Clato: Cuts Beneath the Surface

Chapter 24

The next day I call Elise back.

"Howdy Doll." she says on the first ring.

"How did you know it was me?"

"I'm your BFF. I can sense these things. Not that you're acting like much of a BFF lately." she huffs.

"Sorry, Favian and I got into an accident, I've been staying with Cato while I recover." I lie.

"Cato already told me that! What I want to know is why you didn't go to a hospital."

"I can't afford it." I whisper hoping she won't see through this lie. Elise pauses for a second.

"Oh. Sorry. I sound really petty now."

"No, no. It's fine. I'm on the mend anyway." I reassure her.

"Can we meet up later? After training?" She asks.

"Uh...sure. Meet me at the Cafe Rouge on the main drag."

"Ok!" she says cheerily. I hang up and fall asleep on Catos bed. This simple conversation has worn me out. When I wake its nearly noon and Cato forces me to take the disgusting medicine Old Ella left. We eat lunch together, cold sandwiches as neither of us can cook, and I decide to take a shower. Cato eyes me warily.

"Just shout if you need anything." he tells me. I promise him I will and step into the bathroom. It feels so nice to be free of my bandages and I wash out my soft brown hair. When I step out I feel refreshed and ready to face Elise. I like her but I'm not ready to trust her with my secret. It's hard enough trusting Cato. I towel off and realize the only thing I have to wear is the same bloody clothes and hoodie I've had on for four days.

"Cato!" I call awkwardly, feeling embarrassed. I hear running footsteps.

"Clover!" he shouts panicky, "are you ok?" I hear him reach the door and pull the towel tight around myself.

"Yeah, sorry. I just...i don't have any clothes. These are covered in blood. I don't want to wear them." I say lamely. He chuckles.

"Good thing I picked these up while you were sleeping." Cato gently opens the door wide enough to slip a bag in. I take it and thank him. Cato's footsteps fade away. I open the bag to find two red shirts, underwear, workout pants and a few pairs of socks. Thanking whoever may be listening for Cato's wonderfulness, I put on the clothes. They fit perfectly. Only when I put on the bra do I feel uncomfortable about Cato picking this out for me. Then I realize he must have had to ask someone for help and imagine him stammering in the girls underwear isle and laugh. At the bottom of the bag I find a simple grey dress with the shoulders artfully cut out and lined with pearls. It's very pretty. I shove it back in the bag and walk out to find Cato.

He's laying on the couch but looks up when I walk in. My drying hair hangs loosely down to my waist. "Do they fit?" he asks.

"Perfectly. Thanks." He smiles. "hey do you happen to have shoes for me? I only have the one...." His face falls.

"Oh no, I totally forgot. I can get you some tomorrow."

"No it's ok. I should probably go back and pick up some of my things soon anyway. i'll just borrow your old ones until then." I Shrug it off.

"Ok," he says warily,"just promise me you won't go back to that house alone."

"Ok, I'll bring my bodyguard."

"At your service."

"I was talking about Elise...." I joke. Cato tosses a pillow at me. I dodge it and laugh, sliding about in my new socks.

When I know Elise will almost be done training I head to the strip. Cato sees me out. "You sure you don't want me to come with?" he asks for the billionth time.

"No, mom!" I say. I'm secretly glad he cares this much. "i'll be back soon." I promise.

"Curfews at ten missy!" Cato jokes and I laugh.

Walking precariously on my crutches I take the shortcut to Old Ella's first. Her lights are out and I don't have a lot of time so I drop some stones in her bird bath and head on. My ankle and arms are killing me by the time I reach the little cafe. I'm still early. Cheeks red from the cold I order a hot chocolate.

Lisette brings it to me and sits down on the other side of the booth. For the first time I notice how identical our eyes are.

"Been a while since I've seen you." she says.

"I got into a bit of trouble," I say and gesture to the crutches.

"Whoever gave you that shiner better have paid." she says. I think of Cato pounding Favian senseless in the night.

"He did."

"Good." Lisette says darkly. We chat a bit before her boss yells get to work. "You ever need anything you come to me, kay?" she chews on her gum.

"Sure. Same for you." I say. Lisette smiles and gets to work.

Elise bounds through the doors a few minutes later. Her blondish brown hair is blown everywhere by the biting wind. She smiles as wide as the Capital and heads over to me. I dodge a hug, muttering something about ribs and sit down.

"So what happened?" she asks. I gulp.

"We were walking and a car skidded on the ice and into us. We're both fine but he couldn't take care of me in that state." I lie again. It's second nature by now.

"Thank God you're all right." Elise whispers. "Just, Clove?"

"Yeah?"

"Tell me next time. I was worried about you." It's my turn to smile.

"Ok." From there we resume our friendship as if nothing has happened. As if nothing has changed. I love that Elise can be this constant. I never have to worry about her. I head to Cato's home an hour later, promising to call Elise.

When I get back I am so tired I fall asleep before taking off Cato's oversized shoes. A few days pass where I rest up and beat Cato at chess. Soon I am walking without crutches for short stretches and my bruises have faded to a light green. By the end of the next week Cato agrees to go back to training. After all, the Games are coming.

A/N I know this isn't a lot of action but I promise there's some good stuff coming soon ;) Please comment and vote!