? Did you finally get a girlfriend?" I joke, rustling his already tousled hair.
"Ew, no," he answered, pretending to be sick. I heard Rose chuckling near us.. I had almost forgotten that she was here.
"Well then.. What happened?"
"I got a really good grade on my reading homework! I got an A plus!" Charlie almost yelled.
"That's so great, Charl." Right before I left, I was trying to help him with his reading. My mother and I had learned that Charlie was dyslexic, so reading wasn't something he was too good at. He excelled in every subject except reading. I tried tutoring him in it, and he did a little better, but he didn't get A's. He only got C's.
"Yeah," he nodded quickly, "and my teacher said that I should keep up the good work."
"That's right," I nodded. Charlie took a step back and glanced at Rose, who was standing in the middle of the room, surveying me like an analyst. Her eyes were wide and she wouldn't stop smiling. "What have I always told you?"
"'I should always work hard and never give up'," Charlie stated, quoting my exact words. He smiled wide, knowing that he said and was doing the right thing.
Charlie turned back again and watched Rose, who was still staring at us. He stood on the tips of his toes and cupped his fingers around my ear. "Cato?" he whispered.
"Yeah?" I answered, watching Rose watch me.
"Who is that girl and why is she staring at us?" he whispered into my ear.
I laughed and turned to face his huge eyes. "That is Rose. She's my girlfriend," I whispered back, even though I suck at whispering because of my deep voice.
Girlfriend.. that sounded so weird coming from my mouth. But it was true, and being here with her so that she could meet my mum told me that I should probably stop denying it and admit that she was my girlfriend. She wasn't one of the girls I would just fuck every now and then. As harsh as that sounds, it's true.
She was my.. girlfriend.
Rose gasped and I frowned at her. She began blushing and Charlie pretended to be sick. "Yuck, you have a girlfriend?"
"Yes, and she's standing right and heard you say 'yuck'," I replied with a laugh.
"Oh." Charlie turned to Rose. "Hi I'm Charlie. I'm nine years old. Don't be mad about what I said. It's not that you're yucky, it's that girlfriends are," he told her, trying to justify himself. The statement didn't do any justification, though, it only made his argument worse.
"It's okay," Rose giggled. "I totally understand. Sometimes Cato can be yucky," she said with a nod.
Charlie smiled and walked toward her. She was so small that he was almost as tall as she was. "There was this one time, Mummy invited friends over to eat, and Cato farted at the table."
Shit, every time someone new comes over, he tells them that story, thinking that it is the funniest thing in world.
I don't want my girlfriend knowing that bullshit. And I was twelve when it happened! It just slipped out. Mum put too many beans on my plate and wouldn't let me leave the table until I had eaten them all. I was sitting, waiting for some of them in my stomach to digest and I guess my stomach couldn't handle all of the gas.
Rose covered her mouth with her hand and it was obvious that she was trying not to laugh at me. Charlie wrapped his arms around her. "Really?" she asked him with a laugh.
I shook my head. "Yeah." Charlie leaned up to cup her ear. "But he hates when I tell people that, so he always says no. You can ask Mummy. She'll tell you how yucky he is."
"It's okay." Rose rocked him back and forth and I could see his arms tighten around her, just like I do. Charlie likes her. That's a good sign. Usually when he doesn't like someone, it's a sign that I should stay away.
I scoffed as Charlie laughed along with her. "I am not 'yucky'," I said. "So stop laughing at me."
"Yes you are," Charlie told me.
"Whatever," I answered with a smile. "Where's Mum?"
I sensed Rose freeze next to me at the mention on Mum. Why was she so nervous to meet my Mum, anyway? It was nothing special. I had met her Mum, and we got along just fine. She didn't think I was the bad boy or someone that was dangerous for her daughter. She saw me as the first boy that Rose brought home and gave me so much hospitality. I know that my mother will be the exact same way. She won't hate her.. if anything, she would probably want me to get married because she knows that if this doesn't work out, I probably won't bring another girl home for the rest of my and her life.
But I know this is going to last.. so that wouldn't happen anyway.
"She's in the garden out back. She got new flowers called catepillies," he told me, stepping away from Rose who was holding him in her loving embrace with a beautiful smile.
"You mean calla lillies?" I asked, moving to take Rose's hand. If Charlie held onto her for any longer, she'd probably leave me for him.
Who woulda thought that my nine year old brother was already a player?
"That's what I said," Charlie said, picking one of his toys up from the floor and walking back to the stairs. "Come play with me," he said, turning to Rose.
