Half way home I stop and realize that if Cato wants to volunteer then I could freak him out by making him think that I‘m going to volunteer too.
I walk back to the academy smirking and when I get there the day is over so I go straight to the headmasters office and when I arrive all of the eighteen year olds just stare at me. “Aren’t you a little young to be volunteering this year?” Someone says. “I’m fourteen and I’m at the top of my class.” I say proudly. “And what class is that?” Another one asks. “Knife Throwing.” I say. They all nod and mutter ‘not bad’ so I feel good about that.
“Clove?” I hear someone say so I turn around and see Cato. “What are you doing here?” He asks me.
“I’m going to volunteer.” I tell him, turning around so that I face the headmaster’s office. “You know that only one can come out alive.” He says. “Of course I know that! I know that you’d never kill me so I guess you have you wait until next year to volunteer and that means you don’t have to be here.” I say smirking.
Cato smashes me into the wall. “No, you’re the one who’s not going to volunteer this year!” Cato growls.
I don’t say anything and he lets me go when our headmaster opens the door. Everyone goes in one at a time and comes out a few minutes later with a personal trainer.
I’m the last one to go in and when Cato comes out he glares at me but I can see a hint of sadness in his eyes. I walk into the headmasters office and he says, “Are you sure you want to volunteer this year, Clove?”
“Yeah, I’m sure! I know I can win!” I say. He looks at be sadly but motions to the women in the room and tells me that she’s my personal trainer. “You don’t have to go to class anymore but you have to meet her at a specific place every day at a specific time and she’ll help you perfect anything you need.” He says and we leave.
“My name is Clove.” I tell her. “I’m Kaycee.” She says. We walk in silence until we get to the clearing in the forest where professor Ivory took us. “Professor Ivory was my personal trainer when I was eighteen and she took me here.” Kaycee explains when she sees the look on my face.
“Your name seems really familiar, where do I know you from?” I ask her.
“I was the best knife throwing in my year while I was at the academy.” She says. “Really? I’m the best knife thrower in my year.” I say, proudly.
“You should show me tomorrow. What time do you want to meet tomorrow?” She asks me. “Just whenever you like.” I tell her. “How about everyday when you’d usually arrive at the academy.” She says. I nod.
“Well, I need to go home now but I’ll see you tomorrow.” Kaycee says and runs off. “Bye.” I call after her and walk home.
