I have to thank Zoise17 for their review! It's people like you that encourage me to keep going! :-) I don't want to sound creepy but I love you. O-O. If I knew you in real life we would totally be friends. (This is the part where you establish the fact that I'm creepy as hell) Anyway thank you so much. You honestly don't know how much it means to me. Also thanks to everyone else that reviewed! You guys are like so nice. I feel like I know you guys. Which is really weird 0-O

Also so sorry that this chapter is so late! Here are my excuses in order:

1)I've been using pen and paper to write my modern day AU :)

2)school :\

3)I'm sick right now and I feel like crap

4)I'm just plain lazy

Chapter 23

Cato's POV

Word Count:1,573

Her eyes stare through me in the oddest way possible. I find myself slightly taken aback by her close range. I feel almost ashamed as I stand before her, almost like I failed. I open my mouth to speak but her voice cuts me off.

"I've decided that I. . . .feel the same way." She says while clearing her throat.

"About what?" I ask stupidly.

Her face heats slightly. "About what y-you said before." She mumbles.

I let her words sink in. So she...

A sly grin slowly spreads itself across my face. I can tell that she's uncomfortable by the way her eyes dart around the room. Like a small animal that's stuck in a trap. I keep my expression controlled as I take a step closer to her. For the first time ever she looks as if she's intimidated by my size. She takes another step backwards till she's just a foot away from the wall. Her pupils become enlarged as her eyes continue to flicker around the room. Her eyes lock with mine and I can see the gears turning in her head as she tries to figure out what's happening.

Before she can say anything I roughly push her shoulders causing her back to make contact with the wall. She seems completely shocked by my actions, and maybe a little fearful. To ensure she doesn't escape I pin her arms down with my own. She whimpers slightly and I can't tell if it's out of fear or desire. But by the way she's cowering I'm guessing it's most likely fear. She tries to speak but I quickly shut her up by covering my mouth with hers.

She squeals in a very girlish way when my lips make contact with her own. She obviously wasn't expecting it. The sound causes a smirk to slowly spread across my face. She appears to be slightly flustered as I move my lips against hers. Her reaction to me is somewhat lethargic, and she kisses me back slowly. All most as if she's purposely depriving me of what I want. I remove my hold from her wrist and allow my hands to travel down to her waist. She knots her fingers in my hair and tugs at he roots as she pulls my mouth closer to hers. I lightly nip her lower lip, begging for entry.

She complies, and allows me to have my way.

A million thoughts race through my mind at once- all of them centering around Clove. To be honest, I don't real know what to feel. All I know is that finally someone in my life actually cares about me, and there is no way I am ever going to let anyone take her away from me. Ever. I don't want to admit it but I need her. Because without her I have absolutely no one. I don't really care that I'm a Career or that it might 'damage' my reputation when I enter the Games. Just look at my parents. They won the Games and they got married. Sure it was an arranged marriage, but she still grew to love him. Who's to say I can't be a Victor and have a girlfriend? No one. I guess it more of an unspoken rule though. But rules were made to be broken.

As I move my lips against hers I come to the conclusion that she's unstable. Not physically, but mentally. Honestly, I don't think she's insane. I just think she's a little...fragile at the moment. I don't know exactly what happened to her as a child and I don't think I want to. Whatever it was it left and imprint on her that has causes her to snap into different moods. Sometimes she cries like a helpless child and sometimes she'll throw a knife at your face and tell you to shut the fuck up. I don't know what causes me to think this. Maybe because everyone says that the Games change you. And I don't want her to change. I love Clove, even if she is a little sick in the head.

But right now she seems more like herself then ever. Sure, she's a psychotic girl that has a particular liking towards me, and maybe a slight obsession by the looks of it. But she loves me. And that's all that matters. I base this purely off the fact that she's practically ripping my hair out in an attempt to be closer to me. Which I don't seem to mind at all giving the fact that I'm letting her.

Her mouth moves eagerly against mine as she tries to match my rhythm. Her over-sized eyes are locked on mine in a stare that I can't seem to break. I know that at some point I'm going to have to pull away for air, but if I do pass out from lack of oxygen I'm pretty sure it'd be worth it.

At this precise moment I realize that everything's going to work out perfectly. I'll volunteer, win, and enjoy. It's that simple. I'm pretty sure Clove realizes this too because I feel her smile against my lips. At the same time she pulls away, gasping for air. She takes a step away from me and turns to the side as she tries to catch her breath.

My hands fall limply to my sides. I quickly draw in more air as I try to satisfy my never ending need. I feel my chest tighten as my lungs struggle to expand. I never take my eyes off her as we try to calm our gasping. She tries to breathe normally but it comes out as quick staggered pants. Her cheeks are flushed slightly and a piece of her hair falls in front of her face. I take a step forward and tuck the stray lock behind her ear. I lightly grasp her wrist and turn her around to face me.

"Say it." I instruct breathlessly. She rapidly shakes her head back and forth.

I raise my eyebrows at her. She looks up at me sheepishly.

"Say it." I repeat with a little more clarity.

She take a deep breath. "I lo-. I lo-." She tries to get the words out but they don't seem to be in her vocabulary. Her eyebrows knit together as if it's the hardest thing in thing in the world.

I nod slowly and mouth the sounds of the letters as she speaks them.

"I lo-vvvvvvv." She says lethargically. "Y-y-y-you." She stutters while pointing a shaky finger at me.

"I know." I say smoothly as I step forward and wrap my arms around her. She buries her face into the fabric of my shirt while loosely throwing her arms around my waist. I hear her sigh in contentment as I place a kiss on the top of her head.

I don't know how long we stood there for. A minute? Two? I'm not sure. All I know is I've said what I need to say and that's all that matters.

A/N So sorry that this chapter is so short :( I've been so busy but I promise that the next chapter will be much much much longer! Once again I thank all of my wonderful readers that have stuck with me since the begining. If you just found this don't worry, we're cool. *virtual fist bump*

Also it makes me so happy when people say I make them happy :D I hope you people like my kissing scenes because I have no idea if they're good or not.

Also don't forget to go to my bio and vote for me to write my AU story :) I'm going to write it anyway but I want to see how many people would read it.

How many more chapters should I write till the reaping? (Give me a number please)

Don't worry, there will be some knife thown' in the next chapter :D

I'll try to update next week.

I love you and I want you to a good day and I want you to have happy thoughts!