She smiled and was about to speak before I interrupted her. "She'll be there in a little while. We're going to talk to Mum for a little bit."
"Okay." Charlie walked up the stairs, leaving us alone.
"He is such a sweet boy," Rose commented as we walked through the kitchen. There was something cooking on the stove.
"Yeah."
"You really seem to love him."
I nod. "I love him more than anything in this world."
Rose smiled and was silent as we walked to the back door. It was open with the screen closed. I pushed the screen closed slowly. Mum was bent over on the ground, facing away from us. She was digging furiously into the ground with a huge bunch of the flowers on her side. This is just how she was: it didn't matter if the moon was out. If Mum wanted to work in the garden, she did it. There was literally only a few minutes until the moon rose and she was gardening.
"Mum?" I called.
She immediately froze and dropped her small shovel on the ground. She sat up slowly and turned around even slower. When her faced finally turned around fully, I surveyed her. She had the same green eyes Charlie and I have. Her long blond hair was pulled up with strands falling freely and a sun hat on top of it, even though there was no sun. Her body was covered with a long yellow sundress with sunflowers plastered all around it and a fully sleeved gardening apron above it.
Once her eyes settled on me fully, her face broke out into the most beautiful smile.
Fucking hell, she's even more beautiful than when I left. I've been waiting for the day that I would be able to see her again. This is my mother, the only person in this world who has loved me for no reason at all. She tried her best to protect me, and even though she got hurt in the process, she never condemned me for it.
"Hi, Ma," I almost whispered. Mum stood up and made her way toward me and I walked toward her at the same time. As she got closer, I could see the tears pouring into her eyes. I had to fight the urge not to fall into a ball of tears in front of Rose.
Mum reached me and raised her hand to my face, rubbing my cheek, just like she used to. She was smiling up at me with tears running down her face. "My little Pumpkin," she said before clinging onto me. I tightened myself around her small figure and held her back, taking all the pain she must have went through and throwing it away.
Mum rubbed my back and I let myself go. I couldn't hold it in anymore. My eyes betrayed me and watered as she whispered "I love you, forever and always" over and over into my chest. Mum was small, but not as small as Rose. She might be a tiny woman, but she was the only person that I could be myself completely with. I wasn't afraid to cry in front of her, or to tell her about how I broke yet another girl's heart. Yes, she would scold me, but then she would try to fix me.
"I missed you so much, my baby Pumpkin," she said, using the nickname that I've always hated, especially when she said it in front of other people.
I ignored it this time. "I missed you, too, Mum."
Mum pulled away and wiped her bloodshot eyes. "I hated watching you on that screen. I prayed every night that you were away."
"Geez Mum," I sighed, "you know I was doing okay."
"I know, but at the end, you gave me a heart attack. I cried all day and all night long. How could you trick us all like that?" Mum started to yell, hitting me on the back of my head. Looks like Rose wasn't the only one pissed at me for the plan.
"I'm sorry!"
"And what you must have put that poor girl through. You could see through that screen that she cried as much as I did!" She hit me again.
"Ow, Ma! You know why I had to do it," I said, giving her a look that only she could understand.
Mum smiled and turned to look at Rose. "Oh, I know. I was waiting to get the chance to meet this beautiful young girl," she said, walking to Rose.
Rose blushed and extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Primrose." Mum ignored her hand and pulled her in for a tight hug, whispering something into her ear which made Rose smile.
Have I ever called her 'Primrose'..? I don't think so.
Mum pulled away from Rose and laughed while wiping under her eyes. "Look at you, you're so gorgeous. Isn't she just stunning Pumpkin?" Mum turned to ask me.
I felt my face getting hot and I rolled my eyes. "Ma, please, don't call me that in front of her," I mumbled. Rose laughed as Mum pinched my cheeks. I pushed her hands away lightly.
"But isn't she stunning Pumpkin?" she asked again.
"Yes Ma," I sighed. "Rose is beautiful." Rose blushed again. I think that was the second time she's heard me say that.
"Why? You know you'll always be my little Pumpkin bum." Rose laughed even louder but tried to cover it. "Why are you so embarrassed?"
"Because I'm not a 'pumpkin' anymore."
"Yes you are," Mum cooed. She turned to Rose. "Do you know why I call him that?" she asked. Rose shook her head. "When he was just a little boy, he would stay out in the sun for so long that he would turn as orange as a pumpkin, and he had orange hair. So, why not call him that?"
