Thank you to all who have reviewed! This chapter is kind of short, the next one will be long though! :P I hope you like it!
Cato's POV
The years of watching the opening ceremonies on the television are nothing compared to the deafening roar of the crowd ringing in my ears at this moment. The crowd cheers and throws roses of many colors at Clove and me, adorning us with kisses and shouts of encouragement. Filled with the sudden enthusiasm to win, I raise my fist in the air, feeling as if I have already won and am on the Victory Tour. I flash the crowd my devilish smile I used on Glimmer. They appear to love it, for I am being showered with girlish shrieks and even more flowers. My face is smiling, but I make sure to show the cold viciousness I can possess through my icy blue eyes. I turn to face the other side of the crowd and find Clove is playing them in the same manner as me. Her flirty smile shows her lovable side, while her eyes and posture subtly hint at the viper waiting to strike inside. The ride ends quickly. We are suddenly parked in front of the President's mansion, awaiting the speech that I will probably zone out during to play the crowd some more. Glimmer and Marvel's chariot are already parked next to us. Glimmer shouts at me at flips her hair, giggling like an idiot. I give her a convincing smile back and turn my attention to the screens displaying what the people at home are seeing on television. I expect Clove and me to be the center of attention; our costumes are brilliant. But the cameras seem to be focused mainly on the District 12 tributes. Their stylists have lit them on fire. Dazzling, but it means nothing if they can't fight well. The girl looks quick and knowing. I think we Careers should go after her first. The quiet ones are the ones to look out for. The boy…well, we could use his strength. Other than that he looks like a useless pretty boy. The last chariot at last pulls itself to its spot in front of the mansion. President Snow walks out onto the balcony, ready to give his speech.
Clove's POV
Good ole' Snow begins with congratulating us, making out districts proud, yadda yadda yadda. It's nothing we haven't heard from him the past years from watching on television. Our instructors told us the same thing every day. I take the time to look around at the other tributes, as I notice many of them are doing as well. The District 12 tributes look radiant in their fire outfits. Too bad it's not real fire to go ahead and kill them, or at least hurt them enough to make even easier targets at the bloodbath. After about ten minutes, our chariot begins to move again, returning us to the joyful arms of our escorts, mentors, and stylists. Cato and I accept their hugs and compliments, and then head to the elevator with the other tributes. Marvel holds the doors open to let us on. We cram in along with Glimmer and the girl tribute from 11. She is so tiny; I pity her for a moment. Then I remember that I can't feel bad for killing these people if Cato is going to win. I turn on my snake like smile, showing her the vile lust for her blood in my eyes. She gives a surprised gasp at looks quickly at her feet. Glimmer snicker and gives her a rough shove, slammer the girl into Marvel. Marvel the pushes her to Cato, who pushes her to me. We continue this until she reaches the 11th floor, which takes a while since Glimmer had the evil idea to push all of the buttons. I push her into Marvel again on the 10th floor, when he does something that shocks us all. He grabs her tiny figure by the collar of her gingham blue dress. He slowly lifts his fist back; releases all of his power into is arm and punches her in the gut. She doubles over in pain, gasping for air through the sobs tearing from her lips. The doors open to the 11th floor and Glimmer perniciously shoves her out and onto the floor. I catch a glimpse at her face and notice the red starting to seep through her dress. The doors to the elevator close, leaving us laughing on the way down to our floors.
Cato's POV
We Careers laugh all the way down to our floor, mimicking the puny girl's face after the kick Marvel gave her. Clove and I bid our new allies good night and step onto our floor. Exhausted from being Confident Cato, I turn and give Clove gigantic hug and hold her close. We stand like this for a while, giving each other strength and holding each other up. She looks up at me with her clear eyes, now void of all maliciousness. I see a single tear slide down her cheek and reach to wipe it off. I hate when she cries.
"I don't know how long I can keep this up, Cato," she states, her voice cracking. "It's different than at school where you have a fight and then go to your room and be yourself. We'll have to be like this for who knows how many weeks and I just don't think I can do it!" Clove's eyes let their walls down and tears run in torrents down her face. I lead her to her room and close the door behind us. She sits in my lap and cries while I hold her, cradling her in my arms. After about 30 minutes, her breathing steadies and she is silent as stone. She fell asleep. I tenderly lay her down and remove the heavy gold hat and collar from her. I hope she doesn't mind sleeping in her brown slip. She snuggles into a ball like she always does when she sleeps, and I pull the soft downy blanket over her. I stand there and look at her for a minute. Carefully I lean down and tuck one strand of loose hair behind her ear and out of her face. I close the door and enter my room. The hot water from the shower removes all the makeup from my face, and I throw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. The bed's silk sheets are cold when I crawl under the equally cold silk blankets. I lay awake and stare at the ceiling, wondering what tomorrow's first training session will bring.