"You have a good reason to," Rose replied, still giggling away at me.
I sighed and turned away. First Charlie, now Mum. Who would be coming through the door to embarrass me this time?
"Are you guys hungry? I was just starting dinner."
"Yes," I sighed. I hadn't eaten for a while because I was saving up to eat as much of Mum's food as I could. It was devastating that I couldn't stay here with her and Charlie. Hopefully, through some miracle, I would be able to visit again soon.
I know Rose didn't want to stay in the Capitol, and neither did I, but I would rather be with her than be alone here. Yes, Mum and Charlie were more than enough to keep me satisfied, but I can't help but feel as though there would be a hole in my heart if Rose was gone.
"Well why don't you guys get settled and I'll call you down when dinner is ready?"
"Okay."
We followed Mum back inside and went towards the stairs, where I picked up our suitcases in one hand and lead Rose with my other up to my room.
Charlie stopped us on the stairs. "Are you guys going to come downstairs and play with me soon?"
"Yea, just let us sit everything down."
Charlie ran down the stairs and I opened the door to my room, where everything was in the place I left it in before the reaping. It was clean.. It was always clean because Ma would scold me to the end of the earth if it was a mess. The pictures, of me, Charlie, Mum and Dad, were all still hung up on the walls, but of course, Mum had come in and dusted them. The shirt I changed out of before the reaping was still laid out on the bed.
Rose looked around curiously as I walked in and took my jacket off, throwing it on the bed.
"What?" I asked after Rose had not moved from the place that she had been in.
"Your room.. It's so clean," she stated with wide eyes.
I nod once. "Yeah.. So?"
"I didn't expect it to be that way."
"Oh. Well, surprise. I'm a clean freak. No, my Mum is, and she always makes sure my room is clean."
Rose smiled. "It smells just like you in here."
I frown. "Yeah.. It's my room." What is going on with her?
"Your Mom is so sweet. And so is Charlie. You must love them so much." Rose finally stepped in and surveyed my pictures.
"They're all I have. Except for you, now."
Rose nods and I freeze when she stops at the full family picture, including my dad.
"Who is this?" she said, pointing to the man that I resembled way too much.
"My dad," I mumbled, moving to change my shirt and pants into something more comfortable.
"Where is he?" she asked.
"Not here," I snapped accidentally. Rose's face turned up and she looked apologetic. "Sorry Kitten," I said, "he's a touchy subject."
"It's okay," she answered. "So, can we go play with Charlie, now?" she asked with a smile.
Playing with Charlie was always something interesting. He never failed to create a new game with someone to play. Today it was 'RaceCar Abomination'. I was sitting on the couch watching as Rose managed to keep him entertained the entire time she played with him. She didn't stop smiling with him, much like me. Charlie was so happy that you couldn't be upset with him.
The doorbell rang and I got up to answer it after Mum yelled for me to. Charlie and Rose were right in the middle of an argument over who gets to use the orange racecar.
I went to the door and swung it open, already irritated with whoever was at the door. Tonight and tomorrow was supposed to be reserved for family only, and now someone was coming to interrupt us.
"Can I help you?" I snapped at whoever it was, not even looking.
"Um..." a girl mumbled.
I frowned and turned to face whoever it was.
Holy shit..
"Hi, Cato. I didn't know you were back."
"Pumpkin, who is it?" Mum yelled from the kitchen.
She smiled up at me and I felt the heartbreak Rose was going to feel in a few minutes. Shit.. why?
Rose might cry if she finds out what I did to her.
"It's Molly," I yelled back, not taking my eyes away from her.
My ex-girlfriend.
Well, she thought she was my girlfriend.
Dun Dun Dunnnnn!
Guys, I am literally sweaty right now. I rushed back home from the gym to finish this chapter for you guys! So, please be happy that I've sacrificed a hot shower right now for you!
If you haven't noticed, I changed Charlie's age to nine because eleven was a little to old! So if you notice it still says eleven in another chapter let me know!
Isn't Willow just gorgeous?
What do you think about Cato now? Is he sweet enough? Too sweet? Do you want the old Cato to re-emerge? Let me know what you think PEOPLE!
I'm still looking for people to do EDITS and email them to me! If you are a brilliant editor, can you do some of Alex and Willow and send them to me? I am absolutely shit at it!
Of course, I love you guys more than my school's basketball team, so why don't you vote, comment, share, and follow. And thank you so much for reading!
Cheers. Laters, baby.
Myesha xx